by Milly Taiden
“Ready?”
She blinked and jumped back as if looking at his penis had somehow burned her. “Ah, yeah.”
She was too humiliated to look at his face. She knew she’d see that humor in his eyes again. Instead, she focused on his neck and chest. Suddenly his whole body transformed. Muscles turned to giant scales and her eyes widened as the gray and white dragon stood before her. He lowered and motioned with his head.
“Climb on you?”
He did it again so she took it to mean that was what he wanted.
She glanced down at her clothing, happy she was wearing something comfortable but realized as her glasses slid down her nose, they needed to go in her pocket for safekeeping until they arrived wherever they were going.
She finally got on his back, after a couple failed attempts—her legs were short—and held on tightly, her arms wrapped around the dragon’s neck. They took off smoothly. She pinched her eyes closed at first. She hadn’t told him she got motion sickness. Would it make a difference on a dragon’s back?
They flew high in the air, over trees, and higher still. She saw the river. The forest and farms in the outer areas of town. They flew for what felt like hours. She was mesmerized by the view. And the fact she wasn’t throwing up. Of course, she had a nice breeze hitting her on the face, so she gave it full credit for keeping her sickness at bay.
They finally landed near a cabin by a river. She slid off and fell on her ass when she couldn’t get her balance. He morphed into his human body and her gaze once again strayed to his cock. Holy crap. He was hard.
“The rush of adrenaline makes it hard to control,” he chuckled.
She told herself to stop staring but she couldn’t, her eyes were glued to his shaft. Her body heated as she stared at his body. He was beautiful. Every muscle, every limb, a work of art. Then her gaze traveled to his face and she was once again held entranced by him. He marched toward her, his eyes glowing.
“What are you doing?”
Another grin from his delectable face. “I need my clothes.”
She blinked and rushed to her bag to give him his outfit. She stood and handed him the clothes then walked off to the cabin entrance. The cabin was a lot bigger than she’d noticed from the air. With her glasses back on, she stared at the cabin in awe.
“What is this place?”
He pushed the front door open and ushered her in. “Liz? Are you here?”
An older woman popped out from nowhere and rushed over to them. “Oh, Tor! So lovely to see you again. And who is this beauty?”
Morgan had a hard time keeping back the snort. The woman was adorable with her compliments.
“I want you to meet Morgan. She’s a friend. Morgan, this is Liz. She’s the caretaker here.”
Morgan didn’t know why, but it hurt her heart a little when he called her his friend. Not like he could call her his girlfriend, but for some reason, she had a second of wishing he’d introduce her as something else. What the hell was wrong with her? She barely knew this guy. So what if her hormones were doing the mambo for him. That meant nothing.
“Nice to meet you, Morgan,” Liz said with a bright smile. “Come to the kitchen. I prepared a nice picnic lunch for you two.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to go through the trouble,” Morgan replied.
Liz waved her concern away. “It’s fine. When Tor said he was bringing someone, I wanted to make sure my boy and his girl were well taken care of.”
Okay then.
Tor laughed and curled an arm around Liz’s shoulders. “Thanks. I’m starving.”
“What about you, Morgan,” Liz asked. “Are you hungry?”
They went into a lovely kitchen a lot bigger than Morgan anticipated with modern appliances in a gorgeous patent red color. “If we’re being honest, yes. I’m famished.”
“Lovely.” Liz stopped at a very country decorated kitchen table with a pitcher filled with daisies and pointed at a massive basket. “You can handle this, Tor.”
Morgan’s eyes readied to pop out of her head. That thing was huge. He picked it up like it weighed next to nothing. “Yeah. It’s great.”
“I set up a blanket and drinks by the river. Your favorite spot,” she told him. Then she turned to Morgan and winked. “Enjoy your lunch.”
Morgan wasn’t sure why the wink, but now more than ever, her nerves screamed for her to go with the flow and if he kissed her to let it happen. Now all she had to make sure was that she didn’t fling herself at him if he didn’t move fast enough.
