Single Red Dragon: A Dragon Shifter Fated Mates Novel (Space Dragons Seek Mates Book 2)

by Michelle Ziegler

  Her body was ready. He didn't need a mind link to know she was nearly there. Her breathing becoming more rapid, her heart beating to the rhythm of their lovemaking.

  She started to slow, unable to push herself over the edge. He gripped her hips firm and pushed her to go harder, faster.

  The palms of her hands pressed against his chest as she whimpered. He needed her to come with him, needed her release with his own. It wasn't enough.

  Holding her to him, he flipped her on her back, her legs wrapping around his hips and he began to slam into her.

  Eadric's own fantasy was her under him, on top of him. Anyway she'd have him. His balls grew tighter with each thrust, with each sound of her pleasure as he thrust into her. Slamming into her once more, burying himself deep, she lost it. Her core closed in around him, pulling his own pleasure from him. He spilled into her, coating her in his scent. Giving her his seed. Binding them closer.

  His soul had ached for hers and he'd never even known it.

  Rolling over, he smiled. God, she was going to kill him.

  She scooted up next to him, her fire mixing with his own.

  Moments passed, and their hearts slowed. She pulled away.

  He tried to hold her to him, but she wiggled.

  "I need water."

  He let her go reluctantly.

  Pride filled his chest as he watched the wet glistening between her thighs as she walked to the bag. A smile spread across his lips as she wobbled a bit at first. He smirked at the mental accompaniment of her own mental sigh at the loss of her virginity.

  Now that she'd accepted him, perhaps it was time to move back to the ship and a real bed.

  His mind got distracted by her perfectly full ass as she moved away.

  "I know you're staring at my butt. Stop."

  He smirked.

  You are my mate. I can look at whatever I please.

  Throwing a fake glare over her shoulder, he could feel her shy confidence. His Lilly was still new to all this.

  Eadric smelled the air, noticing the scent of her now mixed with his own. He also smelled a small bit of blood, and a moment of panic hit until he remembered the anatomy of a human lesson. Newly mated females could bleed when first taken. The pride within him swelled again.

  No one had tasted her, no one had ever given her pleasure.

  He got up and walked over to her.

  She held the bottle of water to her lips as he wrapped his arms around her.

  For the first time in his life, he longed for a future.

  His hands rested atop her belly. He longed for her belly to grow and swell with his young. A cold fear ran through him at the thought of losing her.

  Using his mind link, he reached out to Deo.

  Has the female found an antidote yet?

  A moment passed before he responded.

  Not yet. She thinks she's close, but there are just too many unknowns to rush it.

  He clenched his jaw. Not the news he needed.

  Lilly turned to Eadric, handing him the water.

  "Should we head back to the ship? Tell them the plan?"

  He frowned.

  Not yet. No. He didn't want to face anything yet.

  "I can't tell what you're thinking right now, Eadric, but I can feel it. I can feel your fear."

  She rested her cheek against his chest.

  "Let's go back and come up with another plan. I know you trust your brothers."

  His chin rested atop her head and he ran a hand through her hair.

  Perhaps there was something he wasn't seeing. Maybe Lilly was right.

  "Yes. Let's pack up and I'll take you back."

  She went to pull away, but he stopped her.

  "You promise to not melt the ship this time?"

  A sly smile spread across her lips as she bent down to grab her pants.

  "This time, if you tie me up, I promise not to melt anything, assuming you know how to use that thing, anyway."

  He looked down and his dick, already growing hard at the idea of tying her up.

  She flashed him a mental image of her handcuffed to a bed, legs spread with his head buried between them as she writhed in pleasure.

  Woman, you have a dirty mind.

  How the hell were they supposed to get back to the ship with her spouting off ideas like that.

  She slipped on her pants and smiled.

  "My sister told me that sometimes sex wasn't so bad if she made the foreplay last longer."

  Foreplay?

  Eadric watched as she started to walk toward him.

  "Yeah. You know. The stuff that comes before, well," she smirked, and grabbed his dick.

  Eadric sucked in a breath.

  "For someone that acts all macho, you certainly don't seem to know much do you?" One glance up at him and he knew that he'd been wrong in not wanting a mate. Goddess, if someone would have told him it could be this much fun, he'd have signed over his fucking soul years ago.

  He bent down and kissed her.

  Pulling away, she slowly moved around picking up the few things they had and stopped.

  "Eadric, before we go, can I do something?"

  He looked inside her mind and laughed.

  "Sure. Do what you will and I will finish this."

  Lilly giggled and picked up a rock. Heading over to the cave wall, she started to write their names. Next to it she drew a few stick figures.

  He turned his head from side to side and when he realized what she'd drawn he nearly choked.

  "What are you doing?"

  She smiled over her shoulder.

  "I read about cave men leaving their stories behind, it was a way to hand down their history."

  He rolled his eyes. "Our story is mating?"

  She smiled, and then the sparkle in her eyes fell. "Well, no. But it's the part where I became yours. And no matter where this journey takes us, I want that to always be remembered. Plus," she said, the sparkle back in her eyes. "This is my favorite position, and I'd hate for it to be forgotten."

