Ashes to Flames

by Gregory, Nichelle

  Whether he believed her or not, his body should have reacted to their kiss. Surely he’d been moved by their passion?

  Sabria wiped away the tears on her cheeks. She refused to believe he hadn’t felt the bond between them. He would look at the slip of paper in his pocket with her phone number and hotel address and come to her. She’d said enough for him to want to know more.

  With shaky hands, Sabria started the engine of the car, wondering how Jai would explain to Melanie what had just happened.

  He’s in love with her…that’s why his markings didn’t react.

  “No!”

  Her voice sounded hollow and strained in the confines of the chilly car. She didn’t bother turning on the heat as she cast another quick glance at Jai’s apartment building before driving away. Emotionally drained, it took considerable effort to stay focused and navigate through the heavy traffic.

  She would head back to the hotel, get cleaned up and wait for him. After everything the two of them had been through, she had to trust in the strength of their love.

  And if you’re wrong?

  If she was wrong, they would both die when their time ran out in four days.

  * * * *

  Sabria placed the fifth bottle of water on the nightstand with a frustrated groan. She scooted off the bed, turned off the television program she wasn’t watching and walked over to the window overlooking Grant Park. It was almost nightfall and the street lights were already on. There was some kind of festival going on and the park was filled with people.

  Cool air washed over Sabria’s legs under the gray sweater dress she’d put on after a long bath. She hadn’t bothered with panties or a bra and the soft fabric teased her nipples and caressed her body when she moved. Anyone entering her room would no doubt find it odd she had the air conditioner running on such a cool night, but Sabria reveled in the chilled air on her heated skin.

  Jai.

  Where was he?

  Eight excruciating hours had dragged by with nothing to do but ponder every possible ‘what if’ scenario running circles in her head. Her stomach growled, a reminder that she hadn’t eaten all day. She hadn’t wanted to leave the hotel once she’d gotten out of the bathtub and food had been the last thing on her mind.

  With a muttered curse, Sabria picked up the phone and ordered room service. She couldn’t survive on water alone…well, not indefinitely. As it was, a headache pricked at her already overwrought senses. Sabria lay back against the pillows and closed her eyes. She was so tired and lonely.

  Her kind did not usually mingle. Too many in one area decreased the amount of time they had, mate or not. She could pick up the phone and get in contact with an elder, but she was in no hurry to report her failure to find her mate. It would reflect badly on their love, the depth of their bond, and Sabria didn’t want that.

  She would wait a couple more hours before going back to Jai’s place. One way or another she had to get him to understand.

  The clock ticked rhythmically by the television, a constant reminder time was running out. She needed to sleep, to truly sleep, and that only happened in Jai’s arms. Fatigue weighed down her eyelids and she gave up fighting, allowing herself to drift into dreamland. She groaned moments later when a knock at the door roused her sleepily from the bed.

  She staggered to the door with her purse in hand to tip the concierge and opened it. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she stared up at Jai.

  “Jai!” she gasped.

  “We need to talk,” he said, brushing past her to step inside the room before she could say another word.

  Sabria closed the door behind them, turned around and found it difficult to stand still as his gaze swept up her bare feet and over her dress. She drank in the sight of him, devastatingly sexy in a sky-blue sweater and black jeans. He studied her as long as she did him, his eyes lingering on the swell of her breasts.

  “I want you to tell me again how you knew about that journal. Why your name is written on the pages.”

  “I know because of a secret. A secret we are bound to protect from all others.”

  She admired the way his light-colored pullover highlighted his brown skin and the dark jeans hugged his muscular thighs. She wanted to rush back into his arms and press her lips to his. Just being close to him set off a wildfire within her.

  “What are you talking about, Sabria? No more riddles.” Jai stepped up to her. “Tell me what this secret is. Say it plain as fucking day or I’ll walk out of this goddamn hotel room and never look back.”

  Sabria lifted her chin to meet his gaze. The fury in his voice made her pulse quicken as she drew in a breath and slowly exhaled. “We are not humans, Jai. You and I are phoenixes, born of myth, magic and now part of legends. We live a thousand years, perish and are reborn, but bonded phoenixes cannot survive a millennium without their mate and we are only given a certain amount of time to be reunited before we prematurely die. Our kind has survived through the ages because no one believes we exist.”

