by Meg Ripley
“Severance package? You’re leaving?”
“Seriously? You can’t really expect me to stay here like this, can you? Trust me, it’ll be best for us both if you get yourself a new assistant.” She was already moving towards the door, and he acted before he could think, rushing to grab her arm to keep her from stepping into the hallway. “Let me go.”
“I just want to—”
“Mads, let go of my arm.” Her voice was low and controlled and held more than a hint of warning. He released her immediately. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay in the office long enough to train my replacement.”
“April, please, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. We can pretend that I didn’t say anything and go back to normal.”
“Normal?” she snorted. “We...we’ll never get back to normal. Never again.”
“Are you leaving because I’m a dragon?”
“Strangely enough, no. I could still work for a dragon, I suppose. But I can’t work for a man who will always be disappointed.”
“Disappointed? I don’t understand.”
She shook her head and pulled the door open. He wanted to stop her, to hold her until she explained herself, but he stood unmoving, watching as she limped down the hall to her own room. She didn’t look back and he didn’t look away. Not even when she disappeared from sight and he was left staring at the locked door between them.
40
Tears flooded her eyes as soon as April shut the door. She simply could not hold them back, and all of the fear, shock, and pain of the earlier chase swept through her like a furious thunderstorm, leaving nothing but desolation behind. Deep down inside, she always felt alone, certain she would never find anybody who’d want her. Who’d love her. When Mads had told her that she was the one he was waiting for, for the briefest of moments, that fear and loneliness subsided.
But he didn’t love her. It wasn’t enough that he felt some sort of connection to her—not if he didn’t love her.
Chester’s snide voice filled her head, reminding her of what she’d always known: Even Mads has standards. And swiftly on the heels of that, Mads’ voice: You’re the one I’ve been waiting for. She might have been the one he was waiting for, but she sure wasn’t the one he chose. The gap between who she was and who he wanted was probably too great for her to ever overcome, and how long before he grew to resent her for it? How long before she exhausted herself with apologies for things she could not change?
But that was not why she cried. In the beat of silence after she questioned him, she realized her own terrible truth: she didn’t know about mates, about dragons, about surprise connections or fate—but she did know that she loved him. And that was why she had to leave. Not just her job, but the city as well. April just wanted to go home, to escape into the mundanity of small-town life until her love hardened into scar tissue around her heart.
A knock on the door was like a spike through her head, adding to the growing tension headache behind her eyes. “Go away.”
“April, I just want to talk to you.”
“Go away!”
“Why are you crying?”
“Please just go away.”
“No. I’m staying right here until you’re ready to talk.”
April didn’t doubt him. She unlocked the door and pulled it open, too tired to hide her bloodshot eyes, her puffy face, or the misery radiating from her. “What is left to say?”
“A lot. You may not have anything to tell me, but I have a lot to tell you, and all I’m asking is that you listen.”
She sank to a nearby chair. “Fine.” If it would make all of this end, then she would listen to him.
Instead of sitting on the nearby sofa, he knelt at her feet and tugged at the hem of her skirt.
“Excuse me? What are you doing?”
He ran the tip of his finger over the ridge of the burn on her thigh. Her pre-emptive gasp turned into a low moan as pain instantly transformed into pleasure. Her pussy clenched and her nipples tightened.
“Mads...what?”
He bent his head and blew a gentle puff of air over the mark. Her spine tightened, her body arched, and her nipples ached. She thought of telling him to stop—this wasn’t going to help the situation and it certainly didn’t count as talking, but her tongue felt heavy and refused to cooperate. His breath like a soothing wind blew over her, traveling further up her thigh and she spread her legs without thinking, encouraging him to move higher, right to the edge of her panties. He dropped his mouth on her inner thigh, alternating kisses between her untouched skin and the edge of the mark, his cheek brushing against the lacy scrap of fabric covering the apex between her thighs. All he had to do was turn his head.
She buried her fingers in his hair, winding them through the soft strands, holding him in place while she rode out the pleasure. Each kiss he placed on her thigh sent sparks to her stomach where they kindled into slow burning flames, spreading heat through her limbs, making her lightheaded. She pulled on him and he allowed himself to be directed, his mouth gliding from her thigh to the now damp thin material over her pussy.
“Please...please, I need to feel…”
He ripped her panties away, his hungry mouth landing on her heated flesh, his tongue sliding between her lips to seek out her throbbing clit. She yelped at the first flick over the tender tip, her hand tightening in his hair. He sucked and nibbled softly, and all she could do was grind against him, aching for more, trembling as the pleasure morphed into bliss and the bliss built on itself. Unaccustomed to the force of nature sweeping through her body, she could only withstand the assault of his mouth for a few minutes longer before her orgasm overtook her. She bucked forward, her legs closing around him as her pleasure rolled through her like waves slamming against the shore.
She lost the feeling in her legs and her body went completely lax. April thought that would be the end of it, but as he moved away, he brushed against her marked thigh and she was instantly alert, electricity tightening her muscles and pulling her upright.
“What is that?” April gasped out.
