Fury of a Highland Dragon (6 page)

Her brows collided.
Life force?
Targeting of illnesses?
Really? Struggling to piece it together, she sorted through the information he offered. All right. Maybe. She could buy it on some level. The energy exchange seemed plausible. She’d felt it—the surge, the awareness, the raw heat as he’d caressed her in the courtyard. “Am I cured then? No more asthma?”

“No more asthma,” he said, mimicking the quiet awe in her tone.

Gratefulness swamped her. Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know what to say. I just…I mean, other than thank you.” Pressing her palm over her breastbone—the place it always hurt the most—she lost the battle. Free and clear. One hundred percent healed. No more struggling. Emotion escaped along with her tears. Droplets rolled over her bottom lashes and down her cheeks as she held his gaze. “Thank you, Tydrin. I can’t tell you…you have no idea how good it feels to breathe without pain. It was getting worse and I was so worried.”

Her voice cracked on the last word.

“Sweet, sweet lass.” Raising his hands, he cupped her face and urged her closer. She shuffled across the quilt, going without complaint, closing the distance, surrendering control. He hummed in appreciation. She whispered his name as he wiped her tears away. His gaze raked her face. Desire curled in the pit of her stomach. Her lips parted without prompting. Accepting the invitation, Tydrin leaned in and kissed her softly. Ivy moaned. Oh blessed day. Sweet soul-stealing calamity. He tasted good, like moonbeams, milk chocolate and deep, dark passion. Holding her immobile, he retreated enough to look at her. “Your pleasure is mine, Ivy. We may have just met, but you mean the world tae me. I will do whatever it takes tae keep you healthy and safe.”

Another round of tears threatened. Oh glory. How incredible. What an amazing thing to say. He was a revelation. A real life knight-in-shining-armor, and far too good to be true.

Caution raised all kinds of red flags. Ivy ignored the warning signs, refusing to give up her dream guy. Just for tonight. Just for now, she needed to believe someone wanted her. Valued her. Respected her. Desired her so much he would drop everything to be with her. A foolish notion. She knew it. Accepted it. Twenty-first century women didn’t welcome saviors. Here, though—right now, in this moment—Ivy didn’t care. She craved the connection. Needed his touch. Yearned for his taste. Longed to press her body to his—feel his hands on her skin—and forget her problems, along with the rest of the world…if only for a little while.

“Tydrin?”

“Aye, lovely?”

“I remember now. You promised me something last night.”

His eyes started to shimmer. “Did I?”

“Yes,” she said, feeling shy, but not enough to back down. She stood on the edge of a precipice. A ledge with two choices: retreat to safety or jump in without hesitation. God forgive her. She wanted to make the leap, fall fast, hit hard, lose herself in the longing. Holding his gaze, Ivy drew a deep breath. Now or never. Be brave or stay scared. It took her a split second to decide. “You said that if I let you, you’d make love to me. Is that still true?”

“More than ever.”

“Time to keep your word, then.”

Desire darkened the purple flecks in his eyes. His nostrils flared a second before he surged toward her. His grip firmed. His body flexed. Ivy gasped as Tydrin took control and flipped her over.

She landed on her back.

He came down on top of her. Rigid with arousal, he pressed down, giving her his weight as he settled between her thighs. “Do you want me, Ivy?”

“Yes.”

“Can you feel how much I want you?” he asked, his chest rubbing against hers.

Her nipples peeked. “You know I can.”

“Then be sure, lovely.” Shackling her wrists, Tydrin pulled her arms above her head. He held her there, legs spread, hands pressed to the bed, mouth a hair’s breadth from hers. Expression set, he swiveled his hips. Pleasure spiked. Tipping her head back, she arched, shuddering against him. “Once we start—the instant I get a proper taste of you, Ivy—I might not be able tae stop.”

“I’m sure. Tydrin, I’m sure.” Half-drunk on his scent, in need of his taste, she tugged on her hands, begging without words to be released. She needed to touch him—to feel, explore, give as good as he gave. He shook his head, denying her silent request, and rolled his hips again. Bliss rumbled through her, making her moan beneath him. “And no stopping. I want all you have to give.”

“Thank Christ.”

The low growl sounded in her ear. His eyes sparked, shimmering purple in the dark, and Ivy let herself go. She was Tydrin’s for the moment. His for the taking. His to please in whatever ways he wanted. His without apology as he dipped his head and invaded her mouth.

T
he instant his tongue touched hers, Tydrin fell from grace and straight into heaven. He growled as Ivy shifted underneath him and…oh baby. Blessed be the day. He must’ve been born under a lucky star. Or singled out by the most forgiving of angels. Whatever. The reason for his good fortune didn’t matter. Label it time off for good behavior. Call it emotional parole. Place addiction at the top of the list. Only one thing mattered—Ivy and what she made him feel.

