Light of Dawn

by Angela Colsin

  Charlotte remembered thinking Ulric was just a dangerous thug when they'd first met. Now, she wondered if one day, they'd be making such plans.

  After walking beneath a canopy of trees with strings of tiny, softly glowing white lights laced through the branches, Ulric came to a stop at the end of the path and looked her over, his expression thoughtful.

  “What?” Charlotte asked curiously.

  “You seem happy.”

  “I am happy,” she admitted. “I'm not at the Spire, and I've had fun tonight.”

  He lifted a hand to her cheek, asking, “Would I ruin that if I kissed you, sweetness?”

  The heat in his blue eyes left her breathless, and she was completely ready to accept. But something strange caught her attention on the path they'd just traveled down.

  Small, white and purple flowers had opened up on the limbs above.

  “Ulric?”

  At her confused tone, he turned his head to look back, asking, “What?”

  “Am I crazy, or were those flowers there before we walked by?”

  “I was too busy looking at you,” he admitted, though he sounded curious. “Have you been trying to transition?”

  It was the first time he'd mentioned the topic all night. “I've been meditating with Isadora, but … I'm still human,” she whispered softly, turning her eyes up to his face. “Do you think I did that without knowing it?”

  “I don't know. I've said before something seems different about you. I guess you'll have to ask when we get back.”

  “I'll do that,” she agreed, taking Ulric's hand so they could go. As strange as the experience was, she tried not to dwell on figuring it out. Isadora could help after their evening was officially over.

  On the way back to the Spire, Charlotte thought about their time together, realizing she felt as if she'd known Ulric for much longer than she actually had. There was a connection between them that she had to look deeper to see, but it was certainly there.

  Sure, they bickered, and couldn't agree on everything, but didn't that just make life more interesting?

  Besides, Charlotte had decided to make her own happiness without dictation from anyone else, and Ulric's company that evening made her genuinely happy. So why shouldn't she jump at the chance like Edith suggested? All of her plans for the future hadn't seemed right before, but with him around, she felt more enthusiastic.

  Maybe it really was fate.

  He had an arm over her shoulders when they reached her living quarters at the Spire, and Charlotte forgot about Pepper, who tried to curiously dart into the hallway when the door opened.

  Charlotte gasped and scurried to grab him before she hurried back inside with the playful cat in her arms.

  “Pepper, you feisty goofball,” she chuckled, releasing him.

  The feline hopped onto the coffee table to sit, and Ulric shut the door, asking, “Is he always so curious?”

  “Most times,” she confirmed, “and by the way, I never thanked you for taking care of him.”

  “It wasn't me, it was Garrick,” he replied, stepping closer.

  “Either way … ,” she started, then became distracted as he neared, finally whispering off topic, “Did you have fun tonight?”

  “More fun than I've had in a long time.” His thick arms wound around her, causing her body to press into his. “And you?”

  Her heart thudded, excited by the way her breasts had flattened against his hard chest as she mindlessly nodded. “Yes, and I'll enjoy it more when I get that kiss you wanted to give me.”

  Charlotte caught the briefest hint of a smile on his lips before she was lost with them against her own, clutching his sides in her hands while fearing everything was perhaps too good to be true.

  But shouldn't she take that moment and enjoy it? How often did someone get a chance to feel this content? And how perfect would things continue to be if she pursued something more than just a kiss?

  She ached with the need to find out, though she wasn't sure about going the whole way yet. Even knowing her past troubles had likely been caused by her fae heritage, Ulric would be only the second man she'd ever been intimate with, and her insecurity had her reluctant.

  But when he tugged his mouth from hers and sinfully uttered at her ear, “No woman's ever made me ache like this, Charlotte,” she knew she couldn't waste this opportunity.

  Her hands wandered over Ulric's broad chest, learning his shape through his shirt as she whispered, “Then would it be breaking your vow if I got down on my knees for you?”

