“Radio silence,” her dragon confirmed and kept her promise by not doing anything more than purr her happiness.
Max dragged Sasha over him then stroked his hand down her back and over her buttocks. Every one of his touches brought new shivers of delight and more beautiful memories to drag out later. He squeezed her arse and drew her against him, so their bodies fit together perfectly. His cock slipped between her thighs, sliding across tender flesh and setting off another series of delightful prickles. No matter where he touched, her body surged at the caress. Her nerves pulsated, sending never-ending darts of pleasure swimming through her mind.
“This might hurt the first time,” Max warned as he twisted their bodies again until she lay flat on the mattress. He settled between her legs, his expression grave.
“I know,” she said. “I’m ready. Besides, I doubt it will hurt for long. Dragons heal fast.”
Max kissed her chin, the tip of her nose, and nuzzled at her neck. “All you need to do is tell me to stop.”
“I won’t.”
“Fast or slow?”
Sasha groaned. “Do I have to tell you to stop talking?”
His chuckle filled the air even as he fitted his cock to her flesh and pushed inside her. Her nails dug into his back, her hiss of surprise hidden against his shoulder. There was a hint of pain—yes—but it wasn’t as bad as she’d expected. Instead, she felt an incredible sense of fullness, and she guessed there would be more and better to come.
Max pulled back, reducing the pressure inside her. For one awful moment, she thought he’d halt, but he silenced her complaints with his mouth and surged inside her again.
Sasha groaned as a fleeting tease of bliss streaked through her veins. Instinctively, she lifted her hips, seeking more of the sensation. Max made a sound, too, and quickened the pace of his strokes into her body. She clung to him, the pain a distant memory. Instead, she focused on grabbing the beautiful pulses that came from their joining. Pleasure grew, and it was even better than earlier because she was sharing the moment with Max. She clutched his shoulders and undulated with him.
“Sasha,” he murmured. “Kiss me.”
“Anytime. Always.”
Their lips met, yet Max kept thrusting into her body, driving her mindless. This was so much better than her imagination. So much better.
“Sweetheart, I wanted this to last longer.” He gasped out the words as his hips jerked, and his thrusts grew harder and faster.
Sasha didn’t care since she was right there with him. She held on for dear life and enjoyed the heck out of their physical journey.
Max reached between them and stroked her nub. Seconds later, she shattered, and he groaned. The pleasure roared through her, stealing her breath, her sight, and emptying her mind of everything except Max.
His hips worked in two fast thrusts before he stilled, and her channel pulsed around him again. A loud click sounded inside her head, and she groaned, tipsy from the extraordinary experience.
Long moments later, her dragon said, “What was that weird click? Did we break?”
Sasha sighed. “Don’t know about you, but I’m feeling no pain. That was incredible.”
“Thank you,” Max said. “It was amazing.” He stiffened. “You didn’t speak aloud.” He parted their bodies, and Sasha mourned the loss of the intimate contact. “Why can I hear you?”
“What?” Sasha whispered, staring at him. She imagined the shock on his face echoed hers.
“Woohoo!” her dragon cheered.
“Why are you woohooing?” Max asked.
He sounded a little freaked, and Sasha babbled, “That’s my dragon half. I never believed the old tales my grandfather told us about some dragons having true mates.”
“But—” Max started.
“Shush,” her dragon said. “Listen to Sasha. She will explain.”
12 – Love and True Mates
Max rolled onto his back, his body sated by the most fantastic sex he’d had in living memory. He hesitated then decided he should give in to his urge to take Sasha into his arms. He could listen to Sasha while he savored her warm body next to his. Her touch quelled the flash of panic that had seized him on hearing the strange feminine voice in his head. Sasha had done nothing to harm either him or Noel. He’d made love to her, so it was up to him to offer the gift of trust. He’d listen to her explanation.
Max cleared his throat. “Go on,” he said.
