Maybe once he’d had her a couple of hundred times he wouldn’t feel such a sense of urgency, a deep-seated need to mark her, to claim her before someone took her from him.
Having her mouth on him had been incredible. The wet heat surrounding him while her tongue teased, the slide of her hand up and down his length, and the little murmurs of pleasure she’d made had pushed him close to the edge.
Now it was his turn. He had her sprawled on the sofa with her legs over his shoulders. She was open to him in the most vulnerable way a woman could be. He wanted to bring her pleasure, to chain her to him with mind-blowing sex…and the promise of more.
He wanted her to choose to stay with him. What he didn’t want to do was admit to any kind of tender emotions. He might feel them, but it was safer to keep them to himself. Maybe if she stayed with him for a decade or two, he’d be able to finally declare them. In the meantime, he could bind her to him using sex.
He had plenty of money, but he didn’t think using that as leverage would work with Valeriya. In fact, he knew it would only piss her off. He’d managed to learn something about women over the course of his long life. Some of them might be attracted to his wealth, but those weren’t the kind he’d ever want in his life on a full-time basis.
He inhaled her arousal before dipping his tongue into her sweet core. She was wet and ready. He could take her now, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to hear her cries of release before he lost himself in her warmth.
Whether she knew it or not, he was hers, body and soul. It had been more than three thousand years since he’d shown his dragon form to a woman. Back in those days, humans had treated them more like gods, to be respected and feared. That had changed over the centuries. Plus, he’d gotten tired of women wanting him only because he was a powerful drakon.
Valeriya had slept with him before she’d known what he was. But if his being a drakon enthralled her and kept her with him, he wasn’t too proud to use it. Darius would never let him live it down if he found out. Come to think of it, neither would Ezra or Nic. Best to keep his mouth shut.
She cried out as he ran the flat of his tongue over her clit. He felt the sting of her nails digging into his shoulders. He wanted to imprint himself on her body so she’d know who she belonged to. That might not be modern thinking, but he wasn’t a modern man. He was a drakon, which meant half of him was a wild creature that lived by instinct.
He teased his fingers over her slit before sinking one inside. She gasped and raised her hips to take him deeper. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely rose color. He liked her hair tumbling around her shoulders like a black cloud.
Her breasts were firm and full. He kept his hand between her legs as he levered up so he could capture one pert nipple between his lips and suck.
“Tarrant.” She jerked upward and then fell back against the cushions. Her inner muscles rippled around his finger. He released her nipple and dove back between her thighs, licking and sucking her clit to prolong her orgasm.
She moaned and pleaded and gasped, and still he didn’t stop. He loved the taste of her, like a succulent peach ripened by the midday sun.
He finally stopped and sat back. Her arms were over her head, half covering her face. She was panting hard, her breasts heaving with every lungful of air she pulled in.
He had to have her.
Tarrant stood and pulled Valeriya off the sofa. Her gaze was unfocused and she was frowning. He didn’t have time to explain. He placed her behind the sofa and bent her over the cushioned back.
His need for her was like a living thing, driving him, pushing him. He used his own legs to spread hers wide. She moaned and leaned forward, tipping her ass more toward him.
He eased his cock between her damp folds, letting her essence coat him. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth to keep from spilling himself before he got inside her.
Tarrant pressed the head of his cock against her opening and pushed. Just like before, there was resistance. He kept going, and her slick channel rippled and stretched to accept him.
He didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. He kept up a steady pressure until he was buried to the hilt. He leaned forward, covering her with his larger body. She had her arms spread out along the back of the sofa. He linked their hands together and remained still while he caught his breath.
When he thought he could move without coming right away, he eased his hips back an inch or two and then pushed in again. Heaven. It was sheer heaven when she squeezed his dick, surrounding it in wet heat. He did it again and again. Each stroke got faster and deeper, harder and more desperate, until he was pounding into her.
He let go and allowed the pleasure to take him. His dragon roared inside him. Tarrant yelled as his release rocketed from the depth of his balls all the way up his shaft. Valeriya cried out and her warmth flooded him.
He kept pumping until she started to shake. He released her hands and pulled away. It was not an easy thing to do. He wanted to stay buried in the warmth and welcome of her body.
When she started to fall, he scooped her into his arms and all but fell on the sofa. She snuggled against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Are you okay?” He’d gotten a little rough there at the end.
“Mmm.” She nodded and rubbed her nose against his shoulder. He closed his eyes and enjoyed a rare moment of peace. It wasn’t often that he wasn’t thinking and planning, using the information that was his life’s blood to expand his empire in some way that would protect him and his brothers.
Since Valeriya had arrived, she’d taken all his attention. He frowned when he realized he hadn’t checked the stock markets or any of his usual news sites in hours. She hadn’t been here long, and already she was changing him.
Tarrant wasn’t sure he liked that. Since the alternative was not having Valeriya, though, he’d have to find a way to deal with it. Rules. He’d lay down some ground rules. They both had things they needed to do. She could work on her books, and he’d spend his time in his computer lab. Simple. Not to mention, he could keep an eye on her from there.
