by Lisa Kumar
“I could say the same of you, but that all can be remedied.”
Their lips met in heated desire, and his hands roved to places that made her blood sing at his touch. His mouth left hers and trailed down over her jaw to her neck. After nibbling and sucking there for a bit, he traversed down her chest to the low-cut neckline of her gown. She gasped at the sensations flooding her body, her hands drifting over his strong back.
With a gentle finger, he teased along the neckline before hooking a finger into it and drawing it down. She noted hazily that at some point, he must’ve loosened the ties at the back because the gown slid easily from her shoulders. Her breasts weren’t bound, as Janaa had insisted that neither she or the gown had needed it. So now they lay naked.
Cool air hit her breasts, and her nipples grew hard and achy. Eacion stared down at her chest as if he’d never seen anything more delightful. So he was a breast man. Janaa had told her about those and how—
The tug of his warm mouth on her nipple killed any coherent thought. Oh, God. He laved the tip with his tongue. When she thought she could stand no more, he turned his attention to the other breast. He made little growling sounds that only shot her arousal higher. She clutched onto the back of his head, her breath coming in gasps. Some part of her feared she’d break apart into a thousand pieces if she let go.
Apparently finally done with his exploration of her breasts, he nudged the gown lower until it rested right above her womanhood. A bit of apprehension drifted in through the desire. Janaa had convinced her that the gown deserved no underwear. Not only would her most intimate place be on display but so would her leg. But every virgin was likely nervous, and he knew about her affliction. There was no cause for worry.
She lifted her hips so he could push the material down. He groaned as he stared at her body. “Beautiful.”
That word struck her as odd. Maybe her breasts, waist, and arms were, but her legs? The urge to hide her withered limb under something—her dress, the covers—was nearly overpowering. She hated showing the gnarled leg to anybody, even her own parents. Now, with a lover, the feeling was a thousand times worse.
“My legs are ugly. Maybe my upper half is fine, but from the hip down, I’m a nightmare.”
He pushed himself back onto his haunches and pinned her with a severe look. “You are no such thing. Every bit of you is unique and therefore beautiful.”
His words were so corny, they were sweet. Even more, he seemed to genuinely believe them. That ripped a reluctant smile from her. “I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say.”
“Indeed, it is.”
She released a deep breath, feeling something painful in her unravel a bit. “You’re still wearing too many clothes.”
“Well, then, strip me.”
To hear him so baldly say that sent a jolt of surrealism through her. Just this morning, she would’ve never thought this night possible, especially with him of all people. He wasn’t even human, but this wasn’t the time to suddenly start fretting over that fact.
She sat up slowly, aware of her nakedness and how he drank it in. Her hands trembled as she unfastened the clasp that held his robe together at the chest. She pushed it off his shoulders, and soon, the open inner robe followed. His tunic and breeches still remained, and she stared at them with consternation.
So many clothes. Did he always dress thus? Though it was certainly elegant, it didn’t seem functional. She shoved those thoughts aside as unimportant at the moment and returned to the task at hand: undressing him.
He helped her draw the richly embroidered shirt over his head. She gulped at the sight of his sculpted chest. For an older male with a son, he was really in shape. Being a dragon fae apparently had many benefits.
An insatiable curiosity guided her hands to his chest, where she ran gentle fingers over him. He groaned at her caress, and she froze.
“Don’t stop,” he said, his voice pleading. “It feels so good.”
Ooh, those had been good sounds. Janaa had mentioned them, too. Still, hearing about the phenomenon secondhand was completely different than experiencing it firsthand. Emboldened, she traced around his nipples, watching as they stiffened. What would they taste like? With a tentative swipe of her tongue, she found out—an earthy yet clean taste.
His hands threaded through her hair, mussing up the portion that had been so carefully piled on top of her head. She impatiently reached up and yanked out the restraining pins that were now barely holding back her tresses. Eacion gave a hum of approval.
After a few more seconds, she left his chest and worked her hands down his lean abdomen. Muscle tensed under her fingers. A little thrill coursed through her that she had such an effect on him. As she came to the waistband of his breeches, she hesitated. Once his pants were off, things would surely progress quickly. Even now, a warmth and fullness had settled in-between her legs, an ache that clamored to be answered.
With surprisingly steady hands, she unlaced the ties holding them closed and slipped them past his hips. They slid down easily, and his erection sprang up to stand tall and proud. She eyed it dubiously and swallowed back a knot forming in her throat. How was that to fit in her?
A soft chuckle ripped her focus from it and to Eacion’s face instead. He reached out to caress her cheek. “You stare at it as if it could bite you.”
She squashed the temptation to stick her tongue out at him. “For all I know, maybe it can.”
“I promise it has no teeth.”
“That’s something at least.” She paused. “However will it fit?”
“With some patience and preparation.”
“Huh?”
“Lie back.”
