Inferno

by Amelia Jade

She moved back enough to be able to glare at him. “I did not spaz out,” she said hotly.

  “You threw yourself off of my back,” he told her bluntly. “We weren’t twisting or moving.”

  “Well, you did something!” she snapped. “Whatever it was you did, it made me terrified to be near you. So, I, uh, got away from you.”

  “But you know you can’t fly, right? That’s my shtick.”

  She sighed. “I know that now.”

  They both enjoyed a chuckle, able to joke about the experience now that it was over.

  “But seriously, what did you do?” she asked. “That’s twice now. How…”

  It wasn’t the question she most wanted to ask. That would be why she wasn’t on top of him, naked, and grinding her hips back and forth against his—Stop it. Right now. If he wanted it to happen, it would, or will happen. But for now, keep your pants dry.

  “It’s an ability of ours. We can reach out and affect certain parts of your mind. That’s probably the easiest way to think of it.”

  “So you can, what, make people terrified of you?”

  He shrugged. “Not necessarily of me. That’s my default, but I can tweak it enough to get generalized fears. So, you could be scared of me, or all men, or a certain person. Being afraid of say, jumping off the back of a dragon while in midair? That’s a bit harder to do.

  She slugged him in the arm, but he didn’t seem to feel it at all. “Cheater. How am I supposed to make you regret saying things like that?”

  “You’re smart. I suspect you’ll come up with something.”

  “Right.” She blew air noisily. “Is that something all dragons can do?”

  “Fear is my thing. Others can do different emotions. Anger, sadness, joy. Lust.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “But you only do fear?”

  He grinned. “Yes. It comes in useful when I want to be left alone, but truthfully, I tend to forget just how much it can affect humans.”

  “No kidding,” she agreed.

  “I am very sorry,” he said softly, reaching out to pull her into a tight embrace. “My intent was never to put you into jeopardy. I just didn’t think it through well enough.”

  “How very typically male,” she said drolly, allowing just the hint of a smile to show to indicate she wasn’t upset. “But if you truly want my forgiveness, you’re going to have to do something else.”

  “Oh?” He perked up at the mention of something to redeem himself. “What would that be?”

  She grinned. “You’re going to have to take me to dinner.”

  “Ah,” he said, returning the look. “Like a formal date?”

  Hollie nodded. “Yes, exactly like a formal date.”

  “I can do that. But first, I’m going to take you up again. This time properly.”

  Her smile widened. “You know, I think I would like that, Sid. I think I would like that very much.”

  And just like that, her earlier uncertainty about Obsidian not making a move on her was lifted away. He was interested. He just didn’t want to rush things.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Hollie

  “Well, Mr….uh,” she floundered, realizing that he didn’t have a last name. “Mr. Sidian, first name Ob. That was a most excellent meal.”

  He just stared at her, not moving. Eventually she watched one hand reach up and lazily scratch at his stubble.

  “Was it something I said?” She smiled, making it appear more strained than she actually felt.

  “Actually,” he said deeply, “I think it was everything you said. Particularly those last few sentences.”

  She snickered. “That’s what you get for having one name only. You do know that it’s proper naming convention these days to have two names.”

  Sid rolled his eyes and kicked off his boots, flicking the door lock behind him without glancing at it. “I’m not that old.”

  “Sure sure. You’re just too embarrassed to admit it. You can’t keep up with this young whippersnapper!”

  “This…what?” He looked utterly confused and Hollie laughed, taking pity on him.

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said, patting his firm chest mockingly.

  “You have the weirdest terminology,” he complained. “Whippersnapper? And what was it you said earlier…home slice? What does that even mean? A slice of bread from at home?”

  Hollie buried her head in her hands, shaking with laughter. “Oh, you are too much fun.”

  Sid looked around, frustrated. Taking pity on him, she grabbed his hand and pulled him close. “Oh relax.” Then she kissed him.

