Wildfire Sea Dragon (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Wildfire Crew Book 3), page 19
That wasn’t part of the ritual. Her breath caught as she realized what he was trying to do.
Trust Joe to attempt to bulldoze over millennia of tradition. Unfortunately, in this case, sea dragon customs were stronger than even Joe’s stubbornness. She was touched by the gesture, but she knew it was futile.
“It doesn’t work like that,” she said, gently. “The knights won’t accept—”
“Oh, they will accept.” His deep, growling voice shook her soul, drowning out her doubt. He took a single swift, abrupt step forward, catching her chin in his free hand. “Because you will not go to Atlantis in dishonor or disgrace, Seventh Novice of the Order of the First Water, Guardian of the Sea’s Heart. You will go in triumph, with celebrations and fanfare, to present yourself to the Pearl Empress as tradition demands. You will go as a Princess of Atlantis. You will go as my mate.”
Trapped in his grasp, she could only stare at him, dumbfounded. He didn’t wait for a reply. He bent to capture her mouth, roughly, savagely. Heat crashed through her as his tongue thrust past her startled lips, claiming her ruthlessly.
He bore her backwards, down to the grass, never breaking the kiss. The world spun around her head. She couldn’t have said which way was up or down, whether she was on solid land or still floating in the lake. His powerful arms bracketed her, muscles rigid, pinning her in place. His scent filled her lungs. She was consumed by him, by the dizzying need to be filled by him.
She broke off the kiss, wrenching her head to the side. She put her hands flat on his chest, but couldn’t muster the strength to push him away.
“W-we can’t,” she gasped, fighting for control. “Your vision—”
He wound her braids round one hand, forcing her to face him. He was breathing as hard as if he’d just run an ultramarathon. There was no playfulness in his turquoise eyes now. They were dark with raw, animal desire, focused on her with the utter concentration hunting predator.
“Swear to me you’ll go.” He gave her a little shake to emphasize the words—not hard enough to hurt, but emphatic enough that the show of dominance sent a fresh wave of heat gushing between her legs. “Swear on your honor you’ll leave me here. Swear it.”
This was a side of him she’d never seen...and she liked it. It scared her, how much she liked it. This was how sharks mated, after all; teeth to teeth and bite for bite, grappling to a fierce, savage climax. The core of her soul resonated in response to his aggression.
“I swear.” She could barely get the words out through the desire pounding through her. “On my honor.”
His white teeth flashed in a fierce, triumphant smile. “Then you’re mine. Now.”
He pulled her head back further, exposing her throat. She gasped as his hot mouth fastened on her neck. He kissed his way from her jaw to the hollow of her throat, open-mouthed, biting. Every rough scrape of his teeth against her skin had her bucking upward, desperate for more.
He went lower still, nibbling along her collarbone. He released her hair at last, freeing his hands so he could yank down the straps of her bra. She arced up to give him access to undo the garment. Her nipples were already drawn to hard points. The slight breath of the warm, gentle night breeze only made them stiffen further. She needed his tongue there, now, or she might explode with frustration.
She wanted to tell Joe what she wanted, but she’d lost all words. There was nothing in her head but pleasure and pounding desire. She writhed, yanking at his neck, silently urging him lower.
Joe’s mouth curved against her skin. With maddening slowness, he ran his tongue in a teasing spiral over one breast. She tried to thrust up into his mouth, but his strong hands pinned her shoulders, holding her down. He savored her skin as though she was a rare wine to be sipped at leisure. She could only submit to the exquisite torment of his languid, unhurried exploration.
When his mouth finally closed over her nipple, stars shot through her. Her whole body came alive, electric with sensation. Every pull, every suck, made her core pulse in response. She wrapped her legs around him, hips jerking in helpless need.
His tongue swirled, teasing her, bringing ever-increasing waves of pleasure. He gripped her other breast in his hand, hard, rolling and pinching her nipple. The contrast of the softness of his mouth on one side, the roughness of his work-hardened hand on the other—she shattered. Ecstasy swept over and through her, blinding.
