Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Zoran instantly obeyed. His breathing deepened.

  Throwing a long strip of leather rope over a high beam on the ceiling, she tied one end to Zoran’s hands and pulled. Zoran was forced to stand, his hands brought high. Pia tied the other end to his wrists as well, trapping him up.

  She smiled, very pleased with herself. As she came around to face him, she rested the sword over her shoulder. Zoran’s brown gaze dipped over her attire. His eyes glinted with golden purpose, causing her to frown.

  “Shift and I’ll be forced to run you through,” she warned, her expression serious. As if to prove her point, she took the sword to his waist and held it to his stomach. Zoran tensed, his eyes daring her, challenging her to lose her composure.

  Pia enjoyed the game immensely and didn’t even flinch at his fiery look. She moved to set the sword on the floor beside her.

  “You’ll never get away with this,” Zoran said, like a good defiant prisoner. His jaw hardened.

  “I already have.”

  “What do you want?”

  “In due time,” she said, “but first...”

  Pia made a great show of studying him. Her eyes moved over his nipples, already budded with the excitement of his straining body. His long hair fell over his shoulders, a lock caught between his determined eyes to slash across his bold nose. Every defined ridge of his stomach flexed with his deep breath. Taking a finger to the center of his chest, she pressed her nail, scratching down to his navel to the little trail of hair she found there.

  “Let’s just make sure you don’t have any more weapons hidden, shall we?” It wasn’t lost on her, as she unlaced his pants, that his entire body was a hot, hard weapon. With a jerk, she tugged the material from his hips, baring him to her completely. His pants fell around his ankles. Pia eyed the full length of him, already at full arousal. She almost lost her composure, but quickly caught herself.

  “Why don’t you disarm that weapon?” he suggested, his voice a guttural plea. “It looks as if it could be dangerous.”

  Zoran’s body tensed when it looked as if her hand was going to touch him, but at the last minute, her course changed and she leaned over to take a knife from his boot. Bouncing it on her hand, she turned and threw it across the room, embedding it into the wall

  “I think I can handle it,” she answered, turning back. “Besides, only good prisoners are rewarded in such ways.”

  Zoran’s eyes lit. He instantly understood the rules of her game.

  “Kick off your boots.”

  Zoran obeyed, kicking off his pants in the process to stand before her naked.

  “Ah,” she nodded in approval. “Glad to see you understand who is in charge here.”

  “Where’s my reward?” he asked, his body straining for her.

  “What do you want?” She pursed her lips together, looking him over.

  “Your clothes,” he answered, eyeing her with a hunger. “Take them off.”

  “What?” Pia asked, smiling prettily. She took up the edge of the tunic and lifted it over her thighs. Giving him only the barest peek of her nether hair, she dropped it back down. Zoran groaned in protest. “Sorry, you are in no position to command me.”

  “Untie me, Pia,” he ordered. His body lurched as if he would free himself.

  “No, I have a few questions for you first.”

  “What?” His eyes darkened suspiciously. Suddenly, he pulled with renewed force to be free. The binds were too tight. Silly dragon if he thought she didn’t know how to tie a person up.

  “Tell me about the Var threat.”

  “There’s no threat—”

  Pia slapped him across the face, leaving the imprint of her hand. She demanded again, louder, “What is the Var threat?”

  “They have been sensed outside the forest. It’s believed that they plan to overthrow us and take the Draig throne. It’s possible they seek to harm anyone of the royal family, though they more than likely will go after the king and queen first,” Zoran answered. She already knew as much but was glad he confirmed it. Finally.

  Pia stepped to him. He tried to pull away, but she pressed her body against him and lifted up onto her toes. To his obvious surprise, she dragged her tongue slowly over his cheek where she’d struck him only to lightly suck the tip of his ear between her teeth and bite.

  Pia felt his heartbeat quicken. She soothed the bite with her lips, before whispering, “Much better, prisoner.”

  When she pulled back, his eyes were swirling golden fire. Pia drew her hand into the sensitive bend off his throat before trailing down.

