Chapter Eight
Acasia
I lay in bed working to keep my breathing even. Where did he stay while I slept? For my plan to work he needed to stay in the room next to mine. It was hours later that I heard someone open my door. It closed softly. I waited another hour before slipping through the bathing and garment rooms, entering his chamber. In the soft glow of light from the moons, I could see he slept on his side, facing away from me, a powerful arm cast over his head. The bedding dipped at his waist, and a firm ass cheek caught my attention. This was only the second time in my life I had seen a totally unclothed man. Him standing naked and watching me in the bathing chamber being the first. As a claiming bride, the male body was hidden from me. When older women spoke quietly of erections and the changing male body, I could only imagine the phenomenon. It was almost like I was born with a brand on my forehead.
No self-control; cannot see naked man.
He was beautifully muscled. I’d seen strong male arms and even a stolen glimpse of a male chest, but nothing like what I was looking at. My mouth watered. If I wasn’t careful, I would drool.
I crept closer until I could see the rise and fall of his chest. I lifted my knee to the bed, my hand tentatively going out. Before I touched him, his body came alive and my shriek filled the room. I was now on my back staring into the darkest eyes I’d ever seen.
“What are you doing here female?”
His full lips spoke in my dragon’s voice. I hadn’t accepted the notion before because my mind didn’t understand the magic, didn’t accept the impossible.
“I ca… came to see you.”
I was naked. His eyes raked down the upper part of my chest. The bottom half of his body covered me below and I knew he could feel me. And I felt the hardness of his cock against my belly.
His gaze lifted and red sparks sizzled in his dark eyes. “You should not sneak into the chamber of a strange man,” he said gruffly.
I put as much helpless female intonation in my next words as I could, “I need your help.”
“My help?” he replied in a husky whisper.
“Yes.” My hand moved off the bedding to his cheek, and I ran my thumb over his bottom lip, surprised by its softness. I had to clear my unsettled thoughts to speak again. “Your help. I wish to escape the dragon.”
His body froze. I could see the anger flash in his eyes, brighter red sparks giving his true identity away again.
Now, I heard irritation in his voice. “You play with fire.”
Fighting down my laughter, I trailed my hand across his face and thread my fingers through his hair. I moved my lips a hair’s breadth from his and lowered my voice to a soft purr. “But it’s you I want to burn me.”
“Why?” he asked with a throaty growl.
“The dragon will never mate with me and I crave a real man between my thighs.” This was going further than I planned, but feeling him pressing against me… it’s what I wanted now, this instant.
The burning intensity in his eyes was almost my undoing. “He will kill us both.”
I moved my body closer so my breasts rubbed against his chest. “Not if you help me escape and go with me.”
His tongue came out, running over his upper lip, lightly licking across mine. “Why would I wish to go with you?”
“To be my lover.” I pushed my lips against his, but it was him who took my mouth, ravaged it. I couldn’t breathe as his tongue delved across my lips, past my teeth, searching my inner recesses. He sucked deliciously, making me groan deep in my throat. He cupped one breast, squeezed a bit too hard… just right. A delicious heat pooled at my center. I wanted this man so badly.
He pulled his lips away. “Fair lady, what do you trade for my assistance?”
I had him. “First, your name.”
“Bastian.” He breathed out on a moan as I wiggled beneath him.
“I cannot give you my virginity, Bastian.”
His eyebrows cocked, his eyes growing even darker still. “Then what can you give me, fair lady?”
“You misunderstand. I’ve already given my virginity away and had too many other men to count. But I can fuck you, Bastian, of that have no doubt.”
It took two seconds for my words to sink in. He exploded from the bed, leaving me bereft. His eyes glowed completely red—dragon red. I wondered if he could spew fire as a human.
“You desecrate the claiming,” he yelled, his hands balling at his sides, chest heaving.
For a second, I allowed my eyes to peer at his center. Even thinking me deflowered, he still wanted me. “I didn’t choose to be a claiming bride.”
He stared at me for a long moment before stalking from the room. Doors slammed in his wake and I smiled. Served him right.
Foolish dragon.
Now I just needed my body to calm. I wasn’t exactly sure whom I just punished.