by T. A. White
The moment built between them.
Ryu reached for her in an explosive movement, toppling her onto her back. His lips touched hers in the next second. Gentle and warm before turning urgent and blazing hot.
Tate tilted her head back as he swept kisses along her jaw line and then her neck. She shivered as his lips hit a sensitive spot, her fingers clenching against his skin.
How did he do this to her so easily? Drive her wild with such simple actions? It was like he was a Tate whisperer with exclusive access to her erogenous zones.
Ryu lowered his body over hers before dragging his hard length against her core. She sucked in a breath that turned into a moan as sensation shot through her.
His chuckle sent a puff of hot air along her skin, the masculine sound saying he knew exactly how he affected her. Knew it and took pleasure in it.
Cocky bastard.
Tate started as she felt Ilith uncurl from her place around Tate’s wrist. The dragon was a large presence in her mind as she padded up Tate’s arm.
Tate opened her mouth to warn Ryu when his gaze caught hers. The dragon stared out at her. A sound rumbled from deep in his throat, vibrating Tate’s bones.
To her surprise, Ilith pushed forward, trilling an answer with Tate’s vocal cords.
A small purr slipped from him.
“Ahveena,” he breathed, touching her in a way that left her feeling like she was the only thing that mattered. Like she was the reason he was breathing and moving about the world.
Being the focus of a dragon, a creature known for its single mindedness when it came to anything they considered theirs was both heady and terrifying.
Tate knew Ryu and Rath would never hurt her, but it didn’t stop the tiny thrill she got whenever he looked at her like that.
Like this, Ryu was almost feral. A singular force of nature nothing could stop. Anything that tried would be destroyed.
Tate’s lips curled in a sultry smile. Too bad for both Ryu and Rath that Tate and Ilith weren’t particularly good at doing what others wanted them to.
“Mate,” Ryu rumbled.
“Perhaps.” Tate/Ilith tilted their head coyly. “If we decide.”
Ryu’s lips parted. Instead of the anger or rage you’d expect from a dragon, he looked intrigued. Determined.
If Tate and Ilith hadn’t already merged consciousness, Tate would have warned Ilith about his expression. He didn’t look like a dragon bent on giving up. Instead, he reminded her of a conqueror studying a challenge.
And Ilith had just thrown down the gauntlet. Practically waved a red flag in front of the lethal predator while sashaying away singing nah-nah a-boo-boo.
Tate/Ilith shivered with expectation. They were looking forward to the coming game.
Ryu’s eyes gleamed with mischievousness.
His claws came out, shredding the bed around her as he glared down at her. A loss of control that made Tate pant with excitement.
Dragons, Tate had learned, were a dominant species. Challenges were present even during mating.
Ryu had gotten their attention, but whether he could keep it was an entirely different matter.
Tate’s eyes glowed as she curled one leg around his, flipping their position. She landed on top, bending over and nipping his chin.
“Play with me,” she pleaded.
Her claws eased out. They pricked the skin of Ryu’s chest, not hard enough to draw blood. Hurting him wasn’t the goal. She wanted him to feel what she felt. Aroused. Out of control with need.
“Only you,” Ryu promised, a wildness entering his eyes.
Tate nearly preened with satisfaction.
Ryu’s hands gripped her waist, just this side of bruising before pulling her lower body more sharply against him.
Tate’s eyes slid closed, her hips grinding against him instinctually.
Ryu hissed, his body pulling taut. His face twisted almost like he was in pain. The best sort. The kind that you would gladly let yourself get lost in.
Tate rolled her hips again, rejoicing in her power over him.
A groan answered her, making her bold.
Her hands skated over his chest, drawing small circles with her claws around the sensitive skin of his nipples. His lower half jumped under hers.
Fascinating.
She wondered what other reactions she could draw from him.
Her hands moved lower, over his upper abdominals to his lower. His stomach quivered as she reached the waist band of the pajama pants he still wore. She dipped one finger beneath the elastic, brushing the soft skin underneath.
Her gaze was wondering and fascinated as her head tilted in a gesture reminiscent of when she was in her dragon form.
Human bodies were so much more interesting than she’d thought.
Sensing her preoccupation, Ryu lifted his hips, pressing them more fully together. A garbled sound escaped Tate.
Ryu’s hands whispered up her side, over the sensitive crease where her legs met her torso, along the edges of her breasts, beneath her collarbone until finally they settled on the tips of her nipples.
He plucked them gently, rolling them beneath his thumbs as her eyes went half lidded, her expression lost in passion.
Her hips undulated against his, drawing a hushed groan from him.
Before she could gloat, he sat up. One hand went into her hair, clutching it in a firm grip while the other hand moved to her back, keeping her hips locked against his.
Her eyes were wild with excitement and need.
Mate. Lover.
The terms were intertwined in the same way Tate and Ilith’s minds currently were.
“Play with me,” Ryu whispered, returning her taunt from earlier.
Warmth gathered everywhere Ryu’s body touched hers.
“Are you afraid?” Ryu teased when she didn’t immediately answer.
“Not afraid.”
“Prove it.”