  “Why did you not tell me this before?”

  Zoran didn’t answer. Pia frowned up at him and flicked his nipple with her nail. His body jerked.

  “Why?” she insisted. Again she flicked him. Zoran closed his eyes, moaning in pleasure.

  “I wanted to protect you from it,” he said, as if mindless to the words. He clearly didn’t want her to stop her torture.

  Pia rewarded him with soft licks to his erect nipples. He rewarded her with a groan of longing so intense it shook her to the core.

  “What do we know for sure?” she asked.

  When he didn’t readily answer, she lifted her tunic to reveal her upper thighs. His head turned, eagerly waiting for her unveiling. She stopped right before she reached her naked sex.

  “We know the Var have been...” He swallowed and tilted his head more. She lifted the tunic higher. “They’ve been overbold as of late. We...” She revealed a hip and parted her legs. “We know they plan something, we just can’t seem to discover what.”

  When his words stopped her movement stopped. Zoran tilted his head as far to the side as it would reach. The tunic was high enough he’d be able to see the bottom curve of her breasts.

  “We believe they have broken into the royal offices to study blueprints of the palace,” he offered hopefully.

  Pia tossed the tunic over her head and stood before him naked. Zoran’s mouth opened, ready to devour her.

  “Pia,” Zoran moaned, the words were a plea. His eyes dipped over her. In his most commanding tone, he ordered her, “Untie me now.”

  “One more thing,” she said instead. “What are we doing about this problem?”

  “The war council has been called to meet tomorrow,” he rushed. “It’s our law that the Var be given a chance to defend themselves before we declare war. The noble households have been alerted and those who wish to will come. Now, untie me.”

  Pia eyed him one last time, taking the opportunity to go to him. Lifting her hand to his erect member, she boldly stroked it. His face tightened as she played with him.

  “Good prisoner,” she murmured in a most seductive tone.

  “Climb on me,” Zoran urged, thrusting his hips into her fingers as he dipped his face forward in an effort to catch her lips. He missed. “And I’ll show you how good I really am.”

  Pia backed away from him. Her body was heady with power in the face of his need. She’d learned what she needed to for now. Turning around, she didn’t think as she bent over to pick up the sword.

  Zoran groaned as her ass poked toward him. He lurched against his ties. They wouldn’t give. It didn’t stop him from trying. Pia smiled. Slowly rising, she stopped with her backside still pushed out to him as she glanced over her shoulder. He was fighting his restraints with a force she had never seen in him.

  “Oh,” she teased. “Do you like it when I do that?”

  He nodded, reduced to nothing more than grunts and moans. His nostrils flared, as if smelling her. She detected a slight shifting above his eyes as his brows lowered.

  Pia turned with the sword. She blinked with innocence. “I would let you go, but I’m scared you might try to punish me for my insolence. I might just have to leave you there.”

  Zoran growled, his expression saying he had every intention of punishing her in the most pleasurable way possible.

  Pia was surprised when he still didn’t speak. His skin darkened along hi
s cheeks, as if he was reduced to the most basic of primal instincts. He was a dragon, and by the look in his eyes, he was going to free himself and mate.

  She swung the sword over his head, breaking through the leather that held him to the ceiling. His bound wrists dropped, still tied. He stalked toward her. Pia dropped her sword in her haste to back up. Zoran lunged. His wrists hooked over her head, capturing her to him.

  He breathed in ragged pants for a moment, as he reveled in his capture of her. Then, he ordered, “Get on your hands and knees.”

  Pia gasped at the force in him as he threw her toward the bed. She landed on her stomach. Zoran was instantly behind her with his supernatural speed, kneeling as he forced her legs apart. He hooked his wrists around her neck and pulled her to kneel before him. She groaned in excitement of his rough passion.

  Zoran aimed, too far gone to stop himself as his animalistic needs took over. Striking with a calculated accuracy, he pulled back on her neck to embed her completely on his shaft. He shouted in gratification. Pia gasped. His thighs pushed her legs apart, opening her helplessly to him.

