by Keri Kruspe
“What did you do that for?”
Damn it…even his growl was sexy. His chest vibrated against her breasts, making her nipples pucker in reaction. Jeez, her body was such a hussy.
Cheithe snickered in the background.
“I told you to put me down.” She wasn’t going to give an inch. Arms crossed with a narrowed glare should do the trick.
Ki snorted. A whiff of gray smoke rippled out of one nostril. Wow, that got under his skin. “No.”
Wait…what? Looked like she wasn’t making herself clear. He still carried her toward the house. Sherri raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’d better rethink your caveman ways, buddy.”
Ki mirrored her eyebrow expression and upped the stakes by turning up the corner of his full lips. “I do not know what a caveman is, so I cannot think differently about being one.”
Obstinate…stubborn…ridiculous man.
She huffed as they passed the tree line and made it onto the grassy clearing. The two-story barn architecture with its cherry gable topped by a copper dragon weathervane filled her with a sense of homecoming. It represented a safe place to lick emotional wounds when the memory of the perverse man holding her became too much in her day-to-day life. The weeks apart had stretched into an eternity.
“Look, let’s try this again.” Arrgh, hard to speak in a reasonable tone through clenched teeth. “Please put me down. I am more than capable of walking.” With a wave of her hand, she gestured to the soft grass in the warm air. “While I appreciate your help back there…”
A male snort.
“… I can take care of myself.”
He stopped and surveyed the area.
Sherri took advantage of his distraction to admire the strong column of this throat. Dark, shining skin throbbed on the side of his neck and held her attention. Ki was a powerful male in his prime, ready and able to defend and protect others. Sherri wanted nothing more than to lean up and nibble the skin to see if he tasted as good as she remembered. Damn, now she was getting all girly and mushy.
A jolt signaled he was going to put her down. In a gentle move, he swung her feet on the springy grass.
“Now, what?”
Her companion crossed his arms over the massive chest she didn’t want to leave.
She mimicked his stance. “Now, go away.” She turned on a bare heel.
NO! Cheithe cried. Do not send my mate away!
Hush, Cheithe. Sherri reassured. I know what I’m doing. I hope.
A huge palm wrapped around her upper arm and held her in place. “I am not going anywhere.”
Well, that was a challenge if she ever heard one. With a tilt of her neck, she glanced upward to take in all that handsome height. She just loved the blue/green combination of his eyes, especially when his iridescent pupils were wide as he gazed back. “Oh?” She cocked a hip. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why not?”
The corners of his eyes crinkled and his lush mouth stretched into a small smile under his close-cropped mahogany beard. “In spite of your proclivities for drawing blood from my ears…do you really have to ask?”
What did that mean? Heat crawled up her neck and face. “Of course I have to ask. The last time we spoke, you were perfectly clear I was…” She tapped a forefinger against her lips.
As if she’d ever forget his hurtful parting shot.
“Oh yes, I was ‘a wonderful person’ and that you just knew I would be claimed by some lucky male very soon, it just wasn’t going to be you.” She clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head to the side. “Is that correct?”
“Yes.” Ki grabbed her in a soft hold and pulled her close. “And I’m the lucky male coming to claim you.”
That clueless answer struck her dumb. Disbelief gave way to a surge of anger. “Just who in the hell do you think you are?” She pushed away with a raucous voice and narrowed eyes.
He didn’t move as the amused smile curled higher.
That did it.
“You can’t ‘claim’ me like lost luggage.” She poked his rock-solid chest. “And what makes you think I want to be claimed by a scared, out-of-touch child?” She pushed again at the rock-hard chest with a hiss. “I’d rather take my chances with an evil-emperior-wanna-be instead of putting myself out there for you again.”
Ki’s dark skin blanched. His full lips frowned and those distinctive eyes blazed.
With a harrumph and a flick of her hand, Sherri swiveled out of his hold and headed toward the house, head held high.
