Embers Falling: A Prequel to Before Noah (Daniels Family) Read online

  Embers Falling: A Prequel

  Daniels Family Book 2.5

  KL Donn

  Contents

  Blurb

  1. Ember

  2. Ember

  3. Noah

  Until Arsen

  With Kol

  Before Noah

  About KL Donn

  Also by KL Donn

  Copyright © 2019 by KL Donn

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Blurb

  Ember Daniels is the good girl. The younger sister to be protected.

  Until she falls in love.

  Noah Brennan is a man with a past and doesn’t do relationships.

  Until that fateful day.

  Ember is falling.

  Noah is grumbling.

  And it all started with a kiss.

  Dedication

  Love is for any and all.

  Embrace it.

  Savour it.

  Explore it.

  And when you have it, don’t ever let go.

  1

  Ember

  It started with a kiss.

  Soft, sweet, intense. He held me like he loved me.

  Noah Brennan was everything I’ve ever dreamed about in a man I wanted to spend my life with. I always thought his brooding silence was a mystery to solve.

  I know better now.

  Noah is filled with passion.

  A possessive desire to dominate me and now that I know, I can’t get him out of my head. He consumes my thoughts, desires. My heart and body. My entire soul hungers for him.

  After watching my oldest brother, Arsen, fall in love with Marina, and then Kol, fall for my friend Thea, I’m tired of waiting. I’m finally going to take what I want. I’m going to go after everything my heart yearns for.

  Taking a deep breath as I stand on the front porch of Noah’s condo, I raise my hand to knock only to be stopped short when the door opens and there he is. Standing in a pair of gym shorts, bare feet, bare chest, ever present scowl and scorching green eyes.

  “Em.” He shortens my name like we’re familiar with each other. Truth is, we shared that one kiss six months ago and I’ve barely been able to get him to say two words to me ever since then.

  “Noah.” I gasp for breath. He does that to me, steals the air right from my lungs like it belongs to him.

  His gaze slides leisurely up and down my frame before he speaks again, a sexy smirk across his lips. “What are you doing here Em?” I can feel the blush creeping up my neck and into my face.

  For the first time since deciding it was time to figure out where we stand, I have my doubts. Turning to look behind me, I don’t see an extra car in his driveway, but I have to wonder if he has a woman over now.

  Thankfully the dark night covers my embarrassment. “Uhm, you know what, nothing. It doesn’t matter. Sorry for bothering you, Detective.” I can’t even say his name because I know my voice will hitch and he’ll know exactly why I’m here.

  Spinning I start to rush down the steps when a strong hand grips my bicep, turning me back around. A blazing inferno greets me as I’m forced to look up at Noah. He crowds me into the small stoop, protected only by his large body, and I freeze as the warmth of his bare chest invades through my thin shirt.

  “If you’re here, it matters.” His voice is like fine whiskey, it slides down your throat with only a slight burn. Slowly lowering his head, our lips are a breath apart, “Tell me what you want, Ember.”

  Speechless and maybe a little love drunk, I stutter over my words as they struggle to get past my lips. “I, well, you see, that kiss…” I pause and breathe in. Big mistake. I’m over taken by his scent. All man. And something spicy.

  “What about it?” He whispers into my neck.

  “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it and I can never get you to talk to me when people are around, so I thought I would come over and find out.” I rush the words out and feel about ten years old again.

  He pulls back to look at me, his eyebrows furrowing, and the lusty gaze gone. “What makes you think there was anything to it?” His cold question is like a bucket of water dumping on my head.

  Licking my suddenly dry lips, I squeak, “Okay, good. That’s what I thought but wanted to clear the air.”

  I feel like such a fool. Ducking under his arms, I rush down the steps and don’t stop until I’m behind the wheel of my car. Starting the engine, I barely check for oncoming traffic as I pull out and zip down his block.

  With one last glance at Noah, I see him standing on his front step, a glare in his eyes, and his fists balled at his sides.

  “Stupid, Ember, just freaking stupid.” I berate myself. I can’t believe I got so worked up over a stupid kiss.

  Noah

  Scrubbing a hand down my face, I know I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t have followed her. I should walk the fuck away and never look back.

  Ember Daniels is off limits for more reasons than she can even guess. Not only is she the baby sister of my partner and best friend, Kol, she’s also twelve years younger than me.

  There should be huge warning signs up saying: No! Stay away!

  But I’m fucking addicted. That kiss was a fucking accident. I hadn’t meant for it to happen. It was late at the precinct one night and she’d come looking for Kol. He was gone and the squad room was empty.

  She had a shitty date with a guy who made her feel like crap and was just looking for someone to vent to. She got me.

  I barely let her get three words out before my jealousy consumed me and I slammed my lips over hers. Devouring all her frustrations and replacing them with lust. All I think about now is that damn kiss.

