He breathed in deeply. “You smell amazing.”
“Ew, no, don’t talk about it.”
“Like roses,” he said. “And musk. And everything I love.” He kept her hands trapped and trailed kisses down her soft stomach, feeling it flutter beneath his lips. He cupped it with one hand, loving the way it gave for him. The roundness there.
He growled. “I need both my hands.” He looked at her and then the bed. “Do you really trust me?”
She nodded, flushed with pleasure, and he grabbed one of the remnants of her shirt, bound her hands with it, and then tied them to the top bed rail.
She tested it, struggling slightly, and he came forward to give her a biting, sucking kiss right on the sensitive spot below her ear, making her scream and clench her legs together.
He grinned as he spread her legs and trailed his hand between them, his body easily overpowering her much smaller one. His lips still playing at her ear, biting and sucking her earlobe, running over her delicate shell as her moans grew more frantic with each stroke of his hand.
She was so wet and delicious against his fingers, and he could feel himself coming more and more alive with every hitch of her breath, every desperate moan, every squirm of her body against what he was doing to her.
His hand kept playing, dipping into her folds, trailing softly over her clit, and then pushing down hard as his other hand grasped her breast, thumbing her nipple in time with her clit. And then he kissed her on the mouth, deeply, and her whole body gave way under the onslaught of sensation, and she screamed his name as she arched in release.
He leaned back in pure pleasure, just hearing her go. But before the trembling had subsided, he was at it again. This time laving her with his tongue. Penetrating her the way he would with his dick when he was ready. By the time he was done, he would own her everywhere. His hand played at her clit as his tongue dove inside her heated wetness, and his other hand stroked over her knee, tickling it and making her move.
She was still finishing her release, and he could feel the pulses against his lips and tongue.
He looked up to see her flushed, exhausted, straining against her bonds, but more pleased than he’d ever seen her. He’d been right in that she was made to be gratified. Made to put her pleasure in his hands. And he was going to see she had more of it than she thought she could stand.
She let out a breath of relief as he observed her, giving her a break, but then he dove back in, his finger playing wickedly as his tongue began again, thrusting up and in against her. Then he switched, laving her clit as he reached inside with one and then two fingers. She jerked when he stroked up against the rough spot in front that gave her so much pleasure during sex.
Stroked it over and over as she began to gasp out little moans again.
“That’s it, beautiful,” he said, speeding up the pace. “Everything you can take I’m going to give you.” His fingers dove expertly, tweaking and rubbing until her body was so tight, so strained he didn’t think she could go any further. Her legs were clenched around him, her whole body poised on the edge of something wonderful.
He slid up and over her and kissed her lips, putting his thigh between her legs to take her the last millimeter over the edge.
She screamed, and he was glad he’d come up so he could feel her entire body against his as she went, rippling and shuddering as she cried out his name again and again.
He’d never hear that enough. But that was fine with him; it meant he got to keep doing this.
“Oh, Red,” she said. “I can’t even. I had no idea—”
“Shh,” he said, covering her lips with his as she rode out the rest of her orgasm. When she was gasping, her body throbbing beneath him, he was ready to be one with her. Couldn’t wait any longer.
He undid her bonds so she could slip her arms around him. “You’ll want to hold on for this one,” he murmured, sliding one hand around her back as he used the other to spread her legs.
She was so wet and ready for him that it took only a second to position himself and slide in so deep he was right to the hilt.
He let out a groan, and she writhed against him.
“More.”
“Yes,” he said. “More and more and more.” He pulled out and thrust in again, hard, confident she could take him, and she reached up and wrapped her legs around his waist as if to hold him there. Such a turn-on.
He nuzzled her neck as he thrust again, feeling her whole body give as she bit into his shoulder. He began to move faster, the slick, wet heat between them driving him crazy, the scent of their lust in the air, the feeling of love as her hands held on to him, trusting him.
The sexy way she’d looked tied. The sexy way she looked now, biting down on her full lower lip, closing her eyes with every full thrust, arching slightly every time he hit her spot, contracting every time he withdrew. He wanted to memorize every split second of this as the best moment of his life.
He sped up, pulling in and out as she jerked against him, her movements wild, her hair splaying over the pillow, curls finally free from any binding. She looked like liquid sunshine. Like all the light in his life was beneath him, in his arms, ready for him.
He reached down to stroke her clit, wanting to double her pleasure, and she let out a little squeal, urging him on. His mouth found her nipple, and he sucked there, too, feeling her body tighten even further. When she finally went, it was with a scream louder than any other, and he felt himself jerk in response just at how hot it sounded.
“Faye, Faye.” He said it over and over as he jerked inside her, feeling the most intense release of his life. As if his entire soul were joining with her. As if everything in him were reaching out to be as close to her as possible. “I love you, Faye.”
“I love you forever,” she said. “I love you so much. Don’t ever forget it.”
He ran his hand over her hair and held her against him as they both finished, still shivering in the aftermath of the strength of it all. The scent of it, the feel of it was still in the air.
