Dragon Ugly (Dragon New Year) (15 page)

“Maybe next time…” Brent hesitated. “I could come along and take care of you?”

She paused as she took in his words. She’d didn’t even shift with the pack. Normally, she went out alone, found a site that was devoid of any trace of humans or other shifters, shed her clothes, and waited for the change to happen.

“Why would you go with me?” she asked. “You aren’t beholden to the moon.”

Dragons could shift at will, or be forced to change by magic or their dragon counterparts as a point of defense or offense. But wolves needed to shift at every full moon. The idea of him being with her was both shocking and intriguing. A person to keep her safe, take care of her after the process—it sounded so wonderful. Warmth washed over both woman and animal.

Brent rolled over onto his back, his wings flattened under him so that he didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable. “Yes, I want to be with you when you shift, so I can support you and take care of you at your most vulnerable.”

Not even her parents had done that for her. They were usually off exploring or something. Her parents believed that she needed to learn to fend for herself from an early age. Once she could shift safely, Carissa had been on her own. It had allowed her to hone her fight-and-flight instincts, and become closer to her wolf, but sometimes she wished she’d had more supervision. Because of her solitary upbringing, she had never felt comfortable shifting with the pack. Would they take offense if she decided to shift with a dragon instead? Shifter politics were so volatile.

“I’ll ask the packs if that’s okay. Dragons, are… Well, you guys can be very unstable while shifting. If you really want to do this, we’ll have to go into the mountains.”

As soon as she said it, she started to have second thoughts. He was sweet to offer to be there for her shift and the aftercare, but they were just starting to build their bond. To bring him in on something so intimate so soon was just too fast for her, no matter how tempting it might be. A bit of her wall rose back up.

“Okay, but if you want me there, let me know and I’ll pack a bag. My parents have a cabin in the mountains close to the bear shifter property line, so you’ll be safe and have a lot space to roam and allow your wolf to really stretch her muscles.” Brent’s features were relaxed. There was no tension to be found. A small impish smile played on his lips. He looked much more comfortable.

“Do you feel better?” She tried not to let her gaze slide down on all that exposed skin. There was now a leashed energy in the air, a sense of Brent holding himself back, but the distress was gone, replaced by a predatory atmosphere that sent shivers down her spine and sparked heat deep in her core. Need continued to sluice through her veins as her clit continued to throb, reminding her that she needed to satiate herself.

“No.” His voice had taken on a raspy tone again. “I don’t feel better. Not by a long shot.” His nostrils flared and he groaned. “I can smell your desire, honey. You need me.”

“I can take care of myself,” she smirked.

“Oh, I know you can—and I’d love to watch that—but I want to help you,” he purred. “With my mouth, my tongue, my fingers, and my cock. And if you want to throw toys in there, those too.”

Sweat slipped over her brow. Her mouth went dry as her vaginal walls fluttered. Tingles raced along her inner thighs and around the base of her spine, up her back and floated around her head to run back down again. Her wolf surged forward, trying to push her in the direction it wanted her to go. She tried to shrug off the suggestion, but the fire in her belly flared too hot. Besides, she reasoned, sex would take her mind off of the far-more-intimate act of shifting in front of Brent. She needed to give the wolf this release, or it would keep insisting and distract her during daylight hours. She could feel its anxiousness and need to be more at one with its mate in this way.

“I know you’re trying to make this about me, and I appreciate it. I was a wreck when I arrived, but I’m much better now and I think I could help you. Let me.” His tone brokered no argument.

Brent’s gaze was a heated caress against Carissa’s skin. Her stomach muscles clenched and her nipples tightened further. The ache increased in the turgid tips, sending threads of sensation straight to her clit. She tried to think up new reasons not to just let him help her find release, but couldn’t think of a single one.

Carissa smiled as her shoulders sunk. “You win. Where should we begin?”

A wicked grin spread on his lips as his eyes darkened to pools of midnight. He sat up and his wings retracted, folding up until they disappeared. The scales that decorated his chest and abdomen and arms began to recede. His thick cock thudded against his stomach. The dragon was allowing his human counterpart control again, but she could still feel its presence in the air. Water, male musk, sexual desire, and sweat floated on the breeze. She inhaled deeply and smiled.

