Black Dragon's Blood

by Anita Philmar

  "Him?"

  "Or her?” He smiled at her silly grin and let her rest back against his chest. “But the point is, the baby is draining you of all your energy."

  "And the answer is,” she snuggled closer, “you carry the baby for awhile."

  "No, that's not a possibility. But the data I read suggests something else.” He didn't relish telling her the details of the prescription for her ailment.

  She must have heard the doubt in his voice because she sat back and looked into his face. “What did the report say we needed to do?"

  "It's not meant to hurt you, but it's a light form of bondage.” William released her when she pushed off his lap. She adjusted her white silk robe and tied the ends.

  "Where exactly did you get this information?” She turned away from him and opened the metal bread box on the chrome countertop.

  "The Dragon Center database. Remember I said I wanted you to keep a record of all the different things I did to give you pleasure.” William reconnected the crotch of his pants and stood. “The database is full of doctors’ and women's accounts of different problems that occurred during pregnancy."

  Amanda sliced the bread and took a chuck of cheese from the cooler drawer. She offered him a piece. “I'm not sure I understand the purpose of this exercise."

  William stepped up beside her and slid an arm around her waist. If he didn't think this would help her, he'd never have suggested it. People with dragon blood valued their right to roam free.

  He nabbed a bite of bread from her fingers and sucked the morsel into his mouth. Her resistance radiated from her stiff shoulders and back. She worked her way out of his arms.

  "Do you want me to feed you?” She held up a piece of cheese and popped the small chunk between his lips.

  He swallowed the tidbit. “What I want is for you to let me tie you to the bed upstairs and make love to you."

  Chapter Eight

  Pacing the bedroom floor, Amanda couldn't get her mind to shut down long enough for her body to rest. William had insisted she relax for a while after dinner. She was exhausted.

  But the idea of any type of bondage had her blood raging.

  Dragons had cursed their slayer's blood with a death wish for freedom. The dragons, which were hunted only two generations prior, had battled for the right to live in the open air and on unpopulated land. It was part of the reason for their extinction.

  The same instinct lived in every man, woman and child with dragon blood. If found guilty of a crime, the accused would face death before living in captivity.

  The door to the bedroom opened. She turned as William entered. His dark gaze ran over her. His fast stride quickly ate up the distance between them. The wide berth of his shoulders blocked her view. She would willingly let his muscular body hold her down while he claimed her as his mate.

  Yet the thought of him tying her hands to the bed, taking away her right to touch him, caused her a great amount of anxiety. A shiver ran down her spine at what he might do.

  "I can't let you do it.” Amanda backed away, her fear getting the better of her intelligence. She put up her hands to hold him at bay. “I know you think it will help, but please William, stay away from me."

  "You haven't slept a wink since you came up here two bongs ago, have you?” William took one of her wrists and led her to the bed. “You need to rest."

  "No.” He was right, but her weary mind wouldn't let her contemplate sleep. Nor would her irrational fear allow her rest. She yanked on her arm, fighting his grip. “Please, William, don't make me go near that bed."

  He turned and pulled her into his arms. “Red, you're getting upset about this without cause. I'm not going to tie your hands to the bed without your cooperation."

  She shook her head. “And why would I ever agree to such a thing?"

  "Because you know you can trust me. The center's data says this method will open your womb. The baby can then receive more of the nourishment I've been trying to give him. It won't have to rely on only you for what it needs.” He stepped closer, squashing her breasts into his chest. “They say this method will help you recover some of your energy. The moment you want free, I'll untie you."

  "Then why would we even think about doing it?” Amanda's blood jumped through her veins. The heat of her lust energized her body with need.

  William gathered her gown in his hands and slid it over her head. “Just the thought of me restraining you has you so excited I could smell the hunger in your blood from downstairs."

  He yanked her naked body forward. His hands cupped her butt cheeks, and he ground her wet heat against the front of his pants. “Your body is screaming for release."

  She couldn't deny his claim. The spicy heat of his skin tempted her to squeeze closer. She ran her lips along the side of his neck and rose to the tip of her toes to rub her breasts against his chest. “Then make love to me."

  He lifted her and placed her in the center of the bed. She clung to him when he pulled away, but he disentangled her arms and walked to chair where her robe lay. He picked up the silky belt. He stepped back to the bed and sat down. “I think we're going to need this."

  "No, William.” She rose and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “I'm not going to let you tie me up."

  "Easy, Red, we might decide we want it.” His hands lay on her shoulders.

  "But why? I'm already hot for you.” Amanda placed a hand on his thigh, running it over his leg until she reached the snaps of his pants. She freed his engorged shaft. “If you tie my hands, I won't be able to play with you."

  She didn't let the sensation of his hands sliding the silk over her wrists distract her from bringing him pleasure. If he needed her badly enough, he'd forget the idea of tying her to the bed.

  His moan of pleasure thrilled her. She leaned closer and sent a warm stream of air over his skin. The thick rod in her hand jumped. Her tongue licked the tip like a cat tasting cream. Her mouth watered.

