Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6

by Rachael Slate

  It was time to find out what.

  ***

  Kadence’s slender hands gripped him as Lok pumped himself into them. Just one taste. One glimpse of the power inside Kadence and he would be satisfied to wait.

  The compulsion to join with her clawed at him, threatening to tear through every shred of his control.

  A century—a hundred bloody years—of burying his true nature and for one moment with Kadence he would risk it all.

  No. He wrenched his mouth off hers, off those red, swollen lips that begged him to pleasure her.

  Chest heaving, he clunked his head against the wall beside her, resting his forehead on the stone. The stinging in his flesh sliced through the fog clouding his focus.

  Fuck. He’d told her everything. He’d whispered to her, not sweet, sensual nonsense, but the truth of his identity, of hers.

  And then she’d kissed him. The last reaction he’d anticipated, and he hadn’t been prepared for his response.

  She fondled him, her sexy body writhing against his.

  He could lift up her skirt and thrust inside her right now, and she’d welcome him.

  Dammit, no. Not like this. Not on the verge of losing his control, when he was certain that being inside Kadence would throw him over the edge.

  It was more than protecting his identity, than coveting what was inside her.

  He needed to… Lok frowned. He craved more than this from her, but she wasn’t his. She was a human. Complete with free will and feisty temperament.

  Right. Lok shoved off the wall. His cock jerked at being wrenched from her sweet warmth, but intimacy between them wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

  He stuffed himself back inside his jeans. Kadence’s sweet panting filled his ears. Something had overcome both of them, a powerful connection, but he was powerful too.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want you…like this.” The mumbled words didn’t seem like enough. Kadence sank to the floor, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.

  Only a crazy man would reject her, and he certainly wasn’t enjoying the insanity.

  “I didn’t mean to take it that far.” Crouching beside her, he searched for a way to fix this mess. He’d sought Kadence’s trust, and desperately hoped he hadn’t fucked that up.

  “Kadence?” She was gazing blankly, not focused on anything. He leaned forward and brushed aside a lock of her flaming hair. She didn’t move, not even a jolt at his contact.

  This wasn’t good. Though he’d been able to withstand the haze, she’d obviously succumbed to it. He hadn’t wielded his powers over her, so that left only one explanation:

  Kadence did this. The energy inside her had seized control, drawing them together like two electric charges desperate to create a spark together.

  Hell, they almost had.

  Better to sleep it off. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Tucking the blanket around her, he sighed and headed for the armchair.

  Not supposed to be like this. The nagging thought wouldn’t leave him be. He’d never owned a flaming pearl, but he’d seen them before. Had surveyed them with their masters, with more than envy in his perusal.

  Once a dragon claimed his pearl, and it accepted him as its master, the bond could never be broken. That was the only thing preventing dragons from killing each other over the treasures.

  A flaming pearl embodied in a human was an entirely different conundrum. Dragons didn’t take mates.

  Humans did. If Kadence accepted him as her master, his entire future would be altered. After sampling her sweet taste, he couldn’t imagine sleeping with anyone else, but as a dragon…

  Monogamy just wasn’t their thing.

  Neither could he continue on if he forsook her to another. It would only be a matter of time before another dragon came across her and claimed—

  Fuck no. His fists clenched, his skin bristling.

  Kadence is mine.

  ***

  Kadence moaned and flipped onto her stomach, nuzzling her face into the plush pillow. A tingling fluttered through her veins, making her shiver with…lust?

  Whoa. She shot up onto her elbows, scanning the room. No morning light crept through the slit in the drapes. Darkness enveloped the room, but she spotted a figure asleep in the armchair.

  Lok.

  Heat flushed her body, stealing her breath. Why was he such a gentleman, taking the chair instead of insisting on sharing this comfy bed? She snorted. Don’t care. And yet… Her tongue swiped across her lips, a heat lingering on her skin, almost as if—hell no. Lok hadn’t kissed her, or well, she hadn’t kissed him.

