Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Until the night her father announced her engagement at a dinner party, she had never even been approached by a man. The news had come as a surprise and a horror. Hank had given her an engagement ring with a very inappropriate gift. She had been mortified and ran away—much to the disgusting pig’s pleasure. Standing here now, looking at Olek’s perfect form, she couldn’t imagine a life with Hank. Being married to a simple man was looking better and better each passing moment.

  Olek removed the fur from his waist. There was still distance between their bodies, so even if he wanted to he couldn’t reach her without walking toward her. Dropping the loincloth to the floor, he stood proudly. “See what looking at you does to my body?”

  Nadja could hardly breathe, but she couldn’t look away from his magnetic eyes. This man was going to think her natural skin tone was pink if she didn’t get control over her embarrassment. Her voice wouldn’t work if she tried. But Olek’s gaze only held molten appreciation and she didn’t shy away. His approval empowered her on a baser level, giving her a confidence she had never felt.

  Nadja glanced down to look. His desires terrified her as much as they fascinated her. The long length of him had sprung to full attention. Veins grew out on the sides, forcing his erection to stand tall.

  She was a doctor’s daughter, so the technical part of how they fit together she had known about for years. And, sure, she had tried a few hesitant things while alone in the dark, but she was always too scared to do much else. That damned unit reported everything—even a small piece of chocolate she once ate against dietary orders. It had been delicious and almost worth the three days of punishment she had received, though she had never tried one again. Olek was definitely more than a small piece of chocolate, and the threat of punishment was so ingrained that she almost ran and hid from him.

  Technically, their bodies might be made to join. But as to the reality? She didn’t see how this could possibly work.

  “Olek.” Nadja shook her head in denial. It was odd standing so before a man. “Please, don’t—”

  “Shh.” He didn’t allow her to finish. “You are mine. That is the end of it.”

  Nadja looked into his passionate eyes and was lost. Wine swam warmly in her veins, causing her to relax as she let her husband and his mystical crystal work their magic over her. Yes, she was definitely his.

  * * *

  “What do you think they are like?” Queen Mede directed her thoughts to her husband so he would hear her words in his mind. Such was the way between married dragon-shifters. Joy filled her as she thought of her sons and nephews. Almost all of them had found brides and they waited for word that the brides had entered the tents.

  King Llyr chuckled and said aloud, “I expect they are like women.”

  The queen arched a brow at her husband. Around them the celebration raged. They sat on a raised platform overseeing the festivities, as was royal tradition. “Do you think they will be genteel like my mother?”

  “Lady Grace was a rare creature,” the king said. “I don’t know how anyone in the universe could be as good and charitable as your mother was.”

  “So then you think they will be like me when I was young?” Queen Mede let her eyes shift with mischief.

  “Mm.” The king refused to answer more.

  “Mm?” The queen arched a brow.

  “You are still young, my beautiful dragon,” he said diplomatically, refusing to comment on her wild past.

  Over seventy years later, Mede still loved her husband very much. Time had not altered that fact for either of them. Llyr still looked at her like he had on the night they married, and she imagined he still would over the hundreds of years they had left together.

  “Times are very different, aren’t they?” Mede looked around at the lively festival. Their people were enjoying themselves immensely and she imagined anyone looking in would never have guessed this celebration was tame compared to the celebrations of old. “Your father used to give the wildest speeches at these events and no one worried about border patrols and extra security.”

  “Tell me, Medellyn, what is it?” Llyr waved a servant away when the man tried to approach the thrones with goblets of mead. “Why are your eyes sad when we have so much to be thankful for tonight?”

  “I always feared that when this night came King Attor would come back here and try to finish what he started the night we married.”

  “That is not your fault.” Llyr brushed his hand over her cheek. “I have already ordered the patrols to keep an eye on the princes and noblemen tonight. Nothing will happen to them. The Var king knows better than to come back here.” Then, playfully brushing his nose to hers, he whispered, “And if he tries, I’ll unleash your temper on him, my fiery wife. So help the man who tries to harm a dragon mother’s family.”

