Page 17

Slate? Are you here? Rimi called her son.

I’m with Drake. He’s teaching me to torch things.

Rimi looked at Keres. He didn’t seem bothered at all that his son had asked someone else to teach him a skill. “Shouldn’t you help Slate build his dragon skills?”

“I have and will. Learning from different sources is wise. Drake will show him something different than I will to create double the knowledge.”

“Oh, that’s normal?”

“Not at all. Most young dragons are either chased from the nest by their sires if they’re still around or they’re abandoned. Survival of the fittest at its best, I’m afraid.”

“That’s not nice.”

“Slate will leave soon, Rimi. It will be tough for you to let him go, but his nature is telling him to find his destiny. Already, he’s able to survive. After he gathers information from everyone, he’ll be smart as well.”

“I’m worried most about the threats I keep hearing about.”

Keres nodded. “I am, too. It’s too quiet. Something is brewing.”

“Got anything else to distract me with before the hunt tomorrow?” Rimi asked.

“You’ve seen through my efforts, have you?” Keres smirked.

“It wasn’t hard. So, what’s on the schedule for today?”

“I thought you might like to see my hoard. We’ll have to start one for you. Every dragon needs their own treasures.”

“So, I get to take some of yours?” she asked, an unfamiliar greed bubbling inside her at the thought of precious collections.

“Calm down your inner dragon, Mate. We’ll negotiate a few exchanges,” Keres assured her with a glint in his eye.

“Exchanges, huh? What if I don’t have something to swap with you?” she asked.

“Oh, I think you will. Interested?”

“You couldn’t keep me away.”

Keres reached into his pocket and pulled out a strip of black satin. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wear this.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“Of course. This makes it more fun.”

A thrill went through her. She couldn’t mistake the sexual heat that had kindled in his gaze. When Keres twirled a finger to direct Rimi, she nodded and turned around. The satin felt cool and soft against her skin. It also felt naughty.

Keres wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her down the hall.

Unused to not being able to see, Rimi felt instantly Little as she depended on him to guide her.

Tracking the turns and twists as they walked through the mansion, Rimi was pretty sure she knew where they were.

When a delicious aroma of Italian food wafted past her, Rimi stumbled.

If they were near the kitchen, she was completely turned around.

“Maybe it’s best if I carry you, Snowflake,” Keres said and scooped her up in his arms with ease.

He walked so swiftly and pivoted several times. Completely disoriented, Rimi gave up trying to figure out where they were. She relaxed against Keres’s powerful chest, trusting him completely. He rewarded her with a kiss on her hair.

“Almost there, Mate. Just let me open the secret passage.”

Rimi tilted her head up. Maybe she could peek under the edge of the blindfold. Shoot. Nothing.

“Are you being naughty, Little Mate?”

She shook her head immediately. Rimi knew the consequence for naughtiness. “I thought I heard something,” she made up quickly.

A gust of cool air drew her attention. She turned to scent the air.

It smelled like earth and slightly stale.

He jostled her slightly in his arms and she heard the sizzle of what she guessed was a torch igniting from the flash of heat and the burning smell.

As Keres advanced, she listened closely for any clues.

She could only hear Keres’s footsteps and their breathing along with flickering and spitting of torches along the way.

Just as she’d decided they must be in a cave free of water and animals, Keres set her feet on the ground. When she was steady, he untied the blindfold, letting it fall away. “There you go, Rimi. Welcome to my hoard.”

Rimi’s mouth fell open as she scanned the area. The large cavern they stood in wasn’t a man-made cave but a chamber she bet he’d carved out of stone himself from the gouges in the walls. She dismissed those facts as her gaze landed on an immense pile of gold coins.

They drew her forward until she stood at the edge of the collection. Some shiny, some tarnished, the coins appeared to be from many different countries and time periods. The gathering reached above her head and extended in all directions.

“How much is all this money worth?” she asked, mesmerized.

“A lot,” Keres admitted. “Depending on the gold market, I could buy a small country or a large one. Of course, everything can be bargained for now.”

“I’ve never seen so many coins.” Rimi poked her toe into the inches-deep puddle at her feet. She reached down to scoop up a handful. Spreading her fingers, she slowly let the money tumble to the ground. The metallic sound as they hit made her smile.

He thinks I’m naughty. I’ll show him naughty. Concealing the last few coins in her hands, Rimi turned to distract Keres.

“Daddy? Coins are boring. Do I see something over there that sparkles?” she asked as she pointed with one hand and slipped the stolen money into her pockets when he turned to look.

“Of course. I should have suspected the jewelry would interest my sparkling mate.”

Keres took her hand and led Rimi away from the overwhelming pile. He stopped just past the edge as he examined the wall. Following his glance, Rimi spotted white numbers glinting from a nearby ledge.

“Hmmm. It appears a few coins have evaporated,” Keres noted.

“Evaporated?” Rimi asked as she furiously tried to figure out how to get rid of the coins in her pocket without him seeing.

“Metal doesn’t do that normally on its own. Do you have any idea what happened?”

She shook her head automatically and stopped herself from putting her hand in her pocket. That would be a dead giveaway. “There’s a scale under the pile?”

“Yes.”

“I bet I kicked a few off the weighing area when I walked over there,” she suggested.

“I don’t think that’s what happened.” Keres ran his hands down her sides and stopped when he found bulges in her pockets. “I think I have a magician for a mate.” He unfastened her jeans and unzipped the fly.

“Wait!” Rimi said. “Maybe a few filled my pockets when I dropped them.”

“Just jumped into your jeans?”

“The pockets stick out a bit. It might happen.”

