What was wrong with me?
Dimitros departed, and Xander turned to me with that sexy as sin grin on his face; the hollowness I felt inside intensified. How could this man that I just met set me on fire with just a glance?
“Mate?” The grin dropped immediately, replaced with a fierce scowl as his brow furrowed.
“Don’t tell me you don’t feel the connection between us too?” He reached out a hand for me, trying to draw me closer, before I took a hasty step back. Of course, my heel caught on my dress, sending me flying backwards. I braced myself for the nasty fall, but Xander saved me by curling an arm around my back.
“Why are you pulling away now?” He cocked his head at me, confusion marring his perfect features, hurt flashing in the depths of his midnight eyes.
“I barely know you,” I breathed, sliding my hands up his chest, reveling in the feelings of his muscles bunching and jumping beneath my touch. “I met you an hour ago.”
“Then stay and get to know me.” His face hovered above mine, lips held a scant inch away. Flames of desire flickered in his eyes, his warm breath washing over my parted lips.
“Not here, Xander.” I breathed, eyes darting around, seeing the scene that we had been making on the edge of the dancefloor. A crowd was gathered, their greedy eyes taking us in as we spoke. I was sure they had heard the comments the king had made, maybe even some of them heard him refer to me as Xander’s mate.
As if this night could get any worse.
His features hardened as he led me out of the room with a firm hand on the small of my back. The heat from his touch radiated through me, igniting the fire within me. I didn’t know if I could resist this man. His passion, his intensity, everything about him reached into my very soul and drew me to him.
Damn it. I squeezed my eyes together tightly, feeling a tear leak down my cheek. I swiped it away quickly, hoping Xander wouldn’t see the movement. Why were my emotions all over the place? It was almost as if everything was more intensified, my body on fire, my feelings out of control. The hand that Xander had on the small of my back spread heat throughout my body, making me shake with anticipation.
“Xander, you going to introduce me to your lovely mate?” Another distinct voice drawled as we entered a private corridor, causing me to squeak in surprise as it pulled me from my musings.
“Fuck, Drake.” Xander growled, the sound sexy. I loved the sound of the curse falling from his lips, it stoked the fierce desire inside me and I almost moaned his name thinking of all the dirty things he could whisper in my ear beginning with that word.
“Shit. You already kissed her?” Drake muttered doubling over in pain, putting a hand on the wall to steady himself. “I’m Drakon, or Drake to those closest to the family. Nice to meet you. I’m going to leave before Xander beats me to death.” His twin disappeared into the darkness, causing Xander to breathe out a sigh of relief.
“Little one, I need to get you away from the crowd and the other dragons now. I am not going to be able to control my instincts much longer.” His voice was deep, layered with power as he laid his hands on my cheeks and tilted my head up to meet his gaze. “It is already starting. Damn it, I thought we would have more time.”
I gasped, his eyes were glowing, shining brightly in the dimly lit hallway. His features appeared sharper, more refined. His pupils were dilated as his gaze traveled from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Heat pooled between my thighs as his eyes lingered on my breasts.
“Xander,” I breathed, feeling as the heat grew too much for me to bear. My fingers itched to reach out and touch him; instead I clenched them into fists at my sides.
“I know, little one. I need to get you up to my room. Now.” He lifted me into his arms, sprinting down the hall and up and flight of stairs.
My teeth started to chatter as I couldn’t stop my hands from running along the hard muscles of his chest, shoulders and neck as he ran. “What is happening to me, Xander?” I was hot and cold, fire and ice battling their way through my system as all I could think of was Xander buried deep inside my body.
“Damn it, Aleria, your scent is driving me insane.” He groaned, a deep painfilled sound, as he slowed his pace. “Think about the most non-sexy thing you can to calm your scent. We need to have a little chat once we get to my suite.”
I squirmed in his arms, my body desperate for release, for my mate deep inside my body, thrusting in and out in a perfect rhythm. Closing my eyes, I could feel it. My hands running over the glistening golden skin of his back as he gave me the most intense pleasure of my life, his eyes never leaving mine as he told me I was his forever.
