by Olivia Ash
Apparently satisfied with how much he has teased me, Jace breaks away. It leaves me a little breathless, and I impulsively reach toward him, aching for more.
“This way.” He takes my hand and nods toward the rocks, droplets of water caught in the stubble along his jaw as he grins.
We swim toward the boulders, and as we near, I notice a shallow shelf of rock at the base of them. About waist deep, the shelf creates a small table for us to stand on. Jace and I step onto the flat boulder submerged in the water, feeling weightless as our bare feet brush against the smooth surface.
Gently, Jace presses me against the nearest boulder, pinning me to the warm rock as the crystal-clear water laps at our waists. He once more presses his hips to mine, his cock sliding between my legs. It brushes my entrance, teasing me with what’s to come, and my eyes flutter closed with delight.
He brushes aside my hair, the electric buzz of his touch igniting me with desire as he lovingly tucks a lock behind my ear. He holds my face, and I open my eyes to find him watching me.
His thumb brushes my lips, leaving a sizzling sensation of joy and lust with every flick of his finger, and I’m lost.
Utterly and completely lost—in him.
His lips press against mine, and he inhales my scent like he can’t live without it. Like he can’t live without me. The embrace gets more intense as his hunger deepens, and his other hand grips my waist tightly to keep my hips in place.
It would seem he plans to make up for lost time.
He pulls his cock from between my thighs, the length of his shaft running along my clit as I lean into him. The tip of his dick presses against my entrance, parting my sensitive folds as it teases my channel.
Mercilessly, Jace tilts my hips, controlling my body as he torments me with his incredible cock, refusing to enter me just yet. Preferring to torture me, instead.
I moan as his grip lowers to my thighs. Effortlessly, he lifts my legs until they’re wrapped around his waist once more. His thumbs press against my inner thigh as he adjusts me, spreading me to give himself better access. His hard chest pins me to the smooth rock, his muscles flexed as he controls every inch of me.
I’m lost in the sensations blurring through my body as he kisses me, my eyes closed as I surrender to him completely.
To us.
He’s tormenting me, playing with me until I’m putty in his hands. Jace knows what he’s doing to me by making me wait, and now he’s just being mean.
“Take me, Jace Goodwin,” I softly demand.
He smirks devilishly. “Thy will be done, woman.”
His cock slides into me, slowly at first, stretching me inch by glorious inch as he forces himself inside. I gasp as he slowly takes me, savoring every second of it even as his thick cock stretches me to my limits. Just when I think he couldn’t possibly go deeper, he does—time and time again.
His mouth explores mine, lips hungry and unyielding as he continues to stretch me, fill me, enter me.
Slowly.
When my clit finally brushes against his body, his cock fully immersed, I arch my back in utter ecstasy. He waits, burying his face in my neck, enjoying the sensation as much as I do.
As we stay there, my legs spread with his cock buried deep within me, he slowly tilts his hips forward and back, gently pumping his dick through my channel. It’s a subtle sensation, but it sends shockwaves of delight and lust through me as he pushes me to the brink.
We press our foreheads together, losing ourselves in the moment. In each other.
I run my fingers through his hair, holding him to me, refusing to let go as he continues to slowly rock against me. I kiss him fiercely, and his hands slip to the small of my back as his lips move against mine.
In that moment, our dragons are finally happy.
There’s a bubbling sensation of happiness in my chest, and I can feel the very second when our souls meld.
With him deep inside of me, we become one—fused now and forever. Always. The serene knowing that he will always be there is overpowering, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
It’s calm.
Comforting.
Absolute and unchangeable.
With our bond complete, my dragon is happy and at peace.
“I’m yours for life, Rory,” he growls into my ear as my grip tightens in his hair.
For life.
I sigh happily, leaning into him. I want to give him everything. I want to tell him how devoted I am.
But as I open my mouth to speak, he doesn’t give me the chance to say a word.
His hands grab my waist and he pulls slightly out, only to thrust deep within me. I gasp, swallowing everything I wanted to say as he takes over.
His cock slides out of me once again, and he bucks into me with even more fervor. More fire. He rides me with smooth, powerful strokes.
A man like him, a love like ours—he doesn’t need to rush.
After all, we have forever.
With every thrust, he tilts my pelvis downward. The motion sends tendrils of delight through me every time as my clit rubs against his skin, a sensation that spirals clear down to my fingertips. I moan as he rides me, the slow and sensual thrusts overwhelming and beautiful.
He possessively grabs the back of my neck as he forces his way into me, the water surging around us as he fills me to the brim. I moan, back arching, lost in the utter bliss of his rock-hard body against mine.
The sensation builds, steady and constant, as he gradually picks up speed. Every thrust is somehow stronger than the last. His grip on my waist tightens with every plunge as he pulls me against him, creating even more friction. Even more ecstasy.
My orgasm starts to build, a slow flicker of bliss deep in my core as he rides me to my climax. It’s steady, like a flame that slowly flickers to life, growing brighter every time he thrusts his cock deep into me.
He never once stops. He never once pauses. He just bucks into me again and again, more powerfully every time, his gorgeous abs tensing against me as his cock dominates me.
