Breath of Fire

by Cathryn Fox

  As his breathing grew rapid, he let his glance trail over her lush backside and it was all he could do to contain himself. The animal inside him clawed its way to the surface, itching to break down the door, drag Chloe inside and have his wicked way with her.

  After she opened the door, he pushed on it and hauled her inside with him. Without giving her a moment to catch her breath, he dipped his head, and his lips smashed against hers. Need ruling his actions, his tongue thrashed inside her mouth, searching for more than simply her heat. Searching for something he couldn’t quite put a name to. His body shifted into overdrive as her soft moan floated through the room. Forcing himself to slow down, Jared inched back and ran the pad of his thumb over her kiss-swollen lips.

  Chloe bumped against his groin, and getting right to the point, she said, “Now about this stress.”

  Pleasure engulfed him as she pulled at the hem of his shirt, her fingers eager to get him out of his clothes. He let out a low, tortured growl, and it was then and there that he realized just how hot and sticky he’d grown under the tropical sun. He didn’t want her touching him when he was like this. She deserved better.

  Reining in his lust, he nodded his head toward her bathroom. “Let me get cleaned up, sweetheart.”

  She offered him a sultry smile, and the gleam in her eyes held all sorts of promises. “Let me help.”

  She took his hand and guided him into the bathroom. Once inside she carefully went to work on removing his clothes. He watched the way her hair fell forward as she released the button on his jeans. Her movements were sensual and tender, and she was so damn beautiful she took his breath away.

  Unable to take another moment of her slow seduction, he roughly gripped her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her eyes opened wide and he smothered her question with an urgent kiss, showing her that passion, not anger was the driving force behind his actions. She mewled into his mouth, and he gripped her dress and pulled it up and over her breasts. Her hands met his and she helped him tear it from her body, then she went to work on removing her bra.

  As he stood back and took pleasure in her nakedness, fierce possessiveness raged through him and he trembled. Almost violently. Jesus, he ached for her in ways that astounded him. He couldn’t deny that there was an uncontrollable physical attraction between them, but the odd tingling in his blood stream warned him of something deeper. But why? How? What was it about this woman that separated her from the others? He brushed his thumb over her nipple, slow, intimate movements meant to entice, arouse.

  “Chloe…”

  Needy hands clawed at him. “Jared…please…” Her simple plea combined with the desperate, greedy way she wanted him warmed his darkest corners and prompted him into action.

  He made short work of his clothes, turned on the shower and climbed inside. “Come here,” he demanded, his shaky voice dark with desire.

  With a hungry look in her eyes, she stepped in, and he quickly dragged her into his arms, crushing her body to his. He raced his hands over her nakedness. “You feel so good. So fucking good.”

  She shared in the urgency and writhed shamelessly against him. Their lips met, their hands caressed and their bodies ignited. Not even the cool shower water could tamp down these kinds of flames.

  He abandoned her mouth and pressed his lips to her neck, tasting and savoring the flavor of her skin. As the water pelted against his back, Chloe grabbed the soap and lathered him. Her hands roamed his body with a mixture of curiosity and urgency. His groin tightened. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever felt.

  The fresh scent of soap combined with the sweet smell of Chloe reached his nostrils. He inhaled, and pulled it into his lungs. Entirely lost in the aroma, his body thrummed and a low growl rumbled up from the depths of his throat.

  Her small hands curled around his cock and he threw his head back. Jesus… She began stroking him, running her soapy palms up and down his length. Lust sang through his veins and he was so goddamn turned on he was ready to explode.

  He braced shaky hands on the shower wall. “Chloe, baby…” Her eyes filled with pure adoration when she darted him a quick glance, and it occurred to him how much she liked touching his cock. That look on her face also had the ability to wreak havoc on his emotions.

  Her smile was slow, inviting as she discarded the bar of soap and placed her other hand on his balls. After a slow, gentle massage she reached behind and caressed his puckered ass like she needed to touch and claim every inch of his body.

