Bloody hell. “Look, if you don’t want this…” Cao started to pull out, but Ling dug her nails into his shoulder.

“I do want this. I want you.” Her squirming fisted her sheath around his cock, making him bite back a groan. “I’m just not sure how. You’re pretty big.”

He barked a laugh. ‘Thanks for the ego stroke, but trust me, love, we could fit two dicks inside you. So, why don’t you let me worry about the how, hmm?”

“Two?” she squeaked, her lips rounding.

“Or three.” Cao winked at her, dropped his hand between them, and massaged her bud. He’d bring her back to the brink and, after, she’d be begging for it. He only hoped he lasted long enough to get her there. Being inside Ling, even an inch, was driving him crazy.

How she moved, undulating and swaying, so erotically, was incredibly hot. Her dragon nature stirred and it was fast breaking through the surface.

He continued caressing her, and sure enough, her muscles relaxed around him, inviting him deeper. As long as he kept her close to the edge, but never diving off it, this just might work. He nuzzled her neck, drifting forward, his weight doing the job of easing him further inside her. Grabbing a handful of her tight ass, he squeezed, kneading, and tilted her hips to give him better access. While Ling mewled, he slipped in deeper, claiming more of her. Halfway in, Cao dipped his head to her breast and flicked his tongue across her sweetly pink nipple, sucking in a mouthful of her soft flesh. Ling bucked, arching her spine, her pussy rippling around him.

Now or never. He shoved his hips forward, pushing all the way inside her. She gasped in a sharp breath, froze for an instant, and then exhaled.

He released her breast from his mouth. “Okay?”

“Yes.” She curled his fingers into his locks, her other hand raking her nails across his shoulder.

Cao lifted his face to hers and balanced them backward against the wall so it would support her. His hands free, he cupped her face, peering into her lovely eyes. “You’re mine, Ling. Mine forever.”

Her eyes sparkled with dazed wonderment, endless pools of melted silver he longed to swim inside for the rest of his existence. His muscles were tense, strained from being so careful with her, but the fierce beauty connected to him wasn’t fragile or broken.

She never had been.

“Do you mean that?” she whispered. “Forever’s a long time.”

“No,” he skimmed his fingers along the side of her cheek, “I’ve lived forever and then some. Trust me, now that we’ve found each other, forever won’t be long enough.” He bent forward and kissed her. She was an amazing, remarkable woman, and he had but one thing left to do.

He shifted backward, breaking their kiss. “I have a confession to make.”

She rested one hand against his chest and arched one brow. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” he leaned closer again and murmured against her ear, “Remember when I said one of the only things I’ve never done is to fall in love?”

Her sharp inhale sang in his ears. “Yes. Were you lying?”

“Not then,” he rumbled, undulating his hips to rock himself inside her, “but I can check that one off my list now.” He sensed her smile against his cheek, and the soft gasp escaping from her lips caressed his heart.

“I might have a confession, too.” She nudged him back and cradled her hand against his cheek, gazing into his eyes. “I love you, Ca—”

He crashed into her, kissing and thrusting, his tightly reined control beyond his grasp. His hands slid everywhere on her body, touching, stroking, possessing. He couldn’t get enough of her and, good thing, because he never had to stop.

She could be his and he could be hers. Just like this.

Forever.

* * *

Ling moaned and clung to Cao while the man raged like a beast, devouring every inch of her body he got his hands on. Which was pretty much everywhere. His hips slammed into hers and, though the first couple of times had caught her off guard, she soon discerned the rhythm of it and anticipated his strokes.

He was fiercely strong and his lust was proving just as powerful. He hoisted her against himself, bearing her weight. Then, his thick length pounded between her thighs, delving deep and hard, relentless and insatiable.

She was going to be crazy sore later, but she didn’t care. Right now, she was swollen and wet, and Cao’s rough and demanding thrusts were what her body craved.

Blending their bodies together in this union was raw and savage. Also, it made her heart sing. They were two lost souls who’d found each other, and found purpose. Destiny.

Nothing could make this moment more right.

We’re meant to be together.

Cao sank backward, to his knees, pulling her down with him, her legs wrapped about his waist. He collapsed forward, coaxing her back to the stone beneath them, and then he gripped her knees and unlocked them, pushing them forward to her sides. Spreading her wide. Baring her completely.

Feral desires in his darkened eyes, he withdrew his shaft from her and prowled down her body, to where his face leveled with her sex. Then Cao’s dark locks disappeared between her legs, his tongue and teeth grazing across her sensitive flesh, sucking and nipping.

“Uhhhnn.” Ling tossed back her head and whipped it from side to side, her hands shooting to dig into Cao’s hair, but whether she asked him to stop or to kiss her harder, she couldn’t decide. It was blissful, sweet torment.

