by Julia Mills
Royce moved to her other breast, showing it the same attention, while his hands landed on her waist. He ripped open the button and unzipped her jeans, sliding his hand inside her panties and teasing the curls seated at the top of her mound. Once again their eyes met and the undeniable want and need he showed her was humbling. Never had anyone looked at her with such reverence and heat. Lost in his gaze, the slight movement of his hand did not register until the tip of his finger grazed her clit. Her world tilted both figuratively and literally as he rolled them until she was once again on her back and he was lying beside her, his finger tracing the outer lips of her pussy.
She lifted her hips in an attempt to drive his attentions back to the tiny nub of nerves that she knew would bring on her release, but her mate would not have it. The look in his eyes and the grin on his lips said he was enjoying torturing her.
He leaned forward, kissed between her breasts, and nuzzled both of the tender globes, placing kisses on the underside before moving down her stomach. His kisses became deeper and he nipped her skin under her belly button as he worked her jeans farther down her body. Her hips lifted and in the next instant she was completely bare. Any other time in her life she would have been mortified. No one had ever seen her completely naked, not even the very few lovers she had taken over the years. She knew her breasts were smaller than most, her hips too wide, and her belly too rounded, but none of those insecurities came to life. Both dream Kyra and the one living out her fantasy through her dreams were amazed. Royce looked at her like she was a goddess, and for the first time in her life, she felt like one.
Very gently he lifted first one leg and then the other over his shoulders, lowering his body, keeping eye contact, and running his hands up and down her legs the entire time. When he spoke, she could hear what the effort to go slow cost him and she adored him all the more for it. “I have to taste you, m’a mhuirnin’. The scent of your arousal is driving me mad.”
As he lowered his head, Kyra knew she should feel self-conscious. She had never shared anything this intimate with anyone, but with Royce and in her dream, it seemed perfectly natural to give all that she was to her mate. The first swipe of his tongue against her aroused flesh had her clawing at the blankets and screaming to the Heavens in an unknown language. Her pussy contracted around his fingers as his tongue continued to lick at her like she was the best thing he had ever tasted.
She felt her arousal building as he inserted another finger, stretching her walls at the same time his thumb found her clit. He bent the fingers moving inside her upward and touched the bundle of nerves she had previously thought a myth. Her orgasm hit her like a storm, her pussy clamped tight around his fingers, her legs tightened around his head, and she rode the waves of the most powerful force she had ever felt. He continued to pet and taste until she was lying boneless beneath him, her fingers lazily running through his hair.
He removed first one leg and then the other, kneading the muscles of her thighs and setting off a whole new series of tremors in her womb. The smile that brightened his face was full of satisfaction, and if she was not mistaken, pride. Always the smartass, she teased, “Proud of yourself there, stud?”
Royce chuckled and the vibrations, coupled with the way his chest hair tickled her skin, made her gasp and raise her hips. He winked and his grin turned playful. “Oh yeah, I’m proud,” he said as he slid two fingers back into her still weeping channel. Kyra pushed against his fingers and mewled at her renewed arousal, shocked that she could feel anything after what they had just done. But her mate was not to be denied and it felt so good to be joined with him that she rode his hand until they were both panting.
She whined as Royce removed his fingers, but was relieved when she felt the head of his erection at her opening. He pushed forward and stopped just inside. Her hips lifted and her pussy contracted harder and faster, trying to pull him in, but he held completely still. “Look at me, Kyra,” once again a command, and once again, she obeyed without question.
“I need to go slow, m’aonin’. You are tiny and I will not hurt you.” His hands held her hips still and his gaze darkened. “I want you more than my next breath” He breathed deeply and she saw sweat dotting his upper lips as he moved a few inches further inside. She focused on his eyes and could feel their combined strength. In that moment she knew with absolute certainty there was nothing they could not achieve as long as they were together.