She let out a little shudder and fell back on the bed, him on top of her. They were nose to nose, and he kissed her, feeling her heated lips, and then rolled over onto his back, coming out of her.
“Dammit,” he said. “I never want it to end.”
She grinned and rolled on top of him, her gorgeous breasts pressing into his firm chest. “Good thing we can do it as many times as we want. Do dragons live forever?”
“We live a long time, but no, not forever I don’t think.” He nuzzled her nose and put an arm around her, holding her close. “But you know what I think the important thing is?”
“What?” she asked.
“Not how long we live, but what we live for.” He looked at her. “Who we live for.”
She rested her arms on him. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Will you live for me, Faye? Spend our forever together, however long it is?”
She nodded. “Will you?”
He captured her lips, kissing her deeply. “Oh yeah,” he said. “I never had any choice. You were my forever from the moment I saw you.”
She wrinkled her nose and laughed. “You romantic dragon.”
“Oh yeah, baby,” he teased. “You light my fire.”
She put a finger to his lips. “Can I ask one more thing?”
“Anything.”
She grinned. “No more dragon jokes. Not right now.”
He laughed and put an arm around her. “Fine. Later.”
She looked up at the ceiling and let out a little sigh. “I think I figured out where I want to live.”
“Where?” he asked, leaning on one elbow to face her.
“Somewhere a little bit distant from anyone else.” Her blue eyes were mischievous. “So I can scream as loud as I want.”
His grin spread wide, and he felt heat run through his body again. “Oh yeah? I’m going to need to know just how loud you want to be.” He straddled her and pinned her hands again, and she grinned
.
“Well, I guess there isn’t really anyone around now.”
“Right,” he said, leaning forward to tickle her neck with his lips. “And this is for research, so let me see what you’ve got.”
She let out a shriek of delight as he moved his hands over her, and he felt utter happiness move through him as he began to make love to his mate again.
He was the ruby dragon, yet none of the insatiable fire inside him could compare to the heat of having Faye in his arms.
He was truly the luckiest dragon.
Epilogue
Redmond was working with Faye to paint the walls of their new apartment when his phone rang.
“We’re outside, can we come up?” Zach said.
“Sure,” Redmond said. “Just painting.”
“Ugh, can’t believe you didn’t just hire someone.”
“Faye and I are enjoying doing it together. Why, what’s up?”
“I’ll talk to you when we’re up there,” Zach said, then hung up.
Redmond walked over to his mate, both of them flecked in white primer paint, and drew her in for a kiss, letting their smocks brush. “The guys are coming up, is that okay?”
“Sure,” she said, setting her brush aside and pulling off gloves. She stretched, and her beautiful blond hair caught the sunlight streaming through the windows. “I was ready for a break anyway.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, pulling off his smock and his work clothes as he walked into the master bedroom, which was much more finished than the rest of the penthouse.
“Of course,” she said. “I’m having a blast. Your idea to buy the building where we met and renovate it and knock out the top floor for a penthouse for us was amazing.”
“Plus you wanted to try being a landlord. We’ll have good tenants after the apartments below are remodeled.” He grinned. “You do know that we have no need of any extra money, don’t you?”
She smiled back, her blue eyes peaceful and happy. “True, but I need something to keep busy with. I like working. I like earning.”
He helped her pull the rest of her painting clothes off and they both changed into clean sweats just as the doorbell rang.
“For what it’s worth though,” she said as they walked to the door. “I’m glad I don’t have to do all the other apartments. I just want to do ours.”
“Yeah,” he said, loving how huggable she was in a pair of gray sweats. “It’s fun making a home together.”
She swatted his butt as he started to open the door. He gave her a grin and then pulled it open.
“Well, don’t you two just look like little newlyweds,” Zach said.
“It’s coming along nicely,” Luc said, as they both walked in.
“Where are Erin and Hallie?” Faye asked.
“Right here,” a feminine voice said, before Erin’s auburn head peeked around the corner. “Just hidden by these giant bodies.”
“First rule of protecting a mate,” Luc said. “Always enter a room first.”
“Like there are hazards in here.” Red snorted.
Zach raised an eyebrow at the half-painted room. “With you constructing this place, there very well could be.”
“I’m just going to stay outside,” Hallie said, her gray eyes shy and evasive.
“What is it?” Luc asked, looking suddenly nervous.
She leaned up on tiptoe to whisper something and he frowned and then nodded. “We’ll stay out here. Zach can update you.”
Zach screwed up his face in concern. “What’s going on?”
Luc sighed and looked at his mate. She sighed, pushing dark hair over her shoulder. “You can tell them.” Her hand rested protectively over her stomach and Red knew immediately.
Joy rushed through him. “You mean…?”
“Yes,” Luc said. “We think she is pregnant. Well, the tests say so, but we are still being careful. With her being human and me being dragon, it’s a little complicated. Anyway, Hallie says paint fumes are a no go.”
“Wow,” Erin said. “So it’s possible?” She looked up at Zach. “We weren’t sure. Oh my gosh, that’s good to know.” She rushed forward to hug Hallie. “I’m so happy for you!”