Keres lifted one eyebrow as he stared at her. Rimi held her breath as he considered that for a few long seconds. “Those coins could be sneaky. I guess I’ll have to check everywhere now.”

His hands slid into her open jeans and cupped her bottom, drawing her flush against him. She squirmed, trying to get away, and felt his thick cock respond to her movements. Snapping her head up, she met his gaze once again. Sexual desire shone from his eyes instantly, sparking her arousal as well.

Inhaling Keres’s masculine scent, Rimi savored her mate’s attractiveness. Everything about Keres drew her in. She leaned forward to press her lips against his. Immediately, Keres took control, cupping the back of her head to hold her steady as he explored her mouth.

Rimi threaded her fingers through Keres’s hair and tugged. When he lifted his head, she whispered, “I think I dropped some down my shirt, too.”

“I’m an excellent treasure hunter,” he assured her.

Taking a reluctant step away, Keres knelt on one knee before her to strip off her shoes and jeans. He stood to turn her pockets inside out, clicking his tongue reprovingly when coins tumbled to the ground. “So naughty.”

He tossed away the denim and stepped closer. “Let’s see what else I can find.” Keres tugged her T-shirt over her head and paused for a long second as he scanned her now nude curves. “Damn, I’m a lucky dragon.”

Stalking forward, he cupped her breasts and lifted them to his mouth.

After pressing kisses across the full globes, Keres brushed his beard across her sensitive peaks, making her shiver at the tingly pleasure and prickle.

He soothed one nipple with his tongue before pulling it deep into his mouth.

Rimi tightened her hands on his powerful shoulders as he lashed his tongue over the taut bud.

“Please,” she moaned and gasped when he bit his captive lightly. That taste of pain made her want more. “Daddy!”

Keres lifted his head to wink. He shifted his attention to her other breast. Rimi arched her back to give him full access. He rewarded her with caresses and passionate kisses. When her knees wobbled, his arm tightened around her waist, supporting her effortlessly.

Releasing her nipple with a pop, Keres pressed a kiss between her breasts. “Damn, Snowflake. You do things to me.”

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to that vast pile of coins. Setting her gently onto the assembled money, he demanded, “Spread your legs, Rimi. Show me your sweet pussy.”

Self-consciously, she widened her thighs. Would she look the same after pushing out the egg? She held her breath as he dropped to his knees between her legs. When his nostrils flared, Rimi knew he breathed in her scent. His eyes flashed purple with desire, reassuring her he wanted her.

“Snowflake,” he growled and leaned forward to press a kiss to her mound. “I need a taste.”

Rimi reached out for something to hold onto as he slid his hands under her full bottom and lifted her from the coins below her.

Her fingers closed on handfuls of gold as her weight settled on his palms and her shoulders.

She looped her legs over his broad shoulders and watched as he lowered his mouth to her pink folds.

Nibbling and licking, Keres tempted and teased her.

Rimi bit her lower lips, trying to resist the sensations building inside her.

When he circled her clit with his lips and sucked, she lost the battle.

Rimi screamed her pleasure into the vast cavern, and her voice echoed as Keres extended her climax with sweet caresses.

When he lifted his head, her juices coated his lips and beard. She dropped the coins trapped in her hands to reach out for him. Keres gently set her down to the pile below her hips. He leaned over her naked body to kiss her hard, demanding a response she was eager to provide.

When he moved away, a wordless sound of protest escaped from her lips. He roughly opened his jeans and pushed them down his thighs. She couldn’t tear her gaze away as Keres wrapped his hand around his shaft, stroking himself from root to tip.

“Mmm.” Rimi hummed her excitement and without thinking, licked her lips as she imagined his taste.

Immediately, he moved over her, his eyes dark with desire. Keres fit himself to her drenched opening and thrust forward, filling her completely. Rimi wrapped her legs around his waist, holding on as he moved.

Keres experimented with angles of strokes until she groaned with excitement. “There,” she breathed. “More!”

Her mate increased his pace, pushing her arousal higher.

The coins below her warmed from the heat of her skin, fueling her movements as she eagerly met his thrusts.

She caressed his chest, tracing his muscles with her fingertips.

His chiseled muscles provided her with eye candy that enhanced the sensations he coaxed from her.

Unable to resist, Rimi pushed her hips up to meet his next stroke. Her channel spasmed around him, drawing a groan from his lips. His jaw tightened, and she suspected he struggled for control. Rimi loved knowing she had that power over him .

“Temptress! You feel incredible,” he growled as he slowed to allow her to recover.

When she curled upward to press a kiss to his lips, she whispered, “You do as well. Let yourself come, Keres. I love you.”

He kissed her hard. Rimi clung to him, savoring his response. Keres would always have that fine line of danger. Getting that close to losing total control left a mark. He would never hurt her but would demand everything from her.

He snaked an arm under her hips and lifted her to meet his surge forward, reaching deeper than ever before. Keres staked his control over her. He powered in and out of her heat, tantalizing her.

Savoring the tingles that heralded her climax, Rimi tightened her fingers on his ribcage. She struggled to control her orgasm so they could come together. Losing the battle, she lifted her head and bit his shoulder as she shattered around him.

His shout followed hers through the vast cavern. The sounds blended together as they filled the space. She felt him fill her with warmth as he relinquished control. Rimi hugged herself to her mate, enjoying the intimacy of being one with him.

She could never have anticipated the joy that filled her life now with Keres. Rimi promised herself to savor the experiences he brought to her every day. She would never forget how he saved her along with himself.

“I love you, Snowflake.”

“I love you, Daddy.”