by C. D. Gorri
It was the only reason any of this made sense. Why else would she give herself so freely to a man, any man, if not for this one fact? They belonged to each other. She to him, and he to her. Wholly and fully. Fated mates in every sense of the word.
Yes, her Lynx hissed as he pummeled her faster and harder. She thanked the gods he read her so well, knew she could take it. Thankful for the first time in her life for her more than average Shifter strength. Her Dragon was powerful, but she could handle him. She was made for him.
Rei groaned, his eyes glowing gold with his beast. She loved that she could do that, make him lose control even if only for a little while. Her pussy twitched around him, walls tightening on his cock.
He growled, claws biting into her ass, and didn’t she just love it? She clenched around him, crying out her passion.
“Fuck, Cora, that’s so good.”
“Yes!” She echoed the sentiment, clamping down on his cock and milking him with her inner muscles. He growled louder.
“Es meus ad infinitum. Tesouro meus. Amare meus, meus, meus,” he repeated his litany again and again, the meaning of his vow now clear to her mind. More proof of their matebond.
“Yes, mine,” she echoed. Raking her nails down his back.
He called her his, her Dragon marking her with his scent, his seed, his words, over and over again. Mine forever, my treasure, my love, mine, mine, mine, the words burning into her brain, marking her very soul with his bond.
“Yes, yours, and you’re mine. Rei Dorado, mate, my mate.” Cora sat up. Legs wrapped tightly around him as he continued to fuck her silly. She reared her head back, fangs already descended, and struck.
“Fuck yes, finally,” he roared.
His gold eyes glittered, she could make out diamond shaped scales along his chest and arms, the Dragon pushing forward, as he thrust at a frenzied pace. His need called to her, ignited something deep in her belly. She clutched onto his wide shoulders, claws grabbing at his skin. She scratched and bit him, furiously working to achieve that release she so desperately wanted from him.
Her Lynx snarled inside her mind’s eye. As soon as her elongated teeth had broken through her gums, she’d struck fast as lightning, finalizing their bond. The beast wanted her to do it again. To mark him all over. Make sure no one else tried to move in on her man.
Cora had sliced through the skin of his neck, taking two long pulls of his smoky sweet blood before licking the wound close. The scent of his blood was still thick in the air, making her moan in remembered joy of swallowing his essence. She wanted more. She wanted him. Always.
Shifter sex was messy and loud, bloody and wet. The lewd sounds of their bodies coming together was like a fucking symphony in her ears. She lost herself in the pleasure of his touch, never for a second forgetting who it was that brought her such carnal bliss. Rei. Mate. Mine.
“Meus!” His guttural roar was loud and unembarrassed. She opened her eyes to watch him. His dark head was thrown back as she licked the place where she’d just bitten him. She could feel his pleasure, knew he was close.
He held her to him tightly, touching her in every single place he could. His thick cock stroked her walls, hitting her just right, until she felt herself lose all control.
Her orgasm was a long drawn out ripple while he jerked inside of her, spilling his seed deep within her womb. Squeezing her tight to his chest, he lifted her completely off the table. His roar still echoed throughout the space, causing more than one glass case or window to crack and shatter.
Searing heat flowed through her body, the burn so good, she moaned with another sudden orgasm. The intense pleasure zipped through her entire body. The sheer elation of it transcended the scorching pain that suddenly flared to life over the place where he’d marked her earlier.
Cora leaned back to see the swirling vines on his chest glowing and pulsing with untold magic. She could scarcely believe it. Wouldn’t know how to if it were not for the same swelling, burning sensation echoing on her own body.
“Sweet kitten,” he growled the words. Holding her tightly, he lowered his forehead to hers. Taking a moment before dropping a kiss on her open mouth. Then, he sped through the house carrying her, still buried inside of her heat.
She swallowed, eyes wide and held on to him as he took the stairs three at a time. He stopped only when he reached the master bedroom. Her legs ached, body throbbed, but most of all her heart swelled. She was well and truly mated. The realization caused tears to prick her eyes.