“Aleria. Think of moldy bread. Sour milk. Gods help me, anything to calm down the lust blazing inside you. Damn it, I wish I had a sister right now.” He muttered the last sentence, but the words were enough to break me out of my lust filled spell, like pouring a bucket of ice over my head.
Sariah.
My mission.
My breathing slowed as I settled calmly into his arms, falling back into my memories of my sister. I would do this for her. I had to. It was life or death and I had spent my whole life protecting her and I wasn’t about to fail her now. Falling too far under this dragons spell would spell disaster for me and mean the death of my sister.
Chapter 8
Xander
Tearing open the door to my suite, I swiftly placed Aleria in a chair and moved to the other end of the room. I needed distance from her before I kissed her again. I was such an idiot, kissing her in the first place. Black Dragon matings were fierce, beginning with a kiss from the male, which would secrete a hormone that caused the female to go into heat. Typically, it took several days, but it seemed the human system metabolized the hormone faster than a dragon would and Aleria was already fully under the spell.
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes unfocused as she clenched her thighs together. I could almost read the thoughts that were running through her mind. They were the same thoughts that were running through mine. Us, entwined together, my cock ramming into her soft heat, my hands roaming her body, my tongue exploring every curve she possessed.
“Damn it.” I cursed, running my hands through my hair. My body raged, my dragon roaring at me from within to take its mate. But I couldn’t do that. Not without explaining everything to Aleria. She deserved that.
“Aleria.”
Her gorgeous emerald eyes turned up towards me, her perfect white teeth nibbling on her lip, causing a growl to rumble in my chest. I wanted to replace her teeth with mine.
“Xander, what is going on?” She shuddered, her whole body shaking as she wrapped her arms around her middle to try and ease the ache I knew she felt inside.
“Aleria,” I cupped my hands on her cheeks as I knelt before her. She leaned into my touch with a whimper. “You are my mate. One of the unique, shall I say... quirks... of a Black Dragon, is that when he finds a mate, he begins to secrete a special hormone meant only for her.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, confusion maring her features. “You mean to say you basically poisoned me with some crazy dragon hormone?” Her voice rose in hysteria.
The smile quirked my lips before I could stop it. “It isn’t something I can control. It’s biology. As soon as midnight struck and I reached the age of maturity, the glands in my mouth began to produce the hormone. For you. My soul had already recognized you as my mate. My body has just caught up.” I laid my forehead against hers, my heart racing inside my chest, afraid of her reaction. Of her possible rejection.
“So, what does this crazy hormone do? I am guessing it is the reason why it is taking every ounce of willpower I have not to tackle you and ride you until dawn?” She squeaked as the words left her mouth, as if she didn’t believe she had actually said them, and I couldn’t help the deep laugh that rumbled out of my chest. Her palm slapped over her mouth. She dropped her gaze from me, looking away shyly.
I ran my fingers through her hair, marveling at the texture. “You are
utterly amazing.” I breathed, rubbing a strand of hair between my thumb and index fingers. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. This is all my fault,” I whispered, guilt making my words heavy. Sitting back on my haunches, I looked up at her.
“My mate, I pledge myself to you. My honor is yours. My body, my soul, my sword is yours for as long as we may grace this world.” I bowed my head, taking her small hand between my large ones, laying my forehead against her fingers. The ritual pledge was sacred between a Dragonkyn and his mate, made before the first joining where the male laid out himself for his female.
She gasped and pulled her hand away from me, whirling to her feet so fast the chair fell backwards, crashing to the ground. “No, Xander. I’m not ready for this.” Her eyelids fluttered shut, a tear leaking out the corner of each eye.
“Aleria.” I said firmly. “This is not something that I was ready for either, but we cannot fight our fate, little one.” My palms cupped her cheeks, thumbs swiping away the drops of moisture leaking down her face.
