Page 16 of A First for the Playboy Dragon (Mysteries of Dragon’s Island #7)

CHAPTER 15

***HARRISON***

H arrison didn’t answer right away. He needed a few minutes to gather his thoughts. He’d never talked about how deeply he’d been wounded, first by his parents and then by the loss of George and Annie. Not even his friends knew the depth of the scars that had been left behind. He kept them well hidden behind his playboy persona, but everything had changed when he thought he’d lost Juliet. He understood that he’d have to make a leap of faith. He’d have to trust that his feelings for Juliet were worth the risk they’d both be taking if things went any further between them.

Feeling Juliet’s eyes on him, he looked over at her and their eyes met. A wave of warmth spread through him, and he couldn’t help but smile when her eyes widened and she gasped. “What is that?” she asked. “What are you doing to me?”

“It’s more like what we’re doing to each other,” he said. “It’s the connection between us. Don’t ask me to explain it to you, but I’ve never felt it with anyone else but you; that’s what scared the hell out of me.”

“But that can’t be right. I’ve been feeling it since we met,” she said, shaking her head. “We didn’t even know each other, we couldn’t have had a connection then.”

“It’s not the kind of connection you’re thinking about, at least not completely,” he said, then paused, searching for the right words to explain, wondering if it would scare her. “It’s deeper than that. Our souls match perfectly together, two halves that make a whole, or at least that’s what the legends say. Alone, we’re both strong, capable people; together, we’re even stronger; the dragon inside me craves that power, which is what creates the bond.”

“And it can never be broken,” Juliet said, staring into the fire, a thoughtful look on her face. “That can’t always be a good thing.”

“My parents were bonded, but I think they truly hate each other now,” he said with a sigh. “They were supposed to be the golden couple, the ones who were actually in love even though their marriage was arranged, but the glow didn’t last. By the time I was old enough to remember, they fought constantly. When it got really bad, Mom would take me and leave. I can’t tell you how many times my entire life was uprooted because they couldn’t get along. Eventually, my mother would go back home, dragging me with her, only for them to start fighting a few days later, and the entire cycle would repeat itself. When I finally got old enough, I put my foot down and refused to go with her, but I guess the damage had already been done. Love seemed more like a curse to me than a blessing, at least until I met George and Annie.”

“They were different than your parents,” she said. “They showed you the other side of love.”

He nodded, then took a deep breath. “They were so committed to each other. I’d never seen anything like it, and at first, I didn’t believe it could be real. But the more time I spent with them, the more I began to understand what was possible between two people who truly loved each other,” he said. “I was just beginning to think that I was wrong, that there might be a place in my life for the kind of love they shared. Then George was killed, and I saw the price that Annie paid; her grief was deep and endless, in the end it killed her.”

Juliet was silent for a second, then took his hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” she said. “I think I understand now what I was asking, I don’t blame you for saying no. I shouldn’t have put you in that position, and I’m sorry.”

“You couldn’t have known. It’s not your fault, you were just following your instincts, something I’ve been fighting since we met,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders, then looked over at her. “The thing is, I don’t want to fight them anymore. I want to let them take over, I want this thing between us. I just didn’t know how much until I thought that I’d lost you. I want you, Juliet, more than I’ve ever wanted anything. It scares the hell out of me, but I can’t walk away from you again, I just need to make sure you understand what this might mean. I don’t want to trap you in a connection that you don’t want.”

Juliet studied him for a second, then a smile slowly spread across her face. “How could I not want you?” she asked, shaking her head. “You’re the other half of me, you said it yourself. When I’m with you, Harrison, I’m more than just me, I’m something better. Nothing you said scares me. The truth is, now it all makes a little more sense. I’m willing to take a risk if you are. I waited a long time to meet you, and I can’t just walk away without knowing what we might be.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, a burst of hope taking his breath away. “It could all go wrong, or nothing could happen at all.”

“Or we could end up being happy for the rest of our lives,” she said, slipping into his arms. “And I’m betting on the last one. The island wouldn’t have done all this if we weren’t supposed to be together. We only get so many chances at happiness in life, Harrison. I’m not going to walk away from this one. If you get scared, I’ll be right here holding your hand.”

In that moment, he knew that Juliet had his heart, that it would be hers for the rest of their lives, and gave into the need pulsing through him. He would finally claim her as his own. From that night forward, she would belong to him and no one would ever be able to separate them. He discovered that he was absolutely fine with that thought.

“I was hoping you might do a little more than hold my hand,” he said, grinning down at her. “After all, if we’re going to do this, we might as well do it right.”

***Juliet***

Now that the moment she’d fought so hard for was finally happening, Juliet was suddenly nervous, afraid that she was going to embarrass herself with her innocence. “Harrison, I don’t really know what to do,” she said. “I mean, I understand how it all works, but I’ve never…well…I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“Juliet, you could never disappoint me,” he said, pulling her into his lap. “Just being with you tonight would be enough for me. I don’t want to rush you. We can take this as slowly as you want.”

“I waited for you for too long already,” she said, slightly breathless, her eyes locked on his. “I don’t want to wait anymore, I want you to make love to me tonight.”

