It felt unbelievably erotic, heady and exhilarating, even as it immediately put her in mind of something she wanted more.
“Inside me,” she said, pulling herself up to murmur in his ear. His expression grew dark, his eyes like two glimmering emeralds lit by pure fire, and for a second, she was sure she saw the pupils change.
Was that his… dragon?
Before she could think more on it, he was spreading her legs with his knee, pushing closer to her entrance. His tip teased her, and she squirmed, too overtaken by the moment to care about anything but him coming inside her.
He nudged and then pushed slowly inside her, joining her slick heat with his iron hardness. She gasped and then sighed deeply when he was seated all the way inside her. She looked up at him, noting the way they felt joined from hip to chest, the way their bodies were totally connected, and the feeling of electric heat between her legs.
Her center was lit up with pleasure, and that was before he started moving. Once he moved, it was pure, slick heat. In and then out. She gasped to keep from screaming and put one fist in her mouth, biting down to distract herself from the sensation. She wasn’t ready to come yet. She wanted more of this, to do it longer. To feel him inside her for an endless amount of time because it felt so damn good.
She wrapped her legs around him so she could have some control of the movement, thrusting against him so he could come deeper each time. She couldn’t believe she could hold him, yet as his length stroked every nerve, filled her completely, she didn’t think she would ever find a better fit.
As if they were made to come together.
And when the build became too much, she threw her hands back to the bed, twisting them in the sheets as release overtook her, making her thrash against him, the sensations all the stronger with his hard length inside.
He looked at her with a pleased, flushed sensation, and she hoped neither of them would regret this. That regardless of what happened, they could be grateful for this moment of pure pleasure. Oneness.
He brushed her sweaty hair off her forehead with one hand, his expression smiling and tender. “You all right?”
“Yes,” she said. “All right.” Because all was right. Her body was fine. Her heart was protected. Her world was contained in just this few yards of space she took up with her love.
Because she was in love with him. She knew it as he began to move again, a look of concern on his face as he listened exquisitely to her body, worried only about what she wanted.
Improbable as it was after what she’d been through, and after only a few days, she was in love.
She didn’t question it, just wrapped her legs tighter around his waist and went on the ride with him, letting him carry her to greater heights of ecstasy than ever before. Her body became more and more sensitive from his strokes, until she finally came again, and this time he went over the edge with her, his expression tightening as his body jerked.
She screamed at the pleasure of his vibrations going along with the rhythmic waves of her sex, the feeling that they could be in heaven for a moment together.
“Arsenic,” she said, holding on for dear life, digging her nails into his back as if she could claim him forever just by holding him close.
“Farrah,” he murmured back, still jerking with the last of his release.
There was nothing else said between them. Nothing else to say. She could have said she loved him, but she knew it was pointless. Perhaps he would know some of what she felt just from the response of her body. That was all he really needed to know.
She wouldn’t think further than this moment, with this beloved man—dragon—in her arms.
As his breathing calmed and he rolled over with her, tucking her against his side, she sighed in relief. Perhaps so many orgasms in one day was a little too much. But perhaps not, she thought, reaching up to stroke his face tenderly.
He looked at her, puzzled, but let her do as she wished.
She curled in against him, unable to look him in the eyes right now and not want more than she should.
Curse his mate, who was out there somewhere, not knowing how lucky she was going to be. Curse that bitch for all she would have.
It wasn’t the first time Farrah had been jealous of dragon hearts, but it was definitely the worst.
“What are you thinking?” he asked. “You’re looking upset. Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” she said, pushing away those thoughts. She had no right to be jealous, and besides, she shouldn’t let it ruin a beautiful moment. “It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
She rolled onto his chest and stroked a finger over one bulging pec. “That was wonderful. You always continue to amaze me, you crazy dragon.”
“And that’s a good thing?”
She nodded against his warm skin, never wanting to let go of him. Then she thought of something she’d totally overlooked while caught in the heat of the moment. “Wait, we didn’t use protection… I… Oh no.”
But before she could panic, he put a hand in her hair, shushing her and stroking her gently. “I can’t get you pregnant because we aren’t mated, and you can’t catch any diseases from me. I’ve heard the others talk about it. I’m sorry for not using something if it worries you, though. We can next time if you want.”
She smiled and shuddered deliciously at there being a next time. “No, it’s fine. I trust you. Besides, it was nice to just feel you against me. To be totally one.”
“Nice doesn’t even begin to describe it,” he said. “It was out of this world.”
“Literally, I guess,” she said, smoothing her palm over his skin. “With sex this good, how are we ever going to leave the bedroom?”
“Well, as long as you’re still afraid of needles, you can’t work, so I guess your schedule should be open,” he teased, and she laughed and reached up to swat him.
For some reason, talking about it openly was easier now, and after she’d chased him around the bed a bit, he simply curled around her and rolled onto his side on the bed, spooning her in front of him.
