The tight peaks of her breasts beckoned him. He latched on with fervor, sucking as much of one breast into his mouth as he could. Then he gentled, drawing on her nipple with slow, strong pulls. He brought one hand up and tweaked the other nipple, twisting and tugging on it with his fingers.
When her hips pumped against him, he released her breasts and kissed his way down her slender torso. He unfastened her pants and pulled them and her panties off at the same time.
He drew back and stared at her. God, she was so damned beautiful, all strawberries and cream with her light red hair, lips crimson from his kisses, pink nipples and pale, soft skin. Long torso leading to a little tummy and that graceful slit with its sparse shelter of springy hair between slender thighs.
Zander groaned and slid his hands over her inner thighs, up until his thumbs met across her swollen sex. Then he spread her, opened her to his gaze, a gaze riveted to the slick dark pink folds and shadowed opening of her body.
His nostrils flared as the scent of her arousal rose. With a hungry growl, he bent his head and set his open mouth on her. The first swipe of his tongue through her cleft made her cry out. When he speared into her channel, her hands came down and clutched his head, her fingers lacing through his hair with a strong grip.
He worked her until she was moaning and pumping her hips against him. He slid his hands under her ass and lifted her so he could get a better angle. He fucked into her with his tongue, dragging her flavor deep into his mouth, flicking against her sensitive inner walls with the pointed tip of his tongue.
"Zander!” She arched and shuddered, her sheath contracting around his tongue as her orgasm roiled through her. He kept up the steady rhythm, keeping her arousal ramped high, not letting her come down until she'd careened into another climax.
She settled against the mattress and his hands went to his belt. His only thought was to free his cock, to thrust into her before he exploded. It had been too long since he'd been inside his woman. He'd worry about the rest of his clothes later.
Just as he tabbed down his zipper, a soft knock came on the door.
His head swiveled toward the door. “Fuck,” he muttered.
"Not just yet, bro,” Terik's low voice said, muffled by the thick wood.
For once, Zander was sorry dragons had such good hearing.
"Sorry to disturb you,” his second-in-command went on, “but we need to talk.” Before Zander could say anything, Terik said, “And no. It can't wait."
Zander sighed and lowered his head. Closing his eyes, he rotated his shoulders and tried to rein in his raging libido. This was the second time in a matter of only hours that he'd brought Leilani to orgasm only to remain unsatisfied himself.
He looked down at her. Her nipples had softened and her sex was slick with her cream, even though he'd done his best to lap it all up. He drew in a deep breath and held it a moment, then huffed it out. “Stay here and rest. We'll finish this later,” he murmured and got off the bed.
"Zander..."
He could see the indecision in her eyes, the regret, the old hurt—all of it building the barrier between them once again. Leaning over, he took her mouth with his, reminding her of who he was.
The Rastaban. Her protector. Her lover. Now, and forever.
CHAPTER 4
After Zander left her, Leilani rolled over and sat on the edge of the mattress while she reached for her pants. Once she'd slipped her panties on and pulled her pants up, she paused with her fingers on her zipper.
She'd gone and done it again. Let him touch her, make her come. Although with him, it had never taken much. One dark look from those clear green eyes, a few words in that deep, raspy voice was all it took to get her wet. Have him put his hands or his mouth on her, and she was a goner.
She touched her fingers to lips that still tingled from his hard, possessive kiss. She couldn't let this happen again. And she couldn't let Gerszon attack Melantha again.
He'd only done it when the two of them were together, she realized that now. Two attacks, only when they were with each other.
She had to get out of here. It was up to her to protect Melantha. She couldn't—wouldn't—leave it up to a bunch of dragons, no matter how sexy they were. Her abilities were at their strongest when she was near the source of her power. There was a large stream just a few miles away. If she could get to that, she might just have enough power to fight Gerszon off.
Regardless, she had to try.
Leilani dragged on her tomato-stained blouse and wrapped it around her. Stooping, she picked up her shoes then, with quick strides, went to the bedroom where her suitcase was, relieved Melantha wasn't there. She didn't think she could face her sister and the inevitable questions about Zander and what had happened between them that would follow. Plus it would be harder to get away.
She put on a fresh shirt, then shoved her feet into her shoes. Taking a bulky sweater from her suitcase, Leilani pulled it over her head. She was going to hike higher up on the mountain. Not sure how long she'd be gone, she wanted to be prepared to stay at least overnight.
She figured she should have some time before Gerszon attacked again, if this time was anything like his last strike against them. He would have to rest, rebuild his energy before he could draw upon the power of the air. And if she wanted to put any sort of distance between her and Zander, she had to leave now, while he was occupied elsewhere.
With a small sigh, she pulled a small tablet and pen from her purse. She scribbled a quick note to Melantha, telling her not to worry, and ripped the sheet from the notebook. She folded the paper and propped it against the pillows on the bed.
Leilani snuck down the stairs, pausing at the bottom. The murmur of voices came from the kitchen. She heard her sister say something, her voice too low for her to make out the words.