The growl in her ear was the only warning she got when a big arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her up to face him. Time stopped as she glared back. She half expected a burst of anger and wondered how to handle him when he exploded.
A blank expression covered his face as his mouth stretched in a stern line before he lowered her slowly to the ground. With a brief nod of his head, he released her. With a blank stare, he gave a short bow and turned to walk away.
The sight of Ki’s back made Cheithe lose her mind. She thundered and roared, dragging Sherri along when the dragon forced the change in order to stop the retreating Zerin.
Only he wasn’t a Zerin any longer. With a masculine roar of his own, he’d changed into Grirryrth simultaneously.
The sheer determination of the female dragon shoved Sherri into the “back seat.” Cheithe took full control and only allowed her the barest ability to observe.
The joyful reunion of Grirryrth and Cheithe was loud, earth-shattering, and heated. Each blew plumes of smoke and fire at the other—bathing their bodies in searing flames. Together they twined their sinuous necks to nuzzle each other’s snout—burning waves of heat singed the ground beneath the claws of their hind legs.
The sounds of purring, roaring, and crooning filled the air before they pulled apart and raced to the sky as one. The freedom of flight soared around them, the balmy atmosphere a soothing cushion under their wings.
Once Cheithe established herself in the airstream, Sherri’s consciousness became blocked.
The loud, steady drip-drip-drip of water woke Sherri from a dreamless sleep. Groggy, she raised her head and groaned when every muscle and bone in her body screamed in protest from sleeping on a hard ground in one position.
Good God almighty, what was going on? Sherri sat up and something sharp dug into her left butt cheek. With a hiss of pain, she lifted high enough to scrape the offending rock out from under her. What the…? There hadn’t been anything between that butt cheek and a sharp rock.
She gaped at her exposed breasts and bare lower half. Shit! She was naked and sitting in…a cave? No, not just a cave but a large, damp cavern. To her left was a wide, jagged opening, letting in dim light from the outside. It was either morning or evening, hard to tell from where she sat. A slight breeze came from the opening, bringing with it the scent of dry rock and dust to mix with the mossy odor from where water dripped in the dark behind her.
A rumbling male groan made her start. Twisting at the waist, she spied an equally naked Zerin spread out on his back with all his masculine glory on full display.
Ki moaned again, and he twitched. He rubbed his closed eyes as he muttered under his breath. With a deep snarl, he pulled himself up and rested on his forearms.
The pull of his stomach muscles caught her notice as he moved—the six-pack flexing in glorious temptation. She soon became the focus of his bloodshot stare.
“Are you all right?” he asked as they gazed at each other.
She took a moment to run an internal inventory before nodding. “Yeah, I think so.” She pushed back a lock of hair falling into her face. “But I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck more than once. I’m sore all over.” Especially between her legs. Her cheeks heated. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear she’d been in a sexual marathon.
She slid her glance away and squirmed. The only reasonable explanation to be this tender was because she must have had copious amounts of dragon sex. Flashes came—images of Grirryrth twining around her as
he gave her a solid bite on the neck to hold her steady. Next came the image of her caught within the male dragon’s massive claws as they zoomed toward earth when he penetrated her.
Cheithe…the little tramp…snickered in the background. Yes, my mate and I have claimed each other. Look closely at yours. She made the suggestion in a conspiratorial whisper.
Sherri drew her lower lip between her teeth and snuck a peek at Ki under her lashes. At first, there wasn’t anything different about his large body shining in the low light as he ran a palm down his face. With a grunt, he pulled away and leaned his massive torso to rest on his palms. His head dropped back with eyes closed.
With his face exposed, the right side became clear. A tattoo started at the middle of his forehead and tapered to fan across the top of his cheekbone. It was an intricate scrollwork that shone in deep purple ink across his dark skin. Embedded within the middle of the swirls and lines, his temple housed a multifaceted, diamond crystal.
