WickedBeast

by Gail Faulkner

  “The ‘don’t touch’ directive,” she replied dumbly.

  “I’m trying to protect you. What happens when you reach for me is different. I need to analyze it to understand why I react this way.”

  The fire licking around his eyes contradicted the normal tone of his words. There certainly was an inferno roaring in Kelly’s womb and her entire body was trembling as he looked into her eyes. His calm was a mask, the rock-hard body beneath hers gave him away. Every muscle tensed, rippling with the blaze he was containing.

  “You don’t understand your response to me?” she asked cautiously.

  Cord raised a brow as he regarded her. “It has unusual elements that quickly get out of control. I do not wish to harm you or embarrass you.”

  “You’ve never felt this way before?” she pressed.

  “I am a creature of control. That is the only responsible way to handle power. If control is eliminated, I become the abominations we must kill,” he corrected. “My response to you initiating intimate contact is dangerous. You must refrain.”

  Kelly smiled and glanced down to hide her eyes. He didn’t have a clue what to do with being emotionally involved. He was used to being desired, but feeling the rush of validation when someone he desired wanted him back seemed to have completely unbalanced the big beast.

  He was in love and had no idea what that meant. The heat of that knowledge would not let her off the physical high they’d just reached. She saw no reason to give him a pass on it if she was going to suffer until they could be together in private.

  “I want you, Cord,” she said softly in his mind to ensure privacy. Her eyes looked directly into his as she said it.

  “I will have you Wind Witch, and when I do, you will understand. I will enter that pretty body as you face me. I will have it with you turned away so you’re only stimulation is the sensation entering between your legs. I will have you,” he promised in a dark growl, his chest rising on harsh breaths as he answered.

  Kelly swallowed. She had to look away from those eyes. Find a way to live with the fire eating her from the inside out. Lust was crawling under her skin, wrapping around the sensitive centers of her body and hanging on. His words only drove lust’s talons deeper into swollen flush. But she had the deep satisfaction of knowing he was just as turned inside out.

  The pilot’s voice startled her even though the volume of the speaker system was low. “We’ll be landing in ten minutes, folks. Welcome to Scotland. It has been a pleasure flying your jet, Mr. Windweaver. I hope we can do business in the future. Just contact my agency when you’re ready to return.”

  Before Kelly could open her mouth, Cord continued to her softly, “Don’t think for a minute that you’re the only one who wants and is denied.” He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Next time we are alone, I won’t be seducing you. Not the first time and probably not the second.”

  Across from them, Minuet stirred in her sleep. They felt her waking slowly as the plane descended. Minuet sat up and beamed at them, naturally happy upon waking.

  Cord had directed the pilot to make the flight plan straight into Scotland, avoiding London. In fact, he’d chosen the smallest airport he could that would accept private, international flights. Watching Minuet as they drew closer and closer to the medium-size city, Cord was slightly relieved. Perhaps it was the lethargy of waking up from a nap, but he suspected it was the population they were entering that had her subdued. However, she didn’t appear to need to separate herself from reality this time.

  As soon as Minuet had stirred, Kelly sat up in her own seat. She folded the two blankets, settling beside her daughter to watch as they neared the airport. It was day, Scotland time, however for them it should’ve been night according to Kelly’s body. Minuet’s nap and the bouts of sleeping throughout the day would make her ready to face the Scottish day normally.

  Kelly supposed that Cord didn’t need sleep the same way she did, so it was only going to be her who was exhausted. Not just exhausted but strung out wanting a dragon who was very good at keeping her that way though he had no idea what he was really feeling. He also had no idea what was coming. A tired, sexually frustrated woman usually did not make a pleasant companion. Emotionally she was extremely satisfied though, it made up for several other things in a big way.

  As she sat beside Minuet, watching the ground get closer and closer, every breath she took rubbed sensitive nipples against the lace of her bra. If she shifted, the stiff material of her jeans dug into the throbbing folds between her legs. She felt a little lightheaded and decided it was because all the blood in her body was busy making her miserable.

