Heat spread through her body, radiating out from her core which ached in need. A need she had never known existed until now. Sex had been a part of life’s pleasures, but never this intense. Never had it been a need. It was now. If Kelos didn’t make love to her, she was certain she would explode.
Amber dragged her sweater over her head and unbuttoned her shirt. At least she tried to unbutton her shirt, but she fumbled, nerves overtaking her as she battled to remove her clothes.
“Let me.” He moved swiftly, surely, with the confidence of a man who was sure of himself and his prowess.
Amber let her hands drop to her sides and stood meekly while he slipped her shirt from her shoulders and then pushed her black slacks down over her thighs. In only her underwear, she lifted her chin and stood, taking in the warmth of his gaze as he drank in her body.
“You are beautiful,” he growled before he stepped forward, unclasped her bra and cupped her breasts in his hands as they spilled out. Expert hands. His thumbs rubbed across her nipples, the tightened buds aching as he tortured them. Around and around he circled them, as he lowered his head and sucked her right nipple into his warm mouth.
She tensed her whole body, each nerve ending focused on the exquisite torture of his tongue over the hardened bud. Her inner muscles tensed and a deep ache in her belly spread out until it was as if her whole body was consumed in dragon fire. She was wet, her need for him overwhelming and she longed for him to spread her thighs and make love to her.
She wasn’t a bystander. Her brain snapped back into control and she reached down between their bodies and curled her fingers around his hard length. Kelos groaned, his hips jerking forward as she stroked him up and down. His mouth moved to her left nipple and sucked on it harder, his teeth grazing her sensitive flesh as he pushed her arousal higher.
Could it go any higher? The tension in her body built and she sensed her orgasm hovering just outside of her reach. Squeezing her thighs together, she wondered if Kelos might be the first man to make her come without touching her intimately.
But he wanted to touch her intimately. Very intimately.
Lifting his head, he looked down at her with eyes filled with fire. In a heartbeat, he’d scooped her up and carried her to the sofa where he placed her down, his hand on her right thigh, easing her legs apart. Sliding his hands over her soft thighs, he slipped a finger inside her, watching her face as she gasped and writhed in pleasure. Two fingers now, he hooked them slightly and grazed her inner walls, while his thumb brushed against the sensitive bundle of nerves between her thighs. Amber arched her back and he took advantage, lowering his head to lick and suck her breasts. She floated above the clouds as he pushed her toward a shattering orgasm. Her body tense and yet incredibly relaxed, as if there was only this moment in time and nothing else mattered.
In and out his fingers probed while his mouth explored her breasts before he finally claimed her lips as her orgasm crashed into her. She whimpered against his lips, lifting her hips off the sofa and pushing down on his fingers as she rode out her orgasm.
“Are you okay?” Kelos asked as she regained her breath and opened her eyes.
“Define okay.” She wriggled to a sitting position and cupped his face in her hands. “I’m more than okay,” she told him as she noted his concerned expression. “Who wouldn’t be okay after...” Her cheeks flushed pink, the memory of his hands and mouth on her body still incredibly fresh.
He smiled and kissed her mouth, stirring her arousal once more. She could make love to this man all night and never stop needing him. It was a fact. She was addicted. To a dragon.
A small bubble of laughter rose up inside her and she couldn’t stop it as it erupted into the room. “This is the craziest thing ever.”
“Being here with me?” Kelos asked. He did not share her amusement.
“Hiding out in a cabin with my sister-in-law because my brother is testifying against a bad man. And that cabin belonging to a man who can shift into a dragon and who swears his undying love to me.” She shrugged. “If you wrote that into a movie, no one would believe it.”
“But you believe it and that’s all that matters to me.” He tilted his head on one side. “You’re tired, we should sleep.” He went to move away but she grabbed hold of him and pulled him close. “Not so fast. We’re not done here.”