  Her hungry lips covered him, caressing the hard silk of his penis. The slow in and out caress over her tongue made her ache for the same treatment between her legs. Sucking, tasting, teasing, she slurped the crisp citrus spice from his skin.

  When he grabbed her shoulders to force her back onto the bed, she followed his direction. He shifted her arms over her head.

  "William.” She bucked her hips and glanced up into his dark lustful eyes. “I need some attention."

  "My thoughts exactly.” He worked his body down hers. His mouth nibbled on her lips while one hand kept her wrists captive.

  She wanted to capture his allusive tongue, but he wouldn't settle down. Instead, he toyed with her, driving her insane with need. “You're teasing me again."

  "No, Red, you like it when I play.” His lips charted a course down her neck to her chest. Pressure built in the swell of her breasts, a fullness aching for release.

  "Would you like me to kiss your breasts?” He blew a warm caress across the tip of each.

  "Yes,” she demanded, arching her back so he'd not waste any more time. The man was killing her with his slow teasing strokes.

  The moist heat covered her nipples and seeped into her stomach, connecting the pulse of her sex to the pull of his lips. A line formed, fueling her desire and driving her closer to the edge.

  The muscles in her vagina jumped. She wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. Shifting her legs over his hips, she hoped to adjust his position. The curly hair on his stomach lay over her wet mound, teasing the tender skin.

  "William,” she whimpered, the sound foreign to her own ears. “I ... can't..."

  The increased sucking motion of his mouth coiled the tension tighter. The live wire to her womb sent jolts of electricity quivering through her with the first pulses of her orgasm.

  A scream escaped as the erotic sensation washed over her in waves.

  His hands slid down her body, and his mouth shifted lower. Her eyes sprang open with shock at the first stroke of his tongue.

  "No.” She
started to grab him with her hands but a tight band around her wrists stopped her progress. She glanced at the white silk, and her mind registered his deceit.

  Outraged, Amanda lifted her head to yell at William. “Untie me this instant."

  His dark head settled between her legs, only the upper half of his face visible when he gazed into her eyes. His arms over her thighs held her in place.

  She was at his mercy.

  He didn't answer but sent a long stroke of his tongue against the wet folds of her heat. His invasive lips slid over her clit. Super sensitive after her orgasm, she gasped for air.

  "William,” she panted, unable to fight the awareness pulsing through her senses. “I ... uh..."

  He didn't appear to be listening, and she couldn't focus her thoughts. Not with the long slid of his tongue building a fire inside her womb. The slick thrusts, deeper and deeper, drove her wild with anticipation. She knew what was coming, had felt the explosion of completion the night they conceived their child and he had opened her womb to his sperm.

  The feathery flutter of his tongue against the outer wall of her uterus marked the mind numbing contractions. A shot of fire blasted through her system. Biting her lips, a groan vibrated through her throat.

  William quickly covered her. The deep thrust of his erection eased her jerking inner muscles as they milked his penis. Her hands tied above her head, she couldn't grab onto his warm flesh. Instead, her hands gripped the cold belt.

  She met every shove as William drove her closer and closer to the edge again. It didn't seem possible that a woman could fall for a man this hard. Need him this much, but she did.

  His thick length shot forward with one final thrust, then his body went rigid. Sensual waves crashed over her, drowning her in his spicy scent, dragging her under the spell of believing they could have a life together. She wanted to sink into loving him for the rest of her life.

  Her hands tugged against the silk around her wrists, and she was reminded of the danger of such thoughts.

  Tears forced their way from under her eyelids.

  * * * *

  Worried by the tears on her face and the rigid set of her jaw, William untied her hands. He brought each wrist to his lips, kissing the red marks.

  "There won't be any permanent damage.” He released her and looked down at her.

  "Thank you.” She rolled to the other side of the bed and stood. “I think now that I'm feeling a little better. I'll head downstairs to the bathing room, maybe soak for awhile."

  She walked around the bed, picked up her robe and entered the closet. Her gaze didn't once venture his way. Animosity radiated from the rigid set of her shoulders.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, his head propped on his hands, his elbows on his knees, he waited for her return. The past two days’ activity was catching up with him. He would have preferred if she came back to bed and they both got some sleep.

  The data he read said it was better not to let her out of his sight for awhile. The ladies felt a need for freedom and wanted to escape their mate after a dragon kiss, a natural tendency that concerned William.

  Amanda already had the habit of disappearing. She didn't need any added incentive. He'd have to stay close.

  He picked up his pants as she walked back into the room. “If you want, I can wash your back."

  She shrugged and stepped to the door. “No need. I'm sure you're tired and would like to get some rest. I shouldn't be long."

  He slipped on his pants and followed. The lady was too agreeable for his liking. He'd better camp outside the bathing room door.

  * * * *

  Sliding into the warm water of the large wooden tub, Amanda took her messenger out of the pocket of her robe. While pacing the bedroom floor earlier, her thoughts had jumped between the results of her blood test and what William would do if he got the chance to tie her up.

