She’s sobbing in earnest now. I've longed for home, but I know she’ll always regret it if she doesn’t uncover the secrets this room holds.
I take her face in my hands, my mind made up. “Then I will stay for as long as it takes for you to read every word and practice every spell in this room, and when you are through, and only then, I will return home with my mate on my arm.”
She wipes under her eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Beyond certain."
Her lips draw into a smile. “Damn it, Damien, I love you. With everything I am.”
“I love you too, my mate.”
The emotions I’m feeling for her are too strong to contain. My lips crash down on hers and my form slips. Before I know what's happening, I’m looking down on her from a greater height, my hands larger and taloned, my skin darker. Her eyes widen as I spread my wings, my tail flicking behind me. “The magic in this room is powerful,” I say softly. “It’s hard for me to hold my illusion here when my instinct to claim you owns me. We’ll have to go downstairs for me to change back.”
She runs her hands up my chest, then around my sides. My cock throbs at the feel of her touch. “No. Let’s stay here,” she says softly. “I think I like you just as you are.”
“Little dragon, are you sure?”
Her hands wrap around my shaft, their color pale against my shadowy skin. Gods, it feels good as she starts to work me from base to tip. I lean down to kiss her carefully around my fangs, as I stroke along her spine, careful not to tear her skin with my talons. She pulls back just enough to get her shirt over her head and the rest of her clothes off as the rumbling purr of my excitement fills the room.
I take her by the shoulders and pull her against me again, so small, so soft. Smoothing my hands down her back, I cup her ass and drag her up my chest so we’re face-to-face. She spreads her legs wide to wrap around my hips.
Her fingers explore my mane, my horns, my wings. She trembles.
“I won’t hurt you,” I rumble, wishing I could control myself and appear more human for her.
“I know.” She kisses me again, but when I draw in her scent, I can tell she’s not ready. Not yet.
I lift her higher. I will give my mate what she needs.
“What are you—? Oh!”
Resting her thighs on my shoulders, I brace her against the wall and lap up her folds, holding her in place, tasting her, pleasing her. My shadows rise to caress her skin, circle her breasts, brush the space behind her ear, tease her most intimate flesh. Another lap up her center and I delve inside, spearing her.
“Oh, God, your tongue —Oh my God. Oh my God.” My little dragon is learning the joy of a shade's tongue, its texture rougher, its length longer than in my human form.
I lick along her inner walls, then grazethe side of her clit in the way I know she enjoys. In time, her body loosens, her scent telling me she’s close to finding her release. Hands braced on my horns, her thighs tremble against my cheeks. I work her tender flesh until her body spasms against me, the room echoing with the sounds of her pleasure.
Now she’s ready.
I slide her body down mine until the crown of my weeping cock is at her entrance. Ever so slowly, I enter her inch by inch. My mate is small and tight, and I don’t want to hurt her. But she wraps her calves around my back and squeezes, drawing me deep, hard, and fast. I hold her there as she gasps and pants.
“Yes. Oh, Damien, yes!” She writhes against me.
I lift her almost off of me and then thrust into her hard.
She cries out. “More! Oh fuck, more.” She clings to my neck as I spread my wings and give myself over to the monster I am. The walls rattle. My entire world is her ragged breath. She tips her head back, her eyes rolling skyward. “Yes! Yes.”
When her inner muscles contract around me, it’s all I can take. I fill her with my seed and sink my fangs into her throat. Her blood and her body are pure ecstasy and the tiny, satisfied mews she makes fill me with pride. I’ve pleased my mate.
I’m still holding her close when I begin to shift, morphing into my human form. Gently, I lower her to her feet.
She strokes her hands over my shoulders and blinks up at me through full lashes. “You’re back.”
I offer her a lazy smile. “You’ve appeased my inner beast.”
She laughs through a lopsided grin. “He appeased me aswell. More than once.” Her legs shake and I move to help her into the red velvet chair, but she shakes her head.
“Wait, I’m covered in you.” Her fingers trail down my chest and gesture to her lower half. Her thighs are slick with the results of our mating. I love it. My scent covers her, exactly as it should. But she points to her shirt. “Can you?”