  Glancing up, she saw a wild spark in his blue eyes, and slowly let her hands wander down across his hard abdomen to his belt buckle. As soon as he perceived her fingers undoing the latch, an erotic groan erupted from the back of his throat.

  “Are you … sure?”

  “Yes,” she replied, knowing exactly what she wanted. “I just need to know what you want.”

  His expression gave her all the information she needed, and she eased his zipper down while holding that heated gaze.

  As if rattled by the action, he answered gruffly, “There's nothing I want more than you. But I don't want you to feel obligated to … ”

  Ulric trailed as she slipped down his body, watching her like a predator, and the look made her pulse speed up.

  When her fingers pushed into his pants and found his concealed erection, she marveled at the size and how hot it felt against her palm. He was bigger than she was accustomed to, gently tugging him free to see the thick, veined length straining at attention. Already, beads of moisture collected at the swollen tip, and Ulric's eyes shut with her name on his lips when she squeezed him.

  Charlotte learned right then she could get drunk from his reactions alone.

  “I don't feel obligated, Ulric,” she murmured. “I'm turned on.”

  He looked back down at her, uttering on a shuddered breath, “I won't last. Not with you.”

  “Then I'll do it twice.”

  She'd make sure this night was just as unforgettable for Ulric as it had been for her.

  Chapter 23

  Ulric hadn't expected this night to end so erotically—he'd only imagined it.

  Spending the evening with Charlotte was exactly what he'd needed, his sole plan to ensure she understood two things at the end. First, he was truly sorry for hurting her, and second, if she let him, he'd provide whatever she needed.

  Gods knew he was never going to get used to how gorgeous she was. Smiling, scowling, laughing, yelling, it didn't matter. She was the most beautiful thing in this realm—in any realm—and somehow, she was on her knees before him, his swollen shaft in her palm.

  The sight alone had him ready to explode, much less the thought that she'd do this twice.

  He nearly couldn't handle how soft her skin felt without thrusting his hips for more as she pumped her fist over his aching shaft. When she leaned in slowly, and her tongue drew out to roll over the head, Ulric's knees nearly buckled.

  He looked down in time to see her lips parting, gazing up at him with an unbelievably sexy look in her eyes as he watched himself sink into those soft tiers.

  Gripping her shoulders, his chest heaved over the wet heat of her mouth consuming him, and he wondered if this could even be real. But all thought was lost when her lips formed a seal and she started to suck.

  Ulric's head fell back. “Charlotte … !”

  The pleasure of her lips drawing over him was perfect, and Ulric vowed to reciprocate at the earliest opportunity, savoring every bit of her erotic attention for the time being.

  “Gods,” he growled, uttering a slew of draconic words, the translation of which even he wasn't sure. Can't think with her sweet mouth all over me.

  Struggling for control, he gently threaded his fingers into her hair with a loud groan as she began moving faster, taking him deeper. Her tongue was maddening, wickedly stroking into his flesh, and Ulric shouted when he perceived the crown hitting the back of her mouth.

  Afraid of accidentally hur
ting Charlotte by clutching too hard, he removed his hands from her shoulders, keeping them busy by pulling off his jacket to discard carelessly. It'd been so long since he'd had any kind of pleasure that wasn't self-serviced he could already feel his release fast approaching, fighting it by digging his fingers into the arm of the couch next to him while sinking to his knees.

  Charlotte followed, and he wanted it to last so badly he was growling with the effort of holding back, finally grasping her nape, urging, “Stop, sweetness … I'm about to fucking go off.”

  “No,” she purred, “I wanna taste it, Ulric.”

  The idea of coming in her mouth made his heart thud, his muscles tensing when her tongue rolled over the head again before her lips closed around it, sucking hard—hungrily. Her hand stroked the length, the other cupping his pair, and to top it off, she was moaning against him.

  He was finished.

  “Fuck!” Gripping her nape, Ulric rocked his hips to her uncontrollably, having never felt such exquisite pleasure, building stronger until he tensed, shouting her name as she milked his seed from him completely.

