Stroke The Flame

by Elizabeth Briggs

  He drew me into his arms. “Do you doubt me?”

  “No.” I let out a nervous laugh. “This situation is just not very romantic.”

  “Maybe I can help with that.”

  He took my chin and captured my mouth in a smoldering kiss. Passion ignited instantly at his touch, as if it had been building inside me and could now finally be freed. As he kissed me harder, I wrapped my arms around him, desperate for more.

  His mouth trailed down my neck, sending delicious tingles through my body. “Forget about everyone else. Tonight is about you and me. And I’ve been wanting to do this for a very long time.”

  “You have?” I asked, breathless.

  “Since the first time I fell on top of you in the woods.” His lips brushed against my collarbone. “Don’t tell me you didn’t feel the spark between us too.”

  “I did. I do.”

  He stepped back and reached down to grip the edge of his shirt, his eyes never leaving mine. As he lifted the fabric up, I let my gaze fall to his chest, watching the way his muscles rippled with the movement. He tossed the shirt aside, before his hands moved to the front of his trousers. He paused and one of his eyebrows arched, as if he was waiting for me to stop him. When I didn’t move, he eased them off and kicked them aside, making me suck in a breath.

  He wore nothing underneath.

  “Like what you see?” he asked, with that cocky grin I loved.

  I could only nod and stare, my throat dry. I’d seen a naked man or two before, and had nearly slept with one once, but Jasin was truly blessed by the Gods in every way. I took him all in, my eyes following the V of his hips to the large cock jutting from between his muscular thighs. Maybe I was the one who was blessed.

  Hoping to show him I was just as eager for this as he was, I removed my dress, leaving me in only my chemise. He’d seen me in it before, but his eyes tracked my movements with hunger anyway. I slowly lifted the chemise over my head, making me as naked as he was.

  “Gods, you’re beautiful,” Jasin said. “I could look at you for hours.”

  “Are you only going to look?” I asked, with a teasing smile.

  “Oh no. I’m going to do a lot more than that.” He set his hands on my hips, his fingers warm on my bare skin. “I’m going to touch. I’m going to taste. And then I’m going to make you mine.”

  He took me in his strong arms and lifted me up, then smoothly put me down on the bed with him on top of me. Our bodies were lined up, skin to skin, and I felt his hard shaft nudge between my thighs. A rush of need made me arch up against him, my breath quickening.

  “I’m ready,” I said, as I looked up at his handsome face.

  He chuckled softly as he nuzzled my neck. “Oh, now you’re impatient?” His lips danced across my skin like a tease. “We’re just getting started.”

  His mouth moved down until he found my breasts, where my nipples were already hard for him. A soft moan escaped me as his tongue lazily slid over one taut bud, while his fingertips circled the other. When he sucked that nipple into his mouth, it sent heat straight to my core. My head fell back and my fingers tangled in his thick hair as he took his time with each breast, slowly driving me mad for him.

  “Jasin,” I gasped. “Please.”

  I wasn’t sure what I was begging for, but Jasin moved lower at my words. His lips traced the underside of my breasts, trailed down my stomach, and brushed along my hips. With each touch my desire flared higher and higher, until my entire body clenched with need. Only then did he spread my legs wide and dip his head between my thighs.

  At the first touch of his mouth, I gasped and nearly jolted off the bed. His hands gripped my hips, holding me steady as his tongue slowly swept along my folds. Pleasure simmered inside me with his warm breath on my skin, his rough stubble between my thighs, and his fingers moving to my bottom, lifting me up to his lips like an offering.

  When his mouth found my most sensitive spot, I grasped the sheets and cried out. When one of his fingers slipped inside me, I thought I might surely die. It was too much, and yet I didn’t want him to stop. He was the one worshipping me, but I was the one whimpering and begging for release. When he slid a second finger into me, my climax burst like a bonfire on a dark night, and I could do nothing but succumb to it.