“My grandfather told me some dragons in the past had found their true mates, and this meant they could communicate on a private channel. When I’m in my dragon form, I can communicate with other dragons, but now we have a means of speaking together without other dragons overhearing.”
“That was your dragon?”
He felt the curve of Sasha’s smile against his shoulder rather than saw it. “It was my dragon. I scarcely believe it myself, but we are true mates.”
“The stuff of legends,” her dragon trilled, sounding excited.
Max fell silent, trying to analyze how he felt about this. Aw, hell. Who was he trying to kid? He’d fallen for Sasha in a big way. Yes, she was younger, but she was so special. On top of that, she was gorgeous, and her broad grin, her sense of fun, and her ability to make Noel happy pleased him too.
“Are you going to say something? Anything?” her dragon snapped finally.
“I’m pleased to meet you. This is a lot to get my head around. I am but a male, and I require time to assess everything.” He thought the words rather than stating them aloud, then held his breath for a reaction.
“Well said,” the dragon replied after a long beat of silence. “What will we do next? You’re connected to Sasha and me now. I knew you were perfect for us. I told Sasha.”
Sasha shifted a fraction in his arms, her shoulders shaking in silent merriment.
“Why are you laughing?” Sasha’s dragon demanded.
“I want to know that, too,” Max said aloud.
“You sound like our mother with the smug I-told-you-so. The last time when we were together at the family dinner, our mother told-us-so about something, and you grumbled and growled for hours.”
“Ooh,” Sasha’s dragon whispered, and she sounded a bit bemused. “That’s bad. Does sex do something weird to your brain? Should Justine, The Smart Computer, have warned us about that?”
Max barked out a laugh. “No, you’re fine in the sex department. No side effects apart from pleasure plus a mate bond. The I-told-you-so is all you.”
“Dang,” Sasha’s dragon said. “Gotta fix that. Kiss us and make us forget.”
“Now that I can do,” Max murmured, and he set about making them all forget everything except the pleasure of intimacy and touch.
Many hours later, Noel stirred in the next door bedroom, his thumps drawing their attention.
“Noel is awake,” Sasha said, starting to slip from the bed.
“Stay,” Max said. “Take a shower and come out when you’re ready. I’ll start Noel on cereal and make us a pot of tea.” He snatched a quick kiss and strode toward the connected bathroom.
“He has a very nice arse,” Sasha’s dragon said. “I want to bite it. Do you think Max would like that?”
Sasha’s dragon had forgotten he could eavesdrop on this particular channel.
Max chuckled. “As long as it isn’t with your sharp dragon teeth, I might enjoy a bite or two.” He closed the bathroom door and took care of business while listening to the conversation in his mind. “Can I turn off the chatter if I want?” he asked silently.
“All you have to do is ask me,” Sasha’s dragon said snootily. “I can switch to just Sasha. You’re new, and I forgot.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you. This is new to me too. It will take time for us to adjust,” Max replied.
“True,” Sasha’s dragon said. “I would change nothing. I like you very much.”
“Thank you,” Max said. “I like you very much. You’re gorgeous.”
“There!” Sasha’s dragon shrieked. �
�Proof of what I’ve been saying all along. We’re gorgeous, and Max would be a fool if he walked away from us.”
Max stiffened. “You’re frightened that I’m going to have passionate sex—the best sex of my life—and just walk off into the sunset?”
“No,” Sasha said forcefully. “That is not what we’re worried about, although leaving wouldn’t be very nice of you. We’re worried about the barrier and the fact we come from different worlds.”
“That’s fair. You sensed the barrier during the flight here, right?” Max finished in the bathroom and returned to the bedroom to grab a pair of swim shorts and a T-shirt.
Sasha’s dragon gave a loud sigh as he tugged down the shirt to hide his chest. He winked at Sasha while he waited for her to answer.
“Yes, the barrier seems intact. I felt a reluctance to go too near it, which must be what the humans feel on this side. I guess the dread keeps away the fishermen while the big ships that travel the coast don’t come this far north.”
