Dragon's Kiss (13 page)

she muttered, her eyes drooping closed. She spread her legs. “Inside me.”

Kei tried to resist the call but who could resist the lure of a beautiful, naked woman opening her legs and asking for him? He stumbled across the room. There was no lingering foreplay, no teasing caresses. He simply slid his erection inside her pussy. Still half asleep, Lorran smiled and sighed, seemingly comforted to have his cock inside her body. She wrapped her legs around his waist and snuggled him up tight. She dropped her head back onto the pillow and relaxed. Kei couldn’t stop the mocking smile.

His little prude was asleep, content only to sleep with a cock buried deep inside her. What would she do when he was gone? In the past week, he’d spent so much time inside her, he wasn’t sure she’d be able to survive without it. He would tell Riker to come up with a suitable list of possible husbands for her. The dragon roared in his head. And Kei’s mind went black. Tielle St. Clare

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When he came back to himself, what he thought was moments later, he found his body thrusting deep into Lorran’s. She was fully awake now, panting, begging.

“Please, Kei, oh yes, please. Kei!”

Her fingernails digging in his shoulders and the dreamy, dazed look in her eyes told him he hadn’t hurt her during the time when he’d been gone. He couldn’t stop himself, couldn’t deny her. She needed it. So did the beast inside him.
Bind her, keep her. Mine.

His mind was clear; his body was under the dragon’s control. Kei could only follow where the beast sent him, thrusting deeper and longer into her cunt. Lorran’s sweet moans and pleas drove him on. She was wet and hungry for him. She gasped and arched up against him. The now familiar contractions of her orgasm massaged his cock and Kei groaned. He thrust several times more, drawing every bit of pleasure from her. Then, he let his body go and released his seed into her depths. Long moments of glowing oblivion passed before he found the strength to push himself up on his arms. He stared down at the sated woman in his arms. Her legs were still wrapped around his back, like she wanted to keep him inside her. Her eyes fluttered open and her lips curled into a dreamy smile. She didn’t understand. Kei felt the pounding of his own heart increase.

Nekane had been in control.

Did she know it?

Was Lorran even aware she’d been fucking a dragon?

* * * * *

Kei climbed out of the bed in the early morning hours. The dragon growled as Kei pulled his cock from Lorran’s pussy. Her forehead crinkled as if she was irritated at being disturbed. Then she fell back into a deep, sated sleep. The moment of masculine arrogance couldn’t be ignored. He’d done that to her—

taught her to crave his cock as much as he longed for her pussy. His erection grew as he watched her on the bed, but he dismissed it and dressed in the borrowed leathers, situating his hard cock inside the pouch.

Kei walked outside without knowing where he was going—only that he needed to be moving—to think about the night before. The dragon was there, in his mind. Kei could feel him. Where before it had been a strange hovering presence, now the creature seemed to take up a portion of his mind. Tales of the erratic behavior of men before their final transitions made more sense now. The dragon invaded the brain, taking it over in increments until it was strong enough to control the body—then it would appear in its full corporeal form.

Kei stopped and stared down at the empty valley, realizing he’d climbed to Effron’s lair without knowing it. The canopy of trees covered Lorran’s cabin. The village was in the opposite direction. Smoke curled from chimneys half obscured by trees. This was the perfect place for a dragon’s lair—isolated yet within reach of those he meant to torment.

Tielle St. Clare

Dragon’s Kiss

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Kei turned and stared at the cave entrance. The dragon was inside. Kei could sense him. He could smell the other creature and hear the quiet swish of scales across the stone walls as the dragon moved in the cave.

He took a deep breath and walked inside. There was no need to adjust to the lack of light. His heightened senses allowed him to see every crack in the stone walls and every scale of the dragon’s hide.

Effron consumed the space, sitting back on his haunches and snaking his long neck forward. Kei stood just inside the entrance, giving the dragon a moment to get used to his presence. Effron tilted his head to the side and stared for a moment, then turned away, dismissing Kei.

