by Guida, ML
His resolve was breaking. He did not know how long he could resist the beautiful temptation. Sharon’s sweet face flashed into his mind and ravishing guilt filled him. He was betraying her memory. ’Twas his fault she was dead. He’d put her at risk and now he put another woman at risk to satisfy his own lust.
He pushed Mariah way and leaned his head on hers, trying to summon his strength to resist her, to keep her safe.
She cupped his face. “Why do you deny what we both want?”
Drakon chanted, “Take her. Take her. Take her.”
The words rang in William’s ears, urging him to give in. His blood pumped harder. His skin turned hotter. The tents walls closed in on him and he couldn’t breathe. He wanted Mariah, wanted her so badly like he had for no other woman––including his sweet Sharon.
He winced. How could he think that about his dead wife? He’d loved her, killed for her.
He stuffed his shaking hands in his pockets. He couldn’t be alone with Mariah; the enticement was too strong. He stepped away.
“We need to get back up on deck.”
“No, wait.” Mariah clasped his arm. “We are not done yet.”
Her soft touch chipped away at his fraying will. “Aye, we are.”
“William, you took the first step in speaking to the dragon. Now, you need to learn to meditate.”
“Mediate?”
“Not me-di-ate, med-i-tate. You need to learn to be calm.”
“I am calm.”
She chuckled. “Calm? No, I do not think so, monsieur. You are still angry. Your face is beat red and you’re so tense, you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin. When you were kissing me, you cracked my back.”
Damn. William whirled her around and ran his hand down her back. “I’m so sorry. Does this hurt?”
“I am teasing you.” She winked. “Maybe even get a smile on your handsome face.”
“’Tis not a laughing matter. What the hell will meditating do?”
“Nothing,” Drakon whispered. “Only mating will solve this problem.”
Grand. Now that he’d started talking to the dragon, Drakon refused to be silent.
Rough laughter answered his thought.
“If Drakon is filled with anger, then it will be easy for Natasa to control him. You have to learn to summon him.”
“Aye, he said I could.”
“Oui, but you need to summon him without being angry. If you summon Drakon when you are angry, you will shift into a raging dragon. You have to learn to control your anger, your hate, your fear.”
William stiffened. “I’m not afraid. I’m a pirate. Pirates don’t fear.”
She reached up and clasped his cheek, her thumb caressing his skin. “Everyone experiences fear, William. You have summoned him with your mind. Now, you need to practice calling him calmly to shift into a dragon.”
He groaned at her velvety touch, pushing back the urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her. He’d infected her with dragon’s essence.
“You make it sound like something evil,” Drakon grumbled.
William wanted to silence Drakon. Maybe dragons didn’t think the essence was bad, but he did. ’Twas his fault. “No.” He clutched her hand and slowly removed it from his cheek.
She edged closer, tilting her head with parted rosy lips and inviting him to taste her. “You need to trust me. I can teach you,” she whispered. “Drakon is not your enemy.”
He inhaled her intoxicating feminine smell, and his gut tightened. He ached to run his fingers through her dark hair, to taste those honeyed lips again and—God forbid—his hard cock ached to plunge deep inside her.
Drakon roared, “Give into temptation.”
William’s jaw clamped tight, and he struggled to stay in control. “Aye, he is. I shan’t summon him and put you or anyone else in danger. I’m done.”
“Where are you going?”
He ran out of Mariah’s makeshift chamber, his legs and arms pumping. He needed air and space.
“William,” she called.
He hurried faster. He should hand her over to Ronan. Drakon howled inside him. He grimaced. Who was he kidding? He’d rip his friend apart if he took any other liberties with Mariah.
On deck, he headed for Kane, who stood at the stern, peering through a spyglass. “Kane?” He was breathing so hard he could barely say his name.
Hannah stood by his brother’s side, her hand on his arm. She had freely chosen Kane. Kane’s vampire powers didn’t force her to love. William couldn’t live with Mariah only loving him due to a bloody spell that he had unknowingly cast upon her. He wanted her to give herself freely like Hannah had Kane or his mother had his father. Or like Sharon. Even if Mariah said she loved him, how could he believe her?
