The Dragon's Vamp (8 page)

“Oh my god, Rhys, fuck me, please!”

“I will be, but I want you to come for me, Mari.”

“No, I want you in me!”

Rhys leaned over her shoulder, his harsh breath near her ear as he continued to rub her swollen jewel. “I want you to come for me or I’m going to stick my fat cock up your ass, now come for me damn it, come now!”

Mari exploded, her body arched as thousands of tiny lights flew behind her closed lids. Crying out his name, she vaguely felt his warm body covering her.

Rhys touched, caressed and kissed her body gently, not letting Mari come down off her high from her orgasms. When her body started responding to his caresses again, Rhys grinned as he rose, slowly turning her onto her back. “Spread your thighs for me, Mari.” She did so and his cock jumped. Lowering his hand, he started rubbing on her clit and she started squirming.

“Rhys, I want you in me damn it!”

“Hold it.” Vamping his eyes, he watched as her body turned red with her inner heat.

“I thought I could go at will?” she breathed heavily.

“I want you to hold this one, Mari, only this one, my sweet, alright?”

“Ohhhhh gods yes, but—please hurry, I’m so close again. By the gods you’re going to kill me.” Her eyes squeezed shut, her body hummed, brain tingled, and feet burned as she held her orgasm. She almost sighed when he removed his fingers from her clit. She arched with a deep moan as the head of his thick cock entered her slowly, stretching her, filling her in more ways than just physical. Mari’s eyes opened, meeting his gaze; her arms went around him as he settled to the hilt inside her warmth. A slight sheen of sweat covered her as Rhys slowly thrust in and out, the sensations almost more than she could take.

Rhys smiled when her eyes glowed orange with a mixture of red, the mind-marking telling him she was heating up more than usual during their lovemaking. “You’re so beautiful, Mari,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers softly as he quickened his thrusts.

Mari started to tremble, her orgasm on the edge of euphoria.

“Will you be mine forever, Mariwen? Will you let me claim you?”

“Yes, yes, and I claim you!”

“I’m going to come, Mari, are you ready?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“Yes!”

“Come for me, love, now!” he roared, his body tightening as hers arched with her cries of pleasure. Her insides clenched around him, his cock expelling his seed as he thrust into her with vigor. Rhys vaguely noticed the flames surrounding them on the bed, but they weren’t burning him so he gave one last thrust and collapsed on her heaving chest. His hot breath hit the side of her neck. He could feel the flames dying down as her orgasm receded. Rolling to his side, he kept his dick buried within her warmth. “It’s a good thing we were here. I think you might have burned down the manor otherwise. Were you hot for me baby?” he said smiling.

“Smart ass,” Mari grumbled as she cuddled up to his chest.

“Why didn’t the flames bother me?”

“Because you’re mine,” Mari grinned. Lifting her head she kissed him smack on the mouth. “I let you claim me and I claimed you. My fire, my blood, my flames will never harm you now, Rhys.”

“So, I could stand and let you bear down on me with dragons’ fire and I’d walk away unharmed?”

“Yes.”

“Well that’s good to know in case you ever get pissed at me.”

Mari nodded happily. Moving her leg under his, she flipped him so she was straddling his waist. She moved her hips, smiling when his dick twitched inside her. “Round four?” Wiggling her eyebrows, she laughed when he yanked her down to him as he thrust his now hard cock into her warm wetness.

Chapter 5

“Mari, Mari wake up.”

Mari rolled over in her sleep as her father’s image came to her. “What?”

“Call to arms, Mari, call to arms!”

Mari jolted up, breathing heavily, as she slapped Rhys’ arm. “Rhys, wake up,” she said. Jumping out of bed she headed to the cave entrance. They’d spent the last two nights here away from everyone, talking, making love, and just plain fucking.

“Why?” Rhys asked as he rolled.

“My father woke me up.” Standing out on the ledge, she looked over the quiet ocean and the full moon hanging low.

“Why?” he yawned as he stepped up to her side.

“Call to arms.”

“I don’t see anything.”

“Shhh,” Mari whispered. Transforming her eyes to dragon eyes enhanced her vision tremendously. “There.” She pointed as fish jumped like crazy out of the water.

“I don’t see anything,” Rhys said as he squinted.

