Bound in Ashes

by Milly Taiden

  Her gaze moved down to his lips and the scent of her desire wafted up his nose like a sexiest invitation to be bad. “You saved Brian.”

  “Brian was a little kid. He needed someone to take care of him.”

  She raised her arms around his neck and leaned closer. “A man who saves children is so sexy.”

  He gave a rough chuckle. “I'm no savior, beautiful.”

  “Too bad,” she said, pulling his head down to hers, rising on the tips of her feet. “I've decided you are.”

  He and his brother were taller than most humans, but even with his height, Tiana's curvy body fit damn near perfect to him. Maybe not exactly, after all the top of her head reached his chin, but her body pressed to his was definitely amazing.

  He let her lead. He didn't want to scare her going too far, too fast. He was a lot older than her and could control himself. Barely, but he'd do it. He sensed her inner struggle over him. It was best to allow her to take control for now.

  She brushed her lips over his and electricity sizzled his blood. He had to tamp down the dragon's urge for more. Bastard didn't want to mate her, but he was okay with getting in on the action. Ker groaned as she rubbed her tongue over his lips, pushing her way into his mouth. He followed her moves, slowly curling his own over hers, kissing her just as hard as she did him. It was all going great. And then she moaned.

  The sound of her pleasure was more than he could handle. He lifted one hand and ran his fingers over her cheek, cupping the side of her face. Then he guided her backward, until her back hit a wall. He leaned into her, his hips pressed tightly against her.

  Another moan and she moved her hands. She raked her nails over the back of his neck, the sting of pain making him even harder than he was before. Passion soared with every kiss, with every breath they shared. There was nothing but them.

  The tentative kiss had turned hungry. Needy. He couldn't stop from drinking in every whimper and moan. Her pliant mouth pressed harder on his. Lust roared and his body tightened with expectation. He wanted her. Here. Now. The thought of shredding her clothing and plunging into the depths of her warm welcoming heat drove him to near insanity.

  Her soft growl yanked on the beast inside. The dragon hadn't been interested in another woman before. This time, he wanted a taste. Ker's mind dueled with the wild need. It wasn't about mating her. Not for the dragon. For Ker's human side there were emotions, deep ones, at play. Ones he had not felt before for another female.

  The sound of footsteps at the distance reminded him where they were. He couldn't take her there. But he would. Soon. Now that he'd had a taste, now that he knew how her desire matched his own, he'd get her in his bed, moaning for him.

  He softened the kiss, moving his lips to the edge of her mouth, then to her cheek and finally to her earlobe, swiping his tongue lightly over it.

  “Brian's coming back. He's still pretty far, but I can hear him coming.”

  She stiffened and slowly brought her hands down from his neck. “I'm sorry. I don't know--”

  “No.” He met her gaze with a bright glowing blue one of his own. “Don't be sorry. I'm not sorry for that kiss. That's only the beginning. I want you, Tiana.”

  “Ker--”

  She licked her lips and his balls tightened further. The image of her lips on his cock was playing through his mind in an amazing, dirty loop. “I won't push, love. I won't. But you're going to give me everything.”

  Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

  “I can smell how much you want me. Your body is calling for me to make it mine. Your pussy is begging for my tongue,” he said, the image of her spread open showing her slick folds to him making him almost lose his control. “I've thought of nothing but you since the first time I heard your voice. I've heard you begging me to fuck you, in my mind.”

  The scent of her arousal thickened around them. Her eyes grew darker, pupils dilating with her desire. “Oh, god.”

  “But now that I've seen your luscious curves and gorgeous body, I can't get my dick to stop thinking of being deep inside you.” Her breathing grew ragged. “Owning your body. Giving you so much pleasure, you'll never want another fucking man again. I'm going to stamp myself on every delectable inch of you.” She let out a soft whimper. “You're going to willingly offer your pussy to me.”

