Bk 1 Dracones Awakening

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  His eyes closed, and the anguish in his heart eased, until his throbbing hard-on made him cry out.

  “I know I’m not who you want, but this,” she licked her lips and stared down, “This isn’t going to stop, unless we—” She swallowed and met his glazed eyes.

  “No, Tierney. I—no, this isn’t right and—” He tried to pull away, but agony gripped him, until she wrapped a hand around his cock. Slowly, she slid her hand up and back down, feeling his pain disappear and the intense pleasure that whipped through him. Then he threw his head back and moaned.

  “Jax.”

  His eyes shot to hers and he groaned as need ripped through him like wildfire, making him shake with anticipation.

  “Tierney,” he let her see how badly he wanted her.

  “Please, Jax. I ache for you.”

  His heart raced as she eased him back onto the bed and lay beside him. Her hand continued to stroke him, sending shivers up his spine. “I’m not good for you, and … I can’t give you babies,” he said with such sadness, she could only stare at him, dumbfounded.

  “What?” she asked, not sure she had heard right. She knew he felt he wasn’t good enough, but really, babies? That’s his hang up? Finally, she shook her head. “I disagree with how good you are, and as for babies, I don’t care. All I want is you.” Angry, she knew her eyes were glowing.

  JAX GAPED AT HER. Could it really be that simple?

  Without realizing what he was doing, his hand found a breast that he’d longed to touch forever, and he sucked in a breath as she moaned. He trailed his fingers over and watching the desire flare in her eyes, made his way down her stomach and lower.

  He couldn’t hold back the groan when he reached her panties and found the sweet spot between her legs. Tierney’s sigh of pleasure rang like music in his ears, as he slid a finger under her panties and inside of her, loving how wet and ready for him she was. When he eased a second finger in, she writhed under his hands and he wanted to return the pleasure she had given him. As she trembled and moaned, his craving for her jumped another notch.

  But no matter how badly he wanted her, he refused to rush her. Damn, this Sevaris bond is brutal. Having never been so big in his life, he was terrified that he’d hurt her.

  “Jax.” Tierney thrust against his hand. “Stop thinking. Get out of your head,” she whispered as his fingers worked magic on her body, and he couldn’t but smile. She knew him so well.

  “Gods, babe, I’m burning for you, please,” she begged and her arousal smelled sweet and spicy, with a hint of wildflowers.

  He lowered his lips to hers, and Tierney’s essence filled his mouth and teased his senses. Her tongue dueled with his, begging him for more, while his cock jerked in her hand. Eyes shining, she whimpered at the loss as he withdrew his fingers.

  Then nibbling on her lips, he began to ease her wet panties down her legs and she tensed up. “Tiern?” At the fear on her face, sudden rage flooded his system as he remembered her saying Marcius had attacked her. A fierce killing need to protect his mate made him want to destroy the already dead bastard.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said as he held her, trying to offer comfort while he screamed at his body to shut the hell up.

  “No, I’m okay, he didn’t—” Pushing away she reached down and slipped her panties off. “I’m just nervous.” She chuckled and snuggled back into his arms, his throbbing cock sandwiched between them once again.

  Locking her lips onto his, her tongue delved deep inside, tasting, exploring. Jax rejoiced at the sweet pleasure of her skin touching his. His dragon hovered near the surface, waiting to join and become one with her, and even though she still needed to go through her Awakening, Jax sensed her dragon’s craving to be possessed as well.

  Lost to her soul-healing touch, delirious passion filled him, as she left his lips and trailed scorching kisses down his neck and over his chest. “You’re killing me here.” He shivered with desire as her nails raked his sides.

  “I want you,” she said, and he moaned at her words.

  Then, eyes sparkling, she lay back and spread herself, waiting for him. Her smoldering desire held him spellbound. “Kiss me,” she demanded huskily, before pulling him down on top of her, putting the tip of him right at her core.

  Jax shook as his cock rubbed against her heavenly opening, drawing sweet little whimpers and moans from her, while he struggled to hold still. Then his lips hungrily sought hers, while the sounds she made stirred him to a blazing pitch. It took everything he possessed not to thrust deep into her warmth, but he refused to hurt her.

