by Willa Hart
Kellum nodded thoughtfully, then glanced over at Ryen. “Danic and I will go brief Lazlo, then we’ll head to Shirley’s to make sure she’s okay. In the meantime, I don’t think Favor should be alone. Mind if she crashes at your place tonight?”
“Ooh, sleepover!” Ryen cried, lighting up like a fireworks display.
He shot me a grin that spoke volumes, but my despair over Zoe and the stress of this Dragon’s Heart business sapped every ounce of joy out of me. I couldn’t imagine feeling happy again until I knew Zoe was safe.
I snorted myself awake and looked around frantically, wondering where the hell I was now. Ryen sat in the driver’s seat, smiling gently.
“Sweet dreams?” he asked softly as he pulled into a parking space outside of a nice, but not high-end, apartment complex.
My heart fluttered, immediately taking me back to the time I’d fallen asleep on his shoulder when we were on a stakeout. His longish brown hair and scruffy beard gave him a relaxed quality, but I sensed he was on edge too. Maybe not as much as me — but then again, maybe even more.
“Come on, let’s get upstairs so you can give me shit for my terrible decorating skills,” he said in a tone that was a little thicker than usual, which I put down to exhaustion.
He hurried around to open my door, which I’d learned from Danic not to argue with. The moment his hand closed over mine to help me down, heat seemed to shimmer between us. For the first time in what seemed like days, I smiled.
“I’m sure you have the best taste of all,” I said, remaining close to him but pulling my hand free so I could think straight. All the guys had the odd ability to distract me in ways I didn’t expect.
“Even Kellum?”
I shrugged. “He does dress nicer, but I have a feeling your place is homier.”
He laughed as he opened the foyer doors for me. “I’ll take what I can get.”
The building itself fell smack in the middle of the style spectrum. Not old and shabby, but not super chic either. It felt comfortable, like home. As we waited for the elevator, an awkward silence fell between us. Or maybe it was only me. Either way, we needed to have a chat before we reached his apartment.
“So, um…” I peered at him from under my eyelashes, trying to gauge what his reaction might be. “You know about my, um… With Kellum and Danic?”
Lame. So lame. But it wouldn’t take a genius to catch my meaning.
He stopped staring at the descending numbers on the floor counter and gave me a soft smile. “Of course.”
I didn’t get a sense he was angry or moody over the fact I’d already slept with his brothers. He seemed downright cool with the situation.
“So…any thoughts you’d like to share with the class?”
He chuckled and threaded his fingers in mine, sending a wave of pure, animal need coursing all the way through my body to my very core.
“Look, I’ve watched enough sitcoms in my long life to know where you’re going with this. I get it. But Favor, you need to know I don’t feel weird about this. None of us does. It seems…natural. Meant to be. Kismet.” A little furrow appeared on his brow. “Doesn’t it to you?”
I nodded. “It does, but what do you think it means?”
The doors slid open and we boarded the empty elevator, Ryen never releasing my hand.
“Who cares?” he said. “But for the record, if this is what we’re doing, I wouldn’t say no to being next on your dance card. If you’re so inclined, that is.”
Oh, I was inclined. Very inclined. Had been pretty much from the moment I laid eyes on him.
But Zoe…
I tensed, tears of frustration and worry pricking at my eyes. One slipped down my cheek as Ryen punched the button for his floor and turned to me. His slightly wicked smile fell away, then understanding dawned in his eyes.
“Oh, Favor,” he murmured, pulling me into the warm cocoon of his embrace. “Shh, we’ll find her. I promise.”
I tried to hold back, but too much had happened. I sobbed into the spare sweatshirt he’d thrown on before we drove away from the scene of the dragon battle. A powerful scent of citrus hit me, and I snuggled closer, reveling in the comfort of his hug. Despite his cocky, class-clown persona, Ryen actually had a tenderness his brashness couldn’t hide.
