Riding Lightning: A Reverse Harem Dragon Fantasy Adventure (Starcrossed Dragons Book 1)

by Erin Bedford

  “Oh, I understand.” Raiden laughed. “If you wanted a spa day, we could have stopped at the temples on the way. All you had to do was ask.”

  Wrinkling my nose in disgust, I swept my leg out and hit him with the same trick I had used on Ned. Raiden hit the ground with a splat causing the muddy water to splash up around us. I didn’t have a chance to celebrate my victory before he leapt on top of me.

  “So, that’s how it is going to be?” He chuckled, wrapping one arm around my waist and pulling me down into the mud with him. The mud slid into my clothing making everything squishy and cold. I fought against him, trying to get away from the gross feeling but then he rolled us over and over in the mud until we were both covered from head to toe. By the end, I was giggling and snorting along with him, and all my worry and stress from before was gone.

  Raiden inched up to his feet and offered me a hand. I gladly accepted but almost lost my balance again forcing me to hold onto his waist for support.

  Smiling down at me, he rubbed a muddy hand across my face as he pushed my hair back. “There she is.”

  I frowned at his statement but didn’t have time to respond before he picked me up and tossed me in the pond.

  “What the hell was that for?” I sputtered, fixing him with a glare.

  “You were frowning.” He shrugged.

  “So you thought I needed to be wet too?” I growled, slapping the water.

  “No, I thought you needed to have fun and stop worrying so much,” Raiden said as he began to tread into the water. “Didn’t Jack tell you before? You just need to relax.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and leveled him with a stare. “And you just decided you would be the one to help me?”

  “Pretty much.” He looked around. “After all, I don’t see anyone else around.”

  He was waist deep in the water by the time he reached me, and as I looked him up and down, I snorted.

  “What makes you think you’ll be able to make me relax?” I asked, gesturing at his mud-covered chest. “You don’t know anything about me.”

  “What makes you think I can’t?” He cocked a brow and gave me a salacious grin, “I believe I did pretty well this morning.”

  Even though I was in cold water, my whole body lit up at the memory. My mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish, and for a moment, I was completely at a loss for words. I knew what my body’s opinion was. It thought Raiden was more than equipped to help me relax and definitely wanted his assistance again. My head though told me this was a bad idea. A very bad one that would only lead to more heartache later.

  “Don’t you?” Raiden asked, causing the water around us to slosh as he came toward me. I placed my wet hand on his bare chest where his shirt was plastered against his pectorals. The water from my palms trailed down through the mud, revealing his tanned skin beneath.

  “Don’t I what?” I asked a bit distracted by our closeness, and as his hands found my waist and slipped beneath the hem of my shirt, my mind became overridden by the urgent needs of my body.

  Instead of asking again, Raiden bent down and captured my lips with his. One hand came up behind my neck, angling me so he could take full advantage of my mouth. My nipples hard already from the water temperature brushed against his chest, and a wave of pleasure caused my knees to buckle. Raiden wrapped an arm around my waist, keeping me from going under as he pulled me closer.

  As Raiden broke our kiss, he lifted me from the water and sat me on a rock protruding out just before the waterfall. The water sprayed onto completely drenching us and removing the remainder of the mud from Raiden. I had to admit he looked even better wet than he did dry, and as my eyes raked down his body, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would be even better without his clothes.

  My hand already ahead of my thoughts, pulled at the buttons of his shirt until they popped open exposing his abs and chest to me. I pulled my mouth away from his so I could fully appreciate what my hands were feeling.

  “Wow.” The word came out of my mouth before I could stop it, causing Raiden to chuckle.

  His hands touched the edge of my shirt, sliding it up along my stomach but stopping beneath my breasts. Raiden seemed to be waiting for my permission which was a complete one-sixty from the way he had commanded me in the bedroom. I couldn’t figure out which one I liked better.

  Instead, of answering, I lifted my arms allowing him to pull my shirt up and over my head leaving me only in my bra. This time he didn’t ask as his hand unsnapped the clip in the back and pulled the straps down my arms. The water touched my breasts, causing me to hiss at the cold.