He groaned as she felt the head of his cock touch the mouth of her womb. He was buried so deep inside of her, she had no idea where she ended and he began, and she didn’t care. The lines between dream and reality blurred. All that mattered was that they were together. Together as they were meant to be, together forever.
“You are driving me absolutely crazy,” he said through gritted teeth as he gently pulled out of her only to slowly return. His cock stretched her inner walls, filling her completely. He was a big man on all accounts and every inch of him was hers. Unable to stay still any longer, she fought against his hands on her hips and pulled herself up, nipping at his neck to quicken his pace. When he refused to speed up, she drove her hands into his hair, scratching his scalp as she pulled his mouth to hers. He immediately opened to her and she kissed him with all that she was. She worked her tongue along his, tasting all that he was, then slid it in and out of his mouth showing him what she wanted him to do with the cock he now had buried deep inside her.
His pace quickened but it was nowhere near what she wanted from him. She wanted him to lose control. She wanted him as crazy for her as she was for him. He had said he was, but she needed him to show her. She continued her assault almost to the point of no return when she wrapped her legs around him and lifted her ass completely from the pallet. The change in position pushed him farther inside. Her pussy massaged and gripped his throbbing cock. The light in his eyes turned ravenous as he thrust in and out of her with such force she was sure they were moving across the dirt floor. Nothing mattered but the man loving her as no other ever had. Everything was as the Goddess and the Universe had intended.
They screamed their mutual release to the Heavens and she saw love in the depths of her mate’s eyes. A love so pure and true it brought tears to her eyes. She saw his lips move but couldn’t make out what he was saying and then her world went black. In the distance she heard an annoying buzz and promised death to whoever dared to interrupt them.
Reaching towards the noise, her hand hit a flat, hard surface. Her eyes flew open and immediately shut again as they were assaulted by the bright light of the morning sun. Slowly, she opened one eye and then the other, looked at the ceiling and then the wall in front of her. She grabbed her cell phone and shut off the alarm, thanking the Heavens for the blessed silence. It was then that reality kicked her square in the ass. She was in her bed in the little cottage Rayne and Kyndel had let her use. It was morning and she was alone. Not in the cave on the side of the mountain by the sea with the man of her dreams. Not making love and letting the world spin on. Nope! The whole damn thing had been a dream. Well, ain’t that fucking grand? she thought. Even my dreams are out to get me.
Unwilling to face the day for at least another thirty minutes, Kyra rolled over and pulled the covers over her head. Hope is not only a scary bitch, but she really fucking sucks, was her last thought before her cell phone rang and she was forced to face the day.
CHAPTER FIVE
Royce was sleep-deprived, frustrated and wanted to be anywhere but where he was headed. For the fourth night in a row he had dreamt of Kyra. Crazy, erotic, wake up and relieve yourself in the shower dreams that taunted him throughout the day, reminding him what an epic failure he was. When his phone rang about fifteen minutes ago and Lance had told him they were all being summoned to go over a plan that Max and Kyra had devised, he wanted to scream and throw his phone against the wall, but then decided that would help absolutely no one and he hated putting contacts in a new phone. So he had climbed out of bed, taken his obligatory shower and headed out the door, praying th
at someone had made a pot of seriously strong coffee. One good thing had come out of his wake up call…he now had confirmation that Max’s visit to Kyra’s home the day before had been completely ‘professional’.
Royce had ended up at her front door after enough discussions with his brothers to last three lifetimes, two trips to see Malachi, daily trips to the Garden of Peace, and just plain missing the friendship he had shared with the mates of his brethren. Left with no options, he had decided to go over and see if Kyra would at least talk to him. He hoped she would let him explain that he was sorry for the things he had said. Pleading insanity had occurred to him if that was what it took to get her to talk to him.
