“I love you.” I stroked the angles of his face and smiled softly.
Verin was right, it felt good to hear him say those words, even better than it did to say them to him. Something bloomed brighter in my chest and pushed back the desire just a bit. Enough that I could breathe without his scent making me tremble. I didn't even notice that I wasn't actually gaining control, I was merely replacing one master with another. As lust drew back, love came forward to replace it. No, not replace. It had been there, waiting, the whole time. It simply rose to the surface and claimed its crown.
Whatever you're thinking about doing, don't do it, my love,Kyanite warned.You've got the dragon calm, just keep him that way. Buy us some time. Then you can grab your traveling stone and—
Goodbye, Kyanite.
It seemed completely natural to block out the voices in my head. Only crazy people talk to themselves, right? And these voices weren't helpful. They didn't understand the burning in my chest and how the only way to ease it was by looking upon Verin's handsome face. They couldn't feel the peace I felt when I touched him or the gratitude I had that I was there with this magical, sexy, powerful man. He was everything I needed and I wasn't going to screw it up. I wouldn't let my husbands, fiancé, or even the voices in my head interfere. It was going to be perfect.
But first, I had to satisfy the dragon—get him relaxed and purring so that we could connect in a way that truly mattered. Sex is great and I wanted to share it with him, of course, but I needed toknowhim first—all of his hopes and fears, his past and what he wanted for the future. I needed to know everything about Verin and show him everything that I was so that when we did make love, that's exactly what it would be. Not savage sex but tender lovemaking.
“Move onto your side,” I whispered.
Verin lifted an indigo brow but rolled off of me, onto his side, and I moved onto my side to face him. I drew my hand slowly down from his sharp cheekbone to the hollow beneath, over his brutal jaw and along the column of his throat. He swallowed roughly, his breath coming in ragged pants as he watched me. His indigo gaze traveled down as well, focusing on my breasts as I smoothed my palm over the curve of his pectoral. I brushed the pad of my thumb over his dark nipple and his stare shot back to mine.
“Trust me,” I urged.
Verin released a long breath and nodded.
The tight lines of his abs trembled beneath my fingertips as I headed lower. My nails scraped his golden-brown skin and delved into the nest of indigo curls between his thighs. His shaft rose—proud, long, and weeping in need—to meet my touch. The barest brush of my hand pulled a broken cry from Verin.
I eased closer and kissed him. Just a light touch. Then I opened my mouth and traced the seam of his lips with my tongue. He groaned and opened to me. I grazed the points of his teeth, then slid in deeper. Verin started to go savage again—his mouth crushing mine as his tongue pushed into my mouth—so I eased back and pressed kisses up to his ear.
“I won't leave you in need, I promise,” I whispered.
“Elaria, what are you doing?”
“Touch me and I'll touch you.”
Verin's eyes flashed with understanding and a grin slipped over his face—a wicked grin. He growled low and reached for me. One arm slid beneath and around me to cradle me against his side as his other hand went to my waist. He pulled us further up the bed and propped us against the pillows. Then he started kissing me again—this time tenderly. Slowly. He had finally realized that we had all the time we wanted. He could relax and enjoy this.
I moaned into our kiss; the feel of his lips moving over mine was nearly as magnificent as the feel of his body pressing closer, but not as wondrous as the hot, velvety steel of his cock in my hand. I rubbed the liquid from the tip over him, circling the head before sliding my hand down his shaft. Verin's arm hovered just above mine—his hand at my sex, with a fingertip circling my most sensitive spot. My thighs parted and I rolled onto my back to give him better access.
Verin grunted in pleasure and shifted to lean over me. His finger slipped inside me as he rubbed the heel of his hand over my clit. I pumped him faster in my fist, the feel of his flesh becoming a nearly irresistible temptation. I wanted to taste him and take him into my body. First, in my mouth and then in my core. I wanted to ride him until I screamed and feel him find his release inside me. But not yet. I let out a ragged breath and let go of him. Verin growled furiously, especially when I pushed his hand away.
“Trust me,” I said again.
I held Verin's narrowed stare, then pointedly looked down. He followed my gaze between our bodies to my sex and noticed the way I slid my fingers against my wet flesh. When my palm was wet as well, I took him in hand again, coating him with my desire, and his eyes closed on a groan. I nestled my face against his and worked him steadily, sliding up and down that long shaft. I pushed on the tip with my thumb as I pumped him and Verin tossed his head, sliding against me until our lips met. With a deep growl, he shoved his tongue into my mouth and slid his hand between my thighs. I gasped into his kiss, taking his breath for my own as he expertly worked me.
Fingers rubbing, then lightly flicking, Verin built the pleasure until it tingled up my belly and down my legs. I arched into his touch until he sank his middle finger inside me and started punching it wildly into me. My arm was wedged between us, hand stroking him savagely, while his arm arched over it to work my sex. The wet slapping of flesh became loud in my ears. I clutched at Verin's shoulder with my free hand, right above his bicep, pulsing with his wild movements. Our bodies began to move instinctively, grinding and writhing against each other. My legs went rigid and started to shake from the gathering tension.
Verin eased out of our kiss to demand, “Don't hold back, Elaria. Scream for me.”
I met his glowing cerulean stare. His lips were parted with heavy breaths and his chest tensed for his own release.
“Only if you roar for me,” I countered.
Verin grinned savagely. “As my lady demands.”
He held out long enough for me to start cresting. As soon as I began to scream, his body went rigid and he gave a few final thrusts into my fist. With a magnificent roar, the Blue Dragon climaxed across my breasts. The hot, wet ribbons branded me, adding another layer of intensity to my release. I felt utterly claimed even though we hadn't joined our bodies. My pleasure spiked and I did as he'd demanded: I screamed for him.
Chapter Five
As I lay there, panting and shivering through aftershocks of ecstasy, Verin slipped out of bed and padded across his bedroom, going from silk carpets to indigo stone tiles. I watched him with a half-lidded gaze, feeling drunk and so damn happy. New love is always so magnificent—so uplifting. It makes you wonder how you ever existed without it. But this was more than that. It was the magic, of course. I knew it without a doubt. Vivian's spell was magnifying our pleasure and doing its best to turn its lie into reality. But even with that knowledge, I couldn't stop the sigh from escaping my lips or the smile from spreading across them as Verin prowled back to me with a cloth in hand.
I loved him. False or not, it was how I felt and I couldn't deny it any longer. I loved this stern, silent man who had saved my life. He'd risked what he feared most for me. How could I not love him?
Verin returned my smile and—as had always been the case with him—the expression changed his stoically handsome face into something blissfully divine. I started to move, but he shook his head and made a warning sound in his throat. I relaxed into my sprawl and went back to watching that glorious body get closer and closer. When Verin finally reached me, he set a knee on the bed and leaned over to wipe off my chest. I grinned as I watched him.