I sniffled back my tears and gazed up at him, searching his face to make sure he wasn’t only telling me what I wanted to hear. “Really? You think?”
His gentle smile sent a shiver of need straight to my heart. “I know. If it’s important to you, Favor, I will move mountains to get it for you. So will the others. You know that, right?”
Fresh tears sprang into my eyes, but these were tears of gratitude. Of love. I nodded, unable to speak, and reached up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. But before my lips touched his tidy beard, he turned just enough that my kiss landed on his lips. I froze for a second, then unleashed every ounce of fear and anger and love and hate that had been bottled up inside.
Clutching two fistfuls of sweatshirt, I pulled him down toward me, my tongue snaking into his mouth and dueling with his. My breath came hard and fast. He must have spun me around because the next thing I knew, I was pinned against the elevator wall as his lips devoured me. I lifted my ass enough to brace myself on the handrail so I could wrap my legs around his hips and grind against him.
The evidence of his need pressed against me and I moaned at the feel of him. Clinging to him like a barnacle, I met every thrust of his tongue, each gyration of his hips, every frantic grope with my own. I needed this release. I needed him.
The elevator binged and the doors slid open. Without a word or breaking our kiss, he lifted me up and carried me out, much to the surprise of the sweet little old lady waiting to board. She gasped, and so did I as Ryen’s fingers found my nipple.
“Oh god,” I groaned, burying my face in his neck while he held me with one hand and fumbled for his keys with the other.
The little old lady watched us with wide eyes, leaning sideways so she wouldn’t miss a thing, even as the elevator doors closed on her. Ryen finally got the door unlocked and pushed it open with my body. By the time he kicked it closed with his foot, he’d already unhooked my bra.
Clothes went flying every which way as we frantically stripped each other naked, kissing every bare inch we could reach as we stumbled deeper into the apartment, our hands and lips and tongues in constant motion. Whatever his decor, I didn’t notice or care.
The backs of my calves bumped against something soft and I fell backward onto the couch. He stood before me in all his glory, his cock standing in proud relief against the rock-hard ridges of his lower abdomen. Drool pooled in my mouth.
He loomed over me, his dick at lip-level, giving me a cocky grin. “You like what you see, little lady?”
I shot him an unimpressed look, even though I was very impressed with the view. “Now don’t go getting a big head.”
“Too late,” he said, twitching his big head at me.
I tried to hold back, but I barked out a laugh that was a little too loud, a little too tense. He joined in, and pretty soon, we were holding our bellies from laughing too hard. It felt good to release some tension that way, but I suspected there was a more efficient way to release some pent-up stress. Reaching for his hand, I pulled him down to join me, the length of his body fitting against mine like a glove.
We lay like that for a moment, smiles easing into soft, adoring looks. He brushed a finger down my cheek, drinking me in, before pressing his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. I sighed against him, and he pulled back, searching my face earnestly.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?”
I thought about it for a moment, considering his question. My body was on the verge of breaking down from exhaustion, yet I felt more energized than I could remember. Zoe was in the clutches of an enemy dragon, but there was literally nothing I could do about that tonight. I needed to work off some of the stress that had built up, and just the thought of working it off with
Ryen brought me more happiness than I could have imagined. But his concern touched my soul.
“I’m sure,” I murmured back, letting my gaze drop to his mouth.
He paused for a second, then growled low in his throat as he claimed my lips again. Our bodies entwined as our desperate hands searched out every bit of flesh within reach. Light barely penetrated my closed eyelids as I moved out of instinct, reaching for him, holding him, gripping him. He growled louder as he nipped at my earlobe, then my neck. As much as I enjoyed foreplay, and I sensed more relaxed sex with Ryen would be mind-blowing, I needed him inside me.
Now.
Shifting underneath his body, I opened myself to him. He didn’t need to be asked twice. Draping one of my legs over the back of the couch, he hooked the other over his shoulder and pressed against my entrance. I gasped at the sensation and arched my back in anticipation.