  “Are you cold?” he asked, grabbing me by my butt and pinning me between him and the rock. “Let me warm you up.”

  My hands buried themselves in the strands of his hair as his hot mouth covered the tip of my breast. I wrapped my legs around his waist and rocked against him. Raiden switched between my breasts before releasing it with a drag of his teeth. The combination of pleasure and pain caused my hips to buck and my patience to wear thin.

  “Now,” I gasped, pulling at the waistband of his pants, not even thinking that I still hadn’t removed mine. Raiden had though. He unwrapped my legs from around him and pushed my pants down my hips. They were soaked through and getting them down was a struggle. I would have been irritated by how long it took to remove them, but the moment they were off, Raiden was stroking and teasing me.

  One arm hoisted me back up while the other drove me into insanity. The press of him against me almost caused me to cry out my release already, but Raiden wasn’t done with me yet. Just as I was about to find my peak, he slid into me with one smooth motion.

  A choking sound ripped from my throat, and I had a hard time catching my breath. The fullness of finally being joined together was better than I had ever imagined. My inner dragon growled her approval and urged me on.

  Not one to deny her, I threw my head back against the rock and let him have me. Raiden pressed his mouth to my collarbone as we moved together, the water splashing against us with each thrust of his hips.

  Unlike this morning, there was no teasing, no demanding except for the force of him inside of me. My cries of pleasure echoed off the surrounding rocks, and for a moment, I feared someone would hear us. But the thought disappeared when Raiden slipped a hand between us to help me over the edge.

  My nails dug into his shoulders as I screamed out. Raiden kept going, driving me further and further into oblivion. When he finally grunted out his own release, I was so far gone I didn’t think my legs would even hold me.

  Breathing heavily, I held onto him for fear of drowning if I stood on my own. Our eyes locked for a moment, and we both gave a weak laugh.

  “So?” he asked, looking down at my naked body. “Are you relaxed yet?”

  I didn’t know if it was the floating feeling in my head I was feeling or Raiden himself, but his question caused a playful side of me to emerge. Instead of telling him I was quite relaxed, I shifted my hips to rock against him, making him hiss.

  “Not quite yet.”

  8

  Dark had started to fall by time Raiden and I found our way back to the camp. When we stepped out of the wood clearing and into the camp Jack and our driver had set up, I realized too late I had forgotten to get wood, well, at least the kind I was supposed to get, anyway.

  I hoped they wouldn’t notice our little mess up, but Jack’s narrowed gaze didn’t ease my worries. Nor the way his nostrils flared. The water should have covered up what Raiden and I had done but obviously not well enough.

  “Why are you all wet?” the accusation in his voice wasn’t lost on me as Raiden and I came closer.

  Raiden didn’t seem to have any issue at all with Jack knowing about us getting together. In fact, he puffed out his chest and wrapped an arm around my shoulders in a possessive manner. Not wanting to give him or Jack the wrong idea, I shrugged it off before moving over to where the driver had already started a fire.

  “We fell in the mud
.” I left it at that though I doubted I would be able to for long. Settling down by the fire, I took my boots and socks off so they could dry. I purposely ignored the way Raiden and Jack stared at each other.

  “Your Highness,” our driver said, moving by my side and giving me a slight inclination of his head by way of a greeting. “Would you like something to eat?” He offered me a plate with some bread and cheese.

  I took it from him with a grateful smile. “Thank you...” I trailed off, his name not coming to mind.

  “Herbert.” I tried not to make a face, but I seemed to have failed miserably because Herbert laughed his brown eyes twinkling in the firelight. “I know it’s not the most dragon-like name out there.” When I gave a nervous chuckle, he added, “It could have been worse, I almost ended up named after my great-uncle Mary.”

  This time I didn’t hold back my wince. As Herbert and I shared a laugh the air around my potential mates crackled, and the temperature dropped. Great. Just great.

