Emerald Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 6)

by Terry Bolryder

  “It’s going to be okay,” Sapphire said, putting a hand on his arm.

  Aegis jerked away. “It was a lot easier when I was just fighting.”

  Sapphire laughed and stood with his hands clasped in front of him.

  All the dragons looked idiotic, in his opinion, with their sharp clothing that was so decidedly civilized and human.

  He put his own hands behind his back and clasped them there, but it made him feel vulnerable, so he shoved them in his pockets. Ruby was also there, and so was Diamond. Alistair, the diamond dragon, looked like he’d been born for formalwear, and he was in a pale-purple tux that looked oddly perfect on him.

  Aegis was wearing classic black that suited him. So were Sapphire and Ruby. Dom was wearing dark blue.

  Aegis supposed he was only ruminating on this to not think about what Opal would do when she came down here.

  It was so unlike anything he'd done; he didn’t know what she’d think of it.

  “Stop fidgeting,” Ruby said. “Fidgeting isn’t sexy.”

  “Stand up straight,” Zach said. “Be powerful.”

  “But polite,” Citrine said, wearing a tan suit and being his own person as usual.

  “Shut up!” Aegis snapped, jerking away from all of them to look over everything one more time. “Let me look at this.”

  The garden had been transformed, from the lights hanging from the trees, making it look like some sort of fairy gathering, to the lit torches around the main table, which was decorated with crystal and a beautiful lace tablecloth. It was already set with covered dishes, hiding the dinner Citrine had made with the others. They’d made Aegis hang lights, not wanting him in the kitchen around any of the food.

  Which had been fine. Aegis was happier doing something outside on his own.

  And then Sapphire had come out to help him. And Ruby. And Diamond. And even Zach. And working alongside the other men without fighting had felt kind of okay, even if a part of Aegis was wondering how long this could really last.

  He touched one of the lights that was glistening in the tree branches and marveled at how quickly it had gotten dark, just as he heard feminine voices.

  He snapped up to look toward the house and saw soft figures coming forward. As they came into the light of the walkway, his eyes immediately found Opal.

  She looked incredible. He’d been so busy worrying about how to please her it hadn’t even occurred to him she would try to please him.

  “Holy shit,” he muttered as she walked closer. She was wearing a white gown with a purple belt and a purple shawl, and her dark hair was pulled up on her head with a few locks spilling over one shoulder. The gown dipped in front, showing generous, pale cleavage.

  Her eyes were luminous, the light blue of butterfly wings, flashing purple in the dark light. Her small lips were curved and then opened in wonder as she looked all around and saw what he’d done.

  She reached him and put a hand on his arm as she continued to survey the scene he’d created for her. “What is this?”

  “You told me you wanted friends,” he said for only her to hear as he tucked her hand into his arm and led her to a seat. He pulled out her chair for her, and she let out a quiet gasp of surprise as she sat.

  “I did, but…” She looked around. “How did you do this?”

  “With a little help,” he said.

  “I heard about that.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “Anyway, what is the plan?”

  “The plan,” Zach cut in, sitting after his mate was seated as the rest of the dragons took their seats. “Is to have a wonderful dinner together and just forget everything that is troubling us.”

  It all sounded a bit stupid to Aegis, but Opal sent him a brilliant smile, and he felt warm down to his toes that he had pleased her. That he’d figured out a way to make her smile rather than make her worried.

  “So this is how I thought we’d spend our night together,” he said quietly, putting a hand on hers under the table. “Do you like it?”

  “I love it,” she said, squirming on her chair and sending him another beatific grin. “It’s perfect.”

  Aegis was so glad Opal was happy; he wouldn’t even begrudge Citrine for being right.

  It was a perfect night for Opal. The kind you dream about later and want to relive because you were so happy and everything was perfect in that moment.

  The garden was beautiful, the dinner was delicious, and Aegis was hell bent on being decent and polite.

  It was the first time she could ever remember the two of them sharing a polite dinner with so many people without a fight breaking out.

  Was he actually learning to value others? She sipped her wine, feeling slightly heady, and wondered what was going on in that handsome head of his.

  She knew now more of what had gone on. He’d gotten the other dragons to help him on Citrine’s advice. But that still meant he had gone to Citrine for advice. He was reaching out. And he was understanding her, because he realized she didn’t want to just be alone with him.

  Although, seeing him so handsome there, breathtaking in his formalwear, his long, tall body torturing her behind so much clothing, she sort of did want to be alone with him.

  Faye had said he talked to Ruby. What did that even mean? She went red and nearly snorted her wine at the thought of it, and Aegis turned his green eyes on her in concern. His blond hair was pushed back, looking windswept, and she wanted to run her hands through it and mess it all up.

  He grinned, and she knew he’d heard her thoughts. In her slightly warm state, she’d probably been projecting them.

  “That can be arranged,” he said, touching a lock of his hair.

  She swallowed. “Um. Don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turned back to her drink, and he reached over and set it aside.

  “You feeling okay?”

  “Yes,” she said, taking it back. But then she set it aside on her own. If she was going to be with Aegis tonight, she wanted all of her senses about her. She wanted to see what he was like in that way. She wanted to know him. Biblically.

