“The other night I fucked a man, not a dragon.”
He blinked. Clearly, intelligible words were not what he expected to hear come out of her mouth. Well, she wouldn’t indulge his fantasies by screaming, even if she did feel like it. Though, as she studied his welts, she wondered just who was the monster. He’d never harmed her.
“I am neither man nor dragon, but both. Just as you declare yourself human but are not.” He stood and circled her, studying the way her wet clothes clung to her body. Little good they did her now.
She scrambled to her feet, arms wrapped around herself. “I don’t know what a djinn is.”
“Basically a genie.”
She managed a laugh. “Like with the veils and the belly dancing outfit? Perfect. I can grant my own wishes.”
He winced. “In your family’s defense, they might not have known one infiltrated your bloodline. They can disguise themselves as human.”
“Like you?” She was deliberately trying to be vicious, to exact the same amount of pain he’d heaped on her with the declaration of her inhumanness. When he didn’t reply, she sighed, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
He reached for her. She let him take her in his arms, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “You scare me. I scare me. So why do I just want to be touched by you?” Her voice came out muffled.
“Opposites attract…and I’m not afraid of you.”
She lifted her head and caught his glimpse of amusement. “What?”
“Fire djinn to water dragon.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. That’s the best excuse you can come up with?”
“Would you like me to say we’re destined for each other? Star-crossed lovers?” He humphed. “Life is much more practical.”
She laughed, a bit nervous. “I’d settle for an ‘I like you’ or ‘I need a bed buddy.’”
His fingers trailed over her shoulders, then toyed with the singed ends of her hair. His lips curved. “You’re a maddening woman and a loose cannon, a hazard to yourself and obviously me, as well.”
Her gaze dropped to the angry red welts cutting an asymmetrical path across his abs. “I see.”
“I’m also not in need of a bed buddy, as you put it.”
She started to draw away, but he caught her shoulder. His other hand lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Lovers should always start as friends. I have few enough of those. Friends,” he added hastily. “Not lovers. Well, those, too.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Damnations, you know what I mean.”
Her lips quirked. She had a feeling if she’d let him, this enigmatic not-quite-man might get under her skin. “Can you prove I’m not human?”
He sighed. “Yes, but pledge you won’t hate me for it.”
She raised one hand. “I promise.”
Chapter Four
Robert offered her his hand. When she took it, he led her deeper into his lair, the white moss illuminating their way. The rock underfoot turned into crushed crystal. They rounded a curve and entered a twinkling cavern. She stopped, jaw slack. They’d walked into a giant friggin’ geode. Shafts of crystal clung to the walls and ceilings, glistening in the moss light. Some of the multifaceted fragments were bigger around than her thigh. Thick white furs replaced the crushed crystal pathway. It was the craziest boudoir she’d ever seen.
She found her voice and whispered, “What is this place?”
“The island holds many treasures.”
Lowering her gaze, she looked around. Roman coins spilled out of chests whose woodwork was all but rotted away. Ropes of precious stones looped over more common artifacts: a stone ax, stacks of leather-bound books, a pile of glittering silver armor fit for a fairy king. She looked closer. The armor seemed to be made of dragon hide.
Stooping, he picked up a length of gold chain and wound it around her neck. She lifted it from her breast, staring at the shimmer of gold in her hands. Her mouth went dry.
He didn’t meet her puzzled look. “Take all you can carry and leave the isle. Forget your heritage.”
He wanted her to leave? She still didn’t trust in Fate, but she was hard-pressed to believe the last couple of days had been the result of sheer coincidence. The puzzle’s last piece fell in place. Somehow Aunt Clara had known or seen what coursed through her veins. Willing her this island had been her aunt’s way of seeing her trained…or safe, though she could hardly consider the dragon man innocent.
“I don’t think I can go,” she said quietly.
“I’ll teach you if you stay. But it won’t be the easiest of journeys and, ah, I don’t believe I could keep my hands to myself.”