But then he had gotten there and the King of The Big Cats had been with her. Royce had tried to reason that it was all about catching the traitor and the alliance the dragons shared with the werepanthers, and he had turned to go with the intention of coming back later. Then he had heard Kyra’s magical laughter and he had walked away, hat in hand, overcome with jealousy. The next few hours had been spent in the gardens behind the little cottage, propped against a tree praying to the Universe for guidance in his journey to seek his mate’s forgiveness and attempt to live the life they were meant to have.
Somewhere along the way he had heard a voice he thought gone forever…his mother. Riona O’Reilly had made her presence known in death the same way she had in life, with elegance, grace, and a smack to the back of his big head. At first he had dismissed what he’d heard as a figment of his imagination, but when the voice practically yelled, “Royce Alan O’Reilly, mo mhac, do NOT ignore me!” he had literally ducked to miss the hit he knew from experience followed those words.
He had looked as far as he could see for all the blooms and found himself alone. He shook his head and thought what a shame it was that somewhere along the line he had lost his mind. After another look around for an explanation of what he’d heard, he settled back to continue his conversation with the Universe and heard the voice again. “I swear to all that is holy, you have gotten even more hard-headed over the years. I am still your mother and you WILL acknowledge me!”
He jumped up, looking for one of the young vibrias, sure that Lance had put her up to messing with him. That damn pain in the ass was always up to something and it was usually at Royce’s expense. After walking the entire garden, he found no one, or even footsteps that indicated anyone but him had been there in the last few days. Sitting on the bench on the other side of the garden, his thoughts quickly returned to his mate and the mess he’d made of things. “You’re a fucking idiot,” he thought, and knew it was the truth. He was a bone deep, no hope for redemption idiot, with absolutely no legitimate reason for acting like he had. It was like all the crap of the past had been blown away the night he arrived home. Yeah, it had sucked on a level he hadn’t experienced in all his years, but it had also opened his eyes to the fact that he was holding onto something that should have been reconciled years ago. All he was left with was the truth that he needed to fix what he had broken and the knowledge that he had no clue how to do that.
The first few days had sucked. He had replayed the look on Kyra’s face and all she had said after the heart-wrenching sob that had shredded his heart over and over, every time more painful and exponentially more shameful than the first. He could feel the pain and anguish he had caused the one person in the world that he was supposed to protect above all others, and he found it hard to face his reflection in the mirror. The look of utter betrayal in her vibrant violet eyes haunted him day and night. He felt the vehemence in her words, her complete and total belief that she would never be seduced by the dark, a belief that came from deep inside her soul and resonated in his.
All his other attempts to speak with her had failed. He knew she was avoiding any place he might be. If he showed up and she was already there, she seemed to vanish into thin air. He was sure his brethren were helping her stay away from him, but there was no way he was going to ask. They had just started speaking to him again and he was not going to bring up the subject of his mate to anyone; best not to poke the dragons. So he had shown up at her door, only to walk away empty-handed and lost.
Lost in thought, he almost fell off the bench when a honey bee had stung his ear. “Ow…Shit…Ow,” he howled as he grabbed his ear and then swatted the offending insect. Insects never messed with his kind, recognizing a larger, more lethal predator on instinct, but that little guy hadn’t cared. Not willing to leave the solitude of the garden, he sat back down but watched for anymore of the obviously insane bugs. It was then that he heard laughter in the breeze and was sure he felt a kiss right on the spot the bee had stung. It wasn’t until he heard the lullaby his mother always sang when he and his brothers were hurt or afraid or just needed a reminder that she loved them more than life itself, that he was sure he had lost his mind, but actually welcomed the insanity.
“Alright ma’thair, I give up. You must be here. Either that or we will find out if they make straight-jackets in XXXL.”
Once again he heard his mother’s laughter and this time it warmed his heart. “Yes, mo mahc, I’m here. Just as I promised to be all those years ago, never far from the treasures of my heart.”
He felt the tears well up and refused to let them fall. He was dragon, he was a Guardsman, and he was strong. As if his mother could read his mind, she responded, “Yes, you are strong and honest and loyal and everything your father and I ever hoped you would be, just as your brothers are. We could not be prouder of you than we are, but tears do not make you weak, mo mahc, on the contrary, they make you strong. They show you have compassion and you of all people, know that.”
