The Dragon's Ambivalent Sacrifice: a Dragon Shifter Romance (The Last Dragons Book 2)

by Ines Johnson

  He was on top of her, but his body didn’t touch hers. She’d deal with his fear of crushing her later. Poppy’s first order of business was getting her man naked. Men lost the ability to reason when they were naked.

  She tugged at the ties on his shorts. They gave easily. She pushed them down his thighs, revealing muscle after muscle.

  She did gasp at the size of his manhood. Her Beryl was a big boy, indeed. But she did not doubt that he would fit inside of her. She was made for him.

  Poppy pulled off her clothes from within the cage of his arms. His long, thick penis brushed her belly as she slipped off the clothes she’d been wearing. Beryl watched her, his body still hovering over hers. His face was a mix of desire and agony.

  “Lie on your back,” Poppy said.

  Beryl did as she asked. His large body crashed down beside her. He let out a long, harsh breath as if he’d just finished the hardest workout of his life. And they hadn’t even started yet.

  Poppy climbed on top of him. Her sexy beast sprawled his large form on the bed. He put his hands behind his head and held onto the bars of the bed. His gaze lingered on her spots more than they did on her breasts.

  She brought her core over the head of his eager penis. Foreplay was not on the menu tonight.

  “Poppy wait,” he said. “You’re not ready.”

  "I've been ready for you since that first night." The evidence was pooling between her thighs as she aimed the head of his cock at her entrance.

  She began her descent down onto him. They both gasped at the breach of her skin. The stretch was real, but it wasn't painful. Not really. Especially not with how much she wanted him, wanted this.

  For his part, Beryl held still. His eyes glowed bright green, but there was brown at the center. Man and dragon were one at this moment.

  “You are my life,” he said on a sigh of utter contentment. “My every moment, my every breath, will be in service to you.”

  That made her falter. She would never get used to his compliments, his devotion, his love. Her eyes pooled with tears. Beryl released the metal headboard and wrapped her in his arms. Gently, he kissed the tears away. As she relaxed into his embrace, she slid down onto him until she was fully seated on his lap.

  She’d been right. He hadn’t hurt her. He’d filled her with more kindness and strength than she’d ever imagined possible.

  Poppy lifted her hips until he was nearly out of her. Slowly, she slid down his length. For his part, Beryl supported her weight. His lips rested over hers, not kissing, just sharing her breath.

  She rode him carefully, unhurriedly, deeply. She had to. He was a big boy, after all. Too fast and she could very well hurt herself.

  The truth of the matter was that she did break apart. Her orgasm crept up on her. When it hit, her clenching muscles were stretched so far, her channel so full, that her entire body shook with the force of it.

  Beryl threw his head back and let out a guttural roar. The last millimeter of space inside Poppy was filled with this warm seed. They remained like that, stuck together without a breath of room between them.

  "Now you're mine," she said.

  A low rumble of approval sounded in his chest.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Morning crept over his mate’s face like a kiss. Illuminating her cheek. Glossing over her lips. Shimmering on her forehead. Beryl frowned at the sun's rays. He was jealous even of its heat caressing her.

  Last night had been beyond anything he could've imagined. Watching Poppy over him, claiming him, it was the sexiest thing in the world. His cock got hard and eager just thinking about it. But he took deep breaths to get it under control.

  Yes, they had fit together. Though it had been a snug fit. He was sure she would be feeling it this morning.

  He had been a randy beast all his adult life. He wanted more of his mate right now, but he would wait to take her again. He would wait forever if he needed. Just so long as he got to hold her in his arms, to keep her safe, and warm, and fed.

  Goddess, he'd need to feed her soon. There was a good chance she was carrying his hatchlings. That thought lowered his morning tent.

  What if Poppy was pregnant? What if they were triplets? He knew there was fire in her blood, but birthing dragons was still a dangerous business whether the woman be human or halfling.