Slowly, ever so slowly, he eased into me, little by little, inch by inch. Every time I whimpered in frustration, he stopped and eased back out a little, punishing me. Then he’d catch up to where he left off and I’d sigh with deep pleasure, until he finally seated himself fully inside me.
My body vibrated as we lay perfectly still in each other’s arms, panting quickly, our hearts racing in perfect synchronicity. Neither of wanted to move as we relished our primal connection, yet we needed to move. Needed to finish this, to join our souls. I was the first to give in, contracting my walls around his hot, hard flesh and drawing a gasp of bliss from him.
Game on!
Ryen pounded into me, filling me completely with each thrust. Tears spilled down my cheeks. All the emotional pain I’d suffered over the last few days, the terror I’d experienced, the loss I’d felt, poured out of my eyes as my heart overflowed with love for this man who was giving me exactly what I needed in that moment. Not tender, gentle lovemaking, but passionate, heated fucking that would take my mind off my troubles, if only for a short while.
Tension spooled up in my belly and my core tightened and pulsed against him as he continued his frantic pace. My fingers dipped between us and found the spot that would send me over the edge into oblivion, exactly where I wanted to be. My moans urged him on, until he became impossibly hard inside me. We were both close.
When his cocked pulsed inside me and he groaned in my ear, I let myself join him on the wave of ecstasy, matching every thrust with a quick hip gyration until a bright white spot formed behind my eyes and the world exploded into eternity. We rocked together, pushing harder and harder until every ounce of love we could share had been expended.
We lay like that, Ryen holding himself over me as his body heaved, me entwining my legs with his to keep him firmly planted inside. I squeezed him tight, milking him dry, before he finally sighed and pulled away from me. Out of me.
His absence left me feeling chilled and empty. Alone. Didn’t matter that he pulled a throw over us and snuggled in behind me, spooning me like a champ and wrapping me in his arms. The weight of the world settled back on my shoulders the moment we were no longer connected.
Then came the guilt. How dare I make love with Ryen when Zoe was god knows where, suffering god knows what? I flipped over and snuggled my face into his chest, breathing in that citrusy scent of his. If Zoe hadn’t been kidnapped, I might have fallen asleep immediately, comforted by his presence, but guilt and worry ate at me.
My powers seemed to have a mind of their own, but if I could communicate with the guys from great distances, maybe I could with Zoe too. I’d somehow managed to heal her, after all. I had to at least try.
Summoning up a vision of her laughing, I focused hard and blasted a message to her, hoping against hope it would somehow reach her and give her comfort.
We’re coming for you, Zoe!
Thank you for reading THE HEAT OF THE DRAGON’S HEART. Favor’s story continues in The Flame of the Dragon’s Heart in unexpected ways. Check out an excerpt by closing any pop-up window your device might show and pressing on.
If you want to stay up-to-date on my release schedule, get free content, and anything else fun I can think of, join my mailing list at www.willahart.com/go/list.
Afterword
Dearest reader,
Even though only a few days pass from the start of The Heat of the Dragon’s Heart to the end, a lot of excitement happens, not the least of which is Favor’s intensifying relationship with her guys. wink wink nudge nudge You didn’t think I was going to make them hold out forever, did you? ;)
I have to admit, Zoe’s storyline in this book hurts my heart. I actually teared up writing the scene where Favor finds her in Titus’s clutches, then again when she’s whisked away and Favor is frantic to get her back. I thought a lot about how I would feel if I watched helplessly as my sister was kidnapped and tried to pour the resulting storm of emotions into my words. I hope I did them justice, because let me tell you, those were some feelings!
Zoe’s reaction to the news dragons exist also hit home for me. I wanted her reaction to be honest and real, not a simple shrug at such unimaginable news, so I dug into my own psyche and wrote how I probably would have reacted.
Hello, denial, nice to see you again!
But I’m curious. How would you have felt in Zoe’s shoes? Would you have bolted like her (and me!) or would you have asked Favor if the guys had any fire-breathing friends? Share your thoughts in my Facebook reader’s group, Willa’s Harties.