  They landed and passed through the obligation of customs. They couldn’t actually forget anything for this trip, Cord simply summoned Kelly’s passport when he needed it. Minuet was still on her mother’s documents from an earlier vacation to Canada.

  Kelly was occupied taking care of Minuet as they’ve moved in the airport. Cord was always either right beside them or directly behind them, a protective presence that she avoided touching. A few times his hand had rested on the small of her back to direct their movements, forcing the burn in her body to flame. A car waited for them at the terminal door.

  As they pulled away from the airport, Cord explained they were going to a bed and breakfast well outside of town.

  Deep in her chest, a tight fist of power twisted. Kelly became aware of the new sensations as her body burned around the feelings. They were not so much feelings as knowledge. Whatever it was, it was buried too deep for her to pull it up to examine it, but she felt it coming on its own. As if the heat of her frustration had cracked some internal shell. The possibility of that being true made illogical sense.

  If she had some internal birthright that had been hidden from her all her life, emotionally committing to Cord and receiving the same commitment from him, even if he didn’t realize what had happened, would trigger her gifts. He’d been puzzled by her lack of faith in her own powers, telling her over and over again that it was her belief that would free it.

  If this was the birth of her gifts into full strength, Cord had been wrong. It was her lack of him that had been holding her back.

  The slow unfolding of knowledge washed over her, and Kelly was amazed at the new awareness it gave her. She was still frustrated as hell, and she was also quite sure that her dragon didn’t have a clue what he’d triggered in both of them. He was completely focused on her sexual overdrive problem.

  They left the city and entered picturesque countryside. Minuet became more active, peppering Cord with questions. He answered her questions with an endless supply of good humor. A little over an hour later they pulled up to a charming country inn that sprawled in the middle of a wildly flowering garden. Natural stone paths meandered about the property, disappearing and reappearing around the exuberant shrubbery. The place could have been clipped from a magazine.

  They didn’t even have to check in. Pulling up to the far end of the building, away from the central structure, Cord produced a key and opened the door on a charming suite. It managed to appear as if they were walking into the past. Antiques for furniture were scattered about the comfortable sitting room that welcomed them. The space included three bedrooms. Minuet was delighted and seemed to sparkle as she explored the rooms.

  A small kitchen was attached to their common sitting room. The back door of that kitchen opened onto one of the garden paths. Suddenly a beautiful terrier appeared outside the screen door, sitting with its tail wagging furiously. Minuet was instantly captivated, running to meet her new friend.

  Cord smiled at Kelly as he suggested, “Why don’t you take a nap while Minuet and I have a walk with our friend?”

  “Are you sure that dog is safe?” Kelly wanted to know as she eyed the friendly creature that was trying to lick Minuet through the screen door.

  “I’m sure I can control any beast that size. It’s the woman-size one I’m having trouble with,” Cord said. His tone was full of amusemen
t.

  Turning to Minuet, Kelly smiled brightly. “Would you like to go for a walk with Cord and the puppy?”

  “Me run,” Minuet corrected her as she dashed to Cord and grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the back door. “Me and Shawn wants run.”

  Cord let her tow him through the kitchen. The low rumble of his laugh moved like the brush of male fingers down Kelly’s back.

  “The dog’s name is Shawn?” he asked Minuet as they went out the door.

  Kelly didn’t hear any more as she closed the door to her elegant bedroom. Stripping off her clothes as fast as possible, she headed for the shower. Damn it, a girl needed relief and she needed it now. A cold shower had never looked so inviting in her life.

  Ten minutes later, Kelly gave up on the cold water and lay on top of the covers of her bed. Completely nude, she hoped her body would calm down as the air dried her. The door opened and the dragon entered.