  There was a darkness ahead, but for the moment they could laugh.

  Who was this female and what had he awoken inside of her?

  Better yet, when could he be inside her again?

  11

  Eadric sat, elbows planted firmly on the metal while his head remained propped on his hands. Lilly had become more and more concerned as she watched a darkness fall on Eadric's mind the more she explained the plan. Each time his brothers added something, he growled. At least he was still there, she thought.

  She was most concerned when his thoughts fell deeper into a rabbit hole as he envisioned her setting the ship on fire and walking away.

  She kept her hand on his, but nothing was getting through.

  Lilly thought his silence was an improvement from the earlier rantings and growling. It was more human than animal, anyway. His thoughts were jumbled. She couldn't seem to get a hold of him. Not that she had mastered the mind connection thing, but she was certain most of this was him.

  She didn't understand a lot yet, but this mind thing could be of use when she went back. At least if things went sideways, she'd never be alone, not once. Or so she kept telling herself.

  The good news is that while his mind was focused, well whatever it was doing, she could get his brothers on board. Lilly knew that the biggest hurdle would be when she had to ask him to take part in the plan. Maybe even give her a black eye or break an arm. Something to make it look like she had been a captive.

  No one would touch that part of her plan with a ten-foot pole, apparently. Big men, and yet they all just stared in fear at Eadric.

  He growled low in his throat. Well, shoot. This mind connection was hell when she needed to focus on her own plans.

  She tried to see what was going on in that beautiful head of his. She brushed a lock of his hair off of his forehead. She hated to see him like this. His duty clouded by the need for her. She could figure that much out.

  Even sad he was still the
most handsome man she'd ever seen, and he was hers.

  Snapping out of Eadric's pain, she tried to focus on what was going on again.

  Her neck was starting to hurt as she looked up at all of them.

  "Brothers. This is not a time for arguing. No one wants to get into a war with these Illuminati, but the fact remains Kal needs us. Deo, is there still no development?"

  Nyke, that was the name she could hear from Eadric's thoughts. He was all business. Was he always this serious?

  Yes. Eadric thought in answer.

  "No, there is still nothing. Perhaps if she had more than twenty-four hours, we'd have some, but as of right now. No. She hasn't come up with anything as of yet," Deo said.

  They all turned to Eadric. "Unfortunately, your mate's plan is the most viable."

  Fuuuuck, was the sound of Eadric's thought.

  He turned his head to her. She raised her hand to his face, and he nuzzled into it. Eadric couldn't touch her and have a rational thought. Lilly had tried, and every time she talked about the plan, he got angrier and angrier. It had taken three of his brothers to get him to sit and rationally talk, or rather THEY rationally talked.

  "Her name is Lilly. Not just my mate. She has a name," he shouted, pounding a fit against the metal table.

  Calm down, Eadric. They aren't trying to hurt me.

  She tried to keep him calm, but she had no idea if that was even possible. Darkness swirled within his mind, and it scared her.

  They don't know what they ask.

  He finally looked up into Nyke's demanding face.

  "Why is my mate any less important than Kal's?" he asked.

  The brothers stopped and looked at him.

  Lilly understood what he was asking, but to her, she didn't see it like that. She volunteered. Her heart beat faster as the fear of going back surfaced again. No. If she let that in, Eadric would never let her go. He wouldn't ever let her out of his sight.

  Closing her eyes, she tried to think of positive things. Her father wouldn't kill her if he thought she came back willingly. Her father valued weapons, and her ability to protect them against certain creatures was useful. That however was where her usefulness stopped. It was enough, though.

  Lilly focused on the other reason she wanted to go back, her sister. She had someone who tried to be the best friend she could in a life devoid of all other contact. She opened her eyes and felt calmer now.

  Eadric's eyes bore into hers as she faced him. Crap. Nothing got by him.

  Nyke's words filtered in through the mental tension. "It is logical to think that way right now, but remember, we've gone over every possible plan. If we had a way to contact this sister, perhaps things won't go any further. But we still need to get close to the facility."

  An onslaught of pain shot through her. She gripped her own chest at the ache.

  What is that? she asked Eadric.

  He closed his eyes.

  Kal's pain. I can't block it out anymore.

  She could feel his pain through Eadric? Was this a fate she'd be condemning Eadric too if she didn't come back?

  He nodded.

  A tear slid down her cheek before she could catch it.

  A word floated through his head, over and over again. She winced at the realization. Duty. Duty before his own heart. Family before his own desires.

  "Fine. We will move out at dawn as planned. For now, I will retire to my chambers with my mate. No one bother me the rest of the evening."

  He grabbed her hand and stood. She nearly fell at the surprise of his actions.

  "Eadric? Where-"

  He cut her off as he pulled her into his arms. He moved an arm under her knees and carried her out into the hall.

  As long as it was with him, she didn't really care. Nuzzling into his chest, she tried to memorize his scent. She wanted to remember even the smallest detail. Remember the way his heart beat. She tried to remember what it felt like as he moved, the strength and power as he held her.

  Something made a small sloosh sound, and he stepped into a dimly lit room.

