Under His Claw (7 page)

His eyes grew hot. She could almost feel the heat radiating off his gaze. His fingers worked at the front clasp of her bra for a moment before he hooked his claws under it and simply sliced it free.

He pressed his face between her breasts, and he exhaled against her skin. The heat spiraled through her, and she swayed with her head back and her hands clenched on the bedding. He pulled her jacket off before lifting her feet and flipping her shoes away. Her skirt fought him and it did not win.

The wisp of panties she had been wearing were not designed to deal with claws. He flicked away the shreds and buried his face between her thighs.

His tongue stroked at her, licking the wet honey before she gasped. His tongue thrust into her and undulated inside.

She twisted at the rough sensation of his scales against her inner thighs and screeched when he stroked her clit with a hard twist of his thumb. The subtle foreplay of the flight had gotten her blood pounding, and it was a short trip from panic to orgasm.

She shrieked, Regick backed away, throwing away the too-tight clothing and showing her his shoulders were not the only thing which had gotten wider.

His cock now sported ridges down its length, and its width had increased by enough to make her really doubt that he was going to fit.

With both of them naked, he stepped toward her, and it took all her nerve not to run for it. He knelt again, lifted her by cupping her ass and her thighs were draped over his shoulders.

Regick thrust his tongue into her, and she could feel it thicken as he stroked it in and out. The smooth slickness was a tease, and she gripped his hair to hold him in place.

He easily pulled away from her, and to her embarrassment, he licked his hand over and over before wrapping his hand around his cock and stroking the saliva over it.

Without a word, he kissed her, flipped her around and he positioned her into a hands-and-knees position on the edge of the bed. It put her at the perfect height for him.

She braced herself as his cock wedged into her, but her tension wouldn’t allow him in any further.

She heard him licking something again, and to her shock, he pressed his finger against her ass. She gasped, but his cock slid in an inch further. He pressed again, and she allowed his cock in another inch.

She squirmed, mewled and rocked forward, but he caught her around the waist with his free hand, and his finger continued its devastating entry. Mercifully, no claw was apparent.

The burn in her ass eased suddenly and his cock settled with his thighs pressing against hers.

She felt full, extremely full, but when he started to move inside her, she lost track of thought and concentrated on feeling.

Her breasts swayed as he thrust into her and retreated before surging forward again. She braced herself on the sheets as the sunlight painted the bed red. Her breathing took on a ragged pattern, she moaned when he thrust in and gasped when he pulled back. Zora was rocked over and over until she was sure her body couldn’t contain the pleasure anymore, and still, she climbed higher.

His clawed hand cupped her breasts and stroked them as he drove into her with more speed and muttering in a deep, dark voice and a language she didn’t understand.

She was trapped with her body on fire and her blood pounding in her ears. When she felt more pressure in her ass, she mewled but he withdrew his finger. As two fingers pressed into her, she screamed and her body bucked hard against him. It was pulling at him and goading him into a flurry of thrusts which culminated in him pressing his lips to the back of her neck and pressing his teeth in while his hips jerked into hers.

Zora sobbed and dropped until her forehead was pressed to the sheets. Her body felt raw and her ass throbbed with short pulses. He withdrew his fingers and she shivered at the loss.

Regick pulled free of her, and as she rolled to her side she watched him exhale fire over his hand, burning off all traces of its recent activity.

His hand was still hot when he tucked her under the comforter and he slid in next to her, wearing his glamor.

He chuckled. “You handled that well.”

She sighed and wiped at her tears. “Thanks, it was just…”

“A little much. I apologize, but you were too tight for me to work myself in without surprising you, and your ass is so darned cute.” He kissed her shoulder.

She swallowed and was definitely glad it had only been his fingers.

His hands stroked over her breasts and belly, and she had to admit it was soothing.

“Are you in the mood to talk, Zora?”

She nodded. “Sure. I am getting my mental footing back.”

“Good. What do you mean that you can undo the vampire’s healing?”

“Simply what I said. No vampire can regrow tissue. The healing I have administered so far has been ancient damage. If I were so inclined, I could remove my tissue from their body, and they would be left open and bleeding just as they were on the day of the original damage.”

“So, you basically own every vampire you have ever healed.”

“Well, my mother took care of most of them. She could access her father’s fire or so Grandma always told me.”

Zora turned in his arms and burrowed against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her close.

“Any more questions?”

“Who is your father?”

“Yorou.”

“He who dwells in darkness?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I have never met him.”

She suddenly realized, “Do all dragons have weird names?”

He shrugged. “We get references to our major traits.”

“What is your dragon name?”

He mumbled against her hair. “Regick, he who gilds the skies.”

“Nice. Is it on your business cards?”

He smacked her butt. “Funny.”

She sighed. “What else do you want to know?”

“What other dragons are in your lineage?”

“Darcash and Korlinous. My great-grandfather and grandfather respectively.”

He whistled low. “Impressive.”

“What are their other names?”

“Darcash is he who commands the waves and Korlinous is he who bathes in fire.”

“Nice. Water, fire, earth and now air. It is a funny lineage.”

She thought about a child descended from four generations of dragons and four different elements. Grounding it would be a problem, and who would that child consider as a mate?

“Would you like to see them?”

“See who?”

“Your male ancestors. The dragons are all connected and I can make a few calls.”

“What would happen to us if my father came for a visit?”

“Nothing. You are mine. He might offer a dowry but I don’t need it.” He chuckled.

“Why would you invite them?”

“In a word, etiquette. I have mated with their bloodline and they need to know me. If they need anything, they will know I will be there at their call.”

She thought about it. She had always wanted to know her father, and her mother had never said anything bad about him. “Sure. Yes. You can contact them.”

“Good. I will contact all three of them.”