“Sea,” he said hoarsely, releasing her nipple at last. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long. I could listen to you come all day.”
She’d been lying boneless, adrift on the slowly receding tide of her orgasm, but his words brought her back to herself with a jolt. What ugly, animal noises had she been making? She was suddenly, horribly aware of her teeth, sharp and jagged in her mouth—
“Hey.” Joe surged up her body, so that his face hung over hers once more. His hands cupped her face. “Stay with me. Stay with me, Seven. I need you. All of you.”
His eyes filled her world. Dark pools of desire, filled with love.
He wanted her.
All of her.
He dipped his head, kissing her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks, murmuring her name breathlessly between each one. He kissed her mouth—not as roughly as before, but still with that steely, irresistible command. A little twist of apprehension shot through the heat building in her…but she opened to him anyway, letting him in.
His strong, sure tongue stroked into her, banishing her lingering self-consciousness. She had an intense, aching desire to explore his mouth in return—but she didn’t dare. It would be too easy to lose control, to hurt him. She held her head still as his tongue ran over her sharp-edged teeth.
Still, she couldn’t help her body arcing. His taste, his touch, every movement of his mouth on hers, it all reignited the fire deep in her lower belly.
She ran her hands down the smooth, intoxicating curve of his back. She worked her fingers under the tight waistband of his still-damp jeans, and was rewarded by a heartfelt groan and a flex of his hips. His solid bulge ground against her thigh, making her core throb in response.
He was too damn tall—kissing her like this, face to face, she couldn’t get his hardness where she needed it. She squirmed under him, trying to work her way lower, or pull him higher.
He broke off the kiss, bracing himself on his arms. His chest and abs flexed, taking her breath away. He rolled upright, to his knees, straddling her. The buttons of his jeans strained, barely able to contain his erection.
He fought to undo his pants, face twisted in a frustrated snarl. With a savage jerk, he ripped the top two buttons off entirely, giving himself enough space to loosen the rest. He didn’t waste time trying to peel his pants off. He just shoved the wet denim down his lean hips. His cock leaped free at last.
Her pulse pounded even harder at the sight of his hard, straining shaft. His erection was in proportion to the rest of him—which meant it was enormous. She didn’t feel the slightest bit intimidated, though. His size only made her more dizzy with desire, fresh wetness welling between her legs in readiness.
She reached for him, but he caught her hand. He raised her wrist to his face, inhaling her scent. Her breath caught at the light press of his teeth against her skin.
“Don’t touch me.” His voice was a growl, his breath as ragged as hers. “Not yet. Sea, you’re so gorgeous. I’ll come if you touch me, I won’t be able to help it. And I need to come in you. Buried deep in your beautiful, beautiful body, feeling you shudder and clench around me. Oh, sea, I need you. Seven. Seven.”
He lifted his weight off her. Still murmuring frantic, filthy things, he tore her shorts off. One of his legs nudged her knees apart. She opened for him eagerly, spreading wide. She heard his breath catch in a gasp that was nearly a snarl, an animal sound of pure want. His cock jerked, liquid beading at the tip.
“Oh sea, Seven. Do you know what you’re doing to me?” His palms skimmed over her inner thighs, making her tremble. “Let me look at you. Sea, let me just look at you.”
He ran his hands down her legs, lifting them, spreading her wider. He hooked her ankles over his broad shoulders, and grabbed hold of her hips, tugging her up onto his lap so she was even more exposed to his hungry, avid gaze.
“Beautiful,” he breathed. “So beautiful. My beautiful mate.”
He ran one finger lightly over her sex. She bucked at the first contact, fireworks shooting through her. He traced her slick, swollen folds, every touch electrifying.
“Yes,” he growled in approval. “So wet for me.”
He pushed two fingers into her, and her vision blurred. She tightened around him, convulsively, yearning for more—but he drew back instead, leaving her empty and aching.
“Wait. I need this first.” He put his fingers into his mouth, tasting her juices. His eyes closed, as a low groan escaped his lips. “Sea, you’re sweet. So sweet. My Seven. My mate.”
