Revealing the Dragons (Stonefire Dragons #2.5) (2 page)

Shucking his trousers and boxer shorts, Tristan placed his hands on her inner thighs and pressed her legs wider. Then he traced her slit with the head of his cock, careful never to touch her clit. Melanie wiggled to try to get the contact she craved, but Tristan moved out of the way.

She frowned. “Fine, you’ve made your point. We’ll call it a draw if it means you’ll put your cock where it belongs.”

“Belongs?”

A year ago, Mel would’ve blushed and hesitated to reply. After a year, however, she merely brushed the outside of her pussy as she said, “Here, Tristan. Your cock belongs to me.”

The sight made him release a drop of pre-cum.

His dragon roared.
Fuck her. Now.

Not needing any encouragement, he entered in one swift thrust. Mel grabbed his shoulders and moaned. “Yes, now take me hard and make me scream.”

Grabbing her hips, he positioned her a little more toward him before he moved. As he pistoned his lower body hard enough for his balls to slap against the back of her arse, he never broke eye contact. He loved watching a flush creep up his mate’s cheeks as she moaned louder.

He adjusted the angle of her hips and his mate whispered, “Yes, right there. I’m so close, Tristan.”

“Hold tight to my shoulders.”

She nodded and he moved one hand between her legs to brush her clit. Mel murmured, “Harder.”

He pressed against her hard bud and Mel dug her nails into his back. As she scraped them down to his waist, he relaxed the pressure of his finger.

Mel growled. “Keep this up, and I’m going to provoke your dragon to fuck me instead.”

His inner beast preened.
See? She wants me. I will take over.

No bloody way.

Tristan pulled out his cock slowly, before slamming into Mel’s pussy. Her nails once more dug into his skin and he murmured, “Your threats mean I’ll just own your pussy that much slower.”

He repeated the action and Mel hissed. “I’m going to remember this for later. The next time you ask me to suck your cock, I’m going to draw it out until you beg.”

An image of his mate licking his cock in slow, deliberate motions made his balls tighten. “If this is all it takes for that kind of torture, then prepare yourself, love.”

Slowly, he circled in and out of Mel, casually brushing her clit with each thrust.

When she clenched around him on purpose, it took everything he had to keep from coming, but the combined flush and light sheen of sweat on his mate’s skin made both man and beast satisfied.

He only wished she were naked. He wanted to caress every inch of her skin.

“Tristan, please.”

Lowering his head, he kissed her. As her moans vibrated against his lips, he increased the pressure against her clit. He broke their kiss long enough to whisper, “Come for me, love.”

Rubbing her clit hard, in a circular motion, she screamed.

Her pussy clenched and released his cock. Taking hold of her hips with both hands again, he moved faster. The pressure built at the base of his spine.

He was ready to brand his mate with his scent.

His dragon managed to get out,
Yes, brand her. Then it’s my turn.

Rather than argue, Tristan kissed his mate again. The combination of her taste and her hot grip on his cock was enough to push him over the edge.

Tristan growled and stilled inside his mate as his orgasm hit him. Each spurt from his dick sent his mate into orgasm again.

He deepened his kiss, stroking and dominating her mouth. She would have no doubt that she belonged to him.

Once she’d wrung the last drop from his cock, he pulled her close to rub her back as she came down from her multiple orgasms. The way she leaned against him for support stoked his ego.

Our mate is sated but she can take more. It’s my turn.

Ignoring his dragon, he kissed the top of Mel’s head. “You screamed, but I don’t think it was loud enough.”

“Oh, really?”

He leaned back to stare into his mate’s beautiful green eyes. The sated look made his dragon hum.
Is it my turn yet? I will make her scream louder.

He brushed the soft skin at his mate’s hip. “Should I try a bit harder?”

She smiled as she traced shapes on his chest with a finger. “Only if you’re naked, first. I don’t like this shirt getting in the way.”

He ran a hand from her hip to under her top and caressed her round belly. “Only if I can lick every inch of your sexy body first.”

Some of her confidence faded. “I’m not quite as sexy as I once was, I’m afraid.”

He growled. “Nonsense.” Lifting the hem of her top, he exposed her belly and traced the stretch marks left from her pregnancy. “These are battle scars you should wear proudly.”

He pulled out before leaning down and kissing each mark in turn. Once finished, he stood again and placed a hand on his mate’s face.

As Tristan stroked her cheek, Melanie’s eyes grew wet. “There’s that sweetness again. Although, given it was two of your children, they are more like war wounds.”

“Whatever they are, you’re sexier to me now than ever before, so strip, human, so I can make you scream louder.”

And for once, Melanie didn’t fight or tease him. She merely took off her clothes.

As she stripped to reveal her gorgeous curves, Tristan was reminded how lucky he was to have Mel as his mate. He would do anything to protect her.

Turning around, his mate faced him and crossed her arms over her breasts. She gave him a deliberate once-over. “Well? Why do you still have your clothes on? You’re behind.”

Tristan pulled his top over his head and rushed to his female. Scooping her up, he nuzzled her neck; her scent a drug he would never have enough of. “Not yet, but that’s where I plan to be in about ten seconds.”

Melanie laughed and Tristan carried his mate to their bedroom. It was time to let his dragon-half out and make her scream.

Chapter Two

One Week Later

Tristan tapped his finger against the arm of the chair. When his clan leader, Bram, finally hung up the phone, Tristan asked, “Why am I here? I’d rather be with my mate today.”

Bram raised an eyebrow. “As I would rather be with mine. But do I ever call you to my cottage without a reason?”

“No, but whatever you need to say, just say it.”

