Dragon Touch (Soul of a Dragon Book 1)

by Ashley Frost

  And she did so by running.

  A shivering woman shot a glare toward her. The dragon wife hugged her son closer and spit at the ground in front of Constance.

  “They seem to hate me more,” she said.

  Rayse squeezed her hand. “They’re cranky. The cold does that.”

  “Rayse… I need to go.”

  His brows furrowed. Puzzlement showed on his face. “Go?”

  “Away. Somewhere far from here.” Rew, or at least the figment of him left in her mind, was telling her to leave and run from the clan. “I can’t stay here anymore.”

  “Are you leaving me?”

  “No…. Maybe.” She hugged her hands over herself. “I want to get away from here, Rayse. It’s suffocating. If you’ll just let me go away for a while…” That part of her was taking over. She should be standing her ground and making sure the clan was well during such tribulations, as the femriahl should.

  Rayse bowed his head. “I understand.”

  “You do?”

  He intertwined his fingers with hers and pulled her closer. “Come with me, love.”

  She followed without hesitation. He led her to a cliff side, then took off his clothes. He put them into a sack that he carried, then walked to the clearing. She’d seen him naked on more than one occasion. It still made her nervous. His regal form stood strong against the cold winds. The temperature should be freezing, especially since it was in the middle of winter and the clan resided high on top of the mountains. But the winds did not faze Rayse.

  “Where do you want to go?” he asked.

  “To Eduard’s.”

  “Your old village?”

  She nodded. “My father always knows what to say when I get like this. Am I allowed?”

  “Of course you are.”

  “But I thought we could only visit once every five years.”

  He raised a brow. “That’s what the city officials tell you. They made me promise to enact that rule because they didn’t want the town folks getting high over their heads after frequent visits from dragons. Most dragon wives visit their families whenever their mates allow them to. They simply have to do it quietly without anyone else noticing.”

  “I wish I would have known that sooner.” More trips back home would have certainly calmed her over the last few weeks, but Rayse seemed too busy to give her rides there anyway.

  He shifted. Talons grew from his fingers, and soon, the Black Menace poised proudly in front of her. She’d climbed onto Greta before, so she knew what to do when Rayse gestured for her to get on. Soon, she was pressed firmly against her dragon. Her breasts lay closely to his back. It was warm. The winds ceased to chill her.

  He took off, his wings soaring like an eagle’s. The chilling, sweeping air made her euphoric. She turned her head back to look at Dragon Keep. The houses faded in the distance, with the castle itself protruding above the cliffs. Rayse was fast. The clan disappeared into the clouds quickly. The large, burnt cottages were soon dots on a cliff side, and minutes later, the atmosphere made sure she couldn’t make out any of it.

  She didn’t know how long it’d take for her to get home. She was unconscious the last trip and Rayse had no way of telling her then. She didn’t mind if the trip took hours. She enjoyed snuggling against Rayse’s warmth. Together, they flew, lost in the open sky. They’d left the chaos behind. At that moment, it was just the both of them. For the first time since she left her home, everything felt perfect.

  “It’s just you and me,” she sighed, sinking her head onto his scales. She stroked his neck tenderly. “No Greta yapping in the background, no hot headed young males trying to kill you. No hate. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if we could stay like this forever.”

  Rayse nodded his head in agreement.

  “I love you, Rayse.” She kissed his scales, although she didn’t know if his scaly frame would be able to feel it. He seemed to respond positively, however, when his body heated up.

  They lingered in the sky for what felt like too little time. As he descended from the clouds, the fog cleared and the lights of the village came into view. Nightfall had arrived, so she couldn’t see very well. Rayse lowered himself into the forest where he landed during the Offering. The memories of that day came back to her in a sudden rush of nostalgia. There was that foreign voice who warned her of being with Rayse…

  She didn’t trust it. She trusted her mate more. It was probably the conjuring of black magic from one of Rayse’s many enemies, anyway. His talons landed on the ground without a sound. It was unexpected, given his size. She assumed he’d land with a loud thunderous thud, which would wake the whole village.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Rayse stepped away from her; then he shifted back. His dragon body shrank, and the man stood in front of her.

