But he did, at least by her. He leaned forward and propped his forearms on his thighs and linked his hands together. It pulled the material of his sweater up, exposing his tattoos. “Don’t stop now.”
Abigail huffed in pure frustration. “Then there’s the bracelet.” She slipped her sleeve back and stared at the silver band with the embedded drakon tear. The more he saw it, the less he liked her wearing the tear from another drakon.
Abigail was his treasure.
“You were attracted to the bracelet, not me. Admit that much.”
Vasili nodded. “I did sense the bracelet, but once I saw you, it no longer mattered.”
“Yeah, right.” She pulled her sleeve back down. “You wanted to know where it came from, how I got it, and if I was working for a certain group who shall remain nameless.”
“You’re right. I did want to know all of that and more.” Once he’d seen her, he’d wanted to know everything about her. That had concerned him at first, but now that he knew her better, he was coming to realize just how special she was.
“What I can’t figure out is, if the bracelet is a trap…” She looked to him for confirmation.
“It is,” he assured her. Even now, there was no denying the pulsing power coming from her wrist.
“Then why doesn’t it affect you?”
Vasili knew he was at a crossroad. He’d always had a sense about such things. This moment and what he said would affect the rest of his life. He knew if he didn’t share something with Abigail, she would leave him as soon as possible. If he couldn’t build some kind of trust between them, he would lose her.
His dragon roared inside him, and the skin on his forearms rippled. He desperately wanted to shift and barely managed to control himself.
Abigail gasped and sat back on the bunk. She glanced at the door of the cabin, but it was closed, giving them privacy. She wasn’t afraid of him. Not his Abigail. She was afraid for him.
That stung. He was a drakon, mighty and powerful. She should trust him to take care of her, should recognize his strength.
He knew he was being totally irrational. That, too, was out of character. What was it about Abigail that pulled at all of his senses?
There was a snippet of lore he’d read about dragons finding their mates and knowing instinctively they were the one. He knew nothing about drakons and mates. His sire had been a bastard who’d abandoned him as a young child of ten. He’d been a cold and watchful creature, rarely speaking. Truthfully, Vasili hadn’t missed him when he’d left. But he did curse him for not sharing the knowledge about what his blood could do before he’d departed for good. If he had, things would have been different.
He hadn’t been able to save his mother, but Abigail was right here in front of him. He was no longer a boy. He was a four-thousand-year-old drakon with knowledge and power, and he’d use all of it to protect her.
He felt the truth of it, as did the creature inside him. They were in total agreement. Abigail Owens, American tourist, was his mate.
He took off his leather jacket and tossed it aside. Her eyes widened and her throat rippled when she swallowed, but her gaze never left him as he grabbed the hem of his sweater and peeled it over his head, leaving his upper body bare.
“You have more tattoos.” She started to reach out but then pulled her hand back.
He caught it and brought it to his chest, desperate to feel the brush of her fingers against him. “Touch me.”
She ran her fingers over the various symbols etched onto his skin. He almost groaned aloud in pleasure. He loved the way she was watching him, the way she touched him.
“There are so many.” She continued a path over his arm to his wrist. The gemstone in the bracelet winked when a beam of sunlight streaming in through the window hit it just right. He knew better than to suggest she remove it. Probably safer that way. The last thing they needed to happen was for her to lose it. That didn’t mean he had to like it.
“My back as well.” Not all women liked tattoos, but Abigail didn’t seem the least bit put off by them. If anything, she seemed intrigued.
“Why? They have to have some meaning, or you wouldn’t have bothered.”
She already knew him well. “The Knights—” he began.
She snapped her head up when he said their name. “Don’t.”
He nodded, understanding her fear. They’d kidnapped her once. Hurt her. They were the monsters under her bed. What she needed to understand was that he was the monster that ate other monsters. The one they should all fear. And she was the one person on this planet he cared for.
If they tried to take her… He was unable to finish the thought.
“They,” he stressed the word, “use magic. There is only one way to counter that.”
Her eyes widened into blue pools of wonder. And when the hell had he gotten so poetic. Abigail inspired him in a way no other person or majestic sight ever had.
“They’re magic symbols.” There was awe in her voice.
“Protective symbols,” he corrected. “To ward against all kinds magic from every culture in human history.” He was a living, breathing talisman against magic.
“And they work?”
“So far.” He caught her hand and brought her fingers to his lips.
Her nostrils flared, and her pupils dilated. “We need to tell Nic.”
He felt his brows lower and a scowl cross his face. “Why?”
“Because he’s family,” she pointed out.
He didn’t want to share his knowledge with anyone. Let Nic find out on his own.
Once again, Abigail proved how well she understood him. “I know it’s hard to give away what you’ve taken such pains to learn, but I want to protect my family. If Nic can protect himself better, he can take better care of my sister.”
That he could understand. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t have done for his mother. “I’ll think about it.” It was the best he could do.
Abigail nodded and thankfully let it go, at least for now. “On another topic, where exactly are we going?”
