Zircon (Awakened Sea Dragons Book 1)

by Terry Bolryder

  He was one in a million, and she didn’t feel any guilt about this anymore. He’d been clear about what he wanted, and even though she didn’t know what it meant for the future, she wanted it, too.

  “Seaton,” she said, testing out his name. “Sea. You’re named after the sea?”

  “Yes, sort of,” he said. “My last name is Zircon.”

  “Like the stone?” she asked.

  He grinned as he pulled back, cocking his head, his handsome features amused. “Yes.” He waited a second until she let out a little groan and reached for his head, pulling it toward her again.

  He growled and bit down on her neck, sucking harder than before, and she gasped. That was going to leave a mark. But as he hungrily moved over her shoulders, holding her higher in the water so he could access more of her salty skin, she didn’t care. It almost seemed like his purpose, as he marked her here and there, setting her body alight.

  She felt like a fire that was threatening to burn into a blaze, and her hands gripped his shoulders as his hand left her breast and moved down her waist, squeezing lightly, trailing to her sensitive belly button and gently pressing inside, making her jerk. He continued his exploration to her hip, which made her flinch, the nerves there almost too sensitive. He grinned as he kissed her on the lips, and then, as if asking for permission, his hands played at the edge of her panties.

  She nodded, keeping her lips locked with his, not wanting to miss any of the hot moment between them, and then bit down on his lip accidentally as his hand moved down to her folds. He played at her warm heat, and she loved the feel of his soft, wet hands, the ocean all around them.

  He found her clit easily, playing gently around her center until he found the movement and spot that she loved. There was something so amazing about the way he was paying attention to her, not stopping whenever something felt good, but working to find whatever felt best and then doing that with his own twist (sometimes literally) until he drove her nearly crazy.

  She felt pleasure building faster than ever before as he worked her into a frenzy, one hand playing at her breast, his mouth on her neck, nibbling, and his other hand at her clit, playing wildly.

  She threw her head back but kept her legs and arms wrapped around him, feeling she’d fly apart if she didn’t. She looked at the horizon as she neared her peak, feeling as bright inside as the beams bouncing off the water like sparks, and came with the shattering energy of crashing waves, screaming his name to the sky as she rode her release out against his fingers.

  But he wasn’t nearly done yet. His lips took hers as he continued to play at her center, swirling this way and then that, starting slow, as her heart was still pounding, and then working up into a hot rhythm that made her arch in anticipation. He’d already given her the most powerful orgasm of her life and didn’t look anywhere near stopping.

  She arched hard as she felt another orgasm ripple through her, and this time she closed her eyes as sparks went off behind her eyelids. Then she remembered she wanted to capture every bit of this moment, and her eyes opened forcefully, through the drunken waves of her pleasure, to focus on his face, his handsome features intense and handsome, his focus on her pleasure ultimate, his eyes pleased in such a masculine, possessive way.

  He took her breath away. Unable to stand the intensity of his male beauty along with the powerful waves of pleasure, she looked to the horizon again, where the sun was finally setting.

  She gasped and sagged forward in the water, resting her hands on his shoulders and then pulling him close to hold him, forcing him to stop pleasuring her for a moment and wrap his arms around her in return.

  She just wanted to be close to him, give herself a chance to breathe.

  And she wanted to give him something in return.

  She pulled back when he had moved his arms down to cradle her thighs again as she kept her legs wrapped around him and ran her arms over his ocean-slicked arms and chest, feeling every ridge of his beautiful muscles.

  Damn, he was sexy. Sexy didn’t even describe it. Magical.

  He kissed her again, as if he couldn’t stand to be apart from her, and her hand trailed playfully down his toned, hard abs, pausing at the trail of hair below his belly button. She played and then dipped into the short boxer briefs he was wearing, gripping his length.

  She gripped at his sheer size, wondering if things perhaps felt bigger in the water.

  He smiled at her, slightly confused, and then gasped as she moved up his shaft.

  She couldn’t believe the confidence that welled in her, knowing she had this kind of power over him, and she began to stroke slowly up and down the long, thick length that she couldn’t even imagine being inside her.

  Oh, wait. Yes, she could. She bit her lip and stroked faster and heard him release a groan.

  One hand caught her waist as the other returned to her center, and he stroked her quickly, urgently, as if determined to always give her more pleasure than she could give him.

  Well, two could play at that game.

  She stroked harder, crashing her lips against his, catching his lower lip between her teeth and nipping gently. He answered with his tongue, swiping inside her mouth, claiming her, as his finger grew more deliberate, swirling closer and closer to her agonizingly sensitive center as she writhed against him and moaned against his mouth.

  The sun had almost set and was giving out dying rays that were almost blinding, but it was nothing compared to the brightness inside her as pleasure burst forth once more.

  As she rode the waves of unbearable pleasure, she moved her hand even faster along his length, and with one long stroke all the way to his base, she felt him jerk and go tense. Pleased that he was about to join her, she focused back in on her own orgasm.

  “Jenny,” he growled against her neck, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tightly against him in the water as his body tensed and shook.

