Page 11 of Bound to the Dragon (Wild Fated Shifters #3)

MADISON

I toy with the amber-colored vial in my hands, unsure about the acquisition.

I shouldn’t have asked Virginia to get it for me, even though it had been my suggestion.

I’m not entirely sure I understand how Golden Shade works; its powers are rumored around the territories to curb the effects of a mate bond.

But how exactly? I can’t say. I don’t know anyone who has used it, and I’m not sure I’m brave enough to just chug it back.

I don’t even know if it will work. At this point, I’m willing to try anything if Blaze won’t consummate this bond between us.

The echo of the front door opening and closing echoes up the stairs where I sit, and I jump to my feet before Blaze can find me at the top of the steps, lost in thought.

But he’s too fast, streaking up the stairs, stark naked. I gape at his exquisite form, muscles glistening in sweat from the flight he had just taken in his dragon form. Although, I am not sure where he had been.

I run my tongue across my suddenly dry lips. I can’t take my eyes away from his glorious, naked form, a dampness forming under my arms and in other parts of my body.

“What are you doing, sitting up here by yourself? Are you all right?”

At a loss, I hold up the bottle of Golden Shade. “I got this.”

His hazel gaze flips toward the vial, and his eyes grow huge. “Is that what I think it is?”

“You know what Golden Shade is?”

Disappointment colors his handsome face, and I covertly find myself checking out his ripped chest, curling my fingers tighter around the bottle.

Careful, Maddi. You’re going to shatter this thing.

I’m not sure if I’m thinking about the vial or my heart.

Blaze meets my stare as if he can hear my thoughts. “Did you take any?”

I shake my head, and he exhales.

Is he relieved? That’s… odd.

I’m so distracted by his nudity, but he doesn’t seem to notice it as he faces me. “It’s making everything difficult.”

“More the reason to try the Golden Shade,” I manage to sputter, extending my hand toward him.

“Do you even know what it does?” he asks, a bemused smile touching his lips.

I shake my head. “Do you?”

Maybe if he tries it first, I’ll be brave enough to do it, too.

“It only blocks other people from sensing our mate bond, and only temporarily, at that. It won’t stop us from feeling anything for each other. Is that what you want?”

I swallow thickly and shake my head again. “No.” I can’t even be sure I said the words aloud. “That’s not what I want.”

“What do you want?” His hazel irises bore into me, daring me to say what’s been in my heart since our mate bond snapped into place.

“You,” I blurt out before I can change my mind. I barely realize my hand is still extended, and he catches me by surprise, seizing my hand with the vial and pulling me toward him. My heart beats wildly as his hot breath dances over my face.

“Good.” He doesn’t let me respond, the kiss landing firmly but sweetly on my lips.

A distinct saltiness fills my mouth, and I melt against him. For the first time since our bond snapped into place, a sense of peace washes over me.

Is this all that we needed? To submit to our bond?

It seems too simple, but the sensation of warmth and euphoria only mounts as Blaze collects me in his strong arms and carries me across the landing toward his room.

My arms wrap around him, my lips burying into his neck, and I inhale him, relishing every particle of him.

My fingers curl tightly together as he kicks open the double doors to his suite, nudging them closed gently with his feet.

This is the first time I’ve ever been in the Alpha’s room, and it suits him.

Everything is masculine, elegant, from the towering poster bed to the tasteful artwork on the walls as he places me on the huge mattress.

But the most impressive thing in the room is the masterpiece standing at the foot of the bed, the blatant desire in his eyes making me wet already. My chest heaves as he just studies me like he doesn’t know where to start.

I sit up, but I don’t get very far as he pounces on me, his mouth crushing down on me and stealing my breath away. Strong hands cup around my ass, his hold pulling me toward him.

His hot bulge meets the heat of my center as my jean skirt rides up higher, legs spreading around him.

“Fuck, why were we fighting this?” His speech is muffled as he makes his way across my neck and clavicles, tongue and lips exploring every inch of me.

My skin prickles as his fingers trail around the front of my thighs like he knows exactly where to go.

Every sensation is magnified, and I close my eyes, wrapping my ankles across his muscled back.

My shirt and bra disappear under his skilled hands, and I moan slightly as his mouth finds the taut skin of my nipple.

His lips seal onto my sensitive peak, his caresses grow more intense, the tips of his fingers sliding my panties aside to discover my wet core.

Blaze raises his head to look at me. “Why are you always fighting me?”

My eyes open, and I offer him a sheepish grin. “I’m not fighting you now, am I?”

“You might be by the time I’m finished with you,” he vows, and another surge of heat bursts through me.

His hair tickles the bare skin of my stomach as he lowers his mouth over the curve of my waist and along the line of my hips.

His left hand pulls my skirt off, and I unhook my legs long enough to lose the remaining pieces of clothes to the floor.

Tangled together, I shiver as he takes in my scent.