He captured her mouth in a kiss so full of promise that the world around them melted away, and she was only aware of the sweet sensations rushing through her body. When he gently laid her down on the sleeping bag and covered her body with his, it felt so right that she let out a sigh of relief. Harrison deepened the kiss, his hands beginning to roam, and she found herself beginning to squirm underneath him, her body demanding something, but she wasn’t sure what.

Still devouring her mouth, Harrison slipped one hand under her sweatshirt, then slowly began to slide it up her chest before pulling it over her head. Recapturing her mouth, his hand found its way to her breasts, and he massaged first one, then the other, his touch sending waves of pleasure rocketing through her. She gasped, letting out a little moan that turned to a throaty groan when his finger and thumb found her nipple through the fabric of her tank top.

Arching her back, she moaned again, then opened her eyes to find Harrison looking down at her, a hungry look in his eyes. She suddenly understood what it meant to be wanted by a man, and a powerful thrill shot through her, stealing her breath and making her tremble with anticipation.

“I want to see all of you, sweetheart,” Harrison said, slipping her tank top off over her head. “I want to see your beautiful body.”

When his fingers brushed across her stomach as he unhooked the button on her shorts, she gasped and closed her eyes, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “Open your eyes, Juliet,” Harrison whispered. “You have a beautiful body, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

She forced herself to open her eyes, gasping when his hands slipped into her shorts and brushed across her hip bones as he eased the shorts down her legs. When they were discarded on the cave floor, Harrison sat back and let his eyes roam over her body, desire blossoming in his eyes, and she gasped again as it rushed through her, too. With an understanding smile on his face, Harrison slid his hands under her back and unhooked her bra with one twist of his fingers.

He pulled it away with a reverence that made her entire body fill with heat. Although her cheeks turned pink as he stared at her breasts, she continued to watch him, moisture beginning to form between her legs. With a low growl rumbling from deep in his chest, Harrison slid his hands down her body so gently it made her shiver, then hooked his fingers in the elastic of her panties and slid them slowly down her legs. When they joined her shorts on the cave floor, he quickly stripped out of his clothes, and she couldn’t help but gasp when she saw his naked body and the growing erection between his legs.

“You’re more incredible than I ever imagined,” he said, laying down beside her, his hands stroking her bare skin and sending ripples of pleasure through her. “I want to explore every inch of your body and then start all over again.”

Her breath coming in short gasps, she looked up at him, a pulsing need beginning to form deep in her loins, and Harrison lowered his mouth to hers, then let his hand dip lower until it was resting at the juncture of her thighs. Anticipation thundered through her again, the need deep inside her growing until she began to squirm in his arms, not sure how to satisfy it.

As if reading her mind, Harrison gently pushed her legs apart, “Open up for me, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. “I want to feel your heat.”

Gasping at his words, the tight coil deep inside her becoming almost painful, she spread her legs for him. The growl from deep in his chest when she did, made her even more desperate. “Please, Harrison, I need…” she panted but let out a long sigh of pleasure when his finger slipped between her folds and found her swollen nib.

Instantly consumed by the waves of sensation rushing through her as Harrison gently stroked her to full climax, she could only hold onto his shoulders as her body shook and trembled. She was panting as she slowly came back down to Earth, but soon became aware of a new kind of need, an empty place inside her that demanded to be filled. Opening pleasure- filled eyes, she looked up at Harrison, then lifted her hips to him as instinct took over, and she understood what she wanted so badly.

“Please, Harrison, I need you,” she panted, spreading her legs wider for him. “I need to feel you inside me.”

With a growl, he slipped between her legs, his eyes glowing in the darkness only intensifying the feeling. He looked down at her and their eyes met. “You’re mine, Juliet, mine forever,” he said. “And I’ll always belong to you. My heart and soul are yours for the rest of my life and beyond.”

She felt the cave fill with power but could only think about the throbbing emptiness between her legs. She didn’t see the air shimmering around them, nor did she know that deep in a cave, a sparkling gem began to glow as it absorbed that power. Only aware of the man above her, she held her breath, anticipation making her entire body tremble, then inch by inch, Harrison slowly filled her, his throbbing manhood stretching her tight passageway, sending new waves of pleasure rushing through her.

There was only one split second of pain when he pushed through her barrier, but only moments later, the pleasure was back, more intense than before, and instinctively, she lifted her hips to him. In response, he growled deep in his chest, his eyes filled with pleasure, and buried himself deeper inside her over and over again, each stroke of his powerful body sending waves of pure sensation thundering through her.

He took them both higher and higher until, crying out his name, she tumbled over the edge, and this time she took Harrison with her. His body convulsed deep inside her as he continued to thrust his powerful hips, and she could only hold on, sure that she was going to explode into a million pieces. She was still floating on a cloud of pleasure when he collapsed on top of her, his weight warm and welcoming, but all too soon, he rolled off her, taking his heat with him, and she whimpered, feeling the loss.

He gathered her into his arms and snuggled her close to him, then let out a long sigh of contentment, and the sound filled her with warmth. “I guess you weren’t disappointed,” she said, feeling a blush rise on her cheeks. “If I should have done something different, you should tell me.”

“Sweetheart, you’re perfect in every way,” he said. “I wouldn’t want you to change a thing.”