  It was just as good as out in the field earlier. Deep, tender, and richly masculine. His natural aroma was deliciously close to that of full grain leather, a scent she could inhale all day long if given the opportunity.

  Or all night.

  Air rushed through her lips as he kissed her neck, finding the perfect spot down the side that sent tingles down her spine. He bit down on her earlobe, and she moaned softly in his grip. Despite that, however, his hands never moved from her sides, and he stopped at her neck, neglecting her collarbone and more. Feeling frustrated, the sexual needs within her going unsatisfied, she grabbed his face and pulled it away from her.

  “Okay, point blank time,” she said firmly. “Why are you so reluctant to take this further? Is it me? Do I smell?”

  Sid burst out into laughter. “No, Hollie, you do not smell. Not bad, at least. You do have a lovely little bit of wildflower and mountain air stuck to you from our trip earlier, but trust me when I say it’s the exact opposite of bad. In fact, it’s quite tantalizing.”

  His pupils dilated as he spoke, and she could feel the energy radiating outward from him. It wasn’t a lack of attraction. “So what is it?” she pressed.

  Sid looked uncomfortable at her directness. Well, too bad. She wasn’t going to beat around the bush and play games. That had gotten real old as she grew up. It was fun at first, to tease boys and flirt. But now, after a certain point, she didn’t want that uncertainty. It was clear that Sid wasn’t used to this change, with a woman taking charge of things when it came to a sexual nature.

  Deal with it. If you want me, it comes with the territory, flyboy. Suck it up and adapt to the times, because they are-a-changin.

  “I…honestly, am a little uncertain about customs,” he replied at last, standing tall. “Make no mistake, Hollie. I want you very badly.”

  She shivered at that pronouncement. There was a deeper meaning to it that she knew she was missing, but even in the here and now, it was enough to curl her bottom lip up as she bit on it.

  “Is it acceptable for us to proceed without a more formal proclamation of our interest?” he asked. “At the risk of offending you, to be caught doing that when I was last awake was…scandalous, to say the least. It does not bother me, but I would not want to hurt your reputation.”

  Hollie grinned. “You’ve been holding back because you were concerned about how others might think about me for wanting to sleep with you?”

  He nodded. “If we had it my way…well…” his smile turned wicked.

  The lump in her throat appeared from nowhere as the implications of that look made their way to her brain. “Oh,” she said in a tiny voice. “I see.”

  One of Sid’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Do you?”

  She swallowed tightly, then shook her head. “No, but if you want to show me—”

  The next word was cut off as Obsidian stepped forward confidently, picked her up, pressed his lips to hers and didn’t stop until she hit something solid behind her.

  “COLD!” she yelped through the kiss as the cool metal of the freezer pressed against her lower back, left exposed as she curled her legs around him. “Cold cold cold!”

  Sid laughed evilly as he swung her around. “Tell me something,” he growled in her ear, the rocky bass of his voice dropping her mouth open as she breathed more deeply.

  “What?” she asked. “Anything…just tell me what you want me to say.
”

  “Is your clothing irreplaceable?”

  “No,” she replied, smothering him in another scorching kiss as his fingers found purchase and ripped the shirt from her body. Something sharp ripped through her bra, sending it falling to the ground to join the puddle of other wrecked clothes.

  Hollie didn’t care. Sid sat her on the counter for a moment, just long enough to remove his own shirt and slip her pants off, leaving her in nothing but her pink thong.

  “That’s underwear these days?” he asked in surprise as she rolled onto her side to give him an excellent view of her rear assets.

  “Got a problem?” Her voice was practically a purr as she hooked a finger under the band of it and pulled it to the side, exposing herself for him.

  What was she doing?! This was not her normal self! She was acting like an adult film star, flaunting her body so openly for him.

  The yellow of Sid’s eyes burst into life, reminding her of his dragon, and she watched his muscles tighten and bunch as he dragged his gaze up and down her body, drinking it all in.

  “No problem,” he replied throatily. “None. At. All.”

