Page 49 of The Dragon King’s Claw (The Dragons of Serai #17)

And then my body realized that it was over.

I had done my part. The last of the murderers involved with the Hallax Mine were in Talon custody.

They'd be tried for murder. Multiple counts.

And I would be a witness. But mostly, my role was done.

And my muscles caught on quicker than my mind, going limp with exhaustion and relief.

“Tekhan?” King Tor'rien steadied me.

I looked up into his stunning sapphire eyes—a match for his dragon scales. “Now, I can breathe.”

He folded an arm around me and led me out to the street. “Come and breathe outside, my Claw. I still want to take you to lunch.”

“Lunch?” I squinted at the sky and then at the crowds still waiting outside the Hall of Talons to learn what had happened.

The Dragon King should have addressed them. He should have taken the time to put his people at ease and explain the events of the day. But he was focused on me, and I was too tired to mind. He left the explanations to the Talon Chief and helped me into the royal carriage.

As soon as we were settled inside, the carriage began to move. No one dared to block the path of the King of Rushao. Only I. I had blocked him over and over. Still, Tor'rien had returned. He had helped me, saved me, and loved me all while I rejected him.

Epiphany hit, and I couldn't hold the words, “I love you.”

“It's good to hear you admit it.” Tor'rien smiled. “I love you too. Come here.” He tucked me in against his chest and folded his head over mine. “I was scared.”

“When?”

“When?” He laughed. “When I arrived at the mine and realized you were trapped inside.”

“I would have been fine. We would have dug our way out eventually. They did a poor job of killing us.”

Tor'rien snorted. “I've shown you through my actions and spoken the words to you, yet you still don't understand.”

I lifted my head to look at him. “I don't understand what?”

“How much you mean to me.”

“You've loved other men before I'm sure.”

The King lifted his brows. “Are you telling or asking?”

I shrugged. “There is nothing in all of Serai that has not occurred before. No unique experiences. Love is common with those who accept it.”

“Those who accept it. Yes. But you said that love doesn't exist.”

“I am a man of intellect. I need proof. Experience. You have proven me wrong. I can accept and admit that. But if I was wrong about love, then it means that it happens constantly. Nothing special about it. No matter how it feels.”

The King burst out laughing.

I frowned at him.

“Even in love, you're an ass about love.”

I frowned deeper.

“Nothing special?” The King's expression went tender. “How can you say that?”

“It's a fact. This is not a singular event.”

“But it is. It is , Tekhan. You and I are special. What we have is special. We are a singular event.” He cupped my cheek with his hand. “My fear for you proves that.”

“I fail to see how.”

“Because it's evidence of how deeply I love you. I knew that if you died, there would be no one else. No one would come close to touching my heart the way you have. I will never love another as I love you. That makes our love unique. Rare, not common.”

I considered this. My theory on the nonexistence of love had already been dismissed.

Now, the King presented something new. Something beyond what I had learned was possible.

It didn't make sense. If I was so special, wouldn't his magic recognize me?

No, it was more likely that Tor'rien was caught up in the excitement of the case and he feared losing me because of the pleasure we attained together. Simple.

I shook my head. “I think you're attributing more to this than there is.”

“Dear Gods,” he muttered. “You are so frustrating.”

“How so? I've admitted I was wrong. I think that proves that I'm willing to see things from another perspective, but I won't lie to you and tell you I agree when I don't.”

“Will you at least tell me you love me again?”

“Without reservation. Yes. I love you. I previously would have labeled my feelings as the effects of pleasure and the need for companionship, but I have had many relationships that provide those things and have never felt this way.

You are the first for me, Tor'rien. In that, you are special. But only for me, and I cannot say for certain that I will never love again. Judging by other romances, it is more likely that we will end our relationship and move on. And since I can now recognize these . . . feelings . . .” I trailed off when I realized that Tor'rien was glaring at me in a very violent way. Not at all like himself.

“Do not ever speak of loving someone else to me again!” Tor'rien grabbed me by the front of my shirt and hauled me into a kiss.

Everything happened quickly after that. I was suddenly bent over the bench with my trousers and undershorts around my knees.