ELEVEN
Tor loved Morgan’s scent. Though his dragon wasn’t screaming out for him to mate her, they both enjoyed her company. He wanted her. She was beautiful, kind, and the emotion he saw in her eyes whenever she spoke did more to him than any other woman had in his past. Even Sylvana.
When they reached the biggest tree by the river, his spot, he saw the giant blanket and twin ice buckets. One chilling a bottle of champagne, the other filled with water bottles. Trust Liz to make sure to bring out the vintage. She probably thought Tor had a bigger interest in Morgan than he’d stated. She’d be right. Tor loved Morgan’s eyes, her smile, her scent. Hell, he wanted to sit there and stare at her face all day watching the different expressions as she spoke.
He wondered if this was how human men became smitten. He’d often wondered about that. This was the first time he’d truly felt his heart beat for a female. But this was more than lust. He liked being near Morgan. He wanted to protect her. He loved just seeing her smile.
They sat by the river and he proceeded to pull out the plastic tub of pasta salad, cold chicken, rolls, and peeled and cut fruit. There was also a container full of brownies. He hoped Morgan liked chocolate. He loved the stuff.
“Oh my goodness, look at all this food,” she gasped. “Do you need my help?”
“No. You sit there. I’ll pass you stuff and you can serve yourself.”
He gave her the plate and proceeded to open the champagne. “Would you like a glass or would you rather have water?”
She scrunched her nose and it made her so damn cute. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her. She’d worn a different pair of glasses after they’d gone to her house. These were black-rimmed but had some sparkle at the edges. The sexy schoolteacher look was back full force.
“I’ll take a glass of the bubbly, because with this view, how could I say no?” She grinned. “But after that I’ll stick to water.”
He handed her the champagne flute and watched her lick her lips when their fingers grazed. He heard her heartbeat increase and the scent of her arousal curled around his nose like a delicate perfume he couldn’t get enough of.
“So what is this place?” she asked, taking a sip and placing her glass on the small metal base he’d put down so she could slide the flute where it wouldn’t tip over.
“This was my parents’ home. Well, one of their homes. The castle was a favorite when they were younger, but as my father got sick, this is where they came to…to be alone.”
She glanced around and gave him one of those soft looks that made his chest fill with the need to protect her. “What happened? I thought your kind could live forever.”
He grinned. “Almost. There are a few things that can kill us. Witchcraft is one of them.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Sayeh’s mate, the witch, got into the head of someone my father saw a few times. Our medical professional is someone we trust implicitly. But this woman was covering for our doctor while he was traveling. Let’s say she did exactly as Sylvana asked. She poisoned my father for days with potions Sylvana had prepared with her magic and he became weaker and weaker.”
“I’m so…sorry,” she mumbled. “That’s horrible.”
“Eventually they came here to wait out his time. One mate does not survive without the other. So it was my mother’s last moments with him. We wanted to be with them but respected their wishes.”
She nodded. “I can’t imagine. Your parents must h
ave loved each other a lot then?”
“They were together for almost two thousand years. I’ve heard that human couples rarely last more than half a century.” He frowned as he stared at her. “I don’t understand how any male could let go of the one woman who owns his heart. He should be treasuring her existence.”
The corners of her mouth kicked up. “Humans don’t have mates. We spend our lives looking for what might be the right person, but sometimes we get it wrong.”
He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “How could you be wrong? Do you not feel the intense pull for the person you want?”
She glanced at his mouth. Her scent drove him crazy. He wanted to kiss her. To get her naked and to eat her for lunch. Fuck!
“I, uh, yeah. But emotions are messy. Humans don’t have your certainty.”
He leaned forward, listening to her heartbeat increase in speed. The perfume of her arousal pulled him in like a moth to a flame. He went closer, closing the distance between them, her hand still in his grasp. He brought it to his chest, then he met her gaze.
