by Milly Taiden
“Wow. This is divine. What is it?”
He gave her a wide smile filled with genuine joy. “It’s Loibner Burgstall Smaragd Riesling.”
“Um, in English?”
He gave a deep, rough chuckle that gave her goose bumps. “It’s going to be hard to translate. It’s from Austria.”
She gasped and took another sip just to be sure it had been that good. Yeah. Even better on the second taste. “How in the hell can you get something this delicious in an Austrian wine?”
He winked and she was happy she was sitting because her legs turned to jelly. “Sometimes we’re surprised with perfection coming from the least expected places.”
She continued to drink her wine and watched him move around his kitchen. Now she understood the size of it. He was a big man and the space worked great around him. He pulled out a large covered pan from the fridge. Next came vegetables and makings for a salad.
“Do you want me to help with something?” She wasn’t a cook, but she didn’t feel right sitting there watching him do everything.
“No. I’ve got it.” He placed a skillet on the stove and turned on the fire. “Are you married, Lily?”
She blinked and sat quietly for a second. That question came out of left field. “No.” For a moment, she debated if to tell him about herself, but seeing as he was being so hospitable when she’d broken into his house and pretty much made herself his guest, she chose to tell him the rest. “I’m divorced.”
He glanced at her over his shoulder, his brows almost touching from his deep frown.
“You?” she asked before he went any further into her personal life.
“No,” he said in a clipped tone.
“No, not married or never been or what?”
“Curiosity killed the cat, Lily.”
She snorted. “Not this cat. Besides, you asked me first.”
He chopped vegetables and put them to the side. Then did the same with salad ingredients and soon, it was time for the steaks.
“I’m not married. Have never been. Never wanted to be.”
The sizzle of the meat cooking made her stomach grumble. It smelled so good. Spices and herbs. Yum.
She thought about relationships. It would take a man really proving he’s got her happiness at heart before she would go that route again. “Marriage is a big commitment. I don’t know if I could ever put myself in that position of vulnerability again.”
“Not even for your mate?” He didn’t turn back to her, but she heard his words clearly.
She gulped and thought of the tigress inside, pushing to get out and curl herself around the big dragon. The animal had to be wrong. He wasn’t her mate. Hell, they weren’t even from the same species. Tigers and dragons didn’t mate or mix.
“I don’t know. I guess when the time comes, I’ll have to make that decision.”
He finished cooking and served up their meal. Everything was delicious and simple, something she loved. She hated meals where she could barely pronounce what the hell she was eating. She’d give the wine a pass because she loved the taste so much, she didn’t mind that she couldn’t say where it was from.
They spoke about the proposal and she was happy to see his interest in what she’d come up with. Their company would have prime location and making a flagship store across from the largest mall in the country meant they could include clothing sales as well as artwork some of their talented staff did on the side.
“I’m very sorry to have dropped in on you the way I did,” she said. “I was a bit frustrated and I wanted to make sure you got on board with what I had in mind for the new store.” She wondered if she should ask him about the other dragon she met. The man was a dick to her, but maybe he was just a watchful neighbor taking care of the neighborhood, or mountain top. She could have been a burglar, an insane one to come all the way up here.
“That’s fine. I just hope you don’t mind staying the night.”
He really was serious. Did he think he would be telling her what to do? He wasn’t even her husband. She kept her cool. “I don’t need to stay.”
“Yes, you do.”
She shook her head, denial quick to come to her lips. “I don’t have to do anything you say. I can make my own decisions.”
“Have you looked outside? Even if you could drive in this weather, the visibility is really low and you’d easily drive off the side of the mountain.” He pressed his lips into a thin line. She dropped her head into her hands and groaned. She’d forgotten about her car. She’d been so preoccupied trying to ignore her cat’s mating cries that she’d forgotten why she was really here.
He continued as if she were listening. “I won’t be responsible for you injuring yourself by not stopping you. And you don’t look stupid enough to let us not knowing each other have you make a bad decision.”
“Fine.” The word came out a growl, but she couldn’t care less at that point. She was stuck and there wasn’t much she could do about it. “I need a favor. My car is trapped in a snowdrift down the road a bit. Could you call a tow truck in the morning?”
His eyes grew huge. “What?” He sprang from his seat toward her. “Are you hurt?” He ran his hands down her arms and started on her ribs before she slapped them away.
“I’m fine. It’s a little late now to be checking, don’t you think?” she said, quite irritated, or pretending to be, at his touch.
He sat back on his heels and frowned at her. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Because, I’m fine.” And couldn’t stop thinking about your perfect body pounding into mine. Not going to say it. He sucked in a deep breath and his eyes glowed. Well, shit. Busted. He smelled her want. Damn shifter nose. She gathered her dishes and headed for the sink to escape his closeness.
“I’ll wash the dishes,” she said. “It’s the least I can do for the meal.” He slipped behind her and wrapped himself around her to set his plate in the sink.
“We’ll put them in the dishwasher. You have better things to spend your time on.” Damn, she was in so much trouble. He took her hand. “Let me show you something.”