As my climax tortures me, so close and yet refusing to hit, I lean into him. I try to say something, to crack a joke, but all I can do is moan louder.
I arch my back and press my palm against the smooth rock behind me, riding him as hard as he rides me. I spread my legs wider, taking him in, giving him control. Giving him whatever he desires, anything he asks.
And then it hits.
My orgasm rocks through me, and as it does, my brain shuts off. All I can do is ride the tide of utter bliss. Of joy. Devotion. Love. Ecstasy. I’m lost in the sensation, in the overwhelming delight that shoots through every toe, every fingertip. With my legs still spread wide against him, my hips arched against his, giving him all of me, I moan into the sky.
I lose track of time as he continues to ride me through my orgasm, driving it harder, higher, longer.
When the blissful sensation finally begins to fade, I collapse against the rock. I’m completely spent and utterly exhausted.
His cock pauses its ride, still buried deep within me as his grip on my waist keeps me upright.
My eyes flutter open, and I’m delighted to find him watching me. His expression mirrors how I feel—devoted, in love, lost in the moment.
“Your turn,” I say softly, exhausted and exhilarated all at once.
“Yes ma’am,” he says with a wry smirk.
He thrusts into me, somehow even harder than before, and I gasp with pleasure as he rubs his hard body against my sensitive bud. Before I can help myself, I moan, leaning into him as my over-stimulated clit takes me almost instantly into a second climax.
I wrap my arms around him as I come a second time, grinding my hips against him as he holds my back. His grip on my waist tightens, and he shoves his cock into me one last time. I feel a hot rush as he releases himself inside, his cock stretching me as he gives in to his own orgasm. He sighs with relief and leans his head against my neck.
We stay there for quite a while
, breathing heavily as we try to catch our breath.
His biceps flex as he wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly. The movement is possessive, almost primal.
As his arms weave around my back, holding me tighter, his cock still buried within me, it feels very much like I’m being claimed.
“You’re mine for life,” he says, gently brushing his nose against my jaw. He plants a few kisses along my neck. “That’s the only reason I’m okay with sharing you, Rory—the men you brought here, they’re worthy of you. I might still get jealous from time to time, but that’s a dragon’s right.”
I laugh breathlessly, my shoulders still heaving from our fun.
Crickets begin to chirp nearby, the sound soft and soothing as it fills the night. Jace lets out a slow sigh, and as his hard chest presses against mine, I can feel his pulse returning to normal.
He affectionately runs his hand through my wet hair, watching me with a small smile as he studies my face.
“What?” I ask, smiling back at him.
“From the moment you arrived here, Harper has been bugging me to carry you off and mate with you. It’s been utterly aggravating—but now I have to tell her she was right.”
I laugh. She would.
“I’m glad I can tell her that finally happened,” he admits. “But first, I have business to tend to.”
I tilt my head, a little confused. “Oh? What’s that?”
Instead of answering, he winks and runs his fingers down the length of my body. He slips two of them into me, his thumb teasing my entrance yet again as he helps himself to the space between my thighs.
My hips impulsively tilt toward him, giving him access to whatever he wants, and I gasp in delighted surprise as he gets me ready for round two.
Deep within, my dragon curls with delight—and I have to agree.
My life rocks.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The next morning, I wake to the soft buzz of insects fluttering through the bushes nearby. The thunder of the waterfall coaxes me awake, as does the gentle breathing of the man sleeping next to me in the soft white sand.
His strong hands weave around my waist, his fingertips brushing my navel, sending tendrils of joyful delight through me every time he twitches in his sleep.
I adjust my position on the bank of the water, rolling over until we're face-to-face. With his eyes closed, his brows scrunch in his sleep, as if he’s about to lecture the people in his dream.
Still serious, even when he's sleeping.
After the shift, we have no clothes, so we're still lying naked in the sand. I look up at the sky, gauging that the sun must have only just risen, so we haven't wasted too much of the morning.
In the serene atmosphere around me, I can't help but hum with delight as the world feels so beautiful. So right.
I lean toward Jace, our noses almost touching as I admire him. The stubble that runs along his square jaw. His handsome features.
And those stormy eyes. Even though I can't see them, I know they're there.
I run my fingertip along his cheek, just drinking him in as the silent morning stretches on.
My mate.
He stirs at my touch, blinking awake and instantly snaring me with his gaze. The corner of his mouth curls slightly, and he growls a little in pleasure. His hand tightens around my waist, and he drags me closer to him, kissing my jaw as I land against his bare chest.
With one fluid motion, he pulls my leg over him and rolls onto his back. Now straddling him, I feel him start to harden between my legs.
I laugh. “What? Six times last night wasn't enough for you?”
“It's never enough,” he says, admiring me. “Not when I have you.”
“So romantic,” I say, grinning as I tilt my head slightly to admire this man.
Just to tease him, I stay exactly where he put me and stretch my arms into the sky. It feels good to let the muscles relax and loosen, especially given the workout we had last night.
As I stretch, my stomach rumbles, and I wonder what they have for breakfast this morning—or if anyone is sober enough to cook anything.
