Ashes to Flames (5 page)

“I’ve missed pleasuring my little
flamma
.” Jai slipped two fingers deep inside her. “You are so hot and wet. How could I have forgotten how tight and sweet you are?” Jai kissed her again while slowly finger-fucking her.

Sabria couldn’t respond between his kisses, overwhelmed by his erotic expertise and the intensity of her arousal. After hungering for his touch for so many months, she teetered on the edge of an explosive climax.

She groaned in protest when Jai’s fingers slipped from her body.

“I know what you need,” Jai said, moving over her. Sabria shivered with delight when he kissed her stomach and then cried out when he kissed her pussy. “Don’t I?”

“Yes, please, Jai.”

She grabbed hold of his head, bucking her hips as he began licking and gently sucking on her pussy lips. He knew just how to tease her with his tongue after millennia of learning her body inside and out. Sabria breathed his name, dropped her hand from his head to grip the sheet on the bed when he slid two fingers deep inside of her. He caressed her g-spot while darting his tongue faster over and around her clit. She arched her back, reveled in the pleasure and came hard. Her sharp cry of ecstasy echoed around the hotel room as Jai held onto her thighs with both hands and continued to softly kiss her wet pussy. He moved up to lie beside her when she was no longer trembling. He kissed her and Sabria savored the taste of her passion on his lips. She slid her hand down his stomach muscles, cradled the impressive bulge in his jeans and stroked him through the fabric, wanting him to take her, claim her as his once more.

“Sabria…”

His voice sounded gruff in her ear as she unbuttoned his jeans. She tugged the zipper down and wrapped her hand around his thick cock through his underwear.

“Jai, please…”

He groaned then surprised her by pulling away. She moaned with disappointment when his fingers slid from her slick heat. Catching her breath proved difficult with the delicious aftershocks of her orgasm coursing through her body. Curls of desire twisted tighter while watching him lick clean the evidence of her pleasure from his fingers.

“I need all of you, Jai, right now.”

Jai caressed her cheek with his thumb. “And I want to give you all you need right now.”

“What’s stopping you?” Sabria asked then she knew. In her happiness, she’d forgotten all about Jai’s fiancée.

“Melanie,” they both said at the same time.

Jai sat up on the edge of the bed with a deep sigh. “After having this feeling of disconnection in my life, I finally know who I am.” He cast her a smoldering glance. “I want you so bad, Sabria, but I need to make things right with her. Melanie loves me and I owe her that much. She’s wearing my ring, for Christ’s sake.”

“I understand,” Sabria said quietly.

She understood, but it still hurt like hell to hear, especially when her body craved the deeper release only he could give her. The knowledge that another woman wore a physical symbol of attachment to her man made her stomach kink into several tight knots.

With concentrated effort, she sat up, pulled her dress back into place and tied the sash around her waist. She squeezed her slick thighs together and bit her lip to keep from moaning when the movement teased her clit, setting off blissful flutters within her.

“This isn’t going to be easy for her.” Jai stood and Sabria admired the muscles in his back as he zipped and buttoned his pants. “The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.”

“What will you tell her?”

“I don’t know.”

Sabria remained silent for a moment while he put his sweater back on. “Do you love her too?”

Chapter Four

Asking the question caused as much anxiety as waiting for Jai to answer. He met her gaze after he tugged his sweater down.

“Melanie has been there for me. I was just living day to day, uncertain about my future, confused about my past, and she accepted and loved me. The connection I feel with you is nothing like the one I have with her.” Jai locked both hands behind his head. “Melanie doesn’t deserve this. Fuck, this is so messed up.”

Sabria sighed. “How did you leave things before you came over here?”

“She thinks I went to the gym.”

“And how did you explain that kiss?”

Jai unlocked his fingers from behind his head and stuffed one hand into his jeans pocket. “She stormed out shortly after you left when I couldn’t give her a plausible reason to be kissing you. We’re supposed to talk later.” Jai shook his head. “You couldn’t have shown up like two weeks earlier and explained all this mythological shit?”

“I’m sorry.” Sabria scooted off the bed and stood. “I was beginning to think we wouldn’t find each other in time.”

“How long have you been looking for me?”

“Almost twelve months.”

Jai cursed. “I’m sorry.” He came to her and lifted her chin with his thumb. “I can’t imagine how much stress you’ve been under.”

“It’s not your fault. Sometimes, it takes time to remember. I’m just happy you do now. I’ve been so worried.”

Jai wrapped his arms around her and Sabria briefly closed her eyes, savoring the protective warmth of his tight hug. “I’m here now. I’m going to go talk to Melanie and then we’ll be together.”

“You’ll come back tonight?” Sabria asked against his chest.

“I want to, but I don’t think that’s possible.” He pulled back to look at her.

“Why?” Sabria felt herself blush. “You do remember that our bond isn’t fully in sync until we’re one.”

Jai’s semi-erect cock became fully hard. The inquisitive light in Sabria’s beautiful eyes darkened as they stared at one another and he knew she too was remembering how intense sex always was the first time they were together after being reunited. “I haven’t forgotten we aren’t safe from the flames until I come deep inside of you,” Jai said, enjoying the rosy hue rising on her cheeks that matched her suckable nipples. “I will be back as soon as I can and we’ll figure out what our next move is together.”

“Okay,” Sabria said as he released her. “I’ll wait for you here. It’s my turn to pick where we live this time.”

“Let me guess…the Bahamas?” Jai asked as he headed toward the door.

“It’s a surprise.” Sabria rose up on her tiptoes to softly kiss his lips. “Just hurry back to me. This is the first time we’ve ever waited so close to our time being up to consummate our bond again.”

