swiftness. Before I could be embarrassed about my nakedness, Lucius took my broken straps in trembling fingers and tied it in a knot at my shoulder, covering me. How this man went from murderous frenzy to tenderness in a few short minutes rattled me to my bones. With hands on my shoulders, he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to mine, slowly gaining control.
My breath caught on a sob. He wiped the tears away with a gentle, shaking hand. Blue-fire blazing down, he scooped me in his arms, cradling me against his chest in an unyielding iron embrace. We shot up into the air, melding with night and shadows. I clung to him, my soul sighing now that I was finally where I belonged.
Chapter 10
Bloodlust pumped hard and strong through my veins. Somehow, I’d managed not to kill him. If Jessen hadn’t stopped me, he’d be a ghost already. My dragon growled, wanting to tuck her safely in my lair, then hunt him again. Make sure he understood the true meaning of pain and suffering. He dared to hurt her. My mate. Choking was too swift, too easy a death. When I had flown back to the garden and found him on top of her, there had been no thought, only an undeniable itch for my hands to wrap his throat and squeeze the life out of him.
I flew fast to get her to safety and to get out of killing range. She cradled against me, pressing her cheek to my neck, her chest to my chest, her lips to my skin. Her fingers caressed the nape of my neck, soothing the beast, gentling him with her touch. Long black waves of her hair whipped in the wind, her scent invading my senses. She tucked her head in the crook under my chin. It was…perfect.
I dove fast and winged onto my terrace with a jolt, too eager to smooth my landing. Brant had left my chamber door open as I’d asked. She lifted her head as I carried her through the curtain screen into my bedchamber. Finally having her safe in my domain, sealed behind secure doors and alarms, I could breathe again. Barely.
I set her down and started a fire in the grate, trying to settle my nerves, needing to soothe her, unable to do so in my current state.
Wide-eyed, she examined the room. I scented fear and excitement. I’d suspected before, but was sure now. My mate was a virgin. Something primal and possessive gripped me hard, urging me to take her now. Quickly. My pounding pulse shifted directions, imagining her on the black silk sheets, spread for me. I leashed that longing, burying it. For now.
She was here. In my domain. Safe. She would be in my arms and my bed soon enough. The dragon watched, content, as she settled herself on the sofa and warmed herself by the fire. Her fair skin glowed golden from the flames. The enchantress sat, beauty personified, awaiting her fate. I stepped closer with a prayer on my heart. Deep brown eyes welcomed me.
* * * *
After I unbuckled the straps of my heels and shuffled them off, I peered around the darkened room while Lucius fixed a few more logs in place. My heart skipped a beat when I caught sight of the biggest bed I’d ever seen. I couldn’t imagine how they’d even gotten it in here. No posts or footboard, just a huge, ornately carved headboard rising about seven feet off the bed. Luxurious, black silk sheets covered the enormous bed. Holy hell! He hadn’t imagined me in a bed for his painting—he imagined me in his bed.
I gulped, warming my hands by the fire, forcing my brain from thinking too many steps ahead.
The silence filling the room had my heart skittering faster. After a long moment, Lucius seated himself on the sofa and pulled me into his lap. He flipped his wings with a deft move to hang over the low back of the sofa.
He pulled me into the crook of his shoulder. Long fingers trailed through my hair down my back. We said nothing at first, holding each other and watching orange and yellow flames lick and crackle in the fire. The silence lulled me.
His voice startled me when he broke the quiet. “I thought you loved him,
My breath caught on a sob. He wiped the tears away with a gentle, shaking hand. Blue-fire blazing down, he scooped me in his arms, cradling me against his chest in an unyielding iron embrace. We shot up into the air, melding with night and shadows. I clung to him, my soul sighing now that I was finally where I belonged.
Chapter 10
Bloodlust pumped hard and strong through my veins. Somehow, I’d managed not to kill him. If Jessen hadn’t stopped me, he’d be a ghost already. My dragon growled, wanting to tuck her safely in my lair, then hunt him again. Make sure he understood the true meaning of pain and suffering. He dared to hurt her. My mate. Choking was too swift, too easy a death. When I had flown back to the garden and found him on top of her, there had been no thought, only an undeniable itch for my hands to wrap his throat and squeeze the life out of him.
I flew fast to get her to safety and to get out of killing range. She cradled against me, pressing her cheek to my neck, her chest to my chest, her lips to my skin. Her fingers caressed the nape of my neck, soothing the beast, gentling him with her touch. Long black waves of her hair whipped in the wind, her scent invading my senses. She tucked her head in the crook under my chin. It was…perfect.
I dove fast and winged onto my terrace with a jolt, too eager to smooth my landing. Brant had left my chamber door open as I’d asked. She lifted her head as I carried her through the curtain screen into my bedchamber. Finally having her safe in my domain, sealed behind secure doors and alarms, I could breathe again. Barely.
I set her down and started a fire in the grate, trying to settle my nerves, needing to soothe her, unable to do so in my current state.
Wide-eyed, she examined the room. I scented fear and excitement. I’d suspected before, but was sure now. My mate was a virgin. Something primal and possessive gripped me hard, urging me to take her now. Quickly. My pounding pulse shifted directions, imagining her on the black silk sheets, spread for me. I leashed that longing, burying it. For now.
She was here. In my domain. Safe. She would be in my arms and my bed soon enough. The dragon watched, content, as she settled herself on the sofa and warmed herself by the fire. Her fair skin glowed golden from the flames. The enchantress sat, beauty personified, awaiting her fate. I stepped closer with a prayer on my heart. Deep brown eyes welcomed me.
* * * *
After I unbuckled the straps of my heels and shuffled them off, I peered around the darkened room while Lucius fixed a few more logs in place. My heart skipped a beat when I caught sight of the biggest bed I’d ever seen. I couldn’t imagine how they’d even gotten it in here. No posts or footboard, just a huge, ornately carved headboard rising about seven feet off the bed. Luxurious, black silk sheets covered the enormous bed. Holy hell! He hadn’t imagined me in a bed for his painting—he imagined me in his bed.
I gulped, warming my hands by the fire, forcing my brain from thinking too many steps ahead.
The silence filling the room had my heart skittering faster. After a long moment, Lucius seated himself on the sofa and pulled me into his lap. He flipped his wings with a deft move to hang over the low back of the sofa.
He pulled me into the crook of his shoulder. Long fingers trailed through my hair down my back. We said nothing at first, holding each other and watching orange and yellow flames lick and crackle in the fire. The silence lulled me.
His voice startled me when he broke the quiet. “I thought you loved him,
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