Terik's deep tones rumbled. In a louder voice, he said, “Wait. I'm getting a text message from Rainer.” A pause, then, “Shit."
"Gerszon isn't there, is he?” Zander asked.
"Rainer writes that the ley lines were broken when they dug around the stones and put up fencing, or perhaps when they put in the parking lot. However it happened, Gerszon's prison was breached and he's gone."
Leilani scowled. She tiptoed to the front door and quietly eased it open. As she carefully closed the door behind her, waiting a few minutes after she heard the snick of the latch, she closed her eyes.
It was up to her now.
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, Leilani was pretty sure she'd made a mistake in leaving, but she kept doggedly pushing forward. Going back to face Zander wasn't an option. She couldn't think around him, especially since every time she turned around he was kissing her.
She pushed aside the thought that she'd been the one to instigate that last ... kiss. She snorted. Kiss. They would have been doing the horizontal mambo if Terik hadn't interrupted.
And she just wasn't ready to go there again with Zander. He was too arrogant, too sexy, too heavy-handed, too sexy, too intractable, too sexy...
She let out a groan. Oh, Goddess. She was in so much trouble.
Leilani stopped and leaned her shoulder against the solid trunk of a pine tree. Taking deep breaths, she gulped in air and thrust her cold hands in her armpits. She had to be at an elevation of at least nine thousand feet, and there was a lot more ground to cover.
She turned and looked over her shoulder at the way she'd come. She'd taken a meandering trail through the trees, trying to make it more difficult for anyone to find her, because she knew as soon as her note was discovered, Zander at least would be out tracking her.
He demanded absolute obedience. It was one of the things that had been the start of many an argument between them, that she wouldn't just sit back and do whatever he told her. She wanted to know why and when and how.
And if she could do something herself, without his help, she did.
She dragged her thoughts away from the past. Seeing the beauty before her, a smile lifted her lips.
No wonder the dragons loved it up here so much. Not only were they on a mountain—the greatest source of their power—but they were high up in the sky where they could spread their wings and really soar. The air was crisp and clean, scented with pine and earth.
She could live here forever.
Her smile faded. The only way she could live here was if she and Zander were bonded. And at the rate things were going between them, she didn't see that happening any time soon, if ever. She wouldn't be the only one making compromises in the relationship. Not again.
And until he believed her that nothing had happened between her and that bastard Sinjun, nothing more would happen between her and Zander.
If she could just keep her hands off of him long enough...
"Aargh!” Leilani kicked her heel against the tree. “Stop it, Lani. Just stop it."
She took another breath and pushed away from the pine, and started climbing up the hill again. She'd taken maybe a dozen steps when she heard something above her, the sound of flapping wings.
Big flapping wings.
Crap.
Tilting her head back, she shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun and watched through the branches of the towering trees as the large red dragon circled overhead. He was looking down at her, and even from here she could see the irritated bristle of the spines along his tail.
Double crap.
Tempted to run, she glanced behind her at the trail she'd forged and knew she'd never make it. Zander would land and chase her down as a man—longer legs and a better toned body would guarantee he'd catch her quickly. She was already having trouble breathing due to her exertion and the lower oxygen content of the high altitude air. She wouldn't get very far trying to run.
Plus it would make her look like she was afraid of him and she wasn't. Not really. She was hesitant to face his anger, but she knew he'd set himself ablaze before he'd hurt her.
Leilani heaved a sigh and kept going, knowing as soon as Zander could find a place to land he'd meet up with her.
Within ten minutes she reached a small clearing on the hillside. Zander stood waiting for her, arms crossed over his bare chest and an irritated scowl on his face. The rest of him was bare, too, and just as aggravated.
She held up one hand. “Before you say anything, I can explain.” She slowed and came to a stop several feet away from him.
One dark eyebrow rose. Dropping his arms to his sides, he stalked toward her, muscles bunching and flexing, rigid cock bobbing with each step.
Leilani reflexively took a step backward, then pulled up short. She would not let him bully her. She wouldn't...
He yanked her into his arms and crushed her mouth with his. His lips punished, and he growled, a low reverberation coming from deep in his throat. When he pulled back, he cupped her face in his and stared into her eyes. His own eyes glittered, the slitted pupils and gold-green irises reflecting the heightened emotions of the dragon within.
A faint smell of sulphur lingered, a remnant from his transformation from his dragon form. But there was also that scent of cloves and musky male that still had the power to drive her libido into overdrive. Her body tightened, her nipples drawing into taut peaks, her pussy instantly wet.
"What were you thinking, you little fool?” Zander moved his hands to her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “That you could take Gerszon on your own?"
When he shook her again, she put her hands on his wrists and pushed his hands off her. Knowing the only reason she'd been able to was because he let her, she frowned and moved a few feet away from him. Focus, you idiot, she told herself. Now's not the time to be thinking of a roll in the hay.
Or rather, a roll in a mountainside meadow.
"I just thought if I could get to the stream, to water, I'd have the power to—"
"No.” He shook his head. “Didn't the fact that he can assault you mentally bring up any red flags for you?” He scowled. “God, you didn't used to be this dense."
