by Katie Reus
He gave her a long, heated stare but simply nodded. “There’s a robe for you to put on once you’re done.” Then he left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
In the bathroom, she quickly stripped and stepped under the strong, heated jets. This house was probably over a hundred years old, but someone had renovated the bathroom—and most of the rooms, it seemed—and the jets were perfection for her tired body.
Once she was finished, she towel-dried her hair, pulled it back in a loose, damp braid and slipped on the robe. Since Reaper wasn’t back yet, she just slid into the bed and curled on her side. She inhaled deeply, savoring his rich scent as she snuggled under the plush covers.
She was just going to close her eyes until he returned. Then she hoped he joined her, held her while she slept. Because the truth was, he looked as if he could use some rest too. They’d all been pushing themselves so hard. She wanted to find some peace in his arms and she hoped she gave him some too.
Chapter 22
Reaper silently closed the door behind him, unable to tear his gaze away from Greer.
Asleep in his bed.
Her long hair was in a loose braid, stray wisps feathered out on the pillow behind her as she curled up on her side. She’d been working herself too hard and that was ending now. He’d been in and out of the house in between patrolling the city. Anything she’d asked for, he’d gotten for her. Now he realized what he should have been doing—taking care of Greer full time.
At least he could do that now. He was not leaving her side until she’d rested. And given what he knew about healers, she’d expended a lot of energy. Too much, likely. It was amazing she’d lasted as long as she had, giving up so much of herself. It said a lot for how powerful she was. And…about how kind she was.
He had been a fool to ever think he wanted a warrior like himself as a mate. No, she was everything he had never realized he wanted.
Needed.
She was a bright star in the world, one he wanted to see shine.
He set her suitcase—which was covered in stickers of odd-looking cartoons—at the foot of the bed. He hadn’t been sure what she wanted so he simply brought everything into his room. This was where she should be.
Presumptuous? Yes. Arrogant? Yes. But he would make no apologies for who or what he was.
Instead of getting into bed with her as he craved, he grabbed a rocking chair from the window and moved it closer to her side of the bed. The position let him keep an eye out the window as he kept watch over her. With Greer being his priority. Though he wanted to slip into bed with her, to pull her into his arms, he resisted.
Barely twenty minutes later, he saw Prima descend into the yard, her movements short and jerky as she shifted to human and sprinted for the house.
He went on high alert as he glanced at Greer. She was in a “dead to the world” type of sleep so he quietly slipped out of the room and met Prima at the top of the stairs.
“I’m flying to South America. Now.” She brushed past him, not bothering to pause. The sharp scents of her wild emotions were jagged, scraping against his senses.
“What has happened?” Reaper kept pace with her as she hurried to her room.
“I spoke to my sister about an hour ago and things are fine. Well, fine enough for what’s going on. Then as I was patrolling the city, I felt our psychic link sever. Mira had said they were investigating a gate to a Hell realm, so if she entered one it is likely why the link severed. Our link does not stretch across realms. We have to be in the same one. Regardless, I must go to her.”
Reaper stopped at Prima’s doorway even as she entered and pulled out her little suitcase. “I cannot leave Greer.” Otherwise he would help Prima.
Prima paused, suitcase open, and gave him a half-smile. “I didn’t expect you to come with me. I know you will not leave her. You shouldn’t leave her. But thank you for thinking of it regardless. You are a good friend.” She crossed the distance between them and sort of half patted, half punched him once on the shoulder before hurrying back to packing.
He wasn’t sure if she was flying there herself or using one of those human planes but it wasn’t his concern. She would do what would get her there fastest.
“Do me a favor?” she asked, tossing clothes into the brightly colored purple case.
“Of course.”
“Tell Arthur I said thank you and that I apologize for leaving so abruptly.”
“Should I thank him for having sex with you?” he asked dryly.
“That is not what I meant. Just tell him goodbye for me.”
“Why not just text him yourself?”
“I don’t have time.” She hurried to the bathroom and came back out with a little bag that she shoved into her suitcase.
Reaper scented her lie—she could easily text Arthur. But that was not Reaper’s business. “I will tell him that you have left when I see him again.” He’d seen Arthur, Cale and Damari a couple times since the city had gone haywire. They had all been helping with the cleanup and keeping order under King’s directives. It would be easy enough to relay the message.
Prima gave him another quick pat on the arm before she dashed down the stairs.
Reaper headed back the way he’d come and found Greer still sleeping. Good.
As he shut the door behind him, sleep finally dug its claws into him, telling him he needed to rest as well. He had not slept since everything had happened either. Though he was used to going without sleep, and after thousands of years in Hibernation, he should be fine. But…he needed to be at the top of his game.
He grabbed a little pillow with white ruffles along the edge from the rocking chair and placed it in between him and Greer as a sort of barrier as he stretched out over the covers. She did not stir at all, just snuggled deeper against her pillow.
He wished he was her pillow, that she currently laid her head on his chest. Soon enough. His dragon grumbled at that, not satisfied with waiting. Well too damn bad.