Without effort, she tipped the scales, upending him completely, blowing past rational to shove him straight into enthrallment. Now he reeled, head spinning, body humming, a prisoner of desire as he deepened the kiss and took what she offered. Everything she gave. All he wanted too.

Which made him a first class cad.

He shouldn’t be kissing her like this. Shouldn’t be nestled between her thighs and pressed to her core. Shouldn’t be chest to breast with her, hands threaded in her hair while he tangled his tongue with hers either. Not before they talked and he came clean. Told her who he was and what he’d done, but…Christ help him. She tasted so good. Felt so amazing—all lush curves, soft skin and glorious passion—he couldn’t pull away. Couldn’t force his muscles to unlock long enough to let her go. Not that he wasn’t trying, but—

His dragon half refused to listen.

Charmed by her, the unscrupulous beast dug in, locking him in place, controlling the play, demanding he please the female in his arms. Another reason to call himself a bastard. Touching her—loving her—wasn’t right. She needed to know the truth before he went any further. The human side of him nodded. His dragon continued to disagree, pointing to one indisputable fact. Ivy wanted him. Needed him. Might even yearn for him as much as he did her, so…screw it. His conscience could go hang itself. Right. Wrong. Neither passed muster anymore. All that mattered was her and what she asked of him.

Pleasure, hot and devastating, poured through him.

His heart slammed against the inside of his chest. The blood rush spiked, and…God be good to him. She was incredible. So glorious in her passion. So beautiful in her need. So hot she took his breath away, turning him inside out with each sexy sound she made. The instant one breathy moan ceased, he wanted her to make another. And then more after that. The compulsion to hear her scream his name as she came cranked him tight. The lockdown pushed past self-imposed boundaries, threatening his control. Now he didn’t know what to do—give her what she demanded, a fast, hard loving. Or slow down long enough to explore every gorgeous inch of her.

Slow suited him better.

He liked to take his time. Loved hearing a female beg while he watched her squirm. Adored the slide of satiny skin beneath his hands. Enjoyed the taste and scent of a female in the full bloom of arousal. Always made a fast getaway after he finished pleasing her too. Hunt with purpose. Chase with charm. Conquer without mercy. A tried and true method for Dragonkind males when dealing with women. His MO down to the letter. Until Now.

Until Ivy.

She presented him with a different set of possibilities. More opportunities too. Precious. Special. A gift given at the eleventh hour. She was the kind of female a smart male never took for granted. Precisely how it should be. Why? Unlike the females he’d pleasured in the past, Ivy belonged to him. Was
his
in every sense of the word. His to comfort and protect. His to love and please. His to house and hold. Which meant…

No way would he rush the encounter.  

He wanted to feel everything. Remember each moment. Experience her—and their first time together—to the fullest. Every second of the next few hours counted. His undying need. Her complete satisfaction. The ecstasy he would give her while receiving his own. All of it mattered, so…aye. Without a doubt. Time to pull his head out of his arse and get with the program. Before he pushed too hard. Before he went too fast and lost all control.

Grabbing the frayed ends of his restraint, Tydrin retreated, lessening the pressure. Ivy whimpered in protest. The sound slid through his veins, slicing at his willpower. The tethers holding him in check unraveled. Lust escalated. Conviction took a nose dive and…shite. He was in serious trouble. Exposed in a world where rapture ruled and males bowed down, surrendering to unparalleled bliss. Digging in, he bore down, struggling to lift his mouth from hers long enough to reestablish control.

An excellent plan, but for one teeny-tiny problem.

Ivy had other ideas.

Refusing to let him go, she fisted her hands in his hair. An instant later, she upped the ante, locking her legs around his waist. Intense heat scorched him. His brain derailed, sliding off mental tracks. Tydrin deepened the kiss. With a moan, she tightened her grip. Short nails scraped over his scalp. Delight blew sky high. Prickles exploded down his spine. Showing no mercy, Ivy undulated beneath him.

Shuddering in her arms, Tydrin wrenched his mouth from hers. “Ivy.”

Ignoring him, she arched and set her lips back on his. Tydrin cursed and kissed her again. Fucking hell. Had he said trouble earlier? Well, triple the effect. She was diabolical, moving way too fast, pulling him far too deep, murdering his ability to resist her with a kiss. But my oh my, what a mouth. Hot and full, so tasty he—

She sucked on his tongue.

“Bloody hell.” Muffled by her mouth, the explicative came out weak. His reaction, however, was anything but. Locking his muscles, he cupped her face, and holding her in check, lifted his head. His lips left hers. She keened his name. He bared his teeth. “Ivy!”

