by J. D. Monroe
The whole place had the generic appeal of a model apartment, but it was a luxury penthouse compared to her most recent accommodations. “This is for me?”
“Us,” he said. Her eyebrows lifted. “I mean, you’re sharing with me. I’m not making any assumptions here. But Rosak and I agreed you’d be safer where I can keep an eye on you. You can sleep in the bed, and I’ll stay out here.”
That didn’t sound like an ideal arrangement at all. Sharing the bed would be preferable. Her cheeks flushed at the brazen thought. “Well, I can’t say I mind.”
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. He gestured to a pile of shopping bags on the floor. “I had a friend get some things for you. If it’s not what you want, we’ll figure something else out.”
She stared at him strangely. “I’m sure it’s all fine. Thank you for thinking of me.” Was it genuine affection or misplaced guilt that was making him so over-the-top nice?
He settled into a chair across from her. She had to suppress a frown of disappointment at his deliberate distance. “Do you remember anything? Did you notice something? Devi said it was poison.”
“No,” she said. “But that makes sense. I thought maybe I was overwhelmed from all the questioning. Using my power for so long was exhausting. I started feeling bad in the middle of the day, and it only got worse with time. I remember eating the meal the guard brought me. I didn’t even finish before it hit me.”
“Rosak looked into it,” he said. “We scared a couple of the staff half to death, but we haven’t figured out who did it. It was unattended for a few minutes while one of the guards checked on a security alarm in the kitchen.”
His head bowed suddenly, eyes pinned on his fidgeting fingers. Tension gripped his broad frame. She’d never seen him look anything but utterly confident. “I’m sorry about this.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“You were down there alone,” he said. He frowned as he lifted pain-filled eyes to hers. “I should have protected you.”
She chuckled. “In theory, being locked in a cell should have been the safest place of all. Did you know someone would try to hurt me?”
“Of course not,” he said.
“Well, if you need it, I accept your apology, with the caveat that you accept that it wasn’t your fault,” she replied.
His smile sent a warm thrill through her. “Rosak wants you to start questioning our people. If this person tried to get to you once, they may try again.”
Her body was so heavy, but she raised her hand and tried to call on her power. The spark was distant, like it was when her wrists were shackled. “I don’t know if I can right now.”
His brow furrowed. Then he took a deep breath and slipped the chain of the amulet over his head. He offered her his hand. “Try.”
She didn’t want him to fear her again. But she took his hand and locked eyes with him. “Give me the amulet.” Instead of the faint prickling of resistance, it felt like lightning lashed back at her. Her vision pulsed, shimmering auras in the periphery like it had when she first started feeling ill. She gasped and withdrew her hand. “I can’t.”
“Shit,” he said.
“I’m sorry,” she said, taking a shaky breath to settle herself. “I can try harder.”
“Please don’t,” he said, placing the amulet around his neck again. “You need to rest, like Devi Mara said. What do you need? Something to drink? Clothes?”
“Don’t you have things to do?”
He smirked. “My job today is to make sure no one kills you. You’re stuck with me.”
“Sucks to be you.” She stretched her legs and wiggled her toes. “I could really use a shower.”
“I’ll do you one better.”
Five minutes later, he carried her into the bathroom, where a huge tub was nearly overflowing with fragrant bubbles. Nerves fluttered in her belly. Bath meant naked. Naked in front of Velati was…well, she wasn’t opposed to it, but she was still apprehensive.
He set her down, then gave her a hesitant look as he steadied her. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” he said. “Are you okay on your own?”
Her balance was off, but she could manage. Still, a hungry, desperate part of her wanted him around, even if she was perfectly capable of stepping into the tub. “Help me, please,” she said. His fingers brushed over her shoulders as he helped her peel off the light gray robe. He inhaled sharply. She looked over her shoulder to see his blue eyes sweeping downward. “Investigating?”
“Your tattoos are incredible,” he said. “Every inch of you.”
“Almost,” she said.
“I’m sorry, this is so invasive.”