Yeah, her cat was all for that. No, no, no. She didn’t want to see “something.” She was sure it was huge and hard and would fit in her hand or mouth quite nicely. A heat raced through her lower belly.
He led her up the stairs and into a guest bedroom. Oh fuck. Not good. When he bypassed the bed, she looked at the rest of the room.
“Wow!” The room had a wall of glass and she could see the moonlight through the trees. She wanted him to get the hell out because it was getting harder to control her animal and herself around him. He smelled too good. His body made her hands itch to touch him and that deep look he gave her, like he could see straight into her soul, was driving her crazy.
“I’m glad you like the room. It is yours for the night.”
She watched the snow fall in thick blankets. It was gorgeous. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” She turned to face him and gasped at the mesmerizing way he looked at her. Lord, she needed to get her animal under control. And her hormones.
“I’ve got extra sweats and T-shirts if you’re interested. They might be big on you, but you could see if something works.”
She gave a small smile and nodded. “Thank you.”
He stared at her for a moment before heading for the door. There he stopped. “Goodnight, Lily.”
“Goodnight, Thane.”
9
Lily was going to hell. Or the equivalent. Her tigress had her tossing and turning until she took off the giant tee she’d worn as a night dress. Fuck. She was so hot. She needed air. Her body burned and the need for him was killing her. How did she go into heat so fast?
She had to stay strong. She had not come to his home to have a one-night stand.
But you want him.
Good fucking luck with that one. She also wanted a double cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake but that wasn’t happening either.
She tos
sed the covers off the bed and couldn’t ignore her animal any longer. She cupped her breasts. They ached and felt heavy with need. Her nipples were tight and begging for his touch.
She didn’t need to touch herself to know she was wet. She did anyway. Her pussy felt aflame with her desire for the dragon. Her tigress wasn’t budging. He was hers and she wanted him. Wanted kits with him. The thought of his baby inside her sent the animal into a frenzy. She pushed to get out. She wanted to mate now.
She slid a hand between her legs. Heat poured from her sex. Her fingers were slick with her honey. If only she could get some relief. Maybe a one-night stand wouldn’t be so bad. What was she thinking? This man was her boss.
It didn’t matter that she scented how he wanted her as well, but had ignored it. Except now she was in heat and all her thoughts were focused on him and getting him to fuck her right now. Ideally, filling her with his seed and giving her those kits she wanted so badly.
She stopped touching herself. It was only making things worse. With a growl, she jumped off the bed and stood in front of the glass window, watching the cold night. If only she could stop the need taking over her thoughts. The visions of him pounding into her, right here in this very room.
The sound of the door crashing open made her whirl around to see what the hell happened. Holy mother of bad boys. There he stood, his body corded with muscles and tense as he took in a long breath and growled. The door landed on the ground, off its hinges.
“Thane?”
“That fucking scent has been making it hard for me to think.” He took a step into her room and openly stared down her naked body. She was curvy. Big hips, big tits, and big ass made up most of the females in her family. Nothing new there. What was new was the way he licked his lips.
She blinked and saw the fire in his eyes. His dragon was close to the skin as well as her tigress. “What scent?”
He continued marching toward her, his gaze never wavering from hers. “The scent of how badly you want my cock.”
She attempted to shake her head in denial, but he stopped her when he said, “Don’t even think I can’t smell it. You’re in heat. You want me.”
Her eyes widened the closer he came. Her tigress, on the other hand, purred and rubbed under her skin, wanting closer to the big bad dragon. She swallowed at the dryness in her throat. “This isn’t smart.”
He didn’t bother stopping, instead he cupped her face and brought his head down to press their lips together in a heart-stopping kiss. He plunged his tongue into her mouth and rubbed his chest over hers. Electric pulses sizzled through her bloodstream. The kiss was possessive. Aggressive. Dominant. He owned her with his lips and showed her how badly he wanted her.
Men didn’t kiss her with so much passion. So much aggression. Her animal loved it. Hell, she loved it. She pulled away and gulped a breath, blinking the haze of sexual need out of her vision.
“Thane―”
He curled one hand into her long hair, gripping strands in his fist and forcing her to look at him. “You want me. I want you, Lily,” he said the words in a rough growl. “I can’t offer you more than tonight. Tonight, I can give you the fucking world.”
Tonight.
Take it. Take him. You want him.
Fucking hell! Stupid animal making it hard to think straight.
He led her to sit on the chair facing the large glass window. “While you think about it, I need a taste of you.”
She landed on the chair with a squeak. He quickly got to his knees and pushed her legs open, lifting each thigh to place it gently over the arm rest of the chair and pulling her ass down to the edge of her seat.
She watched his head descend between her legs, his mouth on her sex and tongue flicking over her super-sensitized clit. A loud moan escaped her throat. She gripped his hair and shoved his head closer to her pussy.
“Oh!”
He growled, licking and nipping at her folds like she was a tasty treat. He reached up one hand, cupping her breast, tweaking her nipple. His other hand moved to her pussy, fingers rubbing over her slick heat.
“Fuck, you’re wet!”
10
Lily purred and didn’t give a fuck if he could hear it.