“Es meus,” he murmured once they were inside their room. Taking great care with her, he slowly lowered them both down onto the surface of the bed. The silky, soft comforter felt cool and welcome on her burning skin after their heated exchange.
Cora breathed through the worst of the pain, more overcome by the awe of being truly connected to another being. She felt him on the edges of her consciousness, waiting to be let in. It was strange, but wondrous. A truly life-altering experience. One she would cherish, always.
The new link between them pulsed softly. Her Lynx purred inside of her, the beast noting with joy her matebond. Through it she felt Rei. His amazement, his joy, and most of all his love.
“Look,” he said, his voice rough and husky as he pointed to his chest.
Cora stared in wonder. Where he once had a small tattoo-like bud, tightly closed, on his chest was now a golden rose in full bloom.
As if by their bond they’d brought it to that happy state, she felt tears of joy roll down her cheeks. Reaching out a tentative hand, she traced the lines stopping at his low hiss.
“I’m sorry, does it hurt?”
“No, kitten, it feels good. This is a symbol of our bond here on me and there on you. As I wear your bite on my neck, you bear my golden rose. It is a tie none can break. You are mine, Cora Tesouro. My own heart’s treasure.”
“Show me,” she opened her arms to him, and her heart, silently praying he’d take both and hold them forever.
“Yes, kitten, forever,” his nostrils flared. She gasped realizing he’d read her mind. Eyes glittering, he looked her over from head to toe.
“You are mine now, beautiful Cora. Like my own private ray of sunshine. I intend to show you how much I love you from now until I last draw breath, my own heart’s treasure. Es meus.”
CHAPTER 11
Rei woke sated and rested for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. His mate had marked him. She’d chosen him among all others and now she bore his golden rose.
Twice blessed among Dragons, though to be honest he counted his mate’s worth far more than he did his power.
“Good morning,” Cora turned in his arms and nuzzled his chest with warm lips.
Rei wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his chest. He’d lost count of how many times they’d made love throughout the night. Was it five, seven, ten? Did it matter? He would always want her, that was fact.
She was the missing piece of his heart, his soul and his Dragon. His golden rose. His mate.
“Morning, kitten,” he pressed his lips to her hair, welcoming the taste of her bright, sunny flavor.
She was curled against his chest like a kitten. And she was one after all? His little Lynx was tiny compare to him. Small and soft and perfect. And yes, he thought with a satisfying smile, when he petted her just right, his kitten purred. Nice pussy cat.
“I suppose we should get started,” she said followed by a wide, and completely adorable yawn.
“On what?” He tugged on her hand, but she was already standing up and walking to the bathroom.
He still awed at the fact she was so darn strong. Actually, it was quite a turn on though she hadn’t believed him at first.
What was she up to? Rei frowned. He’d been counting on a lazy day in bed with his mate. Work could wait.
“We need to get started on your accounts, silly, I’ve been thinking about some ideas and I wanted to run them by you,” she called to him over the sound of the shower.
Rei knew he should answer but picturing his mate’s luscious curves covered in water droplets had his mouth going dry and all available oxygen surging to his insatiable cock. He wasted no time in joining her.
“Ooh, you startled me,” she smiled and leaned back into him, brushing her plump bottom up against the thick bar of his arousal.
“Dragons can be very sneaky, little kitten.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, really,” he groaned as she pressed back into him. Her warm skin was pink, flushed from the shower or maybe from his mouth and hands.
“Rei,” she moaned his name as his large hands cupped and molded her breasts.
Fuck, he would always want her. Part of finding your fated mate was that you would always be accompanied by an intense desire for that person alone. Rei could totally live with that.
He spread her thighs apart with his knee, loving the feel of her smooth, tan skin. He ran his fingers along the crack of her ass, stopping to swirl and tease her forbidden hole with his thumb. Later. He promised himself he would explore his mate’s hidden treasures when he was properly equipped.