She smiled at his confession. “How long have you been here?” She touched the jewel-encrusted hilt of a broken sword jammed into the wall at eye level. The bright red gem at its heart flared. She yanked her hand back, eying her fingers with unease. They still looked like the same hands she’d known all her life.
“Centuries.”
Her head jerked up. “How long would it take to teach me?”
“Probably another century or so.”
She gasped.
“A longer than human lifespan is just one of the fringe benefits.” He stepped toward her. Taking the loop of gold from around her neck, he said, “Hold out your hands.” He spilled it into her cupped hands, then folded them around the golden puddle. “Now give it life.” His breath stirred her damp hair.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she whispered.
“Feel the weight of it in your hands. See its shimmering lines. Merge them. Melt them. Make them yield to your will.”
All she could feel was his warm hands covering hers. His scent filled her nose, wild and earthy. Something inside her shifted, that curious sensation she’d always embraced as a necessary part of her when she forged her artwork. Gold oozed between their fingers like warm honey. He didn’t remove his hands.
She took a shuddering breath.
“Stay. Leave. It’s your decision. Make it now.” His voice was rough.
Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his. She thought she felt his tremble. “I think I’ve found my great-aunt’s treasure,” she whispered. “And it has nothing to do with silly jewels or piles of gold coin.”
Releasing her hands, he tugged the hem of her damp sweater. She obediently raised his arms. Golden snowflakes rained from her open hands, the necklace’s remains. He pulled off her sweater, then proceeded directly to her pants.
Amused at his pace, she murmured, “Worried I’ll catch a chill?”
“I don’t think you can. Your blood runs too hot.”
She stepped out of her shoes and pants. “Is seduction part of my training?”
“My payment.” His eyes strayed to her long legs. Dropping to his knees, he placed his hands on her inner thighs.
She shivered. He nosed aside the elastic band of her panties, kissing her waist as he traveled its curves. Her nervous shivers morphed into tremors of anticipation. One of his fingers slipped beneath the waistband, tugging it down her hips. He kissed the bared skin, rubbing his smooth cheek against it. His hands slid to her backside, caressing the curves of her ass, teasing the sensitive line where ass cheek met thigh.
He worked the panties down a bit farther, then pressed his lips to her mons. She tangled her hands in his hair.
He was more than ready. She’d noticed his sizable erection the moment they crossed into this chamber. Tonight she didn’t want to be teased, just fucked crazy.
She jerked his head back. “Take me.”
His eyes rolled up. Amusement warred with desire.
“I’m ready,” she insisted.
He parted her folds and flicked his tongue across her nub. Her legs started to buckle.
She jerked his head back again. “I mean it.”
In one fluid movement, he picked her up, her ass cheeks resting in his hands, and pinned her against the wall. Perfectly positioned, the crystals sprouted around her, impriso
ning her between their shafts. His cock bumped against her vulva. She strained to reach him, but his hips held her prisoner.
“Lass, there’s no hurry.” He cut off her response with a kiss.
Contrary to his claim, his lips seized hers, impatient and demanding. Only when he’d robbed her of air did his touch soften. Cupping her chin, his finger slid up to trace the curves of her mouth. He ran a fingertip across her lips’ seam. She opened her mouth, seizing his finger with her teeth.
Power eddied, drawn to them as if they were lightning rods in the midst of a storm. She didn’t understand the magic’s nuances, the strength both brought to the forefront when they challenged one another, and she didn’t care. Titles meant nothing: djinn, shape-shifter, genie, dragon, man, woman. Only the latter labels mattered. His cock teased her entrance, rubbing back and forth, while she could only soak her panties and yearn for more.
He lowered her to the ground, the soft furs caressing her back. She didn’t know how he could pace himself the way he did. She felt a bit schizophrenic. His hands skimmed down her arms, tickling their sensitive undersides. A chalice tipped off a chest, its cupful of red gems spilling over its brim like frozen wine drops. He kissed her wrists, lips lingering over the jackrabbit beat of her pulse. The gems burst into flames, spinning like a fiery diadem above them.
“Am I doing that?” she whispered. Her fingers flexed and the gems dropped out of the air. She answered her own question.