She did as he’d asked, and Eacion all but fell on her with his mouth and hands. She moaned as he worked his magic on her. He left no part of her body untouched, even the leg that had so disgusted other people. But the most erotic zone, besides her breasts, was the one between her legs. First one finger, then two, slid over her slit before dipping inside. When he curled his fingers, she gasped, arching her back. Tension built up in her core, and her hips began to move faster against him. The sensations coalesced into a ball that shattered and sent waves of pleasure outward. She slumped against him. So that was what a male-given orgasm felt like.
He stroked her hair back from her face. “You’re now prepared.”
Her heart thudded against her chest. This was it, her last moment of so-called innocence. He crawled over her, and she opened her legs so he could settle between them. The firm head of his erection poked at her entrance. He rubbed himself against her until she gritted her teeth against the desire again rising in her.
Right when she was about to demand he take action, he slipped into her the slightest bit. She stilled and waited with bated breath as he slowly rocked in completely. Pain and a sense of being filled hit her, but they were minor to the pleasure surrounding it all.
Once he seemed he was in as far as he could go, he paused and leaned down to kiss her. Their tongues dueled, and he pulled himself nearly all the way out, only to thrust back in. She squeaked at the feeling. It...it was so unlike anything she’d felt before!
As he picked up his pace, her hips moved to meet his. Again, that tension coiled in her sex until that was all she could concentrate on. She bit her lip. Close, getting so close. After one deeper thrust, she shattered and cried out. Bliss and so many other sensations flowed outward through her body.
Above her, Eacion threw his head back, the cords in his neck flexing. His hips slammed against hers. A gasp ripped from his throat, and his body spasmed. His head fell, his face cradled against her throat. His hips were still moving feverishly.
Suddenly, a sharp sensation pricked at the side of her neck. Eacion groaned lowly, a sound that was half-whine and half-growl. After untold seconds, he stilled and collapsed on her.
Anni was so spent that she could only blearily wonder why the skin of her throat smarted in one area. Her hands weakly glided over his
back. His breath puffed heavily against her shoulder. He seemed as tired as she did.
“That was wonderful,” he murmured, the sound muffled by her skin.
She nodded slowly and then remembered he couldn’t see the action. “It was greater than I ever imagined.”
“I find myself...exhausted, or I’d show you again how great it could be.”
“I don’t think I have the energy right now. Maybe later.” Even now, she fought to keep her eyes open. Still, another round of lovemaking sounded lovely after she’d had a nap or two.
“Then sleep it is.”
He shifted off her and drew the blankets over them. Then he gathered her close. She nestled her head against his chest, enjoying the steady beat of his heart. The sound lured her ever nearer to the grip of sleep. She smothered a yawn. Every night could pass in this fashion and she’d be happy.
Chapter 13
Light filtered in through Anni’s lids. She groaned and threw an arm over her face. Ugh, her room usually wasn’t so bright in the mornings. As she moved onto her back, she hit something warm and hard.
Warm and hard?
Her mind froze, and then the previous night slammed back to her. The remembrance stole her breath. She catapulted up in bed and found Eacion propped up on his side, watching her with a smile that seemed tinged with sadness. Concern welled in her stomach. Was he regretting what they’d done?
She yanked the sheet pooled around her waist and clutched it to her chest. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
An apple-sized lump formed in her throat. “For what?” Oh God, he did regret their night together.
“Your neck.”
“My...what?” But even as she voiced her question, a patch of skin on the left side of her throat prickled. She reached up and gingerly fingered the sore area. Were those puncture marks she felt?
“I’m so sorry.”
His sorrowful voice caused her to frown, and suddenly, his deflated manner made a bit of sense. “Did you...bite me last night?” She could barely believe she was asking such a thing, but nothing had been normal since Eacion had come flying in.
He nodded, his mouth a thin line that curled downward.
“Uh, okay, why?”
“It was instinct. The dragon in me took over, but that’s no excuse.”
Though she would have to question him further about these “instincts,” it sounded as if he’d merely gotten carried away and hadn’t set out to bite her. She touched his shoulder. “You’ve apologized. No need to feel guilty any longer.” She paused. “Unless you’re going to do it again?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that possibility.
He sighed and sat up. “Not without your consent.”
“Then why do you seem so sad?”
“It’s not the bite itself. It’s what the bite represents.”
She stared at him, confusion making her mind sluggish. Or maybe she was still tired. “What?”
“That bite.” He hesitated. “It was a binding one.”
“A binding one?” Maybe she was being slow on the uptake because whatever he was talking about didn’t sound as if it’d be good.
He visibly swallowed, color staining his cheeks. “In the eyes of my people, we’re betrothed.”
“What?” Her voice came out a squeak. He was joking, right? She wasn’t ready for marriage.
“There’s potent magic in a dragon fae bite, especially when it’s combined with strong emotions felt during lovemaking. It forged a bond between us.”
Panic lit a certain kind of desperation within her. A bond? “I didn’t bite you back, though!” She grabbed onto that realization as if it was her only lifeline—it probably was. “And I sure didn’t agree to marry you.”
He shook his head, frowning. “Doesn’t matter. Instead of pushing me away, you held me close. That’s seen as implicit approval of my intentions and solidified our commitment.”