  She turned to him as the others seemed to be wrapping up their conversations. Hallie was cuddled in Sapphire’s arms. Ruby and Faye were deep in conspiratorial conversation. Erin was leaning on Zach’s arm as he told a story to Diamond and Bridget.

  “You ready to head upstairs?” Aegis asked, correctly reading her mood.

  “If that’s where you’re planning on taking me, then I think so,” she said, standing as he pulled out her chair.

  “Go Aegis!” Ruby yelled, slightly drunk, as his mate tried to stifle him.

  Aegis scowled, but then they both broke into laughter as they said good night and started back toward the house.

  Somehow it felt right to be the first to break away from the group. To go back alone over the soft, cool grass toward the house that was becoming their home.

  “Are you sure?” he asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs and looked up toward his bedroom.

  “I am,” she said. “I could have kept going this morning. After the kiss.”

  He grinned, looking excited and uncertain and very much like the boy she’d loved. “All right. I’ll show you what I did.”

  He led her up the stairs, and when they opened the door, she gasped as she saw candles lit all around the room. Flowers from the garden in vases on the windowsill and dressers.

  Rose petals on the bed, which was turned down. “I don’t know if it’s too presumptuous,” he said, walking forward and looking around. “But just in case, I wanted to be ready. I wanted it to be a great experience, if you did decide to.”

  She swallowed. She’d been ready since she’d seen him in the tux. No, since he’d kissed her on the bed. No, long, long before that.

  She’d been ready forever.

  She reached up and clasped her arms around his neck, going up on tiptoes so she could press her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her wa
ist and lifted her slightly, bringing his lips down so they could fit together perfectly.

  She pulled back, breathless from the kiss, and took a step toward the bed, backing him toward it. “Let’s just see where this goes, okay?”

  He nodded just as she pushed both hands into his chest, knocking him off his feet and onto the mattress.

  She crawled onto him with a growl, noting his surprise with satisfaction.

  She didn’t often feel like a dragon, but right now she was positively on fire.

  Chapter 11

  Aegis’s eyes widened in shock as a satisfied grin spread over his lips. Opal was on top of him, beautiful eyes luminous and sparkling blue and purple in the low candlelight, white gown everywhere as she watched him hungrily.

  Her irises flickered to slits and then back to normal as her hands felt hungrily over the coat of his tux and then pulled it off his shoulders.

  Apparently, this physicality, lovemaking, really brought out the dragon in his mate.

  Her thighs felt luscious and soft on his sides as she tossed his tux jacket away and began undoing his shirt, button by button. He could hardly believe it was happening. Him, here with Opal, being wanted by her. It felt like a thousand years of dreams were coming true.

  But he held himself back, not wanting to hope for too much. That way lay disappointment.

  She gave up halfway down the shirt and simply tore it open, sending small white buttons flying in every direction.

  “Zach’s not going to like that,” Aegis said. “It was his—”

  “Shh,” she said, pressing her finger to his lips, “As if you care.”

  She had a point, so he simply leaned back languidly and rested his hands on her hips, staring up at her as her hands found his hair.

  She’d never touched him like that, and she stroked reverently at first, then gripped his hair hard, tousling it and moving it all over, roughing it up, making him grin.

  “I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” she confessed, sitting up and looking down at him. Her soft gown had slipped from one shoulder, baring creamy skin.

  The atmosphere in the room was perfect. The smell of the flowers in the air mixed with the burning floral candles and Opal’s own unique scent, clean and refreshing, like water lilies in a mountain spring.

  Somehow, he’d been familiar with that scent almost all his life, yet now it was headier than before, more erotic.

  The feel of her small, soft hands as they roved up and down his body was sensual in that quiet, powerful way that builds gradually until you can take it no more.

  He told himself to be patient. She wanted this new Aegis who knew how to wait. How to hold back. She didn’t know he’d been holding back for what seemed like his whole life.

  Wanting to love her. Watching from a distance. Protecting.

  Aegis pushed up on one elbow and snaked his other arm around Opal, pulling her down for a kiss. All at once, the emotion and attraction that had coursed between them earlier came rushing in. A love that had spanned centuries flashing over them at this moment.

  He pressed their kiss closer together, feeling the curve of her lips against his. Then without hesitation, almost eagerly, her lips parted ever so slightly, and his tongue entered her mouth, stroking and exploring. She moaned softly against his mouth, the sound awakening something inside him.

  Aegis found the small zipper at the back of her gown and undid it quickly, watching her intensely as a blush crept over her face and she closed her eyes. When he reached the end of the zipper and found himself impatient to explore farther, he grabbed with both hands and ripped the gown in two, baring her to him.

  “Turnabout is fair play, since you destroyed the shirt I was wearing,” Aegis chided, watching her blush go even brighter and her eyes go wide with excitement.

  “We’re dragons. Occupational hazard I guess,” she replied, her breath catching as he threw the gown aside, leaving her atop him in only a white strapless bra and satiny white panties.

  His throat went dry. The dragon inside him threatened to rip out, wanting to claim her.

