by Celia Kyle
He flew around it, going through a couple of the obstacles. She shouted with laughter and gripped even tighter to his long, sinuous neck.
Dawn was exhilarated. She couldn’t keep track of her thoughts. There was only the wind tearing at her face and the endless expanse of sky and cloud. She had never been allowed to do anything fun. In the great need to protect her, her family had kept her away from anything even potentially dangerous.
I’m not in danger, she thought. I’m with Vende.
The sky, the thrill and the heat of him underneath her all started to add up. Suddenly her body was burning for him and she couldn’t hide it. As curving lines of heat radiated up her belly toward her nipples, she gave herself up to the feeling. Gasping as Vende’s hard scales rubbed up against her, she slithered back and forth just a little to experiment with the sensation.
Vende dipped in the sky, her energy so distracting that he missed a few wing beats. Dawn hardly noticed as they got closer to the platform. Her eyes were half-closed and her hands gripped Vende’s scales tightly as she focused on her body and let the sensations come.
Shaking, Vende shifted on the edge of the roof. His body was stuck in a primal pattern and his dragon wouldn’t be denied now. Dawn could feel the swelling of pride and desperate need, and she knew she couldn’t let him down.
She stepped toward him, reaching up for his kiss. When he grabbed her upper arms and crushed her to his chest his kiss was almost frantic, his lips playing with hers but his sharp teeth grazing her just beyond that slick heat.
Vende gathered her into his arms and headed for the door. Dawn’s heat grew as she ran her hands over his shoulders, finally ready to caress every inch of his skin.
Penelope interrupted them. “If you will disentangle for five seconds, I can teleport you so you can get a room.”
Vende stepped back from Dawn, putting her down and looking into her eyes. She could feel the power of the dragon behind him and she was frightened, but it wasn’t a terrible fear. It was the kind of anticipation you get when about to get on a roller coaster or climb a mountain—knowing that what lies before you are exhilarating, exciting and life changing.
As the light shimmered around them Dawn stepped forward, pressing herself to Vende’s chest the second they became solid again. His room was mostly dark, just a few low lights shining in the corners. Dawn ran her hands over his body, feeling herself grow hotter and wetter by the second.
His mouth devoured hers, his hands hard on her body. She whimpered a little and put her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.
“Are you alright, my love?” he murmured gently.
She nodded, keeping a tight hold on him. “I wanted to lay you down naked and caress every inch of you.” He shuddered under her touch, imagining how that would feel. “I thought if I took my time exploring your body, I’d be able to let you into my body, too.”
“And now?” He softly stroked her hair.
She pulled back and looked into his eyes, fear and confusion on her face. “I need you to take me.” Her voice was rough and hoarse with emotion she had never felt before. “I love you, Vende. I trust you. Just take me, get me through the fear. I can explore later once this part is done. If you don’t do it, I’ll just get more anxious, knowing it’s coming.”
Dawn saw something dark in his eyes, something hungry. His hands ran down her arms, his fingertips a little hard on her skin as he picked her up and put her on the bed. Dawn expected to be vigorously ravished but Vende took his time. He removed her blouse and pants, sliding his fingers along her skin as if he worshipped her.
He watched her face while he took off her bra and she sat up to help, smiling and kissing him. With his every touch, the heat inside her grew. Her pussy throbbed and grew wet, sensations she couldn’t have imagined. The longer Vende took in undressing her, the more impatient she became.
When he trailed his hands down her legs, hooking her panties, she covered her eyes. Her parents had a fairly open attitude to sex, but she had been conditioned to keep herself chaste. Her mind was all mixed up with the habits of her early life and the raging arousal that now had her in its grasp.
When Vende gently grabbed her hips, she gasped, ready for “it.” She had never seen a cock before, and she certainly had no idea what one felt like. She knew she was too nervous to take the moment calmly, so she hid her gaze.
When Vende’s mouth touched her, she bucked on the bed she was so surprised. He gripped her ass tightly and moaned as he lapped at her pussy. A cry leapt out of her and she squirmed, loving the feeling of him holding her still while he pleasured her with his tongue.
He got up on his knees and shuffled toward her, holding her thighs loosely. She felt nervousness stab her again, but her arousal was stronger, her pussy soaking wet. She reached for him, wrapping her legs around him to draw him in faster.
As he pressed his hips down, she felt it. He used his fingers to tease her entrance just a little more, feeling her get slick in her impatience. Then he guided his cock into her.
She grabbed his shoulders, shocked. It was like a bruise being pressed on, but it felt good. His cock was hot, hard and thick and she relaxed from the hips even though she kept a tight hold on his shoulders.
He moved slowly, watching her eyes the entire time. She smiled up at him, letting him know she was okay. With one fast movement Vende slid all the way inside and the delicious, aching throbbing intensified.
He filled her completely. Her body spasmed and Dawn gasped aloud, feeling her inner muscles gripping him and twisting around him. She threw her head back, thrust her hips toward him and started to grind, moaning as his cock rubbed against that spot so far deep inside.