She fisted her hands tighter around the blanket. What had he done? “I had no inkling about any of this. Surely, it’s not applicable to me?”
“It is.”
“Well, undo it.” Anger brewed in her gut and leaked out through her tone.
His brows pulled together. “I can’t. Not even I have that power.”
“But we’re merely engaged, not married.”
“For fae peoples, the betrothal is nearly as important as the wedding. As with marriage, only death can break it.”
Her mind spun uselessly. She propelled herself off the bed, dragging the blanket with her. Though she tried to ignore the customary pain searing her leg, she clenched her teeth at the stiffness that had taken hold. When she put her full weight on it, her knee barely held and threatened to buckle at any second.
Scowling, she limped over to a dresser and leaned against it. “There has to be a higher power to revoke the bond.”
“Barring God, the higher powers are my peers of the fae court. Even they can’t touch a bond formed through betrothal or marriage. Trust me, over the millennia, they’ve tried.”
Anni moaned and buried her face in her hands. “Oh God.”
The creak of the bed pierced the silence of the room. Then a hand gently touched her shoulder. “Would it be so horrible to be married to me?”
At the softly spoken question, she lifted her head and stared at him. Though her parents had always prodded her to marry, they had never forced it upon her. To have that reprieve possibly taken away... “I hadn’t given much thought about being married to anyone, let alone you. I never had reason to. Now you crash into my life and completely take it over. Am I supposed to be happy?”
He sighed and wrapped a sheet more firmly about his waist. “Many women would consider themselves fortunate.”
She breathed easier once she saw that his lower regions would remain covered. “Maybe, but I’m not most women.”
“I’ve noticed.” A bittersweet smile curved his lips upward as he stepped back. “It’s both a blessing and a curse.”
Ire, fear, and worry burned through her. “How could you do this?”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, at least not yet.”
Though his face revealed no lie, his words didn’t calm the fire of her emotions. “But you knew it could, and you didn’t guard against it, guard against yourself.”
“I didn’t, and I was foolhardy.”
At least he admitted it, though it was sorry comfort. “Where do we go from here?”
“That’s largely up to you. As for myself, I hope...I hope we can move on from this and that I didn’t destroy what could’ve been between us.”
The earnestness was a bright beacon on his face, but she couldn’t give him the words he sought. Her mind was awash in confusion. She couldn’t even begin to decide how she felt, other than betrayed. “I can’t answer that right now. I can’t even think rationally at the moment.”
He nodded, sadness in every pronounced line of his face. Age, which had formerly left him untouched, seemed to settle around him. “I understand.”
A twinge of guilt assailed her, but she quickly swept it away. She hadn’t promised him anything beyond a night and owed him nothing more. “What happens if I ignore this...bond?”
“The bond between us will remain intact, always thirsting to be completed. On some level, I’ll be able to sense you. No matter the distance, I’ll know if you’re alive and well. Since you’re human, it likely won’t impact you to the same degree. Still, I’d expect you to feel something.”
Her fingers dug into her palms. “That’s quite intrusive.”
“It’s far more so for me, though. Until the day of your death, I won’t be able to wed, not that I’d want to. You being my true mate kills any urges of that kind.”
“You were married before.”
He sat on the bed, his hair a silvery river down his back. “It was a political alliance, and I didn’t know of you, then. Though I hope you existed, I couldn’t put my own needs before my people’s.”<
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As she crossed her arms, she attempted to keep all expression from her face. Astonishingly, it was one of the hardest things she’d had to do. In many ways, Eacion was all she could ask for. But that was the thing—she hadn’t asked for or expected any deeper relationship. To have it foisted upon her was maddening.
“So I might have a certain awareness of you.” She could deal with that. As for not being able to marry anybody else, it barely concerned her, as she had no plans to enter into such a union. For a brief second last night, she might’ve considered it but ... Don’t go there right now.
“Is there anything else I should know?” If so, she had to be prepared.
He propped his chin on his upraised hand, frowning thoughtfully. “I would think most everyone in the village knows where you spent the night.”
She cringed and pushed away from the dresser. Her leg protested the movement, but she had more important things to worry about. “That goes without saying.” She forced herself to shrug. “In a few weeks, it’ll be forgotten as new gossip takes its place.”
Too bad she didn’t believe her own words.
He slowly rose from the bed, all but prowling toward her. “Is that what you want? To put all this behind you as if it were some nightmare that deserves to fade away?”
She retreated back toward the dresser. “I...I don’t know.”
He stopped when he was toe to toe with her. “Even if you seek to forget what you are to me, other people know.”
“Who?” she asked, her mouth dry as a hot summer day.
“Those of my people who are with me. Your parents.”
She gaped at him. “My parents?”
“Yes, it was my duty to inform them of your possible role in my life.”
Anger flared. What had he told them? “My mother knew about me being your true mate? My father? Did the whole village know before I did?”
He backed off and returned to the bed, though he didn’t sit this time. “No, just your parents. The rest of the village was left to think what they will until they’re told otherwise.”