“Trust me, something’s there.” Turning, she went to her battle gear and started dressing. Sliding the leather pants up, she met his gaze. “Call to arms, Rhys.”

“Let’s go.”

Mari lifted her amour over her head and started strapping it at her waist. “I need to hold them back from the shore. I can’t let them get on land. You need to go alone.”

Rhys grabbed her arm hauling her to him as she lifted her gaze. “I am not leaving you.”

“I’ll be fine. I haven’t sensed the darkness yet, and I fed two days ago. I can hold them off with no problem until you get back.” Mari could see the fear in his eyes. “If I didn’t think I could handle it I’d let you know. Now, I have to call Triton and head out. Please, trust me.”

His hands tightened for a brief moment before he let her go. “I do trust you.” Leaning down he kissed her hungrily. “I love you, so you better not get hurt damn it.”

Mari smiled as she grabbed her twin swords, swinging them up onto her back into their sheaths. “I promise if I get hurt, I’ll let you spank me.” Heading toward the cave entrance, she turned as he stepped beside her. Smiling, she stepped off, landing with one knee down on the beach sand. Glancing up when he landed next to her, she stood and met his kiss hungrily. “I’ll see you when you get back.” When he quick-stepped away, Mari walked into the ocean ankle deep, lifted her hand and slapped it to the ocean’s surface. “Triton, I call for you!” Having been in dragon mode and fed recently, she was strong enough to make the call and protect Alston from its invaders.

When the reverberation wave went out, her eyes narrowed as the approaching invaders stopped. Breathing deeply she held her breath hoping they’d turn back.
Damn asses.
She growled as they kept coming, and unfurled her wings; giving one mighty swoop, she was up. The salt water sprayed her face as she charged toward them. She could transform to dragon and go undersea, but it would be harder for her to fight them, and she didn’t like being at a disadvantage. Stopping half a mile from their approach, she lifted her arms and pushed down, creating a barrier of rushing water from the sea surface to its floor and back up. “If you come with the intent to do Alston and its people harm I order you to leave now!” Mari’s gaze narrowed when an Isonade came to the surface. They were a dangerous creature. They used their barbed tail as a weapon to strike sailors off ships or even people off the beach—just to kill.

“We are here for Alston. Step aside unless you want to be destroyed.”

Mari smiled with no mirth, her arms crossing over her chest. “Just
who
do you think you’re speaking to, fish?”

“Fish, fish—you insolent woman…”

“Silence!” Mari thundered letting her dragon self show for a moment. “I am guardian here. This is my land, my territory, and you seek to invade what belongs to me?” Her gaze narrowed when a male Selkie came to the surface speaking softly. Turning her ear, she listened and smiled. “Turn back now if you want to live. Fight for your dark master and you will die.” She interrupted them, meeting the Isonade’s gaze as he turned back.

“You are the guardian?”

Mari grinned. “Surprise, asshole.”

* * * *

Rhys quick-stepped as fast as he could with his security legion behind him, rushing to the seashore. He could see the residual light of energy discharges and heard the booms that followed. He’d sounded the alarm the moment he’d reached his manor, and Alston’s first wave of fighters was heading toward Mari. Skidding to a halt, sand flew as his gaze spotted Mari. She had her swords drawn as she fended off a harpy and a fairy, her hand lifting to shove a passel of water Other Kin back with a swell of water. “Air support, you’re needed!” he yelled as a dozen flying Other Kin soared over his head to assist Mari.

“She’s too far out, we can’t get to her,” Drake Roven said as he stopped by Rhys.

“I can,” Kalana said. “And I’ll make sure she hasn’t been injured.”

Rhys breathed easier when Kalana flew into the fray right to Mari’s side, as the others battled the Other Kin who had been attacking her when he’d arrived.

Rhys stood by Drake and their land warriors as all water and winged Other Kin went to the line Mari had drawn. When Rhys heard her giving orders of setting a perimeter, his gaze went to the warriors as they followed her word. His stare didn’t waiver from her as she came toward them. He breathed easier when she stopped in front of him, her wings going back. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah a few minor scrapes. They started retreating, probably because you guys showed up and their numbers are low. They’re tiring out. I set up a perimeter both undersea and above with normal shift changes. Surprisingly, it’s an Isonade leading them and he had no idea who I was.”

