Page 33

Bree

W ell, that wasn’t something I ever thought I’d experience. Not just seeing a dragon turn solid—a thing I didn’t even know was possible—but also hearing his voice in my head. I actually talked to a dragon. Calvin was going to be so jealous.

Heat spread across my back, and I knew Dominic stood behind me. It was time to pay for my sins. I took a deep breath and turned to face him.

My heart thudded erratically against my ribs. Great goddess below. He was so gorgeous. There was no other way to describe him. Sweat glistened along his bronze neck, and I had the sudden urge to lick a trail down his body.

I gave myself a little shake. We weren’t here for that. I had an apology to give and hoped he would forgive me.

Then maybe there could be some licking.

Good gravy, Bree! Get it together.

I forced my gaze to meet his. Those deep amber eyes stared back at me with an intensity that sent a shiver straight down to my core, where it tingled and distracted me again. This was going to be tougher than I’d thought.

I cleared my throat. “Nic, I’m so sorry. I?—”

“So, this is why she left us high and dry,” Frankie’s gravelly voice cut my words off. “Did we miss the fight?”

The fae woman strolled casually toward us while Marissa expressed her feelings with actual stomps and a death glare. Good thing looks couldn’t actually kill.

Dominic stepped between us, his back to me. “Respectfully, get the fuck out. Now .”

Whatever they saw on his face stopped them up short. I expected to see fear or worry in their expressions, assuming he was about to lay into me for what I’d done. Instead, the two women shared a knowing grin and started backing away.

Frankie even winked at me. “We’ll make sure you two have some privacy.”

I stared after them as they retreated out the door and shut it behind them. I couldn’t be completely sure, but I thought I heard a lock click into place.

The Red Dragon faced me once again, his expression unreadable, and I gulped. No one was coming to rescue me. They’d left me alone with an actual dragon who was probably furious he didn’t get to rip Ichiro’s throat out and still thirsted for blood.

Super. I was dead.

At least Jou had disappeared. One angry dragon would be tough enough to fight off.

“How could you do that to me?” he asked as he stepped closer. So close I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

I wasn’t entirely sure what ‘that’ he referred to. My disappearance? Not letting him kill his grandfather? I decided he meant the former.

“I know. I’m sorry. I made a gross error in judgment.

Hiding my identity has been second nature for the past ten years, but I should have been honest with you about the fight and what was happening at the very least, even if I couldn’t tell you everything about who I am.

Regardless, I should have put more trust in you. ”

Uncertainty flickered in my mind as he simply stared at me. I wasn’t sure what else he wanted me to say, or apologize for.

“We both kept things from each other,” I added.

His eyes narrowed a fraction, and I continued in a hurry, “But I mean, how well could I trust you, you know? We only knew each other for a few short weeks, and yes, I really liked you. I still do, as a matter of fact.” Heat flushed up my neck and cheeks.

Goddess above, this was getting embarrassing.

“I’m trying to say that I feel like you’re trustworthy, but I’m also worried that I’m being na?ve or gullible.

You’ve got quite the reputation as a ladies’ man, you know. ”

He raised his eyebrows, effectively ending my rambling.

“Are you denying your reputation?” I asked.

“Not at all. I’m just surprised.”

“About what?”

“That’s the most I’ve ever heard you speak in one go,” he said.

Not only was he angry with me, but now he was making fun of me. This was not going how I’d planned. At all. Time to abort the mission.

“Okay, well, I’ve said what I needed to say.” I turned to leave.

His hand caught my arm and spun me back around, pulling me close. His other hand gripped the back of my neck, holding me in place. He stared into my eyes, and my knees wobbled a little bit.

Okay, a lot a bit. I was a jellyfish in his powerful hands.

“Bree.” My name on his lips was like the most delicious ocean breeze. “Don’t you dare try to get away from me again. Do you still not get it? You’re it for me. You have me utterly captivated, heart and soul.”

I stared up at him, breathless. Whoa. I was hoping for forgiveness, but this? This was next level.

“You challenge me, motivate me, infuriate me. But you see me in a way no one else ever has, and for the first time in my life, I want to be a better man—for you .”

My heartbeat thundered in my ears. “You’re not angry with me?” I blurted out. Of all the things to say right now.

He chuckled and his gaze dipped to my lips. He traced the curve with his thumb. “Oh, I’m angry. You deprived me for over a month of the thing I want most in the world.”

“Which is what?”

“You, Bree. Just you.”

I hardly dared to breathe in case I shattered what had to be an illusion. He couldn’t possibly be saying what I’d hoped he would say. Did he actually feel the same things I did?

Or had I passed out or died somewhere along the way?

Maybe I was being digested in Pom?’s stomach acid. I’d heard that acid could be quite the trip.

“I want every mouthwatering inch of you.” He picked me up and wrapped my legs around his waist. Heat flooded through my core, and all my thoughts melted away. “We’re not leaving until I have your scent covering every part of me.”

His lips crashed against mine, and I forgot everything else except him. He tasted like perfection, like everything I’d ever wanted yet never knew I needed . Salty and sweet, fierce and soft.

I wasn’t even aware we’d moved until I felt a firm mat beneath my back. My breaths came out fast as he pulled away and stood to remove his clothes.

I was finally going to see the Red Dragon in all his glorious glory. My brain ceased functioning when his pants hit the floor and his hard length jutted toward me.

Oh my…

I chewed on my bottom lip, suddenly nervous as the reality of what was happening set in. I might not have been a virgin, but I wasn’t that experienced, either. Not like he was. What if I messed up? What if I was terrible at sex and just never knew?