A wave of heat blasted through her and she became lightheaded. A MalDerVon scroll. Ki wore a MalDerVon scroll. The Zerin symbol of TrueBond mates that Lora explained to her when Sherri commented on the one Lora sported that matched D’zia’s.
With trembling fingers, she touched her left temple. Did she have one?
She did!
At least something was there. It had the smooth edges of a raised diamond, but what was weird was she sensed her fingers touching it. It was the same as if she felt any other part of her body.
Holy Crap! Ki was her TrueBond. Sherri turned away and blinked as tears filled her eyes. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she rested her forehead on them with closed eyes. Why was she so weepy? Her inner hollowness was all about the man who had made it clear he didn’t want her.
“Are you okay?”
She twitched. His voice startled her. “I’m fine.” She lied to her knees. Now what? What could she do about this ridiculous situation? Tight nerves made it hard to breathe.
“Sherri, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She continued to direct her conversation at her knees. One glance his way and she’d melt. “Go away.”
A puff of dust from the dry floor teased as heavy footfalls came close. “I will do nothing of the sort.” Ki’s crooning voice came as a surprise. “We are TrueBonds. It is time to begin anew.”
Begin anew? Who in the hell talked like that? Her face burned at the rhetoric comment. “So what?” The grip on her poor knees tightened. “You don’t have to stick around.”
Ki’s masculine chuckle should have been a warning. She squealed when tree-trunk arms swung her up and snuggled them together.
“But I want to stick around.” The last word came out muffled as he nuzzled the sensitive skin behind her ear.
Sherri jerked and glared. “Oh yeah? Since when?” She waved around the craggy cave. “Since your stupid dragon attacked mine and forced us here?”
It was my decision to be with Grirryrth. He did not force anything and I resent you saying something that childish.
Cheithe’s admonishment shamed Sherri.
Ki frowned, but didn’t say anything as he lowered them to the dirt floor to rest against the rugged cave wall. With a soft grunt, she was placed on his lap.
“Grirryrth didn’t force Cheithe any more than she forced him.”
Great, now two voices told her what an unreasonable bitch she was. She folded her arms.
Ki took in a deep breath.
His wide chest moved and made the skin on her back pebble with warmth.
“Look, Sherri, we should talk.”
Her stomach dropped. Here it came. Now he’d go over all the reasons they shouldn’t be together, MalDerVon scroll be damned. “No need to spell it out.” Enough. Why endure this torture any longer? She scooted off and stood. “Let’s leave and get this over with.”
The irritating male sat against the ragged cave wall with a forearm resting on a bent knee. A frown matched the furrowed lines between mahogany brows. “I don’t know what ‘spell it out’ means, but I believe we have a misunderstanding.”
Sherri stiffened. To Ki’s credit, he didn’t ogle her naked body. Which was perversely irritating. She ignored the passing thought and shoved hurt feminine pride back. “Is that so?” She rested her fist on a cocked hip. “Enlighten me.”
With a steady gaze, the alien male rose and sensually stalked forward with his dual-colored orbs and a smooth smile.
Sherri blinked as her neck heated. Ki’s sexual overture tightened her nipples and created mini-spasms deep inside.
Without a touch, the warmth of his breath feathered her ear as he whispered, “I see you.”
“Wha’?” Her brain scrambled, and she sounded like an idiot. A tempting male, sea breeze scent proceeded his warmth when he moved in closer.
“I see who you are inside.” A large palm rested above her heart. “I see a brave, intelligent female who has captured the very heart of a dragon.”
He encircled the side of her neck with one hand and pulled her close until his masculine lips were mere inches from hers. “And I see the female who has claimed me.”
Ki closed the gap and rested the soft pads of his lips on hers but didn’t otherwise move as he wrapped her in his strong arms.
His thick thighs rubbed against her, the coarse hair on his legs adding to her sensual experience. At the same time, the soft beard rubbing the outside of her mouth caused a shiver of appreciation. When a traitorous sigh escaped her, Ki took advantage and plunged inside. Firm lips and tongue took possession, an intense move that scrambled her senses as their flavors mixed and made her head spin. Did she taste him or did he taste her?
