“Who says I don’t want you?” Saber growled low in his throat. His cock throbbed, and he gripped the arms of the chair to hold himself still.
Tirah’s eyes sharpened on him, then slid away. “You didn’t want me last night.”
“You were drunk,” he snapped.
“Is that really it?” Her hands twisted the sheet nervously, revealing more of her breasts.
Saber sucked in a deep breath, waiting for the rosy peaks to appear, then frowned as her question registered. “What else would it be?”
Tirah shrugged. “I’m not really desirable.”
“What?” He blinked, unsure of what she was talking about.
“I’m …”
“You’re what?” he asked, but she just shrugged.
Saber scowled, trying to understand what she was talking about.
“Overweight. I’ve ah … always been.”
Saber stared at her in disbelief. “Overweight? What the hell are you talking about? You aren’t, not at all.”
“Stop!” she said, glaring at him. “I may not be right now, but I tend to be on the heavier side, and I know it.”
Surprised, Saber leaned back and studied her. “Apparently, you don’t. In fact, if anything, you are much too skinny, but I guess that’s from running all these years.” Guilt sliced through him. If only he’d found her earlier.
“All my life I’ve been told I’m fat, and these—” She cupped her large breasts, and Saber bit back a groan, wishing it was his hands on them. Tirah, not realizing how she affected him, shook her head. “You can’t tell me these are normal.”
Saber swallowed as fresh blood rushed to his cock. His mouth watered and he licked his lips. “Who likes normal?”
Tirah stared at him as if he were crazy. “Seriously?”
Saber felt anger course through him again at the idea that someone had ever said she was fat. She was perfect. “Who told you that?”
Tirah frowned in confusion. “Why does it even matter?”
“Who?” he asked again, ready to tear the asshole a new one.
“Hmm, let’s see. My father, my classmates, my brother, my superior,” she answered quietly, still staring at him.
“Why would they say that?” He couldn’t imagine she had ever been fat. Curvy, yes. Very nicely curvy. Never fat. Saber scowled at her. “You have lovely curves, that’s all.”
“Curves,” Tirah snorted, holding his gaze with hers.
“Yes, curves,” Saber growled. He rose from the chair and Tirah’s eyes widened. “You are not fat,” he repeated and let his dragon shine through his eyes. Then he climbed onto the bed and crouched beside her. “You have very nice curves.” He inched closer like the predator he was.
Tirah moved back, but Saber kept going until she was laying on her back.
“But—” her protest was cut off as he claimed her mouth with his.
Saber kissed her deeply, letting her feel his hunger. He drew away and stared at her. “You are perfect. I wouldn’t change anything about you.”
“Yet you don’t want to have sex with me.” Heat-filled amber eyes stared up at him. Daring him.
Saber took a deep breath. “You were drunk.”
“I’m not drunk now.” There was an obvious challenge in her voice.
“No, you aren’t,” he answered, aching to take her.
Tirah leaned up, and this time, she claimed his mouth.
Saber inhaled and savored her taste. It was so sweet, so perfect. It set his body on fire and senses reeling. He felt himself getting lost in her. It would be so easy, so good. It took some effort to pull away. “No, stop,” he managed to get out as he held himself above her, trying to calm his racing heart and the flames tearing through him.
“See, you don’t want me,” she said, and the sadness in her eyes tore at his soul.
“I never said that. In fact, I want you very, very much.” The thought of being inside of her was almost his undoing.
“So what are you waiting for?” Tirah stared at him hungrily. Saber began to move away until she grabbed his arm, stopping him.
“Tirah, you’re a virgin. I can’t.”
“You don’t like virgins?” she asked.
Saber shook his head. “That’s not it.” He moved to sit beside her.
“It’s fine. I get it.” She averted her gaze.
Saber wanted to groan. “No, I don’t think you do.” He waited until she met his eyes. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything,” he said, telling the truth. Then Cass’s words rang in is head.
Saber knew the connection they’d forge during sex would be a way to find out what he needed, but he pushed the thought away. If he made love to her, it would be because they both wanted it, not because he needed to read her mind.