She felt a warm, flood of energy bloom in her lower back, spreading to her clit and pussy. She grabbed Vende, clinging to him with legs and arms as her body shook and shuddered, explosions of pleasure cascading through her.
When it settled, she was a mess of sweat, panting hard. Her fingernails dug into Vende as if he were a lifeboat and she were drowning in the sea. She looked into his eyes and saw the smile on his face. He had stayed completely still while she rode his cock through to orgasm.
Vende kissed her gently, touching her face. Then he pulled his hips back, slowly drawing out of her. She sighed, feeling her body release him and leaving a worse ache than before. Then, just before their bodies disconnected, he thrust in, hard and fast. The head of his cock rammed the pleasure center deep inside and she screamed, wrapping her legs around Vende to draw him in.
“More!” she screamed. “Don’t stop!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Vende felt wild and almost out of control. It was a sweet torture to hold back, to keep his beast from ravishing Dawn. He wanted to toss her small body around while he devoured every inch of her with his mouth and tongue. He wanted to run his hands over her body, squeezing her breasts and fingering her between her thighs.
Staying perfectly still above her and holding himself in position, made the rage inside him a thing of mind-blowing excitement. He had been overjoyed to find her ready for him—so wet he could slide into her extremely tight pussy without any resistance. Once she orgasmed, she flooded like a river and he was able to thrust much faster.
He kept his strokes long and slow, though. She seemed to really love it when he pressed his cock right into the soft, hot end of her. At the end of each stroke he thrust forward a little more, loving how she writhed and grabbed at him. Her fingernails scratched small wounds across his shoulders, and he moaned in pleasure.
He lifted himself up a bit so he could play with her breasts, rubbing the nipples against his palm. When she responded with glad cries, he bent his head and teased her with his lips and teeth. He pushed inside as deeply as he could and nibbled on her breasts at the same time, feeling a surge of new lust in him as her body gripped around his cock and spasmed in another massive orgasm.
The cries that murmured through her lips were a tantalizing mix of pleasure and pain.
He could tell she was enjoying herself immensely, but she would happily push herself beyond endurance. She had never done this before, and he was huge. It would take time for her body to get used to him, and if he pushed too hard now, the resulting aches and pains might deter her in the future.
He pulled out of her slowly and put his mouth back down on the sweet lips of her pussy. His strong arm wrapped around her thigh, tugging her legs even farther apart as he slid his tongue inside her. She thrashed in his hold, her pussy wet and dripping. He lapped at her gently, briefly teasing her clit and soothing the soft inner lips that were becoming red from her arousal and vigorous response to his cock.
Vende would never, ever be satisfied. His body would cry out for her every second of every day. He pressed his tongue even further inside her, drunk on her scent and her lust.
When he sat up, she had her head turned to the side and her arms over her face. She gasped with long, drawn out moans. The light telepathy between them flicked across his mind and he knew the new sensations overwhelmed her.
He grabbed her thighs and tugged her toward him. With great care, he slid his cock into her again, watching her pussy stretch and take him, every single long, hard inch.
When he reached the end of her, he pressed forward, making her cry out. Then he took a firm grasp of her hips and thrusted in hard, short strokes.
As he moved faster and faster, he could feel her pussy going into new spasms, gripping him and twisting around him. Still, she poured with juice and Vende felt his love and lust rise in him as he realized she was coming over and over again.
She cried out, small sounds working up to screams. He couldn’t keep hold of his beast any longer and let go, his hips taking over and his hands holding her in place while his body punished her.
Within a few more strokes he was done, pressing his hips into her as hard as he could to keep putting pressure on that spot she liked so much. He felt his hot seed pouring into her and gasped as he leaned forward, dizziness flooding through him as his cock jerked up and down, sheathed as deeply inside her as it could get.
For a few seconds they both just breathed, the room heavy with the sound. Vende moved slowly and carefully, untangling them so he could lie beside her and cuddle her against his chest. With her cheek pressed against his heart, their bodies still warm from lovemaking, Vende knew an intense happiness and deep contentment. He couldn’t imagine ever being angry again, now that he had experienced the love of such an amazing woman.
She stroked his chest a little and he could sense her satisfaction. He still had to ask.
“Are you okay, Dawn? Was it pleasurable for you?”
She sat and nodded her head, a smile gracing her lips. “Vende… It was amazing. I can’t believe I have the rest of my life to explore that with you! Now that I understand—well.” She looked at his cock hesitantly, the rod still hard and thick where it rested against his body. “Now that I know what it’s all about, I won’t be so nervous. There are so many things I want to try.”
He laughed, reaching up to kiss her.
What a woman she is!
“I suppose I should think about babies. What do you call them? Dragonlets.”
“Yes, definitely think about it,” he said, very seriously. “The others kindled fast. It seems that the breeding program will be a success.”
“I can work in the garden and still be a mom, but what about you? Can you still do your job and be a dad?”
Vende had his doubts. All he wanted was to be with Dawn, and if she did get pregnant, he would never leave her side. All the jobs he thought were so important disappeared under the force of Dawn’s smile. Nothing had ever threatened his career before, and Vende felt like a stranger in his own mind. Dawn smiled and slipped down beside him, hiding under his arm while she brought up a hand to trace his chest.
