Chapter 9
Did those two words really come out of her mouth? She’d never been one who was demanding. Not that she was opposed to sexual intimacy. In fact, she liked it quite a lot, but she’d never been fully comfortable naked. Matty had been the only man she was ever with. She’d saved herself for love.
Evander growled and gripped her tighter against him. She felt his urgency, and it made her gasp.
“Bedroom. I don’t need you getting hurt.” His voice was rough and thick with lust.
Her heart raced, but she nodded. Shower sex wasn’t her idea of fun. He loosened his hold, and she eased out of the shower and pulled her robe off the hook. She covered up quickly and blushed when she looked over her shoulder. He was watching her in awe?
That couldn’t be. She wasn’t the type of woman that made a man chase her. She was okay, but not gorgeous like other women.
“I’m right behind you, love.”
A thrill of excitement rushed down her spine as she made her way out of the bathroom and to her room.
This was really going to happen.
She felt the smile and licked her lips. Her body was on fire, and not just from the water. She had barely taken two steps into the room when two strong hands spun her around. Evander didn’t waste any time. He pressed his lips to hers and pried her mouth open. She gasped when he thrust his tongue in her mouth, surprised how his aggressive behavior turned her on more. He kissed her, and then her robe was gone and she was pressed against the wall. She shuddered from the coolness, but it was a reprieve from the heat of his body.
She broke away, gasping for breath. “Slow down.”
Her growled but laid his hands on her hips. His fingers dug into them, but it didn’t hurt. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, but it’s been a while for me.”
He nodded and backed away, letting her move away from the wall. She took his hand and led him to the bed. She laid down, waiting for him to do something other than watch her. His eyes shifted, one white, one the same crystallized yellow she’d seen before. Both beasts were present, and both were waiting.
“I love you, Callie. I know it’s fast, but I need you to know that before we complete the bond.”
She didn’t know what to say. Was it love she felt? Her stomach fluttered, answering her question as tears filled her eyes.
“Love,” he said and sat on the bed, “did I say something wrong?”
She heard the panic in his tone. There was something in his eyes, too. Something so lost and hurt. As if he hadn’t had any one love him in a long time. Maybe he hadn’t. If his story was anything like what Willow said it was like for the others, then who knew what he’d gone through?
She took his hand. “I have one request.”
“Anything.”
“Once we complete the bond and I take your beast, I want to know the truth.”
He froze, and his hand tensed, his fingers gripped hers a little too roughly. He noticed right away and loosened his hold. “It’s dangerous, love.”
“Then we stick together, right?”
“Always.”
“So, you’ll tell me.”
He sighed. “I have no choice now.”
“Fair enough.” That wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear, but it didn’t matter as long as he told her the truth.
He laid his hand on her bare stomach and worked his way up to her breast. As soon as his fingers brushed her nipple, the heat rose in the room, and she sucked in a breath. Goosebumps covered her skin, and she shivered from the change in body temperature.
“Take my beast, love.”
Their eyes locked. She couldn’t break away. Her breathing picked up, and her heart raced. Evander’s hand became increasingly hot. It nearly burned her skin. She whimpered, but he didn’t stop touching her.
His jaw clenched. “Sorry, I don’t know what’s happening.”
As soon as the words came out, his body tensed.
Right before her eyes, she saw the beast. She was surrounded by blue light. She came out from Evander in the strangest way. He groaned in pain, and Callie realized he was trying not to scream. It was then she remembered Willow’s words:
“It hurts like a bitch…don’t fight it.”
She took a deep breath, hoping she knew what to do. But the beast didn’t come right for her. Instead, she swarmed around Evander. Sweat beaded his forehead, and his face contorted in agony. The beast seemed to be trying to soothe him, only it wasn’t helping. She turned toward Callie, and her focus narrowed. Before Callie had time to prepare, the phantom beast dove right into her chest.
She screamed a blood-curdling scream. There was no way around it. Fire laced through her chest, where the beast had dived in. It felt like she was ripping her skin apart. She whimpered and blindly reached out for her mate. His hand grabbed hers, and it was her lifeline. She felt the beast explore its new home and once she settled, the pain started to dissipate.