“I’m going to kiss you, Morgan. I’ve never wanted a woman like I do you and I need to know what I’m about to do is okay with you.”
She nodded jerkily. “Yes. Very okay.”
He lifted a hand up to her face, taking her glasses carefully off her beautiful face and placed them to the side to keep from breaking them. Then he brought his face to hers, lips grazing over each other and then went deeper, further. She tasted of champagne and the brownie she’d been nibbling on instead of the food on display. God. She was delicious. Delightful. Perfect.
The kiss went deeper and his dragon urged him to get closer, to do more. The lust in his veins was shared by the animal. They both wanted her. He’d given up on the idea of a mate, but Morgan, she was something else. She was a woman he could see spending his life with. She was one of his brothers’ mates. But what if her mother had been wrong? What if she wasn’t a Drachen mate? He could keep her. No need for mate marks. No need for anything else.
If her mother was wrong, if she wasn’t one of his brothers’ mate, they could have a family. She wouldn’t be able to live as long as him because she wouldn’t have a mate mark, but he’d be willing to chance it. She could be his. All he had to do was take her.
She ran one hand over his chest, feeling his pecs. The other hand went up to his jaw, raking her nails over his beard. A soft whimper came from her and his cock hardened. He wanted so much more. To hear her outright crying in fucking delight the moment she came.
He would do it. Lara was wrong. Morgan wasn’t a Drachen mate, but would be able to help his brothers find their own women. He could keep her. The very idea of making her his, making her pregnant and watching her grow with his baby unleashed a possessiveness he hadn’t known was in him.
He curled his hand around her neck, pulling her closer to him. His other hand went to her chest, cupping her full breast. Fucking hell, she was so soft, her nipple small and tight. And she smelled so good. She’d be his. He’d marry her like humans did. She’d have his babies. He’d keep her pregnant, watching her grow big. The image made his balls hurt. He wanted that. Morgan. His offspring. Them as a family. All of it.
Yes, all his.
Morgan pulled back from their kiss, her chest heaving. Her pupils ate up the irises. “Tor. God. You…” she cleared her throat. “That was more than a kiss.”
Her voice trembled. The sound said many things to him. Like the fact he could take her then and there, but he wouldn’t. He would wait.
“You deserve more than a simple kiss, beautiful.”
“Oh god. Tor, I…I don’t know if I can do this. You’re fucking hot and I’m a mess. Like an emotional mess.” She leaned back so he returned to his spot to give her space. “I feel people’s pain. This isn’t even normal.”
“Normal is boring.” He caressed her cheek. “You’re interesting.”
She gave a high-pitched giggle that sounded more nervous than anything. “This is crazy. I suck at relationships. I date these nice guys that get tired of me after a while.”
He lifted her curled hand to his lips while holding her gaze. “I don’t give a fuck about any other man, Morgan.” He brushed a kiss on her knuckles. “The fact that they couldn’t appreciate you doesn’t make me feel a sliver of sadness for them.” He shook his head. “I want you. No arguments.”
She couldn’t believe what he said. It was surreal. He was shifter royalty. “I’m boring, Tor. I’ve always been told I am.”
“I think you’re fascinating,” he smiled. “You’re beautiful. You have a kind heart, eyes that speak for you and you’re willing to sacrifice for others. And you’ve got a body I will fuck for days.”
TWELVE
Morgan gulped. Holy bananas. “Tor.”
“No. Listen to me carefully, beautiful Morgan.” He prowled closer, this time he placed a hand to either side of her. She leaned back instinctively, which left him looming above her. “I don’t mind my dick hurting and going days without filling your sweet body because you need time.” He brought his head down and kissed her nose. “I definitely don’t mind you taking your time. When you’re ready, you will be mine. You know it. I know it.”
“This is madness.”
“I know, love. Yesterday at this time, I was trying to talk myself into staying away from you. But my need to be near you, to touch you and smell you, are driving me up a fucking wall.”
Jesus H. Christ. What was he saying? He’d been thinking about her all that time? So she hadn’t been the only one perving out? Thank god!
