She rested her hands on his chest. “Do you think we have?”
He nodded. “Definitely. I feel bonded to you. That thing I did, taking out the wand, it’s something fae princes only do when they are willing to fight to the death.”
“For their soul bond?”
He nodded. “So yes, I think we are already bonded.” He ran his hands down her waist, over her hips. “But if you weren’t tired and probably needing rest from everything that happened, I’d take you upstairs and make damn sure.”
Excitement flooded her suddenly as her wings withdrew and she came back to her normal human form again.
Somehow, her body just knew what she needed.
“I want that,” she said urgently. “Take me upstairs. Make this permanent. Or just… wipe away the lab. Just… be with me.”
A smile quirked his lips as he scooped her up in his arms again. “Your wish is my command, sweetheart.” He cocked his head. “Maybe literally sometimes.”
She just laughed as he carried her upstairs.
28
When they reached her bedroom, Dallin brought her in, kicked the door shut, and set her down on the bed gently. Then he got on top of her, moving his body over hers in a way that spoke of pure male possession.
Jo looked up at Dallin as his gaze roved hungrily over her, trapping her with his position atop her on the bed.
Not trapped. Encircled. Protected. Surrounded by his love, which she knew was just as strong as the powerful feelings she felt for him.
From here on out, it would be them taking on challenges together. Living, loving, learning about each other and the world that was changing every day.
“This is your last chance to back out. After this, there’s no turning back.” His big arms, propped on the bed on both sides of her, made her feel safe, as always.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, and you know that,” she said, fingers roving over his shirt, feeling the hard muscle beneath.
“Good.” He sat back, tossing aside the shirt easily and coming back down to kiss her neck with a soft growl. She shivered, the contact already warming her insides, making her wet as he explored toward her ear, nibbling and licking in familiar ways.
And when he brought a hand up to the side of her head, his fingers running through the length of her hair as he continued to kiss, she sighed
“Let’s get these clothes off,” he murmured as he lingered along her collar, each brush of his lips like liquid ecstasy over her sensitive skin.
“Yes.”
Mere moments later, they were both naked as Dallin worked her into a frenzy with his hands on her breasts, caressing her nipples and squeezing in just the right way that made the muscles in her lower back tense, heat pooling inside her like a building fire that was getting hotter by the minute.
“I never thought I could be this happy,” Dallin said, teal eyes going slightly bright, more intense as he watched her every movement. “I only thought dark things waited for me on the other side of my freedom.” He leaned down and sucked her nipple with just the right amount of roughness to make Jo moan even as she tried to follow along. “Knowing what I’d find, knowing this is where it would all lead me, I would have waited forever so long as it brought me to you, Johanna.”
He continued to lave the small, peaked skin with the base of his tongue, covering her completely, making it hard to focus.
“I thought my life would stay simple,” she said, and Dallin paused for a moment, hands on her belly while he listened. “But this is the kind of complicated I could have never dreamed I’d be this lucky to find.”
Dallin fought back a smirk. “Well, technically, complicated found you. And then messed everything up, and then—”
She reached up and put a finger on his mouth. “We’re here. That’s all that matters.”
He reached up, taking her small hand in his, tenderly rolling his fingers over it and kissing her palm lightly. Even the slight contact was arousing, and his face was so calm, so romantic she could die there and be a happy woman.
And inside her, she could feel her magic glowing, reaching, bonding her to him even deeper with every moment. So strong a bond that it could never be broken.
Dallin was hers, and she’d always be by his side. Through thick and thin, conflict and peace, hard times and good times.
Though, as long as she had him, there would only be good times.
He licked the tips of her fingers, sucking and watching Jo’s reaction as he did before looking at the emerald stone still on her finger. “There isn’t a thing you could order me to do that I wouldn’t just want to do for you already, Jo.” Then he kissed the top of her hand, sweetly yet still dominant, an immovable object and an unstoppable force all in one person. “Everything I am is yours.”
She smiled up at him, unable to keep from feeling so happy it felt like she could burst.
But Dallin let her hand go, setting it down at her side as he leaned over her again, ravenous once more with his kisses and with the touch of his hands.
And when his finger slid against her clit, Jo almost came right there.
“And this…” He looked down at her, hand hovering over her center, and for a split second, she could swear his teal eyes went icy blue like his dragon’s, just for a second before returning to normal. His expression was hot with want for her. “This will always be my favorite part.”
“What?” she asked or perhaps begged. She was so eager, so urgent to have him touch her again, give her release, that she’d do anything.
“Making you come.”
At that, his finger swirled over her sex, easily gliding with the warm slickness of her own arousal, and Jo fell over the edge into a powerful release that left her screaming his name and writhing in pleasure.
“Always mine,” Dallin murmured as he held her tight, letting her feel everything for the entirety of her release.
And when she came down, she was already prepared for more, ready for more, wanting to see him come and lose control just as badly as he wanted that for her.
And oh, that thick, long length of his just made her mouth water.
She reached down, stroking over him, squeezing slightly as she felt the sculpted shape in her hands, each inch of it made to pleasure her from the inside out.
