Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
DRAKE
Ember’s street is quieter than mine, except for the cats darting across the lawn.
I bring the truck to a halt outside her bungalow. From inside her home, the curtain twitches, and I can just make out the curve of a ginger cat tail flicking in the window.
“I bet they’re hungry,” Ember says as another cat darts towards her bungalow.
Before I’ve even killed the engine, Sienna’s unbuckled herself and is bouncing in the back seat. “Can I feed the cats, Daddy?”
Ember twists in her seat, laughter spilling out of her. “They’ll be thrilled. They think anyone who comes through my door is their new best friend.”
Sienna claps, already opening the car door ready to jump out. I grab her hand before she clambers to the ground and barrels into Ember’s home. “Easy, bug. Let Ember open up first.”
When we step inside, warmth wraps around me like all the comforts of home. Cat towers scrape the ceiling, blankets sprawl over couches. The air smells of cinnamon and vanilla candles fighting a losing battle against the tang of cat food. It’s chaos. But it’s her chaos. And I already love it here.
“You have so many cats.” Sienna plants her fists on her hips as a parade of tails weaves towards us.
Ember grins, dropping her bag by the door. “That’s Cupid. The ginger one is Robbie. And the fluffy diva glaring from the shelf is Fidget.”
Sienna giggles, crouching as three more cats pile into her lap. “Daddy, can we keep one?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “These are Ember’s cats. Maybe we’ll find one at the shelter that needs us more.”
Ember sets about filling several cat bowls that line the worktop. “This one’s for Sansa, the ginger tabby.” She hands Sienna a bowl.
“Daddy, isn’t Sansa pretty? She has the same hair colour as Miss Sparks.”
“She’s beautiful, sweetheart,” I say as I gaze at Ember, her cheeks turning a gorgeous shade of blush that’s visible through the sheer makeup she’s wearing today.
Ember looks down with a smile and continues her task. “This one is for Cersei. She’s the white one with the judgmental glare, thinks she’s the queen of the house.” She slides another bowl across the counter. “And Ghost. He’s the Persian behind you. He likes to sneak up on people.”
Sienna places the bowls down. Fidget the kitten tries to get to the food, but is hissed at by the bigger cats.
“Do you want to take the kitten into the den so she can eat in peace?”
“Yes, can I?” Sienna scoops the kitten into her arms and carries her and the bowl into another room set up like a small office.
“Hang on a minute,” I say to Ember as she moves around her kitchen. “I’ve watched enough episodes of Game of Thrones to recognise these names.”
Ember’s lips curl upwards. “You’re a fan?”
I roll my sleeve to show her the black tail tattooed on my forearm. “Pumpkin, I’ve got Drogon inked all over my chest.”
Ember’s eyes widen. “So that’s what the dragon ink is for?”
I shrug with a smirk. “Winter is coming.”
She tilts her head, green eyes glinting. “Well… at least you didn’t name him Viserion. That would’ve been a red flag.”
“This dragon’s all fire.” My laugh rumbles low, caught between my chest and the space closing in between us. “Keep teasing me, and I might have to show you the rest of him.”
“Be careful, dragon boy, you strip and I may never let you out of this house. I have a thing for dragons, you know.”
I check the door’s closed to the room where Sienna is feeding the kitten. “Who says I want to leave?”
She sucks in a breath as I close the distance between us and dip my head to catch her lips. At first, it’s slow, a testing brush, but the second she exhales against my mouth, all control snaps.
I deepen the kiss, sliding one hand into her hair, the other finding her waist and tugging her flush against me. She gasps, and I take the sound into me, parting her lips with mine until I’m tasting and licking every sweet corner of her mouth, my hands roaming every forbidden inch of her body.
Her fingers fist my shirt, dragging me closer, like she’s as desperate as I am, like she’s been starving too.
Bloody hell. She sets me on fire.
The kitchen, the cats, the whole world disappears. There’s only her mouth under mine, her curves pressed into me, her breath catching as I claim her deeper.
She moans low and needy, and it shoots straight through me, tightening every muscle in my body. I kiss her harder until we’re both trembling, our breaths crashing together in the tiny space between us.
When I finally tear my lips from hers, it’s only because I need to breathe. My forehead rests against hers, our chests rising and falling in sync.
“You taste like trouble,” I rasp, my thumb brushing her swollen bottom lip.
Her smile is wrecked, her eyes glazed. “And you taste like fire.”
My hands wander from her waist, over the curve of her ass. “Where can I touch you, Em?”
“Anywhere you like, Drogo.”
I squeeze her ass and hold her against me, my dick pumped like a hose, pushing into her stomach. “I wish I could have you right now.”
“Me too, but we should stop. Sienna—”
“I can call Harold and May.”
Ember shakes her head. “Next time you’re free, I’ll cook. You can spend the night. I can wait.”
“You might be able to wait, but I don’t think I can.” I rock my pelvis into her so she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.
She smiles and looks away, her cheeks blazing. “I have a spare room.” Her gaze floats back to mine, her plump bottom lip caught between her teeth as she clings to my shirt. “For Sienna, I mean.”
I shake my head. “Pumpkin, if we’re doing this, I need you all to myself when I set your pussy on fire.”
“You won’t be able to set me on fire.” She gulps, her cheeks now crimson as she rises on her tiptoes, her fingers curling around my neck as she whispers, “I’m too wet.”
I growl, crushing my mouth back to hers.
Her fingers curl into my shirt, dragging me closer until there’s no space between us. Heat builds fast and consuming, and I’m two seconds from lifting her onto the counter.
“Daddy!”
We break apart like guilty teenagers, Ember’s lips swollen, her breath ragged. My forehead drops against hers, fighting for composure.
“In here, bug,” I call, my voice hoarse.
Sienna appears in the doorway, Fidget tucked under one arm, the kitten’s tail flicking in irritation. “She finished her dinner. Can we play a game?” She yawns halfway through the question, rubbing her eyes with her free hand.
I huff a laugh, shaking my head. “I think it’s time for a bath and bed, bug. You can’t even keep your eyes open.”
“I can too,” she protests weakly, her eyelids already drooping.
I glance at Ember, who’s still flushed and trying to catch her breath, and lift my brows. “See what I mean? This kid never lets up.”
Ember’s lips twitch into a smile, though her eyes linger on mine a fraction too long, making a promise neither of us can keep tonight.
“Come on, bug.” I lift Sienna into my arms, the kitten still cradled in hers. “Say goodbye to Miss Sparks.”
“Bye, Miss Sparks,” she mumbles sleepily before hiding her face against my chest.
Ember steps closer, brushing a strand of hair from Sienna’s forehead before her hand lingers on my arm. “I’ll see you in the morning at school.”
“I think you’re gonna have to let the kitty go, bug.” I glance down at the kitten buried between my chest and Sienna’s.
“Can we come back another time so I can play with them?”
“Sure.” I give Ember my best smirk. “I’m definitely coming back to play with Miss Spark’s kitty.”
Her eyes widen under my heated stare. “Anytime.” Her voice is a little higher than usual.
“Night, pumpkin,” I murmur, my voice low enough for only her to hear. “This isn’t over.”
The words hang between us like smoke as I carry my daughter out the door. I glance back at Ember, her lips still glistening, her green eyes wide and wild. And I’m already counting the hours until I can come back.