Forget the dragon’s stomach acid—I might die of embarrassment.

His gaze met mine as he moved toward the stack of mats he’d set me on, all toned muscle and sleek lines that I desperately wanted to touch and most definitely wanted to lick. But as he came closer, I scooted backward on the mat.

My retreat didn’t faze him. He knelt on the padding and crawled on hands and knees toward me in the most sinfully erotic move I’d ever encountered.

“Nic, listen, I want this, I want you , truly I do, but I was not, uh, prepared for this happening. Like, right now, I mean.”

He continued to move toward me as I shifted backward.

“And I’m not exactly, um, as experienced as you are, and?—”

He grabbed my ankles as I made to move back again and dragged me toward him.

“I don’t give a fuck about any of that.” His gaze seared into mine as he placed his hands beside my head, his knees outside my hips, boxing me in.

“I’ll stop if you want me to, but don’t for a second think anything else will keep me from being deep inside you right here, right now. ”

As if to prove his point, his hardened length bobbed slightly.

Oh, sweet Tethys, how I wanted this man. These insecurities were just that. It was time to take what was mine.

Every delicious inch.

His lips twitched upward, seeing the change come over my face. “Say it.”

I met his gaze and summoned all the sexy confidence I could muster. “I want you. Inside of me. Here. Now. Please?”

His growl rumbled through me, and I nearly moaned as the vibrations did amazing things to my insides. Then his hands slid up my sides, pulling my shirt up and over my head. He sat back and tugged my leggings down, his hands and eyes following every inch of exposed skin.

He pushed my legs open and a flash of desire sparked through his eyes. His nostrils flared and his grip tightened on my thighs. “You’re already so wet for me, Bree.”

A flush of heat rose along my neck. My soaked underwear was showing just how right he was.

As I opened my mouth to explain, he shook his head.

“Don’t even think about it. You have no idea how hard I’m restraining myself right now.

Knowing you want me, seeing the proof, is such a huge fucking turn-on. ”

I pursed my lips to hold back a grin. Who knew this could be so fun?

He dipped his head between my legs, running his nose up my center. The sheer intimacy of it sent a shiver down my spine. Knowing there was hardly any fabric in between us, between me and what would surely be heaven, sent goosebumps rising.

“I’ve missed your scent.”

His warm breath against my clit nearly did me in right then and there. The ache between my thighs intensified, a need so fierce it left me breathless. He sat back and ripped my underwear from my body, pulling a gasp from my lungs as the cool air met my feverish skin.

Gripping his length in one hand, he leaned over me and slid the tip up my slit. “I’m going to make you come, many times, but I need to be inside you right now.”

The hunger in his voice was intoxicating, and my body responded instantly. I wrapped my legs around his waist, tugging him closer, letting him know I was ready. More than ready—desperate for him.

His lips descended on mine as he pushed inside me, and I moaned against his mouth as he filled and stretched me. It was overwhelming—the heat, the pressure, the delicious friction that sent sparks racing through every nerve in my body.

Colors exploded behind my eyelids as pleasure completely enveloped me.

“Oh, dear gods,” he breathed against my lips, his voice wrecked, filled with reverence. “You feel fucking incredible.”

I let out a laugh, pure joy bubbling up alongside the pleasure, before kissing him back with a passion and excitement I had never felt before. This was more than just sex—it was the kind of connection that stripped you bare, that left no room for doubt or distance.

He moved his hips slowly, pulling out before thrusting in again. Measured. Deep. Exquisite. Every thrust ignited something inside me, a tension coiling tight and desperate for release.

He ran a hand down my stomach and between us, finding and circling my clit. My already stimulated nerves ignited like wildfire, and I gripped his shoulders tight. “You’re going to make me come already.”

His deep chuckle did me in. “Good.”

That word. That voice. That certainty .

With his next thrust, I fell over the edge. Pleasure hit me like a tidal wave, stealing my breath, my thoughts, my very existence. I clung to him as my body trembled, as if he were the only solid thing in a world that had just unraveled.

His hand moved from between my legs to my back, sliding until he found my bra clasp. He quickly unhooked it and slid it off my arms, which were little more than jelly.

I could feel him throb inside me as he dragged his gaze over me, raw and hungry. Breathless, I stared up at this magnificent man, and I understood why people spoke of ruin in the same breath as desire.

Because he was ruining me for anyone else.

And I craved it.

As he dipped his head to suck in one of my nipples, his hips moved rhythmically, thrusting into me again. Moans escaped my lips, and I arched my back more, encouraging every suck and thrust.

He leaned back on his heels and pulled me up until I was sitting across his lap. With one hand gripped in my hair and the other wrapped around my waist, he began to thrust in earnest. The angle provided the perfect friction against me, swollen and ready to climax again.

“Oh, goddess, Nic…”

“Fuck, yes, Bree, say my name.” He slammed me down on his lap almost angrily, but all I felt was absolute pleasure as I came apart again.

“Dominic!” I cried out.

His growl rumbled through my chest, raw and guttural, as he drove himself deep inside me and pinned my hips down. Pleasure shattered him.

Warmth spread through my insides, and I collapsed against him, panting. Drained, yet utterly complete. That was the best sex I had ever had or ever imagined, by far.

After another moment, his muscles relaxed and he laid us down against the mat. He kissed my forehead, cheeks, nose, lips. Gentle now, as if worshiping every part of me. His thumb traced my cheekbones and jawline, and his gaze followed.

“Everything I imagined and more,” he murmured. “I will never get enough of you.”

I could honestly say I felt the exact same.

And for once, I wasn’t afraid.