Asha swallowed. “We don’t even know if we’re compatible,” she said at last, her voice suddenly thick and raspy. Seph could hear her pulse quicken, and could see the way her pupils dilated. He did not smell fear or anxiety on her, though. No, he smelled something else, something good.
Desire.
“Well,” Seph said, “there’s only one way to find out.” He took another step toward her, carefully closing the distance between them. “You know, when I first walked through those doors, you made me a promise – remember? You said you would help me to find happiness and harmony.” He lifted his hand to cup her jaw, his thumb stroking across the crest of her cheekbone. “It was right here the whole time, right in front of me.” His other hand skimmed low around her waist, drifting over the swell of her round hip to the small of her back. “The only time I’ve been happy in the last few months has been when I’m with you. That’s how I know you’re the one.” He lifted his eyebrows hopefully. “Haven’t you felt it, too?”
Asha nodded fractionally, her breath coming in short, eager gasps. “Yes,” she whispered. She placed her hands on his chest, sliding up around his shoulders. “I have. Several times.” She licked her lips. “I just had to keep telling myself to keep it professional.”
He smiled. “And now?”
“Now?” She smiled. “It’s about to get personal.”
She felt so soft and warm, just as he had imagined she would. Angling his head, Seph leaned down to capture her lush lips in a brief kiss to test the waters. They touched and clung together for a moment before he pulled back enough to look into her eyes again. If he detected the slightest hint that she did not want this, he would respect her and back off.
Asha buried her fingers in the short hair at the back of his head and dragged him back down. Their mouths reconnected, opening to allow their tongues to meet. Once they locked into that kiss, Seph could almost feel something inside him click, like the tumblers of a lock falling into place. Seph threw that door open wide. His arms shifted to gather Asha up and lift her easily, turning and pressing her up against the nearest wall. The pictures hanging on it jumped with the impact; one fell to the floor when Asha flung out an arm, blindly trying to grab for nonexistent purchase on the smooth, vertical surface. Seph wasted no time in tugging her skirt up, stroking her thigh as he made his way between her legs. He found her mons and rubbed his finger back and forth along the outer lip of her vulva, the silky material of her panties immediately growing damp under his ministrations. Asha trembled, her hips jerking against his hand. Encouraged, Seph brought his other palm up to knead her breasts through her blouse.
Abruptly, Asha caught his shoulders and pushed him back, breaking the kiss with a loud snap. Panting, she gazed at him for a moment, and then reached to unbutton her shirt. She let the sides fall open to reveal a black and red lace bra with a front closure. Seph licked his lips, delighted, his eyes focused on her fingers as she unhooked the clasp. The whole time, he continued to stroke her through her underwear, moving lower, pressing his hand against her and feeling the wet heat of her womanhood throbbing with arousal.
Asha released her breasts, allowing them to tumble free. Small dark nipples capped large areola the color of rich cocoa. Seph could not resist. With a groan, he swooped down and buried his face between those soft mounds of flesh, inhaling the fragrance of Asha’s skin. He mouthed over one breast, tongue curling around the peak, drawing it in and suckling. Asha gasped and grabbed at his blond hair, digging her nails into his scalp. She arched her back, lifting one knee against Seph’s thigh. With a slight twist of his hand, Seph moved her panties aside and plunged his fingers past the slick petals of her labia in search of the entrance to her body. He found it, and pressed in.
“Oh, sweet Jesus!” Asha cried out, when Seph’s fingers curled upward and strummed her G-spot.
Seph lifted his head from her breast and grinned. He loved seeing her writhe, riding against his hand, her eyes closed and her mouth slack in ecstasy. “You like that?” he asked, his voice rough with his own growing need. He could feel his cock filling inside his pants. He leaned in, kissing along her neck to her ear. Tugging at the lobe with his teeth, he let out a soft rumble. “You’re always playing matchmaker for Dragons…but have you ever had one inside you?”
She swallowed and shook her head slightly. “No,” she said. Her eyes opened and she looked at him. “But I know it’s different.” She dropped a hand down and grasped him through his jeans, even as he continued to finger her. “I’ve seen pictures.”