  Eadric placed her on something deliciously soft. Her body sinking into the cloud-like bed.

  Smiling up, she took in her mate. The visions of her as he saw her filtered through her mind. Nothing made her feel sexier.

  Pulling at the hem of his shirt, he lifted it over his head, letting the clothing fall.

  Her breath caught as he leaned over her, the orange of his eyes glowing bright, the pupils slits, like his dragon.

  She laid down, and he crawled up her body.

  Pushing up her shirt, she sucked in a breath as he began to kiss her. She noticed a new sensation, a slight burn of pleasure on her belly where his lips started and worked their way up. She welcomed the feel of him, of anything.

  He gripped her shirt and kept sliding it up, slowly making his way to her breast. He licked around one nipple before he took it in his mouth. She arched into him.

  More.

  He pulled the bottom of her shirt, and she began ripping it over her head. His lips met hers the moment she was free. The masculine taste of his kiss had her core already slick, wanting.

  He pulled away, holding himself up from crushing her.

  "I love you," he said.

  The ache of pain from the possibility of a future without him turned to something so different, so raw.

  She needed him.

  "I love you too, Eadric."

  Perhaps she'd never known true love or anything until now, and his love filled every aching empty space within her.

  She smashed her lips against his, trying to hold it together, keeping the joy, the sadness, and the fear locked away.

  His gentle kisses turned more fierce and before she could beg for more, he had her pants off. He stood and pulled his own off and was back on top of her before the cool of the air could kiss her skin.

  There was nothing but need. His hand slid between her folds, stroking her. He dipped first one finger and then a second. He stroked her from the inside out until her body couldn't withhold the one thing he wanted. Her juices slicked his hand, readying her. God, she was ready.

  He gripped one of her thighs, hooking his hand behind her knee, as he spread her.

  She shuddered as the soft skin of his head pushed against her entrance. The need from him mirrored her own. She shuddered as his mind filled with the raw animal desires. He needed her now. There was no softness, just a desire to claim his mate.

  She would not stop him. His eyes connected to her, and in one quick thrust he entered her. She gasped at the familiar invasion of his massive size. Her muscles stretched and burned as they accepted him until there was nothing but pleasure.

  He began to pump into her. He lowered his lips to hers, kissing away her whimpers of pleasure as he hastened his pace.

  It seemed too soon, but she was already panting. She was already nearly there. One more pump and the walls of her core convulsed around him. But he wasn't done, his need pushing him faster and further until she was near a point of too much.

  She wrapped her hands in the sheets of the bed. Use me. She thought. Let me feel your need.

  Eadric growled, the sound erotic, carnal. Her mate.

  Her desire coiled within her again and she clung to the sheets as she took everything he had. Everything he needed. Just as he pushed her over an edge that she didn't know she could return from, he thrust once more and his dick pulsed inside her. The heat of his seed spilling into her, the only part of him she'd be able to keep with her.

  He let out a moan of spent need and pulled her onto him.

  They lay there for a while. Time seemed to go too fast, but at the same time it felt like they had all the time in the world.

  They didn't sleep, merely enjoyed the silence of their beating hearts together. The soft breathing of each other.

  Her heart began to ache as the thought of what if he didn't come for her?

  His hand ran through her long hair.

  I will always come
for you or die trying.

  The conviction of his words, of his resolve shadowed the pain within her.

  He would come for her. She was no longer alone. She was loved.

  Lilly kissed his chest.

  A moment later, there was a shift in his energy. He traced circles around her back.

  "Tell me, what memories make a human's life worth living?"

  She was quiet for a moment, but images of a dance popped into her head.

  "A masquerade?" he asked.

  She blushed. "No. Well, maybe. It was a dance, or well, a ball from a long time ago. My sister said they don't do that anymore. I read an article in a magazine about dating once. Maybe it would be fun to go on a date once?"

  She showed him pictures in her mind of food and a table, because honestly, she didn't know what else a date was. Any time with Eadric would make her life worth living. How he didn't get the obvious she didn't know.

  All right. Item one. A date.

  Gently he lifted her, sliding out and standing.

  "My dearest Lillyanna, would you do me the honor?"

  He bowed, and Lilly couldn't hold in a giggle.

  "Why, kind sir, I thought you'd never ask." She stood up, and he pulled her into his body.

  "I don't think any of my research ever told me about naked dates or dancing." She tried to wiggle away from him.

  She froze as the warmth of his breath against her ear sent tingles down her body.

  Whispering, he said, “The naked part is for me. Now go get dressed for our date."

  He smiled as she turned away and grabbed up her clothing. The heat of his gaze all over her body did nothing for her speed. She wanted to turn around and just stay in bed the rest of the evening.

  A sadness settled within her, no matter his mood of hopeful fun. She didn't know if she would ever see the sun again after tonight, or worse, Eadric. Her father adapted. It made him ruthless as well as one of the best Illuminati scientists of his time. He scared her.

  Lilly looked around, looking for a bathroom. The excitement of a date had her wanting to go look in a mirror for once. Maybe see herself as she was. She wanted to look beautiful for Eadric, if this was his last memory of her.