  Chapter 6

  Olek waited patiently and tried not to laugh. Nadja stared at his arousal for an abnormally long time. Slowly, she blinked, glancing up to the tight expression on his face. He fought for control, but it was very hard not to reach for his bride.

  “You said you wouldn’t touch me until I touched you,” Nadja reminded him.

  “I am not going to touch you,” Olek said with a roguish smirk. He licked his lips in anticipation. “You are going to touch yourself for me.”

  “I…” Nadja swallowed nervously. “Olek, I can’t do that. I’m not—”

  “Yes,” he broke in. “You can.”

  “No, I…” Nadja’s cheeks deepened in color. He wouldn’t have thought it possible. “I don’t know how.”

  That brought him up short. Tilting his head to better study her, he asked, “How is that possible? You are no child.”

  Olek waited a long time for her to answer. She crossed her arms over her chest to hide herself from him.

  “My father,” Nadja finally said. “He—we had this medic unit. It would measure my, ah, levels each morning. I couldn’t even eat chocolate without him finding out. And, well, if I was to, you know, it would tell him everything in my daily report.”

  Olek frowned.

  “They were very thorough machines.” She closed her eyes, as if hoping the ground would open up and suck her in. Her fists clenched at her sides.

  “I know it is unlikely that I will ever have daughters, but I don’t imagine I would control them in such a way. My people believe that children are to be guided and molded by the extended family unit, allowed explore and discover, allowed to make mistakes. How else will they learn?”

  “I’m sorry,” Nadja said softly. “I should have said something about this before. I really don’t know anything when it comes to…and I understand if you want to put your mask back on. I won’t tell anyone I took it off.”

  Olek didn’t readily answer. He was too busy thinking of what he would say to her father for treating her so callously. He wasn’t an idiot. There was much more to her strict upbringing than his bride was telling him. Not everyone in the universes was lucky enough to have his home life.

  Nadja began reaching for the mask to give it back to him. His words stopped her.

  “You are no longer under his tyranny, solarflower,” Olek said, finding his pet name for her very suitable. She was delicate, like a flower. “If you wish to know something about your body or mine, ask. I’ll freely tell you or show you everything I know. Every passion you feel is normal and very right. I feel the same for you.”

  She brought her hand back to her side and faced him.

  “Now, it would give me much pleasure if you would touch yourself.” Olek’s eyes bore heatedly into hers. “And it will give me even greater pleasure when you touch me.”

  Nadja shivered.

  “Like this,” he urged. Taking himself in hand, he stroked his hard cock several times. Nadja bit her lip and her eyes followed the movements of his fingers. The crystal pulsed and glowed from his chest. Her fingers moved over her stomach, scratching lightly at her flesh as if absently mimicking his movements over his shaft.

 
Olek nodded in approval, urging her silently to continue. With a weak pant, she slid her finger into her wetness. Watching him, she timidly stroked herself. Her legs twitched. Her hips jerked in a little circle. Her fingers spread her sex open.

  Olek stroked faster as his eyes devoured the movements her hand. If he wasn’t careful, he would explode.

  With a moan, she went to him as if unmindful of all her previous protests.

  Olek grinned, unable to help the playfully naughty look he gave her. It hadn’t taken her long at all to come around. The fact pleased him very much.

  Nadja hesitated only briefly as she looked at his hand wrapped around his erection. Her fingers had stirred her natural scent into the air. Letting go, he moved it to the side to give her access. Nadja licked her lips, glancing up at him for approval before she touched him. Olek nodded weakly. He was sure he would go mad from the sexual torment.

  Her chest heaving with exited breaths as she took his solid length in her hand. Olek’s hips jerked a little at the tender assault. Nadja pulled back, appearing concerned that she may have done him harm. He imagined he might actually look like he was in pain as he tried not to come. Putting his hand over hers, he brought her hand to him once more and showed her she could squeeze and not hurt him.