“No,” she said. “You can look. I don’t mind.”
Still holding her shoulder for support, he traced her spine, then in an arcing shape up her hip and over her ribs. The touch was feather-light, but it scorched her skin, sending a frenzied signal through her nervous system. She had to remind herself to breathe. “They’re beautiful. So much fine detail.”
“You’re a tattoo connoisseur, huh?”
“Right, you don’t know,” he said with a chuckle. His fingers fell away, leaving her curiously disappointed. “In you go.” He nudged her toward the tub, supporting her arm as she gingerly climbed into the tub. In the embrace of the warm water, she let out a sigh. It had been far too long since she’d had a long, hot bath.
“What don’t I know?”
“I’m not just a dragon asshole who has a knack for pissing off everyone I meet. Back home, I run a tattoo shop.”
“Really?”
“Silver Dragon Ink, Best of Portland, 2017,” he said proudly.
“Silver Dragon…isn’t that a little on the nose?”
He laughed. “Maybe.” His smile evaporated as he averted his eyes. “I’ll give you your privacy. Call for me if you need help getting out. I don’t want you to fall.”
“You don’t have to go,” she blurted, face reddening. “Unless you want to. But I don’t mind if you stay in here.”
His blue eyes skimmed over her. “If you insist.” He quickly stripped down to his boxer briefs, which left little to the imagination, clinging to muscular thighs and the curve of his groin. A long, white scar from the Aesdar’s claws snaked over his hip, disappeared under black fabric, and emerged again at his thigh. The gleaming silver of the amulet was a harsh contrast to his inked skin, a silent reminder of the barrier between them. “Lean forward,” he said as he perched on the edge of the tub.
Emboldened, she shifted around, then leaned her head against his leg. Using a fluffy sponge, he scrubbed her shoulder, then worked down her back. She let out a quiet sigh as the gentle pressure loosened her muscles and hot water streamed over her sensitive skin. “That feels good,” she murmured. A pleasant tingle followed the sweeping motion of his hands on her skin.
His rough hand skimmed under her breast. “Do you mind?”
“No.” A pleasant heat gathered in her belly as he continued to wash her, his touch gentle but firm. One finger grazed across her nipple, teasing it as he ran the sponge over her ribs. She gasped in surprise, then let out a laugh. “That’s not fair.”
“Why not?” His lips brushed the back of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
She turned abruptly, finding herself a scant inch from his face. “You’re out there, and I’m helpless in here.”
“Then tell me what you want. Remember, my job is taking care of you today.” Before he could move away, she kissed him, sucking on his full lower lip. He chuckled, grasping her jaw as he claimed her lips. When she leaned in, hungry for more, he pulled away from her with a playful smile. She liked this version of Velati, unburdened and mischievous. “Is that going to make you feel better?”
“I feel so much better already,” she said with mock seriousness. “It would make me feel even better if you got in here with me.”
His blue eyes widened. “I wouldn’t want to be a hindrance to your health,” he said solemnly. He hooked his
underwear with his thumbs and let them drop to the floor. Every move he made was pure temptation, inked skin shifting over hard muscle that begged to be touched. She leaned up to let him sit behind her, then nestled into his broad chest. His large hands rested on her ribs, holding her tight. “And now?”
“Practically healed,” she said. She tilted her head back for a kiss, and he obliged with a slow, sinuous dance of tongues and lips. It was a gloriously lazy moment, as if the only thing on the agenda for the day was to kiss him until she forgot her mouth was meant for anything else.
A pleasant buzz hummed through her entire body, but her brain couldn’t shut down. She broke away from his kiss. “Is this real? Are we idiots?”
“I’m definitely an idiot. I don’t know about you.” He kissed her forehead, then pulled away to regard her with a solemn expression. “Do you want me?”
“I do,” she said. There was no point in pretending.
“Then right now, you and I are an island,” he said. His strong arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. “The world still matters, but it doesn’t need us right this second. All of this bullshit, all the confusing things, they’re all still there, and we’ll have to go back eventually. But not yet. Will you be on this island with me right now?”