  Or groped his massive—

  Nah-uhn. That definitely hadn’t happened. Right? If it had, he’d be in the bed beside her. Because what kind of man would reject her so very obvious offer?

  Lok, that’s who. Ugh. Kadence groaned and pounded a fist into her pillow.

  I don’t want you…like this.

  His words echoed inside her head. What the hell did that mean? Exactly what had overcome her in Lok’s embrace?

  It was as if something deep inside her had taken the driver’s seat, and didn’t even invite Kadence along for the ride. His words jabbed at her mind. Like this. Lok must have recognized whatever had happened to her. He’d been chained to her the whole day, so he knew she hadn’t been drunk.

  Not from alcohol. The buzz singing through her veins hadn’t abated yet. When it did, would she crash, hung over from one taste of Lok’s lips?

  A cry yelped from the direction of the armchair. Lok twitched, his arm flinging to brace against an unseen attack.

  He’s dreaming.

  He grunted, almost whimpering.

  A nightmare, then.

  Kadence bit her lip, but Lok twisted again, his breathing strained, so she slid off the bed and padded to his side. “Hey, it’s okay.”

  He didn’t respond, not even as she grasped his arm and rubbed her hand up and down his smooth skin. The pull of his dream was deep. Bolder, she gave his cheek a light slap. He grunted but didn’t open his eyes.

  A moan echoed in his chest, and his shoulders shook. Almost as if he was…weeping?

  Oh. This wasn’t a dream. Or a nightmare. Lok was reliving some tragic episode from his past. From the agony etched into his drawn brows and grimacing mouth, it had to be horrible.

  “You’re safe now. It’s okay.” Before she reasoned against it, Kadence climbed onto his lap and rested her head against his chest. She snared his hand and squeezed it between hers, hoping some of her reassurance reached him in this dream-state.

  Mel had nightmares too, and the only thing that ever soothed them was Kadence climbing into bed with her.

  After their mom had remarried and had other kids with her new husband, the two girls had become something of an afterthought for their mother. Kadence hadn’t missed the look of relief on their mom’s face when the girls had moved out on their own. Far away too, from Canada to Thailand.

  It wasn’t an intentional kind of dismissal, but ever since their dad had died from stomach cancer when Kadence was seven, her mom had never looked at her or her sister the same. As though her two daughters were too painful a reminder of her loss.

  Their dad had left them with quite the inheritance, so Kadence had set Mel up in private care in their home in Bangkok. Since they hadn’t spoken to their mom in years, Kadence hadn’t bothered to inform her of Mel’s illness. Besides, Kadence was going to save her sister.

  Lok groaned, jerking to the side.

  “Hey there, it’s okay. You’re okay. I’m here,” Kadence murmured in soft, soothing tones, stroking her fingertips along his arm. A few beads of sweat condensed on his forehead and his breath puffed out in shaking tremors.

  Poor guy. Whatever he’d experienced, it must have been terrible, for him to suffer like this.

  Still, she was kind of glad to witness his streak of humanity, even though she’d begun to doubt Lok was entirely human. That cocky grin
was, for once, missing from his features. A vulnerability she was certain he wouldn’t reveal when awake.

  Don’t do it. Don’t fall for him, Kadence.

  Her good sense kicked in. This was not the time to be swooning over sexy, tortured men.

  Maybe, once she retrieved the cure for Mel, she might decide to keep her promise and return to the League. With Lok as her partner.

  She rested her cheek against his chest, his breaths evening out.

  Yeah, she might like that.

  Lok sniffed. A sugary, blossom-like fragrance teased his nostrils and a light weight draped across his lap and chest. A blanket?

  He peeled one eye open. Nope. A woman. Kadence. When—and why—had she snuck onto his lap?

  Her slumbering breaths played in a lulling rhythm, her cheek resting against his chest. He wanted to stroke aside the hair falling across her face, but a pressure weighted his hand.

  Hers.

  Her slender fingers entwined with his. He frowned at the sight. Had he ever held the hand of a human woman? Likely not, yet Kadence’s warm hand clasped in his sent a spark of peace through his veins.