Kane frowned. “What’s the matter?”
He bent over and put his hands on his knees. “I need to get off the ship.”
Kane patted his back. “Calm down. Tell me what happened.”
Hannah’s brows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“I spoke to the dragon.”
Kane brushed his hand over the butt of his pistol. William lifted his eyebrow. Did his brother plan on shooting him?
“What do you mean you spoke to the dragon?” Kane’s suspicious voice made the hair on the back of William’s neck stand up.
Refusing to wait for his brother to shoot him, William grabbed Kane’s arm and jerked him away from Hannah. He couldn’t bring himself to explain about the dragon’s essence without Mariah or Hannah finding out. He didn’t trust Hannah not to reveal his secret of casting a spell unknowingly onto Mariah. She meant well, but ’twas mortifying.
Hannah clenched her fists. “William.” Her voice full of fear and frustration, she hurried after them.
Kane stopped. “What can’t you say in front of Hannah?”
“Kane, I need to talk to you now.” He glowered at Hannah. “Alone.”
Kane studied him. “Hannah, wait here.”
“What?”
He and Kane headed away. “Kane, the dragon told me—”
“William.” Mariah darted between crewmen and headed for them. The wind blew her dark hair behind, and her dress molded to her luscious body.
William groaned. She was beautiful. Lust gripped him, and he wanted her, not just kissing her, but to hear her moan, calling out his name.
Mariah hurried toward them. “Will you not listen?”
Hannah narrowed her eyes. “Yes, what did happen?”
“Capitaine, he’s refusing to allow me to teach him how to control the dragon.” Mariah’s irritated voice sent William on edge.
Kane cocked his eyebrow. “Is this true?”
William shook his head. “No, I told you I could talk with the beast. He said I could summon him.”
“Summon him?” Kane frowned. “You mean shift into the beastie?”
“Aye,” William nodded.
Mariah gave William a piercing stare that made his skin prickle. “Oui, but he must summon him without giving into his angry emotions.”
Kane studied William. “What does she mean?”
William sucked in quick, shallow breaths. He stared out across the ocean and wished there was a nearby island. He’d shift into the dragon and fly away. Never to be seen by another human.
“Are we not heading for Zuto’s island, oui?”
“Aye, we are,” Kane said slowly.
William frowned. “Mariah.”
Mariah stuck out her chin and flicked her hand toward the rolling sea. “Capitaine, if William is angry or fearful, Drakon will be twice as deadly—”
At Kane’s puzzled face, William said, “Drakon is the name of the dragon.”
Kane looked between them. “The dragon has a name?”
“Oui,” Mariah said. “He is a dragon spirit, possessing William.”
Kane clasped William’s shoulder and squeezed. “Bloody hell, brother.”
He didn’t have to say it, but his sympathetic tone said it
all. William’s curse was worse than his.
“Capitaine, if William is angry, then it will be easier for Natasa to control him, and he will put you and everyone else in danger.”
Kane glanced at Hannah. His face softened, worry lines disappeared. He tilted his head at Mariah, his eyes fierce. “You shall follow her lead, William.”
Heart palpitations tingled in William’s chest. He couldn’t believe it. “But Kane…”
“I’ve given you an order. Obey it.”
William folded his arms and glared at Mariah.
She didn’t wilt beneath his cold stare. Instead, she reached for him and stuck out her arm. “Shall we?”
He hurried past her, afraid if he’d touched her, the dragon would win. “You’re playing with fire.”
Chapter 14
Mariah led William back to her canvas cabin. His scowl could have boiled water in a cauldron. “Mon Dieu, you do not have to be so glum.” She gestured toward the floor. “Please sit down.”
He gripped the flap of the canvas door, and his knuckles turned white. “’Tis not proper for us to be alone in your cabin.” His soft voice was tense.
