~~~
Aaron watched Teagan’s golden form disappear into the horizon. He’d lost and rather easily, too.
His pride might be hurt, but his defeat only fueled him to defeat her. There literally didn’t seem to be any rules beyond don’t kill. He wasn’t going to hold back any longer.
His dragon growled. I told you not to go easy on her just because she’s female.
Believe me, I’m not going to do so any longer. She wants a challenge, and I’m going to try to give it to her.
He envisioned his body changing shape again and once complete, he jumped into the air.
Since Teagan was a gold dragon, she would need to be more creative with her hiding spot. There wasn’t much gold or brown to hide her in the summertime.
Aaron might not know the area, but that didn’t mean much to a Protector. Enemies often didn’t show up in one’s neighborhood, but they still needed to be defeated. With her limited options, she either had to hide in a lake or in a big enough copse of trees.
His dragon chimed in. Or in a cave, or even a large hole.
I know, dragon.
His beast huffed. Just making sure. If you don’t give her a decent showing, then I may have to take control. Otherwise, we’re not really helping her prepare for any possible challengers.
Until this round ends, she’s the enemy and nothing more.
You just want to impress her.
No, I just want to win.
Losing wouldn’t be so bad, his dragon said. After all, we can see her every night.
Aaron was careful to keep his thoughts focused on the task and not what could happen if he saw her every evening. If she sees us as weak, then she might send us home. Italy made us softer than I realized.
We’re not soft. Now stop chatting and let’s win this round.
Aaron would usually point out his dragon had started the conversation, but instead, he embraced his dragon’s senses. There was no sweet female scent in the air and no gold hide glinting in the weak sunlight. While the densest woods were near the former human castle, Aaron didn’t think Teagan would go near them just in case any humans were around; two dragons fighting, even near a dragon clan’s lands, would probably earn a reprimand or even a punishment from the Irish DDA.
And considering Aaron was in Ireland without an official visitation pass, he might end up in jail.
Looking farther afield, he also spotted a small island in the middle of the lake covered in trees, but that would severely limit her escape options.
However, there was a denser field of trees a mile or so ahead, away from the castle grounds.
Careful to remain downwind as much as possible, he made his way toward them. Teagan may have shifted back to her human form despite her rules, but Aaron was going to remain a dragon. That would give him the advantage, even if he had to crash through the trees and possibly break a bone or two to capture her.
His dragon grunted. No breaking bones. We’ll be no good to her then.
If it means we win one round, then it’ll be worth it.
Why do you care so much about her approval?
Can we talk about this later? I have a female to find.
His beast fell silent, and Aaron looked for any broken trees or unusual movement beneath him.
On closer inspection, many of the trees were too short to hide a full-grown dragon. But some of the ones slanted on a hill could be deceiving. The curve of their trunks could possibly create a big enough space for Teagan to lay in wait.
He hovered above a large hill, using the wind currents when possible to conserve his energy. The scent of female hit his nose and he moved a fraction lower to the treetops. The smell intensified from the area directly below him.
The scent marking could be a trap, but as it continued to invade Aaron’s senses, she had to be below him or the scent would have dissipated already. It wasn’t as if she were carrying around a sack of worn clothing to mislead him.
Spying his best opening, Aaron folded his wings and dropped down between the trees. One crashed into his right side, but he paid it no attention. His eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, but he didn’t spot any sign of golden hide. Fuck. Just as he looked up to find his best way out, Teagan’s naked human form jumped out. She caught his neck with her arms and slid around to his back. In a split second, she had a talon extended and against his artery once more, but fuck if he’d lose again.
He imagined his form shrinking down to a human. As his form changed shape, Teagan landed with an oomph next to him, facedown; she’d probably had the wind knocked out of her.
He didn’t waste any time, and the second he stood in his human form again, he lunged to cover her body with his. With adrenaline pumping through his body, he didn’t pay attention to her naked back and arse against him.
Wrapping an elbow around her neck and grabbing a fistful of hair, he gently tugged her head back. “You lose. Cede to me.”
With a growl, she rocked her head back and hit his chin. He loosened his grip at the quick, sharp pain and Teagan managed to roll them both over. She quickly moved to straddle his neck between her thighs and reached back to grab his thumbs. As she pulled his thumbs farther back in the wrong direction, he grunted. She was going to fucking break his fingers.
Yet between her flashing pupils and her heaving chest above him, Aaron almost wanted to lose if it meant he could stare at Teagan’s supple body a minute longer.
Then his beast roared inside his head. No. We win this time.
The words snapped Aaron back to reality. He swung his legs up and around Teagan’s neck before pulling her down. She released her grip and Aaron flipped until he had her belly to the ground. He tugged her wrists behind her and dug his knee into her back. For good measure, he tugged her arms a little more until she grunted. He growled, “I win this round. Cede.”
For a few beats, only the sound of their labored breathing filled the air. Then Aaron leaned a bit more of his weight into Teagan’s back. She cried out, and his every instinct wanted to release her and examine her to ensure she wasn’t hurt.
But giving up wouldn’t help her prepare for a possible challenge. The other Irish clan leaders sure as hell wouldn’t stop to check for injuries.