Male dragons weren’t the only ones who couldn’t resist a challenge. Females were just as prone to picking up gauntlets.
Ilith did something. Tate couldn’t explain what. Something inside loosened, a barrier Tate had never been fully aware of lowering.
She gasped as powerful sparks of energy zipped across that barrier. Her body reacted, pleasure dancing along her nerves.
Ryu’s husky groan anchored her as two energies poured into hers. It felt like lightning, scorching her nerves as pleasure and pain intertwined.
“Is that Rath and Ilith?” Tate managed to get out.
Her body jerked as the energies hopped from her to Ryu. Each jump only lasted seconds, but every time they shifted hosts, her lower stomach tensed as need tightened.
“Shit,” Tate gasped as prickles ran down her arms and back.
Ryu’s laugh was broken, sweat breaking out on his forehead. “This—”
Rath dove into Tate, bringing with him a wave of sensation. Tate mewled as Ilith responded.
The reins Ryu normally kept on himself disintegrated. His fingers skillfully played between her legs, preparing her. Not that it was necessary with the antics from the two dragons.
Tate was already wet, the flesh there almost unbearably sensitive.
“Hurry,” Tate said, clutching his shoulders.
He didn’t answer her verbally, instead lifting her hips. She reached between them, guiding him inside.
She slid down, her head falling back and her eyes closing at the feel of him filling her.
Slowly. Slowly.
Tate didn’t even have time to adjust before Ilith dove back into Ryu.
He leaned forward, biting her shoulder. The pain-pleasure rushed through her, heightening everything she was experiencing.
Ryu’s hands gripped her hips, lifting her off him until only the tip was still inside. He forced her to ride him, their breathy moans filling the air as the tempo picked up until the humans matched the pace of their dragons.
Tate let herself get lost in the feeling of him moving inside her, slow
ly rising and falling until his hands urged her to pick up the pace.
Her legs quivered, but she didn’t stop, chasing the pinnacle as her inner muscles started to tighten.
The pleasure crested, the sound of their bodies coming together loud in her ears. That ball of warmth at her core surged hotter each time Ilith and Rath moved between their bodies, until it reached a fever pitch.
If the world were to burn down around them, Tate and Ryu would never have noticed.
Finally, that wave they’d been climbing crested, breaking. Tate detonated, her internal muscles squeezing Ryu as she cried out. Pure pleasure arced through her.
The world spun as Ryu tumbled her onto her back. He pushed into her more forcefully, finding his own climax with a shout seconds later.
They panted as Ryu’s head hung, his hair brushing her chest.
Tate looked up at the ceiling, too spent to even lift her arms to hug him.
Ryu’s body relaxed until his length was pressed against hers, making Tate aware they were still connected intimately.
“That was—” Tate trailed off. She wasn’t sure she had the words to describe the experience.
It had been transcendent. Out of this world. Mind boggling.
Even now, Tate didn’t know how she’d survived. A part of her felt like her mind and body should have splintered and caught fire from the intensity.
Ryu lifted his head, dropping a tired kiss on her lips. Everything she needed to know was contained within that kiss. Love. Respect. Gratitude.
It felt good getting that from him. Sex was an important part of any relationship. It was the physical expression of the feelings two people had for one another, but it wasn’t the only part.
Knowing your partner had your back, that you shared more than just your bodies, and had an emotional connection was just as important to the long-term health of the relationship.
It was something you could hold close to your heart when despair set in. Otherwise, you’d just be two people helping the other get exercise.
Ryu moved to lie beside her, his arms pulling her closer as she nestled her face into his neck.
“That was a nice end to the night,” she said.
His chest shook under hers as he squeezed her tighter, careful not to hurt her.
After long minutes passed, Tate moved her head back, looking into his face. His eyes were closed, the sweep of his eyelashes brushing his cheek.
“If you want a round two, you’re going to have to wait,” he said without opening his eyes.
Tate sputtered. Who was asking for round two? She could barely even catch her breath and her limbs were close to muscle failure. Round two would probably result in her early death.
How embarrassing would that be? A dragon-ridden who was fucked to death. She’d be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Ryu’s arms came up, wrapping around her head and pressing her face against his chest. Tate wiggled in an attempt for freedom, only to find he wouldn’t budge. She sunk her teeth into his chest. Ryu jumped but didn’t release her from his hold.
She struggled harder, the battle turning her already messy hair into a rat’s nest. Finally, she managed to duck out of his head lock.
She popped free and glared, reaching up to smooth down the craziness of her hair.
Ryu watched her through half lidded eyes, a grin playing on his lips as he propped himself up on one elbow, and ran a teasing finger down her side. “Though I could always be convinced.”
She slapped his hand away. “Not on your life.”
“I think you’ve said that before.”
He curled his lip in a lascivious manner. On anyone else, the expression would have been called creepy and warranted a fist in the mouth. Ryu managed to seem playful and seductive.
It helped that Tate knew he would never trespass where he wasn’t wanted.
“I didn’t know dragons could do that.” Tate fell onto her side, resting her head on her hands as she looked up at Ryu.
