Finding Faith (Return 0f The Dragons Book 1)

by Grace Brennan

  Hell, it was all she could do not to combust on the spot as the desire she felt scorched a blazing path inside of her.

  He didn’t give her long to admire his body, but what she saw before he crawled onto the bed with her had been impressive, making her middle tighten almost painfully. She thought he’d go back to taking his time, but to her surprise—and delight—he went for her jeans next.

  The feel of him unbuttoning them, of his fingers brushing her thighs as he pulled them off, made her skin tingle and her heart race. Tossing them off the bed, he turned back to her, picking up her leg and placing a gentle kiss on her ankle.

  Her toes curled as he repeated the action on the other ankle, then slowly slid his hands up her legs, trailing kisses in their wake. She had the fleeting thought that she was incredibly grateful she’d shaved her legs that morning, and then all ability to think vanished.

  His hands trailed over her hips and up the sensitive skin of her belly, before cupping her breasts. He began kneading them gently, and her back arched off the bed as he leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth.

  Moaning as the pull of his lips sent pleasure shooting straight to her center, she clenched the covers in her hands, her body beginning to writhe underneath his. Pulling his mouth from her nipple, he trailed it across her chest to the other one, repeating the same motions he’d used while his fingers plucked at her wet nipple.

  When her undulating hips brushed against his hardness, she gasped at the lightning bolt of pleasure that seared through her. Cody groaned, his mouth turning more frantic, and he trailed his hand down, easing it underneath her panties.

  And when his palm was resting directly over her hot core, they both moaned at the same time.

  Running his fingers up and down her slit, he gathered the moisture there, his finger slipping easily inside her folds. He found her clit instantly, rubbing soft, slow circles around it, the roughness of his skin against that sensitivity startling, and more pleasure inducing than she could have guessed.

  She could feel her orgasm building, but even though she knew it hadn’t been long, it felt like she’d been waiting for this forever.

  And maybe she had—for this moment, with this man.

  Her mate.

  “Cody… please,” she begged, unsure of what she wanted more—to find some relief from the pleasure building inside her to an unmanageable degree, or to finally feel him inside her.

  Probably both. Preferably, at the same time.

  Her nipple left his mouth with a pop as he moved up to take her mouth. He slipped one finger, then two, inside of her, pumping them in and out as his thumb rubbed her clit, and she saw stars behind her eyelids at the sensations.

  And when the band of pleasure finally snapped and she flew apart, he was there, swallowing her cries as she rode out her orgasm, his fingers still working, drawing it out as long as possible.

  When she’d finally come back down, he slowly pulled his fingers away, just as she became too sensitive for touch. Easing his mouth from hers, he brushed her hair away from her face as she panted, trying to catch her breath, her body still tingling from the pleasure he’d given her.

  She could see the strain around his eyes, and knew as much as he wanted his own release, he was giving her time to recover before he sought it. Opening her mouth to tell him she didn’t need anymore time, she paused, eyes growing wide, as he took the fingers that had been inside of her and popped them into his mouth.

  He groaned as he tasted them, the sound combined with his actions so fucking sexy and erotic, she swore she nearly orgasmed again. Heat built steadily back up in her core as he licked his fingers clean, his eyes burning redder than she’d ever seen them in human form.

  “You taste fuckin’ amazing, sweetheart,” he growled.

  Nearly swooning at the gravel and grit in his voice, she swallowed hard, for a moment having no clue what to do or say.

  Fuck it. She was going with her first instinct.

  “Then don’t be stingy. Let me have a taste, too.”

  Curling her hand around the nape of his neck, she pulled him down and kissed him. She honestly wasn’t sure she even wanted to taste herself, but the moment she did, it made her rekindling desire flare even hotter.

  Tasting herself mixed with the flavor of Cody might be her new favorite thing. Because just the knowledge that he had that intimate part of her on his tongue was enough to send pleasure spiraling through her.

  When he pulled back, he was panting, and she could feel his hardness throbbing against her thigh. Before she could tell him she wanted to feel it throbbing inside her, he read her mind again, pulling away and yanking her panties down.

  She heard the telltale sound of them ripping as he used too much strength, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was getting him inside her as soon as possible.

  Settling into the cradle of her thighs, he took himself in hand and rubbed his dick through her folds, spreading her wetness over the head. He was big and it had been a long time for her, but she felt no nerves or hesitation as he positioned himself at her entrance.

  Just the burning of her blood, the desire racing up and down her spine, at the knowledge that she was finally going to feel him the way she longed to.

  Bracing himself on forearms planted on either side of her head, he held her gaze as he slowly sank inside her. She felt herself stretch to accommodate his length, and while it was a little uncomfortable, she loved it, too.

  Little sparks of pleasure burst over her as he continued his slow pace until he was fully buried to the hilt inside her. He held there for a few moments, giving her a little longer to adjust to his size, and then he pulled out, still keeping the same slow pace.

  He sank inside her again, and she swore she felt every ridge and vein, her nerve endings lighting up with pleasure. When he pulled out, he went a little faster and pushed in with more force, and after that, he kept increasing his pace until his hips were slapping against hers.