  They were alone in a forest. He was nude.

  Lust took over as her emotions ran wild. She could see the longing in his eyes return as well. He wanted her as much as she ached for him. He studied her hungrily. It was strange how his gaze felt more animalistic when he was a man instead of a dragon. She stepped toward him, not tearing her eyes away from his bare frame as she inched forward. The sack of clothes that Rayse had packed remained lying on the ground, untouched.

  He seemed to think she was pacing forward too slowly. He moved toward her so quickly, she barely had time to blink. His towering body swept her up, and he took her mouth without patience. The heat coming from him was smoldering.

  “I’m sorry, love,” he said, his voice croaking. “I thought our mating would happen somewhere more comfortable.”

  “No,” she said, gasping. “This is perfect. No distractions.”

  He rested her on a soft patch of grass, a bit less gently than he usually treated her. He wrapped his hands over hers and held them above her head. Fear gripped her. Not because she was afraid of mating with him, but because she remembered the last time they got this far. He had collapsed from exhaustion.

  “Rayse, don’t—” He ripped her dress off before she could ask him to slow down. He didn’t seem to have any intention to. His mouth sought her breast. His tongue circled her nipple. All words fell away once she felt him. Raw hunger took over as Rayse worked over her body. His hips moved against hers.

  “Now,” she begged, squeezing her thighs together. “I can’t wait. It’s been too long.” The fabric of her dress was driving her livid. It got in the way.

  He tugged the dress away. Most of her body was now bare, his to take. Her hands were still held over her head as he drove himself into her. She felt so helpless. She couldn’t move around or touch his face. His grip kept her firmly in place.

  And she liked it. She loved how Rayse took whatever he wanted from her.

  Her belly tightened as his hips gyrated against hers. Their gazes met. His black eyes stared into hers with the intensity of a fire. Just the way he looked at her was enough to make her want to explode. She called his name into the night. It was loud, but it didn’t matter. Only the forest critters could hear her.

  They were alone in this wonderful, blissful moment.

  He filled her, and she felt whole.

  This man was more than she could ever ask for. She didn’t understand how she became so lucky as to find him.

  “You’re my everything,” he said, his rumbling voice next to her ear. “I love you so much, Constance. I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I’ve wanted you.”

  Rayse. She tried to say his name, but the pleasure weakened her to the point where she was unable to speak. The friction between them drove her mad.

  “Every single day I’ve longed for this. You don’t understand how difficult it was for me to not throw you against the nearest table and fuck you right there and then.”

  She gasped and bit down on her lower lip. Her climax was coming. The bite drew blood. Rayse kissed her, not caring she had blood on her mouth. She wrapped her legs around him and mewed. She needed release. She wanted him to give her his everything. He drove int
o her more fiercely, causing her to shake with pleasure.

  “Please,” she finally managed to say. Her eyes watered as she tried to breathe. Her chest tightened and her back arched toward him.

  Rayse picked her up and pressed her against a tree. She hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. She feared that if she did, she’d never find the release she knew he’d give her. Every thrust drove her back toward the tree. The bark of it was coarse.

  He bit down on her shoulder.

  She winced. “What was that for—?”

  A searing sensation stung where he had bit. It felt like fire crawling on her skin. The pain shook her, but along with it came immense pleasure. It was an intoxicating mix of sensations, slamming into her like a storm. She threw her head back and pressed herself against Rayse’s hard body. The pleasure intensified and swarmed over her. It swept through every pore of her body. She almost passed out from it. Her fingers curled into Rayse’s back, digging into it. She was sure she wounded him.

  She came.

  Do not give in, a voice said. It was the same one she heard during the Offering. It distracted her from her orgasm. Her hips were shaking with pleasure but that voice didn’t seem keen on letting her have what she wanted. Do not bond with him.