  “You’re driving me insane.” She wiggled, about to make him cum.

  “Fuck, I’m dying to be inside of you.”

  Her tongue darted out, licked his bottom lip and slipped back into his mouth again. “Then what are you waiting for?”

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said.

  “You are huge,” she teased.

  Jax groaned. “I’m not this big normally.”

  “Oh, too bad.”

  “Wha-what?”

  “I like you this big,” she said hungrily, and rubbed against his cock. Waves of pleasure shot from his toes straight up his spine.

  She tore her lips from his and clutched him, threatening his tenuous control. “I need you, now.” Panting, she grabbed his ass and ground herself against him, forcing the head of his cock between her folds and suddenly something gave way. At her quick inhale, he stilled.

  “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” The thought terrified him.

  “No, I’m—” she moaned, her frantic hands all over him and he tried to hold still, let her get used to the size of him, but the wait was hell. “I want you,” she cried and shoved everything she felt, needed, wanted, at him, shattering him. “Please.” The depths of her desire sent him over the edge and he came apart. Pleasure consumed him as his seed spilled inside her.

  “Shit, sorry—”

  Her mouth claimed his, as her own pleasure began to build. She hissed and writhed against him, driving him wild. He gasped as he stopped cumming, though his cock strained for more.

  “I want all of you.” She clutched his ass and with a wild roar, he lost control and thrust deep into her warmth.

  “Oh fuck. Babe, I never—” Head spinning, their orgasms continued to build and he couldn’t have stopped if he had wanted to.

  “Harder, faster,” she cried into his mouth, tongue seeking all of him, and their pleasure built to an exquisite agony, before their control shattered and their combined orgasms ripped through them.

  Jax broke into a million tiny pieces as her inner walls milked him. “I want to stay buried inside you forever,” he whispered, lost to this woman whom he loved with his entire being. Carried away on a cloud of bliss, with both their shields gone, their bodies quaked with aftershocks. They fed off each other, sending them into another orgasm, then another as the bonding took over.

  But instead of tapering off, the pleasure continued to increase, and Tierney screamed his name as their passion twined, around and around, leaving them desperate. They gripped each other tight, as if on a wild ride. Moaning, they reached deeper as the bond filled them up with another, intense desire. An insatiable craving to merge, consumed them like wildfire.

  They floated on a cloud of pure bliss and Jax gazed at the dragon blazing in Tierney’s eyes with hunger.

  A purring started within them both, and unable to tear their gazes from the other, they spun, lost to their sizzling passion as their souls began to merge in the sweetest haze of love.

  “You’re mine!” The growl tore from Tierney’s throat and an intense thrill quaked through Jax at her words.

  Sparks and lights encompassed them, pleasure sweeping every nerve ending. Jax roared as mindless pleasure consumed them. His magic writhed and danced, mixing and becoming one with hers.

  “More!” Tierney panted, back arched as sharp claws raked his sides. Claws?

  Not caring if it was the bond sending them spin
ning through heaven, or his dragon, Jax soaked up the decadent waves each thrust shot through him. Tierney’s claws raked him again and exquisite bliss tore a ragged shout from his throat. Tierney shuddered and climaxed with a strangled cry, her arms holding him close.

  Her eyes glowed a deep dark purple, and the sudden urge to taste her, overcame him. He began to lick, taste his way up her sleek, exposed neck, seeking what, he didn’t know.

  With a moan, Tierney tilted her head to the side. “Now,” she cried, like she knew something he didn’t. No longer in control, and existing on a cloud of ecstasy, he did as she demanded.

  “You are mine,” he rasped, feeling a strange, different magic flow through him. It rose up, seeking, until he let it loose to flow over the sweet pulse of her neck.

  “Now and forever,” she promised and he felt the vow snap into place. A moment later the mark of a tiny intricate blue dragon eye, showed up on the side of her neck, close to her collarbone.

