Resurrecting Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 13) (13 page)

“I got...”

“Leave the boy alone. He’s a grown man. Doesn’t need you telling him what he can and can’t do,” Maddox’s rant interrupted Rory’s reply and ended with the mad dragon throwing his hands in the air, muttering something about crazy old witches, and storming out the back door, which he slammed as he left.

“Stupid idiot,” Calysta muttered under her breath then acted as if she hadn’t said anything when Rory grinned at her.

“What in the hell was that all about?” Lennox asked, tipping back in his chair and looking out the window over the sink to watch Maddox stomp toward the house he used while staying at the lair.

“I have no clue. He’s been nastier than usual since we came back from hell,” Kellan snorted. “If that’s possible.”

“Perhaps he was infected with something while we were there,” Pearce added, always the caring, calm voice of reason.

“Maddox just needs to get back to his cave. He’s been in civilization too long for his liking,” Kayne explained, but Rory could tell that was only the half of it. Not to mention the looks the demi god and Calysta kept throwing at one another. There was more going on with Maddox than both of them were saying, but the youngest O’Reilly brother didn’t have the time or the inclination to figure it out at that moment.

These things always have a way of working themselves out.

Speaking of looks, he’d caught Kellan stealing looks at Claire’s cousins when he thought they weren’t looking. The old boy really was breaking out of his shell after all these years. Rory would have to get his best friend away from the crowd later and ask which of the aviary shifters Kell was interested in.

When the clock in the hall struck nine, Rory was officially over the crowd. He wanted, no,
needed
to be alone with his mate. He knew from the smirks on Rian and Royce’s faces that they were doing anything and everything to make the night drag on. Rory thought about shooing them out with a swift kick in the ass but decided that would only make them stay longer. Suffering through the hundredth story about his childhood, this one from Brannoc and definitely
not
something he wanted Claire to hear about since it involved his abysmal failure at picking up a girl in a bar, Rory was just about to start singing
The Party’s Over
when Ettie stood and winked at him.

It appeared that Claire had been communicating with her cousins and wanted to be alone with Rory as much as he wanted her all to himself. The eagle shifter faked a huge yawn, complete with a stretch and droopy eyes, before saying, “You guys are too much. This has been a blast but my feathers are drooping. I need my beauty sleep. Whatcha say ladies? How about we head out?”

Nodding in unison, Gabby, Olive, Karleigh, Delilah, and Tilly followed Ettie’s lead. They stood, thanked everyone for the wonderful food and great conversation, and headed toward the door. Pulling the door close to her, Olive turned back and added, “Holler at us before you head out tomorrow.”

“Sure thing,” Rian answered as Audrey crawled off his lap and he stood. Looking at Rory, his oldest brother chuckled, “Guess we better be going too. Unless...”

“Unless nothing!” Rory stood, holding back his laughter while blustering, “Get the hell outta here, the lot of you. What’s a guy gotta do to get some peace in his own home?”

The room erupted in laughter as Kell hollered, “I win! You each owe me twenty dollars.”

“You assholes were betting on this?” Rory couldn’t help but laugh.

“Damn straight! I was sure you wouldn’t even make it an hour before you threw us out,” Lenn teased.

“I had you down for two hours,” Brann added.

“I was sure you wouldn’t even let us in,” Dec added, surprising Rory with a half-grin.

“I refused to participate,” Pearce kept a straight face for almost a whole minute before busting out laughing and admitting, “Okay, okay, I said three hours.”

“And you?” Rory asked Kellan.

“Well, I gave you four hours, didn’t I?” His old friend’s brogue was so pronounced Rory knew the old Kell was definitely fighting his way back.

“But I lasted longer so shouldn’t I get the money?” Rory asked innocently.

“No way in hell. I was the closest. It’s my money,” Kell barked out a laugh while holding out his hand for their other brethren to pay up.

It was then Rory realized his brothers were being uncharacteristically quiet. Looking around the room, he saw them with their arms around their mates trying to sneak out.

“Hey, you two, hold it right there.”

Rian and Royce looked over their shoulders, both at least having the decency to look guilty. Rory would’ve laughed but had to keep a straight face as he asked, “And you want me to believe neither of you placed a bet?”