  He cupped her cheek, sliding a finger over her swollen lips. Fuck, she was beautiful. Her body trembled and he saw the need grew in her gaze. “When you do, love, you'll belong to me. Mine. I don't fucking share, not you. Never you,” he growled.

  “You don't know what you're saying,” she whispered, her voice a soft tremble.

  “That's where you're wrong, love. I know exactly what I'm saying and want. Your heart will belong to me. Mental images of us fucking until you come so hard your world shatters will fill your mind. Until your pussy is sucking at my cock like a tight wet tongue.

  “It will be imprinted in your brain. Forever. That's what I want. Your body taking mine and your moans by my ear are what I want. It's what I'm going to get.” He could hear Brian just outside the room. He kissed her hard, one more time to hold him over. Now that he'd tasted her, he never wanted to stop. “Everything. You'll give me everything.”

  THIRTEEN

  Tiana had a hard time remembering to breathe when Brian walked into the room. Ker had taken several steps back and put space between them. That was good because she swore her skin was so hot, she might instantaneously combust. She'd kissed him. Holy lord of dirty things, she'd kissed him.

  And he'd kissed her back. Again and again. So much had happened with those kisses. There was no going back after this. Not that she wanted to, no. Now she could only think of when they would do it again. How far would he go next time and would she let him? Yes! Fuck, yes.

  The rest of the tour went by slowly with Brian giving her more details of the building and the way it was set up. The kids were happy Ker was there so they'd organized a matinee lunch in the movie room.

  The second time they went there, there was food set up on the tables. Something had been done to the floor to raise it into levels so all seats could see the screen. The two person seats had been moved into neat rows. She and Ker were given the best seats in a great spot.

  “I'll make us some plates,” he smiled and walked off with two boys who had been watching them, asking him questions.

  She leaned back on the big plushy seat and sighed. She'd never been on a date with a man in a room full of kids. And she was a teacher. A grin spread over her lips. At one point, one of her few boyfriends had told her that she'd never find a man willing to want to be around brats the way she did. Chuckling to herself, she realized how wrong that idiot had been.

  “Hi,” said a little voice from her right.

  She turned her face and there was a tiny boy of what could only be five or six. Someone about the age of her own students. “Hi! I'm Tiana. What's your name?”

  The little boy put a small toy on the armrest of her chair and stared at her with big brown eyes. “Alex. Are you Ker's girlfriend?” he asked, his brows rising with the question.

  She wasn't sure how to answer him. They'd kissed. And he was clearly in lust with her. Hell, she was in lust with him, too, if she was honest.

  “I'm his friend,” she finally replied. “Are you excited to watch the movie?”

  They'd been told the children had chosen one of the Transformer movies. Everyone was excited to see it since it was still in the movie theaters. Tiana wasn't a movie goer so she didn't know which movie it was. As it was, she was just excited to be spending more time with Ker now that she realized how much she enjoyed his company. She wasn't just attracted physically to him. His personality was great and the man was incredibly giving.

  “Yes. Is it going to be scary?” he asked, his little teeth worrying his bottom lip. “I don't like scary.”

  “No,” she assured him. “I don't think so, but tell you what. If you feel some sort of fear at any point, come sit with me, okay?”r />
  His eyes grew wide and he nodded in a big rush. “Okay.”

  “Hey, Alex,” Ker said bringing back their food. He handed her a very cool tray that sat on her lap and the sides went down so that it wouldn't slip off. “I see you met Tiana. Are you trying to steal my girl?”

  Her gaze shot up to Ker's face. Did he consider her his girl? This was not what she'd been expecting to hear so soon.

  “No. She's nice,” Alex said and waved his toy at them as he walked two chairs down to sit between two teenage girls.

  “He's adorable!” Tiana sighed. “Those cheeks. And did you hear his little voice?”

  Ker chuckled and sat next to her with his own tray. “You really like kids, don't you?”