For now, he would satisfy his desire by sinking into her sweet pussy. Bending her forward, she thrust her ass out at him, and his cock swelled even more. He ran his shaft between her slick folds.
“Please,” she begged, but he was already moving. Clamping down on her neck with his teeth, he held her in place.
His hands encircled her full breasts, caressing her hard nipples. He pinched and twirled them between his fingers. Drawing out a long moan from her slender throat, he thrust his hips, entering her in one hard sliding motion.
“Cora, mine,” he growled.
His hands slid down her slick skin to her rounded hips. Rei held her in place while she gripped the walls to keep herself steady. Not that he would let her fall. Never.
Rei couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. He sucked in the thick air, but it was full of her. His mate. Cora. Es meus.
He’d searched for decades, centuries even, but he’d never understood what it would mean to find his one, true fated mate.
This unquenchable thirst for her, an undeniable, intangible need to have her raged through his blood. It was consuming him in a love so strong he thought his heart would burst free from his chest.
It was violent, the ceaseless throbbing of his heart threatened to pound right out of his chest. That was how he felt about her too. Violent and rapturous and so damn good he never wanted it to stop. He loved her so much. As if she’d peeked inside his brain, soon she was shouting the very same words.
“Rei! Love, I love you,” she cried as her pleasure reached its pinnacle. Her body jerked and spasmed against him and he held her as she came apart in his arms. Holding on until every last wave of her pleasure burned inside her body.
“Fuck,” he roared as her walls tightened around his cock. Rei rammed into her, loving the ripe cushion of her ass as it met each of his thrusts.
She was so fucking gorgeous. All curves and soft skin, just right for welcoming his hard Dragon body. Her perfect pink pussy milked him now, drawing every last drop of his seed into her womb. Ecstasy, white hot and soul-searing ecstasy pulsed throughout his entire six-foot plus frame.
Flaming balls, he loved this woman. So much he felt as if he were soaring, flying high, all the way to heaven.
“Love you, my love,” he echoed, movements jerky as he emptied himself deep inside his mate.
Many long minutes later, ninety to be exact, he emerged from his master suite with his mate in tow. The two of them were dressed in jeans and loose-fitting shirts.
She apparently had some hang up about him always expecting her in dresses and he’d scoffed. Didn’t she know she could wear anything at all, and he would still want her?
He’d taken matters into his own claws and rummaged through her suitcase. He found one pair of jeans and a comfy looking shirt and proceeded to dress her in the soft clinging denim himself. He’d made a note to repeat the experience often. Grrr.
Cora nibbled her lower lip and tugged on her sleeveless butter yellow top. Rei squeezed her hand. Her sunshine smell flowed all around him, inside of him, calming the beast and urging him to protect what was his at all costs. Even if from her own negative thoughts.
He sent good positive vibes through their bond. Pouring his love and adoration for her into them. His reward was a brilliant smile. Damn it if that wasn’t worth it. Beautiful mate, he thought.
“Kitten, you look good enough to eat,” he smiled wickedly and whispered in her ear exactly how he was planning to eat her. Later. Grrr.
“Excuse me, Rei?” Severino Alameda, his reluctant yet worthy assistant, stood at the bottom of the stairs a worrisome expression on his thin young face.
Still, Rei was too elated this morning to feel anything other than happiness. He smiled at the young man, earning him a frown, but he refused to react.
“What is it?” Rei took in his young assistant’s alarm and immediately stepped in front of Cora. Nothing would harm his mate. Not on his watch.
“I came in this morning and, well, the place was a mess.”
“Yes, uh, I got a little carried away last night. Just have Celia clean it up when she gets here, Alameda,” he watched his mate’s face, eyeing her knowingly and enjoying the pink flame that spread across her delicate cheeks.
No doubt she was recalling the way they’d trashed the dining room the night before. A pleasure he couldn’t wait to experience again, regardless of the damage or costs. Totally worth it.