  As she continued to rub his cock, she washed the soap away, pressed her lips to his chest and slid downward. Jared gulped air.

  He cupped her chin and tipped her face upward. “Chloe, sweetheart, what are you doing?”

  Desirous eyes met his, then she turned her attention back to his chest. She resumed her kisses, her tongue sliding languorously over one tight nipple. “I need to taste you,” she murmured against his skin, her voice filled with longing. “It’s all I can think about.”

  Oh Christ, it had been a long time since a woman had pleasured him that way. Normally he went down on the woman, got her wet and ready, and then fucked her good and hard. But not, Chloe. Oh no, not Chloe. She wouldn’t have any part of that. She wanted to go down on him, was anxious to take him into her mouth. His cock throbbed with renewed excitement, while his heart thudded with foreign emotions.

  She sank to her knees and he adjusted the spray behind him. He gripped the wall and held on as she serviced his cock. She stroked him lightly with her tongue, exploring his shaft, his head, and even his balls, then she pulled him into her mouth.

  Holy fuck.

  Her mouth felt like fire on his skin and it was all he could do not to shoot his load down her throat. With his blood pulsing, hot pleasure raced through him and he quaked beneath her ministrations. She spent a long moment between his legs, her mouth and hands moving in tandem. Her soft purrs of delight echoed all around him. He watched his cock slide in and out of her sweet mouth. She rocked on her knees and her gorgeous breasts swayed with each movement. Goddamn it was the hottest thing he’d ever seen. Even though she really seemed to love what she was doing—hell, he loved it too—he didn’t want to come, not yet. He needed to be inside her, everywhere, first.

  “Baby, come here.” He cupped her elbow and pulled her to him. Her look of disappointment turned to a heated cry when he slipped his finger between her legs and stroked her. Frantic with need, he said, “I need to fuck you, Chloe.”

  Her hands skimmed his muscles and her blue eyes darkened with passion, propelling him into action. Jared lifted one of her legs and tucked it around him. He braced her back against the shower and lifted her clear off her feet.

  She tossed her head to the side, and dug her nails into his back. “Please…” she begged shamelessly when his crown breached her sex.

  Answering her plea, as well as the incessant ache in his groin, he powered his hips forward, driving his thick cock all the way up inside her. He pressed his lips to hers and smothered her gasp. Her warm, tight walls gripped his cock, and he was certain he’d died and gone to heaven. Never had he felt anything quite so divine. Teetering on the edge of ecstasy, he began pumping in and out of her, taking full possession of her pleasures as well as her body.

  Their aroused scents permeated the small shower and her eyes flared hot when they met his. An erotic whimper bubbled in the depths of her throat.

  “Fuck me, Jared. Hard.”

  He slammed into her, hard and fast, driving her against the shower wall. His muscles ached, his cock throbbed. She cried out in rapture, and wrapped both her legs around his back. He gripped her ass and held her in place. They both began giving and taking, finding a rhythm as their bodies moved and danced, coming together as one. As his tongue found the warmth of her mouth again, her pussy clenched and throbbed around his cock as she tumbled into climax, her hot cream coating his shaft. The second her liquid heat spilled over his cock, his body began shaking.

  What the hell…?

&
nbsp; Beginning at his core, heat flickered through his veins, spreading onward and outward, sparking his magic and renewing its dynamic energy. Her sweet cream had somehow awakened things inside him, and it was all he could do to drag air into his lungs.

  Oh God, what the fuck was happening?

  Her heat continued to sear his dick, and his thoughts fragmented in response. “Oh, Jesus,” he bit out, as he concentrated on the point of pleasure. He pumped into her as she rode out her climax. Once her muscles stopped pulsing, he stilled his movements and let her legs slide to the floor.

  Still panting she raced her hands over him. “Oh, God, Jared, that was—” She stopped, as though lost for words.

  Before she could finish, he gripped her hips and turned her around. He grabbed her palms and placed them on the shower wall. “Keep your hands here, and don’t move.”

  “Jared?”

