Mere Passion (9 page)

Alara’s lips curved up into a smile that sent tremors up his spine. “A night with me.”

* * * *

Elijah read the most recent reports from Kai on Murrough Island. He wondered if he’d made a mistake sending the young general. Nasu’s faith in dragon sovereignty over the mere was so strong. Elijah had been sure the general would support the takeover. Instead Kai hedged and equivocated. The young general appeared to be getting closer to the triton and some of the men.

Detailed reports of the island’s financials and the general’s history fluttered around Elijah’s desk. Perhaps there was another way to work his emissary on Murrough Island. He picked up the phone and called Dr. Grathers.

“Council Chair Woodard here.”

Elijah heard horrific screams in the background. A buzzing noise like a dentist’s drill also sounded through the phone. Dr. Grathers shouted over the noise. “My apologies Chair Woodard! I’m in my lab! Hold for a moment, I’ll go into my office.”

Elijah waited for the scientist to return to the phone.

“Council Chair, thank you for holding. It gets so loud in the lab. I really shouldn’t keep a phone in there at all.”

Elijah ignored the invitation to ask about Dr. Grathers’ work. He preferred not to know the details. “Do you have an estimated arrival date?”

The shuffle of papers and sounds of computer keys clicking carried over the phone line. “Yes. Three more days. Will that work with your schedule?”

Elijah thought for a moment. If Kai was sympathizing with the mere, all the better if the sympathy was allowed to grow over time.

“Sounds good. When your ship arrives they can begin investigation and plan collection sites, but hold off on captures until I give my say-so. My man on the ground there needs more time.”

The scientist muttered, irritated. His high-pitched voice whined when he said, “My ship will be idle? That’s not cost effective. I’d been hoping we could start right away.”

Elijah interrupted. “We’re handing you mere on a silver platter here, and you’re splitting hairs over the exact timing! You do know that for centuries dragons acted as the mere’s protectors?”

To his dismay, the scientists giggled loudly. “As you are well aware, dragons also used the mere as slave labor. I will respect whatever you need from me, but please don’t insult my intelligence. These creatures are a commodity. A precious one, perhaps, but a commodity nonetheless.”

* * * *

Kai shuffled uncomfortably as Alara fussed around her bedchamber. He watched her dim lights, close shades, and turn on soft music and prayed he could finish this without embarrassing either of them.

Most likely his human form would perform adequately. His reproductive organs had prepared for intercourse as soon as she sat on his lap at the bar. He took a shaky breath and tried to relax. “I like this music.” The words sounded high-pitched and nervous to his ears, but at least the sentiment was true. The music she chose was haunting and melodic, with a slow, soothing beat. He calmed a little.

Alara sauntered forward, pinning him with her ice-blue stare. “Aren’t you going to take off your clothes?”

Despite the near-debilitating desire, and equally-debilitating fear pulsing through him, he couldn’t help but react to the challenge. “You first.” Kai regretted the words as soon as they left his lips, but she didn’t seem bothered.

“Whatever turns you on, dragon.”

Never releasing his gaze, she unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it down her shoulders. A lacy black brassiere stood stark against her alabaster skin.

Pink circles peeked through the fabric. Mammary glands— mammals fed their young with them. He’d read about them in biology class, but reality was different. They were round, bouncy. He wanted to touch them and see if they were as soft as they looked.

She seemed to read his mind, because her hands stroked over the hills of flesh before continuing down to unfasten her blue jeans. Her hips tilted back and forth as she wiggled out of the tight fabric. Then she passed the denim off her foot and stood tall. His heart pounded high in his chest, trying to escape the confines of his ribcage. Another sheer black undergarment covered her round hips and the vee of her thighs. Seeing his gaze resting on her underwear, Alara turned slowly to show him the other side. The fabric disappeared between the globes of her behind.

His mind went blank. His throat went dry. No other thought permeated except for the desperate need to know where that fabric went. He wanted to follow it with his fingers—no with his tongue, and learn its destination.

The princess turned abruptly and cleared her throat. Kai noticed a small hint of irritation. A pang of concern struck that he might have made her uncomfortable. Noting that she was mostly nude while he was still clothed, he rushed to remove the garments from his body.

Sweater goes over the head, shirt gets unbuttoned.

His hands fumbled for a moment before he realized that he was wearing a T-shirt. Again, he purposely slowed his breathing, willing his pulse rate to decrease.

Okay, T-shirt goes over the head, pants go down legs. Oh by the gods! I forgot the shoes!

He used each foot to push off the opposite shoe and finally rid himself of his pants. Kai noted the contrast between his simple boxer shorts and Alara’s elaborate underthings. Maybe she expected something more interesting.

Her eyes rested on the jutting pole tenting his shorts. She seemed to approve. Her tongue dashed out to lick her plump lips. Then her mouth twitched to the side as she nibbled the inside of her cheek. The movement reminded him of the fantasy from the first night he arrived, and he fought a wave of spasms that threatened to arise from the base of his body.

The moment seemed to stretch forever. Fear warred with uncontrollable attraction at the sight of her. Not knowing what to do, he stood his ground, closing his eyes only briefly to inhale her intoxicating ocean-and-roses scent. The princess strutted forward, pressing him backward as she walked. Soon the backs of his knees hit a chair, and he sat. The movement placed his face at the level of her breasts. Kai wasn’t sure if she arched forward or he did, but his cheek stroked the nipple pebbled under the fabric.