  Jai laughed. “You seriously expect me to believe what you just said? I mean, really…phoenixes?”

  The incredulous look on his handsome face would have been funny any other time. Sabria smiled. “I know it’s a lot to take in. Usually, you’d already know the truth…our truth. You’d understand that our bond is unbreakable even by death. You’re here now because that part inside of you that you’ve been trying to push back longs to be set free.”

  “I’m here because you seem to know something about this journal of mine,” Jai said, pulling the leather-bound book from his back pocket. He flipped it open and pointed to an age-worn page. “I want you to tell me what this says.”

  Sabria took the book from Jai’s outstretched hand. She ran her finger over his bold script and the words she read brought tears to her eyes for the third time that day.

  “What does it say?” Jai asked.

  Sabria cleared her throat, taking a few seconds to speak through her emotion. “It says, ‘There will never come a time when my heart will not beat for Sabria. No matter how many times we perish in flames, we rise from the ashes stronger and more in love. She doesn’t know that her love has sustained me through many lifetimes of pain. I would die for her a thousand times more and it would never be enough.’”

  Her voice wavered on the last few words. She’d known about his journal, but she’d never read a single word. It had always been sacred to him and she’d respected that. Sabria lifted her face to meet his stunned gaze. She blinked and one tear slid down her cheek.

  “Sabria…”

  “I can’t read anymore.”

  Jai shook his head. “I don’t want you to.”

  Sabria barely held back a sob as she held out the journal to him. Reading his words after spending the night questioning his love for her had been just what she needed—an unexpected gift. Jai reached for the book and she trembled when his fingers brushed against hers. She snatched her hand away, overwhelmed by the depth of her love for him. It was killing her that he couldn’t remember.

  “Sabria, please don’t cry.” Jai hated the way she’d moved away from his touch and sadness overtook him as he watched her try to hold it together.

  His own raw emotions were further frayed after listening to her read his own words. After all the months he’d been dating Melanie, he hadn’t felt compelled to write such words for her. He cared deeply for Melanie, which was why he’d proposed, but somehow the connection he had with his fiancée was nothing compared to the depth of emotion Sabria evoked. It made no sense.

  “I don’t expect you to believe what I’m telling you right now,” Sabria continued, tears staining her flushed cheeks, “but you and I are connected and if we don’t find our way back to one another we’ll die, be reborn and one of us will have to begin the search for the other all over again.”

  Jai resisted the urge to reach for her. Every fiber of his being was telling him that was exactly what he should do, but he had a pissed-off fiancée who believed s
he was the only one he felt compelled to protect.

  “The kiss…”

  Sabria trailed off and Jai’s gaze slipped to her lips. Just the mention of the intense lip lock they’d shared sent a prickly awareness throughout his body. It felt like he’d come out of his skin if he didn’t kiss her again.

  Crazy.

  Yup, just like all the rest of the irrational thoughts where Sabria was concerned.

  “That kiss should never have happened,” Jai said.

  Sabria gave him a sad smile and the tears made her green eyes sparkle like emeralds. “But you want to kiss me again, don’t you? You feel as if you should.”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s because we’re connected by history, by our blood and by a love that has survived thousands of years. Kiss me, Jai. I’m yours to kiss. I need you so much.”

  Jai couldn’t have stopped himself if he’d tried. Later, he’d acknowledge he didn’t try at all. He stepped up to Sabria, gathered her into his arms and kissed her hard, the need to brand his taste on her all-consuming.

  She was his.

  It didn’t make any sense and Jai didn’t care as he plundered her mouth, delving deeper and harder. Punishing her for making him need her, punishing himself for not being able to resist her lips. Sabria melted into him, wound her arms around his neck, pressing her body unapologetically against him.

  His skin felt aflame, need and desire made it hard to think rationally. Flashes of memories pricked at his subconscious while they kissed. Together they were molten fire, hotter than anything he’d ever known.

  Jai pulled her closer as the memories sharpened into focus in his mind. He and Sabria laughing in bed in some secluded bed-and-breakfast. Sabria half-naked, wiping the shaving cream from his face before playfully yanking off the damp towel around his waist. Drips of butter pecan ice cream on her beautiful breasts. Erotic images of them intertwined, sweaty, moving together to the explosive end that only left them wanting more. The intensity, the realness of the memories, shocked Jai. He abruptly moved back, wonder and uncertainty, leaving him only able to stare at Sabria.

