by J. D. Monroe
“What if I want more?” His mouth was everywhere; her throat, her ear, the hollow of her neck. Sparks prickled across her skin as her core ignited with delicious heat.
“It’s no fun if I give in to you immediately. Besides, you’ll get spoiled,” he replied. He rolled onto his back, taking her with him. She rose up, grinding her hips slowly against him. His eyes fluttered, and she savored the sight of how he responded to her. “Let me see you.”
Still grinding slowly against him, she leaned down to kiss his neck while he nimbly unhooked her bra and untangled it from her. His hands fit to her, teasing and caressing as if her body had always belonged to him. She could lose herself in this, the touch that was gentle and insistent at the same time, the body like unyielding stone, and that sense of peace, that he finally trusted her. He was in no rush, and she delighted herself with simply touching him, relishing the decadence of his kiss as a slow pulse throbbed between her legs.
“I want more,” she growled in his ear. With a swift, surprising move, he twisted, pressing her into the softness of the bed as he pulled her pants and the lacy panties off with a single motion. She gasped in surprise as his fingers grazed her. “Not what I meant.”
“You should have been specific.” He laid alongside her, teasing at her lips with his tongue. “Are you telling me no?”
“Hell no.” He laughed, trailing his fingers over her chest, down her stomach, until they settled between her thighs. His eyes were intent on her as she opened herself for him. His fingers were masterful, igniting like electricity along her flesh. His lips were feather light as he kissed her brow, her cheeks, her ear, her neck, overwhelming her with his presence.
“How are you?” he murmured into her ear.
“Melting,” she said. He laughed and suckled at her neck, easing his fingers inside her. A shiver prickled across her skin, and she drove her hips up to meet his touch. His thumb circled outside as he accelerated into a perfect rhythm, winding her tighter with each stroke.
And he was so calm, his smoky voice driving her insane. “You are so beautiful right now.”
She couldn’t draw a full breath to answer him. Her mind was pulling apart at the seams, desperation overtaking her. In an incomprehensible tornado of sensation, he drove her to the edge. Sheer bliss exploded through her, and the world disintegrated. As the tremors rocked through her, his fingers traced the inked lines on her quivering thighs.
She grasped his face, pulling him down for a kiss. When he finally broke away, she reached down for him. "Let me return the favor.” She wanted to finally see him lose his composure.
“We talked about this trading thing,” he said. “However, I reserve the right to cash in on that offer later.” She laughed at his earnest admission. Without breaking eye contact, he slid his pants over his narrow hips, letting his erection spring free. “Right now I want you.”
“And how do you want me?” she said with a coy smile.
“That’s a great question,” he said. He traced the back of her thigh with one hand. “I can’t get this image out of my head, you spread out like a Thanksgiving feast.” She gasped in surprise as he teased his fingers over her, slipping inside for a decadent moment before slowly withdrawing. “Or on your knees. Maybe bent over that table.”
“Interesting suggestions,” she said. Watching over her shoulder, she rolled over and shimmied her hips. His expression was ravenous, blue eyes sweeping over her body. “How about you come show me something you were thinking about?”
“I’ll be glad to,” he replied. Callused hands slid up her thighs, caressing her hips and her back like he was laying claim to her body. He guided himself into her, introducing himself inch by delicious inch. A quiet moan of satisfaction spilled out of her. Finally. His broad chest was flat against her, so that his beautiful body was covering her outside and filling her inside. She turned to kiss him, welcoming the searching of his tongue. He broke away, leaving her breathless. “Are you all right?”
She moaned her agreement into his mouth. His lips curved against hers, an unseen smile. Then he began to rock into her, slow and deliberate. His powerful arms slid under her chest, so he was practically embracing her from behind. In each electrifying movement, his silent claim reverberated through her. Mine to protect. Mine.
“You feel so good,” he growled in her ear. His lips pressed to her shoulder, and he bit her lightly, with the faintest hint of teeth against her heated skin. Molten heat ignited between her legs with the shocking, possessive gesture.