“Um, it’s not just the dining room,” his assistant also blushed fiercely and tugged on the collar of his shirt as he spoke. Rei waited for him to continue, feeling his impatience rise. What the hell was going on?
“It’s your office,” the young man trembled as he spoke, and Rei’s frown increased.
“What about it?”
“It’s been ransacked. I came in and went to bring you the mail and I just didn’t know what to do-”
“Flaming balls,” he roared in outrage.
Who dared break into his castle? He’d find out soon and roast the fucker for dinner. His Dragon growled appreciatively at the thought, but Rei had no time to plan out his revenge. He needed to see the damage first.
He followed young Alameda hurriedly down the hall. Cora held his hand and raced along with him, though he maneuvered her protectively behind him.
He opened the doors to his home office completely unprepared for what he found. Anger and shock flowed through him and he realized some of it was his mate’s. She was just as pissed as he was.
“Your computer has been smashed to bits,” she picked up the broken keyboard and dropped it back down.
“Stay back a second, let me see if I can catch a scent,” he raised his hand and she stilled immediately as he began to sift through the flavors in the room. His efforts proved futile.
“Whoever did this was careful to disguise their scent,” he growled in frustration. Cora inhaled deeply nodding her affirmation. Both frowned as they walked through the wreckage.
His carefully organized files had been hastily tossed aside. Several priceless paintings that had graced his walls had been thrown to the floor. Antique, leather-bound tomes treated much in the same manner. His Louis XIV desk completely trashed. Such negligent violence! And for what?
Outrage and a need for vengeance pulsed through his blood. His Dragon biting at his skin to be set free. To wreak havoc on the normals of the island to make them know who he was, to fear and respect him. In the days of old, normals and supes alike knew better than to mess with a Dragon. Clearly someone needed reminding. Grrr.
“Rei,” Cora tugged on his hand and he realized he was gripping hers tightly. He immediately released her and looked at her quiet face.
“What do you keep in there?” She nodded towards his newly installed wall safe.
It had been covered by an exquisite landscape done by a very talented artist whom Rei had the pleasure of meeti
ng in the late nineteenth century in Paris.
The artist had been immensely talented, but like many creative mortals he’d been plagued by a touch of madness. He’d cut his own ear off and sent it to a maid in the town not far off from the house where he’d painted this landscape for Rei along with hundreds of others.
The sky was done in a magnificent swirl of blues and whites followed by soft orange hues from a setting sun over a field of tall, vibrant grass. Rei had immediately coveted it and brokered a deal with the young artist. A jar of gold paint the color of pure sunshine made by the Dragon himself in exchange for the unusual painting.
Rei had kept it safe amongst his treasures for years. A prized possession. And yet it meant nothing in the face of his mate’s obvious danger. Indignation flowed through him.
Someone had dared break into his castle to defile his home while he and his mate were in their bed. Cora had been just one flight of stairs away from danger. She could have been at risk!
Unacceptable, growled his beast. Even if for only a moment, his mate was never to be in danger! Pure rage flowed through him. The need to find and hunt the person responsible grew to immeasurable heights.
Hang on, he turned to Cora who was looking at him with raised eyebrows. Flaming balls, his mate had been talking. Rei tried to rein in his anger and focus on her words.
“I said, what’s in there, Rei? Whoever did this was focused on getting in your safe, but luckily you were smart enough to buy one from Grave Enterprises. And this model is even further protected by tech from Draco Fortis,” she moved closer inspecting the damage with careful hands.
“Yes, Merlin Banking Solutions recommended it to me actually.”
“Sir, what should I do?” Alameda interrupted.
Cora winked at him and his heart stuttered in his chest. She turned to inspect the damages, making a list on a sheet of paper and carefully handling the damaged items.
“Alameda call the contractors and staff. Arrange for everyone to come in to be interviewed,” he commanded.