But then my treacherous nipples beaded into taut peaks. I licked my lips. I felt frozen, caught under his fiery stare. Trapped under his huge, manly bulk. Half excited, half afraid…
“You,” he said, his words rolling deep in his throat. “I’ve been wanting you. I know you have mates, but—I haven’t been able to get this off my mind.”
I held my breath. Heat pooled within my core, and to be quite honest, my legs trembled a bit.
He came closer, his lips just inches from mine. “I want to claim you. To bend you over with your ass in the air. To fuck you until you scream my name.”
Ohhh goddess. I couldn’t do this. My legs quaked like jelly and I pushed his chest hard. He let go of me, surprise on his face, and I rushed down the hallway.
I didn’t even bother to look back. Ronan was bad news.
I took two steps at a time on the stairs, trying to regain my breath, and ran into Trey and Drake as they came out of the kitchen. I could hear the voices of Ambra, Ethan, and Shay in the kitchen.
“Bella,” Drake said with concern on his face, pulling me toward him in a hug. “Are you feeling well?”
I nodded, hoping the two of them would think I was upset over my sister, and not the fact that a sexy golden dragon had been putting his moves on me. And I’d almost fallen for them.
“I’m just tired,” I said, although guilt racked me.
“Let’s put you in the bath and then to bed,” suggested Trey.
I let them lead me to my room, where Trey filled up the oversized garden tub, and Drake added several squirts of bubble bath. Once the water had reached the perfect temp and was nice and sudsy, the three of us stripped and eased in.
Trey sat behind me and began to lather my shoulders with a fluffy loofah. Drake sat across from us, sipping on his fire water, blowing out little O’s of smoke that swirled around his face.
When we’d finished with the bath, Trey wrapped me in a big fluffy towel, and we all climbed into the bed. Drake spooned me from behind while I wrapped my arms around Trey and snuggled my head against his chest.
I finally felt myself relax and gave a big sigh. My eyelids closed and I dozed off into sleep, hardly even thinking about the fact that Trey and Drake were in my bed together, and neither of them had blown anything up yet.
26
Lyssa
The next day, I avoided Ronan like the plague. You know, like the really bad kind that turns your fingers and toes black.
In the morning, I had breakfast with Shay and shot the shit with her a bit. We both tried our best to talk about insignificant things and ignore the fact we were waiting for Amelie to wake up and to see how she felt. Going to Mount Hum? Looking for the birthplace of the orestaia?
Nope. We couldn’t do any of that until she regained some of her strength she’d lost on the journey here.
Then Jackson and I borrowed the Hummer to drive down to the coast and walk along the beach. When we came back, I had lunch outside with Ethan and Trey, carefully timing things so I wouldn’t have to talk to Ronan in the kitchen.
And then in the afternoon, I went on a short flight with Drake and took a nap with him in my private garden.
Finally, Jackson gave me the heads-up that Amelie had awakened and I had an early dinner with her in the bedroom.
Feeling quite thrilled with myself that I’d managed to stay golden-dragon-free for the main part of the day, I went out to the patio by myself to enjoy the sunset. Standing at the railing, I looked out over the rolling hills and vineyards.
The back door opened, and I glanced over to see Ronan approaching. Stalking, more like it. Wild and feral.
I sighed. Dammit!
I turned back toward the hills, hoping he’d get the hint and go away. Instead, he came up to stand beside me. I felt myself scowl. Why the hell did he have to stand so close? Especially close enough so I could feel the delicious heat emanating off him, and smell his scrumptious man scent?
“Hey,” I said, glancing at him. “Are you here to tell me you’re going to toss me over your shoulder and then have your way with me?”
“Maybe.” His lips curled into a wicked smile. “Actually, I wanted to…apologize.”
“Oh, really?” I studied the hard, rugged planes of his face. This guy didn’t seem like he did a lot of apologizing.
