Awakened By Flames

by Vella Day

  “Kaleena, I had no idea it was going to be like this.”

  He better be talking about the way he responded to her and not how her life would always be in turmoil and danger. “Like what?”

  Finn wrapped his arms around her waist and his heat, combined with hers, created a deadly combination. Even though they’d made love not that long ago, it only made her want him more.

  “I can’t get you out of my head. My wolf is going crazy.” He didn’t even wait for her to tell him it was the same for her before he kissed her.

  The instant their tongues touched, she reached between them and tugged open the button on his jeans, and then unzipped his pants. Slipping her hand into the opening, she grasped his erection, and when she gave it a slow stroke, an unexpected wave of desperation assaulted her. The mating pull kept increasing with each touch.

  His thumbs brushed the sides of her breasts as she pumped his cock hard. Kaleena couldn’t wait and had to break the kiss. “Enough! Lose the jeans, my sexy wolf. You wouldn’t want me to set your ass on fire to get you moving, now would you?”

  Finn laughed, gave her a sexy grin, and then winked. “Oh baby, I do love an aggressive woman.”

  He had no idea just how assertive she could be when she wanted something—and Kaleena wanted Finn McKinnon. Having her freedom and her magic back while being with him proved she could have it all.

  As if they were in a race, they both shucked their clothing while continuing the kiss. Having the ability to touch him fully now, Kaleena slipped her mouth from his and nibbled her way down his chin and then to his throat. Needing more, she planted kisses between his pecs, down his abs, and then followed the line of light hair that led from his belly button straight to his magnificent cock. All the while she dragged her fingertips and nails across his glorious body.

  His scent overwhelmed her dragon. In desperate need to taste him, she dropped to her knees. When she dragged her tongue around the head of his dick, Finn groaned.

  “You can’t imagine how many times I’ve pictured this moment,” he whispered.

  His sentimentality thrilled her. “Me too.”

  Afterward, she would tell him how she’d known for many years that they were meant to be together. Only when she couldn’t stand the separation did she engage the dream link. However, now wasn’t the time to talk. Her dragon was shooting flames up her spine, demanding that Kaleena take him now. Her nails began to extend, and she had to concentrate on retracting them.

  Behave, she demanded.

  I can’t help it. Our hormones are screaming for us to mate with him, her animal spat back.

  We will. Soon.

  Kaleena grabbed Finn’s hard length and trailed her tongue from his balls to the tip. His fingers shot to her head, and he threaded them through her hair, clutching hard. With his other hand, he stroked the side of her face, and the tension from his grip in her hair and gentle touches caused a chain reaction of lust and desire so strong that they went straight to her core. She loved a strong, sensitive man, and Finn responded to her in every way.

  When she drew him deep into her mouth, he pressed his hips forward. A second later, a shot of cum tinged her tongue. This time, Kaleena was smart enough to back off.

  She looked up at him and winked.

  “You are in so much trouble now, baby,” Finn said, his eyes glowing amber.

  “You talk a good game, but can you deliver?” Teasing him in person was such a high.

  In a flash, he lifted her to her feet then swept her up into his arms. Two strides later, she was on the bed with Finn on top. He kissed her hard, and as he slipped down between her legs, her anticipation skyrocketed. They might have engaged in this kind of behavior in their dreams, but having him in her arms was so much better.

  He swiped his rough tongue across her slit and her body arched. Finn reached up and pulled her back down to his sexy mouth. “Easy there. I’ve only just begun.” He blew a hot stream of air right on her clit.

  Remembering their wonderful shower adventure, she shouldn’t be so excitable, but she was. “Oh my goddess! I’m trying. I can’t think when you do things like that. I have waited a long time for this.” Like twenty years since Finn needed to grow up before she could contact him.

  Finn gave her another long lick and looked up at her with the sexiest grin. “Don’t think Kaleena, just feel. I’ve waited a long time too.” With one hand massaging her breast, he dipped his tongue into her opening, bringing her closer to a climax.