Oh, good God, what was he doing to me?
Cheithe sniffed in amusement. Obviously, he’s making love to you. Do I have to stay and explain things to you?
Sherri’s brain scrambled. It was impossible to concentrate while Ki’s masterful seduction took over.
Do not be stubborn, child. Cheithe chided. He is your mate. Do not let pride come between you and your happiness. Isn’t he what you looked for when you left Earth? With that firm reprimand, Cheithe disappeared from Sherri’s consciousness.
The sudden departure of the dragon startled Sherri and allowed her to pull from Ki’s devastating assault. She took a step back to clear her befuddled mind. Time to get a handle on what was going on.
“Wait, wait!” She held up a palm to stop him from following. At the hope and need blazing out of his eyes, her will almost crumbled. “I don’t understand.” Okay, take a deep breath. Instead of calm, her lungs filled with Ki’s signature scent as it mixed with the moist, cold air. Her body took on a life of its own; her nipples hardened, and she shook with internal heat. Crossing her arms, she ignored the sight of his iridescent skin flushed in passion. “What made you come to Earth? How did you know the Chancellor kidnapped me?”
A grimace twisted his mouth. “I had no idea U’unk had even escaped from the Imperial Forces.” He pushed a strand of long mahogany hair from his face.
Sherri blinked. Long hair? What happened to his normal shoulder-length hair? Instead of resting on his shoulders, the thick curtain played peek-a-boo with the planes and hills of his chiseled chest to rest at the top of his thighs.
“I came because of Cheithe’s cry.” The tips of his pointy ears flushed a cute shade of fuchsia. “I heard her, and I had to come.” With a sheepish grin, his eyes caressed. “I realized I’d been fooling myself in thinking we needed to be apart.”
Ki rested his large palms at the tops of her shoulders. The heat burrowed into her and relaxed tight muscles.
“Let me tell you why I left in the first place.” With a rub against the back of his neck, he went to the craggy wall and sat. With a sheepish grin, he beckoned her to join him.
Sherri scanned the dirt floor between his thick thighs where his semi-erect penis lay. Rubbing the chill bumps on her arms, she gazed at his wide-eyed plea. While Grirryrth had told her the initial story, he hadn�
��t been able to describe the feelings behind Ki’s actions. She wanted to hear his side of the story and why not do so huddled within his warm comfort? With an inward sigh, she settled against his chest, the partially hardened penis nestled along the dent of her spine. His strong embrace wrapped around her and he grasped her hands in his as he told about his past.
And what a story it was. A tale of a selfish boy who’d stolen his father’s battlesuit in secret to confront some bullies. That one thoughtless act left his family unprotected on a hostile mining planet known for its unscrupulous citizens. Rogue bandits ended up butchering his entire family. When he and Grirryrth escaped Reinus45 a year later, he’d vowed not to have children. He couldn’t take a chance his selfish genes would pass to another generation.
Sherri zoned out as Ki’s voice trailed off.
“Sherri?”
The sound of the male rumbling tone behind her made her jump.
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
She found it difficult to organize her scrambled thoughts, but he deserved honesty. “It’s hard to relive your sad story with you, and I’m sorry for what happened to you and your family. No one should have to endure something like that, especially at that age.” She gave an amused chuckle. “I’m not sure you want to hear what I really think about everything else.” No need to glance back to know he was confused. It was clear by the unyielding way his chest became still.
The firm hold tightened. “Go ahead, tell the truth.”
The terse timbre caused her to smile. The oaf probably believed he was an awful person who didn’t deserve love, much less have a family that included children. While she’d never planned on having kids, who knows? With the right partner, she might reconsider having that adventure…much later. But, something about his fears didn’t make sense.
“Before I do that, I have a question. Don’t Zerins use birth control?”