Ronan shrugged, his face relaxed but his eyes alight with their usual flame. “You are mated already. And as much as I want to do the thing you just mentioned, I know I cannot. It’s…hard to explain.”
“What is?”
A glimmer of lust flicked through his eyes. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the throbbing that had inconveniently begun between my legs.
He shook his head, a slow, almost imperceptible movement. “You. I don’t know. I’ve never felt this pull from anyone before. And I’ve lived a long time.”
“How old are you?”
“I was born in 992, during the time of the Vikings.”
Holy fuck on a stick. He had lived a long time, although he didn’t look any older than me. “And you’ve…never had a mate?”
“A true mate, no. I’ve never found her.”
Pain glimmered in his gaze, and I looked away. I felt bad—and hell, I wanted him—but I couldn’t help him.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I already have four…look.” I pulled down the waistband of my shorts to show him my tattoo. The four orange petals glowed brightly against my skin.
Ronan peered closely at my flower. “Let me see that.” He tugged my shorts even lower and then traced his finger across the petals. A jolt of fire exploded at his touch. Whispers of heat went scurrying across my flesh.
He stared at my tattoo for another moment, almost as if not believing what he saw. Then his gaze met mine. His eyes were darkened with lust and with longing, and I held my breath.
“Come with me,” he said, suddenly grabbing my hand and pulling me along.
“What? Where are we going?” I demanded, having to skip to keep up with his brisk pace. We went out the patio gate and then I clambered behind him up a hill.
“I’ll show you when we get there.”
After ten minutes of climbing, we reached the top of the hill. From here, we could see out across part of the island, and to the ocean far below us. The sun had nearly set, and everything was covered in reds and purples and blues.
A tall mountain loomed in the distance. Mount Hum, I’d heard Ambra call it earlier. Its lush green peak towered near the clouds, outlined with the smoldering rays of the sun.
A sense of familiarity tugged at me…oh! It was the very same image as Bastian of Muir’s mural from Ethan’s house. The only things missing were the dragons of all colors flitting around its peak.
Was this what Ronan had brought me to see? I glanced at him in anticipation.
But instead of looking out across the landscape, Ronan’s gaze focused at the ground. Small red-orange flowers grew in small clumps in the soil. Their stems were long and spindly, and their petals glowed bright orange in the dimming light.
Ronan plucked one and held it out to me. “The fire lily. It grows native to Vis. Nowhere else in the world.”
I took it from him, holding it gingerly between my fingers. “It looks like my flower.”
“Lyssa, it is your flower. But if you look closely, you’ll see the fire lily has five petals, not four.”
It took me a second to process that. My flower was supposed to have…five petals?
I peeked at my tattoo once again. That’s when I noticed it for the first time—a small space between petals, near the stem.
Room for one more.
I swallowed hard. A…fifth mate?
Ronan pulled me close, looking down into my face. So close…our lips almost touching. The air around us crackled with heat.
Was he going to kiss me?
Hot damn. I sure hoped so, because this dragon was blowing my mind.
But instead of pressing his lips to mine, he reached to grab my waist and flu
ng me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I exclaimed, flailing my arms and legs while he took off on a running jog down the hill.
“I move faster than you,” he commented mildly. “This is easier.”
“Let. Me. Down!” I pounded on his back, but he only gripped me tighter with one arm as he easily hopped over a series of small boulders.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” Then he gave my ass a firm slap. And another.
Did Ronan just…spank me?
A third slap, quick and with a delicious tingle, came right after. Pleasure melded with pain, and warmth spread across my butt cheeks.
Heat bloomed into my face. “You’re an asshole, do you know that?” I spit out, feeling annoyed, angry, and holy fuck…super aroused.
He chuckled, a low sound that rumbled deep within his chest. “I think you like it.”
27
Lyssa
Ronan flung open the door to my bedroom. He stalked inside, and then, finally, set me down, my pussy already throbbing with need.
