Dangerous Liaisons (Obsidian Flame Book 2)

by J. C. McKenzie

  Her gaze drifted down again. Dammit! Focus, Stone.

  Her dragon slurped her chops.

  Raf’s gaze smoldered. “Of course.”

  Lara waited. Raf remained standing a few feet away. He turned his shoulders, opening his body and the space between them to provide a clear path for her to the single door leading off the balcony landing pad.

  No way would she walk past him buck-naked, boobs bouncing, and ass jiggling. Sure, she loved her body and felt comfortable in her own skin, but this was…this was Raf.

  You want him to go first so you can check out his ass, her dragon snorted.

  Of course, I do.

  Her dragon chortled.

  Like you don’t?

  Raf raised a dark brow and made an exaggerated sweeping gesture with his arm. “Ladies first.”

  Lara shook her head. “After you.”

  Raf waved his hand toward the door again. “I insist.”

  Lara squinted at Raf. “Surely, you can’t be this hard up for a peep show.”

  Mmmm, her dragon moaned. Hard…up...

  Lara groaned.

  Raf’s teeth flashed and his scalding hot gaze raked her body. “Well, I am hard, and I am—”

  Lara held her hand up for him to stop. “You’re as bad as her.” She tapped her temple with her forefinger.

  His grin widened. “Do you ever get the feeling we’ve been lied to our entire lives? That our dragons are separate horny entities housed in our minds like narcissistic parasites?”

  “All the time. But if you don’t lead us into your giant man cave, I’ll shift and go home.”

  Raf’s body tensed. His dark brows plunged down. “You will stay here.”

  “Then lead on.”

  His expression grew pained. His gaze cut to the surrounding night. “I will not turn my back and leave you exposed out here.”

  Is that what this was about? He’d be a foot or two away at most.

  Lara stepped forward and hooked her arm around his. The heat of his skin sent tingles down her body. “Let’s walk together, then.”

  Raf grumbled but didn’t argue. They walked stiff and silent to the door. It was locked. Raf swore and yanked on the handle. Something snapped and the door swung open. He stood back and waved for Lara to walk through first.

  She turned sideways to slip past Raf and walked through the narrow entrance. Her body brushed against his.

  One moment her nipples ran along his hot, hard chest, sending electric bolts straight to her crotch, and the next, Raf pinned her against a cold wall inside the house. His tongue thrust into her mouth, tasting of sin and demanding a response. His large, strong hand gripped her thigh and hooked her leg around his narrow waist.

  Her dragon squealed.

  Or was that Lara?

  She clung to the rippling muscles of Raf’s back, her breasts squished against his chest, and kissed him back. Finally. Yes. She’d feared and craved this moment, the time they finally stopped evading each other and surrendered to the fire burning between them.

  His hard length pressed against her stomach.

  Oh, just a little lower…

  Her nipples pinged against his chest. Her breasts grew heavy and her heart hammered. With her skin pressed against the heat of his, she craved more. No longer would his bone melting kisses be enough. She wanted all of him. Now.

  She reached down and grabbed the thick shaft and pumped him. All the while, his tongue danced with hers.

  Raf growled against her lips. He pulled back enough for his other hand to trail down her body. He squeezed her breast before rolling the nipple between his finger and thumb.

  Lara squirmed. She was hot and ready and this waiting, this dancing around each other for over a month had already been agony—a pulsing, throbbing ache between her legs that only Raf could fix.

  His hand moved down and his finger slipped inside her. Lara broke the kiss and dropped her head back against the wall with a thud.

  More. She wanted more.

  He smiled against the sensitive skin of her throat. His devious mouth made its way down her neck and along her collarbone. Another finger joined the first, thrusting in and out. She was so wet. Each thrust of his fingers moving inside her echoed down the empty hall.

  His mouth found her nipple and sucked. Pleasure ran through her body. She squeezed his shaft and moved her fingers to the tip. He was so hard he pulsed. She continued to stroke in tune with his fingers. The room darkened around them. She closed her eyes and submitted to the need burning inside her. Raf moved lower and she had to release him.

