Page 4 of Flameborne: Fury (Emberquell Academy #2)

She stood in water up to her waist, eyes round with horror, gaping at me.

Akhane rumbled, but didn’t move from her spot on the bank. I kept my eyes on Bren’s face, palms facing her in surrender.

“I’m sorry,” I rasped. “I only wanted to be sure you were safe. But, god, Bren.”

Her eyes widened further. “Are you… is this a dream?” she breathed, looking around as if something might materialize from the woods.

I shook my head. “You don’t have to cover yourself with me,” I croaked, tearing at my own buttons, yanking the sides of my shirt open, tearing it off and throwing it behind me before I started on my belt buckle, and then my leathers.

I didn’t let my eyes drift from hers, but pleaded with her in my mind not to be afraid as I revealed myself, made myself naked so she wasn’t alone.

“Please,” I breathed as I crossed the grassy bank, then my toes curled into the mud of the pools. “I’ll show you everything, Bren. I’ll give you everything.”

Her head eased back in alarm, but she didn’t move as I started towards her, the water pulling at my feet, then dragging against my thighs. It washed away from my passage, the silver-wave breaking against her belly and rocking her.

“I will strip my fucking soul bare if it keeps you from fear. I… I need you. I can’t explain it,” I graveled, stretching for her as her chest expanded and her eyes warmed.

“You don’t have to. I told you, the answer’s yes—”

She gasped as I reached her and caught her up, pulling her against my body and into my kiss, groaning with relief to have my lips on hers and the warmth of her against my skin.

Trembling, unable to have enough of her, I turned her towards the shallows, lowering her to her feet so I could grasp her hair and pulled her head back, baring her neck and diving for that delicate skin under her jaw.

She sucked in a harsh breath, the sound thrilling in the quiet night, as I grazed my teeth there.

Her hands clapped to my shoulders, her nails digging into my back as I kissed my way down, begging her to forgive me for my stupid falter earlier.

That she was mine, meant for me. Needed. Beautiful. Necessary.

She shivered under my hands, her nipples tightening to rivets as I dropped to my knees and opened my mouth over one, then the other, sucking until she cried out and arched.

Sucking, teasing, gasping. I grew desperate, clawing to keep her against me, thrilled when she whispered my name. I stood again, drawing myself up her body, whispering her name and jolted right to the edge of control by the simple press of her belly against my cock.

When I stood over her again, I clawed both hands into her hair and held her there, head tipped back, mouth open, forcing her to meet my eyes.

Something flashed in her gaze and I froze—was she afraid? Was it too much? Had I fucked up everything again?

“Bren,” I panted and had to swallow to clear my throat. “I’d never force you. Never require anything of you. But, I ache for you. Tell me, honestly. I would never punish you for the truth. Do you want me?”

Her eyes welled and I thought I’d gone too far. Pushed too fast. I started to release her, an apology climbing up my throat—but then her breath rushed out of her to flutter against my wet chest, and she reached down.

When her sweet hand circled me and stroked, I almost came.

I caught her wrist to stop her, hissing through my teeth. “Are you certain?”

Her smile made the sun rise in my heart. The moment she nodded I swept her up, into my chest, took her mouth with mine, and carried her to the deeper water.

Her kiss was frantic, her fingers in my hair, on my shoulders, her nails dug into my back—and that place in my chest, where I’d ached with such grief, came alive with joy and need.

I didn’t break the kiss, only murmured against her lips when I reached the water and sat, pulling her into my lap, whispering reassurance and need, cursing when she straddled me and we were pressed together.

I reached between us positioning myself, then clamped that hand over her shoulder and pulled her down onto me.

The sensation of taking her washed from my neck to the soles of my feet. With that precious plunge, my body awoke in rushing, tingling, delicious pleasure.

Bren’s head snapped back with my name on her lips. Our voices rose, mingling in the night, the twin calls of need.

Under my palm her skin goosebumped. Then I drew out of her, holding her at the waist, forcing her away, then groaned and pulled her down again and as she sobbed, I clawed that hand to the back of her neck, gripping her hair and moving her as she rode me and her need rose to match my own.

I’d never felt anything like it, her body twitching and alive, responsive to even the slightest touch, my name on her tongue like a benediction.

Her slick heat gripped me as surely as her fingers, and I marveled at her perfection, her desire, her beauty, and thanked God that I could die a happy man knowing this moment.

Kgosi huffed in my head. ‘That’s what happens when you find your m—’

There was a sharp knock on the door and I woke with a start, sitting bolt-upright, hard as a rock, aching, heart thumping, panting into the dark.

I blinked again and again, squinting against the low-dawn light painting my bedroom walls in rose and gold, my hands clawed into the quilts, body searching for warm flesh and tantalizing cries…

I swallowed and blinked again.

Dream.

It was a dream.

Holy shit. It was just a dream?

I slumped back to the pillows with a groan. Then cursed at the deep, ragged huff of dragon laughter in my head.