I hesitated, my thoughts still in chaos. “I needed to get my mind off things.”
She tilted her head at me, her fingers about to brush in my hair, but they stilled.
“Off what?”
I turned to her, my gaze taking every single inch of her beauty in. “Off you.”
Her breath caught, like she still couldn’t understand the connection I have to her.
There was this undeniable force of energy between us, and although I wanted to control myself, she was too tempting. I needed her.
I leaned in, brushing my lips over her upper lip as cautiously as possible, then trailing down the softness of her lower lip. I lingered there for a second, too afraid that she would regret it. But she didn’t move until her lips tasted mine again, the faint scent of cherries and pears filling my head like the magical medicine I’d needed for so long to finally be able to ground myself. I deepened the kiss, my tongue sliding into her mouth, causing the faintest whimper from her lips and making the dragon inside me stir. He wanted to claim her right now, wanted her just as much as me.
“I need to breathe,” she gasped against my lips, her chest heaving. I broke the kiss just enough to let her catch her breath, but the moment I pulled back, my hands clung to her immediately.
“You belong to me,” I growled, my voice thick, roughened by the beast within. “Even the lungs filled with air to breathe are listening to my command.”
My mouth captured her soft lips again, letting the kiss grow deeper, hungrier. Her breaths quickened as my fingers slipped under her panties and caressed her sweet flesh under the fabric.I was afraid I went too far, but as she started to shift her hips and moved against them, I knew she needed me just as much. She was incredibly responsive to my touch, but now it was like she felt every movement of my fingers, and it was my goal to bring her the orgasm of her life. I began to slowly slide off her panties, cupping her sex.
“Damien,” she whispered softly and closed her eyes.
Her body was already starting to calm down. With all my caution I began pushing a finger inside her, slowly and steady, so her body could adjust to it.
And then her gaze drifted suddenly away from my face, looking around.
“What’s wrong?” I asked instantly, cupping her cheek with my hand and pulling her focus back to me.
“I’m smellinghim…”
I immediately knew she was talking about my brother.
Malakai.
“Where do you smell him?”
“Here.”
“Here?” I frowned, scanning the surroundings, but there was only water. No movement, nothing.
She nodded. “Yes,” she said, her voice breaking into a whisper. “It’s the strongest it’s ever been.”
“What are you feeling?”
“My whole body is tingling… and it’s pulling me... like it’s trying to drag me under the water to find him.” She lowered her head, ashamed. “But… I’m not a good swimmer.”
“Even if you could, I’d never let you risk your life like that,” I said firmly, lifting her chin so she could see the truth in my eyes. I pressed my forehead against hers, steadying both of us. There was no way I’d ever let her put my life above hers.
“He’s… hurting,” she whispered, placing a hand over my heart.
My brother was hurt, and he had been trying to reach her allthis time through their shared connection.
“Let me help you,” I murmured. “Can I look into your memories? Maybe it will help me expand my powers, even here.”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes, reaching for the bond between us and slipping through it, into her mind.
I hated the risk of seeing things she wouldn’t want to show me, but I tried to solely concentrate on the connection we both had with Malakai.
