Page 176 of Dragon 7

Alive.

His.

And beneath the desperation, I felt something darker.

The Dragon had won, but victory had not soothed him. It had only shown him how much there was to lose—every man who had fallen, every bullet that had nearly found him, every second death had stood close enough to whisper in his ear.

He poured all of it into my mouth.

The rage of surviving.

The guilt of returning.

The animal terror of loving someone in a world determined to take everything from him.

His kiss became a confession his pride would never allow him to speak.

“I was afraid.”

“I almost did not come home.”

“I cannot lose you.”

“I will burn the world before I let death touch you.”

And I answered him the only way I could. I wrapped my arms around him and let him feel my heartbeat against his chest.

Living.

Loving.

Waiting for him.

I moaned against his lips.

My body woke all at once. My nipples hardened against the silk. Between my thighs, I went slick and hot within seconds. The bond throbbed under my sternum, and I could feel his lust rising to meet mine, dark, molten, and enormous.

He pulled back just enough to speak against my mouth. "Take this top off."

"You take it off."

His eyes went black. "Careful, Tora."

"Or what, Dragon?"

His hand slid from my braids down to the strap of the silk gown at my shoulder. He hooked one finger under the fabric and dragged it down slow, watching my face the entire time. The silk slid off my shoulder and pooled at my elbow.

Then the other side.

Next, he tugged the whole thing down to my waist and stopped. “You are mine. Say it.”

“Well. . .I’m still in the decision phase. You haven’t truly earned me yet.”

His hand rose to my throat. His fingers wrapped around the sides. His thumb pressed against the pulse under my jaw. “Earn you?”

His thumb pressed harder against my pulse. “Tora, I crossed an island covered in blood to return to you. Tell me what remains to be earned.”

I smirked. “Yet. . .I need more.”