His hand dove back down, plundering her once more. This time he went further, harder, curling his fingers up so she saw stars. Words fell from his lips in time with each thrust.
“I want to keep tasting you so badly.” His voice shook with need. “Soak my tongue in you. Lick you until you’re overflowing, drink every drop as you come.”
Despite his harsh, hungry words he didn’t dip his head to replace his fingers with his mouth. He just kept stroking her rhythmically, coaxing her to higher bliss with each thrust. He added a third finger, stretching her even wider, filling her up even more deliciously.
“But if my face is buried between your thighs, I can’t watch you.” His thumb found her plump, swollen nub, and lightning shot through her entire body. “And I need to watch you. I need to see you come. I want to see you shatter for me, Seven, my Seven. I’m too hot, I’m going to explode the instant I slide into you. I’m going to come in you so hard, I won’t be able to see, won’t be able to see your face as you come too. I want to see you. Yes, that’s right, like that. Show me.”
How was he still talking? She had no idea, but she didn’t want him to stop. His words caressed her as much as his strong hands, intensifying every sensation. His voice lifted her like the sea itself, buoying her up, whispering encouragement, until she was weightless, floating out of the world, tumbling upward into infinite stars—
“Yes,” he breathed. “Like that. Now. Now, Seven.”
She lost herself entirely, becoming nothing but rolling waves of pleasure. He held her through the storm, supporting her, murmuring the whole time.
“Oh, sea. Yes. Beautiful.” He was still muttering broken, disconnected fragments as she came back down, his voice rough and desperate. “My beautiful shark. Mine. My mate. Mine.”
He withdrew his hand. She could feel her own wetness slicking his fingers as he grabbed her hips. He lifted her as effortlessly as if she was a doll, shifting their positions so that her legs wrapped around his waist. Her core was still fluttering from her last orgasm, but a fresh pulse went through her as his hardness pressed against her.
His fingers tightened. His eyes met hers, blazing rings of turquoise fire. He bared his teeth in animal triumph.
“Mine,” he said again.
He slid into her, burying himself to the hilt in one fierce thrust. She’d thought herself wrung out and spent, at her limit—but he crashed through her like a tsunami, sweeping her back into bliss with shocking suddenness. It was more than just the powerful surge of his body into hers, glorious as that was. He was in her, in her mind, her soul.
True to his word, Joe went rigid at that first thrust. He was so deep she could feel every pulse, every twitch, as he fought for control. His face twisted, tendons standing out in his neck.
She didn’t want him to hold back. She wanted all of him, now, pouring into her without restraint.
She ground against him, making him gasp and swear. Still he held on, though sweat stood out on his brow. His arms flexed, pulling her upright so that they were pressed together, skin to skin, torso to torso. She didn’t realize what he wanted until his hand tightened on the back of her head.
“Mine,” he gasped, pulling her mouth down to his hard, hot shoulder. “Yours. Always. Claim me.”
His salt-sea scent filled her lungs. His body filled hers. Nothing else existed, nothing else mattered. Everything was bright and simple and clear.
She bit him.
With an ecstatic groan, he spilled into her at last. Somewhere in the sea of bliss, their animals swam to meet each other. His dragon’s coils entwined around her shark. They spiraled higher and higher, in perfect unison, until together they broke through into brilliant, blinding delight.
Seven was quiet, after. He held her close, feeling the slow beat of her heart against his chest. The mate bond rippled between them, as calm and deep as the moonlit lake.
She stirred first. He could have lain there forever, wrapped in wonder, but she sat up, disentangling herself from him.
“How bad is it?” she asked.
It took him a second to work out that she meant the bite. He ran a finger over the neat circle of triangular puncture marks. They were already scabbing over, his shifter healing kicking in. Even so, it was deep enough to scar. He would carry her mark on his body for the rest of his life.
“It’s perfect.” He sat up too, capturing her mouth for a long, lingering kiss. “Like you.”