  As my body trembled, Jasin slowly moved up it, covering my skin with his own. “Now you’re ready.”

  He nudged my thighs wider and moved between them, then took himself in hand and slowly rubbed between my folds, getting nice and slick. I was nearly dizzy with anticipation and almost started begging him again, when he guided himself inside.

  Gods, he was big. And delightfully warm too, like sinking into a hot bath after a long, hard day. I felt every inch as he pushed deeper, and he watched my face the entire time, checking if I was in any pain. But nothing hurt, except this burning need within me that needed to be sated.

  “More,” I managed to say.

  He gave me a self-satisfied smirk, then buried himself in me with one easy thrust. I cried out, not in pain, but from the sudden pleasure from being stretched and filled so completely. Our eyes met and the connection between us, the one I’d felt ever since we’d first met, burned hotter.

  Jasin kept his eyes on mine as he began moving inside me with slow, smooth strokes. At first the pressure was intense and almost uncomfortable as my body adjusted to his size, but then it quickly gave way to the most amazing sensations. My hips began to buck in time to his thrusts as the delicious tension grew between my legs.

  As if sensing my need, he pinned me down and took my mouth, while my hands found the hard planes of his back. He rocked deep inside me, our bodies moving together in a smooth rhythm that made my heart nearly burst because everything about this moment was so right. I was meant to be with Jasin, just as he was meant to be with me. And soon I’d be sharing this moment with my other men too.

  But then Jasin sat back on his heels and dragged my hips up, making my back arch as he moved deeper inside me, hitting me at an angle that made me see stars. He reached a hand between us and began rubbing me at the same time. With each thrust he stroked the flame higher and higher until I thought I would truly combust.

  “Come for me, Kira. Show me you’re mine.”

  With his other hand on my bottom to guide my hips, Jasin coaxed an explosive orgasm out of me that had me moaning and writhing underneath him like some kind of wild beast. I clenched around him, squeezing him tight as he pounded me faster and gave himself over to the pleasure too.

  Flames suddenly burst over Jasin’s skin and I cried out at the sight, but we were both too far gone to do anything to stop it. He groaned and bent over me, pressing our bodies close as we both found our release together. His mouth claimed mine while the fire engulfed us, so bright it lit up the entire chamber. But it didn’t burn my skin.

  Intense flame roared through me, so strong I lost all trace of myself, and simply became fire and light and heat. But then came an overwhelming sense of Jasin, as if we were truly one, like two halves of a whole that had finally been put back together after far too long. I knew him, just as he knew me. And he was mine.

  When I came back to myself, Jasin held me in his arms, while the last shudders of pleasure faded from our bodies. The fire was gone, as if it had never been there at all.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  Jasin pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “I think we’re bonded now.”

  40

  Slade

  I stared at the stark black stone walls, as if admiring the architecture of the temple could actually distract me from my thoughts. Auric leaned over a book and chatted with one of the priests about it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. I supposed that was his way of dealing with the fact that Kira was on the other side of that wall sleeping with Jasin right now.

  I crossed my arms. Why did it bother me so much? It’s not like I wanted to be in there with her instead. Okay, maybe I did, but I shouldn’t want that. Auric and Jasin w
ere both in love with her, that was obvious. Reven was gone, after fleeing in the night like a villain. And then there was me. I cared for Kira a lot, but I wasn’t sure I could ever give her my heart completely. Or get used to the idea of sharing her with three other men.

  I’d heard that taking multiple partners was common in the Air and Water Realms, but after what I’d been though with Faya, the thought made my chest ache. This would be different, of course—Kira’s mates were open about all of us sharing her, and it was part of our divine duty—but I worried it would still lead to heartbreak and trouble.

  Even so, I would never leave like Reven. I would stay and do my duty, to fulfill the destiny the Gods had bestowed upon me, and to protect Kira however I could. I’d just have to protect my heart at the same time somehow.