Tirah shook her head, but Saber took her hand and guided it to his straining arousal. “Here, see?”
Tirah’s eyes widened. He continued to hold her gaze. “It’s been an extremely long time for me, and as you can clearly see, I want you very, very badly, but you are a virgin.”
Fire gathered in her eyes as she snatched her hand away. “You keep saying that. I know I’m a virgin. What of it? I’m not asking you to take vows with me.”
Saber smiled and gently ran his fingers over her cheek and down her jaw in a caress. “Tirah, I’m afraid I don’t have the control to be gentle, and you need gentle for your first time.”
Tirah rolled her eyes and glared. “Who said I want gentle?”
The mental picture of plunging deep inside of her and hearing her cry his name with passion was almost his undoing. The reality was that he’d surely hurt her. “For your first time you deserve gentle, and I’m afraid I’d hurt you,” he said, while the voice in his head screamed that he was the biggest idiot alive. Saber wasn’t sure he disagreed.
Then Tirah surprised him when she pushed him back, and leaning over, lowered her lips to his.
Liquid fire completely consumed him. All his suffering was gone, like it had never been, and Saber felt as if he were drowning in her essence. He gently held her head, her silky hair soft against his hands. He never wanted her to stop, and almost cried when her lips pulled away from his.
“I want you, Saber. I want to feel you inside of me,” she murmured seductively.
Do it. You know you want to. Take her, make her yours.
With a fierce growl, Saber pushed Tirah back onto the bed and rose over her. Then he lowered his lips to hers. Tirah moaned into his mouth, and Saber deepened the kiss, his steely control finally shattered.
Tirah’s hands roamed over him, searing his skin and setting his blood on fire, and all will to resist her left. Saber allowed himself to touch her, appeasing the ache he’d had for so very long. He marveled at how soft her skin felt. He groaned. She was heaven. He could die right now and be perfectly happy.
Tirah sank one hand in his hair, while the other mercilessly drove him wild as it swept over him, leaving shivers in her wake. “I want to know what it feels like,” she whispered into his mouth.
Saber drew away, sucked in a shaky breath, and stared, reveling at the passion blazing in Tirah’s eyes. Then he lowered his mouth to her once again and nibbled her bottom lip, before trailing his lips along her jaw. Her neck. Her ear. He proceeded to honor her body with kisses, tormenting himself by saving her breasts until he could no longer hold back. Finally, unable to wait any longer, he lowered his mouth to one plump golden breast. His tongue flicked out and licked the sweet rosy nipple, causing Tirah to suck in a sharp breath. Saber grinned. Then he got to work, licking, teasing, nibbling, and sucking. Tirah’s moans were music to his ears as her hands clenched in his hair. When he was finished, he moved to the next one.
“Please, I want—” Tirah arched under him, and it was all he could do to go slow. Saber finally relinquished the twin succulent globes and made his way lower. Tirah’s body trembled before she tensed up. “What, what are you doing?”
“I am going to make you scream.” He
nudged her legs apart, settled in, and dipped his mouth down to lose himself to her sweetness.
“Saber!”
Saber drew his tongue across her, savoring her taste and the passionate moan he wrung from her lips. Soon he had her panting, her hand urging him on, and Saber wanted to grin. He kept going until her scream of pleasure pierced the air.
When he was done, Saber drew up and lay beside her, watching, savoring the sight of her. The pain was a dull throb in the back of his skull.
After Tirah regained her breath, she stared at him. “That was … I never imagined—” Then she frowned. “But, what about you?”
Instead of answering, Saber claimed her lips again, knowing without a doubt that he’d never tire of kissing her, tasting her.
This time it was Tirah who ended the kiss. “I told you, I want this. I’m not fragile.” Her hand moved down his side to the waistband of his sweats, and he sucked in a breath. “May I?”
Yes, his dragon screamed. Take her!