“I marked you.”
“You marked me? Will it go away?”
“No, but it won’t cause you any pain.”
He rose and pulled her to her feet. She didn’t have the strength to resist him, and once his arms closed around her, she never wanted to be anywhere else. His arms were strong as iron, but his lips were so gentle on top of her head, skimming her hair with a sweet kiss. She closed her eyes, undone by him, her defenses crumbling. She wanted this to be real. She wanted it so badly she could taste it.
“Do you want me?” she whispered.
He shifted, allowing his erection to rub against her hip. “What do you think?”
April took a deep breath and forced herself to step out of his embrace. Holding his gaze, she unzipped her dress and allowed it to drop to her feet. Her bra followed, leaving her completely naked and vulnerable in front of his golden-green eyes. His eyes traveled the length of her body, from her large breasts to her rounded stomach and hips, lower to where her thighs touched. She watched his face carefully, whispering, “What about now?”
Mads immediately pulled her against him, hooking his finger beneath her chin and angling her mouth towards his. April continued to hold his gaze as he lowered his lips. She didn’t close her eyes until the kiss stole her breath away, her arms winding around his neck. Without breaking the caress, he lifted her from her feet, carrying her like a bride to the bed.
“You’re beautiful,” Mads whispered as he lowered her to the mattress. His fingertips glided from her throat to her knee, running over the hills and valleys of her body with undeniable reverence. She tried to swallow around the sudden lump in her throat, tried to say something, tried to reach for him, but her body no longer quite felt like it belonged to her. When he reached her thigh, he paused. “I’ve never marked anybody like this before. In a thousand years, I’ve never wanted anybody the way I want you.”
April took his wris
t and pulled him onto the bed, cradling him between her legs. He hooked her knees over his hips and the tip of his cock nudged against her. She caught her breath, entranced by the light shining from his eyes. He shifted forward and time slowed, her vision wavering as the mark on her thigh flared to life and his cock slid home.
“Oh my god.” The low moan did more to reassure her than any words ever could. The pure pleasure in his voice could not be denied. For the space of a heartbeat neither of them moved, her tight channel adjusting to his thick rod of flesh. “God, sweetheart, you feel so fucking good.”
“Please fuck me,” she whispered.
He smiled. “I’m working on it.” He rotated his hips while he was still buried inside of her, and the lights went off behind her eyes. She choked out a word of encouragement, and he did it again. The motion was so slight, but it contained the promise of his power. She clenched around him, vibrating with need, her hips jerking on their own accord. He leaned back and thrust forward to meet her, their bodies fusing and then breaking apart again.
The rhythm they established was one of give and take, their bodies moving in perfect harmony, like dancers following an ancient drumbeat. Her heart thudded in her ears, but not so loudly that she couldn’t hear his gasps of pleasure, his moans and words of encouragement. He cupped her breasts, his fingers rolling over her hard nipples. She arched into his touch, her pleasure increasing exponentially with every squeeze, every touch, every thrust.
“Harder.” With her legs locked around him, she begged him for more. Their mouths clashed, tongues dueling. He kissed her deeply, possessing her completely, igniting a fuse at the base of her spine. Her earlier orgasm was already a distant memory, nothing more than an echo in her cells, and her body ached for another like the desert aches for rain.
His hand moved from her breast to her hair, pulling her head back, exposing her throat. He kissed from her mouth to her chin and down to her pulse point. Her racing heart jumped at the touch, her pulse hammering against his mouth. Why or how that was the gesture that unlocked her torrent of emotions, she couldn’t say. All she knew was between the ragged gasps for breaths she blurted the truth.
“I love you, Mads.”
He shuddered, shifting his angle to grind against her clit with each shallow stroke. Her disappointment was lost in a red haze of fresh bliss, carrying her to the top of the mountain. She hovered there for just a moment and then she was soaring into the stars, her climax so intense that he couldn’t withstand it. He slammed into her with a final grunt and then they collapsed together in a pile of sweaty limbs and heaving chests.
“I love you, too, mein Schatz.”
“What does that mean,” she murmured against his shoulder.
“My darling.”
April smiled, her earlier sadness and fear completely obliterated. She believed him. She was his darling. And he was her dragon.
“Do we have to go back to work right away?” she asked.
“I planned to get some sleep first.”
“No, I mean, tomorrow. Can we have a little vacation, just the two of us?”
“I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“Somewhere alone. Where there’s no people.”
“We can do that.”
“And I can see the dragon again?”
“Darling, you can see anything you want, have anything you want, be anything you want. Just tell me and the world is yours.”
“I don’t need the world.” She nuzzled in closer to his chest, closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of his skin and sweat. “I just need to be with you.”
41
ONE MONTH LATER
The red dress was as inexplicable as it was beautiful. April gently took the material between her finger and thumb and held it out, her mouth running dry at the lushness of the silk, the vibrant color, the tailored silhouette. It was the finest item of clothing she’d ever touched, but she had no idea where it came from, why it was in her suite, or what she was meant to do with it.