  He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted her completely open to him, his to do with as he pleased. “I want you at my mercy, Chloe.” He grabbed the soap, lathered his hands and ran slippery palms over her lush ass cheeks. He parted her cheeks and lubricated her pretty puckered opening. Hands shaking with need, and practically glowing from his revitalized magic he eased one finger inside.

  She flinched at his probing index finger. “Jared…I’ve never…”

  Crazed with lust, he leaned into her, positioned his mouth near her ear and said, “I need to be inside you, Chloe. Everywhere.” When he heard her gulp air, he worked to soften his tone and reassure her. “Trust me, baby. Trust me to make this good for you.” Because never in his entire fucking life would he do anything to hurt her.

  Her body rippled. “I do,” she whispered, with a great deal of intimacy in her tone.

  In that instant, he felt his entire world shift. He certainly hadn’t anticipated just how much her trust was going to hit him, emotionally. His heart began pounding and his entire body started to shake.

  He talked to her, reassuring her as he fed his cock into her ass, one inch at a time, slowly, carefully, taking his time to introduce himself to her body. As he gently pushed past her ringed passage, he could feel her body relaxing for him. With her hands braced on the wall, she moved against him, wiggling slightly. “That’s it, baby, open up for me. You set the pace and I’ll follow.” She made a deep sexy noise and pushed against him. Once he was buried inside her, he remained still for a long time, letting her get used to the fullness.

  When he felt her body loosen, he softened his voice and asked, “Does that feel okay, sweetheart?” He slid his hand around her hips, and placed it over her flat stomach, holding her to him.

  She swallowed and he sensed it was most difficult for her to speak. “Yes,” she murmured shakily, and the array of emotion in that one word stopped him short and nearly drove him to his knees. “It’s different but nice to have you inside me like this.” When she trembled understanding hit him—Chloe was giving herself to him in a way she’d never given herself to another.

  Realizing the significance in what they were doing and what she was offering him, his heart started pounding, so hard he was sure it was going to burst through his chest. It occurred to him that it no longer felt like they were just having sex, in some strange way it felt like they were connecting, like he was marking her, claiming her as his mate. It took a great amount of effort to breathe, to speak. He let out a low, slow breath. “Babe, are you sure about this?”

  “Yes. In fact, I’ve never been surer about anything before,” she assured him, her deep cadence letting him know she felt the powerful, intimate connection every bit as much as he did.

  He touched her hair, and she angled her head to see him. When he saw the damp sheen in her eyes, the need to offer her something as potent as she was offering him moved through him and made him shake. Wanting to make this perfect for her, he removed the shower nozzle from the hook, put the spray on pulse and placed it directly over her clit.

  “Oh my God, Jared,” she cried out and bucked against him. He felt her knees give and he held her to him, supporting her with his body.

  They rocked together, establishing a rhythm, both indulging in the exotic pleasure as they made sweet, passionate love. Electricity sizzled between them and his cock throbbed to the point of pain.

  He pushed a finger into her opening and felt her ripples while he continued to spray her clit with the nozzle. Her soft murmur touched his soul and blistering heat exploded inside him.

  When he pressed another finger inside her, she erupted all over him. “Jared…” she cried out. As she climaxed, her ass muscles tightened around his cock and pushed him over the precipice.

  Lost in pleasure, he felt ravenous, carnal, completely out of control. Powerful magic raced through his veins and every ounce of concentration he had began to crumble. And he needed that concentration if he wanted to maintain his human form. He stole a quick glance at his hands which were morphing, turning red. Oh fuck. Oh sweet fuck. With his body burning up, he desperately needed to douse the fire inside him before the beast took control.

  When he felt her orgasm subside, he dropped the nozzle, gripped her hips and released high inside her ass, needing this to be over as much as he needed it to continue.

  A moment later, after his cock had stopped spasming, he took a minute to compose himself before slowly easing out of her welcoming warmth. He glanced at his body, pleased to see that he had returned to his human form. But for how long, he couldn’t be sure. Not with Chloe making him so crazy and breathing new life into his magic.