  She didn’t want to trust the voice. She was determined to not let it destroy this glorious moment. It faded as soon as it came. Her mind was filled by nothing but thoughts of Rayse again.

  Her climax settled. Rayse had come the same time she did.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, smiling into the crook of her neck.

  “You’re… amazing,” she sighed. She was smiling too, but a tiny sense of dread seeped into her. The voice. Why was it so adamant on her not bonding with Rayse? It didn’t sound malicious… just, worried?

  As soon as she regained her senses, she squashed the mistrust the unknown voice had fostered with every bit of resolve she had.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  It is unknown whether Rayse, the Black Menace, has acquired a femriahl. Should he have one, she would be the most beautiful maiden in all the lands. A dragon such has himself is deserving of an equally brilliant dragon wife. Priests and scholars of dragon matters have both agreed that his femriahl would hold great power through the dragons’ divine blessings. A touch from her, should she exist, would be enough to bring good fortune to the lucky recipient for the rest of his or her life.

  Karsi ambled to the fireplace. “Why don’t you check the fire instead, you old fool?”

  Eduard mumbled half-asleep, “It’s yer turn.”

  Karsi sighed, then picked up some firewood from the ground, throwing it into the hearth. Winter this year was harsher than usual. The fires died down quickly. She uttered a soft grumble and poked the firewood with a stick.

  A loud clanking sounded outside. She startled. An intruder? She lifted the stick, its tip mildly singed and ashen, and held it up as she crept forward. More banging noises echoed.

  “Eduard. Eduard, wake up!” she said.

  The old git snored.

  She snorted, then inched toward the door. She caught sight of a dim light floating along. Was one of her neighbors a thief? The village didn’t have any known burglars. Then again, that was why those burglars were still in business. She stalked her way toward the kitchen, hoping to not be seen. A stick wouldn’t be any good against thieves. She needed a knife as a weapon.

  “Ouch!” a familiar voice said in a half-whisper. “I stubbed my toe.”

  Where did she hear that voice before? One of the village girls?

  It then struck her. “Constance!”

  Her daughter raised the lantern, lighting her face. Karsi gasped in joy. She never thought she’d see Constance again. Every night she prayed to the dragon gods to return her daughter to her. She didn’t think they’d answer. They were the ones to take her away, after all. “Oh my sweet child,” she cried, running toward Constance. A tall, muscular man stood next to her daughter, but she didn’t mind him.

  “Uh, Karsi.” Constance shot a look at the man. “You should have told me,” she said in a hushed tone to the man, as if doing so would stop Karsi from hearing those words.

  He shrugged. “I didn’t want to alarm her by saying something. I thought if we kept really quiet, we could sneak past.”

  “Sneak past?” Karsi asked. “My dear, why would you need to do such a thing? You’re coming home… Oh dragons, what are you wearing!” Her daughter was scantily draped with an oversized shirt. It took Karsi a while to notice that the man wasn’t dressed very appropriately, either. His vest barely covered his chest. “Is this dragon fashion? I must say, it’s quite unorthodox.”

  Constance shook her head, looking embarrassed. “If you don’t mind, I need to go to my room first. I’d really love to sit and talk to you, Karsi, but in a bit, all right?”

  Karsi paused, then gaped when the inner workings of her mind put together what had most likely happened. “Sure, sure.” She waved the couple off, stunned. They promptly rushed out of her sight.

  “My little girl has grown into a young woman,” she muttered to herself.

  ***

  Constance felt her cheeks. They likely blazed the deepest possible shade of crimson. Rayse looked unfazed.

  “That didn’t go as planned,” she said.

  “No, your mother seems to have a dragon’s hearing, and your feet are quite human.”

  She elbowed Rayse lightly, though grinning. “I should get dressed. I’m just happy to be home.” She walked to her wardrobe and picked out a simple garb. Rayse leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. His eyes remained fixated on her. “Aren’t you going to turn around? For some decency,” she asked.