“Wait. Isn’t Darcash dead?”

“No. He is still in the great North Sea with his mate. Why?”

“Grandmother thought that her mother was dead already.”

“Ah. Awkward. We will see what there is to be seen when and if they return my call.”

“They might not?”

“They might not. We have a society but we don’t socialize much. It will depend on them.”

She sighed and cuddled against him. It wasn’t even three minutes later her stomach growled and she cursed her metabolism. “I need to find some dinner.”

“There is a restaurant downstairs, if you like.”

“Do they serve burgers?”

“They can.” He rubbed his chin against her head.

“Then, I need a shower and some clothing.”

“Clothing we will have to get in your room, but the shower, I can arrange here.”

There was a strange anticipation in him as he rolled to his feet with her in his arms. He stood her up on the tile and whistled softly; a cascade of glittery fire splashed against her and cleared her skin of sweat and other fluids. He whistled up, down and bent to clean between her thighs. The fire splashed and disappeared as it touched her, taking away dirt and oils and leaving a warm tingle from head to toe.

“Now, do we sacrifice your sheets or make a sprint for the elevator to get me clothing.”

He smirked, “Or we can take the stairs.”

“Stairs?”

“Of course. I will never be inaccessible to you, even if you do not wish to share my bed.”

She chuckled. “That is a possibility?”

“Of course. No couple wishes to spend every night together, not when you live as long as we shall. You might need to work late or I might. You will need your own library and your own offices. The apartment below can serve as both.”

“Show me.”

He led her past the master bathroom and to a blank wall behind it. He pressed the wall and it slid back. He took her hand and led her down a spiral staircase to the room she had occupied previously.

“Wait. Where is the bed?”

He looked up at the ceiling. “Upstairs.”

“What about no couple always sleeping together?”

“I lied. I will be next to you, under you or within you for the first century or so.”

“What if I don’t live that long?”

“You will, or I will rip the guts out of the person who killed you before I follow you into the afterlife.”

She made a face and found the wardrobe. It was sparse, but she found replacement underwear and a simple black dress. She slipped on a pair of sensible heels and she put her hands on her hips. “All right. I am ready for dinner and you are still naked. Get dressed and bring your wallet. I don’t have money yet.”

“Fair enough. May I bring my phone?”

“Of course. Your life doesn’t stop just because mine hasn’t started.”

He shook his head and sprinted up the spiral staircase, returning in two minutes wearing a tight T-shirt and jeans.

The simple girl in her soul sighed at the picture his muscles made in the shirt. It was tight enough to define everything with enough room to make it look like he wasn’t trying too hard.

“Those jeans are pretty tight. Is your wallet in there?”

He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at her in disapproval. “You are cruising for a spanking.”

Since she was pretty sure he had paddles readily available, she put her hands up. “You are right. I am sorry. I should know better than to give you a sarcastic compliment.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, again he was smiling. He turned around. “Look all you like. Yes, I brought my wallet.”

She admired his butt and walked over to pat it. He whipped around and caught her in his arms.

“Having a mate is new to me as well. I may say foolish things from time to time.”

“I will probably forgive you. That’s in my nature, well as long as the spanking doesn’t become a reality. I am not a fan of pain, even at playtime.”

He nodded against her temple. “Noted, though I may try and change your mind now and then.”

She inhaled his warm and comforting scent. “Fine, now let’s get me that burger.”

“As my lady commands.”

The spa on the third floor had a private room, and it was there she healed Olvadi.

She smiled at the vampire king as he settled on the massage table with his back facing her. “So, your majesty, how is your new junk treating you?”

“It responds quite well. I have had eight lovers of both sexes, and they all appear pleased with the results.”

Zora blinked and pierced her hands before slathering her blood over his back and moving up and down the whip scars in even passes.

“You are using a different technique today.”

“This is a different type of scar. The stroke of the whip moved across you evenly so that is how it will be healed.”

She kept making the passes and she could feel the damage breaking apart and her blood smoothing the skin.

“Are you content with Regick?”

Zora smiled, “I am relatively free here, which is refreshing. Even living in Orchard, I had a hard time making ends meet and wasn’t able to make many friends. I am beginning a new life.”

“And all you have to do is sleep with a dragon.”

“It has been done before, in my family.”

She felt the tension in him.

“What?”

“Your majesty, do not pretend you do not know of my lineage. I am well aware Regick told you when he negotiated the fees for my services.”

He exhaled, though, strictly speaking, he didn’t need to breathe.

“Octavia misses you.”

“I miss her as well. If you wish to use my services beyond the next six months, you may consider trading her to me for repairs to those holy-water gouges in your thighs, or re-growing Tarthos’s arm.”

Her hands continued their relentless sweep with the blood sliding under them.

“I do not wish to part with Octavia. She is one of my favored lovers.”

Zora made a face. Octavia’s preferences ran to women. She had slept with men, but it wasn’t what she wanted. If she was one of Olvadi’s favorite lovers, Zora bet the sentiment wasn’t returned.

Another ten minutes passed and she finished the repair. The towels waiting for her were warm and damp. They helped her remove her blood from Olvadi and assisted her in stopping the flow from her hands.

“You are done, your majesty. Next appointment is in one week.”

He sat up and his ruby eyes glared at her. “Only one a week? That was not the deal.”

“I have read the contract. There was nothing in there about frequency of treatments, only six months of treatments were mentioned. I was to decide the schedule, and since I am now involved in the local community, it is important for me to pace myself. Healing takes a lot out of me, and if Regick and I are to have a family, I need to conserve my energy.”

“You are pregnant?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Not for lack of trying.”

Olvadi checked out his now blemish-free back in the mirror. “You do do excellent work.”

She nodded. “I am aware of it. I am going to summon my assistant. She will help me with the bandages.”