“So do you,” she breathed. Her entire world was Velati right then. Nothing existed beyond the heat of his skin against hers. The ice had burned away to reveal a flame, intense and growing with each heartbeat. “I need more.”
“My pleasure.” His thrusts took on a primal need, quicker and harder. Spikes of pleasure drove through her, almost too intense to bear. Trying to catch her breath, she pressed her head into the bed, but a strong hand grasped her jaw and forced her to look back at him. “Let me see you.”
She gasped as the sheer dominance of it nearly sent her over the edge. Tension gathered in her, pulling every cell of her body into that white-hot place where their bodies met. His brilliant blue eyes never wavered as he drove into her, stealing a kiss here and there.
Mine.
She was drawing a breath to tell him I’m so close, but he stole the words, reaching down to stroke her. His touch ignited the spark that exploded into climax, bursting through her like a shockwave. Even as her body tensed, he moved in her, until she thought she might melt away in the flame.
Suddenly, he pulled her hips tight to him, arching into her with a wordless shout. Clenching herself tight around him, she thought you are mine to protect. Mine to please. She was still breathing hard as they both collapsed, loose and boneless. His large frame was heavy, but she didn’t mind. It felt like he was her armor. His pounding heartbeat reverberated through her chest, his lips buried in her shoulder. She almost groaned in displeasure when he eased off of her and withdrew from her, leaving her empty and cold.
“Come back to me,” she said. Laying on his side, he pulled her closer, until their foreheads were nearly touching. His brilliant blue eyes glowed. A bead of sweat trickled over his brow. God, he was beautiful.
“Are you all right?” he asked. He traced her quivering thigh, hiking it up so it tangled with his legs.
“I’m so good,” she said dreamily. “What now?”
“I’m not opposed to a shower,” he said with a sly grin.
“That’s not what I mean.”
His smile faltered. “I don’t know. Do we have to know?”
“I guess not.” She didn’t know what she wanted from him. No, that wasn’t true at all. If he looked her in the eye and said don’t ever leave me, she would have agreed without question. But she didn’t dare dump her emotions on him, not when things were so confusing.
He touched her cheek. “I care for you. Things are complicated, but I know that much. I don’t know what tomorrow looks like. But I know I’d like it if you were still here when it arrives.”
“I’d like that, too.” Even as she thought don’t ruin it, don’t bring it up, she said, “I’m glad you could trust me.”
“Me too,” he said. He kissed her forehead. “I admit it’s difficult. I’ve never been afraid of someone else’s power until now.”
“And you’re not afraid anymore?”
“No. I don’t think I need to be. Not with you.”
“Never with me,” she said. “I promise.”
The afternoon passed in a blur of tangled limbs, a shower that necessitated another hot bath, a lightning-fast run to the dining room for food, and a lazy conversation tangled in each other’s arms on the couch. Marlena had never felt so comfortable, so loved and cherished. The few partners she’d had in college had been in a hurry to get off, feeling quite pleased with themselves for finishing with no regard for her. She’d certainly never been with someone who made her pleasure a priority and shared in the sheer ph
ysical joy of it.
Around six in the evening, Velati left her with apologies and shut himself in the bedroom to take a call. Even though she could still hear his muffled voice, his absence left her feeling alone and cold. The joy that had permeated the air evaporated, turning to a sense of dread.
If she went with them to Haven, she would fight people she knew. People she had once cared for, even if they had lied to her and manipulated her. She wasn’t truly an island, even when she was in Velati’s arms, like a stone fortress to protect her from the world. She had roots, entwined with others that might choke her if she wasn’t careful.
She sighed and tried to distract herself with the television, but she couldn’t shake the apprehension. It was a relief when the door creaked open again and Velati emerged, apologizing for the delay. He sat on the other end of the couch with her, lifting her legs into his lap and absently rubbing her calves. “Is everything okay?” she asked. His expression was serious again, but she couldn’t tell if it was default-Velati serious or a portent of bad news.