“Yes.”
Nerves stitched through her as his hand slid over her belly and grazed her sex. “Good. Then tell me what you want.” She shuddered with desire at his feather-light touch. That was the simplest request she’d ever heard. She wanted him to touch her and never stop.
“That’s a good start,” she murmured, opening herself to his roaming fingers. His other hand cupped her breast, teasing at her nipple. “Tell me about your shop.”
“I opened about five years ago,” he said. His deep voice vibrated through her in a hypnotic thrumming. His touch was slow and luxurious, leading her on a slow climb amidst a fog of pleasure, rather than a feverish rush to climax. “I was an apprentice to a kor-dalak scribe back in Ascavar, long before the war started. Some of my tattoos were done well before I was Arik’tazhan, just because I was fascinated with the art. After training for several years, I was certain that would be my calling. My mother hated the idea, but I was stubborn.”
“Imagine that.” Her breath hitched. It felt like he’d touched a live wire to her spine. He laughed quietly, waiting until she relaxed again to continue. “You were an apprentice, but I assume you were interrupted?”
“I was,” he said. “It was well before the war with the Raspolin. The dragonflights were always going to war with each other back then. My home came under attack, and I had to drop everything to join the fight.”
“That’s terrible,” she murmured.
“It is what it is,” he said. He shifted his legs, using his powerful thighs to part her wider for him. His firm length pressed to the small of her back. She smiled at the realization his body responded to her too. The aches in her body diminished to a faint echo, and she lost track of his touch. A hand on her breast, his lips on her neck; it was lightning striking in a rising storm, each a fleeting spike that faded into the dull roar of bliss. “I was…asked to leave here about fifty years ago.”
“Why?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I drifted for a while, and finally settled down in Portland. I spent so much of my life fighting that I didn’t really know what to do with myself without a war. Sohan reminded me I’d had a dream once, and suggested I do something with it. I had to get trained, but after about ten years of working in other shops, I started my own.”
“Somehow I can’t see you working for anyone else.”
He laughed again. “Strangely enough, I didn’t mind being an apprentice. I had a lot to learn from much wiser people. Especially considering most modern shops aren’t doing tattoos by hand, the way I originally learned. And how yours were done, I’m guessing.”
His voice was fading as her primal need consumed her conscious thought. “Uh-huh,” she murmured, trying to breathe evenly and focus on his voice. Her muscles quivered, unable to contain the feverish heat within.
He nipped at her ear. “Am I losing you?”
“Oh yeah,” she admitted, squirming slightly in his embrace. “I’m trying, but you’re being very distracting.”
“Then I’ll quit dividing your attention,” he said. Instead of teasing around her, his fingers focused on the most sensitive part of her, stroking with expert precision. Lightning shot through her, and she arched away from him suddenly. But his arm looped around her, trapping her against his solid chest. She let out a soft moan, prompting a low chuckle as he caressed her.
The tension gathered in her belly, on the verge of explosion. He brought her to the brink, with a desperate madness overtaking her. With an insistent press of his hand into her, he pushed her over the edge. All coherent thought left her mind, and the world went pleasantly black for a moment. When the fog cleared again, he was kissing the back of her neck, making his way to the curve of her shoulder.
Her body was pleasantly heavy and loose. With the dreamy haze still clinging to her, she shifted slightly to brush her hand over his muscular thigh. He was rock hard, but he gently pulled her searching hand away and kissed her lips instead. “No.”
She frowned. Suddenly, she could feel the hard outline of the amulet on his chest, biting into her skin. “You still don’t trust me.”
“It’s not that. You just woke up after a brush with death.” He avoided the question entirely, dodging like an expert swordsman.
She tilted her head. “But if I want to…”
“Then I’ll still make you wait.” He carefully stepped out, then offered his arm to help her out of the tub. “Hold on.” He placed her hands on his shoulders for balance, then began drying her off with a fluffy towel.