  “I’d rather not.”

  Her heart skipped in anticipation. He watched her like a brute would a succulent piece of chicken. Slowly, she slipped his shirt off. It fell onto the ground in a messy heap. She was naked, bared completely for him to study. His gaze consumed her ravenously. Steadily, he made his way toward her. Her body was expecting more of him again. Just moments ago, they’d been making love on the forest floor. She lost count of how many times he took her. Still, her lust for him hadn’t been entirely satiated, even with her thighs sore and aching.

  His hand trailed to the new marking on her arm. Rayse assured her it was beautiful, with a dragon’s tail curling around her arm like a band. But something felt off about it. The marking seemed incomplete. Part of the dragon’s tail was missing, although it wasn’t enough to be noticeable. It irked her nevertheless.

  His touch on her skin sent a jolt through her. “I liked you with that shirt on.” He kissed her forehead. “It marks you with my scent. Though you look better without.” His lips found their way to hers. Her breasts pressed firmly onto his chest. His warmth surrounded her.

  He seemed ready to throw her onto the bed for another round of romping, but her parents interrupted.

  “Constance, are you done?” Karsi shouted. “Eduard’s waiting outside. You’re taking awhile. We’re so excited to see our daughter again.”

  “Yes!” she shouted back, flustered. She pushed Rayse away and quickly slipped on her dress.

  Rayse frowned, displeased. “I’m not sure I like your parents.”

  She rolled her eyes and pulled him with her to the living room. It was lit by the hearth, which was dimming down. Rayse blew fire into the fireplace to warm the room. The hearth blazed with renewed flames.

  Karsi raised her brows, and laughed giddily as a child would. “Oh heavens, you really are a dragon aren’t you. That’s quite the sight.” Her mother’s brown eyes scanned Rayse’s body from top to bottom. Karsi didn’t even try to be modest about it. Her mother had obviously noted Rayse’s attractiveness, because the woman was constantly looking at her mate. Thankfully, Eduard hadn’t noticed his wife’s distracted state. Constance wasn’t in the mood to watch another one of her parents’ squabbles—she never was.

  Karsi frowned, returning her gaze to her. “I’m still
livid at you.” Eduard was grinning, but he frowned soon after, albeit quite forcefully, when Karsi nudged his waist. “You didn’t say anything about the Offering.”

  “I didn’t want to bother the both of you with the thought of it…. Also, I was afraid you wouldn’t approve. But we needed the money,” she said.

  “Of course I wouldn’t have approved! You could have said something. I wasn’t raising you for so many years simply to whore you out for money.”

  Rayse growled. “It’s not whoring. It’s mating.”

  Karsi’s jaw tightened and her eyes widened with fear. Rayse did have an easy way with intimidating people, even if he didn’t intend to sometimes. “Oh, um, I’m sorry. I mean, mating?” Her mother regained her composure surprisingly quickly. “Mating, whoring, whatever. I’m still losing my only daughter.”

  “The money is helping, though,” Eduard said.

  Karsi shot a look of betrayal at her husband.

  “What? It is,” Eduard replied to his wife’s expression. “I thought Constance would like to know her efforts paid off, at least.”

  “Ten gold ingots, I heard,” she stated.

  “We’re set to take care of this village for a generation at least,” Eduard said. “I’ll have to say, I was angry, too. But the money helped. Not that I would trade you for anything else in the world. I had to console myself, somehow.”

  “You’re supposed to be on my side,” Karsi grumbled.

  “Oh stop whining, woman,” Eduard said. “She’s already been chosen. No use trying to make her feel bad. Our daughter is finally home after more than two months. We should be trying to have a good talk.” Her father turned toward her. “Honestly, I thought I’d never see you again once I got news of you being chosen. We couldn’t find you after the officials told us. Said you had run off. We should have watched the event. Karsi and I were too busy bickering over the horse’s dung in the stables. We wanted to avoid the crowd.”