  Chapter Twelve

  Her door closed behind Cord with a soft click. Kelly sat up jerkily, reaching for something to pull over her. The urge to hide was immediate. On the heels of the thought flashed the question about Minuet. Naked didn’t matter anymore, but before she could get the question out he answered it.

  “Minuet is playing with the owner’s daughter. Lori’s mother is watching them. Lori is about her age. Harrison owns this place and I have every confidence in his choice of employees. Minuet is fine.” His big frame had not moved from the door.

  Kelly’s eyes widened then her body relaxed.

  Cord rigidly attached his back to the door, giving her a few seconds. It was all he had. The scent of her arousal was thick in the air. It went straight to the animal responses. She was in heat and he would kill to get to her, to fuck her. The animal kingdom was not polite about reproduction and he was holding on to the few human responses he could muster as his eyes tracked over her naked body.

  Her relief at knowing Minuet was okay was relaxing for a second. Then she was aware of the male before her. Dragon in human skin was standing rigidly at her door with fire behind his eyes. Those molten metal eyes traveled over her and Kelly felt the heat of the earth’s core. An elemental reaction shot through her, causing her body to gather, preparing to leap somewhere. Escape.

  “Don’t do it,” he cautioned. “Don’t bring the hunter. Let me be gentle.”

  His sentences were sharp, powerfully minimal. He was asking for surrender, cautioning her not to run. Kelly felt his threat burn down her body, a flash fire to already smoldering responses.

  “You told me there would be no gentle,” she reminded him in cautious tones as she relaxed, slowly lowering her body to the bed. She couldn’t remove the watchful looked from her eyes. Fear, excitement, whatever, he brought them all to the room. This was what she’d wanted but the tension was difficult to work through.

  “Gentle is relative. I want you to be sure. For about two more seconds I can turn around and leave this room. After that, asking is over. Say yes.”

  “Yes to what?” Kelly wanted to know. She was lying naked on a bed and the man wanted her to say yes. What did he need, sign language? How much more yes could be required?

  “Say it, Kelly,” he rumbled.

  His insistence on hearing the simple word raised big, loud, screaming warnings. His reluctance to explain what the yes was about dotted those warnings with flashing red lights. This naked woman was going to ignore all the flashing, screaming, blinking warnings because the dragon at the door had just removed clothing with a thought and she was all out of time to think.

  “Yes.”

  Cord crossed the room in a fluid motion. Coming up her body from the foot of the bed his arms scooped up her legs and as his face rose above hers. He held her stretched and open. The thick head of his cock pressed at her opening. Her eyes wide, she gazed up at him.

  His attention was fiercely focused as he looked down at her and his hips thrust forward. He didn’t push in. The beast rubbed himself over her, his cock furrowing up damp fold for a few brief moments.

  “Not wet enough,” his deep voice rumbled. His hand reached between them, hard fingers ruthlessly finding her clit. Teasing her with maddening circles as his eyes held her gaze.

  It was so nakedly intimate. He was expertly manipulating her body, driving her to respond with a touch that would not let her do anything else. A new type of control she couldn’t deny as long fingers stroked down to check her entrance. Sliding into her easily and still he wasn’t satisfied, returning to her clit.

  “More,” he snarled. His hand left her to grasp the back of her knee. Pulling her wide, his head dropped to her cunt. Hot lips nibbled at the swollen head of her clit as two fingers of the other hand held pussy lips open. He sucked her into his mouth, rolling her clit with tongue and lips as the two fingers now messaged her opening. Dipping in and pulling her lubricant out to paint it firmly around the tight entrance.

  He kept working her, sucking but not giving her enough sensation to take her close to the edge. His fingers rimmed and stretched her until three fingers slipped into her easily. With a low grunt his mouth left her body.

  His entrance was fast and forceful, even after his attention, he stretched her, thick cock filling her body with a hard push. He didn’t stop, pulling out as swiftly as he had entered to shove himself back home, deep within her. Her legs over his shoulders held her immobile beneath his pounding hips.