While I stretch my biceps and shoulders, a painful cramp shoots through my pelvis. I grimace, holding my hand to the area as I breathe through it, wondering what the hell that was.
As a second cramp hits me, a rush of dread sinks clear to my toes.
The warning.
The tea.
Crap.
Drew warned me that my IUD would fail after I shifted for the first time.
Cold dread flutters through me.
“My IUD must have come out,” I say as a third cramp rocks through my body.
I'm not sure what I was expecting Jace to do or say, but I definitely wasn't expecting him to smile as broadly as he is now.
He sits upright, looking delightfully excited as he keeps me rooted in his lap. “Did I get you pregnant?”
I smack his shoulder playfully, but I can't keep from laughing. “We are not ready for that. Are you kidding?”
He chuckles, still holding me in place and brushes his nose across mine. “I'm ready, but I'll wait until you are, too.”
Jace kisses me deeply, briefly chasing away the dread even though I most certainly am not ready for a kid just yet.
“Don't worry,” he adds. “You have about a twelve-hour delay with a tea. Sure, it's better to drink it every morning, just in case, but you should be fine this time. There's some back at the embassy, so let's get going.”
I stand, on a mission to not get pregnant.
Not right now. Not with everyone coming after me.
I shake out my hands and shoulders, rolling my head as I reach deep inside, trying to connect once again with my dragon. She's there. I can feel her, but for some reason, she's not responding.
“How do I do this, Jace?” I ask. “On purpose, I mean. What do I do?”
Last night was impulsive. Instinctual. I had no control over the shift when it happened, and I would really like to learn how to summon my dragon on my own terms.
“Reach toward her,” Jace instructs, effortlessly adopting the stern voice he always uses when we train. “Try to find that same alignment you felt with her last night.”
I frown as I face a wall of resistance inside. Like I know where she is but can't reach her. My jaw tenses as I get more and more annoyed the longer nothing happens.
Behind me, Jace take a smooth and steadying breath, and I already know what he's going to tell me to do next.
Breathe.
In an effort to calm my raging annoyance, I take a deep breath and peek at him through a half-closed eyelid as he smirks.
“Exactly,” he says, nodding.
This time, I manage to get through to my dragon. I can practically feel her curled up in a ball deep inside, groggy and very much wanting me to go away so she can sleep.
I chuckle. Nope.
“The first few times are really rough on her,” Jace says, his deep voice rolling over me and soothing me as I try to coax her awake. “She probably doesn't have much energy left after last night. It takes some getting used to, but you’ll both get it.”
He walks behind me and brushes his fingers along my shoulders, his fingertips just barely touching my skin. It shoots tendrils of desire and glee through me, the sensations curling through my body like rays of sunshine.
At his touch, my dragon stirs, ignited by him. I can feel her start to rise. Start to rumble.
“Try again,” Jace says in my ear.
I let out a slow sigh, and with my eyes still closed, reach for her once again.
Let's do this, babe, I tell her.
The longer Jace holds me, running his fingertips along my arms, the more powerful her flurry of excitement becomes. I feel her shake deep within my core, finally waking.
Jace's touch disappears from my skin, leaving me cold where he was holding me, but my body begins to hum and vibrate. Flickers of pain shoot through me, both agonizing and invigorating, all at once.
My world tilts, and I get briefly dizzy as my head spins. I fall forward, but instead of landing on my hands, instead of feeling awkward and off-balance, the ground thunders slightly beneath my front claws.
Just like that, the painful hum is over. I stumble, feeling so much bigger and entirely off-balance. My wings stretch instinctively to help me stay on my feet.
“Yeah!” Jace shouts triumphantly, and as I open my eyes, I find him jumping in the air, pumping his fist into the sky.
I shake out my body, feeling the tension release as my muscles relax. I feel amazing, like all is right with the world once again, and I lean into the sensation.
Out of curiosity, I look at myself in the reflection on the lake, only to pause with stunned disbelief as my scales glisten brilliantly—like diamonds in the light. Four elegant white horns curve from my brow, framing my golden eyes that glow with fire and magic. As I spread my wings, they dazzle me. Every curve of my body—every detail—is beautiful, regal, and powerful. Refined talons curl from the tips of my wings, extra weapons that shine with just as much brilliance as my scales.
I lean toward the water, my nose hovering over the surface as I study my new face. I huff in awe of her—of my dragon—and a flurry of white sparks sizzle in the air on my breath.
A soft growl beside me catches my attention, and I lift my head to find Jace standing in the water not far away in his dragon form. His stunning thunderbird watches me, the blue magic of his dragon glowing beneath his skin.
He brushes his head against mine, our necks arching as the connection opens at our touch.
Do you know what you are? he asks.
No idea, I confess.
You're a diamond dragon, something so rare they were thought to be a myth.
Whoa. I blink in surprise, not quite sure what to make of that. What does that mean, though?
That you are truly unique, he says, brushing his wing lovingly against mine. And drop-dead gorgeous, inside and out.
I laugh, huffs of air rolling through my nose in short bursts. You charmer.
He nudges me playfully and takes to the sky, the gust of air from his wings brushing across my face as he hovers over the water, waiting for me to join him.