Black Dragon's Blood

by Anita Philmar

  She couldn't stop herself from staring at the strong muscles of his chest. The dark hair made her hands itch. She bit her lip to keep from crying out with need.

  Turning, she walked to the dying embers in the fireplace. Her hunger for him screamed through her system and caused her ears to ring and her breasts to swell. She gripped the mantle, hoping to win the battle over her senses.

  "Where did you get those clothes?” His demanding tone sparked her anger.

  She glanced down at the dull brown slacks and stained white shirt. The clothes were borrowed from her brother's stockpile, which was compiled from things he'd worn in his youth.

  That was the only reason she could wear them. Her brother outweighed her by more than a hundred measures now.

  "I have a number of items I keep around the cabin. I find pants and old-fashioned button-shirts more comfortable than dresses when I'm here,” she answered over her shoulder, afraid to look at him for fear of losing her willpower to resist him.

  "I don't like them."

  "Tough.” Amanda put another log on the fire.

  "Take them off,” he demanded.

  She shook her head and gripped her hands into fists at her side. There was no way she was going to let him bully her into changing.

  An instant after the bed squeaked, his hands touched her shoulders. He turned her around and began undoing a button on her shirt. “You're a beautiful woman. I won't have you wearing such rags."

  Attempting to escape his touch, she stepped back, closer to the fire, and stumbled on the hearth.

  "Be careful.” He grabbed her shoulders to hold her steady.

  Her blood ignited, shooting flames of desire through her system. She fought the heat, the need to bury herself in his warm embrace. Her mind rebelled at his close proximity, ordered her to break the hold he had over her senses.

  Imprisoned by her lust, her fury bubbled over at the idea of him tying her to the bed again. “Let me go. I don't want you touching me."

  She stepped forward to get away, but he yanked her into his chest. “No.” His lips glazed the side of her neck. “Your body is on fire for me. I won't let you deny it."

  "You don't know what you're asking of me. I can't go anywhere near that bed.” Amanda shifted her neck as far away from him as possible and shoved on his chest. “I will not make love to you."

  He leaned back enough to look into her face. His dark eyes, when she looked in them, held no sympathy. Anger lay in their depths.

  "You are the most infuriating woman I've ever met.” He ran a large hand down her back until he reached her hips. His hard erection pressed against her stomach. “You want me more than you want your next breath, yet you fight me every chance you get. Why?"

  Her body begged for her surrender, but her mind refused the appeal. “I won't be a plaything. I won't be left with nothing when you're gone."

  "I'm not going anywhere.” William pulled her toward the bedroom door.

  "You will.” Amanda followed him, hoping he was going to let her leave.

  Turning, he pinned her against the door. “You're wrong. I'm right where I want to be."

  His hands again reached for the top lapel of her shirt. He jerked the material apart, and buttons flew in every direction, pinging to the floor. Her breasts sprang forward and fell into his hands. A smile spread across his face. “If you don't want to make love in bed, we'll do it right here."

  "But William..."

  His lips capture hers while his hands dragged her shirt down her arms. His greedy mouth dove past any resistance she might have been able to muster. Her body responded, straining against him. The urgent slide of his tongue deep into her mouth sent shockwaves pulsing through her blood. The sharp plummeting heat of her desire lanced a path through her belly to settle like liquid fire between her legs.

  She tugged her mouth from his, gasping for breath. Her hands shoved at the fabric of her pants. He assisted her by forcing them down around her knees.

  Desperately, she wiggled to be free of the unneeded barrier.

  "William, we need to get off your pants.” She yanked at the snaps covering his crotch. When they broke free, she reached for him.

  His fingers circled her wrists, drawing her hands away from his thick erection and pinning them against the door. “Not yet, I have other plans."

  Hungry lips covered her breast, and Amanda couldn't stop the groan. In fact, she wanted to scream. “I'm going to explode."

  The first waves of her release surged through her. “I'm coming..."

  A hand cupped her heat. She rocked against the pressure, riding the sweet sensations coursing along every nerve ending.

  Dimly, he whispered against her skin. “I want another.” His mouth nipped at the skin, covering her stomach. He took a deep breath as her body sagged against the door. “You smell like heaven.” His hands widened her stance, his head ventured lower. “You always taste like spicy exotic fruit, wild and succulent, with a kick that makes me burn."

  Her body quivered when his tongue slid against her wet heat. Her knees threatened to buckle, and her hands grabbed him to keep herself erect.

  "William, you can't. I can't..."

  Her body tensed when his tongue found the sensitive spot that brought her the most pleasure. Her hands gripped his shoulders tighter. He flicked his tongue repeatedly against the hard bud until it swelled again from his attention. Gently, suckling her, he drove her closer to the edge.

  She arched her hips. “You're driving me..."

  Her breath caught when he rotated his tongue over her swollen flesh. Heavy breathing, erotic unrest and the tight clutch of her hands told William she was close. He doubled his efforts, teasing and toying until her sharp pleas broke increasingly from her lips. “Please, William, no more."

  Sweat broke out over his skin as he tried to control the heavy desire to bury himself deep inside her. He added an insistent finger to stroke the throbbing muscles of her tight channel. Her fingernails dug painful divots into his shoulders. She struggled to deny him his glorious goal. Her hips rocked in untamed rhythm.