A moment later, the King was inside me, shoving savagely until my body opened for him.

I was so shocked that all I could do was cling to the cushions.

When I finally risked a look over my shoulder, I found Tor'rien pumping wildly, his teeth bared, and his hands gripping my hips like claws.

He shoved at my coat and shirt. “Take them off!”

Flopping from his thrusts and absolutely flummoxed, I floundered for my coat.

I was so focused on removing the clothes from my upper body that I didn't realize how much pleasure the Dragon King was pumping into me.

This was our celebration, and it was incredible.

I didn't care what compelled him to make such a primal display. I'd take it. I'd take it all.

Free of most of my clothing, I surrendered to the sensations of the silk cushions on my skin, the hard grip on my hips, and the King's cock in my channel.

Tingles shot up my spine, my shaft wept and bobbed, and I cried out uncontrollably.

It was the most wild, uninhibited fucking I'd ever had.

I pushed back on the King, demanding more. I deserved it.

And then he came.

Admittedly, I wanted to snarl in disappointment.

I was only halfway to completion when he filled me.

But then I realized something odd was happening.

No, not odd—spectacular. Long after he should have gone still, Tor continued to thrust, his hips pausing at the height of each motion to fill me again and again.

And that cum sparkled inside me, filling but then sinking into me.

I knew immediately that it wasn't cum at all.

It was mating essence.

I started to laugh joyously, my head bent to press my face into the cushions.

Muffled and moving over the silk, I laughed harder, my body squeezing Tor'rien's to drain him dry.

But that wouldn't be possible, would it?

No. The essence would keep coming, as would the King.

That's how a Dragon mating went. Or so I had heard.

I would soon learn the truth for myself.

Then the King grabbed me by my hair and yanked my head up. “What the fuck are you laughing about?”

“Don't you fucking manhandle me!” I snarled back.

He flinched, his rhythm faltering.

“Don't you know who I am?” I grinned at him. “I'm your mate, Tor'rien. You're mating me. You were right. This is special. We're a singular event!”

Tor'rien jerked against me and then pulled out to come across my back with a triumphant roar.

The sound of startled horses came next and our progress down the street slowed as the carriage veered.

But then the driver got the beasts under control, and we steadied out.

At least our vehicle did. The King's beast was far from being controlled.

This was its time to burst free and run wild, and it was grasping the opportunity with both talons.

Holding himself by the base, Tor angled his cock to coat me in essence.

I arched my back at the feeling of that bright, magical elixir hitting my skin.

Even outside my body, it sank into me, becoming one with me.

Going deep. Deeper than Tor's flesh could ever go.

He was mine. He was truly mine. Forever.

And I was his. To think I had once feared this.

Gasping, the King shoved back into me and started thrusting again. He bent over my back and whispered in my ear, “Leave it to you to know before me that I was mating you.”

“You were a little distracted by jealousy, Your Majesty.”

“Call me by my new title—the one reserved for you alone.”

I grinned against the cushion before angling my head to look at him. “You first.”

He nipped at my shoulder, growled, and said, “You're my mate, Tekhan. Just as I predicted. There's no escaping me now.”

I laughed again. “You transformed that desire long ago, Mate.”

Finally, Tor'rien grinned and then he kissed me. It didn't matter that our position and his continuous thrusts made it awkward. We needed that connection almost as much as we needed that essence coating and filling me.

But then he jerked back and out of me. “Get on the floor. On your back. Hurry!”

My laughter vanished completely under the sound of his need. This was the most wonderful moment of my life, but it was instinctual for him. He needed me to help him through it. And I would. Whatever Tor'rien required from that moment forth, if it was mine to give, I'd give it to him.

On my back atop my discarded clothes, I watched him yank off my boots and then my pants and underwear.

Tor was still coming, his cock releasing essence on my thighs even as he tossed the clothes aside.

And it was glorious. Beautiful. I adored watching those glistening streams spurt forth.

Once I was fully undressed, he took his shaft in hand and straddled me, his expression fierce and his body jerking through those mini-explosions of ecstasy.

“Open your mouth,” he said.