  Controlling her with his bound wrists Zoran thrust, driving hard and fast as he rode her in frenzied passion. He forced her to match his need, howling and grunting his enthusiasm behind her.

  Pia thrilled in the uncontrolled claiming. Soon she was pushed beyond all reason.

  Zoran pumped his hips, slamming her onto his thick erection. It was the most magnificent feeling of indulgence and power. Even as he controlled the movement, Pia somehow knew she had all the power over him.

  Pia screamed, moaned, gasped, breathlessly begging for him to continue. His name left her lips with a desperate plea for more. She couldn’t take it, she felt the end coming for her, and she felt him riding her higher, higher—ahhh! Pia tensed, trembling uncontrollably as she quaked in climax.

  Building wonderful friction with each thrust, Zoran didn’t slow, plunging faster, faster, deeper, claiming. Her moist heat quivered around him and with a yell he tensed. His hold around her neck tightened as he spilled his seed within her. Her body sung with delight, and Pia licked her lips. Jerking her back onto him a few last times, marking her as his, Zoran rode the tremors out, frozen behind her like a statue. Pia groaned as he unhooked her neck and allowed her to fall to the mattress.

  * * *

  Zoran shivered as she slid off his lowering arousal. She’d conquered his heart with her bold ways. She commanded him completely.

  Sanity gradually returned. He looked down, guilt trying to invade him as he realized what he had done. Pia didn’t move. He climbed back. To his surprise, she rolled over. A soft purr came from her throat as she looked at him. Her neck was red from where he’d controlled her, but she didn’t seem to notice.

  She stood before him. Grabbing onto his bound wrists and giving them a firm jerk of control, she eyed his lowering member and said, “Where do you think you are going, prisoner? Your punishment isn’t over yet.”

  Zoran’s surprise increased tenfold. She’d enjoyed his rough passion as much as he.

  Pia jerked his arms again and moved her fingers to his spent manhood. Taking him firmly in hand, she decreed, “I’ll give you time to recover. But mark my words captive, you will be showing me more of that.”

  Zoran’s eyes narrowed. Oh, he had a lot more to show her. His cock twitched in her hand. He wouldn’t have thought it possible, but his member tried to rise to the occasion.

  “So how many times can you go?” she challenged. Pia smiled mischievously. Looking his naked body over, her brow rose and she asked, “And exactly how many different ways does this thing work?”

  Chapter 36

  Zoran was exhausted, having no desire to get out of bed and leave the warmth of his wife’s body. Pia snuggled into his side, her head resting on his arm. Seeing her parted lips, he could not stop himself from kissing her.

  Pia moaned sleepily in protest against his mouth, although she didn’t draw away. Weakly, she mumbled, “No, Zoran, no more. You are freed from prison.”

  His cock was too sore to even contemplate another bout so soon. He chuckled, teasing softly against her temple, “But you said one more time.”

  Pia lifted one very lazy lid to eye him. She had indeed said one more time, but that was last night and they’d done it one more time, and one more, and one more...

  “Tyrant,” she said before laughing sleepily.

  “I take it you no longer want to shove my nose into my skull,” he whispered. His light kisses found her temple as his nose nudged her.

  Pia finally managed to open both eyes to look at him. Eyeing him seriously, she said, “You shouldn’t have lied to me.”

  Zoran’s smile faded. “I didn’t mean to lie. I meant to protect you.”

  “I don’t need you to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

  “Pia,” Zoran began only to sigh. It was getting late and he needed to meet with the war council. Already his brothers were probably waiting for him. “It’s my duty to protect you and every other person under Draig rule. I know you can handle yourself, but don’t ask me not to do my duty.”

  She appeared too tired to pick a fight. So instead, she teased, “Well, you might lead the Draig armies, prisoner, but I command you.”

  “Is that so?” Zoran laughed at her audacity. But as he studied her lovely face, surrounded by her tousled blonde hair, he knew it was true. She did command him. He would never dare to admit as much to her.