  She trailed her hand along his strong arms to weave through his hair. She looked down. Raf kneeled in front of her. He withdrew his fingers and brought them to his mouth. Watching her, he sucked each digit. The dragon inside rode him hard, flashing gold in his emerald gaze.

  Lara licked her lips.

  Raf’s smile grew. He hoisted the leg she had around his waist and hooked it over his shoulder. He gripped her ass, pulled himself forward and clamped his mouth on her.

  Lara’s vision wavered. All she could do was hold on. Her fingers gripped his black silky hair as his tongue delved inside her—plunging and tasting. He devoured her.

  Raf’s growl vibrated through her whole body and an orgasm ripped through her. She cried out. Her legs clamped, slapping against the sides of his face. Her back arched against the wall as wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her. Raf held onto her thighs, drinking her in, watching every twitch and jerk of her body with a hooded gaze.

  With dragon fast reflexes, Raf stood, wrapped both legs around him, and thrust inside her. His thick, long shaft stretched her as the echoes of her orgasm clenched around him. She held on. All she could do was hold on.

  He enthralled her. He consumed her. He claimed her with his mouth, hands and body in every way possible. He branded her as his with the taste of his skin and rhythm of his body with hers.

  Lara moaned. Raf lifted her thighs, pinning her against the wall. He thrust hard, again, and again, hips pumping until another orgasm crashed over her. She cried out as the overwhelming sensations gripped her body, heart and mind.

  Raf grunted, buried his head in her neck and spilled his seed inside her. His fingers dug into her thighs as he rocked against her now limp and satisfied body.

  Lara sagged against him. His heart thumped so hard it thudded against the tender skin of her breast.

  Raf’s hands slipped up her thighs to grip her waist, anchoring them together. Now released, she let her legs fall to the floor. Her muscles quivered and her knees threatened to buckle.

  “If that’s taking it slow,” her voice came out low and cracked. “I don’t think I can handle fast.”

  Raf chuckled into her neck and squeezed her waist. “I have a feeling you can handle anything I do.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Raf sat on the edge of the bed as his brain fought to keep up with the sudden change of events. Instead of launching a statistical plan to focus his thoughts, he let his mind tumble off the track as Lara stepped from the shower.

  Water droplets trailed down her delicate throat and traveled around the curve of her breast. Bathed in the soft glow of sunlight, she toweled off her wet hair and watched him from the bathroom doorway.

  Fuck, he wanted her. Again. Even now after a night of getting lost in the soft scent of her skin.

  Getting lost

  That perfectly described his emotions. One moment he’d thrown up protective walls, willing to put distance between them and his needs to the side to protect her, and the next moment, the walls were down and he tasted perfection. His perfection. His.

  The only thing that could’ve stopped him after he crossed that point was Lara, but she appeared just as lost.

  They’d skipped down a path in the woods together with no idea of how to get back.

  Get back? His dragon snorted. Get back to what?

  A mundane existence covered with a gray film. He didn’t want to return to that ex
istence. Did Lara? Doubtful.

  To hell with caution. He’d thrown that away the moment he pinned her against the wall and lost control. He never lost control. He never felt unsure. He never got lost. Last night, he’d succumbed to all three and found himself addicted to the freedom.

  “You need to stop doing that,” Lara’s sultry voice cut into his thoughts.

  “Stop what?”

  “Looking at me like that.”

  He grinned and stood from the bed. Lara’s gaze dropped down his naked body.

  She licked her lips and stopped drying her hair.

  “And how do I look at you, Lara?” He stepped in and ran his hands up her bare arms. The fragrance of her shampoo, his shampoo, coiled around him, her skin still dewy and heated from the hot shower.

  She shivered and her smile grew. “Like you plan to devour me.”

  Mmmm, his dragon perked up. That’s a good plan.

  “That is my plan.”

  She flicked wet hair away from her face. “Well, you also plan to meet with the dragon leaders after we talk to Hank. I highly doubt you wish for them to join in.”