He kept his hands firmly at his sides. More and more thoughts of things to do and places to touch barraged his mind, but having no idea which impulse to follow, he let Alara lead the way. Her long leg swung across both of his, so that she straddled him while standing. Kai tried to cover her mouth with his as he’d seen done in human movies, but she ducked past his kiss to bury her face in his neck.

His hands ventured to Alara’s thighs. The feel of her pale, bare legs on either side of his darker, rougher ones knocked the wind out of him. The erection he believed could become no fuller expanded as if reaching up to her.

Her wet kisses travelled up his neck to roam across his jaw. Slowly, her body lowered to meet his until at last the fullness of her sex rested atop his lap.

Heated confusion gave way to fierce certainty. He knew what needed to be done. His both hands reached for the thin strip of cloth at her hips, and with a sharp rip, he tore it off.

Chapter 6

Yeehaw!
Alara’s back slammed into the wall, and she wrapped her legs around his six-packed abdomen. His hard body pressed along her torso sent a fresh rush of fire between her legs. He gripped her butt hard with one hand and used the other to guide his tip to her entrance. She reveled at the feel of his girth nudging her open. Then he slammed upwards filling her in one rough stroke.

The dragon’s body stiffened around her, caging her tightly. He drilled hard and much too fast. The furious movements chafed. What’s more, he didn’t seem to notice her lack of enjoyment or participation. She opened her mouth to tell him to get the hell off, but before the words left her lips he grunted against her neck and held still. She gritted her teeth in frustration. This was undoubtedly the worst fuck she’d ever had.

When his shivering ceased, he looked up. His bitter chocolate eyes opened wide, and his jaw clenched as he assessed her expression. She knew her face displayed her annoyance and disgust. At least the jerk was checking in on her now. She pushed him off and lowered her legs to the floor. Her robe perched on a hook by her bed. As she walked toward it, frustration welled up.

What the hell had I expected?

Pulling the cloth around her and belting it tightly, she turned on her heel to head for the bathroom. The godsdamned dragon stood between her and the door, his neck bent like a knight waiting for a beheading. Part of her wanted to grab a sword from her closet and do it.

She raised her chin and strode across the room, but he touched her arm. “I apologize, Princess…I mean Alara. I didn’t mean to…I didn’t know…”

Alara stood still, not meeting his eyes. She should keep walking, slam the door in his stupid face. Instead she answered. “You didn’t mean to do what, exactly?” The bastard should say it out loud—that he treated her like trash.

His voice came as a whisper. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Heat rushed to her nose and eyes, but she swallowed hard. Her next words were arrows aimed to sting. “Oh, so all the other mere you’ve screwed just liked it rough? And short, I might add.”

Perhaps it was her harsh words, but when Kai spoke again, his tenor was stronger. “I do not know what any female likes. I am inexperienced.” When she didn’t reply, he added. “I didn’t know what to do. But I know that is no excuse.”

Alara rounded on him, hands on her hips. “You expect me to believe that you’ve never had sex before?”

His gaze didn’t meet hers, but she caught the flicker of embarrassment and noticed his espresso-colored skin darken.
No fucking way!
“Really?”

“I’ve never had intercourse, no.” He looked like he would add an explanation but then thought better of it. He raised his hand to touch her but lowered it quickly.

Kai’s admission caught her off guard. She didn’t know what to say or what to think. It was apparent, however, that he felt as crappy about his performance as she did.

“Well, for future reference, female mere need to be warmed up a bit more first.” His dark, chiseled features twisted in confusion, and she sighed. Gods, he was pathetic. She leaned toward him to bop her shoulder against his arm, and then lowered herself to sit on her shaggy rug. He settled on the floor next to her.

“Well, you definitely get points for intensity.” A smile twitched on her lips, and she fought a snort.

He noticed. “Are you laughing at my expense?” The words came out a touch defensive, but then his shapely mouth curled into a small smile. Alara allowed her giggle to escape her lips. His posture relaxed as if a weight had been lifted, though his eyes remained solemn.

“Alara, would you like me to leave?” The way he said it, she didn’t feel like he wanted to go. Surprisingly, she didn’t want him to.

“No. Stay. We’ll play a board game or something.” She rubbed her arm along his in a friendly gesture.

He caught her hand in his and held it gently. His gaze bore into her. “I
am
sorry.”

Alara wasn’t sure if it was his touch or his words that sent tingles along her skin. She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to stay for sexual reasons or just because she liked his company. So she punched his arm. “I forgive you, dragon.”

“I will stay then.” His face broke into a wide grin. One that took her breath away. “What would you like me to do?”

The matter-of-fact question carried no hint of seduction or suggestion, but still Alara felt it all the way to her toes. Ignoring the disconcerting sensation, she said, “You could clean us up. You’ve made a mess of me, and the jizz will stick your balls to your butt if you don’t wash off.”

If her crass language offended him, he didn’t show it. Instead he held a finger up as if to say “one minute” then he crossed to the bathroom. A moment later, Kai returned carrying a couple damp hand towels. He crumpled to his knees next to her. “You are correct that ‘jizz’ becomes quite adherent if left to dry.” His lip twitched as he said it, and she wondered if maybe he was attempting to make a joke.