He stood behind me and yanked me close to him, my back against the hard muscles of his chest and the even harder bulge of his cock. His warm breath tingled on my neck. My skin flushed hot.
A shiver of pure desire rippled down my spine.
I should insist that he get out of my room. Fuck off. At least until he could learn to properly behave himself and not act like a dick.
But then he pulled my hips closer and I couldn’t help but arch into him. He fisted my hair into a ponytail and tugged it hard to the side, turning my face toward him.
Then his mouth was on mine. Hot. Wicked. Demanding.
Another set of sparks shot through me, and—oh goddess—I didn’t think I wanted to move even if I could.
He loosened his grip slightly and bit my ear, then dragged his teeth across my shoulder. I wriggled up against him, wanting more. Needing more. He deftly undid the button of my shorts and slid his hand under my panties to cup my sex.
“You’re so wet,” he said, his voice rubbing itself all over me. And yeah, I was—I could feel my juices already dripping down my leg.
A garbled moan came out of me as he dragged his finger across my slick nether lips. His other hand wrapped gently around my throat. I bucked my hips while his magical fingers dipped inside and then rubbed upon my clit, sending my pussy into a flurry of excitement.
Flames licked along my skin and I moaned again as he ripped the orgasm from me.
I attempted to turn around to face him, trembling with my release, but he held me close, the light touch of his hand still around my throat. “What do you want, Lyssa?”
Oh, hell. My breath came short and my mind turned to absolute mush. His essence swirled around me, the essence of my mate. I wanted him to take me, to fill me…to make me his. My inner dragoness writhed in frustration, feeling just as impatient.
“I want you to fuck me,” I whispered, absorbing the leashed power that emanated from him.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“Fuck me. Now,” I demanded, this time wriggling out of his grasp to finally face him.
Fire raged in his eyes, almost scorching me. He looked at me like a wild, predatory animal, and I felt a ravenous hunger of my own.
With one quick motion, he ripped my T-shirt and tore it off my body. I stared at the garment in surprise, but only for a second, because then he was upon me, crushing his mouth to mine. Tearing off the rest of our clothes. Pouring heat into me, his fire raging all throughout my body.
He stepped away for a moment, his breath ragged in his throat. The muscles in his chest rippled, covered with a bold, golden dragon, its wings outstretched. His gaze traveled the length of my body.
“On your hands and knees,” Ronan growled.
Oh! My nipples tightened even further, and I thought the ache would drive me insane. I climbed on top of the bed, tucking my feet under me and momentarily looking down at my legs. My arousal glistened along the inside of my thighs.
“Hands and knees,” he repeated, stalking toward me. “You don’t always follow directions, do you?”
A thrill shot down my spine. Anticipation tingled within my gut, and I could feel my pulse hammering in my chest. How dare he tell me what to do? No one did that. What if I didn’t want to get on my freaking hands and knees?
But my inner dragoness quivered with excitement, and I knew that, fuck yes, I wanted to get on my hands and knees. For him, at least. So I did what he asked, facing away from him, hearing his footsteps approach the bed.
The bed moved with his weight, and I felt the presence of his huge, powerful body behind me. Then one strong hand on my hip…and the tip of his cock at my entrance…
The first powerful thrust sent even more heat rocketing through my veins. He pulled all the way out and then slid in again, beginning to pound into me in a hard, maddening rhythm. I arched beneath him, and pushed back with my hips, meeting each of his thrusts with one of my own.
And even though I’d hardly met him, all his emotions flowed into me. His fire. His agony. His desire for me.
He reached forward to pinch my nipple. Hard.
“Oh!” I moaned, feeling sparks of pleasure and pain zooming through me. I willingly surrendered to it all—the sensations, the emotions—as Ronan rocked against me, pressure already building in my core.
Another rough thrust. And then one more. He tugged tightly at my hair, and I relinquished even more control, letting my release build higher and higher.
“Will you be mine?” he asked, his voice low and ragged.