  If she hadn’t been so hungry for him, so totally primed into wet anticipation, this might have been painful. As it was, the slap of his hips against her created a sting that added sharp sensation to the already thundering crescendo crashing through her system. With each movement, his body stabbed through her most sensitive nerve endings, sending shock waves of pleasure ripping up her belly. Sparks cascaded around her body as he repeated the demanding sensations.

  There were no words passing between them as his body took her. Helplessly, she responded, her channel clenching around the merciless invader. That’s when his eyes changed again and Kelly suspected he didn’t so much control that change as allow it to happen.

  The cock slicing into her body continued relentlessly as the face above her showed her that hint of the predator. Looking into feral passion, Kelly found she loved being fucked to within an inch of her life by the beast. His control was complete and almost lost. He was both. She was the one who took him there. He had taken the time to ensure her readiness, but it had been different this time, a basic, animalistic demand.

  His hand reached between them and grasped her clit.

  It was too much and so powerfully right. He was losing control. His need had nothing to do with feeding and everything to do with getting in her. Sensation, emotion and screaming lust combined as release took her on a fast dizzying ride. He didn’t slow down.

  Kelly’s hands gripped his shoulders and Cord’s lips drew back in a snarl. He swiftly grabbed her wrists, pulling her arms overhead and holding them there with one hand. The other hand went to her breast and griped soft flesh. He kept slicing into her. Holding her beneath him as his eyes burned down at her.

  Kelly’s breath came in harsh gasps as somehow the power in his hips turned up a notch, slamming at blinding speed. The smack of every contact sounded louder as he continued to fuck her with harsh, driving thrusts.

  “I need,” he growled through his teeth.

  Her body was tightening again, answering his demands. His hand kneaded her breast as he snarled his vulnerability. Primitive gratification joined the vortex of sensation and emotion swallowing her alive.

  This male held her under his pounding cock, her legs ruthlessly immobilized over his shoulders and her hands stretched above her body. He was taking her as basically as he could and her body was going crazy. His control of her movements was complete but the fire leaping in his eyes told her she drove him. The knowledge was erotic and edgy.

  Again an orgasm rocked her, drawing a scream from her lips. At her cry, his head whipped back and her unfocused eyes followed
his every move as his mouth opened. She thought he would howl, but what came out of his mouth was much more demanding than that. It was a quiet roar that ended in a long, drawn-out purr as his body continued fucking her.

  That’s when Kelly realized he was still controlling himself to a great degree. The beast entering her body was being as gentle as he could be. The instincts driving him could be recognized as an animal to some degree but there was something else too. Something much bigger and darker.

  The purr stopped, his head came down to look at her. “Need more.”

  Kelly simply looked at him. “More what?”

  “More submission.”

  “I don’t understand,” she panted the words.

  “Predators need more. Must control them,” he said again insistently. The words were almost unrecognizable as he growled them. His lips drew back, displaying gleaming fangs where teeth had been before. “Trust me.”

  He abruptly released her and pulled out of her body. His hands grasped her hips, flipping her on the bed easily so she was facedown. “Knees up,” he snarled. “Do it for me.”

  It sounded as if he were strangling on the words as he demanded her acceptance. Kelly came up on all fours and there was another muted growl behind her.

  “Head down, hands over head. Offer mate.”

  He was directing her to expose and offer her body to him. Her arms trembled and she dropped to elbows, her head sank down as she laced her fingers behind it. Doing as he demanded shot a potent mix of erotic awareness through her.

  “Spread legs. Arch back. Must have more.”

  Her body shifted as directed and she heard another long hiss from him as his hands grasped her hips. His thighs moved to the inside of hers, ensuring she remained spread as he directed, his cock brushing her entrance. He held it there, moving on her folds in a circular tease. The rumbling purr continued. Kelly realized he was watching. Looking down on the spread of her ass and cunt and purring.