No. Saber ignored the beast inside, though his heart was pounding so hard, he was surprised Tirah couldn’t hear it. He tried to say no, to stop her, but found he possessed zero will power. He wanted her hands on him so badly it made him dizzy with longing. His control shattered. Saber inhaled her tantalizing aroma and nodded, holding his breath as her hand dipped below the fabric. When hesitant fingers lightly touched the head of his straining cock, Saber bucked and just about came. He tried to calm himself, but it was with supreme effort that he managed to keep from disgracing himself.
“Tirah,” he breathed, when she finally closed her hand around him.
“I want you inside of me. I won’t break.” Luminous amber eyes, glowing with her desire, met his in challenge, and another breath hissed from his lips. Suddenly he was no longer sure why he had ever fought this. Surely he had known he’d lose as the outcome had always been inevitable.
Saber stood, and holding Tirah’s gaze, pushed his sweatpants down, revealing all of himself. As a dragon shifter, he was larger than most men, and part of him wanted to scare her off, but the other ached for her to accept him. He stood a moment, watching as she ran her eyes over him. There was no alarm at his size, though he could see the pulse in her neck fluttering. Then she shocked him when she bit her lip, lay back, and opened her legs in invitation.
Yes. A fierce tremble ran though him, and unable to fight the hunger any longer, he climbed onto the bed. Saber crouched beside her, then proceeded to love every inch of her, just as passionately as before.
“Yes.” Tirah sighed, her hands exploring him, making it harder and harder to go slow. Knowing he’d never tire of this, Saber finally dipped his hand between her legs. Finding her wet and ready, he inserted a finger, then another, and quickly brought her screaming.
“Now. I want you, please.” She gasped and then wrapped her hand around his throbbing cock again.
Saber sucked in a sharp breath. “You sure?” He had to give her one last chance to back out. “It will hurt.”
Uncertainty showed for a moment at his words, then it was gone as passion flared bright in her eyes again. “Only for a moment, right?”
Saber prayed that was so, as he carefully lowered himself over her. But as soon as their skin touched, an electrifying jolt of magical energy shot through him. Then just like before, the steady torment that he’d lived with for so long drifted away as if it had never been.
She really is my mate. Saber faltered, suddenly unsure once more. Was he really going to do this?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Soul Mate
Saber felt the deep, dark, aching chasm within him filling up, and knew there was no denying it any longer. She was his mate.
What are you waiting for? With his cock at her entrance, aching to plunge deep inside, Saber stared into Tirah’s eyes. They were now glowing. He could feel himself getting lost in their depths and found he didn’t really care. Not anymore. “There’s no going back,” he warned.
Tirah swallowed and a tremble ran through her. “I know.” Then she licked her lips, her pink tongue darting out and all around.
Saber closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them when Tirah wrapped her arms around him.
“Please, I’ve waited so long,” she whispered.
“I’ll … I’ll try to be gentle.” But it was an effort not to just thrust himself deep and hard, straight into her.
“I might be crazy, but I trust you. I know you won’t hurt me.”
At her words, Saber clenched his jaw and slowly, as gently as he could, entered her. Tirah tensed up and he lowered his mouth to hers. “Relax. Breathe,” he murmured, then plunged his tongue deep into her mouth, his senses reeling at her sweet, yet fiery honeysuckle taste. A taste he now knew he’d never tire of.
With a sigh, Tirah melted underneath him, and then her tongue began to explore him as well.
Saber felt the fever burning in them, as if they were connected, and knew he’d have to eventually bond with her. That, too, was inevitable. “I will never let you go, you are mine now.”
Surprise, and momentary alarm, seemed to light Tirah’s eyes, then she cried out and clutched him tighter as he entered her warmth.
“Are you all right?” he asked once he was all the way inside.
He felt Tirah’s heart pounding against him as she drew in a breath. “Yes.”
“Tell me when you’re ready,” he said, gritting his teeth as he fought for control.
“I’m ready,” she said right away, her hands searing his skin as if she wanted to memorize every inch of him.
Slowly, he began to move, and all too soon, Tirah was urging him on.
