Tate sent him a taunting look. “That’s part of earning your place in this family.”
Ryu’s smile turned wicked as he gave her a look that sent sparks shooting through Tate. “Would you like me to demonstrate how I plan to earn my place tonight?”
Her gaze dropped to his bare chest where moonlight lovingly caressed the harsh plains and chiseled grooves.
She cleared her throat. “Oh boy. Would I ever.”
Ryu took the plate from her and set it on the chair beside her bed. He leaned toward her as her hands rose, finding their way up his hard biceps and arms, and down to his chest. She was entranced at the feel of all that smooth skin under her fingertips.
Ryu hooked a finger into the sheets she still had clutched to her chest, drawing them down, his eyes never leaving hers.
There was an intensity in the way he watched her. Like she was the only woman in existence.
Her breathing sped up as her skin prickled with the need to be touched.
Tate didn’t move as the blanket dipped lower and lower. Dark appreciation glinted in Ryu’s eyes when it finally pooled in her lap.
The moment built between them.
Ryu reached for her in an explosive movement, toppling her onto her back. His lips touched hers in the next second. Gentle and warm before turning urgent and blazing hot.
Tate tilted her head back as he swept kisses along her jaw line and then her neck. She shivered as his lips hit a sensitive spot, her fingers clenching against his skin.
How did he do this to her so easily? Drive her wild with such simple actions? It was like he was a Tate whisperer with exclusive access to her erogenous zones.
Ryu lowered his body over hers before dragging his hard length against her core. She sucked in a breath that turned into a moan as sensation shot through her.
His chuckle sent a puff of hot air along her skin, the masculine sound saying he knew exactly how he affected her. Knew it and took pleasure in it.
Cocky bastard.
Tate started as she felt Ilith uncurl from her place around Tate’s wrist. The dragon was a large presence in her mind as she padded up Tate’s arm.
Tate opened her mouth to warn Ryu when his gaze caught hers. The dragon stared out at her. A sound rumbled from deep in his throat, vibrating Tate’s bones.
To her surprise, Ilith pushed forward, trilling an answer with Tate’s vocal cords.
A small purr slipped from him.
“Ahveena,” he breathed, touching her in a way that left her feeling like she was the only thing that mattered. Like she was the reason he was breathing and moving about the world.
Being the focus of a dragon, a creature known for its single mindedness when it came to anything they considered theirs was both heady and terrifying.
Tate knew Ryu and Rath would never hurt her, but it didn’t stop the tiny thrill she got whenever he looked at her like that.
Like this, Ryu was almost feral. A singular force of nature nothing could stop. Anything that tried would be destroyed.
Tate’s lips curled in a sultry smile. Too bad for both Ryu and Rath that Tate and Ilith weren’t particularly good at doing what others wanted them to.
“Mate,” Ryu rumbled.
“Perhaps.” Tate/Ilith tilted their head coyly. “If we decide.”
Ryu’s lips parted. Instead of the anger or rage you’d expect from a dragon, he looked intrigued. Determined.
If Tate and Ilith hadn’t already merged consciousness, Tate would have warned Ilith about his expression. He didn’t look like a dragon bent on giving up. Instead, he reminded her of a conqueror studying a challenge.
And Ilith had just thrown down the gauntlet. Practically waved a red flag in front of the lethal predator while sashaying away singing nah-nah a-boo-boo.