  The sound of footsteps and a door slamming caught all of our attention. Auric slammed the book shut and gave me a wary glance. I grabbed my axe, then led the charge back into the main hall. Soldiers poured into the room, led by the man in red armor with a winged helmet.

  The Onyx Army had come for us.

  41

  Jasin

  Kira ran her hand down the dark stubble on my neck as she gazed at me with a satisfied smile. “We should have done that a long time ago.”

  “I’m glad we waited. I wanted our first time together to be meaningful.”

  “It was perfect.”

  I pressed a kiss to Kira’s neck as I held her close. Perfect wasn’t enough to describe what we’d just shared. I’d been with plenty of women before, but sex had never been as good with anyone else. Then again, I’d never felt this way about anyone before either.

  I loved Kira. I’d known for a while now, maybe since our first kiss, maybe even before that. I could tell she cared for me too, but I wasn’t sure she was ready to hear those words yet or speak them back to me. It didn’t matter though, because I felt the love between us every time we touched, like an everlasting flame that flickered but would never die. Now that we’d officially bonded, it was even stronger.

  At that thought, I remembered the entire reason we were here, which had been easy to forget in the heat of the moment. “While I’d love to keep you here all night and make love to you again and again, the others are waiting.”

  She sighed and snuggled in closer against me. “You’re probably right, but let’s wait a few more minutes.”

  “My pleasure.” I ran a hand down her back. “Are you sore at all? Do you need anything?”

  “No, I’m fine. I just feel warm all over.” She paused and a strange look came over her face. “Do you think I have fire magic now?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Do you feel any different?”

  “Not really.”

  “I didn’t either, at first.” I paused, remembering the flames that had swept over us. “I wonder if I can turn into a Dragon now. I guess I thought the Fire God would appear to us or something.”

  “Me too. Maybe he was giving us some privacy.” She lifted herself up to a sitting position, drawing my eyes to her full breasts. “Calla said we should go through those doors when we were done.”

  While the temptation to toss her back on the bed and cover those breasts with kisses was strong, there would be plenty of time for that later. “Let’s go.”

  We reluctantly left the bed and donned our clothing again, then headed for the double doors at the back of the room. They were thicker than the one we’d entered through, and as we approached they opened with a blast of heat.

  The doors led outside near the volcano’s crater, which made the night glow orange in front of us. I slowly approached the huge circular pit, where the intense heat was coming from, while Kira hung back. I didn’t blame her for being wary, but curiosity drew me forward and kept the fear at bay. Fire couldn’t harm me anymore, and the chance to peer inside an active volcano was something I couldn’t miss.

  I got to the edge of the crater, where a stone ring had formed around it almost like a wall to hold the lava in. The crater went deep into the earth, where dark magma oozed and bubbled and flared up. I could only stare at it in awe, captivated by its beauty and power.

  Suddenly a huge blast of lava shot up into the air and I fell back. The heat became so intense I wasn’t sure I could bear it. I scrambled back to Kira, who stared up at it in awe. As I followed her gaze, I saw why.

  From the crater rose a colossal dragon made of shifting, sliding lava, with bright bursts of fire for eyes. Most of his body remained inside the volcano, but his head and long neck towered over us, while his talons grasped the edge of the crater with an impact that shook the ground under us.

  When his massive wings spread out behind him, sending lava flying into the air, I dropped to my knees in awe. The Fire God looked different from when he’d visited me before, but he was even more impressive and terrifying in his true form. Like the other Gods, no one knew his name. It was said the Gods’ names were in a language that couldn’t be understood by humans, and when I looked upon him now, I believed it. He was alien and incomprehensible and yet familiar at the same time, like this magic inside me recognized that it had once belonged to him.

  “You have done well, my children,” a huge voice boomed from his molten mouth, which was covered in large, sharp fangs dripping with lava. “But your journey is far from over.”