They looked at each other, then at their mates before looking back to Rory, but still not saying a word.

“So?” Rory pushed.

When his brothers didn’t answer, the youngest O’Reilly brother looked around the room. His brethren all had the exact same guilty looks on their faces as his brothers, and no one was talking. Looking to Claire to see if she knew what was going on, she only snickered and said, “Don’t ask me. They’re
your
family.”

Deciding it wasn’t worth waiting any longer, Rory shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but never got a word out as Kyra and Audrey burst out laughing. Slowly turning around, the ladies started to speak but couldn’t stop laughing which, of course, made everyone else laugh along. Finally, almost a full minute later, Audrey calmed down enough to say, “It wasn’t Ri and Roy, it was us.” She motioned with her index finger between herself and the little witch.

Still laughing but able to speak, Kyra nodded her head, “Yep! It was us and I gave you fifteen minutes.” Looking at Audrey, the little witch added, “She gave you an hour and fifteen minutes.”

“I see which sister-in-law has my back,” Rory barked with laughter.

“You know it,” Audrey winked then said, “Now, I’m gonna take your pain in the ass oldest brother outta here. It’s not only you two who want to be alone. We’re still on our honeymoon, after all.”

“Yes, we are,” Rian agreed, picking Audrey up, throwing her over his shoulder, and heading out the door. The last Rory saw of them they were both laughing as his oldest brother took off at high speed across the lawn.

“And that’s our cue,” Kyra said, quickly turning to Royce and pointing her finger up at him, “But you pick me up and throw me over your shoulder and I’ll turn you into a toad.”

“Whatever you say,
mo ghra’
,” Royce chuckled.

“Night y’all,” Kyra called over her shoulder as the couple left hand in hand.

“We’re outta here, too,” Kell slapped Rory on the back.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Lenn laughed.

“Talk to you tomorrow,” Brann shook Rory’s hand.

“Later,” was all Declan said as he opened the front door, leading the way out.

“Take care, you two. See you tomorrow,” Pearce said, closing the door on his way out.

It was then Rory realized Calysta and Kayne had left during all the commotion. There was definitely something up with those two and as soon as he’d spent a month or six with his mate, he’d figure it out. Until then, he had other plans.

Pulling Claire closer, he took the first moment of peace and quiet they’d had since officially meeting less than twenty-four hours before and just looked at her. He touched her cheek with the back of his hand. Ran the tips of his index finger long her soft, kissable lips. Kissed the tip of her nose and most importantly, looked deep into her eyes.

He could feel her heart beating in time with his. Could see the love she already felt for him shining in her eyes. Felt that same all encompassing, life-defining love flowing through their mating bond.

How could I ever have thought I could live without this? Without her?

Needing to kiss his mate more than he needed his next breath, Rory slowly leaned forward, gently laying his lips to her. Their other kisses had been fast and hard and although that was what his dragon was pushing to do, Rory wanted to take it slow. He wanted to savor his mate. It was important to him and from what he could feel from Claire, also important to her, and that mattered more than anything.

Lightly kissing from one corner of her delectable lips to the other, teasing and tasting until he thought he might explode, Rory committed every inch to memory, just as he planned to do with her entire body. He captured every sigh and each tiny moan. They were all for him and he would cherish them forever.

Claire’s hands at his waist flexed; her fingers gripping his T-shirt held him in place, spurred him on. Her lips moved under his. Her sweet moans begged him to deepen their kiss, but Rory held back. He wanted her blind with need. He needed her as crazy with love and lust as he was. He wanted to drive them both to the brink of ecstasy and then and only then, have them fall apart together.

Moving to her neck, Rory smiled against her skin as Claire whined at the loss of his lips then moaned as he kissed the tiny spot just behind her ear. Nibbling and kissing his way down her neck, he gently bit the tendon at the base of her neck. Claire gasped. Her fingers untangled from his shirt and pushed through his hair as he licked away the sting of his bite.