  He'd torn his mother apart on his entrance into the world. Even before he was out, inside of her, he had hoarded all the sustenance, weakening his two other brothers. What if he put even one such beast inside of her?

  Beryl rose from the bed. He went out on the balcony into the dawning sun. Poppy may have given him balance in his life, but he still was unsteady about his past.

  He spotted Rhoyl sleeping beneath a tree in dragon form. He could barely remember what his brother looked like in human form. He might never see that again. Would likely never see the man again. Was that his fault too?

  Down below, Ilia opened the back door, letting out the two fairies Beryl had sent away the other day. Ilia was always getting Beryl's scraps. His human form was scrawny because Beryl was either taking from him or putting a fist in his mouth.

  Yet here Beryl was, the biggest of the three. With a mate who had put his world back on its axis. Life wasn't fair.

  "Hey."

  Warm arms came around him followed by that enticing scent that belonged only to her.

  "I was worried for a second," she said. "I thought you'd left me again."

  "Never." He pulled her into his arms, clutching her tight. His worries about being too rough with her, too ardent, were cooled. But he still was careful with her.

  "No, I know,” she said. “I just have to get used to this new life. I have to get used to being with someone who loves me, someone who wants to take care of me. I'm still learning how to do that for myself."

  Beryl nuzzled her neck. He dragged his lips over the claiming mark he’d put there. Then he nipped at the sensitive spot he’d found behind her ear.

  "I blamed myself for all the bad stuff in my life,” Poppy continued. "I told myself I was choosing to be where I was, to stay in an abusive relationship. Part of that was true. But you know what I realized?”

  Beryl was listening. But it was best he kiss the space between her brows than give his full attention to her words. Otherwise, he’d be flying to Valhalla to rip apart the man who’d hurt her.

  “I realized that I need to forgive myself. The same way that I found the strength to claim my new life and my new love, I need to deal with my past and forgive myself. I'm going to do that. You helped show me that."

  "Me?” He leaned back so that he could see her face. “I did?"

  "Of course.” She grinned. “I wouldn't be this strong if it hadn't been for you. I wouldn't have known that I could if you didn't show me."

  Beryl looked at the woman he loved. She had come to him small and weak. Last night, she’d stood up for herself. She’d demanded what she wanted. And, even though he’d had his doubts, she had been the one to claim him.

  “Finding my strength brought me to a conclusion.” Poppy took a deep breath. “I want to have your babies.”

  For the second time this morning, his erection went limp.

  “I never wanted to bring kids into this world before,” she said. “But we’re not in my old world. This is my new life, where I’m in control. I just claimed myself a dragon.”

  Beryl clasped his hand behind her neck and brought her forehead to his lips. “Yes, you did. You claimed me, and I’m yours.”

  “And babies?”

  His dragon reared up, loving that idea. That was one of its priorities in life; to procreate. He had to remind himself that Poppy wasn’t his mother. His mother had been human. Poppy had fire in her blood. She should survive.

  It was the should that gave him pause. Chryssie was only a couple of months pregnant. But each day her belly grew large.

  They had the technology now where they could see the babies. Corun had bartered with Morrigan to bring ba
ck something called an ultrasound. It allowed him to see in Chryssie’s belly, although it didn’t make any sounds. They could do the same if Poppy became pregnant, to make sure she was safe. But not yet.

  “I want you all to myself for a while,” he said finally.

  She sighed, pushing out a pouty lip. But she didn’t argue. That was one problem solved. But another still loomed.

  “What are we going to do today?” she asked. “Do you have to mine? Is there something I can do to help? Or maybe we could go back to bed?”

  “I have to train.”

  “Train? Why? Oh, wait, don’t tell me. You’re still going to fight the lions.”

  “Of course, I am. I made a covenant. We take those seriously here in the Veil. They’ll come after you if I don’t. If they find out I’ve claimed you, it would be a forfeit.”

  “But I already made my choice. I claimed you.”

  “It doesn’t work that way. It does between us. But not between males.”