“I want you to sit over there while I get the things I need and to change the covers. I’ve…well…” Dual crimson patches appeared on his cheeks. “I’ve soaked through the blanket and the sheets.”

He sat, looking shy and embarrassed at the same time. She laughed and nodded. “Fine. Go do your preparations and I’ll go get some wine and watch you clean up.” She couldn’t stop the smile on her face. It felt good having him in her space. From the moment he entered the house it felt right and comfortable. The fact that he wanted to set the mood and clean up a bit was nice, nothing like what she had expected.

Carissa crawled off the bed, went the kitchen, grabbed the wine and a glass and came back.

“Oh, none for me?” Brent teased.

“You haven’t earned it yet. I’ll decide if you get a sip if you make up my bed correctly. The bedclothes are in the armoire, by the way.” She settled into a chair near a window and watched him tear things apart. As he moved and bent his body, it made his muscles bunch in delightful ways. The sight of it made her skin warm and her sexual awareness of him soar. The scent of dragon still hung around the room, adding to her anticipation. She watched the smooth glide of his golden skin with just a hint of blue. The care he put into dressing up the bed once again, and the way he made sure to clean up and put her sheets and coverlet in the laundry bag in the corner, made her giggle. Maybe she would keep him around for his cleaning skills.

She sipped the deep, burgundy wine she had selected. The rich bouquet, with a hint of spice and sweetness, rolled over her taste buds, and she wondered what it would taste like as she lapped it up from his skin. That would be something to bring up later. Right now she would enjoy the view.

He managed to get the bed looking presentable, almost the way she made it up herself, minus the hospital corners.

Carissa almost chuckled. “Not bad, but next time, you’ll have to do much better,” she taunted.

“Hey, I’m doing this with an audience. Don’t razz me. Now get on this bed, woman, and I’ll show you something I’m much better at.”

She could only chuckle as he walked out of the room. She put the stopper back in the wine and set it on the side table. Carissa downed the rest of her glass in one gulp and then went to sit on the edge of the bed and wait for him. He returned a minute later with a bucket filled with ice. Without a word he put it down on the nightstand and looked up at her.

“Toys?” His serious tone made her wary.

“The trunk in the closet. What, no smile for me?” She queried as she eyed the bucket of ice. Was he going to use that ice on her, or was it for something else? Red wine didn’t need to be chilled. She shook her head.

“Lie back, extend your arms over your head and close your eyes. You just have to trust me.” His tone was darker, rougher.

“Fine, just don’t break my furniture.” She scooted back, lay down and stretched her arms over her head, then closed her eyes. With her vision blocked, her senses were enhanced. She could smell his arousal and sweat more sharply. His footfalls were lighter. He moved like the wind. If she’d been asleep, she wouldn’t have known he was there. It was an interesting notion, perhaps a burglar-turned-lover sneaking in to surprise her? She decided to think on it a bit deeper later. For now, she’d oblige him with whatever he wanted.

The seconds ticked by as she waited for him to come to the bed. He took his time. By the time he got back to her, the urge to move was overwhelming. Carissa’s muscles burned and itched and her arms began to ache.

She opened her mouth to say something to him, but he covered it with his. She hadn’t even felt the bed dip from his weight. Her lips tingled. She opened her mouth to him, giving permission for his tongue to enter and writhe against hers, slowly gliding and teasing. In, out, swirl—exploring the recesses of her mouth until she was mindless with arousal.

She wanted to thread her fingers through his hair and hold his head close. When she started to move her arms, he pulled back, with only his breath whispering against her tender flesh.

“Brent—” she started, only to be cut off with another soul-searing kiss. Her toes curled as liquid fire seared up and down her spine and around the base of her back. Tingles raced along her inner thighs and the nape of her neck. Sweat dampened her forehead. She whimpered as he pulled away.

“Brent?” she whispered.

“I’m here, honey. I’m right here. Just relax and trust me. Keep your hands over your head. At any time that you want out, just say
sprouts
… Well, unless you love them and then we’ll have to figure something else out,” he chuckled.