  Raf growled. Mine.

  His dragon echoed the sound. Ours.

  “Relax.” Lara pried his fingers from her arms. “I was baiting you.”

  He’d dug his fingertips in at her goading and five red marks bloomed on her soft skin. He snapped his hands back.

  Lara toweled her hair some more. “You gripped my ass harder last night, and I certainly wasn’t complaining. This won’t even bruise.”

  He frowned. His gaze searched her body for damage. He hadn’t hurt her, had he? No. She would’ve said something.

  Lara reached forward and squeezed his shoulder. “Go shower. We’re already late.”

  Raf grumbled and gave Lara one last longing look.

  She shook her head and pointed at the bathroom door. “Go.”

  Raf sighed and walked past her.

  Slap!

  His ass stung from the unexpected contact. The little minx slapped his ass. The skin tingled. He glanced over his shoulder at Lara.

  She winked.

  “You’ll pay for that.”

  “Oh, I sincerely hope I do.”

  Lara tried not to squirm as Hank’s laughing gaze bounced between the two of them. The ginger sprawled in a chair across from her, cool and collected, as though they hadn’t spent yesterday imprisoned in an ispolini compound.

  “Well, everything makes a bit more sense now,” he said.

  Raf grunted and reached for his mug.

  They sat in the solarium—the small offshoot room Raf favored, with large windows overlooking the lush, dew-covered garden outside. The spring blooms painted the view with pops of bright color, and their fresh fragrance flooded the room.

  Hank turned to Lara. “We’ll have to have a little chat about keeping secrets later.”

  Lara rolled her eyes. “Sure, thing.”

  Her dragon snorted. Like we’re scared.

  Raf put his mug down with a thump. “There’s no need to threaten my mate, Hank. It’s sorted now.”

  A look passed between them. Hank frowned and sat back in his seat, clearly unhappy with whatever exchanged between them.

  “Fine,” Hank said. “Moving on. I don’t think there’s any point in continuing Lara’s cover story.”

  “Agreed,” Raf said.

  Lara’s phone dinged. She pulled it from her pocket and read the text message from Misha: Girl! We need to talk. You’re a dragon?

  Lara sighed. At least she didn’t have to keep lying to her friend. Misha deserved the truth. Lara should’ve been the one to tell her.

  “It’s blown, anyway,” Lara said, regarding her cover, and showed the phone screen to the men.

  Hank glared at her. His cold look clearly said whose fault he thought that was.

  She met his stare and held it.

  “Speaking of phones,” Raf asked. “Where are we with the leaders?”

  Hank grumbled and broke his staring contest with Lara. “Should be today.”

  “I expect better,” Raf said. “Look into replacing or expanding our IT team.”

  “Already on it,” Hank said. “In the meantime, please download the tracking app.”

  Raf sighed. “Fine.”

  Hank’s attention returned to her. His gaze traveled over her as if she were a specimen at the zoo.

  “What did the men find at the compound?” Raf growled. “Besides your weapons?”

  Hank shook his head and reached for his bag. “They found some financial documents of little interest, but then they found a hidden safe. That’s where things get interesting.”

  Raf’s eyebrows rose.

  Hank pulled an old book with an ornate, worn leather cover from the bag and dropped it on the table between them. The book landed with a thud and a cloud of dust rose from its aged pages.

  “What’s this?” Lara asked.

  “The answers to a lot of questions,” Hank said.

  Lara walked into the boardroom behind Raf in full bodyguard gear. The gun in her custom holster, the knives strapped to her thighs and sheathed in her combat boots, and the katana sword on her back bolstered her confidence.

  Alex O’Reilly, Sergei Bodrov and Vincent Li sat stiffly in full business attire on one side of the long boardroom table, leaving the other side free for Raf’s party. Raf took the middle seat opposite Alex. Lara and Hank flanked him, both choosing to stand instead of sit.

  Must be ready, her dragon growled. Must protect mate.

