She shrugged but had heat in her eyes. "You’re the one with the blanket."
I leaned in and kissed her again, slow and deep. She melted under me, her hands sliding under my shirt, nails raking my back.
We took our time this round. The first time had been urgent, but now it was different, hotter, but somehow sweeter.
Piece by piece, we finished undressing each other, tossing clothes into the dark. Her skin was soft and cool, scattered with freckles that I traced with my tongue. She laughed when I found the ticklish spot under her ribs, then shivered when I kissed the hollow of her hip.
She pushed me onto my back and straddled me, hair hanging down between us. She took control, grinding down against my cock, rubbing herself on me until she was slick and gasping.
I let her set the pace, let her take what she wanted. It was a power trip, and I loved it. She could have it all if she wanted it. Everything I had.
To a point. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I rolled her under me. She wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me in tight.
I slid inside her, watching her face as I filled her. She was so fucking beautiful, eyes closed, lips parted, hair spread out on the blanket.
We moved together, bodies in sync. I kissed her neck, her collarbone, her breasts, every inch of her I could reach. She held me close, digging her fingers into my back, her breath coming in hot little gasps.
The dragon in me wanted to bite, to claim, to mark her as mine. I held back, but barely. Instead, I kissed her jaw, her cheek, her temple. I wanted her to know she was safe, wanted, more than just a fuck in the woods.
She came hard, shaking and cursing, nails leaving angry red trails on my shoulders. I followed, the orgasm so intense it felt like I was burning alive. No small feat for a dragon.
We collapsed together, tangled and sweaty, the night air cooling our skin.
She laughed. "You were right. Better than a hotel."
I propped myself up on one elbow and looked down at her. "You’re incredible."
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "You don’t have to say that."
"I mean it," I said, and brushed her hair back from her face. "I’ve been alive a long time, Krystal. But you…"
I stopped myself, afraid to sound like a lunatic.
She looked at me, serious for a second. "But me what?"
I hesitated. "You make it feel new again. Like everything is possible."
She snorted, but a blush creeped up her cheeks. "You’re such a sap."
I laughed. "Don’t tell anyone."
She stretched, catlike, and pressed her body against mine. We lay there in silence, the only sound our breathing and the distant chirp of crickets.
I couldn't stop moving my hands over her body as she tucked her head under my chin.
I’d had lovers before, plenty of them. But none of them made me feel like this. Soft, stupid, hungry for more. Because no one compared a fated mate.
We drifted off, half-asleep under the stars. Eventually, she sat up, shivering. "I should get home."
I nodded, even though I hated the thought of letting her go. We dressed in silence, stealing glances at each other, grinning like idiots. Before we left, I pulled her in for one last kiss, slow and gentle.
She sighed against my mouth. "You’re addictive."
I smiled. "So are you."
The ride back to Stock Creek was quiet, but not in a bad way. She clung to me, cheek pressed between my shoulder blades, arms locked around my ribs. The wind roared and the engine revved, but the bond between us hummed louder. If I could’ve driven straight through the night with her holding me like that, I would’ve.
When we reached the bar parking lot, I killed the engine and sat, not wanting the moment to break. She hesitated, then slid off the seat, wobbling a little on her feet. I steadied her, hands on her waist.