Favor’s story continues in Book 3 of the Harem of Fire series, The Flame of the Dragon’s Heart. Favor is desperate to find her best friend, her sister from another mister, her chickie from another dickie, but…
Oh, come on, you knew there’d be a but!
All I can really tell you is that Favor’s connection to her boys comes full circle as they do everything they can to get their asses to Romania to find Zoe. If you want a taste of what’s to come (snerk!), check out the excerpt by closing any popup your reader might show and moving on to the next page.
I’m honored that you’ve chosen to continue this journey with me. If you’re having as much fun as I am, I’d be thrilled if you left a review for my books on Amazon, Bookbub or Goodreads, post about them in your favorite RH fan groups, or simply tell a friend.
All my ❤️
PS: If you want to stay up-to-date on my release schedule, get free content, and anything else fun I can think of, join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/willas.harties
Excerpt from The Flame of the Dragon’s Heart
Harem of Fire Book 2
Just when things can’t get any worse, they do.
My bestie’s been kidnapped and I’m desperate to find her…but my inability to sprout wings like my dragon shifter guys means we have to adopt a more mundane form of flight. We just have one more important task to complete before we can hop on a plane and follow the kidnapper’s trail to Romania.
With that accomplished, I have time to stew and fret over Zoe, but my guys do their best to keep me distracted until our flight boards. One in particular.
After a deeply passionate encounter with Ash, I feel more connected to him than ever. So why is he pulling away and shutting me out? All I know is whatever bug flew up his butt better not get in the way of rescuing Zoe or there will be hell to pay.
Excerpt
My body reacted to Ash’s touch on pure instinct. With each kiss, stroke, nibble, I arched into his mouth, fingers, teeth. Wanting more. Needing it as much as I needed air to breathe and food to eat.
A deep rumble worked its way up from the depths of him as he devoured my mouth, leaving me breathless and helpless. His tongue dove deep to attack mine with a ferocity that startled me.
Who was this guy? The Ash I knew was sweet and funny and a little bit nerdy. He wasn’t an alpha male who took what he wanted, damn the consequences. But this Ash, the one with his tongue in my mouth and his hand under my shirt certainly was.
And I liked it.
I responded to his boldness by relinquishing all semblance of con
trol. I needed this release. I needed a break from the stress of my life. I needed to be taken and made to forget all my troubles. And apparently Ash was the perfect man for the job.
This realization surprised me because, come on…Danic was the obvious choice to be the domineering alpha type. Yet he’d been gentle and giving when we’d made love, nothing like the ferocity Ash rained down on me with each demanding caress.
His hand burrowed under my shirt and found my nipple, drawing a hiss of delight from me. He took that opportunity to nip his way along my jaw to my ear. His hot breath sent a spike of desire straight to my core and I pressed my hips against his, pulling his ass tighter to me so I could better feel his hardness in the spot I needed.
His own breath faltered when I did that, so I did it again. And again. The growl I earned sent a shiver across my overheated flesh and I dug my nails into his jeans-clad butt.
With a groan, he spun me around roughly, so my hands pressed against the wall for support, as his roamed my body freely. First my back, down to my ass, up my belly to my breasts. He brushed my hair away from my neck and dove in for a taste that thrilled me.
To show him exactly how much I wanted him, I pressed my ass against the increasingly rigid bulge in his pants. His left hand pulled my hips tighter to him, then slipped below my waistband. My jeans had a touch of Lycra for that perfect body-hugging fit, which allowed his hand enough room to slip under my panties.
I gasped when he touched my clit, then cried out as he worked his fingers in and out and around. I ground against his left hand as he pinched my nipple with his right and flicked at my earlobe with his tongue. The man knew how to play me like a fiddle!
“I’m going to fuck you, Favor,” he breathed in my ear, nearly making me come on the spot. “Hard and fast.”