  Her own waves were intensely pleasurable, making her want to weep from the force of it, rocking her somewhere deep inside where she hadn’t thought anyone could touch her.

  She’d expected only pleasure. She hadn’t expected anything he did here to touch her heart.

  But holding him in the gently swaying water, feeling utterly safe in his arms as he murmured romantic words, told her everything she meant to him—though she was sure he was probably exaggerating in the throes of release—she felt part of something much more than herself.

  She stroked his back and rode out the last of her aftershocks, not wanting to let go of his body.

  Not wanting to go back to the beach.

  If only they could stay there, making love in the water forever.

  Chapter 9

  By the time they pulled up in front of her house, Seaton still wasn’t back to normal after what had happened.

  He’d never wanted to leave the water with her, but he’d sensed that it was getting cooler, and not wanting to see her shiver (from anything other than intense pleasure), he had helped her out and grabbed their clothing so they could change.

  They were still covered in saltwater, but there was nothing to be done for it, and besides, he liked the reminder that he’d had at least a taste of his mate.

  A taste that only made him hungry for more.

  He was proud of how she’d trusted him in the water, how she’d become more comfortable. It made him happy to make love to the woman he wanted in the place he had long called home.

  From here on out, land would be his home, but hopefully sometimes, she would still want to go in the water.

  They sat in front of the house in silence for a moment after she turned off the car.

  “Thank you,” she said, looking at him and flushing.

  “I should be the one thanking you,” he said. “For everything.”

  She laughed. “I hope that’s not why that just happened. Some misplaced sense of gratitude.”

  Anger ran through him. What made this beautiful woman think that a man would do something like that to t
hank her?

  He reached out and cupped her face with both hands, wanting to be sure she heard him. “No. Never. I don’t know how I got here, but from the moment I saw you, I wanted to stay.”

  The warmth in her eyes as he said it seemed to light up the darkness in the car.

  Her hand covered his, then gently pulled it down to the seat between them. “I appreciate that,” she said. “I enjoyed it.” She leaned in until her lips were nearly at his. “And as for you staying, I want that, too.” She gave him a quick kiss, lingering light as a feather against his lips before pulling back with a grin. “Now should we see what trouble your siblings have gotten into?”

  He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling like the one with the blush now that she’d said such sweet words and taken the initiative to kiss him. “Yes. Please.”

  He got out of the car and came around to open her door. He’d seen a man do it for a woman outside the restaurant and liked the way it worked. Jenny seemed surprised but then just smiled at him.

  As they walked to the front porch, she stopped abruptly.

  “Um, Seaton, we don’t have to tell them, do we?”

  “I can try not to, but they may guess,” he said, rubbing his head.

  “Okay,” she said. “But let’s just not talk about it.”

  “Agreed,” he said. What happened between him and Jenny should stay between them. It was private and sacred and nobody’s business but theirs.

  When she opened the front door, Marina and Kai were sitting on the couches in the living room, waiting with expectant eyes. Marina looked them over once and then stood, her expression amused.

  Kai, however, seemed dark with anger as he took in the situation from his place on the couch, not eager to get up. His arms were folded, his tone terse. “It’s about time you two got home. We were worried.” He looked at the clock. “Is it usual to work until well after dark? Well after the time most have eaten?”

  “No,” Jenny said, and Seaton felt protective and wanted to gather her in. But she’d said not to show anything to Kai or Marina, so he held himself back.

  Jenny set down her purse. “I’m sorry. We went for a swim before coming home. Did you both get something to eat?”

  “We managed,” Kai said, still looking irritated. “Seaton, can I talk to you?”

  Jenny bit her lip and looked over at him. “Don’t you want dinner?”

  “It can wait,” Seaton said. “If Kai wants to talk, I’m happy to talk to him.”

  “I’ll get dinner with Jenny,” Marina said cheerfully, and Seaton let out an inward groan. He knew the grilling that was about to take place.

  “I thought you’d already eaten,” he said.

  “I can always eat more,” Marina said, putting an arm around Jenny’s waist and leading her into the kitchen.

  “Wait,” Jenny said. “I really need to go shower. We can talk after.”

  Marina pouted. “But it’s been so lonely in the house.”

  “I promise I’ll be right down,” Jenny said with an encouraging smile.

  Marina sat on the couch with a pout. “Okay, then.”

  Kai looked at Seaton. “Upstairs. Now.”

  Seaton sighed as he followed his brother, who right now was acting more like an angry ship’s captain.

  Kai wasn’t in charge, and he’d do well to remember that.

  Seaton opened the door to his bedroom and walked straight for the bathroom, knowing Kai would shut the door behind him.

  “I’m still taking a shower,” Seaton said, walking to the glass door that separated the shower from the large porcelain basin.

  “That is fine,” Kai said. “I have seen your nakedness before, and besides, what I have to say cannot wait.”

  Seaton turned on the water and reached for the soap, pouring some onto his hand and lathering it over his hair. “What is it?”

  “Did you seduce her?”