  “Mm,” Pia agreed. A mischievous smile came over her lips. “Hey, I guess that means I really control the Draig armies.”

  “If you had a need of them, I would gladly send them to conquer the world,” he said gallantly.

  “Only the world? Not the universe?”

  “The universe, too.” He gave a tired yawn. “Multi-verse. Outer verse. Inner verse. A poet’s verse. Whatever verse you wish, my lady.”

  “Poet verse?”

  “I would gladly conquer bad bards for you. They are a nuisance.”

  Nodding her chin down his body, she teased, “I saw that your weapon leaked during sex, but I had no idea it leaked the brains out of your head. You’re rambling and being silly, commander.”

  Pia’s cheeks pinkened when he arched a brow and followed her gaze down to his spent cock.

  Zoran’s hearty laughter filled the bedroom. He was amazed she could still be embarrassed after the night they’d had. Knowing he needed to get dressed, he finally pulled away from her. Thinking on her words, he ran a hand onto her stomach and whispered, “No, not my brains, but, perhaps my son.”

  Her expression became blank. Sitting, she pulled the covers with her. His hand fell off her stomach, as he too moved to get up.

  Zoran saw her reaction and was sorry for it. It didn’t seem like she had changed her mind in that regard. She didn’t want his sons. It might already be too late for her to decide against pregnancy. They’d come together often, and it was possible that even now his child grew within her. Would she resent him for it? Would she do the unthinkable and try to end it? Deciding it was better not to mention that little fact, he let the subject drop.

  “Don’t you have to be there in order for the war council to convene?” she asked.

  Zoran smiled, remembering how she broke him under torture. She’d gotten that piece of information out of him when he taught her that kissing and sucking weren’t only for mouths and tongues. As a hardened warrior, he might have shamed himself by caving so easily to her soft lips, but it had definitely been worth it.

  “Yes,” Zoran groaned. Picking his crumpled war council tunic off the floor, he shook it out.

  “Are you sure I can’t go with you?”

  “Princesses aren’t allowed, only occasionally the queen,” he answered. “Besides, they are terribly dull. We basically grunt and stare at each other for hours and refuse to answer each other’s questions.”

  “Grunting and staring,” Pia giggled softly, giving his body a meaningful look. “I don’t see
anything boring about that.”

  * * *

  King Attor denied all charges with his usual insolence. As long as he was under the protection of the convened council, he wouldn’t be touched. Nothing was accomplished during the seven hours of talks. But, then again, nothing had been accomplished in the centuries of fighting that had occurred between the two kingdoms. Death attempts on both sides were nothing new, though none had occurred for over a hundred years.

  Zoran was in charge of military matters, representing the Draig, with a Var warrior of equal ranking opposite him. Olek presided over the whole affair, doing his best as ambassador to keep the peace, though all the brothers knew he would like nothing more than to spill King Attor’s blood for his insults to the royal Draig family.

  After the meeting, it took another four and a half hours to ensure that Attor and his men were gone. A thorough search of the castle revealed nothing, and the high alert was taken off the village so that the villagers could again leave their homes using caution.

  Zoran was exhausted from his night with Pia. It was hard not to grin during negotiations every time he thought about it. His vixen wife had drained him dry. However, strangely, his body was eager to go back to her. He wondered if he could give her another night of passion. His body was willing to try.

  He stripped from his clothing and climbed into bed beside his sleeping wife. He knew that soon they might be facing another war with the House of Var.

  * * *

  Feeling Zoran’s arms around her waist, Pia yawned, turning to look at him.

  “What happened?” she asked, dying to know. She’d tried to wait up for him, but had fallen asleep. She’d spent most of the day poking at her stomach, trying to see if anything was different. Not sure what signs to look for, she just sighed. She didn’t look fatter. Aside from the numbing sensation created by a night of loving, she didn’t ache. Pia wasn’t sure what to think of being a mother. She knew nothing about motherhood or pregnancy.