She’d apparently had enough of his seduction as she pulled at his curls, forcing his mouth back to hers and immediately taking control of their kiss. Both lost to their desire, they delved into one another. Mates tasting one another with all the passion they could share just as the Universe intended. Desire exploded between them unlike anything he’d ever felt at the first touch of their tongues. Each meeting driving their hunger to heights yet unknown. Filling each other with such intimacy, becoming one through only their kiss. Chest to chest, hip to hip, their bodies mimicked their lips, moving as one in an intimate dance of love and commitment.

Gasping as they separated for air, neither could stand a second apart. Their lips met again. Sparks flew between them. Rory nibbled her bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth, running just the tip of his tongue along her soft, irresistible flesh. Letting go, their tongues once again intermingled, this time more deeply, more passionately, simply more of everything. His tongue glided along her teeth, over the roof of her mouth. He tasted every inch, savored every nuance, memorized every sensation that was his phoenix. Claire’s taste, her essence filled him, claimed him, made him hers...forever... just as she was his.

His hands roamed all over her body. He reveled in her generous curves. His mouth watered with the anticipation of tasting all that was his mate. Kneading her bum, he moaned low in his throat, loving the feel of the firm round globes against the palms of his hands. She leaned even more against him as her hands left his hair and rubbed across his shoulders then down his back. Her nails scored his skin through the fabric of his T-shirt, setting him on fire. The time had come. He could wait no longer. She would be his and that was all there was to it.

Lifting Claire’s feet off the floor, Rory growled his approval as her legs were immediately around his waist. Making his way up the stairs and into his room never once allowing their kiss to end, the dragon kicked the door shut, and together they loved one another for the next four days and nights.

Early on the morning of their fifth glorious day together, the cool breeze of the morning air flowing through the bedroom window woke Rory from his blissful sleep. Missing Claire, he reached for the silky softness of his mate only to find cold emptiness on her side of the bed. Grabbing his pajama pants off the end of the bed, he slid them on as he headed out the door, following the heavenly scent of sunshine and summer flowers.

Reaching the bottom of the steps, he nearly fell flat on his face as just the sight of Claire wiped all rational thought from his mind. There she was, standing in front of the French doors that overlooked the garden, looking every bit the goddess he knew her to be. Dressed in his shirt, her arms raised and braced on either side of the doorframe, her luscious curves outlined by the rays of the rising sun called to him like a siren’s song.

Moving closer, the fragrance of their mingled scents nearly drove the Guardsman to his knees. It smelled like everything right in the world and was yet another representation of their perfect union. Claire was the physical manifestation of everything Rory would ever need for all eternity. The Heavens knew they’d made it work for the last few days. It was so true...the Universe does not make mistakes. 

Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in the silky strands of her hair. Leaning into his touch, her raised arms came down around his head as a sigh of sheer pleasure crossed her pouty lips while he kissed his way to her ear.

Claire’s fingers pulled the hairs at the nape of his neck as he teased her ear with the very tip of his tongue. Her hips moved from side to side, causing her bum to rub against his erection.

“I could live forever and it wouldn’t be long enough to show you how much I love you,”
he moaned directly into her mind.

Turning in his arms, Claire replied,
“Good thing we have forever and then some,”
before sealing her words with a kiss.

Every time they touched, every time they kissed, was even more fantastic than the last. Everything about them together got better with every moment of every day. Rory knew beyond all doubt Claire would be the center of his universe always and forever.

Deepening their kiss, Rory felt their passion rise. Pulling Claire away from the door and closer to his body, he walked them to the couch, slipped his hand between their bodies, and carefully unbuttoned her shirt, letting the material fall to the floor as he kept his very willing mate occupied with their kiss.

Sliding out of his pajama pants, Rory begrudgingly pulled away from Claire but only long enough to lay down and pull her soft, supple body onto his. Chuckling as she got comfortable, his phoenix teased, “Haven’t you had enough of me yet?”

For his answer, Rory pulled her up his body and crushed his mouth to hers, branding with his lips, making sure she knew he would never ever tire of her or what they were together. His tongue swept into her mouth, taking control of even her breathing. His hands moved up and down her body, the feel of her satiny skin against his hands making him crazy with desire.