He chuckled. “Darling,” he purred, “pictures do not do it justice. And I’m not bragging when I say that.” He leered, leaning his forehead against hers. “There’s a reason why Dragon dildos are so popular…”
“I know,” Asha murmured. She caught his lower lip with her teeth and sucked at it gently before releasing it again. She smiled coyly. “I have one.”
That made Seph arch his eyebrows in surprise; he laughed. “Well,” he said, “I think you’ll find nothing compares to the real thing.”
“Hm,” she said. “Maybe you need to show me.”
“I’ll do more than that.” Kissing her hard on the mouth, Seph pulled his hand from between her legs. He opened his fly and hauled his cock out into the open. Asha did not hesitate to touch it, tracing the three rigid rings that formed under the conical tip. She stroked down the length where it flared at the base, her fingers barely able to encompass the girth. She clasped and tugged on it, dragging her palm over the rippling veins that spiraled around the length. All the women Seph had ever been with had praised these features, saying they enhanced pleasure during intercourse. One even said the natural upward curve of it added to the stimulation and caused her to experience multiple orgasms.
Seph wanted to make Asha feel all those things and more. Stooping slightly, he hooked her under her upraised leg and hoisted her, still bracing her against the wall.
Asha laughed. “Aren’t you getting tired of holding me up like this?” she asked. “I’m a big girl.”
“Mm, yes, you are.” Grinning, he shook his head. “But you’re light as a feather, to me.”
“That’s right,” she said, “I forget about that Dragon strength.” She slid a hand down between their bodies. “Well, at least let me take care of this.” Grasping his dick, she helped to maneuver him into position, guiding it to her entrance. She looked up into Seph’s eyes and gave a slight nod, a wordless way of telling him she was ready.
With a slow, hard thrust, Seph buried himself inside her. They both groaned as their bodies fit together. Seph held her in place as he started to pump his hips. He kissed Asha fiercely before drawing back to watch her face change, cycling through expressions of surprise, lust, determination, and total enjoyment. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her other leg, her heels digging into his ass. Seph delighted in Asha’s breathy whimpers and occasional sharp cries. He covered her mouth in kisses, feeling her breasts bounce against his chest. He wanted to feel those hard nipples pressing into his bare skin. I want to be totally free with her, he thought.
Without warning, Seph pulled Asha away from the wall and, still locked together, carried her over to the sofa. Once there, he pulled out of her completely. He smiled down at her as he proceeded to strip off his shirt.
To his surprise, Asha took advantage of the fact that she now sat at eye level with his cock. She took it in her hand again, wet with her own juices, and closed her fist around the head. Leaning forward, she opened her mouth and, looking up at Seph, extended her tongue to lick the tip and press into the opening. Seph felt his knees tremble. For Dragons, the urethra was particularly sensitive. It could expand to pass the seed sac that would fix inside a mate’s womb, absorbing her ovum and forming a shell that would grow and harden to form a leathery egg. Seph always liked it when his partners would touch him there, slip a fingertip inside or – like Asha – a tongue. It drove him wild and if he wasn’t careful, it could make him transform into full Dragon for
m. He managed to control it, however. Dropping to the floor on his knees, he grabbed the waistband of her panties and worked them down her legs. “Bye-bye,” he said, tossing the wad of material over his shoulder. He slid his palms down the insides of her thighs, licking his lips as he spread her open and beheld the glistening pink nub of her swollen clit. Seph shook his head. “Oh…I want that.”
Her blouse and bra still hanging open, bosom rising and falling with her excited breathing, Asha leaned back. Her gaze locked with Seph’s as she reached down and placed her fingers against her vaginal lips, stroking them lightly with her bejeweled nails. “Take it, baby,” she said with an inviting smile. “Come on. I want that big Dragon dick back inside me.”
Her bold use of profanity made Seph shudder. “Oh, yes,” he said, all too eager to comply. Hoisting her legs over his shoulders, he tugged her plump bottom to the edge of the cushion and drove back into her. He fucked into her hard and deep, watching the way her heavy breasts rolled around. Reaching up, he covered them with his hands, nipples poking at his palms as he squeezed them. He bent forward and she leaned up to meet him for another sloppy kiss.