It struck him that he hadn’t told her. She’d followed him strictly on faith and trust. That sent a blast of heat through him as arousal hit him hard.
“Omsk. We’re going to Omsk. It’s about a thirty-two-hour ride.”
“What’s in Omsk?”
“I have a home in the Ural Mountains not too far from there.” That wasn’t quite true. It was about an eighteen-hour hard drive from there, but it was the safest place he knew to take her. It was isolated and easily defended against intruders. Plus, it was well hidden from prying eyes.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” he echoed. He’d expected her to object.
She shrugged. “I’m not stupid enough to go running off on my own. I know I’m in over my head here.”
Her answer irritated him. He wanted her to stay because she wanted to be with him, not because she needed his help. Vasili rubbed his hands over his face. The woman was making him crazy.
“Vasili, are you all right?”
He shook his head. “No, but I will be.” He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. Then he kissed her.
…
Anton Bruno was tired, and he was not happy. He and his men had scoured Moscow. He’d had Abigail checked out of her hotel and her belongings brought to him, but there was nothing in her single knapsack to indicate where she might run. All that was there were a few changes of cheap clothing. She hadn’t gone through the airport or taken a train from the city. So where was she?
She had no friends that he knew of in Moscow. And he’d had people checking for hours.
His phone rang. “Tell me you know something.”
“We sent her picture out to all our people across the country. She got on a train in Nizhny Novgorod.”
How had she gotten out of the city and that far?
“And she’s not alone,” his contact continued.
So she did have help. That explained things. “Who?
”
“Unknown, but they bought tickets to Omsk. Shall we apprehend?”
Anton thought about it. “No. Have people watch every stop to make sure they don’t leave the train early. I’m catching a flight to Omsk.” He ended the call and considered his options. He’d get there before them and be waiting when they arrived.
He was curious to see who the man was. Excitement rose within him. Was it possible his plan had worked? Had she attracted a dragon that was being compelled to help her?
He needed to move quickly. There were supplies to be gathered. He’d need a heavy dose of the drug used to subdue the creatures, as well as every artifact he owned that depleted a dragon’s power. He had several and planned to use them to full advantage.
He decided to hedge his bet even further and placed a call. As always, Evgeny didn’t answer, but Anton was prompted to leave a message. “I’m on my way to Omsk. You may want to join me. It’s possible our plan has worked. If you’re in Moscow, I’ll be flying out almost immediately. If you catch me in time, you can join me. If not, I’ll see you in Omsk.”
That should be more than enough to bring the mage running. The man wanted dragon blood as badly as he did. Anton tucked his phone away and left his office. He wanted to be out of here within the hour.
If the woman and the bracelet had attracted a dragon, he wanted them both completely under his control before word leaked out to other high-ranking members of the Knights. The last thing he wanted was to have to fight to keep what was his. He’d waited a long time for this plan to show any promise. He wasn’t about to lose now.
Chapter Ten
Abigail saw the heat in Vasili’s eyes as he reached out to her. She could have pulled back, could have stopped him. She knew without a doubt he’d never take what wasn’t freely given.
But she didn’t want to stop. She threw herself into his arms, confident he would catch her. There was so much she still didn’t know, about Vasili and about drakons. She’d overheard things when she’d been held by the kidnappers, seen things that should be impossible but weren’t. Nic and her sister had told her little, and honestly, she hadn’t asked. She’d been so focused on getting away, on running from her problems, she hadn’t taken the time to understand their situation better.
Now she wished she had.
It didn’t matter that Vasili was part man and part dragon. She wanted him with an intensity that should scare her witless. Maybe the bracelet was affecting their emotions, churning up the heat between them, but she didn’t think so.
It may have brought them together, but the rest was purely them. Their chemistry was off the charts.
His lips, firm and full, touched hers, and she lost herself in the heat of their embrace. He clasped his hands on her hips and slid them over her torso, up to her shoulders. She was still wearing her coat.
He broke their kiss long enough to remove it and toss it onto the opposite bunk with her bag. She had no idea how they were going to make love in such a cramped space. There was certainly nowhere for Vasili to stretch out. He was much too big for the sleeping platforms.
“So lovely.” He touched her cheeks and tenderly drew the pads of his fingers along the curve of her jaw. “Like cream.” He dropped light kisses where his fingers had touched. Abigail was overheated. Her clothing was suddenly too tight.
“Vasili.” It came out as a half moan, half whisper. He slipped his hands beneath her sweater and found her bare skin.
“Hmm.” He lifted the garment upward, and she raised her hands above her head, allowing him to remove it. The fabric briefly hooked in the bracelet, reminding her of how this entire situation began.
Then he was staring at her, and it didn’t matter how they met, only that they had.
She should have felt awkward sitting on his lap facing him naked from the waist up except for her bra. They were on a train cabin, hurtling down the tracks toward Omsk. Two virtual strangers who were strangers no more. They’d been through too much together.
