Warriors of Wind and Ash (Merciless Dragons #2)

Kyreagan takes the key and kneels in front of me. His black brows pull together as he peers at the hole. I can’t resist sliding my fingers through the glossy ink of his hair while he wrestles with the key and finally manages to unlock the belt. With a sigh of relief I unlatch it, lower it down my legs, and step out. When I return from the privy, Kyreagan is inspecting the craftsmanship.

“It’s a cruel device, but beautifully made,” he says. “Let me remove the mask as well.”

I stand still while he slips the key into a crevice of the mask and turns it with a soft click. With the flip of a latch, the mask opens, and he lifts it away from my face.

“There you are,” he murmurs.

My breath turns light and quick, and my stomach flutters under the warm gaze of those dark eyes. Gently I trace my fingertips up his arm. “Kyreagan,” I whisper. “How much time do you have left in human form?”

“Not long,” he admits. “I’ll need to be back in my room soon. There’s enough space in there for me to exist in dragon form if I’m very still and I remain curled up in the same position. It will be unpleasant, but I can endure it. What’s harder to endure is the knowledge that while I’m in that form, I’m useless. I can’t look for the poisoner, or protect you from Rahzien.”

“I can handle Rahzien, now that I know you’re alive,” I tell him. But the thought of being in the King’s presence again makes my skin crawl, chills my very bones with a cringing sense of vulnerability. I don’t want to have to face the King, to recite my “lessons,” to be whipped in front of my people if any of them have dared to defy their conquerors. Any of that could happen tomorrow. Or Rahzien could decide to force himself on me. The idea of him thrusting into my body makes me want to vomit. I shudder, remembering the mouths on mine during the ball tonight, remembering the press of men’s hands and the squeeze of their fingers. The dull, animal hunger in their eyes.

“I need you to do something for me before you change, Kyreagan.” I look up at him desperately. “I know it’s terrible to want this when we’re in here, surrounded by enemies, when the fate of your clan is uncertain, but—”

He bends his beautiful face to mine, glides his silken lips against my cheek, and murmurs, in the deep voice I love, “You want me to fuck you.”

“Yes,” I breathe. “Please. As hard as you can. But we have to be quiet.”

“I like making you loud.”

A laugh wells up in my heart. “I know. But for now, we’ll both have to be quick and quiet.”

“Very well.”

“One more thing,” I say softly. “Just so we’re both very clear on this point. You love me. And I love you back.”

He wraps both arms around me, lifting me right off my feet as he carries me, not to the bed, but to the wall. He pins me there with his body, his hands bracketing my wrists. I’m engulfed by his heat, his scent, his strength—I’m breathless, helpless, and safe.

There’s a soft, wicked glow in his eyes as he looks at me, an encompassing gaze as if he’s memorizing my face. “From this day on, your only title is ‘Queen,’ and I am your captive. My place is wherever you are. My will, my future, and my body are yours.”

17

I can’t believe I have her here, between my arms, against my chest. Her heart is thumping even faster than mine. She tugs against my grip, so I release her wrists, and she begins fumbling eagerly with the buttons of my doublet.

“I’m not used to you wearing so many clothes.” She vents a breathless laugh. “I need them off.”

“I’ll be no help with that,” I say. “Meridian dressed me for the ball. I can handle some buttons, but not these tiny ones, or the pins.”

“We don’t have much time, so—” Her hands drop to the front of my pants, unfastening them and pushing them down my hips. My cock emerges, and she wraps greedy, silken fingers around it. I bite back a groan, remembering Meridian’s caution, that we must be quiet.

“I need this inside me.” A shaken whisper, her blue eyes on mine, pleading. “I need to feel you.”

“Are you well enough, after birthing the eggs and enduring the whip?” I slide a palm over her belly. “Are you sure—”

“I’m sure. I’ve been healed since then. Kyreagan, please. I want this, before you have to go—please.” Tears glitter in her eyes.

Her heart is a jewel, and I don’t understand all the facets of her emotions in this moment, but she has told me what she needs, and it is both my duty and my pleasure to provide it.

“Here, by the wall?” I ask gently. “Or on the bed? I haven’t used a bed yet… While we were with the rebels, I slept while I was in dragon form, so I could use my human hours for practice.”

“The bed.” She tugs her undershorts off, kicks them away, and lies down, adjusting the pillow beneath her head. “It’s narrow, but comfortable.” Her fragrance wafts from between her parted legs, and I inhale through my nose, reveling in the familiar sweetness.

With a focused thought, I return my tongue to its cloven form. Then I leap onto the bed with her and plunge my face between her thighs with a blissful sigh. She sucks in a breath and exhales a tiny sound of shocked pleasure.

I’ve missed this. The taste of her, the soft wet lips of her pussy that part easily for my tongue. I slide it so deep inside her that it strains at the root, and I wriggle the twin halves until she whimpers.

Pulling back, I reach up and cover her mouth lightly with my hand. “Hush, love.”