  Exchanging a look with Herbert, I sat my plate down before standing. Eyes narrowed and jaw clenched, I stomped across the camp and stepped between the two of them. Their powers bit at my skin, and I forced back a yelp.

  Irritation pricked at me, and I gave them both a hard shove. My attack jolted them enough to break their staring match causing their powers to lessen. Their gazes turned away from each other and focused on me.

  “What do you think you two are doing?” Hands on my hips, I glared up at them.

  “He started it.” Raiden jerked his head at Jack. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Oh real mature,” I snorted. “Why don’t you chill out Raiden?” Gesturing to where Herbert had laid out several more plates. “Maybe get something to eat?”

  “Fine.” Raiden shot Jack one more warning look before dropping his arms to his side and heading over to the fire. My eyes trailed after him until he had settled beside our driver before snapping to Jack. He stood there silent as stone.

  “So, what’s your problem?” I asked trying not to sound more irritated than I already felt. “I’d expect this kind of stuff from Raiden, but I thought you would be above it.”

  Lips pressed into a thin line, Jack’s eyes swirled with a mixture of power and emotion. “So did I.”

  “Then what is it?” I stepped closer to him, half-wanting to reach out to comfort him but, at the same time, worried I’d be burned from his chilly gaze.

  “Did you or did you not mate with that man-child?” The anger in his voice shocked me more so than his question.

  I glanced down at the ground, guilt clogging up my throat. Of course, he would find out. Why did I think he wouldn’t? Neither Raiden nor I had been very discreet. Suddenly, I remembered how I had screamed out at the waterfall. Had he heard me? Was it more than just scenting it on us? My face heated at the thought, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet Jack’s gaze.

  “As I thought,” Jack answered for me. Power radiated from him, freezing me to the bone. “Is there any point of my being here? Should I just leave now since you clearly have chosen your mate?”

  “No!” I snapped and then lowered my voice so Raiden and Herbert couldn’t hear. “I mean, no, I haven’t chosen anyone yet.”

  “Then why did you mate with him?” Clear disdain filled his words, and I couldn’t help but want to defend the lightning dragon.

  “You have no right to be like this. He has made an effort to get to know me. He has been trying to do what you were brought here to do. While you,” I shoved a finger in his hard chest, “all you’ve done is glower and order people around. It seems more like you are looking for a reason to leave.”

  Jack didn’t say anything for a moment, and I thought maybe I had gone too far. Then he took me by the waist and drew me against him, causing me to gasp in surprise. The coolness of his body combined with the heat of mine caused my nipples to harden and a shiver to run through me. Even more so when his lips covered mine.

  Unlike Raiden’s kisses, which were demanding and always in control, Jack’s were hesitant, unsure as if he didn’t know what I liked. Not unpleasant but not enough to get my motor going. Still, there was lots of potential. He just needed some guidance.

  Trying to help us both along, I took charge. Sliding my hands into his long tresses, I angled my mouth along his, slipping my tongue out to trace the line of his lips. His hands flexed on my waist before he opened his mouth, allowing me inside.

  A throat clearing interrupted our embrace, and both Jack and I came away breathing heavily. Jack and mine’s eyes searched for the one who interrupted us and landed on Herbert, who had a deep blush on his aged cheeks. A bit flustered and embarrassed, I dropped my hands from his hair, letting them settle on his chest. Jack didn’t release me but stepped back so we no longer pressed against one another. From the hardness I’d felt, it hadn’t been for my benefit but his.

  “Well,” I started, staring at Jack’s chest. “That was different.”

  “But it didn’t make a difference,” Jack said bitterness filling his voice as he removed his hands from my waist. Instantly, I missed his touch. Jack had given me a glimpse into what kind of man he really was, and I needed – no wanted – to know more.

  “Ugh.” I threw my hands down as a grimace replaced my smile. “Yes, I mated with Raiden, but that doesn’t mean I’m pregnant.”

  “But you could be,” Jack’s eyes went to my flat stomach. “Then there would be no point in my being here.”

  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Freaking high maintenance men! I could kill the lot of them.