Vasili was a part of her now. No matter what happened, he owned a piece of her heart. There was a connection between them that went far beyond the magic of the bracelet that had brought them together. It was as though their meeting had been predestined, if one believed in such things as fate.
So many things had to have happened for them to be in that exact place at the same time. The logistics were mindboggling. No, they were meant to meet. She knew it in her heart.
Vasili trailed his fingers down her arms and back up again. She dug her nails into his shoulders for stability as she swayed, both from the movement of the train and the excitement of his touch.
“Let me love you.” He hooked his fingers under the shoulder straps of her bra.
It was now or never.
“Yes.” She wanted this as much as he did. Maybe more. There was so much heat between them, and she’d been so cold for what seemed like forever, even though it had only been a matter of months since the kidnapping.
She’d almost died, and more than once. If she didn’t seize this opportunity, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. Maybe her lifespan wouldn’t be all that long. She, unlike a lot of people, knew evil lurked in the shadows every single day, and that evil could find them. And even though Vasili was a drakon, it was impossible to know what might happen.
But right now, they were both alive, and they were together. Life was too short to waste.
She expected him to pounce with her agreement, but his only reaction was a slight widening of his eyes, a deepening of their icy-blue color. Then a low rumbling sound came from his chest as he slowly eased the straps down her shoulders, the pads of his fingers caressing her skin as he went. Goose bumps raced down her arms.
The bra was plain white and nothing fancy. It was meant for comfort, not seduction, but you’d never say that from the rapt expression on Vasili’s face. He took his time, as though unwrapping a much-anticipated present.
When the thin cups finally slipped away, exposing her breasts, she sucked in a breath. Vasili bent his head and inhaled deeply, nuzzling both mounds. He was smelling her, and she imagined she was none to fresh after all the running and traveling she’d done.
He raised his head, and his eyes were practically glowing. Or maybe they were. She really had no idea what was normal for a drakon.
“Give yourself to me.”
She frowned, sensing a deeper meaning to his words. She’d already agreed to make love. “Vasili?”
His shoulders tensed, and beneath her, his thighs became as hard as rocks. His big body began to shake.
“Vasili, what’s wrong?” She ran her fingers through his thick hair, pushing some of the silky brown strands away from his face.
“I need you.” The stark look in his eyes spoke of years of loneliness and touched her heart. She couldn’t imagine what it was like to live for so long, people not knowing who or what you really were. Vasili had no one. And he needed her.
No one had really needed her before, not even her beloved sister. Constance was independent and had taken care of Abigail for all her life. Now her sister had Nic. Abigail admitted she’d been feeling lonely and sorry for herself lately, not exactly something she was proud of, but emotions often weren’t rational.
But this—his need for her—filled a hole deep in her heart and soul. It was as though only she could give him what he needed. Whether that was true or not, it made her feel stronger and more complete than she had in a long time.
“I’m yours.” Her compassionate heart wouldn’t allow her to reply otherwise. Her mind might argue it was too soon to fall in love, but her heart cried out the truth. No matter how long their time together, no matter what happened, Vasili was the only man she would ever love.
She might not know the details of where he lived or what he did for a living, other than some vague reference he’d made to buying and selling artifacts. She’d didn’t know if he preferred coffee or tea, liked sports, what books he’d read, or the million other details that made u
p a relationship, but she did know she connected with him on a deep level that made all that other information seem unnecessary. There would be time to learn it later, she hoped. But right now, they were here, and they needed one another. Nothing else mattered.
She leaned forward and kissed him. She meant for it to be a soft, comforting kiss. She should have known better. It was like a nuclear explosion when their mouths touched, destroying all rationality and thought.
Need pumped through her veins, spreading down her arms and legs, pooling between her thighs.
Vasili cupped the back of her head in one of his big hands, tilted it to the side, and kissed her back. He stole her breath and gave her back his. His tongue stroked hers. And when she boldly thrust hers into his mouth, he sucked on it.
His hands were everywhere. Her bra, which had still been hooked around her torso, was suddenly gone, and she had no idea how. She was much too busy running her hands over the hard muscles of his chest, shoulders, and biceps. There wasn’t an ounce of spare fat on the man. She’d never seen a man as ripped as him outside a fitness magazine.
The tattoos enthralled her. The swirling birthmark that proclaimed him a drakon was richer in color then the manmade ink. The marking was vibrant, almost alive, the pale blue, almost white design outlined in the same icy-blue of his eyes. The other tattoos were varied in design and color, each a talisman to keep him safe.
That he’d even thought to do such a thing spoke to his intelligence and cunning. Not to mention the tattoos were downright sexy.
She leaned forward and kissed the one just above his right pectoral. It was a wide, banded circle with some kind of writing inside the band. Within the circle were lines radiating out from a central point.
She easily recognized some of the symbols inked on his body, such as the holy cross and the Star of David. There were runes running down his right arm. She couldn’t identify them, but she’d seen enough Viking shows on television to know what they were. Some of the symbols even looked Egyptian. But she had no idea what many of them were. She did know she could spend hours exploring every inch of his bare skin.
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