  Kaleena planted her feet on the mattress and pressed upward for more control. She wiggled and pumped as she clutched his forearms, loving the way his muscles bunched with each sway of his body.

  Every one of his licks caused her to shoot higher and higher. When her nails dug into his skin, she tried to let up on the pressure, but her dragon wasn’t having anything to do with it.

  If you don’t stop, Kaleena said, my nails will go through his skin.

  Her animal relented.

  “Finn, please.”

  Instead of letting up on the violent pleasure, the man had the nerve to flick her clit once more. The total bliss was so intense, Kaleena released her hold on him and grasped the sheet as an orgasm swept in and carried her away. Her vision blurred, and stars burst on the back of her lids.

  He stopped, and the lack of stimulation forced her to open her eyes. Finn’s were hooded, but the amber color still glowed, and his body was shooting off blue sparks in rapid succession as he slowly crawled up her body. Their lips met in a fiery passion-filled kiss coupled with nips and moans as their tongues came together. Needing air, they released after a minute, and it was only then that she noticed Finn’s hair had grown a bit longer, and the whiskers on his chin had darkened.

  He dug his now-lengthened claws into the mattress on either side of her head, and what sounded like a low rumbling growl came out of him. He bent toward her ear and gave it a small nip.

  He whispered, “I need you so badly, Kaleena.”

  She smiled and then rubbed herself seductively against his cock. “Then take me.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Finn had never been so excited in his life. Sure, their lovemaking in the shower had been phenomenal, but her hands had been tied. To have her touching him all over and then go down on him was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. And when he tasted her intimately, his wolf had clawed for release, forcing Finn to struggle to keep him under control. And things were only getting hotter.

  Images of the ways they’d make love in his dreams ran across his memory like a fuzzy movie, but when Kaleena licked her lips, Finn forgot about his choices of positions and just pounced. Bracing himself on one elbow, he engaged in more slow kisses while he cupped her face. Kaleena’s lips reminded him of sunshine and blue skies, making him picture a future full of happiness with her.

  At first it was a little intimidating to think of her as this giant dragon woman while he was merely a wolf, but then he looked into her eyes and pride filled him. He’d always been drawn to the strong, competent type—and no one was stronger than Kaleena Sinclair. Who else could survive a room full of knives while being poisoned? To think she succeeded in fighting off the lure of the dark lighter, further convinced him that Kaleena was the best thing to happen to him.

  “Finn?” she asked after breaking the kiss. “Where did you go?

  Heat raced up his face. “Just thinking how amazing you are.”

  “You should know by now that I’m a show-me kind of girl.”

  He laughed. Ducking his head, he nipped at her nipple and then sucked hard. She arched her back, grabbing his shoulder with one hand while sinking the other into his hair to hold him against her breast. Kaleena let out a gasp. “So good. Ah, yes.”

  Her ecstasy turned him on even more. Wanting to touch her all over, he slipped two fingers inside her to make sure she was ready for him. She was.

  Kaleena sucked in a breath, whimpered, and then tightened her hold on him. Her lips quivered, and her body glow
ed. Seeing the pink scales appear under her skin would take some getting used to, though Finn had no room to judge. He was shooting off blue sparks faster than any Fourth of July finale. His new goal was to aim for a full-on pink explosion.

  When his cock turned painfully hard, he rolled on top and plunged into her in one slick thrust, his body fitting like a key into her wet lock. He groaned in complete rapture while his wolf howled, Mate!

  The emotional connection was so high, he almost burst. Finn wanted this to last, so he pumped into her a few times and then slowed. “You feel so fucking good,” he moaned.

  When she wrapped her legs around his waist, Finn feared he’d lose his ever loving mind. The tightening contractions of her sheath around his cock caused him to pulse and throb so hard, he had to take deep breaths so he didn’t shoot off like a teenager.

