Forged in Ice by Alyssa Rose Ivy Page B

back.
    Are you ready to thank me, son?
    My heart rate accelerated at the sound of my father’s voice. I will never thank you.
    But I have given you so much. You cannot deny your fulfillment.
    I can only curse you for what you have done.
    You love the girl.
    Do not think, or speak, of her . I could not stand to have him even think of her.
    He laughed. Why do you think she is still with you? I am the only reason.
    That is a lie.
    Is it? He pushed me the way he always used to. He wanted me to doubt myself. It had taken me years to figure that out.
    It is. I refused to acknowledge the doubt swirling around me. She is my kindred. Mine.
    How did you discover she belonged in Energo? She is yours only because of me.
    Not true. I refused to let him get to me. Yet I knew he had. The seed of doubt was there, and it would haunt me now.
    I will be ready for my repayment soon.
    I will not help you.
    You will.
    No!
    You should not disrespect me, son. I always get what I want, and you might not like the next method I choose.
    Leave me alone!
    Everything went silent again. I wiped sweat off my forehead and pulled Ainsley closer to me. Everything would be okay. She was my kindred, and he could never change that.
    I refused to close my eyes after that. I kept them open while I watched the clock, both willing the seconds to pass and begging them to slow so I could hold Ainsley longer.
    The sun rose, spilling light into the room through the small space in the curtains.
    Ainsley stirred beside me and opened her eyes. When she saw me she smiled. “Good morning.”
    “Good morning.” Any morning waking up beside her was a good morning no matter what else was plaguing me.
    “Did you sleep?” Her smile fell and was replaced by an expression of worry.
    “I had enough sleep.” I would make up for my lack of sleep later, when I knew we were both safe from my father.
    “I sleep so much better when I’m with you. Obviously the same isn’t true for you.” She sat up and started dressing.
    “Do not read something into my difficultly sleeping. It comes from the stresses we are facing and not from any lack of comfort with you.”
    “Yet you are worried about my stress?”
    I moved behind her and pulled her back against my chest. “Yes. I worry about you.”
    “I will try to relax, if you try to get some sleep today in the car.”
    “You are asking me to sleep on our drive?”
    “Yes. You won’t be driving so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
    “I cannot promise I will sleep, but I will promise to try.”
    “That means closing your eyes and letting your worry go for a while.” She rolled her head in such a way that I had complete access to her neck. I could not resist running my lips down her sensitive skin.
    She moaned, and I let my hands skim down her body. “You should not have started dressing so soon.”
    “And why is that?” She asked coyly.
    “You know exactly why.”
    She laughed before removing the bra and underwear she had just put on. “That was an easy fix.”
    “A very easy one.” I eased her down on the bed. “I am glad you woke up early enough to give us time.”
    “I think we have a problem, James.” She cupped my face with her hands.
    “What kind of problem?” I slipped my face out of her grasp and took her breast in my mouth.
    She moaned.
    I moved my mouth. “What problem?”
    “We are—”
    I returned my mouth to her breast, and she moaned again.
    “Were you saying something?” I released her breast and slid my hand between her long legs.
    “I was saying we are addicted to each other.”
    “Is that so?” I slid my hand up higher.
    She closed her eyes and opened up to me. “But maybe that’s not a problem.”
    “Not when you have me anytime you want.” I returned my mouth to her breast, loving the moans the combination of my mouth and hand were eliciting.
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    “ G ood morning !” Ainsley greeted Rachel, Henry, and Talen with a grin when we finally made it down to the lobby. We were running a