  Words couldn’t describe how beautiful Opal was. Every curve, pale and soft and beautiful, was like art. Her skin caught the light and, like the stone she was named for, shimmered and shone.

  He loved everything about her. The way she squirmed slightly as his gaze ate up every centimeter of her almost-naked flesh. The way her pale skin glowed lightly in the soft moonlight beginning to pour through the tall windows at the end of the room. The way her eye color darkened, becoming a deep, glittering blue like moonlight illuminating deep waters.

  And seeing her like this, both of them aroused and heated and inexpert and ready to experience more, made him feel both ready to break out of his skin and like he was in another dimension.

  Say something. Aegis heard Opal’s voice in his mind, sounding tentative. You’re just staring.

  You’re too beautiful to be real, he replied, choking back emotion, remembering all the time she’d been gone. I’m trying to just be grateful to have you back again. Grateful you aren’t dead. I don’t want to lose you again.

  I’m here, Aegis. You won’t lose me.

  Sometimes I feel like I’m watching a ghost, he replied, pulling back again to look at her.

  I’m not a ghost. I’m flesh and blood. And I’m back here with you. She brought his hands up around her. So make use of it and touch me.

  In response, Aegis immediately undid the clasp of her bra, and as soon as the silky material fell away, he caught her nipple in his mouth, sucking long and hard on it. So real and warm. She was right. She was here with him, and he was going to make her never want to leave him again.

  His teeth lightly grazed her nipple as his hands cupped her ass, full and sexy and only for him. His.

  You’re mine, he thought to her, feeling intensity rush through him as he moved to her other breast, giving it the same treatment as the first, licking voraciously, owning her.

  She didn’t answer, only let out a soft moan that he caught with his mouth as he took both breasts in his hands and kneaded the soft flesh there intently, tweaking both nipples with his thumbs.

  Her hips ground against him, filling his thoughts with wicked images of being inside her, taking her and making her scream his name.

  Her eyes flew open, hot like blue flames. She wanted him.

  Ruby had been right. He didn’t need any help at this moment. He knew exactly what his mate wanted and exactly how to give it to her.

  Blinding pleasure surged through Opal’s body as Aegis’s hands continued to cup and caress her breasts, the skin there so sensitive from their foreplay, from their slow, sensual start that had increased in intensity more and more until they were now here.

  Her breasts, her entire body, felt so right in his hands. Like he owned her. His green eyes were dark and sultry as he pulled back to watch her. His blond hair was tousled and rough, making him look like a warrior as he came back against her.

  Hard, rippling muscle pressed into her.

  But his hands were gentle, strong and soft and teasing, and she wanted them everywhere.

  There was something unleashed about the intensity in the way Aegis kissed her, touched her, surpassed all her defenses and made her feel things she could have never fathomed experiencing. He was exploring, delighting in his observations, learning everything about her more quickly than she could herself.

  It was overwhelming as his kisses deepened, his lips found her neck, her shoulders, new parts of her skin that had never been touched, and his hands roved, teasing and squeezing and pinching her body.

  Somehow, this man who’d been reluctant to even kiss her, was becoming a veritable love storm right before her eyes. Her entire body felt heated, marked, and ready for more.

  Suddenly, he lowered himself back down onto the bed, giving her another view of his long body, rippled abs, sculpted pecs, perfect skin. A fallen angel half naked on her bed.

  He hooked a finger under one side of he
r panties and tore them off, looking smug as she was left completely bare on top of him, getting wetter by the second.

  Nervousness washed through her, despite her arousal, and she let out a little shiver until she felt his firm hand wrapping her thigh reassuringly.

  Trust me.

  And looking into those gorgeous green eyes, the face of the man who had rescued her and brought her here and done everything to change for her, she did.

  She closed her eyes and nodded as he lifted her slightly off him and slid down lower on the bed, lower and lower until…

  Before she had a chance to process what was going on, white light shattered her vision as his tongue licked up against her clit in one smooth, powerful motion that made her come apart all at once. Her hands dug into his shoulders at her sides as her back arched autonomously, her entire body straining with hot, intense, erotic sensation that was as powerful as it was pleasurable.

  As she came down from the release, body shaking and trembling, she gripped the sheets with her fingers and shook her head. He’d made her come so easily. Had he gotten that move from Ruby earlier?

  Still, she wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially when that mouth happened to be Aegis’s, positioned where it was right now.

  She felt his tongue move against her again, slow this time, laving with long, sensual strokes that made her wild with desire for release again without taking her too quickly to the edge. His hands moved from her hips to her breasts, working over them in time with his tongue.

  It was so erotic. Then flickering candles, the rose petals surrounding them on the bed, the scent of her lover filling the air, spicy and exotic.

  Without warning, another orgasm came, this one even more powerful than the first. But she was ready for it this time, and she cried out his name to the tall, vaulted ceiling as he didn’t stop, the tip of his tongue flicking against her, intensifying her release even more. Adding an intimacy to it that made it that much harder to bear.

  But despite the haze of repeated release that clouded her thinking and filled her with incredible sensations, she could still feel a need deep inside her, a heavy ache for something else. Something closer.