She couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. “I know,” she whispered. "Don’t worry. You can’t possibly do worse than the first boy I was with. He lasted all of thirty seconds.”
A low, almost animalistic sound rumbled from his chest, and he snarled, “Don’t talk about that,” then sucked at the mark on her throat, punctuating the sentiment.
She understood the possessive drive, as barbaric as it sounded. Perhaps it was made stronger by the bond, but the thought of anyone else touching him made her want to draw more blood.
“Show me then,” she whispered, finding his wild eyes. “Show me you are mine and that I am no one’s but yours.”
He didn’t waste a second after that, dragging his pants down and kicking them off before pushing into her with one, hard thrust. She was ready for him, but still, the feel of him, huge and pulsing inside her, had her gasping. His eyes widened, his hand grasping hers, pushing it into the mattress next to them. Slowly, tentatively, he started to move, both their breaths hitching as he hit an even deeper spot, her muscles spasming around him and sending delicious sparks of pleasure up her spine.
His head fell against her shoulder, and he shuddered, mumbling against her bare skin, “I want to fuck you forever.”
She laughed, the sound broken as a moan clawed up her throat. When she managed to speak, she said, “You’re just saying that because you’ve never been inside a woman before.”
He dipped his head, kissing across her breasts then glancing up at her. “No. It’s because it’s you.”
She stared at him and, for a moment, she was completely terrified. Not because of who he was, or his magic, but because she wasn’t sure she could go back to the way things were even a few minutes ago, not after this. The problem was, she wasn’tsure he even knew what he was doing. When he had come for her at the temple, she had immediately assumed all his words and actions had been intentional and calculated, but now…
Almost everyone who held power like his had motives for everything they did. Perhaps when it came to his campaign to reclaim the throne, he did, but for the first time since coming here, she really considered that the things he said to her in moments like this were just what he felt.
She wanted to believe that.
Shewishedshe could, fully and without fear.
Instead, she kissed him hard, letting herself be lost in the feel of him moving inside her. He went slow but deep, whispering nonsense against her skin and paying attention to the angles that made her gasp and arch. But when she felt his muscles tense for the third time, she touched his cheek and whispered, “You don’t need to stay in control anymore. You can trust me. Let go.”
He took a ragged breath, nodding against her forehead and sliding one hand up her leg, lifting it and deepening the angle before fucking her so hard, the bed shook. It only lasted about a minute before he swore loudly and thrust his hips as he came, but that was all it took for her to come again too. She thought she might have screamed but couldn’t tell if it was out loud or down the bond. As he pulsed inside her, he muttered a rough litany of curses and praises, half-aloud and half down the bond in broken intervals.
Eventually, they both stilled, and he pulled out of her, though he didn’t let her go far, dragging her against his chest, breathing slowly, his lips pressed to the crown of her head. She closed her eyes, and the blurred edges of sleep began to drift in.
Just before she drifted off, Varax muttered grumpily down the bond,So glad you two idiots finally stopped being so stubborn. But next time, dotryto leave me out of it.
Morgen laughed against Nya’s temple, and she smiled hazily when he replied,Apologies, Varax. But cut me some slack—it was my first time.
She practically felt the dragon sigh.And the world rejoiced.
Chapter 19
Two Year and Three Months Prior
I tried to speak to Morgen’s dragon today. She snapped at me, and the other rider’s dragon, Veeron, told me Varax does not want my warnings. When I left, the boy with the hauntingly familiar eyes asked if I was alright. I tried not to stare too long at his face. If I seek interest in him, it could raise questions I should not yet attempt to answer.
—Ana, Priestess to the Usurper King, Arcadia
“What kindof dreams do you have?” Nya asked Morgen, her eyes on the clear blue sky above.
She could feel his eyes on her from where he was sitting against a large boulder. Her feet were in his lap despite his grumbling about getting dirt on his pants. She wasn’t sure if he actually cared about that, or if he just didn’t like her being this close. Sometimes, when their hands accidentally brushed, or they looked at each other a little too long, he would get standoffish and quiet. She’d started to teach herself not to take it personally. She knew he liked her, but he had made clear he was never going to let their friendship gothere.
“I don’t dream often.”
She sighed. “Of course you do. You just don’t remember them.”
“Do you remember yours?”
“Not usually,” she said quietly. “But I got nightmares quite often as a child.”
“About?”
“No idea. Sometimes, I think I still get them, but all I ever remember when I wake up is Varax’s eyes, and that’s only occasionally. I assume she’s just being nosy, but I don’t know. I’ve never asked.”