“Just got some details from Sohan,” he said. “Based on all the intel, we think attacking in two days will place Sidran on site. We’re going in hot, like you and I did in Henderson. Are you still willing to help us?” She nodded, though she could feel the tension in her face even before he said something. “If you’re worried you’ll freeze up, tell me. I’d rather you stayed back if you’re unsure. I won’t be upset.”
“I can do it,” she said. “I want to be there and have your back.”
He smiled. “I’d like that.”
“What if Sidran isn’t there?”
He shrugged. “We’ll deal with that if it happens. They floated the idea of waiting for more intel, but we agreed we needed to strike now. Especially if they have access to a Gate. That changes things. If I was in charge of the Chosen, I’d be moving everything as fast as I could before another strike. Especially knowing they had one of my people.”
“I’m not his people anymore,” she said firmly.
“You know what I mean.”
She shook her head, leaning forward to grasp his arm tightly. “I need you to know that. It’s okay if they don’t fully trust me. But I’m not part of the Chosen. Not anymore. I can’t change this.” She guided his hand over the markings on her calf. “But I don’t owe them anything anymore.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. Tomorrow we’ll do some exercises, make sure you’re ready for combat.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I nearly beat you the first time we met,” she said. “Do you think that’s necessary?”
His jaw dropped. “Nearly being the key word,” he said, squeezing her foot. “And yes, it’s necessary.”
“Fine,” she replied. “I won’t go easy on you.”
His eyes narrowed as he gave her a penetrating look. “I certainly hope not.”
They chatted into the night, discussing delightfully mundane things like Velati’s tattoo shop back in Portland, and Marlena’s appreciation for ghost hunting shows. He’d thought it would be too difficult for them to coexist, but maybe their complicated lives made it that much more desirable to make things simple. They’d both leaped at the chance to lay down their burdens for a few hours.
He’d nearly lost his mind when she suggested dessert while unzipping his pants and licking her lips like she’d found a piece of chocolate cake. She was uninhibited and playful, teasing and sucking him with wicked glee until he was ready to explode. When he finished, she’d sat up and smiled wide. “Now really, is there dessert?” He was helpless, completely under her spell.
After finding a plate of fruit in the fridge to appease her sweet tooth, she’d nestled into the couch, inviting him to lie in her lap. For once, he was still and content, basking in her warm aura and the strong legs surrounding him. Her hands were occupied with massaging his scalp, enveloping him in warm shivers. While she ran her nails through his hair, he offered her pieces of fruit from the plate at her request. Occasionally, they both fell silent, simply enjoying the physical closeness. He would have gladly stopped time and lived in the lazy, peaceful moment forever.
Hypnotized by the fingers in his hair, he was half asleep when he heard something. Adrenaline surged through him as he sat bolt upright. Marlena’s plate clattered onto the wood floor.
“Do you hear that?” Something was wrong. In the distance, he sensed something, so faint he couldn’t describe it. His heart thrummed, all of his senses going razor sharp.
Marlena sat up, frowning. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Shh,” he murmured to himself, hurrying into the bedroom and looking out the window. The dim glow of warm light surrounded the palace. Everything was still. He heard the quiet rush of water through the pipes in the walls, and the buzz of an air conditioning unit.
There.
A distant crash, the sound of tree limbs breaking, snapping around large bodies moving fast. He drew a deep breath, but he could only smell dinner, the floral soap on Marlena’s skin, and the evidence of an afternoon well-spent in bed. He darted back into the living room to grab his phone.
“Wait!” Marlena exclaimed. “What is it?”
He shook his head. “Stay here.”
But she was already following him into the hall, jamming her feet into shoes as she jogged along. The marks on her exposed arms glowed, like she was heating up the engines to fight.
Sohan answered after three rings, his voice sleepy and gruff. “Yeah?”
“Something’s wrong,” Velati said. “There’s something coming toward us.”
“Fuck,” Sohan said. “What direction?”
Velati took the stairs three at a time, bounding out into the balmy evening. He pressed the phone to his belly, tilting his head to hear. There it was again, subtle, but growing louder. “North.”