  She scowled. “This is ridiculous. I break free from the misogyny of one realm and land smack dab in the center of another.”

  “I won’t lose you,” Beryl insisted. “I’ll rip Ari’s head off before it comes to that.”

  Poppy didn’t respond.

  Was that too violent for her? Had he scared her again? He could be gentle with her, but anything that threatened her would lose a limb at best, life at worst.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said into her hair.

  “I’m not scared of you.” She looked up at him.

  She wasn’t. He felt her relax entirely within his hold. Beryl wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. It would’ve been a submission hold, but he was the one who had submitted to her will.

  “You are my champion,” she said. “You are my Professor Hulk.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s when Hulk and Bannon merge into one in Endgame.”

  Endgame? Was that a new season of The Incredible Hulk that he hadn’t seen? Whatever it was, he liked the sound of it; a smart Hulk. One who thought before he smashed.

  “I feel safe for the first time in my life,” she said. “I know that no one and nothing will ever hurt me again. But I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “He will not win.”

  She pinched her lips together and clenched her jaw. Beryl couldn’t help himself. He captured her puckered lips with his own.

  He bit and suckled and nibbled at her until she softened. Her arms went around his neck. Her body pressed into his until he felt the sharp points of her nipples.

  It took everything in him to pull away. “I’ll let you take out your frustration on me. But later.”

  Once again, she didn’t answer. Her pliable lips tightened into another frown. Goddess, she was adorable when she was mad. He would come back and kiss that look off her face. And then kiss her somewhere else to get a different look on her face.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Poppy pulled on a pair of jeans and felt like she was mostly naked. There were a lot of rips in them like something out of a metal band music video. On the plus side, they showed off her scales.

  Wow. When had showing off her spots become a plus side? Probably the moment she realized her mate couldn’t stop caressing and kissing them.

  So, yeah. She wanted to keep her best assets visible even though she wasn’t off to see Beryl right now.

  Maybe it was the sex juices flowing through her lady bits? Maybe it was her newfound sense of confidence after riding Beryl? In any case, Poppy was determined to be the captain of her ship of her life from now on. And that included ending this stupid claiming fight over her.

  She'd already staked her claim. She wasn't letting anyone else stake her again without her complete consent. And that would include Beryl if he tried to stop her from her errand.

  Which was why she was sneaking out.

  Poppy knew her overprotective mate wouldn't hesitate to chain her to the bed. Which she might have trouble protesting because she knew what he was capable of with a little bit of gold chain.

  Slinking around the corner, she met with another overprotective male. Elek materialized from the shadows. The two stared at each other. Elek’s gaze narrowed, his pupils dilating. Poppy held her tongue, but she got the sense he knew her exact intentions.

  He pointed her toward the door. "Keep to the forest. And remember, it takes courage to stand up and speak up. But sitting and listening take strength, too.”

  With those puzzling words, he disappeared back into the shadows.

  Okay. Riddles weren’t her thing. But it was cool that she had one ally. And if anything went wrong, someone would know where she went.

  Not that she thought anything would go wrong. She'd found her voice. She'd use it now when she spoke to the lioness.

  "Stop."

  Poppy yelped, her hand fluttered to her heart.

  Cardi doubled over in laughter. Even though she looked grown, the girl behaved like a child. She wore an orange off the shoulder blouse with black bra straps on show and a black mini with leggings. If the girl wasn’t Madonna’s red-haired twin, then Poppy didn’t know what.

  “Where you off to after we all just got grounded?” Cardi asked.

  "I'm just out for a walk around the grounds.”

  Heat rose to Poppy’s cheeks, belying her nonchalance. As a fellow redhead, Cardi could easily call her bluff.

  "Bull shit, you're headed to the lion's den."

  "How’d you know?"

  "I heard you and Beryl boinking last night."

  Poppy lifted her chin.

  “Do you know where you’re going?”

  Poppy lowered her chin.

  "Want a tour guide?"

  "Why are you helping me?"