“Whose dress is this?” she asked, fingers gliding over the bodice. Tiny glittering stones studded the neckline, and upon closer inspection, she realized they were diamonds.
“It’s yours, mein Schatz.”
April heard the smile in Mads’ voice and turned to meet his golden green eyes. “Mine? That’s not my dress.”
His smile didn’t fade. “It is now.”
“Oh, but...I couldn’t…”
“Why not?” A frown crept in around his eyes. “Aren’t I allowed to give you gifts?”
“Allowed? Yes, of course, very much allowed.” The last thing she wanted to do was discourage his generosity. “But, I just…” Heat flooded her cheeks. “I don’t know if it’ll fit.”
Now the frown spread to his lips. “Why not? It was made to your measurements.”
April’s mouth ran dry and she tried to stifle the white-hot rush of embarrassment, but her voice still trembled slightly when she asked, “You know my measurements?”
“Of course. You’re my mate.”
The earlier embarrassment was turning into anger—a typical response for her. Anger was easier to handle than humiliation. “And somehow that fact gives you personal information about my body?”
“Yes, it does.” He took her hand, pulling her towards him. She didn’t resist, but only because she was always eager to feel his body against hers. His hand ran down her spine, coming to a rest on the curve of her ass, his other arm wrapped in a possessive band around her shoulders. “I know all there is to know about the shape of your body. If you do not like the dress, I will have it removed, but I do hope you’ll at least try it on for me.”
April took a deep, even breath. It was clear he didn’t understand her reaction to the beautiful gift, and now she only felt embarrassed again. Her insecurities around her body always seemed to perplex him, and they were beginning to frustrate her. Still, she couldn’t resist one last effort to avoid trying on the garment.
“I don’t know if that color will look good on me.”
“That shade will look very fetching on you. Especially with your coloring.”
The hot tendrils of embarrassment still crawled through her stomach. The dress didn’t look like her regular size 28, and she feared the color would make her look like a big, round tomato, but the dress was gorgeous and it was a very sweet gesture. What would be the harm in trying it on? Nobody would see her but Mads, and he preferred to see her without any clothes on at all, so the dress wouldn’t be missed once she tore it off.
“I’ll try it on,” she said, giving him a good squeeze before stepping out of his arms.
The zipper on the back gave her another reason to be concerned, but she dropped her robe and stepped into the dress, pulling it over her hips and around her bust. The fit was snug, but not tight, and when Mads stepped behind her to zip it, the teeth closed smoothly. She straightened the skirt and adjusted her breasts inside the fitted cups. It left her arms and shoulders exposed, but the sight of her bare arms didn’t detract from the beauty of the dress. In fact, she barely noticed her arms when she saw her reflection.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“You’re beautiful.” Mads stepped behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. “We’ll make a very dashing couple tonight.”
“Where are we going?” It didn’t matter where they went, as long as she was on his arm.
“Dinner and the opera.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I must go prepare myself. The car will be here at seven.”
“I’ll be ready.” She tilted her head back and kissed his jaw. “I love you.”
He moved quickly, catching her mouth with his and claiming it in a long, deep kiss. His free hand went to her breast and she arched against his palm, forgetting the new dress and their surprise date, wanting nothing more than to fan the flames kindled deep inside her. She loved the way he kissed her, the way his body felt against hers, hard every where she was so
ft, and yet his flesh was yielding, welcoming to her.
“I love you, too, mein Schatz. I’ll be back at 6:45.”
“I’ll be waiting. Oh, will you unzip this for me?”
It was hard to let him go, but once he closed the door behind him, her attention went back to the exquisite dress. The skirt flared out below her hips, moving beautifully around her legs when she did a test twirl. The bodice accentuated her breasts with a sweetheart cut, showing off just enough cleavage. The color did not make her look like a tomato at all. Mads had been right about the shade—it did compliment her natural golden hue very well.
April checked the time—she had a little more than an hour to do her hair and makeup. She didn’t know if she had the skill to do justice to such a dress, but she couldn’t waste any time. Her stomach fluttered with excitement as she carefully laid the dress on her bed and grabbed her makeup bag. They’d been out together since they arrived in Florence, but only during the day, and only briefly. He’d asked her each night what she wanted to do, offering her anything her heart desired, but she only wanted him.
Perhaps he needs a bit of a break, she thought with a wry smile. On the other hand, a mere mortal would have probably demanded a break much sooner. If she bordered on insatiable, his hunger for her was ravenous. Sometimes, when he was buried inside of her, she wondered if it was the man or the dragon who craved her the most. It was the dragon’s eyes she saw the most these days; twin golden rings staring at her as though he could see every secret and hidden space she carried inside.
She’d only seen the dragon itself once: nearly a month earlier, when he saved her life from another dragon. Chester Maelstrom had turned homicidal and then had morphed into a dragon with a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. She didn’t think about him much, but she still dreamed of being chased and cornered. What if Mads hadn’t crashed through the glass ceiling when he had? The answer was easy—she would have been turned into dragon food. But Mads had arrived in time, killing her attacker and marking her as his.