  No one would ever call me a humble man, but for the first time in my life I felt it, along with a sense of pride at being called his child. I bowed my head. “What do you wish of us?”

  His fiery eyes burned into mine. “You are the new Crimson Dragon, my representative in this world. Serve me well and prove I have chosen wisely.”

  I swallowed and nodded slowly, feeling the huge weight of responsibility on my shoulders. “What must I do?”

  “The others will look to you for leadership and guidance, and you must help them find balance. None of the elements exist alone. Even now, I am surrounded by my brothers. The air above me. The earth below me. The water beside me. Remember that.”

  That wouldn’t be easy, especially when I was the one getting into fights half the time. Not to mention, we still didn’t know where Reven had run off to, or if he would ever return. “I will try. But I have to ask, why did you choose me?”

  His great wings fluttered, sending sparks flying into the air. “Each of the Gods values different attributes. I look for bravery, passion, and energy.”

  “There must be dozens of men who represent those qualities much better than I do.”

  “You misunderstand.” His long, reptilian head lowered as his eyes focused on Kira. “We find the mate who will best bring out those qualities in her.”

  Kira’s face paled as the God’s talons inched toward her. “Did you choose me too?” she asked, though I heard fear in her voice. I was impressed she’d made it this close with her fear of fire, but she was handling it well, all things considered.

  “No.” His head tilted as he studied her. “Do not be frightened.”

  She bowed her head, as sweat ran down her temple. “I’m sorry. I’ve been afraid of fire ever since my parents were killed by the Crimson Dragon.”

  “In a way they were, and in a way, they were not.”

  Kira cast me a confused look. “They weren’t killed by him?”

  “The people who raised you were killed. The people who created you still live.”

  Kira’s hand went to her throat. “They’re alive?” she whispered. “Who are they?”

  “This journey will lead you to them, but you may not like what you find.” He suddenly reared up, his great flaming wings spreading wide. “Only together can you stop the Black Dragon and her mates. Now go. Your companions need you.”

  Before we could react, the Fire God descended into the lava again and vanished. The sky immediately darkened and the heat returned to a more bearable level. I wiped sweat off my forehead and shakily rose to my feet, then turned toward Kira. She looked like she was about to ask me something, but then a distant scream and a huge
rumble drew our attention. The Fire God’s words rang in my mind as we burst into a run back toward the temple’s doors.

  In the front hall, a battle had clearly been fought and lost. Numerous Onyx Army soldiers filled the room, and the dragon statue—which I now realized represented the Fire God and not Sark—had toppled over. Auric and Slade had been captured by soldiers and were on their knees with their hands bound behind them and swords at their throats. Calla lay on the ground bleeding from a gash on her chest, while her four priests hovered over her glaring at the man who pointed his large sword at them. General Voor.

  As we entered, every single person in the room turned toward us. “There they are,” the General said. “Surrender, and we’ll let the priests live.”

  Rage exploded in me at the sight of Calla’s blood, the toppled statue, and my friends being held captive. How dare they come into this sacred place and attack the priests here. These soldiers had once been men I’d fought beside, but now I only saw them as the enemy. The Fire God wanted passion and bravery? I’d give him that.

  The heat flared inside me and I embraced it, letting it wash over me until I was burning alive. Blood red scales rippled over my skin as my entire body expanded and shifted and became more. My fingers turned to talons. My teeth became fangs. Fire burned in my throat as long tail flickered. With a great roar, I spread my large wings.

  I was a Dragon.

  42

  Kira

  Every soldier in the room fell to their knees except for the General, all of them gasping and crying out. “The Crimson Dragon!” some of them shouted, while others asked, “How?”

  Jasin’s new form was terrifying and awe-inspiring, and I felt a flicker of fear until he looked at me and his eyes were the same warm brown as when he was a human. And though he looked a lot like Sark, who had haunted my nightmares for so long, he was still Jasin, the man I had given my heart and body to only minutes earlier.