Stretching out onto his back, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to sleep.
* * *
Greer shifted against the soft sheets as she opened her eyes. Reaper’s scent surrounded her, making her lightheaded as she inhaled. She wanted to roll around in that scent, bathe in it—roll around with him.
She stilled as she saw Reaper stretched out on his back, one hand under his head as he slept.
The male was as still and quiet in sleep as the predator he was. He was so preternaturally still that she could barely see his chest rising and falling. A soldier’s nap, she believed it was called. Even in sleep, his arm muscles were defined, ripped.
Then she saw the little pillow tucked between them. For some reason the sight of it made her smile. Had he put it there? If he’d been trying to put a barrier between them, that was sort of…adorable.
No matter how obnoxious he’d been when they’d first met, she had come to realize he was simply arrogant because of his age. And, well, he was an ancient, skilled warrior. Of course he was arrogant. But she’d also seen the way he’d protected the city, and the way he was helping to patrol still, to keep people safe. He didn’t have to either. He wasn’t tied to New Orleans. He was not tied to anything. Least of all a wolf Alpha, yet he was more or less taking orders from King. Or at least not arguing with the male. And he did not need to. He was here because he wanted to be and he was a good, kind male.
She must have moved or made a sound because he suddenly opened his eyes and turned toward her.
“Greer.” The way he said her name was a soft prayer, his deep voice dropping an octave and making her already frayed senses go just a little more haywire.
“Hey. Did you place the little pillow between us?”
“I did.” He rolled onto his side, his eyes intense and glowing bright as he watched her. But he didn’t move any closer. Just watched her.
“Why?” A little pillow wouldn’t create any real type of barrier between them.
“I wanted to respect your
space. And you should not be awake.”
She frowned at him. “Why not?”
“You have only been asleep three hours. Not nearly enough time to recover.”
She blinked. “How can you possibly know that?”
“I simply can. I can sense how much time has passed when I wake up.”
“That’s…impressive.”
He shrugged it off. “Go back to sleep.”
Her gaze drifted to his mouth, his very full lips, and suddenly sleep was the last thing on her mind. She was in that lazy, dreamy state and as she watched the way his chest rose and fell more rapidly now, sleep sounded boring as hell. She wanted to feel alive again. Wanted to feel him all over her. Inside her.
He growled softly in his throat as he rolled away from her, now staring up at the ceiling instead of keeping his gaze on her—where it should be.
Her dragon side did not like that. “What’s wrong?”
“I am trying to be a good male. Close your eyes and go to sleep. I will not take advantage of your exhaustion.”
Seriously? Now he was doing this? She wanted the arrogant Reaper who told her what to do.
As if he could actually take advantage of her. She was in full control of her faculties and she wanted him as she’d never wanted anyone else. Still, she laughed lightly as heat built up inside her. “Maybe I want you to take advantage of me—maybe I want to take advantage of you. I thought you said you wanted to taste between my legs. Was that a lie?” She wasn’t sure where this bold side of herself was coming from but she embraced it. She would just blame it on lack of sleep. See? Lack of sleep was good for something.
He moved so quickly she didn’t see his actual movements until he completely straddled her, caging her in with his forearms against the pillow by her head. “You are playing with fire.”
“I like fire,” she whispered. And she wanted to get burned by him. Her body ached, her nipples tight little beads as she stared up at him. When he didn’t move an inch, she reached between their bodies and tugged on the tie of her robe. If this didn’t motivate him, she wasn’t sure what else would.
He sucked in a breath as she peeled it open. Cool air brushed over her bared skin, but the fire burning inside her was scorching.
“You should tell me to leave.” His voice was all growly and sexy, his green-amber eyes wild and electric.
“Why would I do that?” she whispered. She arched her back slightly, brushing her nipples against his chest. Yeah, she noticed that he’d gotten into bed without a shirt.
She imagined a male like Reaper was used to sleeping naked. Or maybe he’d done it to drive her crazy. Though she had a feeling he had no idea how insane he made her. The male had been in Hibernation for ages; he should be inside her right now, not fighting this.
He let out another soft growl and dipped his head to hers, biting her bottom lip—and not gently. Heat flooded between her legs.
“Robe, off,” she rasped out, needing full-on skin-to-skin contact with him.
God, just a little nibble on her lip, and the friction of their bodies together, and she’d gone from zero to ready to orgasm now in mere seconds. She wasn’t sure what it was about this male that made her so crazy. But there was no denying the incendiary attraction that sparked between them.
It took him literal seconds to help her tug off the robe and toss it to the floor before he caged her against him once again. She spread her legs as he settled in on top of her, his thick erection evident through the material of his pants. Material she wanted to burn right off.
“I’m going to make you come.” A softly spoken promise that had tingles racing to all her nerve endings.
She was going to make him come too. Reaching between their bodies, she ran her hand over his covered erection, making him jerk against her. Good. She wanted to make him lose control, wanted him to come apart.