Callie gasped for breath and squinted her eyes through the tears. “Holy shit, she didn’t lie.”
Evander, who seemed to be feeling better after his shock of pain, chuckled. “That was horrifying to see, yet so beautiful.”
She laughed through the pain. It felt like she been branded. In her mind, that’s how it would feel. She shook her head, realizing the void she always felt had disappeared. “It’s gone,” she whispered.
He raised his brow. “What’s gone, love?”
“The void.”
He nodded, seeming to understand. “Now that we’ve started the bond, I see things more clearly. You’ve fixed me.”
She didn’t know what he meant, but he was smiling, and his eyes were bright and aware. The sickness seemed to be seeping away.
The beast inside of her curled around her heart, warming her to the depths of her soul. Her eyes shifted. It was amazing to feel it happening. Her vision shifted, and everything was in shades of yellow. But it wasn’t just that. Every little detail was so crisp. “Whoa.”
“The dragon’s sight is an amazing thing.”
“Yeah.”
He leaned in and kissed her. Even the feel of his lips on hers was different. More intense. She moaned and grasped at him. He seemed to take the hint because he growled and shoved her back on the bed before he climbed over her. She opened her eyes and shuddered when his eyes shifted white. This was her beast. He was hers, and now she carried his dragon’s mate. Everything was different.
“Make love to me, my mate,” she said, and then sighed when he mashed his lips against hers. The warmth built, and it wasn’t long before her core clenched, searching for him.
He pushed her legs apart and settled between them. She felt the hard length of him against her and shivered. “I’m ready.” And she was. This was how they would complete the bond. It had already started. By taking his beast, they opened the doors for their bond. She felt it between them, and was most anxious to complete it.
He took his time, never taking his eyes from her. “You’re beautiful, love.”
She didn’t say anything, nor could she if she wanted to. This was it. The moment she’d been waiting for her whole life. As he eased inside of the tightness between her legs, she bit her lip. When he spread her open, it burned in nothing but a good way. She sucked in a breath and raised her hips, inviting him further in. Even though it had been so long, it felt so right. Like he was meant to be inside of her, completing her.
That’s how she became a dragon’s mate. Slowly, he took her, showing her just how beautiful he found her, and there was no doubt that he did. She knew it by the way his eyes shone as he found completion in her. She shouldn’t have been shocked that he felt it so deeply.
She cupped his jaw and wiped his tear away with her thumb.
“I’m finally home. You have no idea how much this means to me, love.”
But a part of her did. The ache in her heart was nearly sealed. Hers beat in time with his now. They were one. She closed her eyes as her own orgasm washed over her. It was so intense her body shook. She let out a long moan when he thrust into her one last time, bringing her to that final climax.
***
Nothing compared to thrusting into his mate as she lay below him for the taking. She was so eager and open for him. The tightness surrounded him, and he struggled to hold on. He’d wanted it to be good for her. Taking his time, he showed her he loved her, and when he came, so did she. It was breathtaking. Her face flushed, and her eyes were bright, rimmed in lust.
He’d done that to her, and now he held her as her body shook. Every time he moved, his cock bumped that one spot. She shuddered and gasped in his ear. Holding on tight, he ground into her, soaking up her sweet scent.
“Oh gods, please, no more,” she said, and cried out when he shifted again.
Because he knew she was over-stimulated, he pulled out of her body slowly, enjoying how the walls latched on to his already sensitive head. His body jerked, and he came a second time.
She screamed, and her body clamped down on him. He yelled, and then he felt what she did. Every sensation rocked through his body as the bond completed. The magic filled the air as their beasts found love in one another through them. The ice shattered from his chest, no longer could he ever imagine being alone. He’d found the other half of his soul, and now, she was his partner. He wouldn’t have to save himself. She had already done that, giving him her heart.
Her nails dug into his arms as she held him still. Her breaths came out in pants, and her heart pounded against his chest. “Wow.”
He agreed, but instead of saying anything, he chuckled and kissed her before rolling over to lay beside her.
“Are you better now?”
“Yes,” he replied. He didn’t like being wrong, but it seemed Willow had been right. He already felt a million times better. In fact, he felt better than he ever had.