  It was relentless, his control lost as he went into Wrath. No words were fitting enough to praise her for this, and he silently promised through the merciless orgasm that Charlotte would find hers next.

  Charlotte couldn't take her eyes off of Ulric. His reactions had her so wet her panties were damp as she rolled her tongue into his rigid cock, sucking her way off until just the tip was in her mouth.

  When he leaned against the couch and she brought him to his knees with pleasure, she was completely intoxicated. I think I could get used to this.

  Then he tensed, grabbing her as he suddenly erupted with a shout, wickedly rocking his hips in time with her mouth, his taste salty and hot. She finished him off with a few long licks that made his hips jolt before she released him.

  Sitting back, she realized he'd gone into Wrath, his black horns and glowing marks along his cheeks lending an otherworldly appeal to his visage that she could easily admire.

  It was even intimidating in a sexy way. He was virile, recovering from a hard orgasm, but she only had a moment to really appreciate it before she found herself on her back as Ulric climbed over her, leaning in to kiss her frantically.

  Charlotte gasped in surprise, the sound turning to a moan as his hand slid up her thigh, pushing her skirt around her hips to reveal her lace panties. Lust pooled at her core, but she grasped his wrist and broke their kiss to ask, “What are you doing?”

  “Returning the favor,” he growled, his accent as thick as she'd ever heard it.

  “No,” she shot back, and when Ulric gave her a questioning look, she frowned. “I-I can't.”

  “Why not? Why should I take from you without giving back?”

  “Because I wanted to give, not take.”

  “Then give me this.”

  She wanted to so badly. “It's not that simple. I-I've never … ”

  Charlotte trailed, wishing it was easier to say, but her previous difficulties with sex were embarrassing. Even though she was more aroused now than she could ever remember being, what if that trouble persisted?

  She had to look away before admitting, “I've never been able to … ”

  “You've never had an orgasm?” Ulric asked, sounding angrily surprised.

  “No, I have,” she rushed out, meeting his gaze again. “It's just never been easy for me, and I don't want you to feel like you're not … you know, performing well.”

  He grew silent, his expression thoughtful—not to mention ravenous—and the moment she tried to push herself up, he gave her a long, meaningful kiss that made her dizzy.

  “It's not your problem, and I'll prove it.”

  “You don't need to prove anything.”

  “What if we're mated, then? Do you expect me to never attempt pleasuring you?”

  She shivered over the thought, forcing herself to say as clearly as possible, “But what if we're not? Just don't worry about it, Ulric.”

  “I'm not worried,” he countered, “I'm eager.”

  “Eager?”

  With a nod, he explained, “To know how you taste, learn what you like.” He stroked his hand across her side, leaning in to nibble along her throat, then her jaw. She clutched her arms around him, eyes shutting when he murmured at her ear, “Then use those things against you until you're trembling and mindless with pleasure.”

  She was already mindless when he was stroking her all over, going back to her throat to kiss his way along to her chest, her nipples straining against her clothes. Ulric seemed to notice, sweeping his hand across a breast outside of her dress, then lower until he was brushing his fingertips over her panties.

  “You're so damned wet already,” he growled, stroking the damp material.

  Charlotte could barely speak, rasping, “I don't wanna disappoint you.”

  Slowly, he shifted down across her body, murmuring on the way, “We'll test it then.”

  She grew stiff when his lips brushed her nylon, then across her inner thigh until he was kissing the center of her covered mound. Her breath hitched, throbbing at the feel of his mouth so close to her aching flesh.

  “Not disappointed so far,” he announced, hooking his fingers into her panties to slowly tug them down around her thighs. When she heard his masculine groan, as if the sight he'd revealed was incredibly pleasing, Charlotte forgot all about worrying.

  “Ulric … ,” she rasped, clutching her fingers against his shoulders as he tugged her panties off completely and parted her legs wide. His thumbs spread her folds, his warm breath against her bare, damp skin, and when he hesitated, she almost begged him to keep going.