Faye came forward too, hugging both of the other woman as they turned into a babbling mess of feelings.
Red felt all the contentment in the world as he looked over at them.
“Looks like you better get moving on that,” Red said to Zach.
Zach snorted. “Or maybe we ought to start taking tests more often. I took for granted that it would or wouldn’t happen. Now that I know…”
“Ah,” Red said. “Yes, it’s exciting. Don’t you want a dragon baby?”
“I’m almost afraid to hope,” Zach said. “But yes, it would be amazing.” His normally hard, dark eyes were soft and gentle as he looked at his mate.
“All in good time,” Red said. “Hopefully.”
“Hopefully,” Zach murmured.
“Anyway, do we want to go talk outside then? We aren’t just leaving our women in the hall,” Luc said.
“The building is totally abandoned for now,” Red said. “The tenants were all moved to temporary housing. The ones that wanted to stay, anyway. But sure, let’s talk outside.”
They walked past their mates and stood at the end of the hall by the stairway, once again making sure that anything that came through would have to get past them first.
“So, the oracle got in touch with us. She has a job for us,” Zach said.
“A job?” Red asked. “For all of us?”
“Yeah,” Luc said. “So it might be good if the girls all stay at the mansion for now. The security there is top notch.”
“You mean, all of us would have to go at once?” Red asked, feeling nervous. “Your mate is pregnant.”
“If one of us should stay, it should be you,” Zach said. “Ruby and I can handle it.”
“Well, I’ll talk to Hallie,” Luc replied. “But she is still early, and we would make sure she was protected. Anyway, more about the job.”
“Right,” Zach said. “So we were right, they have a dragon they are extracting blood from to make wyverns. There was an uprising at the oracle’s place a few weeks ago, and in the chaos, a switch was made, so that the cryo cell would still seem full, even though the dragon inside had been taken.”
“Shit, they’re getting smarter about it,” Red said.
“Right,” Luc said. “And the oracle has her hands full with everything else going on. I mean, that’s why we were brought back in the first place. So she needs us to find this dragon.”
“None of us have tracking senses,” Zach said. “Which of the other dragons could help us find someone?”
“Amethyst,” Luc said. “But that’s always risky.”
“Right,” Zach said. “Psychic dragon could hear thoughts at long range. But on the other hand, he’s also half crazy.”
“All crazy,” Red muttered.
“You would be too if you had visions,” Luc said, always the empathetic one.
“I guess we should go talk to the oracle about waking up another dragon,” Red said.
Zach folded his arms. “I guess if we need to, yes. But no offense, new dragons are always a lot of trouble.”
“Hey, this one isn’t up to find a mate. Just to help us and go back into cryo,” Red said.
“If you think it’s just going to work out like that, you don’t understand dragons at all,” Luc said.
“Maybe I don’t,” Red said. “But what else would you suggest? Flying all over the country, just hoping to smell him or something? You know dragons don’t have the best sense of scent.” Red shook his head. “We have all the brute force in the world, but that doesn’t matter if we don’t know where to apply it.”
“Good point,” Zach said. “We’ll contact the oracle. So that’s set.”
“All right,” Luc said. “I’m going to take my mate out to lunch. You’re welcome to join.”
“That sounds great,” Red said. “We worked up a sweat painting.”
“Ew,” Zach said, wrinkling his nose.
“Not a euphemism,” Red said. “Actually painting.”
Zach shrugged. “I’m just used to saying ‘ew’ to you. Gonna take a while for that to wear off.”
“By the way,” Red asked, before they reached their mates. “Which dragon is imprisoned?”
Luc and Zach looked at each other before answering. “Diamond,” Luc finally said.
“Seriously?” Red asked. “Shit.”
“Yeah,” Zach said. “I mean, the snobby son of a bitch had it coming, thinking he’s better than basically all dragons. But they couldn’t have picked a worse dragon to draw blood from. If they find a way to actually endow wyverns with his powers, we’re all screwed.”
“They already have some of his durability,” Luc said.
“Oh yeah,” Zach said. “We have to find him or we’re done for.”
“We’ll do it,” Red said. “It’s odd to be a team, but together, we can do it.”
Luc nodded at him as they reached their mates, and Red felt relieved to put work aside and just look into Faye’s shining eyes.
They locked their apartment and then walked after the other couples, her arm tucked into his.
She looked up at him privately, a twinkle in her eye. “Are you excited about the idea of dragon babies?” she asked.
“Hell yeah,” he said quietly, so the others didn’t hear. “I’m going to be trying to put one in you every second.”
She giggled. “You already do. I’m afraid to see what more would entail.”
“No, you’ll love it,” he said, nipping at her ear since the others weren’t watching.
She laughed again and swatted at him. But flushed, letting him know that he’d be welcome to continue when they were home.
“I’m going to have a mission,” he said. “It might take me away from home for a while. You might need to stay with the other women.”
She nodded. “I understood when I put the ring on that your world was complicated. I accept that things will be odd at times.”
Ruby Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 3) Page 12