  She turned to face him and placed her hand on his cheek. Smiling, and trying to lighten the mood she touched his forehead. “All that stress has made you flushed, I’d better put you to bed.”

  They stepped from the shower, and Jared took his time to towel dry her, noting the way her body quivered beneath his touch. The same way he quivered beneath hers. The way his dragon would respond to its true partner. Even though he’d never experienced a sexual bonding with his mate before, complete knowledge of his lineage had been passed down to him by his ancestors centuries ago, before he’d found himself all alone in the world.

  But how? Why? How could this woman—this human women to be specific—be the one and only one meant for him? Especially when dragons only mated with others in their race. Jesus, he had no idea how any of this was possible. But the way she’d awakened the magic in him, her sweet cream acting like a catalyst for his dying power, told his dragon side that he’d met his match. He didn’t have all the answers and only knew that she was his mate, and that she was important to him, and to his future existence, as well as to the existence of all the good people on Ryuu.

  Was she a descendant of dragon? Did she have magic in her? His mind raced with questions as he finished running the towel over her naked flesh. Once they were sufficiently dried, they made their way to the bed. Under the covers, he pulled her in tight and took pleasure in the way she felt in his arms.

  Sated blue eyes met his. “Jared, I just want you to know that I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never just jumped into bed with a stranger.”

  With his heart pounding, he buried his face in her neck, needing the connection between them more than he needed air. It was impossible to be close to her and not touch. “I know, Chloe, I know.” God, she made him feel the way no other woman had ever made him feel. A warm, comfortable silence fell over them and he could almost hear her mind churning, sorting through the turn of events.

  A long moment later, Chloe broke the quiet. “We, uh, we forgot to use a condom.” She softly brushed her fingers through his hair.

  “Yeah, I got a little crazed. Sorry about that, sweetheart. I’ve never lost control before. But trust me I’m clean, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

  “And I’m on the pill,” she assured him.

  Hearing her mention birth control made his gut twist. He’d never put much thought into birth control before. Sure he’d love to have a family, but considering what he was, the
chances of him impregnating a human woman were nil.

  Her low, contented breath whispered across his cheek as she snuggled in tighter. “Have you always lived on the island, Jared?”

  “Yes, always,” he said. Well, technically that wasn’t true. Eons ago when humans began abusing dragon magic, draining them of their very life, he’d escaped his home on the Australian continent and come to the island looking for sanctuary, but he couldn’t very well tell her that.

  “It’s beautiful here,” she murmured. “I don’t ever want to leave.”

  His stomach plummeted at the thought of her going back to her home on the mainland. “Are you just here for a week-long vacation?”

  “Two weeks,” she explained. “And it’s not really a vacation. You see, I’m a zoologist from York University in Toronto and my boss sent me here to search for the Ryuu dragon.”

  His heart began to race; his palms began to sweat. “Chloe—”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “I know, I know, it’s ridiculous. Dragon’s don’t exist.” She reached over the side of the bed and grabbed a swatch out of her nightstand. “But this swatch has led some to believe otherwise.”

  Jared worked to remain expressionless. “Where’d you get that?”

  “Some lunatic brought it to the university. If you ask me, I think it’s a mutated caruncle from a turkey.”

  Jared examined the swatch, remembering all too well the night the man had cut it from his wing. He’d given the man a fright, and let him go, fully expecting the island folk to protect Jared and work to dispel the rumor, the same way they’d been dispelling them for hundreds of years. “I believe you’re right. It does look like a caruncle,” he agreed. “I’ll get rid of this for you.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll take care of it.” Chloe took the swatch from him, placed in on the nightstand and curled against him. She moaned low then redirected the conversation. “Will you stay the night?”

  Her sweet voice rumbled through him, and the softness and need lingering in the depths overwhelmed his senses, but as reality inched its way back into his brain, he knew he needed to flee. There was nothing he’d rather do than spend the night with her, but under the circumstances it was completely out of the question.