  She grinned. “Duh. I'm a teacher. Of course, I do.”

  “You want to have your own?”

  She picked up a chicken strip and took a bite, chewing slowly before answering. “I do. I've always wanted a family. A big one. More than anything in my life.”

  He didn't know about her past, and now wasn't the time to discuss it, but maybe he'd understand.

  “Yeah. I get it. It was me and my brothers for so long. We had each other, but living as long as we have means we can't get attached to anyone else. People age. You lose them and it hurts. So you are alone a lot, but you're lonely all the time.”

  She wiped her hand on a napkin and took his hand in hers. “You're not alone anymore.”

  He leaned in and kissed her. “Neither are you.”

  The lights flickered and everyone got quiet. They ate and watched the movie. Gasps and laughter and shouts were heard at different moments. Once they ate, she leaned into him and they continued watching together. It was more than nice. It was as if she'd found home. Ker was home. Alex joined them about thirty minutes in, getting on her lap and hugging her. He shoved his face in her jacket whenever the room got too dark. She realized at that point he was afraid of the dark.

  She held the boy for the rest of the movie and once it was over, she glanced down and noticed he'd fallen asleep on her. Having Alex in her arms had woken that hunger for motherhood she'd been battling the past year. More and more, she found herself daydreaming with having a house full of her own children and a husband. Her biological clock decided to slap her upside the head way too early. She was still young, but that didn't stop anything. She wanted a family. Soon.

  * * *

  Tor sat next to his mate as they watched the children play in the big room downstairs. Even though Star was a godsend babysitter, after Nana’s reminder of Noah’s pending shift, Morgan would not take her eyes off her son for a minute. He hated that Nana put the fear of God into his mate to cause her to worry so much.

  He didn’t know a lot about anatomy, but he knew stress caused the brain to produce chemicals that were bad for the body. How would those substances effect the unborn baby she carried? Should he do something to try to take her mind off her fear?

  “Don’t even think it, Tor,” Morgan said.

  He leaned against the wall, feigning innocence. “What? I wasn’t thinking anything,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes. “Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking?”

  “You can’t,” he said. “I wasn’t projecting to you.”

  That brought her brows up. “You think that makes a difference?”

  A nervous fear rippled through him. How could she possible know what he was thinking? Had she developed mind reading skills to go with her empath talents. He wouldn’t doubt it any. His mate was the strongest person he ever met.

  “And no,” she said, “I didn’t develop mind reading abilities.”

  His eyes popped wide. “But…You…Twice—”

  She leaned over and kissed him. “Tor, honey, it’s okay. All women can read their men after so long together. And dragons aren’t that different from human males. I promise you, I’m fine. I’m practicing connecting with our son.”

  “Connecting? How’s that?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Sort of like using my empath gifts, except not so much focus on emotions as thoughts. I have to be ready for when Nana’s prophetic reminder happens.”

  “Ready how?” he asked. He needed to be ready too. He was the dragon part of his son and would be there for him. Nothing would happen to Noah as long as he lived.

  “I don’t know. I’m just being ready,” she said cryptically.

  Wonderful, he thought. That didn’t help in the slightest. Maybe if he stared at his son and concentrated really hard, something would happen. He narrowed his focus on Noah’s head like he was trying to get inside it, see what he was thinking.

  He noticed the tyke had a cowlick in the same place he did. Poor kid. He sympathized. He concentrated harder. There were a few freckles along his jawline. Those must’ve come from his mother’s side. Concentrate harder.

  “Tor,” Nana’s said as she walked in, “you’re either trying to blow up your son’s brain or you’re constipated. Which is it?”

  Morgan busted out laughing, startling everyone in the room. At least his mate was smiling now.

  “No, Nana, neither,” he huffed. “I’m just getting ready.”

  “For what?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” he replied. “The same thing she’s getting ready for.” He bumped his elbow against his mate.