“All right,” Max said. “Once we’ve had breakfast, we’ll go for a walk. If we stroll toward the end of the island, we should avoid most of the tourists. From memory, they hang around the town to visit the abbey or the castle before they head back across the causeway.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Sasha said.
“Max!” Noel screeched.
“Shower,” Max said firmly. “You’re probably a bit sore, and the warm water will ease your muscles.”
“Max! Shasha!”
Max opened the bedroom door. “In here, buddy. Are you hungry?”
“I couldn’t find you,” Noel sobbed.
“We’re right here. Let’s get you washed and dressed, then we’ll make Sasha breakfast.”
“Shasha makes breakfast,” Noel said, leaning into Max’s legs. A wave of love for his little brother filled him. No way was he letting his grandmother take custody. No matter what, even if he had to break the law to do it.
“Today, we’ll make breakfast for a change to give Sasha a rest.” Max’s mind busily worked through his options as he washed Noel’s face and helped him to comb his hair. His conclusion—his decision depended on Sasha because he loathed the idea of walking away from her. Besides, he suspected this mate bond ran both ways. Throughout the morning, he’d experienced a sense of well-being and happiness that echoed his own. It was weird that he felt it in his gut, and he could sense Sasha’s presence before she fully entered the room. To test himself, he said, “Tea?”
“Please,” Sasha said as she strode into the dining area.
“Shasha,” Noel said, and his round face was one big beam.
“Noel’s behavior has been so much better since you came into our lives.” Max sent the thought to Sasha. When he placed the mug of tea in front of her, she squeezed his forearm.
“Thank you,” she said.
Max checked on the bacon and cracked three eggs into the pan. He placed four slices of bread into the toaster, checked the darkness setting, and popped it down to cook. “What did you do on Perfume Isle? Did you have a job?”
“No. Most of my friends were the same. We stay at home until our parents arrange a betrothal, and then we move to join our new husband.” She pursed her lips, her discontent shining through. “That’s part of the problem in our world. Dragons my age—the women—have no occupation apart from running the home and looking after their families. Looking after Noel for you was fun, yet it gave me a sense of self-worth too. It’s the first time I’ve ever earned money of my own and purchased things I wanted. If I went home, it’d be difficult to settle again. Maybe I could talk to my parents and try to explain, but I doubt they’d understand. My brothers are lucky. They have more freedom.”
“What would you do if you had the opportunity?”
“I love looking after Noel and helping him learn new things. Maybe I could be a teacher.”
“Don’t you have schools in your world?”
“The boys have tutors and university. Some women go, but they’re usually from wealthy families. My mother taught me to cook and run a household, how to do needlework, and conduct myself in public and at parties. That sort of thing.”
“You’re too intelligent to waste your skills on running a home. Not that that isn’t an important job, but you require a challenge.” Max served the bacon and eggs and rescued the toast.
Soon, they were all eating.
“Noel, would you like to walk after breakfast?” Max asked.
“Beach,” Noel said immediately. “Swim.”
“We could manage that,” Max said.
An hour later, they set off for a walk. Although it was still early—just after nine—the sun was shining, and it promised to be a hot day. Not a cloud marred the blue sky. They exited a white wooden gate at the rear of the property, and a few minutes later, they were on the beach.
“I didn’t realize we were that close,” Sasha said. “Last night, I was too busy watching for danger.”
“Well, this is handy since it will keep Noel happy.” Max glanced along the beach, and on seeing no one, he asked, “Can you sense the barrier?”
He’d noticed her distracted air and sensed she was gauging her surroundings. It must be disconcerting to find oneself in another land. Pride swept through him. Sasha had coped admirably with all the changes tossed at her. He didn’t think he would’ve done as well under the same circumstances.
Sasha grabbed his arm, excitement blazing across her face. “The barrier is down. When we first came outside, I sensed it, but the faint buzz it emits has ceased.” She took two steps before releasing a heartfelt groan. “It’s back again.”