  She slipped her underwear back into place and sat up on the counter, her breasts swaying in front of her, gathering up his vision once more. “Good.”

  He grinned, stepped forward, and started to burn her with his kiss once more. Each eager press lit another fire at her core. She burned with heat and with a need to feel him inside her, to take him and just be his. Hollie wanted to feel owned, to be told what to do and enjoy knowing that she was his. Never before had such a desire been hers, but with Sid, she was willing to submit. Realizing that turned her on even more. She just hoped Obsidian would have her.

  A hand pushed between her legs and she spread them wide, giving him full access without protest. Two fingers slid achingly up between her legs, circling tenderly around the single flap of material that was her underwear, darting in close, but never quite making contact.

  Her breathing was becoming shorter and she gave a soft yelp of delight as his other hand closed around first one breast, then the other, massaging and gently teasing the tips until they were hard. Obsidian kissed across her cheek and gently sucked on her earlobe for a moment before his heated voice spoke into her ear.

  “Tell me what you want the most.”

  She arched involuntarily at the commanding tone.

  “I want you,” she gasped. “I need it. Please.”

  “Mmm.” He gently slid his fingers directly between her legs.

  Hollie gasped, the sound turning into a moan as he briefly applied a bit more pressure in a circular motion before withdrawing.

  “No, please don’t stop,” she begged, his mouth alternating between gently sucking and biting her neck, sprinkling kisses in between. His other hand continued to play with her breasts. The complete attention was driving her wild, and she needed release.

  “Take off my pants,” he growled, stepping closer so that she could reach out.

  Hollie leapt to do as he ordered, fingers moving so fast they fumbled with his belt several times before she got it loose. She tugged the denim over his waist and pushed it to the floor. That was as far as she could reach, but gravity did the rest and he slipped first one leg, then the other out of them as Hollie stayed riveted to the large bulge his boxers were hiding.

  Without thinking her hand reached out and under the waistband, where she found his hard cock waiting for her. Moaning happily, she stroked it gently, watching his face, enjoying the way his eyes rolled into the back of his head and his mouth hung open ever so slightly. A deep groan rolled out of him as she ran her thumb in circles over the tip of it.

  Just as she was starting to feel in control, fingers closed gently around her throat, just enough to send a nervous thrill through her system, but not enough to bother her. Obsidian’s brown-gold eyes flicked open and just like that, he was back in the driver’s seat. “Get on your knees,” he ordered.

  Hollie slid off the counter, practically melting in a puddle at his feet, eager to please, confident that she was going to get all of his attention shortly. But for now, he was going to get hers. Kissing him through the boxers, she raked the nails on both hands up his legs from the knee until his boxers tightened enough to stop her. He hissed, but didn’t stop her. She flipped her hands around until the backs of her palms rested on his legs, pushed her fingers up and out the waistband and pulled it back down, all the while keeping her face pressed against his dick. As it came free she looked directly up at him, letting her eyes go wide and innocent.

  The fires that burst into life in his eyes were all the encouragement she needed. Hollie dropped his boxers, lifted one hand to the base of his shaft, and held it steady. Her lips wet from a quick flick of her tongue, she began to gently suck on the very tip, making sure each slow motion was exaggerated, wanting him to feel her touch in every nerve ending.

  Eventually she worked her way up to taking the entire head into her mouth. If anything he grew harder at that point, and she felt a rush of heat between her legs as she truly focused on his cock for the first time, wondering what it would feel like as he entered her. Oh God, she couldn’t wait, she was ready for it—her thong starting to dampen with the evidence.

  More of him disappeared into her mouth and she continued to look up at him as often as she could, knowing he would enjoy the view of him disappearing down her throat. He was long, but still on the manageable side—barely!—and sucking on it was both a challenge and feasible, which was just the way she liked it.

  “Fuck, okay,” he swore, yanking his hips back and pulling out of her mouth with a pop!