“But you are a dragon. You have had years to get used to this. I barely know you. I- I-“She hesitated, wrenching from my touch and turning towards the door. She was trying to leave.
My mate was rejecting me again.
The deep roar that echoed through the room had her tripping over her own feet as she backed away further in fear. “This is not something that we can control! There are no other Black Dragons. My father, brother, and I are it. The hormone wasn’t supposed to react within you so quickly. I have no clue what it will do to your body if it is left unchecked!”
Her chin lifted, even as her bottom lip trembled. “Why did you have to do this to me, Xander?”
The words tore at my heart. “Rashka.” Never did I think I would utter the term of endearment. The word had no translation in English. In my native tongue it was the highest form of address for one’s mate. The unlimited term of love and devotion. This beautiful human had affected my body so much, in just a matter of hours, that I uttered the word desperately.
I was a Black Dragon Prince. I never begged, I never pleaded. But I would do it all for this fierce woman fighting through her tears, through the haze of arousal I knew had to be overwhelming her, as it was beginning to overwhelm me.
The soft moan that left her throat at the word almost took the breath out of my lungs, and when she whispered my name, I descended upon her, slamming my lips over hers, unable to hold back any longer.
“Rashka.” I keep uttering between kisses, my tongue invading her mouth, sliding along hers. I felt her soft hands dig into the flesh of my neck before tunneling into the strands of my hair. More of the sweet secretions pooled in my mouth, only to be swept up by her tongue, causing her to moan and grind her pelvis into mine.
“Xander. Please. I can’t think. It hurts.” Her teeth sunk into my bottom lip and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth, causing me to groan against her soft lips.
“I’ll take care of you, baby.” My lips trailed down her neck, nibbling and leaving my mark upon her skin. Dragons could be possessive creatures and I needed everyone to know this woman belonged to me. “Trust me.” Sliding the straps of her dress down her arms, the fabric slid down to the floor.
She stood before me, wearing only a lacy strapless bra and matching panties, and leaning back, my mouth fell open as I took in her beautiful curves. “You are absolute perfection.” The flush that colored her cheeks deepened and spread throughout her whole body. “And you are all mine.”
My palms slid from her waist to her full ass, pulling her body flush against mine. My erection dug into the soft skin of her belly as I flexed my hips forward. The little sounds that came from her throat left me hungry for more. I wanted to hear her scream my name as she came apart in my arms.
Her skin was so soft as I slid my fingers over her belly, to the tops of her panties. Her breath came in soft pants as my tongue traced a line along the tops of her breasts. “I love how soft your skin is.” I closed my mouth over her nipple, through the fabric of her bra, her back arching into my touch, her eager hands reaching behind her back to unclasp the black material.
I chuckled, looking up at her through my lashes. “My mate is a bit impatient I see.”
“Xander, everything hurts. I’m on fire,” she groaned as my teeth bit down on the erect bud, pinching it then soothing the ache with my tongue.
“I know,” I licked a long line over her sternum to the other breast, paying it the same attention. “So am I.” To accent my point, I grabbed her hand in mine and led it to the front of my trousers, wanting her to feel how hard I was for her.
“Fuck,” I cursed as she wrapped her hand around my shaft through the fabric. My eyes rolled back into my skull as she squeezed me. Her other hand fumbled with the buttons of my shirt. If she kept touching me like this, even through my pants, I was going to come like a teenager. She was wreaking havoc on my body. I needed this woman with every fiber of my being.
Securing her wrists, I stopped her stroking, giving me back a measure of my sanity which caused her to pout. I tore at the buttons of my shirt, sending them scattering to the floor with a pitter-patter as they rolled throughout the room. Next, I worked on the buckle of my belt, sliding the soft leather through the loops and discarding it on the floor next to the shirt, before unbuttoning the slacks and sliding them down. When I was standing before her in just my boxer briefs, her eyes smoldering as she looked at my body.
Aleria was nibbling on her lip again, eyes lingering on my defined chest and abs before flickering downwards hesitantly. “Xander, I, uh,” She stammered, “I need to tell you something.”
