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Tiber pulled Mia’s back close to his chest as he felt her starting to wake up. After taking her yesterday in the springs, then again in her cabin multiple times, she’d passed out some time last evening—after he’d insisted she eat.

Because his female needed her strength.

Before yesterday he hadn’t understood what the mating instinct did to a dragon.

He thought he’d understood, but after tasting her, feeling her come around his cock, hearing the moans of pleasure she made and his name on her lips as she reached the heights of pleasure, he knew he would never let her go.

A compulsion like he’d never imagined demanded that he claim her, mark her, bite her. But he knew it was too soon.

Not too soon.

He ignored his inner beast, found himself smiling as Mia pushed her ass back against him with intent.

“Someone’s happy to see me this morning,” she murmured, still in that peaceful, not-quite-awake phase.

He nipped her shoulder as he slid his palm down her stomach before cupping her mound, began teasing the hidden little bundle of nerves.

She jerked back against him with a gasp. “I can’t believe you’re ready to go again.”

“With you, always.” He bit down again, careful not to break her skin as he continued stroking her. “Are you ready?” he murmured even as he nudged her thighs up from behind with his own.

Then he slid his hard length between her thighs, rubbing along her folds and over her clit.

She sucked in a breath as the head of his cock slid over her nerves, so he did it again and again until she was breathing hard and reaching back to clutch his hip.

“I’m ready,” she rasped out, her fingers digging into him.

“Maybe I’m not.” He nipped her again. “Maybe I like teasing you.”

Her breathing was unsteady as she reached between her legs and teased her own clit. “Maybe I’ll get myself off.”

Loving the challenging note in her voice, he grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away even as he slid into her from behind.

He growled against her neck as he filled her, thrusting slowly at first, enjoying each little gasp and moan she made. And he was fairly certain she loved the way he was restraining her wrist, wondered if she would enjoy more restraints later.

At that thought, he nipped her earlobe, wishing he could officially bite and claim her so that everyone would know she was taken. So they would be linked forever.

But that was something he could never take. Would never take. She was giving him her trust by being so vulnerable with him and it was something he would never betray.

When she’d mentioned his glowing eyes, he’d known without a doubt that she was his. Mating manifestations showed themselves in different ways for different dragons and his clan only ever showed their manifestation in a single way. Through their eyes.

“Tiber.” There was a needy thread in her voice, so he released her wrist and began massaging her clit as he continued thrusting inside her.

And that was all it took for his Mia to lose control.

She shoved back against him with abandon as he lost himself inside her, her orgasm sharp and fast—allowing him to let go of his own control.

Control that had once been legendary at least in battle. But with her, it might as well not exist. There was nothing he wouldn’t give her or do for her. “Mia.” Her name was a prayer on his lips as they both came down from the bliss of climax.

When he rolled her onto her back and went to kiss her, she covered her mouth with an adorable little squeak.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to brush my teeth.” Her words were garbled under her palm.

“I don’t care about that.”

“But I do.”

“Can I kiss your breasts then?” he asked even as he slid down to her chest and began worshipping her.

In response, she laughed, which turned into a moan until they were both sated once again.

As they laid there in the dim morning light breaking through the drapes, he held her against his chest, memorizing this moment. Wanting to remember all of it.

He’d never felt so at peace as when he was with her. Not in a thousand years had he ever felt like this, and he wasn’t certain he could put it into words, but she filled a place inside him he hadn’t realized was missing.

“You better watch out or I won’t let you go,” she murmured against his chest, her words a little drowsy and he had a feeling she would doze before they headed to breakfast.

He snorted softly. Let him go? Perhaps she didn’t understand, it was he who was never letting her go. But before he could respond, there was a rough banging on her cabin door.

He jolted up before Mia had even moved, hurrying to the front door and wrenching it open.

Her friend Aki stood on the other side, her eyes widening when she saw him standing there naked. Looking away quickly, she said, “I’m so sorry to interrupt you, but a friend of yours is here to see you, said it’s important.”

“They better be dying,” he growled before he slammed the door on her.