“Rest now, silly human,” he said. “You’ll need your strength to deal with me tomorrow.”
“That’s for damn sure,” she mumbled, feeling herself get drowsy as she yawned.
But truthfully, every day with him around made her feel stronger. He gave her strength, rather than took it away from her.
After tonight, she was sure.
She wished they could stay together forever.
Screw forgetting everything and staying in this world.
She’d rather have a dragon’s heart.
Chapter 17
A few idyllic days later, Farrah enjoyed the comfortable routine she and Arsenic had fallen into. Currently, they were on the couch together, watching TV.
She liked hearing his thoughts about the human world when it still confused him, liked cuddling against his hard body and, in general, just pretending they could go on like this forever. Like the little world they’d created could just go undisturbed by outside forces.
But that was all interrupted when Arsenic’s phone buzzed, signaling a text.
He got it out with a roll of his eyes, as if expecting nothing important, but then froze when he looked at the screen.
He barely had time to get up from the couch when a whooshing sound filled the room, like rushing wind, and a purple portal opened in the middle of Farrah’s small living room.
“What the—”
“The text was from Cadmium,” Arsenic explained. “Warning me the oracle was on her way. She doesn’t always give a heads-up before visiting.”
“So that’s—” But before Farrah could finish her sentence, the oracle was stepping through, followed by Marina.
The oracle looked better than the night Farrah had seen her, more put together but still tired, with deep lines under her eyes, even more than would be expected with her age.
“My dear,” the oracle said, stepping forward. Farrah noticed with dism
ay that the woman was now using a cane for support as she walked.
Marina, however, looked beautiful, tall, impervious as always, and she rushed forward to hold out her arms, offering Farrah a hug.
Farrah took it, still grateful for how kind Marina had been to her the night she was rescued. She’d also been the one to arrange for Arsenic to come here and guard her, and Farrah didn’t know whether to be grateful or angry about that.
Grateful, she supposed, since she knew Marina had only the best of intentions.
Apparently, no one had expected her to get ideas about the dragon guarding her. No one expected her to fall in love.
The oracle’s eyes darted to her curiously, and she continued to stare eerily at Farrah as Marina led them all to the living room to sit down. She even gave the disgruntled Arsenic a hug, asking him how he was doing, to which he answered with only a grunt.
They sat, Marina and Farrah on one couch, the oracle on the other, and Arsenic on a chair nearby.
“So,” the oracle said, leaning forward, white and purple robes glistening. “How have you been doing? I presume no one has bothered you?”
Farrah nodded hesitantly. “No.”
“And of course Arsenic has been a perfect protector?” the oracle said.
Farrah hoped she wasn’t blushing as she nodded.
“Good. Congratulations on a successful mission,” the oracle said, turning to Arsenic. “Now, we come with an update, and hopefully you won’t be needed anymore.”
Farrah looked quickly at Arsenic, trying to gauge his reaction to the news, but he was impassive, simply raising his chin haughtily as he waited for more news.
“What do you mean?” Farrah asked, clasping her hands together and intertwining her fingers.
“We’ve been watching the castle where you were held. We sent a team of double dragons—those are the regional ones—to check it out shortly after you were rescued. The place was already torched to the ground. Bodies everywhere, no signs of anyone left.”
“Wow,” Farrah asked.
“Seems the other side didn’t approve much of what they were doing or didn’t want any evidence of them at least.”
“The man who tortured me, Crios…?”
“There is no way to know for sure,” the oracle said. “But it is likely he died in the attack. There were so many bodies. Regardless, since you aren’t a dragon-heart and you were never supposed to be taken, we doubt his superiors would ever support him in coming after you. It would be a waste of resources and time.”
Farrah didn’t know whether to be offended or not that the shifter community thought so little of her that she wasn’t in danger of being captured.
“We are relatively confident that you will be safe here, but just in case, we intend to relocate a group of double dragons to the area, and they will be told to keep an eye on you. I will also put up barriers, of course. So even if you lose your memory, you shouldn’t be in any danger.”
“Oh,” Farrah said. A part of her doubted Crios would ever give up. Anyone who hadn’t seen him with her wouldn’t know that he was so obsessed. But at the same time, the oracle was probably right. Crios didn’t work on his own. If he’d lived, with his lab gone, he’d have to work somewhere else, under a boss, and she doubted they’d let him pursue a human who was no more than a pet project.
Perhaps she really was free.
The oracle leaned forward, her chin on her hand, her misty eyes shrewd. “I thought you would be happier to hear the news.”
“No, I am happy.” She looked over at Arsenic, wondering what he was thinking, but his expression was still blank.
Then he ran a hand through his black hair and stood, looking around him. “I should… go check on the barrier, just in case.”
He walked out the front door before anyone could say anything, slamming it behind him with a loud thud.
“Perhaps you should go check on him, Marina,” the oracle said mildly. “While I have a chat with Farrah.”
