We're both dying.
And I have to tell her. Even though she may not understand. I know she can hear me, trapped in that darkness, and that's worse. The thought of her hearing this, understanding what I've done, what's happening to us, and not being able to react…
My wings shift restlessly against my back. My tail lashes once, twice, before I force it still.
I've been a coward. Putting it off. Taking her body again and again, losing myself in the only connection we have, pretending everything is fine. Pretending the increased frequency is just desire, just obsession, just love.
Not starvation.
Not the mate bond eating us alive from the inside.
I cross to the bed, my claws clicking against stone. She doesn't move. Doesn't even twitch. Just lies there, beautiful and still and slowly dying because of me.
"Adelaide," I whisper, sitting beside her. My clawed hand traces her cheek, down her throat, over the bruised bite marks that I'll have to renew soon. "I need to tell you something. But first…"
First, I need this. Need to feel her. Need the connection, even if it's killing us both.
I push the sheets away, exposing her body. The nightgown rides up easily under my claws, and I spread her thighs with shaking hands. My cock is already hard, already aching, the need so intense it borders on pain.
"I understand now," I tell her, positioning myself between her legs. "Why I can't stop. Why it's never enough. Why we both need each other so desperately. Do you feel it too?"
I push inside her in one brutal thrust, and the relief is immediate. Overwhelming. My wings flare wide as I bottom out after a few thrusts, all fifteen inches buried in her tight heat, the ridges of my cock dragging against her inner walls.
She’s always wet for me now. Always. I roughly rub the bulge that is now present on her stomach with the heel of my hand. Slowly, up and down. Jacking myself off through her belly. A groan escapes my lips.
"Fuck," I whisper, pulling back and slamming in again. "You feel so fucking good, princess. Always so perfect for me." I know I should go slower. Should be more gentle. But something inside me is screaming at me to take her roughly. I listen.
Her body resists me like it always does. She's smaller than me, but she's dripping wet and ready, like she's been waiting for this. The wet sounds we make are obscene.
"That's right. Fight me. Clench around my cock like you're trying to push me out. We both know you'll come anyway, you defiant little brat."
I fuck her hard, rough, my hips snapping against hers with bruising force. My claws dig into her thighs, drawing small pin pricks of blood, holding her open still as I take what I need.
"Such a good little slut for me," I growl, watching my cock disappear inside her again and again, only to bulge through her lower stomach all the way past her belly button. "You'll take every inch I give you. Won't you? You'll take all of me andbegfor more." I lean forward and kiss her face, her chin, her neck, all the way down to her shoulders.
Her walls clench around me as I speak, that involuntary response I've learned to read. If she could speak, she'd probably tell me to fuck off. Tell me I'm a monster. Tell me she hates me.
Or maybe she'd beg for more. I like to imagine it's the latter, but I know it’s not.
"That's it," I pant, fucking her harder. "Squeeze my cock just like that. Show me how much your body loves this. Loves me."
I come with a roar, my wings trembling as I empty inside her. But it's not enough. It's never enough anymore.
I pull out and flip her over, dragging her hips up and making sure her head is to the side. My tail wraps around her thigh as I push back inside, the new angle letting me go even deeper.
"Again," I growl, setting a punishing rhythm. "Need you again, my beautiful slut. Always need you."
The wet sounds of our lovemaking fill the room as I push into her with force. "Such a desperate little whore." My words come out rougher than I meant. "Your cunt clenches every time I call you that. You love being degraded while I split you open on dragon cock, don't you? Love it when I fuck you over and over." My breathing becomes erratic, as does hers.
Four times. Five. Six. I lose count, lose myself in the desperate need to connect, to feel, to prove we're both still here. Still alive. I bite her after every time. Understanding now why my body calls for me to behave in this way.
When I finally stop, when I've exhausted even my dragon stamina, I collapse beside her. My wings drape over us both as I pull her against my chest, my clawed hand splayed across her stomach.
"Adelaide," I whisper into her hair. My voice shakes. "I need to tell you something. Something I learned. About us."
The words stick in my throat. I force them out anyway.
"Things have felt off for a while now. Maybe they’ve felt that way for you also? I’ve been more… aggressive… Anyway… I went looking for answers in my library. In my spell books. There isn't an easy way to say this. But… from what I can tell… you're... you're my mate.” I breathe out nervous breath through my mouth. “I know it sounds unbelievable but... we're fated mates. It's the only thing that makes sense. I didn't know—I swear I didn't know. But somewhere along the way, my magic recognized you. Claimed you. And the curse…" I swallow hard. "The curse can't coexist with a mate bond. It's failing. We're both failing."