They had been alone in her cabin before. What was the difference now? The man could be so damn annoying. “William, we do not have time to be proper. Once my spell reaches Lark, Natasa will feel its presence and attack. You need to learn some of your powers.”
“I don’t need to learn any of Drakon’s powers. I’m an excellent swordsman and marksman. I can defend myself without magic.”
Mariah sat on the floor. “Swords and pistols are useless against a demon. Natasa is cunning, and she will find a way to use Drakon’s powers against you.” She gestured toward the floor. “Sit. S’il vous plaît.”
He yanked the drape aside, creating an opening about a foot and half wide. “This is more proper.”
She arched her eyebrow. “What are you afraid of? You did not seem to have any difficulty wanting to be alone with me earlier. Or kissing me for that matter, no?”
“I’m afraid of nothing. I’m in control of my emotions and promise I will not accost you again.”
“I was not complaining.” Her voice was husky and she lowered her gaze. She liked kissing him and knew he liked kissing her. Why the pretense?
“Let’s get this lesson over with.” He plopped onto the floor and glared.
How was she ever going to get this headstrong man to listen? He was more stubborn than any mule Grand-père had on their farm. “You need to get in touch with your dragon again.”
“Mariah, I can’t fight a demon.” His hopeless voice made her heart break.
“Oui, you can. Dragons have many powers, William, and we need to discover which ones Drakon possesses. For instance, some can change sizes.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Change size?”
“Oui,” she said. “Some dragons manifest the ability to help people feel less fear in times of danger, giving them courage. Or they can suck away a person’s courage, making them so fearful that they cannot think straight and are liable to make mistakes. Still others can exhale a black fog that can immobilize any living thing. The list goes on and on.”
William shifted his legs. “Why don’t I just ask him what my so-called powers are?”
“Dragons are tricky regarding their powers,” Mariah said. “He might not be forthcoming. He will want to show you what you can do. I need you to shift.”
He fold his arms. “No, I’m not going to shift.”
Mariah clasped his arm. “Écoutez! S’il vous plaît! You are the only one who has the ability to help defeat Natasa.”
“I’m sorry. I—”
“If you do not learn your specific powers and how to control them, Natasa will know your abilities and use them against you. She will force you to kill those who you love.”
William glared. “How do you know I even have any powers?”
“All dragons possess powers. Now, shift into Drakon.”
He glanced around the cabin. “’Tis too small in here.”
“You might have to crouch a little, but it will work. Shift”
“No, I will not.”
Mariah cupped his cheeks between her palms and pressed her nose against his, forcing him to look at her. She ignored the compulsion to kiss her reluctant dragon.
“You are worse than Lark was when Grand-mère taught him the craft. She had to slap his bottom with a mango branch more than once to get him to listen to her. He was seven years old. Do I need to use something of Amadi’s to get you to learn? His whip for instance?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do not threaten me, witch.”
She bristled at his arrogant tone. “Why not?”
Beads of sweat broke out across his brow. “I will not do it alone with you.”
“Meaning you will shift up on deck?”
“Aye. We need to go now. Come on.”
Mariah did not understand why suddenly he wanted to be up on deck. She trailed him into the campionway. The ship rocked, and she stumbled, crying out.
William caught her before she hit the floor. The corridor spun around, and she found herself pinned between the wall and his hard body. Panting hard, she breathed in William’s masculine scent of burning wood. In the darken corridor, his eyes glowed gold, and the dark centers dilated. Her heart raced and she trembled, not able to take her gaze off his passionate one.
Afraid he’d pull away, she ran her finger through his thick locks and whispered, “Kiss me. Please.”
She held her breath, waiting to see what he’d would do.
He hesitated, but then he lowered his head and kissed her hard.
She indulged in his kiss, tasting salt on his lips. Their tongues intertwined and explored each other’s mouth. His kiss was ravenous, the raw, biting edge of a brewing storm, loaded with dark passions. A man consumed with hunger––hunger for her.