“I only cared so much about my military career because I really thought I’d never find a mate,” he admitted. “Now that I have, I see that my daily duties are really not important. Not as important as my mate and my dragonlets.”
“So, what do we do? Is it kind of like getting married? Where will we live? I have to stay here. The garden needs me.”
“I’m not about to abandon my duties. I mean, none of the other males did. I think my idea of having a shadow staff is the best thing. Instead of announcing new soldiers into command positions, we’ll make them our second so that duties don’t fail if we get caught up with our mates.”
Dawn’s fingers were like feathers brushing his skin. Even as he tried to focus on the conversation, her touch was awakening the dragon again.
He was never going to be the same. Not so long ago he cursed the others for fools, for not being able to focus on their work or duty to the Preor because they were too busy getting led around by the nose. Far worse, they’d get so distracted or lazy they forgot to come to work altogether!
But Vende understood now. He watched Dawn’s eyelids flicker as she snuggled into him and started to fall asleep. She smiled as she slept, her fingers still curled against his chest. This was his world now. Only this.
Vende curled himself around her and let sleep claim him, too. He knew he was probably neglecting his duties right now, but he didn’t care.
Epilogue
A few weeks later, Dawn hurried from the garden toward the med bay. Her usual routine included going to the garden very early to complete a few hours of work before anyone else got up. She still woke earlier than Vende, most days.
As she hurried through the ship she waved and spoke brightly to the other Preor as they passed. She knew they gave her the same indulgent looks her family once had. They humored her and didn’t judge her behavior because they believed she was too brain damaged to know any different.
With her newfound skills, Dawn knew those looks were a shield, protecting their fear. People saw her open and giving nature as something undesirable or even threatening. They didn’t have the courage to love every single creature they came in contact with. Not like Dawn. They had to look down on her behavior, so they could justify their own.
Dawn’s new line of work began to hammer against her skull like driving rain the second she left the garden. She returned there several times a day to lend support to the eco system but also to let it replenish her. She couldn’t keep giving from a place of pure love without the plants drawing her into their stillness several times a day.
A group of five Preor passed her. She brightened and waved, smiling broadly, and calling out an enthusiastic, “Good morning!”
The Preor in the lead, a dark-haired fellow with red wings, waved back but didn’t smile. Dawn read his heart without effort.
He’s young and been denied a senior position. He’s angry about it. His pride is hurt. He should come and visit with us to manage his disappointment and change his goals.
She couldn’t read all of them at once, but she still picked up random thoughts and emotions from the others. The Preor at the very back of the group had not even noticed her. His gaze was focused on the floor, long green hair falling into his face and bright green wings drooping.
His best friend is still in intensive care. Scale Pox was almost deadly for him. They are trying to save his wings.
Impulsively, Dawn leapt across the hall and threw her arms around the green Preor. He tried to pull away, but she kept her hands gently on his shoulders. It only took seconds for him to crumble into her hug.
He leaned on her shoulder, deep breaths sounding like sobs. She pressed her chest to his, letting the warm beat of her heart sing to his.
After a few minutes he stood up and Dawn pulled away. She patted his hand. “Come and see us soon, Euridys.”
“I didn’t tell you my name!” he exclaimed.
She smiled and waved. “I know everyone’s name.”
She turned, resuming her jaunty walk down the hallway. She reached out with a tendril of energy, focusing on Vende. His mind was thoroughly distracted, and he didn’t notice her. He must be hard at work o
n something technical. They should meet up later for breakfast if she could just get to her second job on time.
“Dawn,” Penelope boomed. Dawn jumped.
“You startled me,” she sniped crossly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. But I’ve got urgent messages coming in from Kouvai Nihon.”
“What do they want now?”
“The palm trees are going yellow. They had just started producing that fruit thing everyone likes and now there aren’t any.”
“Coconuts.” Dawn grinned. “I don’t know if I can get down there today. I’m busy.”
“If you leave it until tomorrow, you’ll just have twice as much work to do.”
Dawn waved a hand and laughed. “There’s always too much work to do.”
Before Dawn could finally make her way into work she literally ran into Lana and the dragonlet twins. Since the outbreak of Scale Pox, the kids had been locked away for their safety, and now they were making up for lost time. They had both been vaccinated and were no longer at risk—from Scale Pox, anyway. Their constant activities could be dangerous in many other ways.
Dawn helped round up the twins and chase them into the fireproof room. She stayed for a few minutes and helped Lana settle them, jiggling Lorra on her hip for a while.
When Lorra opened her mouth and eyed Dawn cheekily, Dawn smiled and reached out with all her senses.
I want, I want, I do what I want. Fire pretty and feels good to make! So much fun, so much fun!
Dawn didn’t project any thoughts toward the child. She knew the girl’s young brain had to develop language on its own before she could communicate that way. However, she projected images and sensations of what it felt like when she was set on fire. She passed on feelings of indignance and insult as well as frustration and pain.