Dallin grunted, expression tensing as she started to stroke him, loving the way he seemed to not know what to do with the fact that she was the one in control for a moment.
Her body, her eyes, her very soul had the imprint of Dallin memorized. Wherever they went, she’d always be thinking of him, whether she wanted to or not.
“And I’ll be there with you,” he exclaimed, reading her thoughts, though Jo didn’t even mind it anymore. The more he did, the more he’d just see how much she loved him.
Stroking Dallin’s cock was only making Jo wetter, readier than she’d ever been for more. But Dallin began to lightly flick against her clit again, making Jo hold on harder as he quickly built another release.
And when he slid lower with his hand, thrusting in with three fingers and slowly stroking with a curling motion, her entire body trembled with the sensation. Her eyes shut as she imagined the incredible, hard length in her hands coming inside her as if her fingers could taste the feel of his cock.
But Dallin was relentless, using one hand to flick against her clit now while the other slowly moved in and out to the rhythm of her hands. And when she came, she screamed his name again and again, so loud she wasn’t sure if the neighbors could hear, though she was so swept up she couldn’t really care in the moment.
She could feel her sex clench around his fingers, feel the way burning fire moved over her skin with a pulsing, throbbing beat that made every muscle in her tense and relax all at once. She managed to open her eyes for a moment, watching as Dallin just looked down at her with deep satisfaction in his eyes, always one to give more and more until she could barely receive it all.
That was like him at all times, though. Grumpy, hardheaded, a
nd a little difficult if he was stubborn. But he was even more stubborn about putting her first, making sure she got what she needed, making sure he watched out for her no matter what.
She’d make sure she spent the rest of her life watching out for him too.
Jo took several long breaths, chest heavy from exertion even as her body ached for just a little more. And when Dallin withdrew his hand, she guided his cock in, angling her hips so he could thrust inside her with one easy motion.
And even though they’d been together before, it was even better like this, skin to skin with nothing between them. Every centimeter filled her to overflowing, making her orgasm start to build even before he’d begun to move.
“I love you, Jo,” Dallin said, cupping her cheek with his hand. She stroked her face against it, his rough palm soothing and arousing at the same time, and he grinned in contentment down at her. “I love the human you and the fairy you and the baker you. All of you, and I’ll protect you forever.”
“I love you too, Dallin. Always. Fae, dragon, no matter what. I’ll always be here,” she replied, her hands wrapping around the small of his back, eager for the finale but also a little nervous because the magic between them was getting so strong she could barely comprehend it.
Mates. Bonds. It didn’t matter so long as she had Dallin.
He smiled, leaning down to kiss her, which quickly turned from sensual to erotic as his tongue thrust to meet hers, mouth sealed over her and muffling her sounds of pleasure as he claimed her.
And when he started to thrust inside her, still kissing a moment longer before pulling back to nibble her neck, Jo’s whole body rocked from the overwhelming slick movement of their bodies together.
Seconds drew out like minutes as he took over for them both, one hand on her hip, keeping the position just right as he filled her again and again.
It was heaven. The sheen of his ripped body while it moved, the sense he was always watching her, completely focused on Jo and her pleasure even when her eyes were shut from too much stimulation.
And each time he came inside her, then withdrew, he moved imperceptibly faster. Just fast enough that it kicked up the heat inside her core another notch, just a tiny degree at a time.
So much it was almost torturous.
“So… so close,” Jo said, feeling her fingers tighten around his back, though she couldn’t relax them even if she wanted to. He was taking her to the brink and holding her there on the precipice, drawing it out to the point Jo didn’t even know what was going to happen when she did come.
“Hold on a little longer,” Dallin said, still moving, the sound of slick skin on skin tickling her eardrums even as he overcame her ability to think straight.
He sheathed himself inside her for several more minutes, rubbing the extra-sensitive spot inside her just as she could feel that he was close to the edge too. His chest moved with big, heavy breaths. His shoulders were hunched, muscles tense, one hand propped on the bed beside her while the other teased one of her nipples (though Jo was so close that it was like a cool breeze compared to the torrent of arousal she was sitting directly under).
And then she came. Or rather, Jo felt her body clench just as he met her one last time, filling her body completely with his.
“Dallin!” she screamed once, all the air rushing out of her lungs as her head flew back against the bed beneath her.
Just as she slipped over, Dallin wrapped one hand around her, pulling her into his chest while he still managed to keep himself up with the other. And when his cock jerked inside her, pressing her even further into the release, Jo dropped into a freefall of desire so strong not even magic could explain it.
Jo just held Dallin back, grateful for his ability to be her rock as they came together with hot breaths and quivering muscles. It was like being one person, joined in body and soul, even if just for the moment, and Jo just let herself swim in the sensation for each long, delightful second she could.
It was only the beginning, but she still wanted to make the most of each second.
“Jo. Jo,” Dallin said gruffly, protectively, as he came inside her, finally losing control beautifully in her arms.
And when they were both spent, tired and happy and grateful for everything, she slumped back against the bed, sighing contentedly with the knowledge that they were together forever.