Bram shook his head. “If you weren’t my friend of thirty years, Tristan, I would actually try to instill some manners into you.” Tristan merely shrugged and his clan leader continued. “Right, the reason I called you in here is to give you the coordinates of a safe location to stash your family in case the worst happens. We have no idea what response the general public will have to the release of Melanie’s book today and I want to play it safe.”

“Then why did you wait so long to tell me this? You’ve known for months when the book would come out.”

Bram crossed his arms over his chest. “Given the recent trouble of traitors in the clan over the last year, I thought you’d understand my need to be cautious.”

Tristan’s dragon piped in.
We trust him. Don’t be so rude. He wants to help protect our mate.

Ignoring his inner beast, Tristan replied, “Then hurry up and tell me what I need to know, Bram. When I left, Mel was pacing and muttering to herself. Even with Arabella and Evie there, she needs me.”

Bram uncrossed his arms, picked up a folder on his desk, and held it out. Tristan took it as his friend explained, “Finlay Stewart has graciously offered us protection on the Isle of Skye for you and your family, if we need it. The location is remote enough to protect you. Not only that, there are numerous caves and cottages listed for you to choose from. If things turn violent and humans threaten Mel’s life, I want you to take her to one of those locations.”

Tristan looked up. “The last time you took someone to a safe location, it was compromised. How do we know this time will be any different? After all, the dragon hunters are currently a major pain in our arses.”

“This time, we know they are around and dangerous. Not only that, but Protectors from both Stonefire and Lochguard will be located around the island to act as lookouts and help if needed.”

“You’re trusting the Scottish bastard a lot considering the alliance is a mere four months old.”

Bram gave him a piercing blue-eyed stare. “He saved my mate’s life. I’m not sure what else he could do to prove his sincerity and dedication to the alliance.”

Tristan grunted. “But why Skye? Lewis or any of the Western Isles would be more remote.”

“Transporting five-month-old twins is quite a process. Skye is a bit easier to manage. Besides, from what I hear, the residents of Skye have a history of helping the dragon-shifters and garnering their help in return.”

Skye is remote enough and closer to the Scottish dragon clan. It is a good choice,
his dragon said.

Since when are you a master of geography?

You are a teacher. Your knowledge is my knowledge. I pay attention when you instruct the young ones on where it’s safe to fly.

Rather than admit his dragon had a point, Tristan focused back on Bram. “And the transport details?”

“It will be by dragonflight. Dr. Sid devised carry cases for the twins to protect them from the cold.” Bram motioned toward the folder in Tristan’s hands. “The rest of the details are in there. Read them over, discuss them with Mel, and then get back to me and Kai. Since reading a three-hundred page book will take some time, I don’t expect anything to happen today. Still, read it and discuss it with your mate as soon as possible.”

Bram’s tone brooked no argument. “Right, then can I go? Mel hasn’t slept well in days and my dragon is not happy about it.”

His clan leader waved a hand. “Go. I’ll send someone over when the shipment of her books arrives here later today.”

With a grunt, Tristan left Bram’s cottage and headed home. As much as he appreciated his friend’s precaution, Tristan knew there was no bloody way Mel would leave the clan. He only hoped there wasn’t any violence as a result of her book, because then the real test would begin—a battle between his dragon’s need to protect and the need to support his mate and stand by her side when she needed it most.

~~~

Melanie paced the length of her living room, down the hall to the door, and back again. Where was Tristan?

Without him by her side to calm her or keep her grounded, a million thoughts raced through her head.

Maybe everyone who bought her book would simply return it. Or, if they kept the book, then maybe a plane would appear out of nowhere to drop bombs on Stonefire, killing everyone she held dear.

Tristan would say she was crazy, but an exposé of the dragon-shifters had never been released before; there was no way to judge how the public would respond.

Not even holding one of her babies would help calm her mind. She needed the solid strength and bluntness of her mate.

Once she reached the living area again, Arabella looked up from her laptop. “Your pacing is distracting. Can’t you go clean the kitchen or something so I can finish my work?”

She stopped in front of her sister-in-law and glared. “You came here of your own desire. I didn’t ask you to come, let alone bring one of your laptops here to work on. You can leave if it’s that much of a bother.”

Evie, who was sitting on the floor and building a tower of blocks with little Murray, frowned and chimed in, “You don’t need to bite her head off, Melanie. We’re here for support, especially since Bram needed to talk with Tristan.”

Melanie paced around the living area. “I don’t understand why Bram couldn’t come here, or do a teleconference.”

Evie scrutinized her. “You’re definitely not yourself today. The Melanie Hall-MacLeod I know goes out of her way to make things easy for everyone but herself. You’re stressed, love. Either share your thoughts or I’ll force some chamomile tea down your throat since Bram would frown upon me using a sedative.”

Mel blinked. “You want to drug me?”

Arabella chuckled, which only made Mel blink again. Ara closed her laptop and crossed her arms over her chest. “Even I’m tempted to give you a sleep aid of some sort. You’re driving everyone crazy, Melanie, especially since there’s nothing to do but wait and see how things go.”

Mel sighed. “I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Especially since I couldn’t find a publisher who would publish my book so I had to do it myself.”

Ara shook her head. “You had twenty thousand pre-orders for the ebook version alone. I’d say you did well enough by publishing it yourself and it won’t be long before every book shop in the country wants to stock
Revealing the Dragons: the Day-to-Day Lives of a British Dragon-Shifter Clan
.”

Evie squeaked a toy dragon at Murray before scrunching her nose. “I still say you should’ve picked a shorter, snazzier title. It almost sounds…academic, which usually means boring.”

Mel huffed. “It’s supposed to sound academic. I wasn’t about to write a tabloid tell-all.” Evie smiled and Mel understood. “You were trying to rile me up, weren’t you?”