Not surprised that whatever had allowed his mother to speak to him from the Heavens had also allowed her the ability to read his heart and mind, he answered, “You are right, ma’thair. I’m sorry.”
“You have no reason to apologize to me. I’m your mother and it’s my job in this life and the next to be there for you through the good and the bad. It’s your little mate that you should be apologizing to. You have hurt her, Royce, hurt her in a way the sweetling should never have had to endure.”
His head fell forward in shame and all he could choke out was, “I know. But how am I to accept a witch as a mate?”
“Did you think that holding on to all that hate and forsaking the one you are supposed to love above all others would honor my memory? Make me proud? Bring me back?”
His mother’s words were like arrows being shot one at a time at his heart, each hitting their target with increased accuracy. When he spoke it was through gritted teeth to hold back the need to roar his failure for all to witness, “I don’t know what I thought. I have no excuse. It happened and now I wish I could take it back, but that’s just not possible. I want to make amends. Tell her I’m sorry and ask for another chance, but she won’t even look at me. She even avoids me.”
“Like you avoided her and went all the way back to our clan to hide in a cave and lick the wounds you yourself caused?” his mother countered, and he imagined her just the way she had looked every time he and his brothers had gotten caught doing something they shouldn’t. Only this time, it was his entire future on the line and his mother’s disappointment in him was debilitating in its intensity. Unable to speak, he merely nodded.
“Royce, my love, you have to make this right. You cannot live your life alone and loveless, nor can you condemn that beautiful, vibrant woman to the same fate. She is your match in every way. Kyra was sent to you because the Universe knows you better than you know yourself. She is the answer to all the questions you haven’t even thought to ask and she will heal you in ways you can only imagine. My dear, sweet boy, she is the answer to every prayer you will ever pray. So crawl across broken glass if that is what it takes, but make this right for both your souls.” He felt the caress of the wind on his cheek, like the kisses he remembered from so long ago, and the tears he had held back wet his cheeks.
“I know you are right and I can feel
that Kyra is all I could ever want or need…right here,” he laid his hand on his heart. “And I can almost imagine our future together. Then all the memories of that day come flooding back and it is just too much to imagine a life with a witch.”
“Royce, you wound me. Your father and I raised you better than that. Is a witch really all you see? You really do not see a beautiful woman, with a heart full of love and the strength to stand by your side no matter what comes your way?”
He could imagine the look of disappointment in his mother’s eyes and the way she used to shake her head in disgust. He was just about to speak, when she started again, and if possible he felt even worse.
“When have you ever let your head completely rule any decision? Why in all of the Heavens would you simply walk away from the source of all your future happiness? Royce, this is simply unacceptable.”
The longer he listened to his mother, the more he realized what a complete idiot he had been and knew it was something he had to rectify as soon as possible. Riona was right. He had literally turned his back on the greatest gift a dragon shifter could ever receive all because of his own stupid prejudice. Royce only hoped Kyra would accept him after all he had done.
When his mother spoke again, her tone was filled with love and pride. She had heard his thoughts and she approved. “I love you, my son, now fix this before it is too late,” and with those last barely audible words, he felt the spirit of his mother return to the heavens.
He looked to the sky and whispered, “I will, ma’thair, I promise I will.”
It was a promise he meant to keep, if only he knew how. He knew Lance had made it clear that Kyra would be at the meeting for his benefit, and he was well aware that they would be surrounded by every Guardsmen from both clans and the werepanthers along with the mates if the girls had it their way, so the meeting was not the place to have a personal conversation. He walked along thinking of all the ways he could get her attention and make her talk to him and coming up with absolutely nothing, when he was flanked on either side by his brothers, both sporting shit-eating grins. “You two left the house early this morning. What’s up?”