“But you showed him real fast didn’t you, baby.” Rhys grinned as he drew her into his arms. “Let’s get you fed and put to bed.”

* * * *

Rhys smiled as he brushed a strand of her hair off her shoulder, its red highlights shining with the firelight of her sanctuary. She refused to go inland, saying she wanted to stay close to the battlefield. She flew them back up here to rest. His cock twitched as the satiny curl wound around his finger. He leaned over kissing her lips lightly.

“You know, you’ll be useless unless you get some sleep. I, on the other hand, can stay up for days.”

“I know, I just…”

“You want to protect me. I know, Rhys, and I understand. Now cuddle up to me, please, and wrap those strong arms around me.”

Laying down he did as she requested, spooning her. He kissed the side of her neck. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Mari yawned before inching back just a bit to sit snuggly against his strength.

* * * *

Rhys jolted awake listening for what woke him. He turned as Mari twitched against him slightly. “Mari, you’re having a nightmare.” Lowering his hand to wake her he looked up sharply when someone grabbed it.

“Don’t wake her yet,” Darina said. “Her father’s telling her how to defeat the darkness. Give her this for me.”

Rhys glanced down after she disappeared to see a black rock the size of a baseball with markings etched around it, in his hand.

* * * *

Mari’s gaze narrowed as she stared at the battle taking place over the ocean.

“What’s on your brain?” Rhys asked as he stepped up.

“Something’s not right. Why hasn’t he appeared yet? He sent his minions in to fight, yet leaves them unprotected against us. There’s not one Other Kin out there fighting for him that I couldn’t destroy in a heartbeat if I chose to, and yet he’s absent.”

“Think he’s testing us to see how strong we are?”

“No, he knows how strong Alston’s forces are from the first battle. He wouldn’t risk it again…”

“Then it’s a decoy,” Drake Roven interrupted.

Mari glanced his way. “Yes, but for what?”

“Is he after something or someone besides you, Mari?” Kalana asked.

“The only one he wants to kill is me—well, beside my mother and father—because we’re the only one’s standing in his way to take this land.”

“No, you’re not, not anymore, Mari.”

Mari met her wide eyes. “It’s pointless. If he goes after Livi then he still has to deal with me and he knows the chance at waking my father. No,” she said shaking her head. “I don’t think he’d risk going after her, it wouldn’t make any sense.”

“But it would. If he takes Livi out, and you, then he’s reached his goal by killing the two things that mean the most to your parents and Alston. Without either of you, and with your father sleeping, Alston is defenseless against him and his attacks.”

“Livi’s tucked up safe inside Roven Manor, which is far into Alston lands. I haven’t even sensed him near, never mind breaching our protection shields.”

“Like you said, Mari, something isn’t right, and I don’t trust him not to go after my daughter.”

“If you want to leave the front lines, I understand, but I’m tuned in with Livi, I’ll know if something happens. Just like if and when he comes close to Alston.”

Kalana shook her head. “No, I’ll stay where I’m needed. Besides, our Alpha, Evan, and his mate Sofia are with her at all times.”

Mari leaned over hugging her friend. “You let me know if you want to leave. You know I’d never let anything happen to Livi, but if your head’s not in the battle then I’d rather see you with her than the possibility of injury to you because you’re worried about her.”

“If it becomes an issue then I’ll pull myself out.”

Mari nodded, glancing over at Rhys before she headed to the ocean, her wings expanding as she joined in the fight. Calling her lines back, Mari shifted halfway. Opening her mouth she let out a roar, the strength of it shoving the air attackers back and rolling through the sky. Lifting her hands she created a huge wave then released it, ridding the waters of the attackers down there. Turning, she headed back to land. This was really starting to piss her off; they were just attacking to attack, not caring if they succeeded or not.

“What was that about?” Rhys asked as she landed in front of the tent that had been erected for ops.

“They’re pissing me off with these little skirmishes.”

Rhys grinned as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “The second wave is arriving. How about we head back to the manor, get something to eat, get into a hot bath, let me love you until we both can barely move so that way we’re up to snuff should anything come about?”

“Barely huh?” Mari smiled. “Sounds good to me vamp boy.”