  Not sure how much longer he could hold out with the slow motion, Finn pushed in then retreated from her warm heat. He gripped her upper shoulder with his left hand and lifted himself up a bit on the other side. As he reached between them with his right hand and pressed on her clit, Kaleena gasped and bucked.

  “Fuck me harder,” she called out.

  Not only did Finn do as Kaleena asked, he also flicked and then pinched her clit. Just as his rhythm stuttered, she tilted her head and let out a primal scream. It was when her inner walls started to spasm around his cock that Finn finally let go and lost it too. Together they had climbed up to that climactic ledge and soared.

  If this was what life with his mate would be like, he wasn’t sure he’d survive, but for sure he would be damn happy through it all.

  Kaleena must have put a spell on him because Finn wasn’t able to move for the next few minutes. When he finally pulled out, he lovingly gazed at her and leaned over, softly placing his lips on hers for a moment. He then stumbled to the bathroom on shaky legs to retrieve a damp washcloth to clean them both up with. By the time he returned though, Kaleena was sound asleep. She didn’t even flinch or make a sound when he gently cleaned her.

  After washing himself, Finn doused the lights and climbed into bed. Drawing her into his arms, he snuggled up against her back as he pulled the blankets around them. With his arm under her pillow he placed his other hand on her hip. She let out a happy little sigh and wiggled even closer, entwining her fingers through his and pulling their joined hands up toward her chest and tucking them under her chin.

  Finn smiled to himself and buried his nose into her hair, inhaling her delicious scent. Being next to Kaleena soothed his soul. While he missed his family and friends, this was where he belonged. She completed him.

  Rathan paced his castle office. He’d been summoned to meet with his father like a commoner. If the king planned to lecture him, the least he could do was walk over to Rathan’s side of the castle.

  Wishful thinking, his dragon grumbled.

  Most of the previous summons had been to inform Rathan that he wasn’t doing enough to bring in more dark magic. He hated the old man. His evil father wasn’t even a full-blooded dragon. He’d been born a demon—and a disgraced one at that. If his powers hadn’t been stripped, he wouldn’t have needed to seduce his mom—weak woman that she was.

  Rathan glanced into the mirror to make sure he looked like a prince before heading over to hear what the old man had to say. Most likely this chastisement was for losing Kaleena. How his father had found out about her capture and subsequent escape he didn’t know. Most likely his guards told him. If Rathan heard the screeches and cries of the battle overhead, they must have too. A few well-placed inquiries would lead him to the truth.

  By the time Rathan finally figured out the reason for the fight and sent someone to investigate, Kaleena had already escaped. She’d been spotted outside with a man, but it had been too dark to see his face. Rathan couldn’t figure out how she had managed that feat. She had no magic. He’d seen to that. And none of his men had reported any kind of a breach.

  It didn’t matter. He’d find out soon enough, but damn, the whole incident galled him. Losing Kaleena was a huge blow to his plan and to his ego. He’d had such high hopes of breaking her—his own cousin.

  With his head held high, Rathan marched down the large castle hallway, turning right then left. Every guard stood at attention when he walked by—as well they should. Rathan better not encounter his brothers since he didn’t need their shit piled on top of his already foul mood. His two sisters, at least, he could handle.

  Luck was on his side when he made it to his father’s office suite without any interruptions. The guard standing watch knocked on the massive wooden door, pushed it open, and then announced him. When Rathan entered, his father, the king, was seated at his desk scribbling something in a ledger. It smelled of rich leather and tobacco smoke mixed with something sickly sweet—like cheap cologne.

  The man actually believed he ran his kingdom, when in reality without Rathan’s steady help of infusing dark magic into him and the others, none of the Royals would stand a chance against their enemies. Sure, his brother Tarik trained the guards, but it was Rathan who searched far and wide for the most powerful dark lighters.

  When he reached the desk, his father did not look up but rather continued to jot something down in the ledger. “Father?”

  “Just a moment.”