  Every waking moment all I see is the amazement in her gaze when we were interrupted and pulled apart. I can feel the way her heart beat in her chest. Pounding in unison against mine.

  For six months Ember has been all I think about when I’m not consumed with a case. She’s a drug and I need more.

  Except we can’t have more.

  So why the fuck are you here, Brennan? Good damn question.

  Slamming the door to my truck shut, I storm up her sidewalk and pound on her door. Too impatient for her to answer, I turn the knob and growl when I find it unlocked. Bursting through, I see her startle on the stairs as I enter and slam it closed behind me, engaging the lock.

  “Noah, what are you doing here?” She doesn’t move as I kick off my shoes and drop my sweater on the ground.

  “I asked you a fucking question Em and you didn’t answer me.” What the fuck am I doing? “I want one.” I demand from her as I prowl towards her and up the few stairs, pushing her into the wall. Standing taller than her short frame and trapping her between my body and the drywall.

  “I…you’re confusing me Noah.” She whispers, but her eyes light up. She’s turned on by my dominance.

  “Did you want it to be more?” I growl, feeling my cock harden as she squirms against me. She halts all movement when she feels it digging into her hip, her eyes widen with shock before slowly burning up with desire.

  Gradually licking across her lips, she sucks the bottom one into her mouth and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to take it in mine. Show her how to do it right.

  “Yes.” She finally breathes and that’s all the answer I need. I’m tired of denying myself, denying her is even harder.
r />   “Good.” I groan. Turning her body, I grip her hips and guide her up the stairs while burying my face in her neck. Nipping and kissing along her flesh, tasting her is quickly becoming my new favorite thing.

  “Noah.” She sighs my name and all I can picture is her buried beneath me as she does it again and again.

  “I’m gonna own you tonight, Em. Every inch of this delectable little body is going to be mine and there isn’t a fucking thing you can do to stop it.” What I don’t say is, I’m not sure she’ll want me come the harsh light of day.

  2

  Ember

  My body is on fire in the most delicious way. Noah’s fingers light me up like a candle and I don’t want it to stop. Not ever. I want him for the rest of my life and even if he’s unsure now, I know eventually he’ll get on board.

  In the meantime, I plan to enjoy every delightfully dirty thing he’s promising to do to me tonight.

  We stumble our way into my room, and he slams the door again, hands still on my hips, as we fall onto the bed. Even though he could have squished me, Noah doesn’t, he braces his arms on either side me. Brushing my hair to the side, he begins kissing along my shoulder, pushing the strap of my shirt to the side as he does.

  “You taste like berries. How the fuck is that even possible?” He groans as his fingers roam my flesh. I can feel his hard length digging against my ass cheek, through our clothes, as he nips at me and I fight like hell to simply enjoy the moment.

  Teasing my fingers along his thighs, I feel his muscles ripple and shiver. “It’s my lotion.” I answer him.

  The pressure of his weight eases and as I turn to peer up at him, I see he’s staring down at me with passion in his gaze. Wicked intent is written across his features for the world to see.

  “Just tonight, Em, it can’t go past tonight.” His words cramp my heart. I want to say no, it’s forever, but I can see the torment in his gaze the longer it takes me to answer and I know I’ll say anything to have this with him.

  “Tonight.” I agree. Remaining hopeful for more.

  His hands move upward, catching my top with them and he pulls it up and over my head. As it lands on the ground, I hold my breath, waiting for his next move.

  Bending forward, Noah places light kisses along my spine. Being sure to grace each vertebra with his soft touch. My eyes close as I savor the moment. Needing to have every trace of Noah ingrained in my memory for the future.

  Every silky touch, each soft kiss, every loving word, I hold them all in my heart to be brought out when I’m feeling lonely again.

  I feel his fingers pulling my sweats down my body and lift my hips, eager for his next move. Noah doesn’t disappoint as the sound of his shorts hitting the ground echoes around the room and I smile secretly as my eyes open.

  Turning to my back, I get my first good look at Noah, naked.

  He’s utter perfection.

  No, he’s a sculpture that should be shown in a fine arts museum and worshipped for all time. Noah is the perfect specimen of man.

  “Christ woman.” He groans as he stands back. Suddenly self-conscious, I wait for his reprimand. The boys I’ve dated are always telling me I’m too lanky. I’m a dancer and I burn off more than I can eat. My curves don’t go for days, my breasts are barely a handful and my butt is flat.

  Gripping the ankle of one leg, he lifts it up, so my thigh is resting against his chest as he kneels on the bed. “I could devour you for fucking days with these thick thighs.” He kisses the inside of my leg and I shiver. Delighted he likes what he sees.

  Seeing a foil package in his other hand, I feel slightly sad that he’s insistent on only one night. If he wanted more, we could forgo the condom, but I’ll play by his rules for now.