His eyes darkened as her mouth met his and she nipped his lower lip. Moving her hands to his upper arms, she urged him to join her lying on the sofa. It was a squeeze since there was nothing small about Kelos, but he nestled between her thighs as she angled her knee so that it rested against the back of the sofa. She’d have positioned herself on top but despite her arousal, she was bone-shatteringly tired. As her first orgasm wore off that became apparent.
A fact she did not share with Kelos. She didn’t want him to change his mind and not make love to her. Not when his arousal was so evident by the press of his hardness against her thigh.
“What can I do to make you believe this is all real?” he whispered as he nuzzled her neck.
She shivered as his warm breath skimmed across her cool skin. “I have a few ideas.”
Amber slipped her hand between their bodies and curled her fingers around his hard length. He groaned and nipped her neck, as she changed the angle of her body. Pushing her panties to one side and wishing she’d thought to take them off before they became a tangle of limbs on the sofa, she guided him into her.
He sighed with contentment as he entered her. Then he stirred as if he’d awoken from a deep sleep. His body tensed, every muscle and sinew alert as he pushed deeper inside her. Amber’s eyes widened as her eyes locked with his and saw the burning desire there. The dragon was awake within him as she stared into his eyes, she could almost see the two joined as one.
Kelos thrust forward hard, his weight resting on his elbows as he buried himself deep inside her. Amber matched his desire, her hands exploring his body, touching him, teasing him, her mouth tasting him as he made love to her. Hard and deep he lunged into her before pulling back but never leaving her.
His fingers toyed with her nipples, playing with her, as the intensity of their lovemaking flared. He kissed her breasts, his mouth worshiping her nipples as he sucked and licked the taut buds. It was as if he could touch every part of her at once. Excitement flooded her veins as her orgasm hovered in front of her eyes and then they crashed over the edge together.
Kelos jerked into her, his seed filling her with the promise of a new life.
Of a child she never knew she wanted, but now wished for more than anything in her whole life.
Chapter Seventeen – Kelos
“Do you have an address for Fabian?” Kelos passed a cup of coffee to Amber as she tilted her head back and let the early morning sun wash over her face.
“No.” She accepted the coffee. “Thanks.”
“So how are we going to find him?” Kelos asked.
“I was going to call him. On his usual phone. I figured if we were in the city then there was no harm in the call being traced.” She sighed and her shoulders slumped forward. “I was thinking that there would be no way of tracing Margie and the kids back to Bear Creek… Unless…” Amber glanced up at Kelos before looking down at her cup.
“I won’t lead them back here,” Kelos assured her. “They won’t be able to trace me to Bear Creek.”
“Why won’t they?” Amber asked, leaning back in her seat and half turning to face him.
“I’ll use one of my aliases.” He gave a crooked smile as her eyes widened in surprise. “I don’t age like most people, so I have a couple of identities I cycle through.”
“You are a man of mystery and intrigue. I like it.” She smiled with relief. “Then the plan is back on. All we need to do is find someone to babysit Margie and the kids.”
“I’ll ask Joey. I trust him and he knows how to look after himself.” Kelos didn’t like the idea of Amber going to the city. He’d prefer to go and track Fabian down alone, but he
doubted there was anything he could say or do to change her mind, so he’d just have to work hard to keep her safe.
“I’m also going to have to tell Margie you are a dragon or else there’s no way I can explain how we plan to get the city and back so fast.” Amber glanced at him as if checking if that was okay.
“I’m okay with you telling her,” he reassured his mate. “It’s not as if you can keep it a secret from her forever. Not when so many of my friends know. Someone would let it slip eventually.”
“I hope Margie agrees to this.” Amber didn’t look too sure. “Me riding off on a dragon to rescue Fabian is not exactly normal everyday life, is it? But then nothing that’s happened in the last couple of weeks has been normal.”
“We can ask her.” Kelos inclined his head toward the house. “She’s coming down the stairs.”
Amber pointed at him. “That is freaky.”
“But you like it.” He waggled his eyebrows and she laughed. It was as if the sun shone brighter.