Pulling out again, Seph urged Asha up on her knees, facing away from him. She took that opportunity to peel off her shirt and bra, leaving her bare from the waist up. Her skirt remained hitched around her waist. She braced herself on both hands against the sofa’s back cushions. “Aw, yeah,” she grunted, when Seph entered her again from behind. “That’s it, baby. Do me good! Fuck me – make me come!”
Seph hooked his fingers in the waistband of her skirt and used it for leverage as he jerked her back onto his cock. He wanted this woman physically, but he also wanted her to be his mate, to be the mother of his children. He did not need any computer tests to tell him what he knew by instinct as he pounded into her. Her inner muscles quivered around his thick shaft, her body eager and willing and ready for him. I could seed her, he thought wildly. My eggs could grow inside her. She’s the one – I know it; I feel it in my soul. Leaning up, Seph kissed her shoulder and then pressed his lips behind her ear. “It’s you, Asha,” he panted against her cheek. “It’s always been you. That’s why none of the others worked. You are my mate.”
“Yes!” she sobbed, the joy in her voice pure. She reached back and grabbed a handful of his hair, holding onto his head. “I’m yours, I’m all yours!”
Something inside Seph began to sing. Closing his eyes, he pressed into her one last time and held on as his cock throbbed and pulsed. He could feel each seed ball as it traveled the length of his shaft. He felt Asha tighten around him, every contraction of her own release milking him for his full load and taking it into her body.
The seeding seemed to go on forever; finally, completely spent, Seph pulled out. He dropped onto the sofa, propped up in the corner with arms and legs splayed. His now-limp cock hung between his legs. He felt dazed, but in the best way possible. He looked over at Asha, a deliriously happy grin stretched across his sweaty face. “That…was incredible.”
“That,” Asha said, still catching her breath, “is what happens between a compatible Dragon-Human couple, according to all reports.” She dragged herself up and crawled over to flop against his side, snuggling in under his arm. “You seeded me, too. Do you know what that means?”
He nodded. “I just impregnated you.” His smile faltered in confusion when she shook her head. “But…I thought you said we were compatible?”
“We are.” She rested her chin against his chest and peered up at him, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I was referring to the fact that this was another success on the Wings of Love books.”
Seph let out a laugh. “Yeah,” he admitted, “but not by your usual standards. None of the prospects your computers chose for me panned out. Still…” He tucked a hand behind his head and shrugged. “I came here to look for a mate, and I found one.” He wrapped his other arm around Asha’s shoulders and hugged her close. “I’m glad it was you.”
“So am I,” Asha murmured. “When I started this business, I never thought I would find my match.” She reached up to stroke his cheek with her fingertips. “I was so busy trying to help other people hook up, I didn’t think I could ever meet someone. Does that sound crazy?”
“You’re asking someone who helps couples stay together,” Seph reminded her. He let out a deep sigh. “We’ve spent years putting other people’s happiness before our own.” He caught her hand and pulled it around, depositing a kiss in her palm. “I guess that makes us both crazy.”
A smile stretched across her beautiful face. “Then that makes us even more perfectly suited for each other.”
“I guess so.” Drawing her in for another kiss, Seph stretched out the full length of the sofa; he maneuvered Asha to lie on top, covering him with her soft, warm, voluptuous body. I have my mate, he thought, amazed. My perfect match, in every way.
Epilogue
The compound spanned over rolling, green hills, perfectly landscaped with trees and flowers. Stone paths wound through the gardens past tranquil fountains. Some referred to this place as “Paradise.” It had an official title: Tarasque Center, named for the legend of a dragon tamed by the love and patience of Saint Martha.
Seph and Asha walked side by side through the grounds. She carried a smart tablet, swiping her forefinger over the screen. The white jewels imbedded in the pink polish on her long, beautifully manicured nails twinkled in the sunlight. “Now,” she said, “this is today’s itinerary. At nine, one, and three, we have the What to Expect from Your First Clutch classes. At noon, we have the lunch with Dr. Meredith giving a talk about nutrition and the importance of maintaining the proper diet during and after pregnancy. Then at five, we have Laying an Egg: Giving Birth to Dragons.”