  Just a moment? Did he think his time wasn’t valuable? Rathan was busy organizing search parties for Kaleena and didn’t need to be having this needless conversation.

  Just as he was about to speak his mind, his dad finally set down his pen. “I hear you have quite a situation on your hands. Another failure, Rathan?”

  He’d figured this meeting was about placing blame, but Rathan wouldn’t confess to anything. What if this wasn’t about his cousin? “To what are you referring?”

  “Why your cousin’s escape, of course.”

  Damn. “How the hell did you hear about that?”

  “The whole fucking palace watched the air fight with her two brothers. Guards do talk, you know. What are you doing to find her?”

  “I have people looking for her now.”

  His father shoved his chair back, got up, and strode around his desk. Rathan stood straighter, refusing to be cowed by this man. When his father had the nerve to poke him in the chest, Rathan considered hauling off and hitting him. Too bad the guards would come running and toss him in jail for hitting the king.

  “What the hell were you thinking taking that girl?”

  That girl? She was his niece. “Weren’t you the one who suggested I grab her? And weren’t you the one who said she could help us since her powers are so extensive?”

  “I never told you to do any such thing.” His father crossed his arms over his chest and looked off to the side.

  What the fuck? That was a blatant lie. Now Rathan was even more pissed off. “Are you insane? I have spent my life trying to find enough dark lighters to satisfy your insatiable need for power. I’ll tell you exactly what you said. Rathan, I need more power. The dark lighters are depleting too fast, so go and find powerful white lighters and turn them. I’m told your cousin Kaleena inherited powerful white lighter abilities.”

  His father gave a snuffing sound and waved his hand through the air as if he was swatting away something annoying. He then turned his back on Rathan. “You misheard me.”

  What?! He hadn’t misheard the bleating old windbag at all. Rathan clenched his fists and started to take a step toward his father, but before he could call him out, someone rapped on the door. His father turned and raised an eyebrow in surprise when he noticed Rathan’s stance.

  He smirked. That’s right old man; be very wary of me. I will bury you someday.

  A second later, his younger brother Ander came in. Shit. On the surface, he was every woman’s dream man—fair haired, handsome, and eloquent. Underneath, he was a snake.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Ander said.

  Like hell he didn’t. He wanted to watch a beheading—his.

/>   “How can I help you, son?” their father asked in a gentle tone.

  Rathan’s blood boiled. His father never used a gentle tone with him or referred to him as son. Rathan always felt like he was more of an annoyance and treated like no more than a hired guard. Bloody so-called family would all feel his wrath one day!

  Ander glanced at Rathan and his brother’s barely noticeable evil smirk disappeared quickly. Then the little shit turned to their father all proud and pretentious. “It’s not good, Father. Several members of the press arrived at the castle asking why white lighters were being held captive in our castle. I told them that was a total falsehood. Unfortunately, they had a lot of details. I informed them that under no circumstances would the Royals be involved in such a degrading travesty and explained that they needed to check their information properly. We take great pride in the people of Tarradon. Do you have any idea what happened to bring this all about?”

  “Ask your brother. He took the girl and then let her escape.”

  Rathan’s temper got the best of him. “You ordered me to take her, you…Your Majesty!” he shouted once more, hoping this time his father would cop to the truth, especially since Rathan had no fear of him anymore.

  His father turned dark red and was in Rathan’s face in seconds, grabbing a hold of his lapels. He shook him as he yelled, “You better watch your mouth. That’s a damn lie, and I will not be disrespected like that.”

  It took all of Rathan’s control not to kill him. He didn’t because in the back of his mind he wondered if he could. After all, the king had been infused with so much dark magic over the years—thanks to him—that if he attacked, his dad might kill him. On top of that, Ander would jump to their father’s defense in a heartbeat—the little traitor.

  When Rathan didn’t fight back, his father let go and then shoved him.

  His brother spun to face him. “What the hell were you thinking?”