His hummed in agreement. “It was rather enjoyable though.”
Tate’s lips quivered as she fought her urge to smile. The man didn’t need his ego stroked. He was already cocky enough.
“It felt like they were swimming through our bodies.” Tate reached one hand out to touch Ryu’s chest.
Rath was draped bonelessly across Ryu’s upper shoulder as if too spent to even move. It was the same for Ilith who Tate could sense was exhausted but smug. The dragon was quite pleased with herself, if what Tate was picking up was right.
“How is this possible?”
Ryu and Tate had spent months in each other’s bed but never had anything close to this happening before.
Ryu shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
Tate hesitated, chewing on her lip as a thought occurred to her. “Could it be a symptom of touching the dragon’s world?”
Ryu’s gaze sharpened as he lifted himself halfway up. “What are you talking about?”
“It was only for a few brief moments, but Ilith touched on her world when we shifted forms.”
Ryu studied her with an intent gaze for several seconds before flopping onto his back and covering his eyes with his arm.
“Ryu?”
“You’ve been there too. That’s why Ilith is much more powerful than before.”
Tate went still. “The more we touch that world, the more powerful our dragons and us get.”
What did it mean then if Nathan had touched that world? Ilith claimed Tate wouldn’t survive there for more than a few seconds had they been in human form, but she’d also thought the Rift was only one way. There was room for error in Ilith’s predictions.
This time it was Tate who flopped onto her back, staring up at her patterned ceiling with a frown. How much more powerful would Nathan be if that was the case? Or worse, what if he had a dragon-ridden on his side who’d used the Rift to power up?
No, the last would be difficult with the way the empire recorded and tracked all dragon-ridden who came through the Rift. On the other hand, they hadn’t known about Tate until she showed up on Jost’s ship. Perhaps there were other dragon-ridden like her who predated the empire and spent centuries in sleep. Nathan could have woken them up.
There was also Ryu, who was evidence the Rift wasn’t always a necessary ingredient to form a bond.
Tate pinched the bridge of her nose, already getting a headache from all the possibilities.
Ryu lifted onto his elbow and dropped a kiss onto her shoulder. His lips brushed her skin as he asked. “What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Doomsday scenarios.”
His lips curved against her skin.
She turned her face toward him. “I forgot to ask what you thought of that other world.”
“It was—”
“Indescribable,” she finished for him when he trailed off.
The skin around his eyes crinkled. “Something like that.”
Words couldn’t encapsulate that other place. If Tate believed in such things, she would have called it paradise.
Tate looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t know how Ilith ever left.”
“From the things Rath shared, it had its dark side.”
Tate pressed her head deeper into the pillow to get a better look at Ryu’s face. He looked lost in thought, his gaze distant.
“I get the feeling there is something essential missing in a dragon’s existence and somehow humans fill in the holes. If that makes sense.”
“A little,” Tate said, thinking about her dream. She only remembered bits and pieces, some of it already fading, but what remained with her was a sense of apathy and loneliness. A void that nothing, not even the splendor of that other world, could fill.
“That reminds me. A council will be held tomorrow afternoon to discuss what happened to Earl Comber, and the attack. Your presence is expected,” he informed her, changing the subject.
Her scowl made his eyes twinkle.
“Why do I have to attend?
I never have before.”
“Before you weren’t presented to court. Now that you’ve been formally recognized you’re allowed in the council chambers.” His fingers tapped against her arm. “Also, you only completed one step of the process.”
“Right, Roslyn told me there was a private portion.” Tate had almost forgotten. She threw an arm over her eyes. “Why does everything always have to be difficult?”
The air stirred as she felt, rather than saw, Ryu lean forward. Warm lips touched hers.
“You know you enjoy it,” he said against her lips.
She moved her arm enough so she could glare at him out of one eye.
He grinned. “I think a distraction is in order.”
“Are you trying to kill me?”
He pulled her leg over his hip. “I have a feeling it’ll be just us this time.”
And it was.
FOURTEEN
Tate came awake slowly, blinking against the bright light filtering through the windows where she’d forgotten to close her curtains again. Tate rolled away from the light, pulling her covers half over her head in a bid to escape the piercing rays. It was too early to get up.
Wait. Her eyes opened. The strength and position of the sunlight said the sun had been up for some time.
Tate sat up. “What time is it?”
Ryu stirred, his face soft in sleep. “What?”
“The time. I need to know.”
“Why?” Ryu asked in a husky voice.
Never mind. It was pointless asking him.
Tate reached for the first clothes she could find, a pair of loose pants and an oversized shirt. She threw a comfy house coat over the ensemble, not caring if she looked like a beggar.
Ryu regarded her with a nonplussed expression. “What are you doing?”
Ah, that’s right. Ryu didn’t know. He was usually gone by this time. The rare occasions where he stayed into the morning usually happened when she was at headquarters.
This would be a new experience for him.
For half a second, Tate debated whether she should warn him. Naw. It’d be more entertaining this way.
Tate grabbed a boot, stamping one foot into it before hopping on it, struggling to get the other boot on as she headed for the door.