  Urgent cries of pleasure echoed through the room. A pulsating sensation beat against his tongue, and hot liquid sprang into his mouth. Her sweet spicy flavor tantalized his taste buds, and he lapped her up, enjoying the fruit of her climax.

  Once he'd had his fill, he traveled back up her body and caught her in his arms. As he carried her to the bed, her drowsy expression, tired and sated, didn't reveal any alarm at being placed in the center of the bed.

  Half opening her eyes, she watched him remove his pants and work his way between her thighs. Heavy lids closed on a sigh when the thick head of his cock slid home.

  He sank deep, drowning in the hot, wet sensations surrounding him, invading his senses. Greedy muscles gripped him tightly. He couldn't believe how quickly and thoroughly his body was set on fire by this woman. When he'd left her to go work downstairs in the kitchen, his mind refused to concentrate on anything longer than a few ticks. Then a picture of her hungry body, warm and willing beneath him, would flash through his head with interfering clarity.

  The need to possess her soul overcame all other thoughts. He slammed into her again and again, unable to control the desperate desire to make her his.

  The weight of his body resting on his forearms, he rocked deeper and deeper into her inner passage. Seducing her body with the demanding pace of his thrust, he sent them both onto the heated path of completion.

  A sweet gasp of pleasure sang in her throat. The taste of her slick skin against his tongue and the red flush spreading over her face forced him over the line into the swirling mist of delirium. One final shot, then he trembled and exploded.

  Weak from the power of his release, William let his head fall on her shoulder. Her heavy breathing sounded in his ears, easing gently into a soft whisper. Slowly, his energy returned, and he propped himself up on his elbows to look down at her sleeping form.

  The lady was sated. Baby satisfied. She slept. He a
dmired the gentle peace that lay over her face. Eyes closed. Her mouth, soft and lax with a sweet smile, begged for another kiss. Her hair spread around her head like a red crown. The muscles in his chest tightened.

  Amanda spoke to a part of him that demanded her complete obedience. Yet, she continued to try to escape. If he hadn't woken when she opened the bathing room door, she would have gone out into the night alone.

  What was driving her?

  The need for freedom after having been tied up? Or was she still searching for answers about her first husband? Was she still in love with him, or was his brutal death something that haunted her?

  William rolled over, shifting them until she lay across his chest.

  He wouldn't let Mark stand between them.

  If she needed answers to his death, William would get them. But he wouldn't let her go, not now, not ever. She was too much a part of him, his life, his peace of mind.

  Maybe, the best way to get her to comply with his wishes and to keep her safe was to propose a deal that would give them both what they wanted.

  Tomorrow, he'd ask for Mark Helman's records.

  * * * *

  William let Amanda slide out of bed. Before he could get up, she walked into the washroom. She'd gotten more rest, and they had both slept late this morning. It also appeared as if she had more strength from the way she strolled quickly across the room.

  He gathered his clothes and opened his bag to retrieve fresh clothes. If all went well, he should be able to sleep in his own bed tonight. He slid on a stiffly pressed black suit. The knees of the pants had a luggage fold. He shoved his hands through the arms of the suit's shirt and pulled it up over his shoulders.

  Amanda walked back into the room with a towel wrapped around her body.

  "Are you ready to go home?” William put the clothes he'd worn the day before back in his bag.

  She paused. “Yours or mine?"

  He could tell by her raised brow this was going to be another point of contention. “Mine."

  "No, I'm not moving into your house. I have one of my own.” She walked to the closet and disappeared inside for a few ticks.

  William slipped on his socks and boots. He should have known she would fight him on this point. As his wife, he expected her to follow his rules, but she was used to doing things her own way. He would need to make allowances for her independent streak.

  He glanced up when Amanda came back wearing another set of those awful clothes.

  The green plaid shirt had several large stains. The dark gray pants had the seam undone from the knee to the ankle on the left leg. Her belt was frayed and worn. The outfit looked like something a poor young boy might wear.

  William stalked toward her, annoyed by her constant need to provoke him. This was pushing his patience too far. “Get out of those clothes."

  She raised her hands to fend him off, but his hands circled her forearms. “No, if you want a say in what I wear and what I do, then I get a say in other areas of our lives, like where we live."

  Chapter Ten

  To keep from shaking Amanda until her teeth rattled in her head, William released her and stepped back. “I have a large house."

  "So, I don't have anyone else living with me, except my maid. She can always move to another place if need be.” Amanda walked to the fireplace. “All of my family lives here."

  "My mother and brother both have suites of their own, and my sister is away at school. They won't bother us.” William stared at her determined expression. “Now, I want you to get out of those clothes."

  "I won't be ordered around.” She didn't budge. Her green eyes spit shards of fury at him, as if she could injure him with her persistence.

  His body responded to the heat of battle. If the lady suspected she set his body on fire when she got upset, she might begin to understand how much he enjoyed their verbal battles.

