I nod, thinking of the frequent dragon attacks. They’re more often than not instigated by the red dragons. The golds are less frequent. So women are safe as long as they stay in the city.
You say they are safe, yet you wish to bring your sister here. If she is safe, why will she come to us? I am the enemy.
I let my hand play along the hard scales of Kael’s chin, stroking them as I think. I was in trouble in the city. They want me to come back so they can punish me, so they are holding my sister hostage. I worry that they’re going to get tired of holding her and do something worse. I think of the guards in the city, with their grabby hands and smug, superior ways. I think of Sasha’s ‘friend’ who likes to use his fists in exchange for a few bites to eat. A woman with no power in Fort Dallas was a woman in danger, and there are plenty who will take advantage. It’s for the best, I tell him. Trust me.
Now I just have to convince myself of that.
I will do whatever makes you happy, my Claudia.
I gaze up at Dakh, who still perches above us. He watches me like a hawk, his gaze covetous as he looks down on me, nestled in Kael’s claws. And him? Is he going to behave?
His thoughts are confused, but he has one focus—a mate. As long as we keep him focused on that, he will assist us.
That’s the thing, though. I don’t exactly trust Dakh not to snatch Amy as soon as we have her free from the militia. Maybe we should do the rescue alone.
Dakh will be the distraction we need, Kael tells me, and sends a flurry of mental images. Of Dakh flying at the edge of the city, while Kael goes to the police building, rips the roof off, and pulls my sister free.
Which is great and all, but I still don’t trust Dakh. Maybe it’s the way he keeps looking at me. He watches me as if he’d challenge Kael for me if Kael so much as breathes wrong.
He will not, Kael says, intercepting my thoughts. You are already claimed. Another dragon cannot take you for his own. My fire is already in your blood.
But why do we need him at all? The guns the soldiers have can’t hurt you, can they?
His claws tighten around me protectively. They cannot hurt me, but you are small and fragile and pink. Your sister, too. I do not want them spitting their fire weapons at you.
A smile curved my lips at his description. Small and fragile and pink? You’re sweet, I tell him.
No, I am greedy. He licks my neck, and one big claw the size of my forearm brushes against the tip of my breast.
I suck in a breath, nipples growing hard. Why is it that I responded to Kael’s touch so easily now? Is it because the orgasms are mind-blowing every time? We haven’t had penetrative sex again. He’s letting me decide when I want to go that far once more. Instead, he just gives me endless amounts of oral. Endless, toe-curling amounts of oral. Maybe that’s why I respond at the barest of touches from him.
Or maybe it’s because I’m feeling things for my big, possessive dragon. I tuck that thought away before he can intercept it, because I don’t want to talk about love or the future until Amy is safe. I can’t commit to anything as long as she’s in danger.
There’s a sudden flurry of wings overhead, and I jump, alarmed, as Dakh trumpets and takes to the night skies, arrowing into the darkness.
“What happened?” I ask, confused. “Did he get offended by something?”
The big claws toying with my breasts disappear, and I turn around just in time to see Kael transforming back to his human form. He straightens his beautiful body, all golden muscle. He gazes down at me, hungry with desire, and his cock is thick and engorged, jutting from his hips in a very obvious manner.
My mouth goes dry at the sight of him.
I sent him away, Kael tells me. He brushes the back of his hand across my cheek, tracing my jaw with his knuckles. I told him it was time for me to claim my mate and pleasure her.
I’m horrified and aroused all at once. “Please, please tell me you did not say that to him.”
Why? He understands. He wishes he had a mate half as lovely and soft as mine to wrap his body around. To share forms with. Kael’s arm goes around my waist, dragging me against him. His gaze captures mine, and he gives me a naughty look. Shall I pleasure you, my mate? Before I can respond, he adds, I will only take what you freely give.
Meaning just oral. And while that’s great—and okay, I absolutely love oral and his willingness to give it—I also feel a little sad that I’m too scared to ask for more.
Tomorrow we go to retrieve Amy and Sasha. Whatever happens tomorrow, our dynamic changes. After tomorrow, it’ll be me, him, Amy and Sasha here in this place. We’re losing our alone time, and the days of casually grabbing the other person for an impromptu make-out at any time, any place? Those days will be over. I’m a little sad about that and wonder if I shouldn’t take advantage of the situation. I’m asking Kael to trust me tomorrow—can’t I trust him?
And if something bad should happen tomorrow…this might be our last night together.
“I want to have sex,” I blurt out to him, my hand on his bare chest. “Real sex. Not just touching. I want everything…but I’m scared.”
Why scared? I am your mate. I want nothing more than to give you pleasure.
“Yes, but the bite—”
I do not need to do so again. My venom races through you even now. He watches me intently, his claws stroking down the column of my throat. Your scent has melded with mine, just like our minds have melded. We are connected. One claw drags down the front of my T-shirt, the fabric catching. You are my mate. My everything. But if you are still scared, I will only pleasure you with my mouth.
I swallow hard. “I don’t want to be scared. I want you, too.”
Then look into my mind. See my thoughts. You will know you have nothing to fear.
I tentatively reach out to connect my mind to his, and I’m immediately flooded by images. Images of us together, his mouth on my skin. Images of my hand skimming down his back. Of his mouth between my legs. Of him feeding the aching length of his cock into my soft pussy—
And I moan, putting my arms around his neck. “Yeah, okay, let’s do that.”
Which part? He sounds amused.
I have to pick? I want all of it. All of what he just showed me, because I’m terribly greedy.
Then you shall have all of it. He swings me into his arms and heads toward our large bed.
I wrap my arms around his neck, still a little hesitant. “We still need to prepare for tomorrow,” I tell him, even as he sets me down on the bed and then immediately climbs over me. “I need to make a second saddle for Amy, and…”
And I’m getting distracted as his weight settles over my body. God, I love the feel of him against me. My breath dies in my throat as he buries his face against my neck and begins to lick my collarbone with his hot, raspy tongue. We will prepare, he tells me, and his thoughts are husky with need. But for now, I need my mate.
“Oh boy, your mate needs you, too.” I arch against his teasing, glorious tongue. Why am I wearing so much damn clothing? It needs to go right now.