Again, my eyes fall closed, and I savor the tease of his breath against my pussy, our heartbeats in perfect rhythm.

The first lap of his tongue against me almost sends me to the ceiling, the spot perfect, as if he had been there a hundred times before.

His laps grow more intense as my hand tangles in the hair at the nape of his neck, my back arching to meet him.

Desire thrums between us, the bond growing deeper as tension coils at my core.

My body trembles as the climax builds, and his grip on my ass tightens as I finally surrender to the sensation.

The orgasm tears through me, leaving me breathless and shaking against his mouth.

Blaze releases a deep groan of satisfaction, and I can feel how much he wants me in the way his hands dig into my skin.

His tongue works me relentlessly through every pulse and spasm, drawing out my pleasure until I’m gasping.

Only when my body finally stills does he begin kissing his way up, lingering on my hip bone, trailing across my ribs, teasing the sensitive skin beneath my breasts. By the time he reaches my mouth, I’m already aching for him again.

Still trembling in the aftermath, I hold him close, our lips locking, along with our eyes.

“You are my fated mate, whether or not you like it, Madison,” he growls. “It’s time you let it go.”

His thickness presses against my entrance, then slowly slides inside me, stretching me in the most exquisite way.

The feeling is overwhelming. He fills me completely, as if our bodies were designed for this exact moment.

I gasp at the sheer size of him, the delicious pressure making my head fall back.

He captures my mouth again, his tongue sliding against mine as he gives me time to adjust.

My legs wrap around his waist, pulling him deeper, and we find our rhythm together—slow at first, then building.

Each thrust sends waves of pleasure through me, and I can’t help the soft moans that escape my lips.

Blaze kisses along my jawline and down my neck, his breath warm against my skin as his pace increases.

My fingers rake down his back, and he shudders at the contact. The pressure builds inside me again, different this time, deeper, more intense. When the second climax hits, I cry out his name, my body clenching around him.

He pulses and grows even harder inside me, his control beginning to fray.

“Are you ready for me?” he rasps, and I can’t find my voice to respond.

With a long, final thrust that reaches the very core of me, he loses control completely. The heat of his release floods me, and a deep moan tears from my throat as I throw my head back against the pillows.

My thighs fall apart, satisfied, as he collapses on top of me with a shuddering groan that vibrates through his chest into mine. His weight is heavy but comforting, pinning me to the bed as we both struggle to catch our breath. Our skin is slick with sweat, our hearts beating in sync.

We cling to each other wordlessly, my arms wrapped around his broad shoulders while his face is buried in the curve of my neck.

His breath gradually evens out against my skin. I want to freeze this moment, to capture the perfect contentment and safety I feel in his arms.

But even as I savor the afterglow, a part of my mind can’t help spinning forward.

What happens now? How will this change things between us?

The questions hover at the edge of my consciousness, but I push them away, choosing instead to focus on the solid warmth of him above me and the lingering echoes of pleasure still humming through my body.

I move out from under him and turn on my side to look at him, but his eyes are closed.

Is he sleeping?

As if he heard my silent question, he speaks. “You should move your things in here. Tonight.”

My jaw slackens at the completely unexpected suggestion. “You want me to move in here? With you?”

His eyelids part, and he stares at me. “You sound surprised. We’re mates.”

“I just assumed we would always have separate suites, even when…” I gesture vaguely at the rumpled bed.

His intense eyes shadow. “That’s not how this works. We share a suite.”

“Then why did Lillian put all my stuff away?” I’m not asking to be defiant, but out of genuine curiosity.

Unfortunately, Blaze doesn’t see it that way and sits up. “Does everything have to be a fight with you?”

“I wasn’t?—”

“Fine. Keep your own suite. I don’t even know why I bothered trying with you.” He’s out of bed, stalking toward his armoire for clothes. “You can go now. You’ve done your mate duties.”

Insulted, I gawk at him. “My mate duties ?”

Ignoring me, he makes his way to the bathroom and slams the door, the sound reverberating across the suite.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? He takes offense to everything I say, constantly misinterpreting my questions for arguments.

He’s just determined to see everything on his own terms, in his own way.

Bond or not, he’s not the one for me. I have to learn to deal with his moods and misunderstandings, even if it stings.

This isn’t the way I wanted it to go, our first time together. In my mind’s eye, I envisioned us lying together, still connected, our hearts syncing like they were meant to.

Good. I’m glad I still have my own suite. It’s better that way for all of us.

But it doesn’t feel good, collecting my clothes and doing the walk of shame back out of my mate’s suite, especially when I encounter a couple of staff members on the way who give me proud, knowing looks. Like I’ve accomplished something wonderful. Imagine bringing a child into this loveless union.

I feel awful. What had started as the most beautiful moment in my life was ruined, all because my mate is a pig-headed jerk. Now I don’t feel so bad about keeping such a giant secret from him.