“I’ll tell her the part about the dragon when we’re alone.” Amber got up from her chair and went into the kitchen to meet Margie. “Morning.”
“Why do you look so happy at this time in the morning?” Margie asked as she covered a large yawn with her hand.
“I am happy.” Amber glanced over her shoulder at Kelos who had followed her into the kitchen. She gave him a guilty smile before her mood sobered.
They had a right to be happy. But perhaps it was insensitive to appear so happy around Margie.
We have lived apart from humans for a long time, it’ll take a while to get used to the subtle nuances of human behavior. But get used to it they must since they would be living with a human for the rest of their lives.
“I’ll be happier when I’ve had some breakfast.” Margie rubbed the small of her back. “If we plan on staying here, is there any chance we could get another bed? Sleeping with the kids is not comfortable. Elliot fights invisible monsters in the night, I’m sure.”
Amber chuckled. “He does have a vivid imagination.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Kelos agreed.
“I can pay for the beds if it’s a problem,” Margie offered and then her expression faltered. “No, I can’t, can I?”
“You shouldn’t use any bank cards,” Amber confirmed.
“I should have withdrawn cash on the way here.” Margie sighed and dragged her hands through her hair. “I hate this!”
“Hey, it’ll be okay.” Amber went to her sister-in-law and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “We have an idea.”
Margie jerked her head up. “What kind of an idea?”
“We’re going to go and talk to Fabian.” Amber waited for her words to sink in.
“Talk to him?” Margie looked confused.
“I’m worried that he hasn’t called and since we can’t call him from here without the call being traced, we’re going to go to the city and call him from there and arrange to meet him. I think we’d both feel better if we knew he was okay.” Amber glanced at Kelos. Was she going to tell Margie that he was a dragon shifter?
Margie nodded absently, her hand going to her pocket and she pulled out her phone. “I am worried he still hasn’t called.”
“So, you’re okay with this?” Amber asked. “You’re okay with us going?”
“I have a friend who will come over and look after you while we’re gone.” Kelos stepped forward. Margie was close to agreeing to the plan.
A plan we don’t like, his dragon interjected.
“I don’t know. Is it safe for you to go?” Margie looked at Amber. “Fabian would never forgive himself if anything ever happened to you.”
“And I feel the same way about him.” Amber reached out for Kelos and he slipped his hand into hers. “Kelos will keep me safe.”
Margie nodded and placed her hand on Kelos’s upper arm. “Promise me.”
“I promise to protect Amber with teeth and claws. And fire,” Kelos said solemnly.
Margie’s eyes widened. “Fire?”
“Kelos is a dragon shifter.” Amber caught hold of Margie’s arm as her face paled and she swayed slightly. “I’ll explain it all while you drink your coffee.” She helped Margie into a chair. “You go, Kelos.”
“A dragon?” Margie croaked before Kelos had a chance to leave.
“Yes, a dragon. A dragon who will protect his mate with his life.”
“Let’s not get too dramatic,” Amber warned Kelos. She turned her attention to Margie. “Does this mean you are okay with us going?”
“Yes.” Margie nodded and then flung her arms around Amber’s neck. Inhaling deeply, she let it out as a huge sob. Amber held her sister-in-law tightly, rubbing her back to comfort her.
“I have to go to work. I’ll ask Mac if I can leave early. And I’ll talk to Joey.” He lifted his hand and waved before he turned around, grabbed his keys, and left the two women alone in the kitchen.
He wanted to stay but he had to go. Would he always be torn between needing to be by his mate’s side and continuing to live his life? They couldn’t be with each other every minute of the day and yet that was what he wanted.
I suspect if we stayed by Amber’s side every minute of the day, it would not be long until there was one less dragon shifter in the world, his dragon chuckled. We would drive her crazy.
So pleased you find it amusing, Kelos answered as he climbed into his truck and drove away from the house.
It’s going to take time to adjust, his dragon told him as they reached the road. We’ve spent too much time alone and now that we have our mate, we’re trying to make up for it.