Seph cringed at the last one. “I still think we shouldn’t have scheduled that last one for just before supper,” he said. “The video is pretty graphic. It’s just…” He made a disgusted noise and shuddered. “I don’t know. It might be too much.”
Asha laughed. “For you, maybe,” she said, and smiled up at him. “You are one of the most squeamish people I have ever met – and you’ve hunted in Dragon form! How can you take down a deer in the forest with your bare teeth and be grossed out over the sight of something as beautiful as a woman passing an object the size of your head through her vagina – oh, wait.” She held up a hand. “That’s it. I forget that men, no matter what their species, don’t mind seeing things go into a va-jay-jay, but they have problems seeing something coming out of one. Mm-hm. I got you, now. I got you.”
“Yes, well,” Seph sighed, “I suppose there’s something to that.” He caught the sleeve of her blouse, the off-white lace a lovely contrast to her brown skin, and stopped her. Pulling her around to face him, he smiled down at her. “I know I say this to you every day; if I didn’t, you would think there was something wrong with me.” He gazed into her dark eyes. “I love you.” He spread a hand over the swell of her belly. “And I will be there every time, whenever you give birth to our children.” He shook his head again. “I can’t believe how blessed I am to have found you.”
Asha smiled and reached up to touch his cheek. “I was always right here,” she said. “Right under your nose, the whole time. I still can’t believe that I was your perfect mate.” She dropped her hand down to cover his where it rested on her stomach. “Honestly – if you had told me three years ago that I would be carrying a second Dragon clutch in my womb, combining my matchmaking business with a retreat that counsels couples and teaches them the ins and outs of raising a family? I would have laughed in your handsome face.”
“And yet, here we are,” Seph said. He pulled her fingers up to his lips and kissed them. “Motherhood suits you, too. You’ve given me two amazing daughters with our first clutch; soon, we’ll have a son.” He still remembered his joy when he saw the results of the last ultrasound and discovered that one of the eggs contained a male. He loved their little girls from the first clutch – Mara and Tansi were the
priceless jewels in their daddy’s hoard – but he could not help the feeling of pride and anticipation for the arrival of their first male child. He looked forward to the day when the egg left his wife’s body, when he would hold it in his hands and help peel away the pliable, leathery, protective shell and free the infant inside. “Our little Kur.”
“I still don’t know how I feel about that name,” Asha said. “I know it’s in honor of the First Dragon, but it still sounds like another word for ‘dog’ – ‘cur.’” Her full lips twisted slightly. “I just don’t want to set our child up to be teased by other kids. Because while I know you grew up with private tutors and all, I know how cruel children in public schools can be. And I am adamant about sending our kids to regular schools. They need to learn how to socialize with other people, and realize that they are no better than anyone else.” She smiled. “But we don’t have time to rehash that discussion. We’ve got a class to teach, and a lot of nervous couples to calm down.”
“Because seeing how happy and successful we are sets a good example,” Seph said, repeating the claim Asha had made when they first conceived of Tarasque Center.
She grinned. “And they told me Dragons can’t be trained.” They began to walk again. “I’ve still got to work on getting you properly housebroken, but we’re getting there.” Asha peered up at him, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. “Even if it takes the rest of my life.”
“Till death do us part,” Seph agreed. He knew from personal experience with his parents how short life could be. One could hope for a long life with one’s chosen mate only to have those dreams shattered by sickness, or some other sudden, unexpected event. He had made a promise, both to Asha and himself, that he would not dwell on those things or over-analyze them, and instead be thankful for what they had and to savor every moment. We’re going to watch our children grow up and have children of their own, he thought. Father may have tried to push him into finding a wife and settling down, but Seph had taken control of his own life and made his own choices. And I am happier for every one of them.
The Dragon King's Prisoner: A Paranormal Romance (Separated by Time Book 1) Page 19