He gripped her wrists tighter and yanked a little more. “Admit defeat and we go to the tie-breaker round. Me observing you in action will only help you in the long run.”
Teagan relaxed under his body. “Fine, then you win this one.”
Aaron released her and stood. As she rolled over, he offered a hand, and she took it.
Pulling her up, she tripped and stumbled against his body. Aaron held her close to keep her from falling, but her nipples were hard points against his chest, and his cock took notice.
If he leaned down to take one of the tempting points into his mouth, he wondered if Teagan would tell him to stop or thread her fingers through his hair and beg for more.
He moved a hand down her spine, but before he could reach the indent of her lower back, Teagan raised her head to meet his eyes. Her pupils were slitted. Maybe her dragon wanted the same thing.
Or she might tell him to stop.
No, his dragon purred. You can smell her arousal as much as me.
Her husky voice interrupted his thoughts. “I think you’re happy to see me, Caruso.”
She leaned her body back a fraction. Before he could growl and pull her back, she lightly ran her hand down his chest. The movements of her fingers made his skin burn and yearn for the light scratch of her nails.
As she inched downward, Aaron held his breath. His cock was hard and heavy against his belly, and it pulsed for Teagan’s light touch.
She brushed his sensitive tip and lightly teased his swollen flesh with her nails. He groaned, and she moved her finger from his tip to the side of his shaft.
Without thinking, he whispered, “Fuck, don’t stop.”
Teagan chuckled and wrapped her fingers around his cock. She squeezed gently, and Aaron dared to move a hand t
o her breast. If he was going to lose his mind, then so was she.
He tweaked her nipple, and Teagan hissed between her teeth. As he continued to pinch and roll the hard bud, she increased the pressure of her grip on his cock. Between her touch, her feminine scent invading his nose, and the heat of her body so close to his, Aaron said screw it. One kiss couldn’t hurt. They could both use a little post-battle release.
He leaned down, but when he was a fraction away from making contact with her lips, something sharp poked against his balls.
Teagan’s husky voice filled his ears. “I win this round and thus overall.”
He blinked. “So all of this was a ruse?”
“Oh, I enjoyed making you moan. But this is a contest, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
The sharp pressure against his balls, which had to be her fucking talons, increased. He growled. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, believe me, I would. The choice of becoming a eunuch or not is yours. Do you cede?”
He pushed aside the sting of falling for her trap. Blasted females always seemed to use him for something. “I think you’re bluffing,” he bit out.
She raised her brows. “You obviously haven’t experienced a true clan leader challenge. Beyond not killing or permanently maiming an opponent, there are no rules.” She pushed her talon harder against him. “Although sometimes the no maiming requirement gets a bit fuzzy.”
“In other words, you cheat.”
She shrugged. “Do you always play by the rules when it comes to missions or protecting the clan?”
He grudgingly muttered, “Fair point.”
She tilted her head as she tapped one of her talons against his bollocks. “Now, admit defeat and maybe I’ll suggest another competition in the future. Then you can give me an actual challenge.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to make a pithy retort, but his dragon spoke up. Just do it. Not only will we see her every evening and can better assess her weaknesses, but we can propose another bet and win next time. Maybe then we can claim more than knowing her thoughts or how she hisses when we play with her nipples. I want to explore her body with our tongue.
For all we know, she faked everything to trap us.
She did it to win a competition. It has nothing to do with toying with your heart.
Fuck, dragon, you make me sound like a sentimental fool.
His beast sniffed. Sometimes you are. Give Teagan a real chance.
As Teagan stared at him, waiting for an answer, he wondered if he’d feel the same way if a male had cheated to best him. Granted, a dragonman wouldn’t turn him on with delicate fingers and pert breasts, but there were always other ways to startle and/or disarm an opponent. Teagan had merely used the tools available to her.
In other words, she was clever.
On top of that, while Aaron should feel used, after his brief encounter with Teagan’s fingers on his cock and his hands on her breasts, he wanted more. He had no desire to form a long-term attachment, but taking her to bed a time or two would do.
He cleared his throat. “I will admit defeat on one condition—that we have a rematch soon. Now that I know there aren’t any rules, I plan to do whatever it takes to win, no holds barred.”
Teagan raised her brows. “In real life, there aren’t always second chances. But since I’m curious to see what Aaron Caruso looks like without holding back, I’ll consider it. However, I want to have a personal chef for a few nights at least before I risk giving it up.”
He searched her gaze. “So you think I can win?”
She shrugged. “A leader who thinks they’re invincible is bound to fail sooner rather than later.”
Aaron’s opinion of Teagan went up a notch. “All right, then I cede and look forward to our next rematch.”
The pressure of talons against Aaron’s balls disappeared and she patted him twice, sending a jolt up through his body. “Good. I’d rather not damage your goods.” She glanced down and back up. “They are fairly impressive.”
His beast spoke up. She wants us.
As they stared into one another’s eyes, Aaron waited for Teagan to move away, but she didn’t budge. She merely tilted her head once more. “Like what you see, Caruso? Or has being bested by a female turned you sour?”
The curiosity in her green eyes was genuine.