She grinned. “I hated Brussels sprouts as a kid. Well, unless you deep fry them.”

“Fine, sprouts it is. Now hold tight, honey.” He moved away with soft footfalls. She heard dull thuds against wood and then felt the press of silk against her eyelids and temples. Next, she felt the rough softness of satin against her wrists. He tied her up to the bed posts. She tugged, making sure that the bonds were secure. They were, but she felt she could still rip them if she wanted to. Next, she focused on her breath, on the movement of her torso as she breathed in and out. She squeezed her toes, tensed the muscles in her legs and let them relax, going through the motions until her arms and legs were free from stress. Bondage was her fantasy but that didn’t mean that a part of her felt a tremor of fear at having no control. She’d never trusted a lover like this before.

What if he didn’t stop? What if she got hurt? What if his dragon took over during sex?

“Honey,” he caressed her arms. The soft sweetness grounded her, centered her attention on him. “I’m going to just tie down your wrists but not your ankles. You’re strong enough that if you really want to get out you can. Okay?”

A sense of relief filled her. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes at his thoughtfulness. She nodded in gratification.

“No, honey, you need to tell me you understand. Are you okay with just having your wrists tied?” His tone demanded a response.

“Yes, I understand.” She smiled.

The rough pads of his fingertips caressed her cheek. “Good. Next, I’m going to start kissing your body. In between the kisses I’m going to be using ice. We’re going to do hot and cold. I’m telling you this so you don’t freak out. Do you understand? Answer me with a yes or no. No nodding.”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for telling me.” She blew out another breath and waited for him to act out what he said.

The bed shook as it accepted his weight. Carissa felt his mouth against her instep. He moved slowly, taking his time, pausing between touches so that she couldn’t predict when he would kiss her next. She bit her lip to keep herself from demanding he move faster. She stayed silent and tried to squirm and guide him up to where she wanted him to go. Her nipples and clit pulsed. Sweat slid down her temple as her heart beat increased. Her moisture dampened her thighs as she tried not to squirm.

“Brent, please. I need you to suck my clit.”

His answer was a dark chuckle that did nothing to ease the pressure in her belly or the ache between her thighs. She shifted her hips and tried to close her legs, but Brent pushed them wider. “Is this comfortable for you?”

Carissa appreciated his concern. “I’m good. But if you stop, I’ll kill. Move faster,” she growled.

He laughed again. “My pace, honey. Relax and enjoy it.”

He went back to kisses, throwing in nips and licks. She sucked in a breath when she felt the slippery cold of ice along the back of her knee, teasing her. He replaced the cold with the warm of his mouth, sucking at the sensitive flesh. She felt sharp tugs in her womb with each pull of his mouth. He continued to tease her, moving up her leg to lap along the juncture of her thigh. Brent kissed low across her stomach before going down her other leg, showing it the same attention. Her clit continued to pulse, the ache ratcheting up until she wasn’t sure she could go another second without his attention on that aching bundle of nerves. Carissa opened her mouth to plead with him to touch her there, when she felt him settle between her legs. Then she felt the gentle brush of his warm breath against her damp labia.

Brent reached up and gripped her hips in a firm hold that didn’t allow her much movement. His fingers dug into the cheeks of her buttocks, holding her in place. He blew on her clit, setting off sparks. Her vaginal walls clenched as more liquid leaked out of her aching core. He lapped up her juices, teasing her nether lips with light swipes. His tongue felt oddly rough, but that texture elicited warm sensations that flooded her belly. Her stomach muscles tensed and relaxed as the pressure began to build. He flicked her clit with light passes that set off shards of electricity.

Something burst inside her, filling her body with more heat, as rivulets of sweat ran down her chest and her sides. Tendrils of hair stuck to her forehead and cheek as she shook her head back and forth. Pleasure built, coiled, and then expanded outward, filling her abdomen and climbing through her body. It was too much. Her skin felt too tight as he flicked and licked her stomach. He parted the thick lips of her labia and sucked the bud into his mouth, worrying the sensitive head while his fingers circled her dripping entrance.