by Cecilia Lane
But not yet. Not until she came apart in his arms. He would give her pleasure before taking it for himself. He wanted to feel her rippling around his length when he sank his fangs into her beautiful skin and erased one mark to replace it with his own.
***
Penelope raised and lowered her hips, sopping heat dragging along Luca’s thick length. Her skin prickled almost on the edge of pain before settling into mind-numbing pleasure. He was so large and filled her to the brim. It was heavenly. She felt as content and pleased as a cat with a bowl of cream.
“Penelope, mate.” Luca breathed into her shoulder. His teeth nipped at her skin and she sucked in a breath. But no, it was just a lover’s bite, not the bite that would bind them for years to come.
She rolled her hips again, pleasure growing and sparking inside her as she rode him. His cock stroked her from within, rubbing and caressing her walls in seemingly infinite bliss.
Luca’s hands gripped her hips. Pricks of pain brought her attention to her waist, and she saw the tips of claws digging into her skin. Instead of frightening her, it excited her. She liked that she caused him to lose a bit of his control. Liquid heat slipped down her already wet pussy and coated him with more of her cream.
She cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples between her fingers. The pleasure bubbling along her veins increased. Luca stared nakedly at the heavy globes, hunger clear on his face. It made her grin.
The steam of the shower thickened around them. Luca’s hands guided her movement and increased her pace. They both panted and groaned with the pleasure. Sweat coated them both from the exertion and heat. Penelope wanted to lick Luca clean.
“Sweet,” Luca groaned from between clenched teeth. “Beautiful.”
He cupped the handfuls of her ass and dragged her up and down along his length. She had no control. She let him handle her the way he liked. She moaned as he picked up the pace and slammed her down on his cock in quick invasions.
He leaned forward and caught a nipple between his lips. His teeth grazed the pebbled flesh. The bit of pain thudded through her, arrowing straight to her clit and slicking her channel even more.
“Fuck, yes,” she demanded.
He growled, and the sound vibrated through her in a rolling wave of pleasure. He licked and sucked at her, switching between one nipple and the other. Every pull and nip sent a shudder through her body. Her pussy spasmed and rippled around his thick cock.
The muscles of his arms and chest tensed and bulged. Still, he lifted and lowered her along his cock. She clutched at his shoulders, behind his neck, dug her hands into his hair. She was rapidly losing her grip on reality and needed to cling to him. He was her rock in that moment.
She pressed their faces together, stuffing her fingers into the dark curls that lay flat against his head. She huffed with each clenched spasm of her pussy around his thick shaft. Her lips trembled. But when her eyes met his, she knew she was done. There was more than pure lust in them, more than just Luca looking back at her. The dragon was there and it wanted to possess her. Luca’s love overrode the beast’s dominance, but there was no denying they were one and the same. They were perfect.
She felt tears prickling the corners of her eyes at the intense pleasure that consumed her from within. He felt almost too good. He pressed and rubbed against all the magic places inside her. He filled her completely and stroked her until bolts of ecstasy zinged through her limbs. Every shift, every thrust, every look sent her sprawling toward the edge that would push her into oblivion.
“Want to mark you, sweet.” Luca pressed his lips against her shoulder. His tongue danced over her skin and she shivered.
“Make me yours,” she moaned.
He struck, mouth closing over her collarbone before she knew what he intended. She gasped when his fangs bit into her skin, pleasure exploding in every inch of her body. She was nothing under his power. He could rip at her with a jerk of his head and end her. Or he could lick at the wound and send lava boiling through her veins.
The pain and pleasure combined and burst through her. Wave after wave of bliss crashed over her, pulling her into a deep, fiery sea. Her head fell back and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Her pussy milked him, rippling and clenching around his throbbing cock.
He pulled her down him hard. Again. His fingers dug into her hips and his hips jerked as he emptied himself in her sheath. She twitched and spasmed around him, thrilled with the new heat that spilled into her. She buried her face in his shoulder, nearly sobbing with the shards of pleasure that prickled her skin.
Slowly, so very slowly, Luca settled her against him. They both panted and clung to the other. The day’s events and their mating wrung all energy from them until they sat limply on the bench in the steamy shower.
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tightly before just holding her gently. A surge of fire raced through her veins when his tongue touched against the fresh mate mark on her collarbone. “Mine.”
“Mmm.” She stroked his hair and nodded against him. “Yours. Forever.”
After
The day had finally arrived. Penelope’s nerves were in full force and stomping away at her insides. Even the luxurious space inside the mountain lair nestled in the Alps wasn’t enough to calm her.
Today was the day she’d meet Luca’s parents.
Luca put it off as long as he possibly could, distracting her with surprise trips to exotic locations and pampering beyond all belief, but he couldn’t delay it any longer. The Dragon King and Consort commanded a meeting with their heir and his chosen mate.