“Shh.” He slid his fingers beneath her panties, skating the fabric the rest of the way down her legs. He kneaded the soles of her feet, worked his way up her calves and lingered in the tender spot behind her knees. He bit the back of her knee lightly, drawing a cry from her.
Her skin was so hot she felt as if muscle and tissue might split. And then what? Could he hold on to living flame? She thought he might. His hands were like a balm, soothing the outer heat of her flesh while bringing the fire inside her to a white-hot flash point. She arched her back, hands curling in the furs.
Why had she not felt this with any other man?
He licked her inner thighs, from knee to groin, long careful strokes that had her squirming. She swore steam rose from her skin. Then his splayed hands took over where his tongue left off, skimming up her legs. His fingers teased her secret lips, running along their wet seam. He dipped his thumb into her, his knuckle rubbing against her nub.
She moaned.
Two fingers replaced his thumb, his rough skin grazing the walls of her vagina. He lowered his lips to her nub and inhaled her throbbing bit of flesh.
The scream lodged in her throat dissolved into a long moan. Her body stiffened. Had her hands not been fisted in the fur, she swore she’d have floated. A king’s ransom worth of coins dissolved into a puddle of molten gold, crawling over the furs on blobby fingers, trying to reach her.
With the tremors still riding her, he plunged into her. His invasion was a palpable relief. The fire inside her backed off. He covered her body with his own, his chest pressed against her breasts. She rubbed her nipples across that expanse of broad muscle and earned a chuckle from him. She wasn’t in a laughing mood. Her entire body ached, still strung tight. He worked himself out of her slowly while she bucked her hips, begging him to ride her faster, harder. Instead of blood, lava coursed through her veins, threatening to erupt.
Heaving, she rolled them over, surprising them both. Straddling his hips, she ground herself into him at a blistering pace. His hands settled at her waist, trying to slow her down, but she ignored him. The heat inside her built and built, until she was little more than a blazing inferno of nerve endings waiting to explode.
She didn’t feel him lift them up. Her legs automatically wound around his waist, his shaft still buried inside her. The heat climbed higher. Her hair danced around her head like a dark nimbus.
They pitched into the black loch waters as she peaked.
It was like being at the heart of a nuclear blast. Everything peeled away, leaving nothing but searing heat and a pleasure so intense she forgot to breathe. She opened her eyes and met the whirling flash of Robert’s dragon eyes. Around them, the water bubbled and frothed. His arms were wrapped around her waist, his cock still buried deep inside her. He plunged in and out of her as they sank into the watery depths. His skin shifted from creamy human flesh to iridescent scales, the hints of blues and violets rippling beneath the tissue paper layer of his skin.
He sealed his lips to hers, breathing air into her lungs. Her eyes widened, hands tangling in his hair. He held to his human form by sheer will alone. His heart pounded against her breastbone. Hers echoed, a frantic staccato beat. Then his arms stiffened and he spilled himself inside her. It set off her own trembling aftershocks, wringing a muffled cry from her throat.
They surfaced in the castle’s basement. She was too spent to do more than cling to his shoulders, face pressed into the side of his neck.
“I almost killed you,” she whispered.
His hand stroked her hair as she shuddered. “There now. I’m harder to kill than that.” He covered them both with his plaid. “A death I’d have gladly embraced, though.”
She raised her head, astonished, and stared into his dark gaze.
His lips twisted into a scowl. “There’ll be much to practice, lass. Will you be up to it?”
She choked on a laugh. “I don’t know, other than that instantaneous combustion bit. that seemed pretty perfect.” She kissed the frown off his face, then nestled her head against his shoulder.
“I seem to recall leaving behind a plethora of candles in my room. Shall we see if we can make their flames dance?”
Her breath hitched as his hand covered her mons. “Oh, yes.”
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-4694-6
Loch Dragon’s Lady
Copyright © 2010 by Christine Kocourek
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Índice
Cover
Title Page
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Copyright
Lady
Loch Dragon's Lady Page 4