“Don’t.”

“Donnae what?”

“Stop,” she said, tone full of fear. Tydrin frowned as her disquiet registered, hitting him like a closed fist. He inhaled a quick breath. What the hell?  He wanted her compliant—to slow down long enough for him to explain the ground rules—not afraid, but… shite. He saw the dread on her face, in her eyes and the way she stiffened beneath him too. “You said you wouldn’t. Tydrin, you promised.”

“Sweet lass, I’m not. I’ve no wish tae stop. I couldn’t now if I tried, but—”

“No buts.” Her voice hitched, breaking his heart. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve been with a guy? Since I’ve had any pleasure at all?”

He blinked. “How long?”

“Seems like forever. Years.” A furrow between her brows, hands resting on his shoulders, she stared up at him. “Asthma makes everything difficult. I have trouble catching my breath when I get ah…excited.” Her cheeks heated. Color spread over her cheekbones in crimson wave. Held hostage by the sight, Tydrin swallowed a groan as the freckles sprinkled over the bridge of her nose grew rosy. He blew out a shaky breath. Sugar. The alluring flecks on her skin reminded him of sprinkled sugar, and damned if he didn’t plan on tasting each and every one. “The second I reach for my inhaler, the guy always freaks out and well…” Looking away, she shrugged. “The mood gets ruined.”

“The mood isnae ruined. Far from it.” Drawing gentle circles on her skin, he brushed a tangle of dark red tendrils away from her temple. “I want you, Ivy. I intend tae have you…more than once today, but—”

“I hate that word.”

He ignored the interruption. “I need tae slow down, luv. A male only has so much control, and I want tae enjoy every second of you. I crave your skin against mine. I long tae learn your shape and worship every curve. I need tae taste your passion before I lose myself in the loving. ’Tisn’t a question of want, lovely. I
need
it that way. Naught else will satisfy me. But if we keep on like this—the pace hot and fast—I’ll not last long enough tae please you.”

“Oh. Well…” Surprise winged across her face. After a moment, the shock in her eyes faded. A mischievous glint replaced it. “All right, then. Lead on. You have my permission.”

“Your
permission
?” He snorted. Plucky lass. Tempestuous wee tease. She didn’t know how much her challenge turned him on. Or what happened when a female provoked his dragon half with such deliberate intent. “Insubordination, lass. I’ll make you pay for it.”

“Maybe. Or maybe, I’ll make you beg.”

“Unlikely,” he said, sounding confident even though he didn’t believe it. Ivy held the power to bring him to his knees. It wouldn’t take much. The husky sound of her voice. The lush curve of her body. The heated gleam in her eyes. With little effort, she could undo him. Tydrin knew it. Should be wary of it. Acknowledging it, however, ranked low on his list of priorities. He was here. She was ready to take him all the way. Too hell with the consequences. “We’ll see how long you last, lovely. You’ll beg—eventually.”

“Dream on, handsome.”

“No need. I plan tae make you scream in pleasure.”

“Hallelujah. About time somebody did.”

He grinned.

She smiled back, and he was right back to being lost. Totally fucking
lost
. He couldn’t get enough of her. He’d barely touched her. Hadn’t managed to get her naked yet, and he was already gone. On edge. In too deep. So amped up he didn’t know what to do first—thank God for planting her in his path or attack her clothes and strip her bare. Tydrin opted to do both and grabbed the bottom of her T-shirt. Ivy raised her arms. He pulled the stretchy cotton up her torso and over her head.

A racy white bra came into view.

Tydrin groaned. Oh God, look at her.
Just look at her.
So unabashed as he uncovered her. Too beautiful for words. Beyond tempting for a male gone hungry for too long.

One hundred percent his for the taking.

The realization spoke to his heart, tempting him to lay himself bare. The silent message sank in. An answering need surfaced as Ivy raised her hand. Fingertips stroking over his jaw, she tilted her hips, inviting his possession. Holding her gaze, he pressed her back down, the urge to trust her with his secrets riding him hard. It would feel so good to give himself over. Surrender the past. Release the pain. Give Ivy the power to create an alternative reality. A new path for his future. One in which forgiveness granted him permission to be happy.

With her.

He knew she could do it.  Banish the past. Forgive his mistakes. Slay all his demons. In some ways, she already had, freeing him from the self-imposed prison he slammed into every day. The emotional shift startled him. He didn’t deserve absolution—or merit release—and yet, Ivy made him believe. Despite his imperfections, she lay in his bed, the key to his heart in her hand, the promise of his future in her eyes. And as his fingertips traced the lace covering breast, Tydrin held her gaze and let go, allowing her access to parts of him he hadn’t known existed.

Not until now. Never before her.