The anger and rage that Kei associated with dragons was there. He’d seen it often when he’d hunted the creatures. But now Kei recognized something else. Beneath the fury was pain—isolation—an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. The dragon was a solitary creature, destined to remain alone because of his nature. Kei felt the awareness of the beast in his head grow. Its anger and denial at Effron’s state throbbing through Kei’s skull.

Mine.

The dragon in Kei’s head whispered the word as if to remind him of Lorran. Effron raised his head and growled.

Kei stilled as the dragon rose up on his legs. Once again he’d come to the cave without a weapon. He wasn’t afraid. Just as now he understood the dragon’s loneliness, he also knew Effron recognized him as a similar creature. Kei folded his arms and watched the dragon pull his head back, open his mouth and exhale. Flames burst from deep in Effron’s throat. The fire flowed over Kei.

He tensed, waiting for the pain. But there was none.

The flames didn’t burn him.

Effron growled and sent another wave of fire over Kei. Then he hunkered down in the corner and turned his head away.

Kei watched for a moment longer. The dragon fire didn’t burn him. He’d been singed often enough in the past that it was a novel experience to feel the flames but have no damage done. The only explanation was the dragon inside him. Effron had sent the flame as a warning. He wanted Kei gone. Kei nodded to himself and walked away. He didn’t want to add to the creature’s pain.

As he stepped into the sunlight, the weight of Effron’s solitude hung on Kei’s shoulders and began to settle into his heart. This was his future.
Mine.

The insistent cry of the dragon seemed to reach across the valley but Kei knew it was only in his mind.

Mine!

The beast was calling for Lorran.

She was waiting for him. She’d helped him soothe the creature last night. She could push away the isolation. Kei stared unseeing at the valley. It would be so easy to rely on her. To do what he’d done last night and bury his pain in her sweet flesh. She would Tielle St. Clare

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help him. Her sympathy for the dragon would drive her even if affection for him did not.

He couldn’t do it. He would fight this and face it alone. He started down the hillside—away from Lorran’s cabin.

* * * * *

Lorran folded her arms across her chest. The slight breeze slipped through the thin material of her gown. She really should go inside and get a shawl but she couldn’t. No, not with
her
inside.

It was the perfect plan. Well, perfect might not be the right word. It was appropriate. Smart. She knew Kei’s need for sex and she would supply him with it. Kei hadn’t returned last night or through the long hours of daylight. He’d climbed out of her bed yesterday morning and disappeared into the forest. She didn’t worry that he was hurt. Not only was he “Kei the Dragon Slayer,” but he was now a dragon’s host. Nothing that lived in this forest could harm him.

She knew why he hadn’t returned. He was running from the demons in his mind—

trying to out-run, out-race reality. Nekane’s appearance had become a direct reminder of what Kei faced. But he would return. Kei would keep his promise to her to let her observe him. Not even a dragon could stop him.

Lorran sighed. She hadn’t been prepared for Nekane’s appearance in her bedroom two nights ago. It seemed too soon for the dragon to be this developed. Obviously, there were things Kei hadn’t told her about the dragon’s presence. Nekane.

Shivers raced down her arms. The gravelly whisper of the dragon’s name echoed in her memory. He’d been close but Kei had been able to conquer him. But for how long?

The man in question finally walked out of the woods and headed across the clearing. The grim lines of his face told her he’d accepted his fate. He was a warrior and more importantly a King. He knew when to face the truth, even when it was painful. The taut line of his body begged for the comfort of her touch but as he approached she backed away.

Even in the pale light of a single moon she could see the green of his eyes darken. She held herself steady. He would understand in a moment.

“What’s wrong?” The ice that covered his voice was tainted by a hint of rage lurking beneath. This was why she had to follow through. The dragon needed to be soothed.

“Nothing,” she answered quickly.

His eyes squinted as he stared at her. “What are you doing out here? It’s cold. Come inside.” He stepped onto the porch and moved toward the door. Lorran shook her head.

“You go. I’ll be in later.” Much later, she added silently. Kei cocked his head to the side but didn’t ask the question she could see in his eye. He didn’t have to say the words. She knew she was acting strangely. She was amazed at the unusual tension that hung between them. In their short time together, they’d learned to move in unison. Now she was pulling away.