I took her hand in mine, placing it against the skin of my chest, my lips returning to her neck. “What is it, little one?” The flush on her body deepened, her cheeks going cherry red, and she looked away from me.
“I, uh, am,” those damn teeth were nibbling on her lip again. Oh, the things that did to me. “I have never, uh, been with someone like you before.” Her fingers curled on my chest, sliding down to the top of my abs, nails grazing my flesh.
I cocked my head at her. What was she talking about? “Aleria, what do you mean? A dragon? I would hope not.” I huffed, frustration peaking within me that she would even bring up such a topic.
“Anyone. I haven’t been with anyone before.” The words were rushed out in one breath, mumbled together and so soft I could barely understand them.
Disbelief at what she said caused me to laugh, tilting her chin up to have her eyes meet mine. Tears shimmered in their depths. My laughter had hurt her; she was telling the truth. “You’re a virgin?” The words were soft, my thumb brushing lightly over her bottom lip.
She nodded, trying to turn her head away in shame, speaking softly. “From the moment I first saw you, something inside of me sparked, and feelings that I had never felt before came roaring to life. Every time I saw you on TV, my gut would clench, but seeing you in person, it felt like someone sucker punched me.” Her voice was thick with raw emotions.
Her words left me reeling. I took a step back, trying to cool the fire within my soul, trying to slow down so I could give my mate everything she deserved and more.
A virgin.
I would be her first and only.
The thought was intoxicating to me. My dragon roared in triumph, celebrating our mate and the pleasure we would bring her this night.
I breathed her name as I brought my lips back down to hers, kissing her gently, slowly, savoring the moment. Savoring each sound that she made, the way that her hands slid up my arms and down my back. “I’ll go slow, baby.” I breathed against her lips.
“I don’t want slow, Xander. I told you that so that I wouldn’t be lying to you.” She winced as soon as the words left her lips, but she covered it up quickly as she kissed me again. Her arms wound around my neck as she lifted her body and wrapped her legs around my waist, bringing her center in line with my hard cock. Even through two layers of clothing I could feel her heat, her wetness,
how ready she was for me.
I palmed her ass, walking towards my bed. I was going to lay claim to my mate.
Chapter 9
Aleria
His strong hands gripped me firmly, his lips never leaving mine as he guided us towards what I assumed was his bedroom. A million thoughts tried to run through my head, but none could penetrate the haze of desire that I was feeling. The hormone or whatever it was that Xander had spoken of was something. It drove me wild, lowered all my inhibitions while making my body burn for him. I could feel the dampness of my panties between my thighs, my nipples hard and erect against his bare chest.
My back hit the soft mattress. My eyes were drawn to Xander as he stood over me, his body utter perfection as he crawled over me. My arms and legs opened to him, his weight settling on top of me as he gripped my hips to remove my underwear. I heard his harsh growl as his fingers parted my soft folds, feeling my wetness. His thumb circled my sensitive nub as the tips of his fingers teased my entrance.
“Baby, you are so fucking wet.” His words were harsh, sending another wave of arousal through me. I loved his voice. I arched my back on a gasp as one of his large fingers entered me, giving my body time to adjust before circling lightly, thrusting in and out.
“And so tight.” Xander’s jaw was clenched, making the veins in his neck bulge. Another loud moan escaped me as a second finger joined the first, my hands digging into the soft fabric of the comforter beneath me.
“Xander, please.” I moaned. His jaw released as he looked down at me, morphing into a devilish smile, his eyes glowing brightly in the dim light. His thumb brushed over my clit again, circling, drawing out my pleasure as his fingers continued to thrust in and out to the opposite rhythm.
“That’s it, Aleria.” The spasms started deep in my belly, my mouth opening on a silent scream. “Come for me.” Spine arched, my entire body seized up as wave after wave of pleasure washed over me. His hands never stopped their ministrations, ringing every ounce of pleasure I had out of my orgasm.
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