“Faster,” she cried, holding him tight. Then she arched into him so that he went even deeper. Saber moaned at how wonderful it felt to finally be inside of her.
“Yes,” she cried out, eyes flashing for a moment and a tingle of magic, not his own, rocked Saber, stunning him. It was wild, exciting, and absolutely exquisite. Not to be outdone, his own power surged.
It shuddered through the both of them, mixing and mingling, straining for acceptance, wanting to bond. Saber cried out. He’d never felt anything so wondrous. Then he felt the prickle of his black scales rise on his upper arms, shoulders, and back. Oh shit.
Realizing what was happening, Saber reined his power back in, yet unable to stop, he plunged faster and harder, wishing this moment would never end. Suddenly, Tirah clutched him and screamed as he sent them both over the edge on a whirlwind of intense pleasure.
As the shock waves slowly petered off, they lay panting and Saber stared down at Tirah, soaking up the pleased expression on her face.
“That was … fun,” she finally said, making him laugh.
“Fun?”
Tirah grinned at him. Then Saber didn’t know if it was the ten years of no sex, or Tirah, but suddenly he was hard all over again.
“I’ll show you fun,” he said and began to move inside of her once more, until he brought her screaming again.
Afterward, Saber rested his weight on his arms and nuzzled Tirah’s succulent neck. How had this happened? He hadn’t intended on taking her virginity, though she seemed to have him twisted around her little finger. Obviously, he had zero control around her.
Saber shifted onto his side and held her in his arms while Tirah ran her fingers over his chest. “That was … better than I ever dreamed.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, feeling blissfully happy for the first time in many years. Maybe ever.
“You were very impressive,” she said.
Saber closed his eyes. She was the one who was impressive. Never in all his years had he felt like this with anyone.
“You said it had been a long time, how long?” she asked.
Saber stilled and then opened his eyes to find her watching him. “Since I first laid eyes on you.”
Tirah stared at him, then snorted. “Oh, come on. You mean to tell me that you haven’t been with anyone since that night?”
Saber
remained serious. “That’s what I’m telling you.”
“I don’t believe you couldn’t find anyone to …” She waved her hand over him. “You know.” Saber frowned. With a sigh, Tirah rolled her eyes. “You know … have sex.”
“I couldn’t. They weren’t you. From the moment I first gazed upon you, there hasn’t been anyone else,” he said, knowing it might be one of the stupidest things he’d ever done, baring his soul this way.
Tirah gaped at him. “Have you never mated?” she asked, as if almost afraid of the answer.
Years of loneliness engulfed Saber at her question. “No, I haven’t been that lucky. Until now.”
Tirah started to say something, then stopped. She stared back at him for the longest time. Finally, she leaned close and kissed his chest. Then her hands began to roam, and suddenly he was ready for her once more.
They made love four more times that night, and at one point, while he held her in his arms, she smirked at him. “You are quite the surprise.”
“I am?” he asked, thinking she was the one who was a surprise.
Sparkling eyes grinned up at him mischievously. “Yes. You cook. Very well I might add.”
Saber shrugged. “That is why I’m a surprise?”
Eyes teasing, Tirah nodded. “Yes.”
“Well then, I’ve had a lot of time to learn how to cook.”
Tirah reached up and ran a finger through his beard. “I found your library.”
“I noticed.” He grinned as he recalled the risqué romance she’d been reading.
“I would never have taken you for someone who spent much time reading,” she said, staring at him curiously. “And certainly not romances.”
Saber shrugged. “Actually, I used to spend a lot of time reading.”
Tirah frowned. “Used to?”
Saber nodded. Reading had been an escape for him for many years, but after that fateful night when they lost Maya and Adarias, he’d been so set on revenge that he took little time for anything else. Then later, he was too close to turning rogue, and his mind wouldn’t let him focus long enough to read, even if he had wanted to do so.
Saberthorn (A Paranormal/Fantasy Dragonshifter Romance): Dragonkind ~ 52 Realms Page 13