She let out an aggrieved huff, but kissed him back. Her teeth were human again now, but no less intoxicating. He lost himself in exploring her sweet mouth.
“I’ve just realized,” he said, pulling back. “You were born on land. You must have a human name.”
She tensed. “No. Not anymore. I’m Seventh Novice now. That’s my real name. The one I’ve earned.”
“Yes, but—”
“We should still get back to the cabin,” she interrupted. She reached for her armor, starting to strap her breastplate back on. “You need medical attention.”
The faint throb of pain in his shoulder felt very distant. The gathering ache in his groin as she bent over to pull on her leggings was of far more pressing concern.
She narrowed her eyes at him, past her legs. “Stop that.”
“Can’t.” He pushed himself to his feet, embracing her from behind. She gasped as he pulled her back against him. “I have the most beautiful mate in the world. I’m pretty sure it’s physically impossible for me to tear myself away from you long enough to let us get back to the base. Resign yourself. We live here now.”
Her short, breathless laugh was more addictive than any drug. Sea, he hadn’t heard her laugh enough. He wanted to make her laugh again. And to gasp, and sigh, and scream—
“I said, stop that.” With a wriggle that sent liquid fire shooting through him, she twisted free. She backed off, stooping to collect the rest of their clothes. “We have a lot to do.”
He was fully hard again already. He’d always assumed that being fully mated would lessen his driving need for her, but no one seemed to have informed his cock that. “Yes. And you’re top of my list.”
She tossed him an exasperated look, along with his shirt. “We have to bandage that wound, no matter what you say. We need to get some rest. And…” Her voice wavered fractionally, something raw and vulnerable flashing across her face. “And we need to contact Atlantis.”
The thought hit him like a bucket of ice water, sobering him up. “I can do that now. I’ll contact my mom through the lake. I’m no good at most forms of communication-scrying, but I can always reach her. Another Imperial trick.”
Seven bit her lip. “What…what will you tell her?”
“The truth.” He stepped forward, taking her hands. “That I’m mated to the most incredible woman in or out of the sea. That you’ve agreed to go home because I can’t stand the thought of you putting yourself at risk for me. That I need her to send another knight to guard me instead.”
Her eyes searched his face. “But not about your talent?”
A guilty twinge shot through his chest, but he shook his head. “She doesn’t need to know about that. Just the fact that you’re my mate will be enough to explain why I can’t have you as my bodyguard.”
Her lips tightened, but she didn’t try to argue further. She turned away, reaching down for her stunsword—and froze. He felt the sudden thud of her heart down the mate bond. She straightened again, slowly, never taking her eyes off the weapon.
“You’ll have to carry that,” she said, very quietly.
“Seven.” Her silent agony made his own heart tighten. “It’s still yours. I don’t care what oaths you swore.”
“But I do.” She jerked her gaze away from her sword, fists clenching. “Take it, Joe. Please.”
He wanted to hold her, but he knew it wouldn’t help. Nothing he could do would help.
He pulled up his jeans, buttoning them. Then he bent to collect Seven’s stunsword. He juggled the pearl baton awkwardly for a moment, trying to work out the most respectful way to carry it, and then gave up and just shoved it through a belt loop. It would serve him right if it went off unexpectedly and zapped him in the ass.
Seven had finished strapping on her armor. For a moment, her hand hovered oddly in mid-air, trying to rest on a hilt that wasn’t there anymore.
She let it fall to her side instead. “I’ll see you back at our cabin after you’ve talked to your mother. Don’t be too long. We still need to bandage that bite.”
“Seven,” he called after her, desperately searching for words to make things better. “My mom will understand. She won’t let anyone shame you. I’ll make sure of that. Everything’s going to be okay now. You’ll see.”
Chapter 26
The sky was blood red. A ceiling of smoke hung over the forest, reflecting the light from the smoldering fires below. In a clearing surrounded by towering, ancient pines, a woman’s voice rose, harsh and desperate.
Not laughing. Not cold and triumphant.
“No.” Lupa spun on her heel, fists clenching. “No! I won’t let you do this.”