  "Number two because we're sisters, and we have to stick together. Number one because it will piss Kimber off, and I love pissing him off."

  "Why?"

  "It's the only way he pays attention to me. Kinda reverse psychology or something. Anyway, let's go."

  The sun was high in the sky when they strolled up to the lion's den. Along the way, Cardi belted out the entire Like a Virgin album, coaxing Poppy into singing a few bars of Get into the Groove. And an especially blush-worthy rendition of the title track of the album where Cardi pointed out during each chorus section that Poppy was no longer a part of the club.

  Despite the performance, Poppy was glad for the company and the guidance. Cardi was right, Poppy would've never found it.

  They came toward a bunch of skinny trunk trees with wide, flat tops like open umbrellas full of green leaves. They looked like the trees from The Lion King. From one of the travel shows Poppy watched, she knew these were Acacia trees, popular in the Savannah of Africa where lions resided back in her world.

  A lion shifter opened the door. It wasn’t Ari, The Asshole, the one who’d challenged Beryl. It was the other one. The one who’d hit on Cardi.

  "Hey, little sinner." He smiled a toothsome grin.

  "Hey, Izem. We're here to see your mama."

  "Aw, you didn't come for a play date?" He turned his attention to Poppy. “Finally saw Beryl for the gamma-rayed brute he is, huh?”

  “No, he’s not a brute. He’s kind and gentle and the most patient and thorough lover I’ve ever had.”

  “TMI. But okay.” Izem turned and beckoned them into the den. It was dimly lit and smelled of turned earth and spicy herbs. Animal heads hung on the walls. Pelts lay across the floor. If she didn’t know she was in a predator’s lair before, she knew it now.

  "Well, that was easier than I expected," said the lioness, materializing from a dark crevice in the wall.

  Leona’s head cocked to the side, and her gaze swept over both girls. Then it narrowed on Poppy. Once again, Poppy knew what a gazelle felt like the moment it realized it was spotted by one of its predators.

  "I'm not here to give myself to your son,” said Poppy. “There's this thing back on earth called women's rights."

>   "I tried to explain it," said Cardi. "They don't get it."

  "Human women have no rights here," said Leona. “But it’s cute you think this is about you. Even Eve relied on Adam. Unfortunately, I can't pull a rib from one of my cubs and make him a woman. I need a human if my kind are to continue. We are the last of our pride.”

  "I've made my choice,” said Poppy. “I’ve claimed Beryl as my mate, and I'm not having anyone else."

  Poppy looked up to find Ari leaning against the door frame. He was even bigger than she remembered. The bruises on his face making him look even more menacing.

  "You say you claimed him?" said Leona.

  "Yes."

  “In the Biblical sense?”

  Poppy gulped, knowing the predator had sunk its teeth into her flank.

  "Well, that does change things."

  Poppy sighed with relief. It was all working out just as Elek had said. She’d stood up courageously by coming here. But she’d also listened, and now things were working out in her favor for once in her life.

  "You broke the covenant," said Leona. "That means Beryl forfeits, and you rightfully belong to my son."

  "What? No. I'm my own person. I don't belong to anyone."

  "Covenants are sacred in this place. Remember, there was that little story of Adam and Eve and the apple. Those two haven't been back here since.”

  Ari’s predatory grin spread, turning his handsome face cruel.

  “Welcome to the family, dear." Leona’s massive paws reached out and grabbed Poppy.

  "You can't do this," said Cardi. "She's under Kimber's protection."

  "So are you, but he hasn't claimed you yet,” said Leona. “We'd be happy for you to join the family too."

  "Yeah," said Izem. "Real happy."

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Beryl took a deep breath and a step forward. Only to choke and catch his foot mid-step and shuffle back. He'd been doing this dance for the last thirty minutes.

  Rhoyl and Ilia were tussling in the yard. Rhoyl only had one gash dripping blood across his right shank. Ilia’s left shoulder looked lower than his right. Likely dislocated, not broken. Good, it wasn’t a real fight, just play.