  He liked this.

  Holding a woman, breathing in her scent, and savoring her heart beats.

  No, not a woman. Kadence. Any other female would not soothe him as she did. What had brought her to do this? Was the pearl still in control?

  Much of this was new to him. He might know what she was, but he had no experience with the inner workings of a dragon-pearl bond. He only knew she had to choose him.

  If he could assume his true form and wield his powers, he could manipulate her choice. Dragons often did. Yet the notion of tricking Kadence into accepting him left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  This was different. Her human free will would come into play. If there was one thing dragons valued as much as pearls, it was freedom.

  He refused to take hers from her. Even if it meant…

  No. He clenched his jaw, tensing.

  Kadence moaned, her lashes fluttering open, revealing sparkling violet depths. A slight curve lifted the corner of her mouth, but as she continued to blink, her eyes narrowed and the smile evaporated.

  “Hey, you’re on my lap.” He raised a brow, chuckling.

  She shifted around, facing away from him and pressing her lush ass into his groin.

  His cock twitched, hardening the more she squirmed. “Will you stop that?”

  At his sharp reprimand, she gasped, then her pulse raced as she likely felt the pressure of his thickness against her bottom.

  Yeah. That.

  Her fault. She stilled in his lap, as though unsure how to get off him without awakening his lust further.

  Too late. He snared his fingers in her hair and angled her head to seize her mouth. One small taste and he’d release her.

  She moaned, rocking, her ass rubbing against his rigid hard-on.

  Maybe two.

  The chain clinked; her hands clutched the arms of the chair.

  Hell yeah. He grabbed her ass and shoved her to grind against him.

  She did, undulating her hips in an erotic rhythm that threatened to make him come.

  “Argh, Kadence,” he growled against her lips, his hand snaking around her and tucking under her skirt to peel aside the lace blocking him from her sweet sex. Slick honey met his fingers as he inched them closer to her core, circling before thrusting two in deep.

  She cried out, gasping and squeezing his fingers hard. He matched her pace, pumping into her while she rode his hand, sliding in two more fingers to stretch against that tight heat. His cock throbbed and pressure built in his ballocks, threatening to explode if he didn’t get to sample where his hand was.

  Bloody hell, he wanted to. Longed to sink into her wet warmth and pour himself into her. Dragons couldn’t impregnate humans—their reproductive systems weren’t compatible—but they sure could fuck them.

  She bucked against him, her pussy gripping his fingers as though she was close to coming. But not yet.

  He stilled, digging his free hand into her ass to prevent her from rocking. “You’re not going to come for me yet, little one. Not until I tell you to.”

  “No, please,” she whimpered. Small spasms constricted around his fingers, growing stronger. She was so damn close, a few more strokes would push her over the edge.

  Hell, not like this. He wanted to watch her when she did.

  He slipped his hand out from her sex, smirking at her pouting mewl, and drew his fingers to his mouth, dipping them inside.

  Fuck. His eyes shuttered as her honey exploded across his tongue. She tasted of purity. Raw, untapped power. Like mining for a gemstone deep in the earth’s core. A precious jewel, untainted and unexposed.

  Seizing her hips, he twisted her around to face him, coaxing her to straddle him. This time, he studied her face while his fingers delved under her skirt, skimming against her swollen nub.

  Her breath hitched, and she drew her bottom lip between her white teeth. “Yes, please.”

  He could get used to her panting pleas. To having her beg him for release. He circled his thumb across her bud, easing his fingers inside her clenching sheath.

  She clamped down on his hand, rocking against his hips. Bracing one hand on his shoulder, she dipped the other between them and snapped open his jeans to grip his rigid erection. Her warm fingers pumped along his length while she rode his hand.

  She was fucking beautiful. A siren who knew exactly what she wanted and begged him to give it to her.

  Hard.

  Her plump breasts bounced as she undulated; he tore open the front of her dress and freed them. The rosy peaks pebbled, tight little nipples that demanded attention too.