"I am not dense!” Leilani crossed her arms.
"So, what is it?” Studying her, he folded his arms over his chest, mimicking her stance.
If he didn't look so ... and she wasn't so...
"You don't have to do it all,” he finally muttered. “You're not Wonder Woman, you know."
"Thank God for small favors.” Leilani propped her hands on her hips. “I'd hate to be stuck in a bathing suit and come-fuck-me boots all the time.” With a deep breath, she motioned toward his erection. “And would you please do something about ... that. It's ... distracting me."
"Oh, raindrop, I plan to do something about that. I surely do. Whether you have on fuck-me boots or not.” He walked forward, carnal intent hard on his face. “Starting right now."
She backed up, holding her hands out, palms facing forward. “That's not what I meant."
They worked their way around the clearing, her going backward, him patiently stalking toward her with raw lust flaring in his eyes. A slow, feral smile curved his lips. Goddess, he was sexy, even when she was pissed at him.
And she was pissed at him. And at herself for being so easy. She'd just gotten another whiff of him and her pussy was practically gushing in anticipation.
She stopped and put her hands on her hips. Then, realizing her nipples were hard points pressing against the thin material of her top, she crossed her arms over her chest again.
Zander came to a halt, one eyebrow raised in question.
"You can't keep doing this to me."
"Doing what?” he asked, his voice low and raspy with the same hunger burning in his eyes.
"Pouncing on me.” Leilani bit her lip against saying more. She should have known Zander wouldn't leave it alone.
"But you like me to pounce on you, raindrop.” He drew closer, his hands loosely fisted at his sides. “I remember those little mewls you make when I'm deep inside you. You remember what that feels like, Lani? My cock buried to the balls inside your sweet cunt?"
She swallowed.
He went on, his voice guttural. “I damn well remember. You look right now like you always did when you wanted me to ... pounce."
His erection hadn't lost any of its strength, and her gaze was riveted to it.
"I ... don't.” Her response sounded lame, even to her.
He reached her and curled one big hand around the back of her neck. Leaning over her, he put his mouth next to her ear. “Yes. You do."
His intoxicating scent spiraled through her, muddling her mind, ramping her arousal. He gave a rumble of laughter, and it zinged through her like his tongue on her clit.
Zander drew in a deep breath through his nose, and a low growl came from deep in his chest. “I can smell your cream, raindrop. You want to be pounced on right now."
He licked under her earlobe, sending a shiver through her. “And I'm just the man to accommodate you."
Leilani swayed, tempted by his smell, his hard, hot body, the stiff wedge of his cock prodding her belly. Then the reason why she'd left the cabin to begin with surfaced, and with a muffled cry she pushed him away.
"I mean it, Zander. We're not doing this. Not now, not ever again.” She blinked back tears, feeling anger and hurt and regret roll through her. “You had your chance two years ago and you threw it away."
His mouth opened as if he was going to argue with her, and she slashed one hand through the air. “Don't. Whatever argument you think would sway me, whatever seductive words you have planned, just forget it."
Even though her body wanted to stay, to get lost in his demanding embrace, Leilani forced herself to turn away from him. She started back the way she'd come, back toward the cabin. “Fly home like a good dragon, and I'll meet you there."
She tried to ignore the hard nipples, the throbbing clit, the clenching pussy that wanted his cock deep and hard. She was more than the sum of her parts. She walked away, her feet feeling like they were dragging through mud. Her mind told her she was doing the right thing, that she couldn't get involved with him again.
>
But...
Go back, her body screamed. Go back!
CHAPTER 5
Zander watched Leilani's pert ass move farther away, and his erection drooped in disappointment. She was serious. She actually thought he'd just let her walk away from him without talking about what she'd done.
Like he'd done with her two years ago.
Walked away without a backward glance, leaving her with Sinjun, leaving with her cries of innocence ringing in his ears. He hadn't been wrong about what was going on in that bedroom. He hadn't.
Had he?
He dropped his head and his eyes lost focus as his thoughts turned inward. It really didn't matter, one way or another. Whether she'd done wrong or he'd been wrong, one thing was certain.
Leilani Aster was his.
A snapping twig jerked his attention back up. Leilani was striding back toward him, her pretty face set in concentration and, as she came closer, he could see the determined set of her stubborn chin and the spark of resolve in her eyes.
When she was still several feet away, she broke into a run and took a flying leap toward him. In reflex, Zander put out his arms and caught her, staggering back from her momentum, but staying on his feet.
She wrapped her legs around his hips, her heels digging into his bare buttocks, pulling his erection into the heated juncture between her thighs. The rough seams of her jeans rubbed against him, sending tiny shudders up and down his spine.
"You make me so crazy,” Leilani muttered. “I don't know if I'm coming or going around you.” Her hands wrapped around the back of his head. “But if it has to be one or the other, right now I want to be coming.” She pulled his mouth down to hers.
Her open mouth was ravenous on his, her tongue surging between his lips with ferocious desire. Every drop of blood in his body headed straight to his cock. He was rock-hard and hurting, and damned the fact that she still had on clothes.
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