  “Jai?”

  “You look different,” Jai said, distantly remembering smooth cocoa skin, beautiful brown eyes that were now a vivid green.

  Sabria gave him a small smile. “So do you.”

  “I do?”

  “The last time we were together you were blond with blue eyes.”

  Jai shook his head in amazement, wanting to remember everything. “And still you found me.”

  “As you’ve always found me. We always recognize one another no matter what form we take on because of our bond.”

  “The moment I heard your voice…” Jai tried to find the right words to describe what he wanted to say.

  “The moment you heard my voice your soul recognized mine.” The joy in Sabria’s voice warmed Jai as a weight he hadn’t even realized he’d been carrying slowly lifted. “Jai, your skin. Look at your skin.”

  Jai looked down at his hands to see strange glowing intricate markings on his wrists. “What the hell?” He pushed up his sleeves, seeing more of the same ornate, glowing symbols, amazed he could understand them.

  “See?” Sabria asked and Jai looked up from his arm to see she’d pushed up her own sleeve to reveal the similar luminescent markings on her skin. “Proof in the flesh we are of the same kind. Phoenixes. Born of fire…ashes to flames.”

  “Ashes to flames,” Jai repeated, still coming to grips with their secret.

  He pulled off his sweater to find more of the same radiant skin underscoring his pecs and running along his shoulder blades. All the unanswered questions, the feeling he was missing something about his life, slowly faded away. Sabria reached out to touch his arm and Jai grabbed hold of her waist, bringing her back against his body. Memories of holding her made him pull her closer as he buried his nose in her thick hair, cherishing the way she trembled against him.

  “You like butter pecan ice cream.”

  “Yes. I love butter pecan ice cream,” Sabria said while pushing her hand underneath the soft pullover. Her touch seemed to cool the feverish skin beneath her fingertips. “You enjoy it too. Do you remember?”

  “I remember.”

  Jai backed her up until they toppled onto the bed. Lying side by side, their bodies fitted together perfectly. He kissed her again, breathing in her sweet scent as he slipped his hand inside her wrap-styled dress to cup her bare breast. Sabria moaned when he teased the hardened nipple with his fingers.

  “What do you remember?” Sabria asked breathlessly.

  Jai widened the opening of her dress, exposing both breasts to his view. “I remember the way your back arched when I drizzled ice cream over your nipples.” He pushed her back against the pillows, bent his head to flick his tongue over one taut peak and Sabria gasped. “I remember how much you like to laugh and tease me about being so serious. I remember how you like to dig you claws into my back when I’m deep inside of you.” He traced his finger over the beautiful bright markings trailing between her breasts. “I remember you, Sabria.”

  Sabria couldn’t help the sob that escaped from her throat. After searching for so many months, she was finally home.

  “I remember loving you, Sabria.”

  She couldn’t find the words to respond. The exhaustion she’d been pushing back in her steadfast determination to remain positive and focused melted away as Jai cradled her face. Sabria reached up and ran the palm of her hand over his bald head, loving the contrast of her pale hand against his dark skin.

  “You look sexy bald.”

  Jai grinned. “Thank you.”

  Sabria dropped her hand from his head to trail her fingers down his face and along his jawline. “Do you find me attractive in the form I’ve taken this time?” she asked shyly.

  “Do you even have to ask? You’re gorgeous in any form.”

  Sabria gasped when he slipped his arm beneath her waist and pulled her on top of him, letting her feel his erection through her dress as he kissed her. His body heat penetrated every inch of her skin. His hands moved beneath the hem of her sweater dress to cup and caress her bare bottom, making her moan with need. She had gotten wet the moment he’d mentioned butter pecan ice cream, but now moisture dampened her inner thighs.

  “I’ve needed your touch, Jai.”

  Her voice quivered almost as much as she did beneath his questing fingers. He gently rolled her off him then untied the sash on her sweater dress, exposing her naked body. She watched him through hooded eyes as he traced circles around her breasts, avoiding her erect nipples. He drew an imaginary line down her chest, over her belly button to the thin strip of dark hair above her wet pussy. She moaned again when his fingers delved lower into her wetness to find her clit.

  “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 thig
hs 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.