Heat oozed down her spine as he calmly knelt in front of her to dry her legs. Even with the towel to dampen the sensation, the feel of his hand between her legs struck a nerve. She couldn’t shake the image of him bending her over the counter and burying himself deep. His lips pulled into a playful smile, like he’d heard her thoughts. “You’re a tease, Velati Rimewing,” she said. Two perfectly naked adults standing six inches apart, and he was suddenly a saint.
Rising slowly, he dried her stomach, then her breasts. He looked far too satisfied with himself as he lowered his head for a kiss. “I would never.”
She grabbed his ass, pinching him lightly. He laughed into the kiss. “You’re a naughty girl, Marlena Nightrunner.”
“I was just inspecting your tattoos,” she said. “What are you going to do about it?” Meeting his eyes, she pointedly looked down at the evidence of his arousal.
His hungry stare made her hope he was going to take the bait. Instead, he scooped her up again, holding her tight to his chest. He graced her with another possessive kiss before depositing her on the bed alone. “Don’t get any ideas.”
She was disappointed when he re-entered the room with underwear on. The boxer briefs did nothing to hide his impressive legs and a pronounced bulge, and instead reminded her that he was an evil tease. He dropped one of the shopping bags on the bed. She rifled through a mess of clothing until she found a lacy black bra and matching underwear. “Most men wouldn’t want me to put clothes back on.”
“Most men are beasts,” he replied. He traced the curve of her hip, down to her thigh as she bent to pull up the underwear. “Although it’s a shame to cover that perfect body up.” With a chuckle, he pinched her ass just hard enough to sting.
She gasped and looked back at him. “What was that for?”
“You tried to sully my virtue when I was innocently drying you off,” he replied. “Turnabout is fair play.”
“Innocent. Okay, then,” she said. Watching over her shoulder, she slowly pulled the lacy panties up. His lips parted, and his gaze darkened. Come and get it, she thought.
“Evil temptress,” he replied. She shimmied her hips as she released the thin lace. A mischievous grin pulled at hi
s lips. Damn his willpower. She left the bra on the edge of the bed and sank into bed next to him. In an oddly familiar gesture, he turned onto his side, fingers tracing one of the curving tattoos beneath her breast.
“A girl could get her feelings hurt being rejected like this.”
“A girl could if she misjudged,” he said. His rough thumb traced her nipple, sending a shiver across her skin. She was going to get addicted to that touch if he kept it up. “I can see how exhausted you are. You can barely stand up on your own.”
She sighed. He was right. Her mind was ready, but her body was heavy and achy. She’d be a limp starfish if he took her up on her offer.
“If you still want me when you’re feeling better, I’ll be here,” Velati said. “Besides, I’d much rather you had your strength. It’ll be a lot more fun.” He grasped her hand, then pressed it to his groin. Her cheeks flushed as her fingers grazed the hard length. “Trust me, I’m not rejecting you, Marlena.”
She gently stroked him through the soft fabric, relishing the shuddering inhalation that shook his composure. “I feel guilty.”
“What? For not getting me off?”
“Well, yeah.” She smirked.
He laughed gently and pulled her hand away. “Don’t. I like seeing you feel so good.” he said. He slid closer and opened his arms. She took the invitation, resting her head on the cool solidity of his chest.
“That’s not how most people are,” she said. “Usually it feels like an exchange. You do me and I do you.”
He snorted in derision. “It shouldn’t be that way. A man with any sense wants his lover happy first,” he said. His eyes went wide. “Not that I’m saying…”
She tilted her head. “Aren’t you?” God, she hoped he was.
He smiled faintly. “This situation is complicated, I’ll admit. But I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t have feelings for you.”
Her heart pounded against her ribs, so hard there was no way he didn’t feel it echoing into his own chest. “Me too.”
He kissed her forehead. “When I walked in and saw you lying on the floor, I realized how much I actually cared for you. And when they said it was poison, I wanted to tear apart whoever did it. I wasn’t just angry because someone broke my trust, but because they hurt you. I brought you here, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re mine to protect.”