Wise words. Kelos gritted his teeth as he drove to the sawmill. What if this was a mistake? Maybe they should stay here hidden away instead of going to the city to see Fabian.
We’ve hidden away for too long. And I don’t mean the dragon side of us. You have hidden, too. Sometimes in plain sight, but hidden, nonetheless.
How times change. Kelos smiled to himself. Time had changed the world around him for so long. It was now time for the dragon to change.
“Morning!” Mac called as Kelos arrived at the sawmill and got out of the truck. “I wasn’t sure if you would come to work today.”
“Why?” Kelos asked as he slammed the truck door shut and sauntered over to the office.
“The need to be with your mate is strong to start with. I didn’t know if you’d be able to resist.” Mac glanced up at Kelos as he placed a sheaf of papers down on his desk. “You remember I had to give Hex some time off?”
Kelos nodded. “Does that mean you can give me tomorrow off?”
“And so, it begins,” Hex said as he entered the office. “Even the mighty among us get bitten by love.”
“Not exactly,” Kelos replied.
“What’s wrong?” Mac leaned forward, his elbows on the desk as he studied Kelos.
“I have to go to the city. I need to check that Amber’s brother is okay.” Kelos hadn’t explained everything to the Winter brothers. But now might be the best time. He trusted them.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Mac asked quietly.
“No, other than… I need to ask Joey to keep watch over Margie and the kids.” Kelos’s jaw tightened. “Amber would never forgive herself if anything happened to them.”
“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” Mac got up from his chair and poured three cups of coffee.
“Thanks.” Kelos cupped his hand around the mug of steaming coffee and quickly told Mac and Hex all the details of Amber’s predicament.
“And they haven’t heard from Fabian at all?” Hex nodded as he mulled over the details. “And they can’t risk calling since that might alert anyone who might have bugged the phones into finding them.”
“That’s just about it,” Kelos said. “We could stay here and let it play out. But I know Amber is scared for her brother.”
“And your lives together will be tainted forever if anything happens to him.
” Mac glanced up at his brother. “I think we can relate.”
“I have no siblings, but I can understand and empathize with Amber.” Kelos looked from Hex to Mac and back again. “I hate to ask since I don’t want to cause any trouble for you and your families.”
“We have your back,” Hex confirmed quickly. “Between us and Joey, we can keep Margie and the kids safe.”
“Why don’t they come and stay here at the sawmill for a couple of days?” Mac offered. “There’s plenty of room.”
Kelos chuckled. “And you have beds and better plumbing than me.”
“While you’re gone, we could also go over to your house and do some work for you,” Mac offered.
“You don’t have to…” Kelos was humbled by the offer of help.
“Hey, what are friends for?” Hex placed his hand on Kelos’s back. “When you bought the property, you thought you had plenty of time to fix the place up. It was a project to take your mind off not having a mate. We’ve all done the same.”
“We have,” Mac agreed.
“So, this is where we pay you back for the help you gave us. I haven’t forgotten the time you spent helping me and Beck build our houses. Or the fact that you rescued us in the snow.” Hex’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I hate to think what might have happened if you weren’t there…”
“What Hex is trying to say,” Mac continued, “is that sometimes you have to let people help you because it makes them feel better about themselves.”
“Yeah, only my way wasn’t quite so direct,” Hex added.
“When are you direct?” Mac asked.
“Let us know what you need and we’re there for you.” Hex downed the rest of his coffee. “Also, it’ll give me something to think about other than impending fatherhood.”
“I would think you would want to think about impending fatherhood.” Kelos had never met a shifter who had found his mate who didn’t want a child of their own.
“I’m not worried about the fatherhood side of things. I’m more concerned about watching Martha go through the pain of childbirth,” Hex admitted.
“Ah, yes, I see now. No shifter wants to see their mate in pain.” But pain was what Kelos’s mate felt. Pain for her brother and his family who were torn apart and left to live in fear and uncertainty.
Kelos: Spring (Shifter Seasons Book 4) Page 13