  Staring at her flushed face, he realized it'd been a while since he'd tasted those pouting lips. He stepped forward and drew her into his arms. Her hands pushed at his chest. His mouth hovered close to hers. “If you want me to get you the information about your first husband's death, you're going to have to learn to cooperate."

  With a quick inhale of breath, she drew back. “If my father hadn't denied me access to the Dragon Center records, I'd already know everything I wanted to know."

  William slid his hands over her back and down to her hips. He pressed her against his thick erection. “I can get you that information and more if you're willing to cooperate."

  She shook her head. “I won't live with your mother. I have a house of my own."

  "If I concede on where we live, will you never wear pants again?” He untucked the shirt from her pants. “And not disappear without telling me where you're going?"

  Amanda yanked her blouse over her head. “I won't visit your mother more than once a week."

  "Deal.” He cupped her breasts through the thin undershirt she wore.

  "We'll live at my house.” Amanda slid her pants down over her hips. “And I'll always wear skirts or dresses—with underwear optional, of course."

  She picked up the shirt and pants and tossed them in the fire.

  "And...” He grabbed her when she started past him. “You'll let me know where you are at all times."

  The wicked woman placed her hands on his shoulders. Her thin tee teased him with the rosy glow of her aureoles. She rubbed her breasts over his chest, inviting the soft peaks to swell. “Why? You already have a tracer on me."

  He gripped her waist to hold her still and looked down into the sparkling devilish depths of her sea green eyes. “I want your word."

  "You want my body.” Her hand slid over the bulge in his pants. “And I might be able to accommodate you if you're willing to compromise on this point."

  He grinned. The lady knew how to use her advantage, but he had the same weapon. He could smell the same hunger running through her blood. Sex was not a weapon for either of them, and he wasn't going to let her use it as one.

  Backing away from her, he turned and strolled to the bedroom door. “If you won't agree, I guess we're at a stalemate because I want your word."

  A frustrated frown flashed across her face, marking his victory.

  "Then I guess I'll see you downstairs.” She turned away and walked back into the closet.

  He unlocked the door and left before he changed his mind. Amanda was going to have to learn he wouldn't negotiate on some points.

  * * * *

  Furious William had left her when her body was on fire with need, Amanda pulled a see-through blouse with expanding sleeves and a round-necked collar from her bag. She added a floral skirt.

  Stepping out of her undergarments, she stuffed all the things she didn't need back in her luggage.

  Her breasts ached when she slid on her shirt. A tight pulse started in her stomach. She glanced at the time-shadows on the mantle of the bedroom.

  Pickled herons, I'm not going to make it long.

  She slipped on the skirt and put on her heels. He would need her soon, too.

  Walking down the stairs, she wondered about his promise to get the information she wanted about Mark's death. Would he really help her?

  The thought had her increasing her pace. If William was serious, they might be able to discover what happened all those years ago. Hope, for the first time in years, bubbled in her chest.

  Amanda caught sight of William setting a plate of fruit on the table when she entered the kitchen. Need slammed into her, drowning her enthusiasm for information under a flood of pulsating desire. “Were you serious?"

  "About?” William didn't pause but continued to set things on the table. Bread, meat and cheese lay across the surface with a place setting for each of them.

  She stood next to the door. His scent surrounded her in a blanket of desire. Longing coursed through her veins. Unable to get any closer without jumping him, Amanda bit her lip to remind herself of the thread of their conversation. “You sai
d you'd help me find out about Mark's death."

  He stopped and looked at her. “You need to eat."

  His dark gaze raked her body. Her skin burned.

  "Come have a seat.” He indicated her chair.

  Frozen, Amanda couldn't think. Every cell screamed for his touch. She watched him approach, his movement graceful and swift. He took her hand and led her to the table.

  He moved to the other chair and sat down. “I'm willing to help, but I need to know you're safe."

  She stared at her chair. No way could she even think about sitting down. Her body didn't want food.

  Turning, she walked to the counter, gripping the edge to steady her speeding pulse. She willed her body to follow her dictate as the yearning in her womb demanded attention. Her swollen breasts ached, and the muscles of her inner thighs quivered. She couldn't get her brain to function. All her thoughts were centered on the liquid heat dripping between her legs.

  How could one person need someone else this badly?

  Desperately, she lowered her head, trying to fight the sensations of deprivation. William didn't want her. And she refused to use the man to satisfy her own needs. If he wasn't willing, she wouldn't beg.

  His hands fell on her shoulders. He turned her to face him, his eyes dark with concern.

  "You need something besides food.” His hands landed on her waist, and he lifted her onto the cold counter. He spread her legs, and unsnapped his pants. “You should have told me."

  His thick rod sprang forward, bigger than she remembered and rock hard. Her mouth watered. His arousal pulled a response from her loins, tiny muscles jerked in her abdomen. His dark balls, still cushioned inside his pants, were taut and full.

  "I can't ask for something you're not willing to give.” Amanda wanted to explode into a million pieces with him so close. He slid her skirt up over her thighs and traced her wet heat.

  Her lungs lost all air at his touch. She gulped in a breath and grabbed the silky fabric of his shirt. “No, William, I can't bargain for sex."

  He wedged himself between her thighs. “Good, because you're mine, and I plan on making love to you on a regular basis."