He bit her lower lip and tugged gently, taking her breath away. He kissed down her neck, licking her pulse, and kindling a wicked fervor. How could a simple kissing turn her body into liquid, fiery heat?
He slipped his fingers inside her bodice, and his calloused thumb brushed against her budded nipple. She clutched his shoulders, scared she would melt away. He kneaded her aching breast. His shaft pushed against her thigh, and any doubt that he did not want her vanished. Her heartbeat quickened and blood streamed through, turning her sensitive skin hot. Hidden feelings burst deep inside her, feelings too scary to name, feelings that pushed her to do something she did not want to do. Or did she? Mon Dieu!
Need burned deep within her, but she did not know what she desired. No, it wasn’t true. She burned for him. Lust flamed inside her, demanding she take forbidden risks, wanting William to take liberties with her and to stop being the gentlemen.
As if reading her thoughts, he unfastened her dress, unlaced her stays, then pushed her bodice past her shoulders, freeing her heavy breasts. He bent his dark head, and his hot lips captured her nipple, sucking hard, stealing any rational thought. Arching her back, she groaned and threaded her fingers through his locks, cradling his head next to her breast. Mère de Dieu, she didn’t want him to stop.
Stimulated beyond her wildest dreams, Mariah could not believe the sizzling sensations buzzing through her. His lips on her nipple set every square inch of her flesh on fire, and her heart pumped pleasure through her blood. She swallowed hard, not believing what she was doing. She was in the middle of the companionway, allowing a man to suckle her breast while his hand played and toyed with her other breast. Someone could walk in on them, see her being a harlot, accuse her again of casting a spell on him.
He bunched her dress to her waist, slid his calloused hand up her leg, then cupped her between her thighs. No man had ever touched her so intimately, and erotic heat pulsed in her inner core. “I cannot breathe,” she panted.
Heavy footsteps stomped above on the deck.
She stiffened, heat staining her cheeks. “William.”
He sucked
harder.
“William? Mariah? Where are you?” Ronan’s desperate voice doused her fiery passion.
The footsteps grew louder, and Mariah quaked.
“William, s`il vous plaît.” She pushed on his shoulders, trying to get him to stop, but she was too weak, too aroused, too mortified.
Panting, he stopped suckling and gazed up at her, his eyes heavy-lidded, burning gold with hunger and arousal. Menacing and hungry—starved for her.
“When I’m around you, I lose control. You need to stay away from me. I’m too dangerous.” His husky voice was taut and heavy, sending chills down her spine.
Chapter 15
William released Mariah, grimacing at her disheveled state—chaffed skin, crumpled hair, breasts bared with her dress dropped to her waist. What had he’d been doing—seducing an innocent? He was supposed to be a gentleman, not a libertine.
“Take her now,” Drakon urged.
William focused on his honor, ignored Drakon and pushed back his lust. God, he wanted Mariah. Wanted her now, to show her the delights of passion, to hear her soft whimpers.
“What the hell is going on?”
William whirled around. Ronan clutched his fists, and his mouth was clamped shut. His eyes blazed.
He avoided Ronan’s accusatory glare. Could he blame him? He’d ravished Mariah like a common whore. She deserved better than a man possessed by a pining dragon. Behind him, Mariah’s clothes rustled.
“Damn you, O’Brien,” Ronan growled. “D’ye have no decency?”
William glanced over his shoulder. Mariah had adjusted her clothing, but there was no way to disguise her tousled hair or her scraped skin. He’d given into the dragon’s ravenous appetite.
“Liar,” the dragon whispered. “Your lechery.”
William didn’t argue. What was the point? Bloody hell, he wanted her. If Ronan hadn’t come down the steps...He was a nasty, selfish bastard. He deserved to have Ronan beat him to a pulp.
“William.” Mariah reached for him.
He jerked away, not trusting himself. He hurried into the galley, leaving Ronan with Mariah. He needed food—meat. Lots of it. He’d keep his and the dragon’s debauchery at bay. And at the first uncharted island, he’d demand Kane leave him.