  The moment she fully stroked his manhood with her fingers, Olek turned her and drove her back toward the bed. His hands instantly explored her back, her arms, her neck and hair. His mouth lowered to claim hers in a mind-searing kiss that left them both breathless and faint. His lips sucked her tongue into his mouth so that he may taste her.

  A moment of panic overtook her and she stiffened as if to pull away when his erection sought to be closer to her sex. He gave her little time to protest as he brought himself next to her. His body crushed into hers, causing a wave of pleasure to wash over him. Her breasts rubbed against his chest, the nipples budding attesting to her newfound desires. He rubbed his cock along the front of her hip near the apex of her thighs. Her legs clenched slightly.

  She let go of his cock to explore the rest of him. Her touch was a curious mixture of desperation and innocence, which only drove him to greater distraction. Olek was not as unsure as his hands ventured over her, stroking and teasing every tender piece of flesh he could reach.

  “Olek,” Nadja groaned,

  “Shh,” Olek knew he had to slow down. If he pressed matters too much more he would become a rutting beast. Her hands followed his lead, stopping their exploration as they came to rest on his chest. He absently stroked the small of her back. His heartbeat raced beneath her hand, matching the frantic rhythm of the pulse he saw pounding against her neck.

  “You stopped. Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

  “No, you did everything very right. But, we cannot finish joining this night. It’s forbidden.”

  She nodded once and he wasn’t sure if it was relief or anguish that she was feeling.

  “Tonight is for discovery only—discovery of self, of passion, of each other.” His breath came hard. She stiffened when he cupped her breast. Knowing she couldn’t help her body’s natural responses, he smiled. “Lie back on the bed.”

  “But, you said—”

  “We cannot finish this, little solarflower, but I am not finished exploring you. Lie down.” Olek tilted his head toward the mattress.

  Nadja, legs wobbling, nodded and stepped up the raised platform before crawling on the bed. Lying down, she placed her hands on her stomach and waited. Olek stepped away to grab a bottle of oil not bothering to dress.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I am going to let you get used to my touch, solarflower,” Olek answered with a playful wink.

  Nadja held her breath as he rubbed oil between his fingers. Starting at her feet, he began massaging the arch. Nadja tensed, giggling. Her foot jerked.

  “Hold still.”

  “I-I can’t,” she giggled louder, jerking again. “I’m ticklish.”

  Olek smiled and deepened his touch. Soon, her foot became used to the attention and her laughing expression turned more serious.

  “There,” he soothed, “just relax.”

  She jolted when he touched the other foot, but soon the intoxicatingly erotic scent of oil was flooding their senses and his hands were working magic on her feet. He moved over one calf then the other, taking his time as he touched her. Nadja didn’t move, closing her eyes and just feeling. He slid his gentle hands over her knees with aching tenderness. She tensed as he came up her thigh, but soon the power that was between them relaxed her once more.

  Olek groaned, letting his eyes take in the wet beckoning of her center fire. The oil glistened on her skin. His fingers flowed over soft, smooth flesh, itching to slide higher, right into her. He held back, moving to massage her other thigh. To his pleasure, she didn’t tense again.

  Skipping her middle, he massaged her hands and arms in turn. Then, he ordered her to turn onto her stomach. She didn’t see his look of intense pleasure as his eyes laid claim to her pert ass. He gave the backs of her legs to the same treatment he had given the front, before going on to her shoulders, neck and back. As he worked his way lower, he moved to straddle her. His lips parted, and he wanted to take a playful bite out of her flesh. He denied his mouth, but not his hands.

  With a staggered breath, he cupped her buttocks. A moan escaped Nadja, weak in her relaxed state. His thumbs dipped to edge closer to her aroused center.

  “Turn,” he said huskily. Olek lifted himself up, still straddling her as she moved.