  At the sight, his dragon roared, and a rich, golden magic swirled within him, sizzling through his veins. Her life—her magic, filled and intoxicated his whole being, overlaying the darkness inside him.

  Shocked and awed, Jax exposed his neck to her. “I’m yours, now and forever,” he promised, and with another shudder, the sweetest ecstasy flooded his system. Hot dragon magic, like a warm soothing breath of fiery air tickled his neck, marking him.

  Dragon magic mingled with their life force and his heart swelled with the intensity of his feelings. His love for her filled him, making him whole for the first time. His dragon roared again, and Jax sensed Tierney’s dragon doing the same.

  As their power and magic mixed, they burst into a million pieces left to float on the wind and while he couldn’t see it, he felt his own dragon eye show up on his neck while they both spun on a cloud of love.

  When they reformed, they floated, weightless, until their bodies stilled. Then Jax cradled Tierney in his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked, worried he’d hurt her.

  Tierney moaned and snuggled into him, satiated. “Mmm—good.”

  He smiled at how perfectly her body molded to the contours of his own, and how wonderful he felt after an agonizing night. How happy he felt, for once in his life.

  “I feel your happiness,” she said.

  He nodded. “All because of you.” Nothing mattered as long as he was with Tierney. She was his other half—his home, his heart, and she always had been. He’d been such an idiot to fight his feelings for her. “I’m so sorry for all the heartache and pain I caused you.”

  “Shh, no, don’t, Jax.”

  “No, I was an ass, and I can’t believe it took me so long to realize—” He sighed, leaning down to kiss her. “I love you so much,” he whispered, languid and exhausted. Tierney tensed up, and he cut her off before she could speak. “Don’t say anything. I hurt you, and I hate myself for that, I don’t expect you to—”

  “Shh, stop. I love you too.” She cut him off.

  His heart jumped at words he’d only dreamed of hearing, but never thought he would. Jax hugged her tightly. Then they lay in silence until she eased out of his arms.

  “Need to go pee,” she murmured without looking at him and hurried into the bathroom.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Soul Reality

  JAX WAS ON the verge of sleep, when his eyes flew open. He glanced at the bathroom and frowned. Something felt wrong. Then shook his head, thinking he was just being paranoid, especially since Tierney hadn’t been in there very long. Yet the feeling that something wasn’t quite right grew stronger. Getting up, he crossed to the bathroom and his heart pounding, pushed the door open. “Tiern?” The water was running and she sat on the toilet with the lid down, head in her hands, crying.

  Horror filled him and he rushed over. “Tierney?” He turned the tap off and knelt, wrapping his arms around her. “Oh, baby, what happened? Did I—” He started to ask if he’d hurt her, but didn’t need to. He knew he had. “I’m so sorry.”

  “No, I’m okay. I’m fine,” she sniffed, wiping her face.

  Despair rushed through him. He’d hurt her, again. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “No, stop. I’m fine, really,” she said, shrugging.

  “Then please, tell me why you’re crying.” He needed to understand.

  “I c-can’t,” she whispered.

  “You can tell me anything. After all we’ve been through—I love you so much, I can’t stand to see you hurting.” Tears started down her face again and it tore him apart. “Tierney?”

  “I-it’s silly—”

  “You can tell me,” he repeated.

  “I … I waited so long for you to say you love me,” she said. Jax frowned, confused. She sighed. “You say you love me, but this Sevaris bond, what if—”

  Finally, he understood. “You think I’m saying I love you because we’re bonded?” She shrugged. “No, Tierney. No, I’ve always loved you. I’m just stupid, and I was scared. Tiern, it’s always been you, there’s never been anyone else.” He couldn’t stand for her to doubt his love.

  “But what about all your other girlfriends?” she asked and he wished he could go back in time and change things.

  “No, never. I’m ashamed to say I tried to be with some of them to take my mind off you, but I never could. I never slept with any of them. You. Tonight. Was my first time. It’s only ever been you for me.”