  “Gods, baby, you are the furthest thing from disappointing I've ever seen—in every way.”

  Her heart pounded, forgetting to breathe until finally, his hot mouth covered her, his tongue snaking out against her swollen clitoris. Charlotte was so tense she let a sharp cry.

  Ulric growled erotically in response as he slowly sucked the nub, his tongue rolling around it, and pleasure flooded through her faster than she'd ever experienced it.

  “Oh my god!”

  Panting, her back arched as one of his hands slipped up to cup her breast. She grasped it to hold there, letting another cry as his wicked tongue explored every inch of her, each heated stroke between her legs building the pleasure until she was writhing.

  This was nothing like before, and she couldn't get enough, shamelessly lifting her hips for more.

  “Don't think you'll last long either, but I can keep going.” He groaned the words as if this activity excited him just as much, and his tongue pressed against her entrance, rubbing just inside with a low groan. “Gods, you're sweet.”

  Charlotte could feel her body already spinning out of control, and she was helpless to fight against it. It'd always taken so much longer before, and suddenly, she was disappointed, wanting to experience this just a little longer.

  “Ulric! I've never … I-I don't … please!” she begged, unable to think, to tell him what she needed. Her hands clenched his tightly, and hearing the urgent sound of her voice, Ulric slowed down torturously, then stopped.

  She writhed while he gave what sounded like praise in a language she didn't understand, and one of his thick fingers slowly pressed inside her slick walls. Charlotte tensed, crying his name when he started thrusting it in and out, slow and deep.

  At the same time, she felt his mouth sucking at her swollen clitoris again, and she bowed up, her cries growing louder. Still, he kept her on the edge, making her think she was going to come before stopping long enough to draw it out.

  Thrashing, she mindlessly tried to draw away when it grew so overwhelming she couldn't stand it, only to find her hips secured in a tight hold while he continued on. Now, she simply needed to come, mindlessly grasping his horns in a tight hold until she suddenly exploded harder than she'd ever thought possible.

  Charlotte screamed his name, the pleasure relentless, wave
s of it rolling through her mercilessly. When he growled against her, it almost seemed to make the pleasure intensify, her hips bucking uncontrollably.

  She hadn't stood a chance.

  Ulric had never gotten the kind of reaction Charlotte was giving him. It was as if she didn't know pleasure like this existed, and wanted to continue experiencing the discovery, but simply couldn't last.

  So he'd slowed down, dragging it on, pushing a finger inside of her tight walls. She was so slick the digit sank in and out with ease, and imagining that same snug fit around his cock nearly made him come a second time.

  Watching her writhe on his tongue as she exploded was better than fantasy. He particularly loved the way she gripped his horns with her cries of pleasure, like she feared he'd stop. But he couldn't get enough, already addicted to her sweet taste, and continued through her violent spasms until she went lax, panting and trembling in the aftermath.

  Offering a few last laps of his tongue against her flesh, Ulric pushed himself up and pulled her limp body in to cradle close.

  Weakly, she rasped, “It was never this way before.”

  Kissing her reverently, he promised, “You won't ever experience it any other way again.” The image of her beauty when she came was now branded on his mind as he added, “Gods, you're exquisite.”

  Her cheeks tinged pink, and he smiled, wanting to experience this kind of passion with her for as long as she lived. Which will be forever if I have any say over it.

  Though Ulric was definitely glad she'd decided to attempt transitioning, he knew she was right that doing so just because they might've been fated mates wasn't a great idea. It was her life, and he wanted a lasting union between them, but time was needed to achieve it, transition or not.

  Besides, learning of her hesitancy about sex, Ulric realized he'd have to be careful whenever she did change. The reason was that all draconians were consumed by Wrath after meeting their mates for the first time, and stayed that way until they'd consummated the union.

  So when he finally forged an eternal connection with Charlotte, he'd grow insatiable, worried he'd lose control and make her even more doubtful if he became too … demanding.