  Nadja was weak, but she obeyed.

  His hands renewed their journey at her neck, sliding between her breasts to her stomach. He touched her hips, her sides, working his way to the center peaks of her breasts. Her back arched and he took the soft globes fully into his palms. The oil made his caresses all the more pleasurable. Unable to deny his mouth again, he leaned over and sucked a nipple between his lips.

  Nadja bucked off the bed as if lightning had struck her soul. Olek growled in pleasure, tasting her, biting gently, reveling in her natural response. The other breast received the same treatment from his hand, pinching and caressing.

  “Ah-h,” Nadja gasped for breath. She grasped at his hair. Before he knew what was happening, his legs were parting hers. Oil slid between them, helping him glide forward between her thighs. His solid erection came to her, insistent that it get its fair share of her pleasure. He felt her heat beckoning him with its moist offering.

  “Olek,” Nadja called out, trembling violently at the feel of his hard mass by her tender opening.

  Olek stopped, hearing her cry. Taking a deep breath, he knew he couldn’t take her. If the others sensed their fulfillment tomorrow, as they went to crush the crystal before the council, all would be lost. Their marriage wouldn’t be approved and he would have to spend the rest of his days alone.

  “I’m sorry, solarflower,” Olek grunted as he withdrew. It was the most difficult thing he’d ever done. “We mustn’t.”

  “I know,” she whispered, the tone revealing the depths of her disappointment.

  “Just give me a moment.” Olek panted to catch his breath. He turned from her, running his fingers into his hair as he waited out the worst of his denied passions. All it would take was one stroke and he’d come hard. Release was so close and would feel so good. Normally he would think nothing of finishing himself off, but it would be wrong for him to find pleasure while denying her. When he could again move, he looked over. Nadja had fallen asleep. He almost laughed.

  With a sigh, he lifted her up into his arms. She blinked, trying to wake up and he shushed her back to sleep. He knew it had been a long night for her. Easing her under the covers, he couldn’t help taking one last look of her flushed body in the gentle torchlight.

  He dimmed the torches, putting some of them out to darken the tent. Then, shaking his head, he laid next to her on top of the covers, careful not to touch her body with his overheated one. Sleep wasn’t even close to clai
ming him. This was going to be an extremely long night.

  Chapter 7

  Nadja blinked rapidly, coming awake with rough jolt of awareness. A cold sweat beaded her flesh. She shot up in bed. All around her was darkness. She felt around, and her hands met with the fur coverlet. She was naked underneath.

  She closed her lids tight, rubbing them as she tried to clear her vision to see through the darkness. Her horrified, sleep-hazed eyes franticly searched for her father or his men in the dark shadows of the tent. Her mind screamed at her, yelling that he would know what she’d done, that she let this barbarian touch her, that it had given her pleasure to have him touch her. He’d put her in punishment for a month this time. She’d never survive a whole month, deprived of sleep, of light and fresh air, of food. This time, her father might actually kill her.

  Her eyes adjusted to the dimness. The only sound she heard was the wild beat of her own heart in her ears. By small degrees, the fog of sleep lifted, and she realized he couldn’t possibly have found her. She took a deep breath, looking over to where Olek slept near her side. She was safe. This was home. This was safe.

  A strange sense of comfort overtook her fear. Here was a simple, giving man. She told herself she could trust him to take care of her. They would go to his little cottage somewhere, where they could live a life away from the limelight. She didn’t have to live in fear anymore. There was no way her father would find her—unlike marrying a nobleman whose picture could be published in any number of ways, whose name would be carried in connection with hers across the galaxy.

  On a planet like Qurilixen they would never have heard her father’s name, or known his untouchable reputation. She would have changed her name before now, but there hadn’t been enough time to fake her Galactic Identification. She would change it now, she decided. She would take Olek’s name as her own, whatever it was. She would never have to utter the word Aleksander again.