Jai pressed her up against the wall and considered his sanity for leaving her before claiming her again. He bent his head and nipped her neck, enjoying her delighted giggle. “I will hurry back, but you should know once I have you in my bed again I will take my damn time loving you.” He heard her sharp intake of breath as he ground his erection against her belly. “I need to reacquaint myself with every soft, delectable inch of your body.”

Sabria moaned beneath his lips as he kissed her again. When he pulled back he could see the passion and need in her gorgeous green eyes. She opened the door and Jai stepped, regretfully, out into the hallway. “I will call you when I’m on my way.”

“Okay.”

He gave her a quick smile before pivoting. Jai exited the hotel, reveling in the chilly air blowing around him as he walked to his car. He was so hot, his need for Sabria increasing by the second.

It was difficult to be completely excited about his future with his
flamma
when he knew Melanie would be waiting for him, wanting an explanation, knowing she deserved one.

Melanie had always teased him about holding back from her, keeping his deepest feelings locked away. Once, she’d even jokingly asked him about loving another woman. He’d denied loving anyone else and she’d never pushed him for more. Jai navigated through traffic, thinking about how happy Melanie had been when he’d proposed.

In just a few minutes, he was going to hurt the one person who’d made the last eleven months of nothingness bearable.

Jai swore, hit the accelerator and ignored the impatient horn of the vehicle he cut off to make his turn. It killed him to know how long Sabria had been searching and worrying about him. He could only imagine the pain he’d caused her when she’d discovered him with Melanie. Just the thought of finding Sabria with another man…loving another man…made him crazy.

Melanie’s car was present when he pulled into his designated parking spot. He turned off the engine, got out of the car and walked up to his building with a heavy heart. Once inside Jai knocked on her door.

“Hello, Melanie,” Jai said when Melanie opened the door seconds later.

“Jai.”

He could tell she’d been crying and it made the band of regret around his heart squeeze tighter. “Is this a bad time?”

Melanie laughed and the bitter, mirthless sound jangled unpleasantly in Jai’s ears. “A bad time to break up with me? That
is
what you’re about to do, isn’t?”

“Can I come in?” Jai asked, distressed by her obvious anguish.

Melanie crossed her arms and he noticed she was still wearing the diamond ring he’d given her. She sighed, turned away from him and he walked inside. “Melanie, I’m sorry that you saw that kiss.”

“Me too,” Melanie said whipping around to face him. “I don’t think you’ve ever kissed me like that.” She gave him an over-bright smile while shaking her head. “In fact, I’m certain you haven’t. Who is she, Jai?”

“She’s an old flame,” he said and the tacky irony of his words was not lost on him.

“An
old
flame? It looked like things are still pretty damn hot between you two. I asked you once if you were in love with another woman. I always felt like there was someone else, but you told me there wasn’t. Remember?”

“Yes, I remember. Melanie, I didn’t expect this to happen.”

“And I didn’t expect to find you in a passionate lip-lock with another woman. Do you love her?” The sadness in her eyes weighed heavily on Jai. “What am I even asking? I saw the way you were kissing her. What did she mean by ‘time is running out’?”

“Melanie, it was never my intention to hurt you. You’ve gotta believe that. I wish I could explain this to you, but I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t? After everything we’ve shared together, that’s all you have to say? Because you’ve said surprisingly little.”

“I know and you have every right to be angry,” Jai said as she ran shaky fingers through her hair. “I care about you, Melanie.”

“You just don’t love me, right?” Melanie lifted her hand and Jai’s engagement ring sparkled in the light. “She’s the woman who holds that part of your heart I always wanted for myself, but I was content because you’ve treated me better than any other man. I told myself that meant more than having your l-l—”

“Melanie, stop.” Jai went to her when she couldn’t finish, hating being the cause for her tears, wishing he hadn’t gotten involved with her. Usually, his kind didn’t make deep human connections, which made it easier to avoid the questions that arose when their time was up.

Melanie pushed away from him. “No, stop trying to reassure me and tell me the truth. Do you love…love…what’s her name?”

“Sabria,” Jai said quietly.

Melanie drew in a shuddering breath. “Do you love Sabria?”

“Yes.”

Something died in his fiancée’s eyes.

“How could you do this to me?” Her voice shook with emotion as she brushed past him sobbing and opened her door.

“Melanie, wait,” Jai said following her out into the hallway.

“No! There’s really nothing left to say is there?” Melanie struggled to remove the solitaire he’d given her two weeks before. “Here.” She held out the ring. “Give this to Sabria. She’s the one who should be wearing it.”

“Melanie—”

“Take it!”

Jai took the jewelry, wishing there was something he could say that would matter. “You are a beautiful, caring woman and in any other lifetime…”

Melanie gave him a tremulous smile. “Goodbye, Jai.”

She pivoted without another word and headed down the stairs toward the exit wearing nothing more than a pink T-shirt and black yoga pants.

“Melanie, it’s freezing out there. Let me get your coat.”

She ignored him, moving faster as he went after her. He cursed when she disappeared out of the door, picking up his pace to catch her at the exact same moment she screamed and the screech of tires sent a spear of dread through his heart.

No.

Jai rushed outside to see the driver of the van already getting out of his vehicle. The man’s face registered the shock and horror Jai couldn’t even begin to process as he hurried over to where Melanie lay in the street, crumpled and still, so fucking still, in a pool of her own blood.

* * * *

Sabria cursed when she got Jai’s voicemail for what had to be the twentieth time. Something was wrong.

Three days had gone by with no call from Jai. She’d texted the following morning when he hadn’t come back only to receive a very cryptic text back from him to tell her he needed a little more time to work things out.

A little more time? That was the one damn thing they didn’t have. She’d thought Jai had understood that before he’d left. Time was of the essence and each hour she watched go by only increased her level of anxiety.