Penelope eyed herself in the bathroom mirror. The mountain had surprised her. The large suite was full of modern amenities, from running water to electricity. She had an idea of ancient dragons stuck in medieval times, but her expectations certainly weren’t the reality.
He was at the desk when she finally psyched herself up enough to exit the bathroom. It felt odd to be ready for an evening party in the heart of a mountain. She dressed in a long gown. Green, as he requested, to bring out her beautiful eyes. A scooped neck, to show off the mark on her collarbone.
A briefcase sat on the ground where he’d moved it aside. He had treated it like a live viper on the plane and ignored all her attempts to get him to look at the paperwork inside. Now, its contents spilled across the desk. Luca rested his head in one hand as he pored over the documents in front of him. He perked up slightly when she opened the door to the bedroom, and she knew he’d heard her enter. There was no sneaking up on a dragon, she’d learned.
She knew the papers were contracts to give control of his company to others. He’d been putting off signing them for weeks. He wouldn’t have time to run a development firm halfway across the world while ruling the dragon shifters from his throne.
Their throne. She gulped. She carried his mark on her skin and would be at his side when his parents abdicated to him. Her nerves came back with a full assault on her system.
They had movers scheduled to pack up their apartments and forward all their belongings to the mountain court in Italy. Truth be told, Penelope didn’t want anything from her studio. It was all from the before-Luca part of her life. Photos and trinkets, sure. But the chipped dishes and banged up pots and pans? She didn’t have a need for those.
“Ready?” He asked, turning toward her. He pulled her across his lap when she came close enough.
“What if they don’t like me?” She wanted to look down and scuff her feet against the ground, but he held her firm. She opted just to study the floor in front of her.
“We’ll leave.” Luca shrugged.
It brought her attention fully back to him. “But what about ruling and caring for them?”
He shrugged again. “It’s the modern day. If the Queen of England is mostly an honorary position, then the Dragon King can be to all dragon shifters. They can learn to rule themselves. Or my parents can find someone else to take their place. I will be with you, regardless.”
“I
don’t believe that for one minute.”
He planted a kiss on her forehead and rubbed his cheek against her shoulder. It was the closest he could get to her mate mark without them winding up in bed. “I would go anywhere for you, sweet.”
“I just want to get it over with,” she said lightly and squirmed against him.
He took her hand in his, grazing his thumb over the sensitive skin of her wrist. “They’re dragons, but they won’t bite. Only I can do that.” With a grin, he nipped at her skin.
Penelope tried to suppress the shiver that ran through her body. “They’re still your parents. I’ve never met the parents before. I’m a little nervous.”
“Mmm.” He continued to toy with her hand. He kissed her digits, her palm, the top of her hand. He nibbled the inside of her wrist and trailed kisses up her arm. “I think I can distract you from your nerves.”
“Luca! We have to go. I don’t want to make a bad impression this early.” She bat at his chest and tried to free herself from his arms, but he wouldn’t let her loose.
A serious look entered his eyes. “They would be insane not to love you.”
“But I nearly got you killed!”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Penelope, sweet, bella. Don’t say such things. You did nothing wrong. You are not responsible for how others act.”
She was quiet. He’d said the same thing since Alexa’s attack, and she knew it was true at the core, but she couldn’t help the feeling of doubt that wedged its way inside her. Alexa’s madness was tied to power, and she saw her way to that power through Luca. Penelope’s mere existence had caused a whole mess of problems, though she had to admit that they would have likely happened with or without her presence.
With a reluctant sigh, Luca let her leave his lap. He stood and stretched, and waited patiently while she straightened the tie around his neck.
“Will we need to fly down?” She asked anxiously. She tried not to remember the harrowing flight into the mountain. They’d taken his private plane from the States to the nearest airport, and a car from the airport to the mountain. But from the ground below to Luca’s suites, she’d clung to his back. Her stomach gave a sickening lurch anytime Luca leapt into the air.
“Just a few floors down. Walking.” He looped her arm through his and escorted her out of the room.
The level they were located was empty and had been for the entire evening since they arrived. She was surprised that no one was lurking in the halls as they went lower. Even Luca started to look around as if expecting others and seeing no one.
She didn’t know what to expect when they came upon a huge, double door. She was certain Luca’s dragon could easily fit if they were thrown wide open. Carvings of dragons lined the edges, and floral designs ran through the center. Two guards were stationed at the seam between the doors. Their pointed hats were tipped to look like dragon tails.
Luca’s jaw set as the guards turned without greeting them. They pushed against both doors, swinging them open. Luca held her steady until the doors were completely open. He whispered, “They’re putting on a show.”
With the doors fully open, Penelope could see into the room. Hall, she corrected herself. At the opposite end were the Dragon King and Consort. They sat on two, grand thrones. The backs rose up against the wall, curved necks of the carved dragons looping together. They ruled together, and their seats of power showed their shared responsibility.