  All this time she believed he’d been fucking other women, and at the different emotions on her face, Jax became determined she know the truth. “Come, I’ll prove it to you.” He scooped her up and carried her back to his bed. Gently, he set her down and lay beside her, trailing his fingers over her navel and up to her breasts.

  He caressed each one, drawing a moan from her as heat surged like wildfire through her. “I’m going to prove how much I love you,” he murmured, continuing to make her body hum. “Damn, I can’t get enough of you.”

  Tierney grinned as he took one of her breasts into his mouth.

  “Oh yeah,” she moaned as his tongue blazed a fiery trail to the next one. He flicked each hardened nipple, before trailing kisses down across her navel, making her moan and quiver.

  Tierney was ready for him, aching, as all the sensations of his touch and his tongue left her a shaking mass, wanting him inside her. He moved further down and parted her legs. She sucked in a breath when he lowered his head.

  Tierney writhed, digging her heels into the bed, calling his name. Then she let the sheets go, she ran her fingers through his short hair. Jax shivered.

  “I want you inside me,” she said, making him groan.

  Slowly he crawled up and lay down beside her. Claiming her lips once more, he pulled her up and over so she straddled him. “I thought you said you weren’t normally this big,” she teased, making him inhale sharply.

  Jax stared heatedly at the view of her in all her naked glory. With a smile, she leaned down and claimed his lips, drawing a sigh from him as her tongue teased his senses.

  “I want to make you scream with pleasure,” he said.

  Tierney tugged on his bottom lip, tongue flicking out, singeing him everywhere she licked.

  “I want that too,” she whispered as she moved back and forth along his length.

  Her fingers ran all over him, sending shivers down his spine.

  “Take me, please. Ride me,” His voice came out a hoarse rasp, and Tierney’s eyes glittered with desire.

  Then she lifted up and lowered herself onto his cock with excruciating slowness. “Uh-uh.” She grinned when he tried to thrust deep. Lifting back up, she waited for him to stop moving.

  He trembled, trying to hold still when he only wanted inside her.

  She teased him a few more times, taking him in a tiny bit before stopping and easing him almost all the way back out. Jax thought he wouldn’t be able to take any more, when she slid all the way down. He filled her warm, moist haven and groaned in delight. She grinned and started to move.

&
nbsp; “You make me lose control,” he said, as he gazed at her. His beautiful woman. His mate. His heart. Her eyes burned him as she rocked back and forth, sending pleasure ricocheting through him. “Tierney,” Jax said, barely hanging on but knowing it needed to be now. “Use your power. I want you to connect with me, like you did when I went through my Awakening.” He smiled at her startled look. “I want to show you how much, and for how long, I have loved you.”

  TIERNEY MARVELED at the precious gift Jax offered her. Access to his mind was huge, considering how closely he guarded his memories and secrets. He was willing to open himself up and lay himself bare. All for her.

  Sure, she had connected to him when he went through his Awakening, but other than her foray beyond his wall, she didn’t—and wouldn’t have—delved any further. His request proved the bond didn’t make him think he loved her—he just did.

  As she rode him, and pleasure built in each of them, Tierney summoned her power as pulses of ecstasy shot through her. Reaching out with her mind, she stared into his glowing blue gaze, and soared through their connection. All of a sudden, she viewed herself through his eyes.

  A shiver of embarrassment filled her, as she saw how beautiful and sexy she appeared to him, and she started to pull away.

  “No, don’t, please,” he said.

  Tierney stayed put and let his memories slide through her mind.

  She was five years old, laughing and twirling as she played. Her smile warmed his heart. He loved it when she took his hand, and even better, the odd times when she’d playfully kiss him. When they played, he bossed her and Sami around something fierce.

  Jax showed her how worried he’d been that she’d go off with Sami and leave him behind.

  She saw and felt his terror the day their village fell under attack. The horror of seeing everyone dead and his fear as he stepped into her home. She experienced his overwhelming despair at finding their moms, though he didn’t show them to her, but instead skipped ahead to him stabbing the bad man in the neck. The one who tried to pull her out of the cave. How he instinctively needed to protect her. Even then, he feared losing her.