Tielle St. Clare

Dragon’s Kiss

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Kei didn’t understand. But he would.

She turned away and stared out at the darkening sky, hoping he would take the hint and go inside. It had to start. Start so it could end. The quiet click of the door closing behind him sent a stab of pain into her heart. It was all well and good to tell herself that it was for the best, but in the silence of the night, she knew the truth. She hated the thought of sharing him with another woman. She listened to the silence then realized she hadn’t thought very far ahead. She had nowhere to go. She’d have to walk the yard until it was over and she could move back into the warmth of the house. She’d—

“What in the Hells is this?” Kei’s shout reverberated from inside. Lorran winced and turned to face the cabin, mentally preparing herself for his appearance. The front door swung open and crashed against the cabin wall in perfect punctuation to his words.

Fury and rage glowed not only from his eyes but vibrated through his body. She swallowed deeply and tightened her fists.

“What do you mean?” she asked as casually as she could.

“Who is that?”

“Her name is Maka, and she’s a—a—a girl from the village.”

“She’s a whore from the village. What the fuck is she doing here?”

Lorran pushed her shoulders back and stared up into his eyes. “She’s here for you.”

“Just two nights ago, you agreed to give me all I needed. Now, you’re backing out.”

“No.”

“Then I don’t want her.”

“I can’t, you know…” Years of training stalled her from saying the words. “I can’t,
have
relations with you right now.”

“Have relations? Is that a fancy way to say fuck? You won’t fuck me, is that what you’re saying?” He was angry. And maybe a little hurt.

“I can’t.” The distinction was clear in her mind. “It’s my woman’s time.” Her voice automatically dropped to a whisper. “After the other night when you, and Nekane—”

Kei flinched at the name of his future self, but Lorran continued. “Were denied sex, I didn’t want a repeat of the incident. I can’t—” Kei’s glare made her stop. She placed her fists on her hips and glared right back at him. “I can’t fuck you right now, so I got someone who could. I thought it best to keep things smooth and calm.”

“You just found someone and I’m supposed to mount them.”

Lorran folded her arms over her chest. She knew the life of a nobleman. “And you’ve never been with a stranger before?” Her husband had had so many women there was no way he could have known all their names.

“Yes, but
I
chose them. They weren’t picked out by my current lover.” Kei crossed his arms on his chest. She could have sworn he was pouting. “Send her away.”

“But—“

“I won’t have her. Send her away.”

The corners of Lorran’s mouth tightened but she turned and stalked into the cabin. Kei waited until she was gone and released his pent up breath. Tielle St. Clare

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What was happening to him? The woman, Maka, had stood before him, naked. Her tight luscious body welcoming him. It would have been an evening of simple, mindless fucking. And he couldn’t.

His mind acknowledged her beauty from a distance. Her form had been long and sleek. The type of woman he liked. Even her eyes had widened with a curious desire. She might have been paid to be here but she was intrigued by fucking a dragon. She wanted to know if the legends were true—if a dragon really could fuck all night long and still want more.

He could have assured her—the legends were definitely true. He’d spent hours between Lorran’s thighs and desired more. He wanted her now. But she couldn’t take him tonight.

He would never admit it to Lorran, but bringing a whore from the town
was
a logical solution.

But the woman had stood before him and he’d had no desire for her. No desire to make her moan or bring her pleasure. No desire to even take his own pleasure on her. Simply put, she wasn’t Lorran.

He swiped his blond hair back over the top of his head.

It was something else he could never tell Lorran.

The door opened behind him and the woman from town walked out. Her hips swayed from side to side with deliberate seduction.

“One last chance?” she offered.

Kei shook his head.

“Well, a girl can try.” She winked as she walked away.

He saw the tiny bag of coins she held in her hand. By its weight, she’d been well paid for no services.

He watched until she disappeared into the trees. She’d be safe on the short walk to town. A dragon in the neighborhood kept bandits away.

When she was gone, Kei drew in a deep breath of air and walked into the cabin. Lorran tidied the room, acting like the strange woman had never been there. Kei could still smell her. The light perfume of Lorran mixed with the drugging scent of the other woman.