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she wrapped her legs around his hips, the pleasure so overwhelming that all she could do was hold on. Cody shifted his position, reaching one hand between them to rub her clit, his smooth thrusts turning rougher as he lost his grip on his control.

  Breath catching as her pleasure built to the point of near pain, she cried out as it snapped, sending her soaring high. She was vaguely aware of her body writhing underneath Cody’s, of his gritted curse, of his hips slamming into hers one more time before he held himself still—but her whole being was consumed by the intense pleasure coursing through her, and she lost awareness of everything else.

  As she began floating down, she felt him pulsing inside her, his warmth coating her insides as he came, and it sent her soaring back up again. When she finally became aware of space and time again, his forehead was pressed against hers, and they were both still dragging air into their lungs.

  “That was… I don’t… I can’t…” she stuttered, unable to come up with adequate words to describe how she felt.

  “I know. I feel the same way.”

  Pressing a kiss to first her forehead and then her lips, he gently eased out of her. Wincing when she became aware of how her fingernails dug so deeply into his skin that she drew blood, she smoothed her fingers over the crescent marks.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Eyebrows raising, he turned his head in an attempt to look at his shoulders. “I didn’t even feel it, so don’t apologize. And even if I had, it would have been more than worth it.”

  Smiling, she snuggled into his side as they laid in silence for a bit. She’d always heard that sex between mates was better than it was with anyone else, but she hadn’t known it was that good.

  That experience was awe inducing. And so was Cody.

  Her life had taken such an unexpected, amazing turn since meeting him. One she never in a million years would have imagined when she first moved to New Leaf.

  “I can’t remember what m
y life was like before you,” Cody said, pressing a kiss to her hair. “And I don’t want to. The best thing that ever happened to me was you walking into my shop.”

  Heart leaping at his words, that so closely echoed what she’d been thinking, she tightened the arm she had draped across his waist. “I think that was the best thing that ever happened to me, too.”

  Chapter 19

  Cody

  Cody watched as Olivia gave him one last smile before pulling out of the parking lot. The last thing he’d wanted to do was let her go home, but he couldn’t help constantly worrying that he was pushing her too fast, despite her always telling him he wasn’t.

  Besides, he’d kept her nearly all day, far past the lunch date he initially proposed. A smile tugged at his lips as he glanced at the sinking sun. Their lunch turned into nearly dinner, since they’d spent so much time in his bed, talking and touching.

  And he wouldn’t change a moment of it.

  Climbing into his truck, he fired it up and turned it in the direction of the compound. She constantly surprised him. From accepting who and what he was so easily, to relaxing and being herself in his presence, to how bold she’d been in the bedroom.

  She was going to keep him on his toes, that was for sure.

  And really, she’d done nothing to make her words of reassurance that he wasn’t pushing her too fast seem false. In fact, she’d done the opposite. But she’d been through so much, and he never wanted her to feel like he was asking more of her than she had to give.

  He wondered if her dragon had told him they were mates. If she already knew, maybe that was why she was able to let go and just be herself when it came to him. Mates felt the same magnetic pull, and they still fell for each other quickly, even if they didn’t know what they truly were to each other yet.

  And it seemed like that had been the case when they first met, but the past few days had been a whole new level. If she knew, that could be what changed things for her.

  He just didn’t know if he should bring it up yet. If she didn’t know, he didn’t want that to be what sent her running.

  Exhaling heavily, he scrubbed a hand through his hair. He’d never been this indecisive with anything before, and he was driving himself nuts with it. But then, he’d never been with someone who’d experienced what Olivia had, either.

  Fuck. Maybe he just needed to man up, find his balls, and stop worrying about what was too far, or what question or truth might send her fleeing from him.

  Pops would have a field day if he knew how the Silverback, the alpha of their people, was acting toward a woman, mate or not.

  Good thing he never had any intention of the old bastard finding out.

  He drove through the gates, his mind still full of his mate as he made his way to his home. Throwing the truck in park, he noted absently that Lindsey’s car was still gone as he walked up the porch steps. He’d half expected her to walk in on him and Olivia, and he was glad for whatever kept her from coming home yet.

  He loved his little sister living at home, where he could know for sure she was safe, but that could make for some dicey situations when he convinced his mate to move in.

  And he would. It might not be today or even next month, but eventually, she’d be in his home with him, at his side where she belonged.

  “Hey, asshole.”

  Growl ripping out of his throat, he spun, searching for the intruder he hadn’t noticed lurking while his mind was so full of Olivia. When he laid eyes on him, he froze in shock, hardly able to believe his eyes.

  “Axel?”

  “Yep. You know, I could have slit your throat about a hundred times just now. You were so damned preoccupied you never noticed me. Going soft in your old age?”

  “Why are you here?”

  Axel snorted. “No warm welcome back, huh? Figures.”

  Shaking his head, he ignored his brother for a moment, unlocking the door and walking inside. Flipping on the light, he took in his first look at his brother in thirteen years. They both looked like their dad, so they had similar features and builds.