Max hated her disappointment because he knew she missed her family. “Let’s walk along the beach. We’ll go that way, so we’re wandering away from the castle. It’s best if we stay away from the town because Noel stands out with his Down syndrome. If I end up not returning to Bamburgh, we don’t want to leave a trail of clues.”
“Plan,” Sasha’s dragon whispered. “I love to explore unfamiliar places.”
“Aren’t you worried about not flying as often and not seeing your parents?” Max asked, his curiosity rising. Sasha was such a complex woman with her dual personalities. He’d have thought she and her dragon would be more similar, but her dragon half seemed more impulsive and quick to temper. Yet her quips and smart-arse comments amused the heck out of him.
“Sasha and I both miss our parents,” the dragon said. “But we’re happy with our adventure too. They protected us and forbade anything fun.”
“It’s a parents’ job to protect their children. I worry about Noel,” Max said.
“They need to learn balance and stop trying to marry us off to Bruceous,” the dragon snapped. “Who is that?”
Max pivoted in the direction Sasha gestured. “It looks like a child and two women.”
“What do you want to do?” Sasha asked. “I can investigate the barrier once night falls again.”
“They’ve seen us. The kid is waving. If we turn around now, it’s going to seem strange. They’re more likely to remember our rudeness,” Max said.
“Okay, so we continue our meander along the beach, exchange pleasantries, and go on our way,” Sasha said. “Noel, look at the shells over there. Let’s see if they’re different from the ones we collected at home.”
Max drifted after Sasha, dividing his attention between Noel and Sasha and the two women. One had bright red hair while the other had brown.
Although they watched the child closely, they constantly chattered, their laughter floating through the air. Perhaps they’d pass each other without them getting a close look at Noel.
At that moment, Noel spotted the other child and beelined toward them. Well, there went that faint possibility. Let’s hope the child wasn’t an obnoxious twat who’d comment on Noel’s differences. Max took long strides to catch up with Sasha and Noel. By the time he reached them, the two children were busy discussing the shells Noel had collected.
“Ma
x,” Sasha spoke through their mind link. “I can smell dragon on the child, but they’re humans.”
“Hello,” a friendly voice said. “I see you’ve met my daughter.”
“I’m a boy today,” the girl shouted.
The brown-haired woman rolled her eyes. “Joanna, it’s rude to shout in front of strangers.”
“But this is Noel,” Joanna said. “He told me, so he’s not a stranger.”
The redhead chuckled. “You can’t fault the logic. Are you here for a holiday? We’re staying in a cottage not far from here.”
“Yes,” Max said. “Work has been stressful lately, and we wanted to take a break from the bustle on the mainland.”
“I get that,” the brown-haired woman said. “We’ll let you get on with your walk. Maybe we’ll see you around again.”
Max forced a smile. “Noel loves to walk on the beach.”
“Joanna does too. I figure if she races around and uses up her excess energy, she’ll sleep better. Nice to meet you.” She shepherded her daughter along and continued walking with her friend while he and Sasha stared after them.
Their first helpful clue.
13 – Mysterious Humans and a Reunion
Sasha swallowed her shout of glee as she glanced over her shoulder at the retreating women and child. The women had smelled strongly of dragons, even though both were human. Sudden tightness in her chest had her pressing her hand to her breastbone and counteracting her initial excitement. Friend or foe?
“Max,” she murmured. “The women bore the scent of dragons too.” She hesitated then decided keeping the details from Max was silly after the intimacy between them. “My guess is they’ve had sex with a dragon. Different dragons,” she added when Max’s eyebrows rose. “Each of them has a dragon lover.”
Max reached for her and drew her closer. “What do you want to do?”
“I should be able to follow their tracks later and trail them back to where the women are staying. If I observe in secret, I might learn more or at least spot another dragon.”
“You’re not going alone,” Max said.
“I’ll be perfectly safe.”
Sasha (Dragon Isles Book 4) Page 16