  The other clan leaders took in Raf’s solemn expression and then, in unison their attention snapped to Lara. Three serious dragon gazes scanned her attire and took in her gear and stance. Alex’s red bushy eyebrows rose, Vincent’s eyes widened, and Sergei grunted.

  “Your choice in women has taken an interesting turn,” Vincent said.

  Sergei’s scowl remained unchanged.

  “I thought Hilary was a better match,” Alex said.

  Lara snarled in unison with her dragon.

  The men straightened.

  Although she couldn’t see Raf’s expression while standing behind his right shoulder, his hand rested on his thigh, his body remained relaxed and he spoke with a smooth and calm voice. “This is Lara Stone. She’s a bodyguard.”

  “I bet she guards your body well,” Alex said.

  Raf’s hand clenched under the table. Alex had no idea he poked the bear…dragon.

  Or maybe he did.

  Lara continued to watch the Topaz Dragon Clan leader.

  “You’re the Astarot. Have you grown so weak that you need the services of a…” Alex’s voice trailed off and he waved a weathered hand in Lara’s direction.

  He didn’t need to finish his sentence. A woman. A human. A mage. Regardless of how he intended to finish his thoughts, it would be dismissive and condescending. And sadly, not anything she hadn’t heard before. She kept her posture straight and fought the urge to leap across the table and punch Alex in the face. One excuse. If he gave her one tiny excuse, she’d hurt him.

  “I procured her services because the ispolini situation warranted it. She’s adept at weapons and magic.”

  The other leaders looked unconvinced.

  “And she’s a dragon shifter.”

  All three men straightened in their seats. Their heads snapped in her direction again, eyes narrowed, mouths firmly shut. This time, no derision existed in their expression, only assessment and calculation. Honestly, Misha had put the clues together faster than these men.

  “So this is the unidentified fire dragon the tabloids reported. We assumed they misidentified Hank.” Vincent balled his hands together. “You kept a female dragon shifter from us?”

  Raf snorted. “She belongs to herself. She chose to stay hidden. If anything, her decision highlights some of the problems we have as a dragon society.”

  “How so?” Vincent said.

  “A lone female shifter didn’t feel safe enough to come forwar
d,” Raf said. “I’d say that’s a problem.”

  “What clan?” Sergei finally spoke.

  “Don’t you want to know about the ispolini attack and what we found in their compound?”

  “What clan?” Sergei demanded.

  Honestly, her hair color should’ve given her clan away the moment they found out her nature. The papers reported a fire dragon. Sergei had to know the answer. Did he simply want to hear it? Did he need someone else to confirm the truth his brain bitch-slapped him with?

  “Topaz,” Alex said. His face had paled past pasty since Raf’s announcement. He looked as if he’d swallowed something rotten.

  Or seen a ghost.

  “Topaz,” he repeated. “Penelope Stone, daughter of Connor and Isla.”

  Everyone turned to him, but his attention remained trained on Lara.

  “You’re the right age, and you look like Isla, but with Connor’s coloring. You looked familiar before. I should’ve figured it out sooner.”

  Sergei nodded, his gaze intense and dark. “You look so much like Isla. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before now.”

  Her heart contracted and pain shot across her chest. She knew so little about her birth parents, and this potential traitor stood a few feet away with all the answers.

  “The ispolini attacked.” Alex glanced at the others before turning back to Lara. “We were told your entire family was slaughtered, but we never recovered your body. We assumed the ispolini took it for another perverse spell. How did you survive unprotected and undetected for so long?”

  Lara ignored his question and asked one of her own, “Did you have anything to do with the attack?”

  Alex’s hands balled into fists. “Connor was my half-brother. You’re my niece by blood and my ward.”

  “That doesn’t answer the question,” Hank said.

  Alex turned to Raf’s second, fire dancing in his gaze. The temperature in the room rose as his magic pulled up around him. “No. I did not.”

  Lara’s shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t realized until that moment she’d wanted so badly for him not to be involved. For the Topaz Clan leader to be safe. Maybe he lied. Maybe he was involved. But his words rang true and his expression appeared sincere.