  Placing my leg back down on the bed, he spreads them and pushes my ankles to my ass, ordering, “Hold your ankles and don’t let go.”

  Shy, and slow to do as he says, he growls and my hands grip my ankles with lightening speed. His lips quirk up in a half smile, meeting my stare briefly, he slowly rolls his eyes down my body where they settle between my legs.

  A whimper breaks out of my chest as he moves in. I can feel his hot breath on my flesh, and I can already see stars in my eyes.

  Noah doesn’t know this, but I’ve never had a man in my bed before.

  Noah

  Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, she fucking smells and tastes like them all. I could eat this woman for days and never tire of it. It’s a flavor I’ll never be able to smell again without associating it to her.

  Touching Ember’s soft flesh is what I imagine running my fingers through a cloud is like. Heavenly. I’m not sure how I’m going to walk away from her after tonight, but I know I can’t not take what she’s offering so freely to me now.

  I wish things were different, that I could love her freely but neither of us are there yet. Not right now. In a couple years I think we could have been great. We could have been forever.

  Now, we have to settle for the present.

  And I’ll be damned if I don’t give her everything she’s ever dreamed of in a man.

  “Tell me what you like, Em.” I groan as I grow closer to her core. The sight of her bare lips has my mouth salivating. I’m drooling and I haven’t even tasted her essence yet.

  “Whatever you want to give me.” Is her purred response.

  Christ. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was a master seductress. “Whatever I want.” I repeat. That could be any number of things.

  Ember tied to my bed.

  Her ass cherry red from my hand.

  Breathless, begging me for more.

  Ember Daniels in my complete control is exactly what I want.

  But it’s not something I’m going to get.

  I can’t demand her absolute submission if I’m not going to give her my complete loyalty. There are so many things about me she needs to know. One day, but not yet.

  “I want silence. Not one scream. No moans. Don’t even whimper.” I growl against her heat. Her breath catches as she meets my stare, but she nods her quick agreement. “Close your eyes sweetness and feel me.”

  Wrapping my arms around her thighs, I drag her closer to me before pressing my face into her cunt. Rubbing my jaw along her slit, I pinch her flesh when I hear her breath catch. She tenses before relaxing back into the mattress and spreading her legs wider for me.

  Fuck, she’s gorgeous. Just a small amount of hair along her pubic bone, swollen lips and the perfect mix of innocence and vixen begging me to devour her.

  Spreading her lips with my thumbs, I slowly lick along her slit, moaning at her flavor. Her hips rise for more, but she doesn’t make a sound, so I reward her by paying attention to her little nub.

  Dropping a light kiss, I growl at her taste. Sucking the piece of flesh in my mouth, I barely graze my teeth along her button before she’s going wild. Her back bows off the bed and her body complete explodes with her pleasure.

  “Sensitive.” I groan. Excited at how easily, and often, I can get her off. My mouth descends on her. The warm flavor of her core hitting my tongue has my cock jerking against the bed.

  Opening wide, I slip my tongue inside heat, tasting her sweetness again as I tongue fuck her. Her body starts shaking again and I know she’s about to let loose another orgasm when she’s only barely caught her breath from the last one. Pulling back, I wait until she’s relaxed again and nibble along her lips, dragging my tongue along each before reaching her pearl again.

  “Breathe, sweetness.” I remind her when I don’t hear the little catches in her breath she’s trying to hide.

  Licking across my lips, I know I’m not done with her yet, but I don’t know if I can handle not being inside of her anymore.

  Ember

  Holy sweet mother of pearl.

  Never did I imagine a man going down on me would feel so delicious. My body came unglued for him. My heart nearly exploded out of my chest.

  And then the man did it again.
r />   His demands for silence as he ate me out were a huge turn on. I had no idea I even liked that kind of dominance and I’m wondering what I can do to make him ask for more.

  I hear the foil package of the condom I don’t want him wearing, ripping open and close my eyes as I feel him kneeling between my legs. The heat of his erection is hot on my thigh as he lowers his body to cover mine.

  “You ready for me sweetness?” He murmurs in my ear. My eyes water, not because I’m in pain or even anticipate the pain of losing my virginity but because I don’t want this night to end.

  “Yes, Noah.” I whisper, unsure if I was supposed to answer him or not.

  “Don’t let go of those ankles.” He directs as I feel the head of his cock slowly push through my folds.

  It’s tight and uncomfortable but I savor each burn, each awkward thrust until he slams through my barrier and his balls slap against my ass.

  “Fucking Christ, Ember, why the fuck didn’t you tell me you were a goddamned virgin?” He hisses in my ear and tears gather in my eyes as he drops his head onto my shoulder.

  I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing at all. I’m not ashamed of waiting for the right man and I won’t apologize for not telling him. I don’t think he would have stuck around if he’d have known.

  “Ember, fucking talk to me.” The worry in his tone has me meeting his gaze as his head lifts and he searches mine.