Satisfied he’d found a solution to the problem, he was about to lay it all out for Valeriya when he felt the soft puff of her breath against his skin. She’d fallen asleep. He’d obviously worn her out.
Before he could get too pleased with himself, a low buzzing sound interrupted the moment. He eased away from Valeriya. She frowned and curled into a ball.
He grabbed his jeans and pulled them on before heading over to the security panel and turning off the alarm. Someone was on the property.
Tarrant detoured to his bedroom long enough to pull on a dark shirt and boots. He also grabbed the comforter off his bed and went back to the living area and draped it over Valeriya.
Her clothing was still strewn about. He smiled at the reminder of their passionate lovemaking. It quickly became a frown. Whoever was out there had interrupted their time together. He should go to his computer room to check things out. For that matter, he could even use his phone or tablet to access the security cameras. But he wanted to see for himself just what was going on. He’d just take a quick peek outside.
If it were just himself, he probably wouldn’t bother, but he was protecting Valeriya. Both his human and dragon sides insisted he handle this matter personally.
He stepped over her bra and put the code into the panel. As the door opened and he stepped into the hidden staircase, he kicked the thin garment toward the door. He was so intent on finding out who’d disturbed them, he didn’t realize the door hadn’t click all the way shut behind him.
Chapter Fourteen
“We’re here.” Riggs opened his eyes as soon as the driver spoke. They’d turned off the main road and had been bumping along for some time. This cabin was about as isolated as one could get.
He opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. He took the small communication device that was offered from one of his men and slipped it into his ear. “Sp
read out. I want the place surrounded.”
“Yes, sir.” They all took different directions, disappearing into the thick woods. These were his men, handpicked for the assignment. He’d been cultivating the small team for some time now, and they answered only to him. He didn’t trust anyone that either Temple or Karina would assign to help him. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but it was one he planned to win.
His men all had rifles, but he had a Sig Sauer P226. The weight was familiar, the weapon an extension of his hand. They were looking for a woman, not a dragon. Darius Varkas was long gone from here and would likely never return. Why Valeriya Azarov chose to come here was something Riggs wanted to find out.
His men faded into the surrounding woods. The cabin was just around the bend. Riggs decided to take the fastest route—straight down the dirt road. He kept to the edge, though, in case he needed to hide.
His booted feet made little noise, and his tension grew with every passing second. He stopped when the cabin came into view. It looked deserted, but as he well knew, looks could be deceiving.
It was made of logs and had a front porch. There was no smoke coming from the chimney. Small piles of dead leaves had blown onto the steps. It looked like any rustic cabin. There was nothing special to distinguish it. Except for its isolation, this particular site had no defensive advantages.
Its effectiveness as a hiding place depended on no one knowing about it. Since Varkas had to know it was compromised, it was useless to him.
But where was Valeriya Azarov? And how had she managed to evade her sister’s men? How had she even known they were watching her?
Riggs listened intently but heard nothing. Then it hit him. He heard nothing. No birds, no animals. Nothing.
Maybe one of his men hadn’t been as quiet as they should have been. It was fall, and there weren’t as many birds and animals around. But Riggs had been in this game too long. Something told him they weren’t alone.
“Report.” He whispered the word and quickly got three clicks in return. His men were out there. Everyone was accounted for.
More cautious now, Riggs approached the cabin. He took his time and circled the perimeter, peering in each window. There was no sign of anyone inside.
He rounded the front of the building and went up the stairs, keeping to the side of the tread where it was less likely to creak. The hair on the back of his neck rose on end, and he whirled around.
The wind blew through the trees, shaking what few leaves remained. Something or someone was out there. Maybe it was nothing more than a wild animal. Either way, his men would have to deal with it.
Riggs put his hand on the doorknob and turned. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t locked. There really wasn’t any reason to do so all the way out here. If someone wanted to break in, they’d simply kick the door open or smash a window. Wasn’t like there was anyone around to hear.
The door gave a low creaking sound as he pushed it inward. He stepped away from the opening and put his back against the wall. No one called out. No barrage of gunfire erupted.
Still, he waited.
After about five minutes, he moved, quick and low, into the space, gun up and ready to fire. He sniffed the air and caught the faintest hint of wood smoke and a touch of perfume or soap. Both were faint.
He took nothing for granted and searched both the bedroom and bathroom, finding nothing. When he knew for certain he was alone, he began a methodical search of the place. Other than the boxed and canned food in the kitchen area, the place was empty. Wherever Valeriya had gone, she’d left nothing behind.
He stood in the center of the living area. “Where are you?” he muttered. She hadn’t had a vehicle. According to Karina’s men, that had been picked up by the rental company. There was nowhere out here she could be, unless she was camping in the woods. That didn’t seem likely. Valeriya was a city girl. He couldn’t picture her roughing it in the wilderness. Not alone.
And that was the kicker. Maybe she wasn’t alone. Maybe she had help.
He slipped out the front door of the cabin, closing it behind him. If she’d left the area and there was a clue to be found, he’d find it.
