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Argent snorted. “She hasn’t changed one bit. Always stealing my spot. I used to have this sandy beach on a small island I loved sunbathing on until someone decided to claim it.”

“I offered to share.”

“I don’t share,” groused Argent.

“I’m aware. Your loss. Some of us are mature enough to realize that sharing can have benefits.” Starlight glanced at Kreed and the man blushed harder.

Griff shook his head and muttered, “This voyage will be interesting.”

It certainly was, because once they boarded—with not one but two half-naked people—his crew kept to the far side of the deck. Those who didn’t hide below it.

Seeing their trepidation, Argent strode forward, and while he should have looked ridiculous only wearing pants and nothing else, the man held himself with an arrogance that clothed him as if he wore expensive finery.

He struck a pose and said, “Good crew, I greet you. Yes, it is I, the fearsome and mighty dragon you saw before. But fear not. So long as you do not attempt to harm or steal from me”—his gaze narrowed—“you shan’t incur my wrath. ”

“You ate my granddad,” one of the younger crew stated. “He went to Verlora and never came back.”

“In my early hatching years, I’m afraid my hunger made no difference between explorers and looters. However, rest assured, that while you are not blooded, I consider all of you part of my retinue and one does not eat their servants.”

Someone whispered, “Wait, by servant does he expect we’ll be washing his drawers?”

Laughter tinkled as Starlight stepped forward. “Just continue as you normally would and treat us like you would any honored passenger.”

“Wait, are you a dragon too?” squeaked Peter.

Starlight’s lips curved. “Oh yes. But do not let that daunt you. I am much nicer than Argent and look forward to getting to know you during our voyage.”

A comment that had a few sailors saying, “Where we going, Cap?”

While Griff had told him of his intent to rescue Avera, he’d not mentioned much else. He cleared his throat. “We will be transporting Her Highness and our two dignified dragon guests to Daerva.”

“You turning her in for the bounty?” exclaimed Peter.

“Of course not,” he huffed. “More like aiding her in reclaiming what is rightfully hers.”

To which Avera, looking ragged in her dirty white gown, added, “And once I am sitting upon my throne, I promise to richly reward each and every one of you.”

The cheering disgruntled Argent, who’d only gotten wide eyes and meekness.

With his talk to the crew done, Griff then had to deal with the cabin situation. Argent refused to part with or share his, leaving Starlight and Avera without a room to bunk.

Kreed stepped up. “You can have my space, your, um, dragoness,” he stuttered. “Just let me clean it up a bit first.”

“Aren’t you just the sweetest,” Starlight stated with a smile.

“It’s not big, but you’ll have privacy,” he added.

“It’s not the size that matters,” she purred.

Poor Kreed turned so red he almost exploded.

Griff glanced at Avera. “My room is big enough to share if you’re interested.”

“That would suit me fine,” Avera stated with a blush of her own.

Surprisingly enough, Simhi was the one who took issue with it. “You can’t be shacking up with the Queen of Daerva, Cap. What will her people think?”

His lips twisted. “Fair point. Guess I’m bunking in the hold.”

“Not necessarily.” Argent glanced between them before clapping his hands. “There is a solution. You shall marry.”

Avera’s jaw dropped almost as far as Griff’s.

“M-marry?” he stuttered.

“It’s obvious you are besotted with each other. You’re both royals. Both blooded. It’s the perfect match.”

Avera quickly murmured, “You don’t have to.”

“What if I want to?” Griff replied, the shock having already worn off. After all, Simhi had a point. Avera wasn’t some light skirt he could just bed. Nor was she someone he could see himself tiring of. On the contrary, he’d never been more attracted, intrigued, and… It hit him suddenly.

In love.

Her gaze met his. “You actually want to marry me?” Knowing her past, he could understand her doubtful query.

“I care for you. I don’t know how it happened, or why so fast, but from the moment we’ve met you’re always on my mind. It’s why I had to come for you. Why I’ll always find you.”

“I was bereft when I thought you’d died.” She cupped his cheek with her hand.

“So, shall we marry, Queen Avera Voxspira of Daerva?”

“If you’ll have me, Griffon Leif, Chancellor of Verlora and Pirate King of Saarpira.”

The crew couldn’t have been giddier. By sunset, the women on board had cobbled together a wedding gown for Avera that included a veil. The deck had been swabbed and cleared so that everyone could bear witness. Argent, who declared himself the highest-ranking person on board, married them.

If asked, Griff couldn’t have repeated what was said.

He only had eyes for Avera, the little queen who’d stolen his heart, which pounded so hard he thought it might burst from his chest. He did hear the part, “I now declare you consort and consort because I am not about to decide whose title takes precedence. You may kiss, but not too long, please. I smell dinner.”

Griff would take as long as he damned well pleased. This was his wife.

His queen.

The woman he’d braved Verlora for.

The lady he’d bargained with a dragon to save.

The love he’d been waiting for.

“Do you want dinner or shall we adjourn, wife?” He tested the word aloud.

“I’m not hungry for food,” she murmured.

When he scooped her into his arms, she gasped and his crew cheered which led to a rosy hue on her cheeks. Griff took Avera straight to his cabin and, once inside, locked the door and leaned against it.

Avera ducked her head shyly. “Hi.”

For some reason that made him chuckle. “Hello, wife.”

Her lips curved. “I can’t believe we’re married.”

“No regrets, I hope?”