Luca pat her hand resting on his arm and they stepped forward. The only sounds in the room were fires burning in braziers and the whisper of her dress moving. Seats rose up along the side of the room, almost like seats in a stadium. She didn’t appreciate feeling like an event to watch.
Luca stiffened the nearer to his parents they walked. It was her turn to gently stroke his arm under her fingers. He glanced at her from the side of his eyes and she could sense a tiny fraction of his tension leaving his body.
He bowed his head when they reached the foot of the stairs to the thrones. “Father. Mother. I would like to introduce you to Penelope. My mate.”
Penelope flashed a quick look to Luca, then bowed her head as well. She shouldn’t curtsy or show much more deference than what he did, he said, because she was his mate.
Luca’s mother eyed his father, then stood. She slowly walked down the steps and made an even slower circle around Luca and Penelope. After she completed her circuit, she took Luca into a hug. Penelope refused to shrink back when she did the same to her. She opened her mouth to say something, but the woman moved back up the stairs and settled back into her seat.
Thunderous applause broke out from the people gathered to watch the show.
“They’ve accepted you,” Luca leaned down to whisper.
She glanced up at the two dragons and they did look happy. Pride was on their faces when they looked at their son, then around the room to the gathered dragon shifters. Penelope wondered if the room held the entire world’s population, or if there were others that chosen not to attend.
His mother clapped once and the crowd immediately quieted. His father tapped his fingers on the arm of his seat and considered his words for a moment before speaking. His voice was loud and carried to the far corners with ease.
“Alexa’s betrayal reveals how much we have held ourselves apart and how damaging that attitude can be. This is the modern world and we need to take part in it. Luca, you are the next in line to rule. We leave you the challenge of hauling our people into the new century, but we don’t think it should be done from our mountain home. You have experience thriving in the cities. You will go back to your home and lead as an example of integration with humans.”
Penelope had the good grace to keep her mouth shut tight, but inwardly she was gaping like a fool. Luca had resigned himself to moving back to the mountain court, even though it wasn’t what he truly wanted.
She didn’t have much time to think of all the possibilities before his mother addressed her.
“Penelope. We wish to extend you the apology of the dragons. Our own kind tried to injure you and separate you from your mate. It’s inexcusable, but we hope you won’t hold her actions against the rest of us. To Luca and Penelope, the heirs to the Dragon Throne!”
Cheers rose around them. A handful of dragons rushed down to the open floor and shifted before launching into the air. They dove and wove around each other.
Penelope smiled up at Luca as the rest of the stiffness left his shoulders.
The Dragon King and Consort walked down the stairs with smiles on their faces. They held each other much like Luca and Penelope touched; hand on the other’s arm. His mother took Luca into another hug. His father pulled him a short distance away and shook hands before they started chatting.
“It’ll take a bit to iron out all the details, but you two should be able to leave shortly.”
Penelope jumped. She hadn’t expected to be the focus of his mother’s attention. She smoothed her dress and tried to calm away her nerves. She would need to learn the composure the woman seemed to ooze if she was to follow her steps.
“But tonight is for celebrating. We’ll all go lower. Food has been prepared. We’ll drink and eat and dance. This will be your night.”
“Thank you. It’s very generous. I know Luca will be happy to go back to our city.” She pressed her lips together, unsure of what else to say. Luca met her gaze and she could almost feel the excitement pouring out of him. He and his father stepped over to the women, again taking their arms in preparation to escort them to the party below.
“They like you,” he leaned down to whisper and plant a kiss on her ear. A blush rose on her cheeks. It was what she wanted, to be accepted by his family and the other dragon shifters. They would forever be tied to Luca, and her to them through him.
“Of course we like her. You chose her.” His father blustered.
Luca rolled his eyes. Penelope knew his parents had urged him to find a mate and threatened to find one for him if he took too long. Luca didn’t
raise the point and simply stroked his thumb over her skin.
“Your hair is beautiful, darling.” His mother reached out and cautiously touched a lock of her hair. “I’ve always loved red. But here I am, dark as the night and cursed my own children with it. I expect to have a whole passel of redheaded grandchildren before long.”
Penelope put her hand over her stomach. It was much too soon to tell, but she had her suspicions. She smiled at her new family. Luca, her impossibly charming, sexy mate. His father, an imposing figure with laugh lines at his eyes. His striking mother, who moved with the grace she hoped to one day possess. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”
***
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About the Author
Cecilia grew up in a what most call paradise, but she insists is humid hell. She escaped the heat with weekly journeys to the library, where she learned the basics of slaying dragons, magical abilities, and grand adventures.
When it became apparent she wouldn’t be able to travel the high seas with princes or party with rock star vampires, Cecilia hunkered down to create her own worlds filled with sexy people in complicated situations. She now writes with the support of her own sexy man and many interruptions from her goofy dog.
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