“That’s the sexiest sound you have made all night.” He slid his fingers into her, thrusting and retreating in short drives at the same time he sucked and licked her clit.
Her belly trembled, her toes curled and she couldn’t do much but cling to his hair. Purr after purr left her throat as she held on and let him eat her up like dessert.
“Thane, god, your tongue is magic.”
He chuckled into her pussy and continued to finger her, faster and faster. Another growl and she was ready to come off the chair, her muscles tense and ready to break.
“You’re mine now, little cat. I’m going to take you and fuck you raw.”
She moaned, the tension inside her snapping and pleasure shooting down her spine straight to her clit. She screamed his name, her pussy sucking at his fingers with each drive. There was no time to catch her breath, her sex was still clenching and unclenching with every spasm from her strong orgasm.
He picked her up and kissed her again. Their tongues melded and curled over each other. She purred, meowed, and scratched at his shoulders. She needed more, needed him.
“Fuck me,” she breathed as he pressed her back against the cool glass of the window.
She curled her legs around his waist, his hard cock pressing at the heart of her heat, slipping into her slowly. “Christ, baby. You’re so tight. Perfect for my dick.”
She groaned and scratched at his arms. “My pussy’s yours, Thane. Fuck it like you own it.”
His cock filled her in a deep drive. “Yeah, it’s fucking mine. All mine.”
His eyes flamed with the power of his dragon. He pressed her harder against the glass as he fucked her. He pummeled into her, in quick, hard plunges. Every sharp thrust was followed by a moan from her and grunt from him.
“You’re pussy’s so hot, sweetheart. You like me inside you, don’t you?”
She gasped and licked her lips, meeting his blazing gaze. “Yes. I want more.”
“More?” He gave a sinful grin that made her pussy contract around his dick. “I’m going to give you so much more, baby girl.” He swiped his tongue over her open lips. “My dick will be deep inside you.” He thrust hard. “Feel it?”
She purred. “Yes.”
“Then I’ll make you come. Like this,” he said and rocked his hips in a circle that hit her in a new angle. The movement sent her soaring. Pleasure rocked her to the core. She clung to him, scratching at his shoulders and not giving a fuck that her fingers had turned to claws.
Mine! Her animal made a stance at that moment. She wanted to bite him. No! She had to stop herself from going there as her orgasm took over.
“You’re so fucking beautiful. Your pussy sucking on my dick and your face full of pleasure. But it’s time for something better,” he rumbled. “I’m going to fuck you more.” He kissed her neck and licked circles over her shoulder. “I know what you want.”
She swiped her tongue over her dry lips. “What?”
“Me coming inside you. You want it. Your tigress wants it, and I’m going to give it to you.”
Yes. Fuck, yes!
His body slowly tensed as he continued to fuck her, until he stopped and sucked on her neck, his hand gripping her ass and his cock pulsing inside her. He came with a groan, filling her with his semen and finally calming the cat that wanted him to give her his seed so badly.
They stayed there, locked in place, his cock continuing to spill into her channel every few seconds. Like he was having multiple orgasms. Every time he did, a hot shudder slid down her spine.
Once he stopped, he carried her to her bed and slipped under the covers with her. He slid into her again, his cock hard as stone.
“Thane,” she mumbled. “What are you doing?”
He reared back and drove deep in a smooth s
lide. Her breath caught in her throat. She loved how he felt inside her. Hot. Thick. Her body craved his touch.
He stared at her lips and kissed her softly, not as rushed as before, but with the same heat and need. “Fucking you all night, sweetheart.”
“Thane, you don’t have to. I―”
He laughed. “You don’t think I want to? I’ve wanted to be where I am, balls deep in your tight heat, since you walked into the room naked.”
“I need you,” she moaned, the craving for his seed growing once again.
“Tonight, I’ll give you everything you want. Tonight, you’re mine.”
No sense in arguing when he was just what she needed to calm her heat. Sex. And the fact he didn’t care to come inside her and possibly give her kits made her tigress all the more excited. She wanted him. More of him. Everything. And she’d take it.
11
Thane sat at the top of a mountain hours away from his home. He waited, knowing that Saxon would show up any moment. Last night with Lily had been more than he could have imagined.
He’d fought his dragon multiple times when it argued to keep her. No. She wasn’t his to keep. No matter how badly he believed she was his mate, Thane knew giving his heart to any one person would only lead to heartbreak.
The sound of flapping wings and a burst of wind made him glance up to see his brother approaching. He never made time to see Saxon twice within a few days, but he wanted to know more about Ramoth and his desire to take his father’s place.
He’d been investigating his younger brother. Ramoth had a thirst for power that was unmatched. He made lots of shady deals with shifters in exchange for wealth and influence.
Saxon landed and let go of the bag he had in his grip with clothes. He dressed quickly and came forward to stand next to Thane.
“I came as soon as I got your call.”
“Ramoth left me a message,” he said. “I need to know where to find him.”
Saxon growled. “I don’t know. What did he say in his message?”
“He sent some shifters to my other lake house. The one I normally go to this time of year, but I’ve stayed in the mountain cabin longer than normal.” Thane thought about the call he got that morning. “They destroyed it.”