  “Something wrong?” she asked, wiping away the bit of saliva that had come drooling down her chin from the sudden change of motion. That didn’t bother her. It was all part of the fun of sex.

  “Only in that you’re so damn good at that I’m going to burst if we don’t stop.”

  Hollie bit her lip. “Oh really?”

  He nodded, the movement swift and jerky.

  “Good.” Before she was done speaking her hand snaked between his legs, grabbed his—holy shit, those are what I call buns of steel!—and pulled him forward to her eager, waiting mouth.

  Obsidian groaned and protested, but she held on firmly, one hand keeping him close, the other stroking up and down his shaft in time with her lips. She felt him swell and, reluctantly, moved her hand from his ass to his sac, gently squeezing it. Right as he began to shudder she dropped a little lower and looked up at him, watching his face as he erupted into her mouth.

  She kept working him, enjoying the way his forehead crinkled and his mouth opened as he came for her. The pleasure she was causing was undeniably hot to watch, and it just spurred her on to greater lengths to ensure he was thoroughly pleased.

  “Okay,” he hissed a minute later, his muscles finally unclenching as he sagged forward over her to rest on the kitchen counter. “Holy shit.”

  His eyes still on her, she judiciously wiped the corners of her mouth and tossed him a wink, wondering where this newfound confidence in her own sexuality had come from. She’d never been a prude, but this…openness, and desire to get dirty was foreign to her.

  But damn if I’m not having a shit-ton of fun!

  “I think,” he growled, interrupting her train of thought. “That it is my turn now.”

  She grinned as he casually lifted her from her feet, tossing her over his shoulder until her face hung down midway to his back. A hand smacked firmly into her left then her right ass cheeks, leaving them red and stinging. She yelped in surprise, but he held her tight, and she couldn’t respond.

  “Wooo!” she said as he flipped her onto her back after he’d reached the bedroom.

  They shared a laugh, but after a moment his eyes returned to roaming her naked body, and she knew that he was about to do—her thong snapped and went flying across the room. It was a good thing he’d given her all that gold the night before, because at this rate she was going to
be replacing her wardrobe every few days!

  Sid bit his lip as he took a moment to admire her entire nakedness, then he picked a leg and started to kiss his way up it. A hand followed on the other side, moving slower and slower the closer he got to the peak.

  “I didn’t tease you,” she complained seconds before his tongue flicked out. “Oh!”

  There were no words from Sid, but she saw the glint in his eyes as he covered her entirely with his mouth, using his lips and tongue to their fullest. Even now he moved with a slowness that had her literally aching in minutes. No matter how much she begged for it though, he never sped up. It seemed like an eternity, but eventually she felt herself reaching the climax.

  Almost as if he could sense it, Sid chose that moment to slip a finger inside of her, curling it up gently against yet another pleasurable zone. The pressure outside increased, and so did the speed of his tongue. Hollie began to tremble as muscles spasmed of their own accord, flexing and unflexing in rapid fire. She leaned into her arm, biting down as everything grew in intensity.

  “Holy…fuck,” she gasped, repeating it several times before her words became unintelligible cries.

  The pressure was too much. It was too great; she couldn’t handle it. Hollie begged for a release, but Obsidian didn’t change a thing. His impossibly strong hands held her in place, no matter how hard she bucked in his grip. The world grew faint and her entire body locked down as Obsidian brought her to the highest point of pleasure she’d ever known, and then pushed her right over the edge without slowing down.

  She shook violently in his grip as her legs pulsed in time with the waves of ecstasy that rippled out from her core to batter her body. Sid held her tight and continued to please her, elongating the moment from a few seconds to what felt like nearly an eternity.

  The world snapped back into focus with an abruptness that startled her, and she snapped her legs closed and rolled onto her side as tremor after tremor racked her body. Obsidian crawled up onto the bed and gently rolled her onto her back. She was prepared to stop him, needing some more time to recover, but he didn’t push for more. Instead he simply propped himself up on one elbow and stroked her hair, staring gently into her eyes.