  But Axel’s hair was lightened by natural blond streaks, and he had blue eyes, not brown. He was sporting a thick, dark blond beard, and he was even more muscular than Cody now, and he was covered in tattoos.

  “I didn’t mean it like that, and I think you know it,” he finally replied. “I haven’t seen or heard from you in ten years, Ax. I didn’t think you were ever coming back.”

  “You know why I left.”

  “I do, but that doesn’t mean you had to completely sever all contact with me. So, why now?”

  Rubbing a hand through his hair, he glanced around in silence before meeting his eyes again. “I heard about what happened the other night. Thought maybe you might need some help.”

  Brow furrowing, Cody studied his brother closely. “And how did you find out?”

  Axel hesitated. “Lindsey,” he finally admitted.

  His frown deepened at that. “You’ve been talking to Lindsey? You kept in touch with her after you left?”

  Another long pause. “Yes.”

  A shaft of betrayal pierced his chest, and he turned away, walking to the window at the back of the house. His mind was whirling with different thoughts and emotions, flickering by so fast he couldn’t grasp them.

  After a few long moments of silence, he heard Axel exhale heavily as he moved to follow him. “Look, Cody. Dad dying fucked both of us up. And he’d been the only person trying to keep Pops from making us fight it out for Silverback. I knew it would get worse, and I couldn’t take anymore of it. I had to leave.”

  “I know all of that. It was in the note you left, because you couldn’t even say that shit to my face before you took off in the middle of the night. If you had, I would have told you that you could have Silverback. I wanted my brother more than I ever wanted the title.”

  “You were firstborn. It belonged to you, and I never wanted it at all. But all that shit you just said, that’s why I didn’t tell you to your face. And it’s why I didn’t stay in contact with you.”

  “The hell are you talking about, Axel?”

  “You would have tried to get me to stay. And if we kept in touch, you never would have stopped getting me to come back.”

  He turned to face his brother, frustration washing over him. “Why is that wrong? I needed you here, Ax, and you left like I meant nothing to you. Like Lindsey meant nothing to you.”

  Axel glared at him, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “It’s wrong because I wouldn’t have been able to tell you no. Fuck, Cody.” Inhaling deeply, he unclenched his fingers, some of his frustration fading from his eyes. “I needed to leave. I need you to understand that. Yes, the shit with Pops was the breaking point, but I had to get out of here and away from the bad fucking memories.

  “I needed that or me and my gorilla were going to go crazy. I could feel it building up inside me. And if I’d talked to you, you would have talked me into staying—but I wouldn’t have been the brother you wanted by your side. As much as I love Lindsey, you were the only one who had the power to get me to stay. I had to cut off contact until I was ready to come back.”

  He stared at his brother, taking in everything he said. He didn’t know if that made Axel’s actions better or worse. Maybe it didn’t change a thing, because if he’d told him, he would have understood. Now, thirteen years later, he wasn’t so sure—because it was the silence that bothered him the most.

  It was like he told Olivia. Communication was the most important tool people could utilize. It was everything.

  “I wish you would have just told me that when you left.”

  “I was fucking seventeen, Cody. Like I knew how to talk about my emotions, even if I’d wanted to. And I didn’t. Not then.”

  “And you’re ready now? Just as shit’s happening with the troop?”

  Axel hesitated again. “At the risk of pissing you off even more, I think I’ve been ready for a couple of years now. It was this conversation we�
�re having right now that held me back. I didn’t know how to make you understand.”

  “So, it took a threat to the troop to get you to come back and finally have this conversation. The conversation that might not have been so explosive if we’d had it a few years ago.”

  “This isn’t exactly explosive, big brother.”

  He snorted. “Yes, it is. You have no idea how my gorilla feels right now. No, he doesn’t want to fight you for power—he has zero interest in that and never did—but he does want to kick your ass for walking out and taking thirteen fucking years to come back.”

  Axel cocked his head. “You can feel his emotions now? Does he talk, too?”

  “I can feel them when they’re strong. He’s only talked to me once since Dad died, though.”

  His brother nodded slowly, eyeing him knowingly. “When he told you that you found your mate.”

  “Fuck, does Linds tell you everything?”

  Axel shrugged unrepentantly. “Pretty much. She told me you finally put Pops in his place, too.” He grinned. “Gotta admit, that made my decision to come home even easier.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Always.” Grin fading, Axel’s blue eyes turned serious. “Look, if you want me to go, I will. I know you’re a great Silverback and leader. I’m not here to challenge you for that. I don’t want any part of it. I never did. But if you think you can handle me being here, I’d like to stay.”

  “For as long as it takes to sort the shit out that happened the other night? Because that might be done with already.”

  Shaking his head, he gazed at him steadily. “For good.”

  Cody stayed quiet for a minute, just to see his brother squirm. Fucker deserved it. “You know you’re always welcome here. This is your home too, and nothing will ever change that.”

  Axel’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but that was the only sign of relief he showed. “Good. And I think you and I both know that the other night most likely wasn’t the last of that shit. It was probably only the beginning.”