She shook her head. “No. There was a time where the idea repugned,” to which she hurriedly added, “but that was before we met. There was something about you. I couldn’t ever seem to get you out of my mind. When I thought you’d died…”

“And I found out you’d been abducted. Worst feeling in the world. But look at us. Alive. Together. Married.” He winked.

“Now what?”

“Now we make the most of the time we have before the disaster.” He drew her close and dipped his head for a kiss.

It started out slow and sensual, but as their blood heated, their hands began to clutch and stroke.

A man of experience, Griff had kissed plenty of women before, but none had the ability to ignite every inch of his being like Avera. Having her in his arms made him want to rush, to sheathe himself in her body, and claim her as his.

However, he couldn’t lose control. She remained innocent. As it was her first time, and their first time together, he wanted it to be memorable.

He slid his hands down her back, gliding over the silken material of her gown to cup the firmness of her buttocks. He tugged her hard against him, and she gasped, a hot exhalation against his lips.

He tugged at the fabric, inching it upwards until he could palm her cheeks, the thin material covering them a temporary impediment.

He walked her backwards to his bed before spinning her.

He made quick work of the laces holding the dress in place.

The fabric slid from her shoulders and hit the floor, leaving her only in her undergarments.

He leaned in to kiss the smooth exposed skin of her shoulder and she shivered. The straps to her chemise slid down her arms as he removed it. Her underpants followed, leaving her nude. Only then did he turn her to face him, tilting her chin to drop a kiss on her lips.

“I feel underdressed compared to you,” she murmured.

“Then feel free to rectify that.”

She hesitated only a moment before she pulled at his jacket, the thick brocade too warm for this climate but the fanciest thing he owned. She unlaced his shirt, and he helped her to pull it off.

“You’re very muscled,” she observed, trailing her hands over his chest, causing his cock to twitch.

“And you are perfect,” was his reply. He unfastened his britches but kept them on as he sat on the bed, tugging her into his lap, turning her so she sat astride him.

He gripped her rounded ass as he kissed her some more, and she squirmed atop him, causing him to shudder as his cock swelled in anticipation.

Their teeth clanged as their embrace grew more frantic. She made tiny sounds as she ground herself against him, innocent and yet her body knew what it wanted. The pebbles of her nipples pressed against his chest and he suddenly had a need to taste them.

He leaned her back, one hand holding her so she wouldn’t slide from his lap as he exposed her breasts to him, a pert handful with large pink nipples that tightened as he stared.

He ran the pad of his thumb over a bud and she trembled.

He leaned in for a lick, the wet dart of his tongue causing her to cry out then moan as he latched on and sucked.

He toyed with her nipples, lavishing them both with attention, tugging them into his mouth, biting down gently.

Her excitement made her wet enough he felt it through the breeches that strained over his engorged cock.

He shifted her from his lap and lay her on the bed. As he stripped his pants, he admired the flush of arousal on her face and flesh. The way her eyes were half shut with desire.

When she reached for him, he gladly covered her body with his, his kiss hungry. Their bare flesh rubbed, a sensual delight that had him growling, “I’ve dreamed of this moment.” The only woman to ever invade his dreams.

“I feel so strange,” she panted, clutching at his shoulders. “My body aches.”

Words that almost undid him.

“Let me show you what it wants. Part your legs for me.”

Her thighs slid apart, and he settled between them, the tip of his shaft tickling the entrance to her sex, drawing a sharp gasp.

“Oh, that feels nice.”

She was trying to kill him.

He held on—barely—jaw gritted as he dragged his swollen head back and forth against her. She whimpered and writhed, the honey of her sex making them both slick. He made sure to capture her lips as he began to push into her slowly, quickly encountering her maidenhead.

“There will be a brief moment of pain,” he murmured against her lips. “But then, I promise, pleasure.”

“I know. Do it.”

He didn’t prolong it and thrust, breaking past her innocence, but then holding still, giving her a moment to adjust.

She didn’t cry out, only slightly stiffened before asking tentatively, “Was that it?”

“No,” he chuckled. “Now the pleasure part happens.”

He began to thrust slowly, short rocking motions that soon had her matching his rhythm. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and her breathing grew ragged as he thrust deeper.

Harder.

Ground himself against her.

Felt her tightening, and when she stopped breathing and went still, he was the one to utter a sound as her orgasm rippled his cock. As her sex spasmed with release, it drew his own climax, a mighty one that spilled his seed, marking her womb, a first for him.

As their pleasure abated, he rolled to his back and dragged her atop him, cradling her against his body as he murmured, “Are you okay?”

“Mmm,” was her reply.

“We are now truly married.”

“Are we?” she asked, lifting herself enough he could see her mischievous smile. “I think perhaps you should do that again, you know, just to be sure.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Whatever my wife desires.”

The eight days they spent sailing to Daerva were the happiest of his life.

He and Avera spent much time together in his cabin.

When they had to leave it so he could attend ship duties, they tended to remain in sight of the other.

Sharing secretive smiles. Indulging in discreet touches.

The crew rolled their eyes quite a bit, and more than once he heard, “Bloody newlyweds . ” Said with good humor, of course, because everyone was happy for them.

It was an idyllic time, until Seaserpent’s Bay came into view and his stomach clenched. A dark cloud hung over the land and a chill, unseasonal wind swept over the deck.

He stood at the rail, Avera tucked tight to him as they sailed closer. He couldn’t help but hope they’d leave this place alive.