“Get over here,” Sohan said. “Go to the Marashti, keep them safe. If you see Dyadra, tell her to protect the Obsidian Wing. I’ll call her.”
“Go back inside,” Velati ordered Marlena.
She shook her head. “If they brought any of the other Aesdar, you’re a sitting duck.”
Staccato bursts of thunder erupted in the night. Gunshots. Screams. Adrenaline surged through his veins in a burning rush.
He growled in frustration. “If this goes bad, you hide,” he said. With a shout of anger, his dragon snarled to life and burst free through the human shell. It took a few seconds for his head to clear, but when his wings were under his control, he leaped into the air, hovering high to survey the scene.
A dozen humanoid figures swarmed into the main doors of palace from the south. They were organized in pairs, clearly on a mission. Moonlight glinted off of metal weapons. More people emerged from the Obsidian Wing after him. As they did, gunshots rang out, each followed by a shout. The orange flicker of muzzle flash in the trees gave away the shooter’s position. He dove for the source and breathed pure ice at it. A choked scream was cut short as ice enveloped a human silhouette.
After swooping back to grab Marlena, Velati flew toward the back of the palace and landed hard in the queen’s gardens. She tumbled to the ground and came up fast, hands glowing with white flame. Three large dragons barreled toward them. With a deafening roar, he breathed a blistering cone of frost at the middle dragon. The red dragon fell to the earth with a screech, while the other two split wide and disappeared over the building.
His head was muddled with the screams from within the palace. He had his orders. Get to the Marashti. With a growl of anger, he shrank back into his human form. Without speaking, Marlena held out his pants, surveying the chaos around them. Her eyes flared. “Drop the gun,” she ordered.
Velati turned to see a slender man in tactical gear rooted in place, opening his hand to drop the handgun. He tackled the invader and punched him hard enough to snap his head back. The man went down in a heap of limbs. “Thanks for that.”
“What do we do?”
“Inside,” he said, securing his pants around his
waist. “Keep them away from the Marashti.”
Heat roiled around her, clashing with the cold energy surrounding him. As they ran down the tiled hall toward the healers’ ward, a distorted voice echoed over the speakers. “Send out what is ours,” the male voice ordered. “Send out Marlena Nightrunner.”
A chill prickled down Velati’s spine. He looked back to see Marlena frozen, staring up at the ceiling in horror. “Marlena, ignore it.”
“They’re here for me,” she breathed.
He grabbed her arm, nearly pulling her off her feet as he lunged forward again. “We have to go. We have a job.”
Two figures in black stepped out of a side hallway, guns raised. Velati thrust both fists out like he was punching them from afar. The water in the air coalesced into glittering shards of ice, impaling both of them through the torso. They slammed into each other and fell in a writhing heap of limbs.
Marlena grabbed his arm again. “Velati, this is my fault, we can’t just—”
He grasped her jaw tight enough to keep her eyes on him. “Look at me. This is not your fault. You can’t panic. I need you to have my back right now.” She nodded silently, but he knew she didn’t believe him.
The wooden doors of the healers’ ward stood ajar. Inside, a woman’s voice was high and clear. “Take another step and I’ll stop your heart,” she said. “Don’t test me.”
Velati summoned a long shard of ice, then quietly leaned into the door with Marlena on his heels. A woman in black stood just inside the healers’ ward with an assault rifle. Devi Mara, the healer who’d worked tirelessly to bring Marlena back from the poison, stood in the stone archway with a jagged spear. She blocked the path to the infirmary, protecting her patients.
Marlena stepped past him. Her shoulders were thrown back, her posture angry and aggressive. He liked it after seeing her look so lost. Heat swelled around her as she said, “Hey. Look at me.”
The woman turned and scowled. The barrel of the gun swung around. “Traitor.”
“That’s me,” Marlena said calmly. With a gesture like she was pushing a boulder over a cliff, she lunged forward. A wall of white flame materialized and slammed into the woman, entangling her with searing flame. The invader screamed as she fell to the ground, convulsing. Velati drove his blade of ice into her throat, silencing her screams.