Marina nodded silently and went to the door, opening it and going out after Arsenic.
A bit of jealousy went through Farrah, but then she reminded herself that Marina was already mated to another dragon. Besides, Farrah had no right to say who should be alone with Arsenic.
“Hm,” the oracle said, sitting back in her chair and resting her cane across her knees. “So… have you told him how you feel?”
Farrah blinked. “What?”
“I have to admit this is highly unexpected. Given your hatred of the shifter world, I thought a shifter mate was the last thing you’d want. Especially one as difficult as Arsenic. But it seems I was very wrong.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You don’t need to protect him,” the oracle said. “I can already tell you two have gone far beyond the realm of protected and protector. The question is what you now want to do about it.”
Farrah bit her lip. “I don’t know.”
“Perhaps you should talk to him,” the oracle said.
“About what? He will surely have a mate waiting somewhere, and that’s not me. We both agreed to do this until I was ready to forget and move on afterward.”
“Sounds painful for him,” the oracle said.
“Well, he said it was worth it,” Farrah said. “And it helped me move on.”
“And that’s all it did?”
Farrah looked into the old woman’s eyes and knew there was nothing she could hide from her, so she might as well tell the truth. “No. Obviously, it did much more.”
“Why don’t you let Arsenic tell you who his mate is?”
“You mean he has one?”
“That’s something you’d have to ask him,” the oracle said. “Even if he does have a mate, it’s up to him to make the move to do what it takes to be with her or not.”
“So he could choose not to be with her,” Farrah said, wondering at the possibility. How it would screw over the woman out there that was meant to be with him.
“Yes, but it’d be better if he didn’t,” the oracle said. “Dragons need to be with their mate. They can barely function if kept away from them.”
“I see,” Farrah said.
“But as I said…” The oracle stood, brushing her hands off and leaning on her cane. “That’s something you would have to talk to him about. I am willing to accept whatever you two decide. I simply didn’t think staying in our world would be something you wanted. But I’m obviously sorry enough about what you’ve experienced in our world that I would do anything I could to help.”
“You’re right,” Farrah said. “I have to just talk to him.” Scary as it was, she had to bring up all the topics they’d avoided with awkward silence, pretending any issue could just go away if they didn’t approach it.
“You’ll figure it out, my dear,” the oracle said, following her to the doorway. “You’re strong.”
Farrah really hoped she was right, because confronting Arsenic about whether he really wanted her forever would take everything she had.
So it was all over.
Arsenic had been in some bad spots, from the moment he was abandoned in a literal pile of garbage by his parents, who were on the run, to the day his uncle had been hung for treason.
He’d never expected much of a life for himself, and what he’d worked for was more than he’d ever imagined.
But he shouldn’t have allowed himself to get detached from reality. To be delusional enough to think that a human who’d been traumatized by the shifter world would give up a free chance to escape her past just for a worthless dragon assassin like him.
It felt as though his world was collapsing around him, like the sky could fall on him at any moment.
He’d known that finding and then having to lose a mate would be agonizing, but he’d assumed the other agonizing things he’d had to do throughout his life would prepare him to take it like a champ.
He’d been wrong.
Nothing could have prepared him for the soul-rending pain
of the oracle saying he wasn’t needed anymore and that Farrah would be free.
And Farrah insisting that, while shocked, she was indeed happy for the news.
Why on earth had he thought that perhaps Farrah would be upset as well? What had he been expecting, that she would say she wanted to be his mate and didn’t mind remembering all the needles and pain?
Not to mention leaving her world behind, the world she’d fought so hard to return to.
Because he knew that no matter what, he probably wouldn’t be allowed to stay here. He belonged in the shifter world, alongside his friends.
But there had been moments with her that were so special. Almost… sacred. Now he wanted to treasure every one of them, pack them up into a tiny chest and carry it around forever in his heart without ever looking inside it.
He didn’t regret anything, not if he really thought about it. Given the chance, he would do it all again. Rescue her, stay with her, fall in love with her, share a few precious days together before it was all taken away.
So why did he feel so hurt?
Perhaps it was because her rejection validated all the feelings of unworthiness he’d fought his whole life. He’d always been a lowly metalloid, a half metal who would always be below the other dragons, despite his skills and the tenuous acceptance he had gained as part of the dragon guard.
He’d experienced a lot of pain and rejection in his life and faced it with a stony demeanor that said he could never be hurt.
But it wasn’t something he could do this time. Not when he was losing his mate.
He sat on the steps of the porch because his knees were feeling weak. The door opened, and he jumped, surprised it was Marina.
“What do you want?” he asked grumpily, folding his arms on his knees and glaring out at the horizon covered with trees.
She sat down next to him, her gentle energy soothing him against his will. One couldn’t help but feel the change in the air when Marina was there. “I just wanted to check on you.”
“Hmph,” he said. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine. You stormed out of there.”
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