  Nana snorted. “Good luck with that, boy.” She handed a tabloid to him. “Here, look at this.”

  Morgan raised a brow. “The National Enquirer?” she asked. “Nana, really? If you need something to read, I have some fabulous romance paperbacks.”

  “No, no,” the elder replied, “your stories don’t have what I’m looking for.”

  “And what is that?” Morgan asked.

  Tor answered. “UFOs.” He flipped to the center section of the paper and continued reading.

  “What?” Morgan said, “You can’t be serious.”

  “As serious as beating up your heart,” Nana shot back.

  Tor looked up at her. “What did you say?”

  “She means heart attack; as serious as a heart attack,” his mate told him.

  Nana waved away the correction. “I knew it was something like that.”

  Tor lowered the tabloid. “You think this could be one of ours?”

  “Yes. I’m almost sure of it.” She pointed to the picture. “It’s the same as our landing. We have protocols for when going to other planets where we don’t want to be detected.”

  “I know, Nana,” Tor replied. “That’s how I found you.”

  “And it took you forever, boy. This group isn’t waiting that long before they take a peek above the trees to check out the place themselves. Then here comes the neighborhood.”

  “Nana, it’s ‘there goes the neighborhood,” Morgan whispered.

  Again, the old lady brushed away the help. “Whatever. At least I’m trying to learn your terms. Can’t help it if none of ‘em make sense.”

  “When do you want to leave?” Tor asked. “In a couple days?”

  “I was thinking more like right now,” she replied.

  “Now?” both Morgan and Tor said simultaneously.

  “Why not?” Nana said and she dropped the duffle over her shoulder.

  Morgan pointed to toward the children. “What if Noah changes. We’ll need you.”

  Nana looked at the child playing with the others. “Things don’t usually happen so soon after I see them. It will probably be several days to a month before anything changes.”

  “How long will you be gone?” Morgan asked, glancing at Tor.

  “Just a couple days,” he replied. “What do you think, Nana?”

  “About that. Not long. Now, let me say goodbye to the grandkids.”

  Tor watched as his oldest living relative snuggled up to the children as he hurried toward the steps and his room to pack a small bag. Shortly, he was back downstairs in his robe, ready to get this over with and home to his family.

  “Okay, Tor,” Nana hol
lered, going through the door to outside, “kiss your mate and let’s get ‘er done.”

  He gladly laid a hot one on his little lady and snatched up his son and tossed him into the air. Kissing the boy on the cheek, he said, “No turning into a dragon until papa gets home, okay?”

  The boy giggled and clapped his hands. “Dagon. Rawr.” The little roar he let out was over the top cute. Morgan took her son and kissed Tor again.

  “Be careful,” she said. He heard the worry in her voice. “Come back to me.”

  “I will,” he said. “Always.”

  Nana called from outside. “Tor, stop dragon your butt.”

  He snorted and walked outside. Morgan carried Noah on her hip to watch out the window. Two human forms whirled into majestic beasts and the boy giggled and clapped again. “Da-da dagon, Mama.” He repeated his tiny roar then wiggled out of her hold and went back to his toys.

  FOURTEEN

  Ker carried in an opened wine bottle, bottle of red soda, and two glasses and set them on the coffee table in the cabin.

  “You feeling better?” he asked Tiana.

  She stretched out on the sofa. “Yeah, I think with all we did today at the school, the food, then flying back, my body is tired and didn’t appreciate the ups and downs of wind currents. My stomach has settled, so I’m good for a glass of the vino you got there.”

  “Wonderful,” Ker said. “You’re going to love this with your sweet tooth.”

  “What’s the red stuff?” she asked.

  Ker twisted off the cap and fizz squirted from the top. “It’s Italian Passion Fruit soda. Combine that with Moscato d’Asti, and voila. Sweet drink that has no alcohol taste.”

  Tiana sipped the concoction then swallowed half the glass. “This is awesome. I could drink the whole bottle.”