  Seaton let out a sigh as he let the soap stream down over his back, some gliding along his face. He liked the feeling of standing in a waterfall that came with showering. “How did you know?”

  “It’s obvious,” Kai said. “The looks on both of you, as if you were caught in flagrante.”

  “We were hardly committing a crime,” Seaton said. “I wanted her, and she wanted me. And after all, she’s my mate, so there’s nothing wrong with it—”

  Kai made a choking sound. “Your mate? Seaton, she doesn’t even know dragons exist. The very idea of us might stop her little human heart. Have you thought of that? And what about our mission? You don’t know why we’re here. It could be dangerous. And you’re going to get a human involved in things like this?”

  “It’s not like you to worry like this,” Seaton said in a low voice, rinsing off the rest of the bubbles, a darkening feeling coming over him.

  “Because you are usually the one worrying like this. The responsible one that keeps everyone in line. You are supposed to be coming up with a plan to get in contact with those like us, not romancing some human who won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.”

  Seaton stepped out of the shower and grabbed his brother by the collar, lifting him on his toes. “Do not speak about her like that. She matters.”

  “What about us?” Kai asked, jerking Seaton’s hands away and landing back on the tile floor. “Don’t we matter?”

  Seaton sighed and grabbed a robe, pulling it around him as he walked into the bedroom. He sat on the bed, overwhelmed, and then looked up at Kai. “Of course you matter.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I am ridiculously protective of her.”

  Kai waved a hand. “I should not have shown disrespect to Jenny. She has helped us. But it has been a long day. I am getting impatient.”

  “I know,” Seaton said. “And I am sorry we are home so late. Truly, brother, she brings out something in me unlike ever before.”

  Kai smiled slightly. “I can’t say I don’t like seeing my overly proper brother losing it over a female for once, but this is different. We could be at war.”

  “If there was a war, don’t you think we would know about it? What if we were awakened for a different purpose? What if we were awakened so we could be happy?”

  “I do not know,” Kai said, leaning back on his hands. “If that was the case, I’m not sure what I would do.”

  “Find someone and be happy?”

  Kai grimaced. “I am a warrior. You know this. That life is not for me.”

  “That life seems very different when you find the right person,” Seaton said, thinking back to Jenny in his arms, throwing her head back and coming to the rhythm of the sea.

  “Gross,” Kai said. “Think your untoward thoughts on your own time.”

  “Being obvious again?”

  “So obvious that you stink,” Kai said, standing with a huff. “All right, as long as we agree that we should still be trying to get in contact with the oracle and the other dragons, then you can proceed with your mate as you see fit.” He folded his arms and cocked his head to the side. His wavy curls brushed over his forehead. “After all, I do not feel what you feel, so I will have to trust you. But don’t forget about me and Marina. Don’t let us down.” Kai opened the door. “And now we should probably go downstairs and get you dinner before Marina harasses your mate too much.”

  Seaton nodded at him, a nervous feeling building in him like the rising tide. There was so much to do, and he felt in control of so little of it. Calm down, Seaton. One thing at a time.

  Fate had awakened them, and fate would find a way.

  Chapter 10

  “So what did you and my brother really do after you finished working yesterday?” Marina asked, leaning over the bar and twirling a cherry between her fingers as they waited for the first customers of the day.

  Marina and Kai had insisted on coming to work today, not wanting to be left at home, and the restaurant felt a bit crowded with this many employees.

  Still, there was an odd se
nse of home, and Jenny liked the warmth of having other people around.

  Even if Marina was too astute for her own good.

  She’d talked Jenny into braiding her hair for her so it would be back while serving food, and she looked absolutely beautiful even in the plain white tee shirt and jeans she wore under her apron. She was so tall compared to Jenny.

  “That’s none of your business, Marina,” Jenny said, trying to get the menus ready. She’d talked to Kai and Marina about the business and what would be expected of them, and Kai had said he just wanted to watch, not work.

  Which was fine with her because she doubted he would be a good waiter and didn’t need him scaring off customers.

  Marina had seemed a little too excited about the prospect of interacting with people, but Jenny felt her beauty might even be a draw.

  “So I just get their requests, bring them to you, and you cook them?” Marina asked.

  “Well, a lot of it is readymade and prepped in the back, and I reheat it. Most of my business is drinks and snacks, since people at the beach get hungry but aren’t really looking for a full sit-down experience. Margins on drinks are better, too.”

  “Margins?” Marina asked, cocking her head.

  “Profits,” Jenny said.

  “Oh,” Marina said with a smile. She twirled on the stool and then stopped abruptly with her hands on the counter in front of Jenny. “So what happened with my brother?”

  Jenny looked over at Seaton and hoped she didn’t blush. He was so handsome standing there in a button-up shirt and jeans that actually fit, his short, straight hair tousled as usual, as if he’d just had a romp in the sack. Handsome features focused as he watched Kai flip through the channels for something to watch.

  With the season winding down, there would be less and less customers, and she guessed it might actually be lonely without her stranger visitors around.

  But it was more than that with Seaton. He made her think of things she’d never before imagined. He made her want to dream. And fantasize. And everything else.