There were a hundred reasons why Aaron should make a crack and walk away. The disaster with Nerina being the biggest one. He also knew that battles always made him hard and ready for sex. But as her hot breath tickled his chin, he didn’t think of the alliance, his past, or why he needed to get back to Stonefire. He itched to fist Teagan’s hair and taste her sweet lips. Something about the female called to his baser urges.
His dragon growled. Just kiss her before she changes her mind.
He placed a hand on her bare hip and lightly brushed her skin. Some males might be intimidated by the toned flesh under his fingers, but Aaron only saw strength and dedication. Teagan did what was necessary to protect her clan.
Her flashing pupils gave him the courage to murmur, “I’m the opposite of sour. I’m impressed. And I’m going to prove it to you.”
Leaning down, Aaron kissed her.
~~~
Being surrounded by trees in an isolated area had emboldened Teagan. First with nearly giving Aaron a hand job and then prodding him with words.
Her plan to distract him had nearly backfired, though. Just the light brush of his fingers had almost made her knees give out. His skin was rough, yet warm. Aaron was a male who wasn’t afraid to work with his hands. She’d always had a weakness for strong, rough hands.
Her dragon hummed. Yes, yes, I want to feel them everywhere.
She ignored her beast and studied Aaron’s eyes. As soon as he admitted defeat, she could’ve easily walked away and gone back to Glenlough. The sting to Aaron’s pride would’ve sent him packing and given her one less distraction to worry about.
But as her heart thumped in her chest and the flesh between her thighs pulsed, she admitted that she wanted at least one taste of his lips. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d kissed a male.
Her dragon huffed. That is your own fault.
And risk another incident like with Bard? I don’t need a male boasting to the entire clan of kissing me and then saying how mediocre I am.
Pshaw. He was the sloppy kisser. I feel sorry for whatever female ends up with him.
Aaron lowered his head toward hers and Teagan decided she had a few minutes to spare for herself, without thinking of the clan. Anything to ease tension would help in her quest to fend off challengers to her role, so it wasn’t completely selfish.
Aaron’s warm lips brushed hers before taking the bottom lip between his teeth. As he worried the tender flesh, Teagan wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to welcome his tongue. There was no mate-claim frenzy spreading through her body, driving her to fuck Aaron until she carried his child, but as his tongue stroked hers, she groaned and leaned against him.
He was no sloppy kisser.
As he tangled his tongue with hers, she met him stroke for stroke. Teagan wasn’t the type of female to give up easily, and it was best Aaron understood that now.
Her dragon hummed. And why is that?
She ignored her beast to rub her nipples against Aaron’s chest. The light dusting of chest hair rubbed against her own tender skin, and she increased the strokes of her tongue.
She had a feeling Aaron was the type of male to meet her head-on in bed.
Aaron moved a hand to cup one arse cheek and lightly squeezed. Each whisper of his fingers caused heat to flare and shoot straight between her thighs.
Her dragon growled. Yes, yes. Maybe he’ll take us right here. I like sex in the open.
As if reading her dragon’s mind, Aaron swung her around until her back pressed against a tree. She broke the kiss at the swift movement, but Aaron beat her to speaking first. His flashing eyes told her his dragon was close to
the surface. “Tell me what you want, Teagan,” he whispered. “I don’t want to disappoint Glenlough’s leader.”
At the mention of “leader,” it was as if ice doused her body.
Aaron was just like all the other males who’d pursued her since becoming clan leader and saw her role first and the individual second. She was just a notch to add to his belt. Once he returned home, he could brag about fucking her.
She pushed hard against his chest, and Aaron stepped back with a puzzled expression. “What?”
She shook her head. “This never should’ve happened.” Teagan took a deep breath and added, “Killian will be expecting you. And don’t forget, you’re cooking me dinner. Make sure you’re fully clothed when you show up, or I’ll have a special set of clothes waiting for you. Ones that will make you think twice about disobeying my orders.”
“Teagan—”
She ignored him and strode toward the edge of the trees. She needed to put distance between them.
Her beast growled. Why did you stop?
If you have to ask that question, then you don’t know me at all.
Her beast sighed. He doesn’t want us simply because we’re leader.
And you know this how?
I sense it.
Too bad. I allowed a hot body and my own desire to cloud my judgment before. Any male who kisses me and wants another one does so because he wants me for me. My position shouldn’t be the first factor.
But—
No. I’ve let you convince me with too many males in the past, and they all saw me as something to be conquered. And then I had to quell the questions about my judgment and ability to lead. Never again, especially when I have challenges coming from other clans. I can’t afford a challenge from within Glenlough itself.
Not wanting to argue with her dragon on the subject, Teagan tossed her beast into a mental prison.
Smoothing her hair, Teagan picked up her pace but kept to the trees. She had several secret clothing stashes around the national park. With humans often visiting, she wasn’t going to risk being stranded.
As the underbrush and lower branches tickled her skin, Teagan took a deep breath and clenched her fingers into fists at her sides. If she were male, things would be easier. She could sleep with whomever she wished, and the clan would joke about trying out the clan to find the right partner.
Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 9) Page 8