She could feel it was true in her heart.
Dallin, who took a second longer to compose himself, rested his weight on his elbows, bringing them just barely chest to chest as his pecs rubbed over her.
And when he leaned down to kiss her, it was simply everything.
Her dragon. Her fairy prince.
Her Dallin.
“You are so wonderful. How did I ever deserve you?” Dallin said as he pulled away, eyes full of love as he looked over her.
“I didn’t deserve you either, but here we are. Now we just have to spend the rest of our lives being happy, I suppose,” she replied, loving the way he smiled at her.
Dallin slowly pulled out, going to the bathroom to clean up before plopping on the bed and encircling her from behind. She wriggled a little, loving how small of a spoon she made next to him while she just let the happiness settle in.
“I hope you’re ready for a long time of happiness,” he muttered, sounding more relaxed than he’d ever been before.
“How so?”
“Dragons live forever. And so do their mates. Not sure if they covered that in the seminar.”
That sounded too good to be true. But then again, she’d had to accept a lot of things like that since meeting her mate.
“I guess I can finally work on perfecting that lava cake recipe,” she replied playfully, enjoying how Dallin was making a slow circle with one finger on the corner of her hip.
Dallin paused, then grinned against the back of her neck. “Lava cake?”
Jo grinned up at him, feeling energy flow back into her even though it was late. Just being with him made her feel stronger. Like she could do anything. And right now, she wanted to cook for her dragon. “Hungry after all that rescuing?”
“Maybe,” he said. “Or maybe you’re just the best cook in the world.” His hand curled over her hip. “Or maybe I just want to check out your butt while you cook. Or maybe I just want to bring you up here again after you’ve gotten your strength back.”
“Deal,” she said, grinning as he growled and picked her up off the bed, moving toward the kitchen.
“Clothes, Dallin,” she squeaked in delight, feeling so small and safe in his arms.
“Overrated. Besides, I wanted an excuse to look at your ass while we cooked.”
He set her down, and they playfully argued over what the appropriate amount of clothes for cooking was. And as they spent the rest of the night baking and kissing and making love again, Jo marveled at the man—the dragon—who’d become something much more over the course of their short time together.
For the first time, he seemed to feel truly free, and it wasn’t because his suppressor was gone, at least in Jo’s opinion.
She’d always felt the walls around him, the way he held back. All of that was gone now.
In falling for her, in loving her, in facing who he was, it seemed her dragon had finally been released to be what he always should have been.
Safe, happy, and hers.
Forever.
Epilogue
“So, um, it’s good to meet you… Ultraviolet, was it?” Jo was struggling not to laugh as she watched Dallin’s so-called best friend put way too many cupcakes on the plate in her lap.
“Vex,” her guest replied, slanting a glare at her from purple-gray eyes. Long lashes. Features that were up-tilted like a classic illustration of a fairy. Jo felt a little in awe just being next to her.
“Vex,” Jo said, watching as she let out a groan and shoved almost an entire cupcake into her mouth.
Though, certainly, the skinny fairy looked like she could use some baked goods.
Said f
airy eyed her suspiciously. “These aren’t poisoned, are they?”
“How dare you insult my mate?” Dallin said, swiping a cupcake off Vex’s plate. “Just for that, you lose one baked good.”
Vex gave him a glare that promised destruction and death, and Dallin grinned before setting the cupcake back down.
To be honest, Jo was just happy it was this easy to get supernaturals to warm up to her.
“So you’re a radiant fae,” Vex said, setting aside the plate so she could lean back lazily in the chair. “I could work with that if you two still wanted to join us.”
“Us?” Jo asked, glancing at Dallin.
Dallin shook his head. “I told you, Vex. That’s over for me. I’ve had enough fighting.”
“Right, right, you’re all loved up and domesticated,” Vex said grumpily, reaching for a cupcake. “And if I disagreed, I obviously wouldn’t have freed you.” She sighed. “But a radiant fae would be really useful. We could use her to disinfect some of our members…” She trailed off. “But I really shouldn’t be talking about that if you aren’t joining up.”
She stood, brushing off her hands. She was wearing a large, worn gray hoodie that fell to her hips over black leather leggings and gray boots. “I just came to see if you two made it out okay, not that I care, and—”
“Stay,” Dallin said, standing and looking like he wanted to walk over to her.
Jo had to admit she understood how he must be feeling. The more she’d learned in the past weeks about how much Dallin and Ultraviolet had worked together, the more she knew Dallin cared about his friend.
And Jo was grateful to her also for helping Dallin get out of that laboratory.
Vex just glared at them both. “Ugh. I can’t stay and watch this… domestication. But radiant fae are badass. So if you decide you do want to join…”
“Badass?” Jo asked. “From everything I’ve been told, we’re just super kind and loving.”
“Ha,” Vex said. “Radiant fae are the only ones who can fight chaos and actually eliminate it. It’s true they don’t fight often and they don’t like to, but when one is more violent than some happy little baker, watch out.”
Dragon Released (Reclaimed Dragons Book 1) Page 21