  As for William, she didn't want to think about him or what he'd done. She could deal with her feelings about his actions later. Right now, she had a moment alone and wanted to see if Dee had sent her a note.

  Would she finally have a clue as to York's part in her husband's death?

  She saw Dee's note listed on incoming messages.

  A match. D.

  The answer sent her mind racing to make the connections, to form the theories.

  Mark must have given York the formula before his death. That was the only explanation she could rationalize. No one other than herself and Mark knew about his theories on synthesizing dragon blood. He'd hope to solve the problem of why some women with dragon blood couldn't get pregnant. The serum, according to Mark, was a drug to relax the muscles of the uterus and allowed a man's sperm inside.

  As a closet chemist, he had dreamed of making it rich on his discovery.

  She smiled and remembered his sandy brown hair and light brown eyes. He'd been her world, her first love. The answer to everything her young, innocent heart had ever wanted. If her father hadn't opposed their marriage, Mark might have been able to become an advance apprentice at a chemical company.

  But because money was tight, they'd both had to get jobs. The Dragon Center had recruited him to work in their labs, while Amanda held a job at her brother's café. Mark performed experiments at home in his lab.

  They had celebrated what he claimed to be a perfect recipe for success the night before he disappeared. A candlelight dinner, some wine, and he'd slipped a drop of serum in each of their glasses. The evening had ended with them making love several times during the night.

  She couldn't remember any difference in their lovemaking. Yet the next morning she recalled being certain they had conceived. She'd begged Mark not to leave.

  "I won't be long. A quick meeting and I'll be back before you know it.” Mark had assured her it would be a short errand.

  That was the last time she'd seen him alive.

  The pain and suffering of not being able to keep alive her unborn child added to the grief of losing her husband. Within days, her body rejected the embryo. She'd managed to hide the fact of her miscarriage from everyone except the police.

  Testing her blood to match some found at the scene of the crime, the police had wanted to prosecute her for killing Mark. Because they didn't have any other clues, the unknown chemical found in both their system was the only link the authorities had to his death.

  But the results of their tests had showed she was pregnant, which helped get her off the hook. The police concluded she had no reason for killing Mark because she would need her mate for their baby to live. They'd let her off.

  Now, it was in her blood again.

  And she was pregnant.

  What was the special quality of the drug?

  And if York had killed Mark, why drug her? Did he think she wouldn't make the connection?

  Shifting beneath the water that had gone cold around her, Amanda planned how to get the information she needed. For years her father had blocked her access to Mark's records, telling her she should get on with her life and let the past go.

  Amanda had wanted to forget the past when she married Jeffery, had learned to love her second husband for his unique thrill of living life to the fullest. Yet his senseless death, while racing across country in his two wheel cruiser, had brought home all the pain from Mark's murder.

  She needed answers for the men in her life dying.

  With Seth on leave from the Dragon Center, she thought about the records she wanted to see. If she could bluff her way past security, she would have it made.

  Amanda pushed to her feet and checked the time displayed on her messenger. Almost eleven. The local Dragon Center should have the night shift on duty, which meant fewer employees on duty. She just might be able to get the information tonight without too much trouble.

  Drying off, she glanced around the steamy wooden walls of the sauna and hit the release to have the tub empty. She slid on another pair of pants that she'd carried down from upstairs. The problem was how to get past William. He would
n't like the idea of her venturing out on her own again. The man was under the misconception she was his property.

  Opening the door quietly, Amanda caught sight of William's sleeping form on the couch. His arm thrown over his eyes, his breathing even, he appeared to be resting comfortably.

  The crisp citrus scent of his skin hit her senses. Her body responded, her breasts ached, her stomach muscles jumped, her palms grew sweaty.

  She refused to let her desire for him sway her from her mission. If she woke him to satisfy her body's needs, she wouldn't be able to escape his protective presence.

  Amanda had no choice but to wait until later to satisfy her cravings.

  Chapter Nine

  Amanda tiptoed across the floor and paused to look at the way his dark hair circled his head, the full texture of his moist lips, the strong line of his nose. He stirred feelings in her she didn't want to have.

  Moving slowly past him so as not to make a sound on the squeaky wood floor, she jumped when a hand touched her shoulder.

  "Pickled herons.” She turned on the man behind her, hitting him in the chest with her fists. “What are you trying to do, scare me to death?"

  "No.” He grabbed her around the waist, lifted her off the ground and into his arms. “I'm tired. I don't know what you're up too, sneaking around the way you are, but it's not going to happen tonight."

  He carried her up the stairs and into the bedroom.

  "And how are you planning to stop me?” Amanda asked as soon as he set her down in the middle of the room. “I'm not going near that bed. I won't let you tie me up again."

  His dark eyes narrowed. “Fine, you can sleep in the chair. But you are not leaving this room.” He slammed the bedroom door shut, locked it and pocketed the old metal key.

  He pulled off his shirt and sat on the bed. The arousal anger of his blood pumped the spicy scent through the pores of her skin. His heat surrounded her in a warm cocoon.