Ashes to Flames by Nichelle Gregory Read Free Book Online Page B

little crazy. “I’m going to shower, change and go.”
    “Okay.” Sabria glanced around. “Do you have anything to read? A television?”
    “I’ve got both in my bedroom. Come with me and I’ll show you.”
    Sabria’s boots clicked behind him as she followed him into his bedroom. Jai strode over to the drawn curtains, opened them and pointed to the flat screen to his left. “Television.” He gestured toward the stack of books by his bed. “Books.”
    “Thank you,” Sabria said with a small smile.
    “Need anything else before I hit the shower?”
    Sabria’s gaze skated across his bare chest. “No.”
    Jai knew better as she grabbed the remote off his nightstand and turned on the television. He went into the bathroom as she started flipping through channels.
    Twenty minutes later, he came back into the bedroom to find Sabria sleeping on his bed. He looked at her lying on his comforter, overwhelmed by her beauty and his love for her, remembering all of the moments he’d stood over her sleeping and thought the exact same things.
    He wanted to work through the pain wrapped around his heart and be the mate Sabria knew and needed him to be. He just couldn’t figure out how to do it when he felt so fractured inside.
    Jai dropped the towel slung around his hips on the bed and moved to his dresser. He opened the drawer, cursing softly when the old hinges creaked. He turned to see if the noise had disturbed Sabria and found her staring at him. “Sorry.”
    “I’m not,” she said as her gaze drifted over his body.
    Jai almost mustered a smile while pulling on his underwear and socks. He half-expected Sabria to talk while he finished dressing in a dark suit and tie, but when he looked at her again she’d closed her eyes. He could tell she wasn’t sleeping though by the chaotic rise and fall of her chest. She was obviously on edge and wanting.
    “I’ll be back soon,” Jai said.
    “I’ll be here. Jai?”
    “Yes?”
    “It’s okay to admit that you loved her…to acknowledge you’ve lost someone you loved,” Sabria said, barely stirring.
    Stunned, Jai didn’t know how to respond. He stared at her for a few seconds before leaving, hating the feeling he was letting her down just like he had Melanie.
    By the time he got to the church the parking lot was full and parking on the street was scarce. He was almost fifteen minutes late to the service. Looking around the church, Jai saw familiar faces, including Sarah, Melanie’s older sister. He and Melanie had gone on a double date with Sarah and her boyfriend a few months back. Jai’s chest tightened when their gazes locked, but she surprised him by giving him a small smile and he responded in kind before looking away. He wondered how much Melanie had mentioned to her sister about their relationship.
    Jai sat through the rest of the service in a numb fog. His kind had no need for funerals. The concept to Jai was beautiful and a bit barbaric. He didn’t understand why humans would willingly sit through something that would cause more grief, and yet he respected their need to celebrate the life lost with words and songs.
    Finally, it was over. Jai got up off the hard pew, relieved. A sea of faces and people moved around him as he made his way toward the exit when he felt a hand on his arm.
    “Jai?”
    He turned to see Sarah by his side. “Hello, Sarah.”
    “I’m sorry we’re meeting again under these circumstances,” Sarah said sadly.
    “As am I. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
    Sarah looked away from him for a moment. “Melanie will be missed by all of us. I wanted to tell you how happy you’d made her. I’d never seen her so happy.”
    “Your sister made me happy too.”
    Sarah dug into her purse, took a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m glad she’d found someone to love again and be loved by.” She pulled out a blue envelope from her purse. “I found this letter and I know my sister would’ve wanted you to read it.”
    Jai took the