“What do you mean? What’s changed?” she asked.
“I realized I can’t fight this growing need I have for you.” He licked his lips and a glow sparked in his eyes. “I don’t want to fight it. I want to enjoy it. I want to let it fucking consume me and you in the process. I want what I’ve been denying myself since the moment I saw you. I want you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she mumbled, her breaths coming hard into her chest. Him above her gave her some very dirty images she didn’t need at that moment. Not when he kept saying so many things about wanting her.
“I want you. I want you naked. I want you spread open and showing me all of you. I want to eat your pussy like there’s no tomorrow and I know you’re going to taste delicious.” He glanced at her lips. “You’ll be mine, Morgan. Every single inch of you will have been touched by my lips at some point. Soon. And then, I’m taking your soft, sexy body and fucking away any doubt in your mind about how much I want you.
“Those babies you wanted? I’m going to give them to you. Me. No other fucking man is touching you once you’re mine.” He cupped her breast and a soft moan escaped her lips. “That’s right. I know you love my touch. I will give you everything you want. All the orgasms and babies you want.”
Holy Toledo. “A little possessive?”
She still didn’t know how to react. He didn’t scare her. Heck, his words turned her on even more. She was super slick between her legs.
“More than a little. I don’t mind jerking off to the thoughts of sliding between your soft thighs and pounding you into next week. I don’t mind knowing you’ll be mine.” He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips. “But make no mistake, baby. You’ve been claimed.”
Her lungs burned from lack of air. “I…”
He lowered his body on hers, her legs immediately spread to cushion his pelvis. Christ. He was rock hard and pressing at her center. She whimpered and wiggled, loving the feel of him there. His pants and hers were between them, but she swore she felt the heat from his body at her sex.
“We’re not arguing this any longer. I want to give you whatever you want, love. Now tell me, what is that?” he asked her.
“Kiss me.” The words popped out of her mouth without thinking. She didn’t know why, but she wasn’t going to question it. His lips came over hers, seducing and branding. His hand slid under her shirt, the flowy material giving way immed
iately. He was at her bra in a second, tugging at the material and leaving her breast bare.
His warm hand cupped her breast at the same time he rocked his hips into her. Fire raced down her spine and centered at her core. Her clit throbbed. She wiggled under him, hoping he’d do something to help ease her ache.
Their kiss deepened further, his tongue filling her mouth and curling over hers passionately. His hand moved from playing with her nipple to gliding over her belly roll down to her pants. He shoved under the waistband and his hand went into her underwear. She widened further.
Her sucking on his tongue grew bolder, hungrier as he spread her pussy lips and pressed at her clit. A soft groan left the back of her throat. His fingers worked magic, slipping and sliding up and down her slick folds. Two digits fluttered into her sex while his thumb pressed at her pleasure center.
She gripped his hair, raking her nails over the back of his head. Her ass came slightly off the grass, looking for deeper penetration.
A burning need she had never felt before heated her blood. She panted, her breathing harsh, and broke away from their kiss. She gripped his shoulders, biting at his neck and moaning for more.
His fingering of her pussy continued, the slow drawn out thrusts getting shorter, faster, harsher. She breathed in conjunction with each drive. He rained kisses over her jaw and chin. Her mind was floating. All she wanted was the pleasure she knew was coming.
“Yes, baby,” he growled. “Fuck, you’re sexy. Come. Show me how beautiful you look when you let go,” he whispered by her ear.
Her pussy clung to his fingers. He nibbled on her earlobe. She was so close. Her mind shut down. Primitive thoughts of pleasure and desire were all that filled her brain.
“Tor,” she moaned in a rush.
“Do it, Morgan. Give it to me. Your body’s craving the release, and I want it.” He rumbled in that sexy, deep voice that gave her goose bumps. “I am being fucking selfish. I want every one of your orgasms for myself from now on. Starting with this one. Give it to me, sweetheart.”