  He slid his free hand along her back, drawing her close enough to flick his tongue across her breast, making her pearly skin glisten. As she spasmed around him, he growled and jerked his hips upward, grunting while hot spurts shot from his cock. He groaned, his release magnifying with each of her airy cries. Dragons didn’t orgasm like humans, so his ejaculation lasted minutes instead of seconds, his cum evaporating into the air.

  During an orgasm was probably the one moment where a dragon could be caught vulnerable. His vision clouded and his pulse thrummed in his ears. He tuned out the world. As the buzz dissipated, he cracked open one eye.

  Kadence stared at him, lips parted and eyes round.

  Oh, yeah. Humans didn’t do that.

  His hips finally stopped jerking, his arousal easing into satiation. Smirking, he leaned forward and stroked his thumb across her cheek. “Well, what did you expect?”

  She swallowed hard at his jest. “What are you?” Her question was airy, her muscles tense, but he didn’t scent the rancid stench of fear on her.

  Any answer he’d like to give her, he couldn’t, so he kept his mouth shut.

  “You’re not human, so what are you?”

  He remained silent.

  Her fine brows drew together.

  “Does it matter? It’s not my first time with a human. If you’re concerned. I can assure you all parts match up.” A rumble vibrated his chest. Next, he’d be teaching a class.

  How to Fuck a Dragon: 101.

  “No, I… I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Excuse me.” She shoved off him, tugging down her skirt as she scurried to the bathroom.

  Delicate, Lok. He grimaced at himself. Way to earn her trust. Joke right after sharing a tender moment.

  Pretty sure that wasn’t how humans did it.

  Whatever gains he’d made, well, shit. He’d obliterated them.

  Nicely done.

  ***

  Kadence splashed cool water on her face, but her cheeks were still flaming. What the hell had overcome her, that she’d done that…with Lok.

  Seriously?

  Lok, who wasn’t even human. What a way to confirm her suspicions.

  So what was he? And why wouldn’t he come out and tell her?

  This must be some kind of game to him.
A sick game. The chain around her wrist glinted at her, taunting.

  She made a habit of at least learning a guy’s species before she slept with him. Time to demand some answers from Lok.

  After drying her face with a hand towel, she marched from the bathroom, following the chain to the closet, where Lok was stripping.

  His bare, muscled back greeted her, flexing with an insane amount of brawn. Her throat dried, her demands withering away with her breath.

  “Time to go.” Ignoring her, he tugged on a crisp blue shirt, re-shackled his wrist, and headed for the door.

  “Wait. I haven’t changed yet.”

  “Haven’t you?” He glanced over his shoulder, his dark swirling eyes piercing. “You feel different. I know you do.”

  His gaze dropped to the floor and he pressed his lips into a grim line.

  “What do you mean?” Either Lok was babbling nonsense again, or he knew something about her she didn’t. Her gut told her the latter. She treaded forward. “Lok? Answer me.”

  Instead, he gave his head a slight shake. “Get dressed. Our ride is waiting.”

  Her shoulders sagged while she stared at him, closing off. Whatever intimacy they’d cultivated was buried now. Focus. Right. She had more important things to worry about. Like saving Mel.

  After Kadence changed into a leather skirt and a pink tank top, they headed toward the shoreline. An enormous yacht bobbed beside the dock.

  “This is our ride?”

  “Well, we are headed for the bottom of the ocean.” Lok brushed past her and strode along the dock to the large white vessel.

  She sprinted after him. “Yeah, but I hired a sailboat.”

  “I changed your reservation. Thought we should travel in style.” Winking, he dismissed her and headed inside the glass-encased upper cabin. A few minutes later, the engine roared and the boat sped off. Kadence planted her hands on her hips, tapping her nails. This was her mission, yet he was making himself awfully comfy in the commander’s seat.

  If it wasn’t for this stupid chain…

  Lok emerged from the cabin, peeling off his shirt as he strode toward her. “I’ve set our course. Time to sit back and relax.” He plopped onto a lounge chair and unfastened his end of the chain so fast her eyes couldn’t track the movement.