He growled again and dipped his head to her breast, sucking one of her nipples between his teeth as he cupped her other breast.
Pleasure erupted inside her as he teased and stroked her. It was heaven and yet not enough. And she wanted to touch him too. Everywhere.
She slid her hand down the front of his pants, grasping his thick cock as he lashed his tongue over her nipple.
He made a sort of rumbling sound as she stroked him, and the vibration sent all new sensations spiraling through her.
She slowly and probably too gently started stroking him, wanting to see what he liked. He allowed her to tease him as he teased her, as they learned each other’s bodies.
As he moved down her body, she had to draw her hand away. She made a sound of protest until he settled between her legs.
“I’ve been fantasizing about this.” He said the words straight against her pussy. Which was insanely hot.
Instinctively she rolled her hips, a silent plea for him to give her exactly what she needed. She was slick and aching for him, desperate for more. So much more.
He pinned her with an intense gaze as he slid a finger along her slick folds—watching for her reaction. She was already wet and wanting more and his teasing was ramping her need up even higher.
She wasn’t sure when she’d started to really fall for him, but fall she had. The way he’d been checking in with her, offering to get her supplies or anything under the sun. He might be heavy-handed and arrogant, but he cared. It didn’t matter that he was an ancient warrior used to killing and war—it was clear there was more to him than she’d originally thought. He was protective of her and completely focused on her needs.
And he’d never once tried to tell her what to do. Not truly.
When he slid two fingers inside her, she arched off the bed, her inner walls clamping around him.
Then he gave her an oh-so-wicked grin before he ducked his head between her legs.
“Reaper!” His name was a prayer on her lips as he lashed his tongue against her clit.
And that tongue? Pure magic as he teased her, over and over, with just enough pressure to push her right to the edge.
Her entire body jerked when bright purple flames swept over the bed and all around them, completely engulfing them. There was no heat, just beautiful, sparkling flames making everything glow.
The mating manifestation.
She jerked wildly at the sight and at the feel of what he was doing. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She’d assumed that if they had been true mates, the flames would have showed up earlier since they’d kissed more than once. But there were no rules for how and when the mating manifestation showed up for dragons. It just did. And this…oh God. It was beautiful.
He looked up, saw their combined flames, then gave her a triumphant grin before ducking his head between her legs once again. As if he was completely satisfied at the sight of the manifestation.
Even though she couldn’t believe this was happening, the pleasure of what he was doing took over all rational thought.
His tongue and fingers were magic, bringing her to the brink of pleasure until finally she couldn’t stand it.
“Now!” she demanded.
“Now what?” She swore there was a hint of laughter in his voice as he flicked his tongue over her clit again. And again. And again.
“I’m…close…make me come.” She sounded as if she was ordering him and she guessed she kinda was. But holy dragons, she needed to climax.
He laughed darkly and did just that, increasing the strokes of his fingers as he increased the pressure of his tongue. His magic, magic tongue that should be completely illegal.
Why hadn’t they been doing this before? Oh right, she was an idiot.
She arched off the bed as her climax punched through her, singeing all her nerve endings even as the purple flames danced up the walls and across the ceiling, a beautiful blanket of fire surrounding them, encapsulating them. The climax seemed to go on and on as pleasure poured out of her.
As her body turned to jello, she let her legs fall against the bed. Moving like a predator, he crawled up h
er body, his fingers still buried inside her and his expression completely satisfied.
Then he kissed her, hard. It was a definite claiming. And the flames weren’t dimming, simply flickering over everything as they grew brighter, bolder.
“I was right,” he murmured as he nibbled on her bottom lip. “You do taste like heaven.”
Beyond words at this point, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, savoring the feel of his hard body against hers.
He curled his fingers inside her. “Mine.”
Heat surged through her, her toes digging against the sheets. Feeling frantic, she shoved at his pants, wanting to feel all of him. Thankfully he took over and tossed them to the floor—right on top of her robe—before he covered her once again.
She gripped his cock as he devoured her mouth, his kisses hungry, the fire in the room only growing, spreading outward so anyone on the street would see it.
Surprising her, he wrapped his fingers around hers, showing her exactly how hard he liked to be stroked. He kept his grip on hers as she teased him, bringing him to a hard climax that shot all over her stomach and breasts.
She wanted to feel him inside her, but loved the intimacy of this, of learning what he liked.
When he rubbed himself into her skin, she moaned into his mouth. For some reason it didn’t surprise her that he was so raw and primal. Of course he was.
“Reaper—”
“Sleep now,” he murmured as he pulled the covers over them. “And don’t wash me off you,” he continued, kissing her mouth even as he tugged her flush against his body. “I want you to wear my scent.”
She loved being skin to skin with him, loved the heat of him. Vaguely she was aware that he was getting hard again but sleep was tugging her under with force.
The flames had died down, mere flickers now only covering them and the bed. That was a whole other can of worms she had to think about—was she ready to mate with him? The thought was too much to contemplate.
