I teetered on the edge of something that felt bigger than a physical release. I trembled with the effort of holding back, but I didn’t want it to end.
His teeth scraped across my skin, gentle at first, then more insistent. The slight pain mingled with pleasure in a way that had me gasping. My hands clutched at his shoulders, his back, needing something to ground me.
When the climax hit, it was like nothing I’d ever experienced. In that moment of perfect vulnerability, Lucan’s teeth sank into my neck.
There was a brief, sharp pinch, quickly consumed by a flood of sensation. It felt like being filled with liquid warmth that spread from the bite through my entire body. I could feel him, not just where we were joined, but emotionally. He filled spaces I hadn’t known were empty.
“Mine,” he growled, his voice deeper and rougher than I’d ever heard it. He pulled back to look at me, his eyes shifting to his dragon. “You’re mine now.”
And I was. I knew it with a bone-deep certainty that should have terrified me, but instead, it was like coming home.
Chapter 28
Lucan
Iknelt on the floor of the barn, staring at the small collection before me. The overhead fluorescents buzzed slightly, casting harsh light over the small hoard we kept here. Most of our collection was in the main cave, but we’d always maintained our own caches of gold in our cabins and a larger shared reserve for emergencies.
My fingers hovered over the array of jewelry. Now that Liz and I were bonded, she needed something from our hoard. Dragons gave their mates tokens, and since the knife had been returned, I needed something new to give her.
I pushed aside an elaborate gold bracelet with rubies. That was more Kade’s style for Reese. Liz would hate it.
My fingers found a delicate white gold chain with a small solitaire diamond pendant. Simple and elegant, something she could wear daily without feeling like it was too much. I lifted it, watching the light catch in the diamond. It was perfect.
I tucked it into my pocket, locked the security panel with a series of beeps, and replaced the false floor. I turned, finding Zarek leaning against the doorway, arms folded across his chest.
My hand instinctively went to my pocket. “How long have you been lurking there?”
“Long enough.” His eyes flicked to my pocket. “For her?”
I nodded. “She returned the knife to the main hoard. She should have something else.”
Zarek gave a curt nod, but the tension in his jaw told me he wasn’t thrilled about any of this.
“Heading out for patrol?”
“Someone needs to take this seriously.” His tone was clipped, his eyes scanning the barn as if expecting an intruder hiding behind the ATVs and other equipment.
I sighed. “We’re all taking it seriously.”
“Are you?” He raised an eyebrow. “Because I don’t see the rest of you out there looking for whoever’s been sniffing around.”
“Look, even if someone found the entrance, they couldn’t possibly make off with everything in one go. It would take days to empty that cave.”
A growl rumbled from Zarek’s chest, and his eyes flashed. “That’s your response? It’s fine if they only steal some of our hoard?”
I held my hands up. “That’s not what I meant. I’m saying we have time to figure this out.”
“Time.” He spat the word as if it tasted bitter. “While we’re wasting time, they could be planning their next move.”
Pushing Zarek like this never ended well. He'd become increasingly territorial over the years, but this was different. He was on edge in a way I hadn’t seen before.
“Why don’t you wear some jewelry or stuff your pockets with some coins?” I suggested carefully. “It might help you feel better to keep it close.”
Zarek’s shoulders dropped a fraction of an inch. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
He moved past me to one of the ATVs and swung his leg over. He fired up the engine, the rumble echoing through the barn. He shot out the open door, sending gravel spraying behind him.
The barn went quiet again, and I stood there for a moment, hand still in my pocket, fingers curled around the necklace.