And when he found her, he planned on keeping her with him. He didn’t trust Karina. It might be useful to have an ace up his sleeve.
…
Tarrant watched from his perch high in the trees. From his research, he recognized the man going into the cabin. Matthew Riggs worked for Herman Temple. Tarrant had spent hours piecing together the comings and goings of all the major players. He knew that Riggs and Christian Temple had been the two men to visit Father Simon. There hadn’t been any flight records, but there was camera footage of the two men leaving together. And since the younger Temple and a local had died along with Tarrant’s friend, Riggs was the only person who really knew what had happened.
The urge to swoop in and grab him was great.
The only thing stopping him was that his instinct to protect Valeriya and his brothers was greater than his burning need for revenge.
The last thing Tarrant wanted was the Knights taking a closer look at this area. It wasn’t likely they’d discover his lair, but he didn’t want to tempt fate. Not the way things were going these days.
Matthew Riggs could leave here, but there was nowhere he could hide. Tarrant could afford to wait for a better time to question him. Time was on his side.
His preternatural vision and hearing allowed him to track all the men surrounding the cabin. There were four of them. As far as he could tell, they’d all arrived together.
They’d obviously been sent to look for Valeriya. Once again, doubt reared its ugly head. Had Valeriya expected to meet with Riggs? Was she working with another member of the Knights instead of her sister?
He shook his head. No, he couldn’t believe that about her. Wouldn’t believe it. She was too honest, too open for such subterfuge.
He settled in to watch and wait. He probably should have stayed inside and monitored them from his computer room, but the threat had been too great to allow his dragon half to remain safely inside while someone was threatening his woman.
He needed to be outside in case he had to defend her.
It comforted him to know she was safe in his lair right below their feet. They’d never find her. She was safe.
…
Valeriya was cold. Tarrant was no longer snuggling her, and she missed his big body wrapped around hers. He’d obviously covered her, because there was a comforter draped over her.
“Tarrant?” She sat up, shoved her hair out of her eyes, and looked around. There was no sign of him.
She pushed off the sofa and started to gather her clothing. It was awkward because she didn’t want to drop the comforter. She sat back down long enough to pull on her socks. Since she also had her underwear and jeans nearby, she shook them out and tugged them on.
She had a vague memory of losing her shirt over in the kitchen area. Sure enough, it was lying in a heap on the floor. She padded over to the eating area and grabbed it. All she needed was her bra.
Tarrant had removed the garment and tossed it over his shoulder. She grinned as she scanned the room. It had to be around here somewhere. She could just leave it and go get a shower, but she didn’t have that much clothing with her.
She caught sight of it over by the wall. A red light flashed on the security panel, but it made no sound. When she got closer, she realized the band of her bra was caught in the doorway. Was this really the way out?
She stopped a few feet away. What should she do? Had Tarrant gone outside? Here was her chance to find out exactly where she was.
Why was she so hesitant to leave this place?
Because she felt safe here. Because she didn’t want to do anything that might hurt Tarrant.
She nibbled on her lower lip and continued to stare at the crack in the doorway. She could take a quick look just outside. That surely wouldn’t hurt. They had to be safe here, didn’t they?
If she was g
oing outside, she’d need shoes.
She dumped the comforter on the sofa and pulled on her shirt. At this point, a bra was the least of her worries. She hurried to the room where her things were and dragged on a hoodie and yanked on her sneakers instead of her boots. She wasn’t going far.
There was still no sign of Tarrant, and that worried her. He seemed super security-conscious.
Why had he gone outside? Was someone sneaking around? Had one of the Knights found them? If Tarrant was in danger, she couldn’t just stay inside and do nothing.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” she muttered. Her instincts began to tingle, but she couldn’t be sure if it was because there was real danger outside or because she was so worried about Tarrant. Or maybe it was because she was considering going outside, something she knew Tarrant wouldn’t want her to do. Her overactive imagination was an asset to her writing, but it did get her in trouble sometimes.
The door hadn’t miraculously closed while she’d been gone. The choice was hers. Go or stay.
She took a deep breath, eased her fingers into the crack, and pulled the door open. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected to find, but there was an ordinary staircase in front of her. Made sense, since they were obviously underground.
Up it was. She put her hand on the rail, but at the last second made sure her bra was still draped across the opening. The last thing she wanted was to get locked out of the place.
If she was quick, maybe she could be out and back in again before Tarrant discovered her missing. Her stomach clenched. She didn’t like the idea of lying to him, but she knew he wouldn’t be happy she’d left the safety of his hideaway.
There was still time to turn around and go back. She could close the door, wait for Tarrant, and pretend this had never happened.
Her shoulders slumped forward. That wasn’t going to happen, and she knew it. She had to know where she was. Most of all, she needed to know where Tarrant was.
Valeriya cautiously crept up the staircase. It was dimly lit, but her eyes adjusted to the light. When she reached the top, she was faced with another door. She listened intently but didn’t hear anything.
Drakon's Prey (Blood of the Drakon) Page 14