I thought of my four mates. Ronan was so different. Not gentle at all like Jackson. Or passionate like Drake. Or rock steady like Ethan. Nor could he understand me like Trey.
Yet here he was, already claiming me. Making me his. Taming me like no one else could.
“Say it,” he demanded. He trailed his fingers against my hip, across my fire lily, and a burst of flaming heat ignited across the tattoo. Tendrils of pleasure unfurled and zinged through me, like a ripple from a stone in a pond.
The answer was easy. Ronan was the last piece of the puzzle. My fifth mate.
“Yes,” I mumbled, my thoughts mushy and incoherent. I burned beneath him, my body and soul on fire. I trembled on the verge of an orgasm, and as I arched toward it, Ronan hit the perfect place inside me once more.
Goddess, he was fucking good at that.
And then my body ripped into what seemed like a million pieces. Torn into complete and utter shreds.
Ronan pumped a few more times, then gave a loud, shuddering groan. An explosive burst of seed filled me and warmed my core even further.
I flopped onto my stomach for a few moments, letting the waves of my orgasm simmer down, noticing the tingles still arising from my tattoo.
I sat up to peer at it. There it was…a fifth petal. I lightly traced it, feeling a delicious tenderness flowing into my skin.
“Ronan…look,” I said.
But when I glanced up, I noticed his attention wasn’t on my new mating mark. It was on my other four mates, standing in the open doorway.
Everyone stood silent for a moment. Ethan’s expression was stern. Drake looked surprised, and a flicker of hurt crossed Jackson’s features. Trey…hell, I could never read him.
“How long have you been there?” I asked finally.
“Almost the entire time,” Ethan answered, entering the room, the other three following him. “Since the moans started.”
Oh, fuck. The moans. No doubt they’d been through the roof.
I traced the petals again, not sure of how to explain this to my mates. “Ronan…gave me my fifth petal,” I said, realizing how silly it sounded as soon as the words left my mouth.
Trey’s eyes narrowed, and he sat down on the bed next to me. Ethan, Jackson, and Drake did the same, and they all peered closely at my tattoo. Jackson lightly brushed his fingers against it. Another shot of pleasure zipped across
my flesh.
I waited, holding my breath.
Then Trey leaned over to kiss me, a long, deep kiss.
When we’d finished our lip lock, Drake pulled me toward him in a hug, and whispered mischievously into my ear. “Looks like you have one more cock to play with, amore. That’s a lot.”
I felt my cheeks grow hot. Yeah. That was a lot.
“Welcome to the team, man!” Jackson tried to give Ronan a fist bump, although the golden dragon didn’t really seem to understand the concept of it at first.
“Yes, welcome to the team,” Ethan said after a few moments. Then he stripped, first toeing off his shoes, then removing his shirt, and finally his pants. I raised my eyebrows when I noticed he wasn’t wearing any underwear. He shrugged and a hint of a smile curled on his lips.
Then Ethan pulled me into his lap. He toyed playfully with my nipple while the rest of the clothed dragons hurried to get theirs off. “Let us show you how it’s done, Ronan.”
“And feel free to jump in whenever you’d like,” I added, winking at my new mate.
28
Lyssa
I woke up to find my face snuggled against Jackson’s tanned, hard chest. I yawned, feeling rested and satisfied and happy.
And deliciously sore.
My body hummed with contentment and with…something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
I burrowed even closer to Jackson’s body, enjoying his warmth and sexy manliness. “What time is it?” I mumbled.
“Almost noon.”
“Almost noon! Crap!” I sat up straight, noticing that we were currently the only ones in my humongous bed. “And where’s everyone?”
The last time I’d checked, there had been four extra dragons in the mix.
Jackson gave an easy laugh and pulled me toward him. “Come here. Don’t worry about it.” He lightly traced his fingers across the swell of my hip. “There’s nowhere you need to be right now, except for here. Amelie’s still resting…she needs more time before we can all head up to Mount Hum.”
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