  “It’s not likely.” Raiden came up beside us, surprising me with his words. “We all know how hard it is for our females to get pregnant. The way I see it, no one has won until Maya is pregnant, which might take weeks or even months and lots and lots of fucking.” He winked at me, causing my body to heat and my thighs to press together.

  “So, what? You want us to share her?” Jack asked. The disbelief in his voice made it clear he didn’t think it possible. “How would we know who won then? Either of us could get her pregnant.”

  “Sure, why not? And we’ll find out when the baby is born of course.” Raiden shrugged a shoulder and then asked me, “As long as you don’t mind, Maya?”

  Licking my lips, my eyes darted between the two men. I’d always thought I would be a one-dragon kind of woman but the thought of these two attractive males sharing me caused arousal to flood my body. I could just see myself being taken by one of them while I pleasured the other with my mouth. The image caused a shudder of desire to shake my form. Jack and Raiden breathed in suddenly, no doubt taking in my scent. I didn’t know why but it embarrassed me for them to know.

  Raiden shoved me to the side just as an arrow zipped past. Pain flashed through me as I hit the ground and Herbert cried out in alarm.

  Agony filled his face as he grasped the spot where an arrow had punctured his arm. Blood flowed through his fingers as he gripped the spot his arm.

  I scrambled across the ground toward him, but before I made it far, Raiden blocked my path. He knelt down beside me, one hand on my shoulder, but instead of looking at me, his intense dark eyes searched the tree line.

  “Stay down,” he murmured in a voice so low only I’d be able to hear it. As Raiden spoke, lightning began to crackle along his free hand, and as I turned away from the arcing electricity, I saw Jack.

  He was on my other side, shielding me from whatever lurked in the tree line. Jack’s form began to glow a faint white, energy cascading off him like snowflakes.

  “What’s there? Do you see some—”

  My words were cut off as six dragons with wings of flames burst from the trees. They didn’t even glance at Herbert as the poor guy writhed in pain by the fireside but went straight toward Raiden, Jack, and me.

  “Stay back,” Jack roared, flinging a spray of crystalline energy from his hand that took the two lead dragons in the chest. They stopped moving so suddenly, it was like seeing someone hit with l
iquid nitrogen. They froze in mid-movement as hoarfrost spread down their bodies, locking them to the ground in ice until they looked like ice sculptures.

  Unfortunately, his attack caused the other four to dive sideways, avoiding the blasts. As Jack began to glow once more, Raiden grunted beside me, and I jerked my attention back to him.

  Lightning filled both his hands, as he stepped forward, lashing out at the two dragons angling toward us.

  As he unleashed a volley at the left one, causing it to leap back a step, the other darted in. His flaming gauntlet lashed out, right as Raiden sidestepped. The blow whooshed over my head, causing a wave of heat to lick the sweat from my body.

  A shriek rippled from my lips right before Raiden slammed his open palm into the dragon’s chest. Lightning leapt across our attacker’s armor moments before he was flung backward in an explosion of sparks.

  Unfortunately, that attack left Raiden wide open to the other guy. Scrambling to my feet, I hurried to block a blow headed straight for Raiden’s head. Slow from disuse, I drew my magic from within and pulled at the ground beneath us. Vines whipped out of the ground and wrapped around the attacker’s body, knocking him off his feet. Only, as he crashed to the ground, his hands lashed out, grabbing onto my shirt and pulling me down with him.

  Pain shot through me as I landed hard on my stomach. The breath exploded from my lungs as the man reached out and grabbed hold of my ankle. As he pulled me toward him, I cursed. My vines should have held him back, kept him from moving, but already I could see they’d been charred to ash. That shouldn’t have happened so quickly. Were they weak from not using my power while I was banished?

  “Don’t you know it’s not nice to grab a lady?” I cried, kicking out with my other leg. The heel of my boot smashed into the man’s face, shattering his nose in a spray of blood.

  His grip slackened for a moment, and as I tried to pull myself free, he shook his head, reorienting himself. Tears spilled from his eyes as his grip tightened and he pulled me back toward him while throwing himself forward with his legs.