She raised her hips, begging him to go deeper, and he obliged, spearing his tongue inside her. Jolts of ecstasy shot to her brain, down to her toes, pinging through every inch of her being.

Cao gave a low growl, wrenched his mouth off her, snared her hips, and yanked them toward him, his thickness impaling her. “You’re, mine, Ling, and you’re going to come when I tell you.”

Lost in his raw strength, she floated along this river of bliss while Cao manipulated her body into every imaginable pleasure.

He drove forward, pounding himself inside her, wet heat filling her as he roared into her neck. “Now, love. Scream for me.”

This sexy-as-hell man feasting off her body, twisting and flipping her this way and that, using her to quench his thirst, drove her own hunger higher and higher, until the crest broke over her, her core throbbing and convulsing around his solid width.

The jīng exchange blasted through her being. She jerked and twitched, her muscles expanding and contracting, the dragon breaking free.

Somehow, she wound up on top of him, their connection broken, while her body morphed into something large and awkward as a new calf just born.

Holy hell. She jolted, this massive body so disorienting.

“Ack.” Cao’s voice croaked, from somewhere below. Seeming so far away.

Ah, hmm. She peered downward. He was beneath her, pinned by some stupid dragon’s foot.

Wait. That’s me.

Crap.

She elevated her foot, but dammit, that was a hind leg.

“Easy, Ling,” he puffed, rolling back and forth.

Huh?

Oh. He was dodging her randomly roving appendages.

Shoot. “Sorry!” She winced and tried again, hoping she’d get it right.

Cao crawled out from beneath her, and suddenly ducked as her tail flicked through the air hard enough to decapitate him.

“Oops.” She grimaced. “Let me get that.” Down, tail. The back of mind searched for how to control this new part of her anatomy. Sheep had a tail, but Sheep wasn’t a dud whipping it around.

Stop moving. She forced every muscle in her new body to shut down. There.

“That’s it. Easy, love.” Cao had fled to several feet away, but now, he approached her. Concern and awe mingled in his gaping expression. “Wow, you’re gorgeous, butterfly.”

“I am?” She twisted to view herself, which, oops, smacked her tail right into Cao, sending him flinging several feet to the ground. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He coughed and staggered to his feet. “Just watch the tail, yeah?”

“I’ll try.” This new body was all kinds of awkward. Not the graceful dragon she’d hoped to be. Defeat deflated her shoulders and she lowered her head to the ground. The quick victory of having transformed had worn off. Now, she was stuck this way. How was she supposed to change back when she couldn’t even control her tail?

Deep breaths.

“Hey there.” Cao stepped to her head. He extended his hand to the bridge of her nose and skimmed his fingers downward.

Mmm, that felt amazing. Something thick and hot lodged inside her throat.

Ling snorted to clear it. A blast of blue dragon fire shot from her nostrils, searing Cao, who launched backward with a yelp.

Oh, gods. “Are you okay?” She surged forward, staggering, trying not to trample him.

Cao coiled on his side, coughing, his hair singed a little, but otherwise, he didn’t appear to be roasted.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that would happen.”

He tossed to his back and gazed at her. “Neither did I.”

* * *

Groaning, Cao staggered to his feet. Ling had trampled him, thwacked him with her tail, and blazed dragon fire at him.

Geez. They’d just started dating.

Holy shit, she was a dragon. A gorgeous creature with pale sapphire scales which glittered whenever they caught the moonlight. The tip of each scale was dipped in an indigo hue that matched the plumes along her head, and the end of her spiked tail. Her long, long body was coiled, her four clawed feet awkwardly poised on the ground, as though unsure how to station herself.

“Come here.” He crooked his fingers for her to direct her head toward the shallow pool of water.

Obeying, she stretched her neck, lowering her head toward the pool. This time, he stood at her side, well out of the path of her fire-shooting nostrils.

“That’s you, Ling.” He gawked, admiring her.

She tilted her head from side to side, examining her new form. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “You’re a dragon.”

“I’m a dragon,” she repeated to herself, staring into the water. “But I have a problem. I can’t figure out how to change back. Any ideas?” She swung her head toward him, and he side-stepped out of her fire path, just in case.

“Don’t worry about that. Enjoy this moment.” There’d be time to figure out everything else, later. To assure her, he patted her neck, stroking his fingers through her soft plumage. Suddenly, the plumes bristled, and he braced for more dragon fire.

But then, his own skin tingled, too.

They weren’t alone.

“Hands up.” A handful of dark-cloaked figures emerged from the mist, pointing various weapons at them. Spears. Arrows. Swords.

Nothing modern.

“Easy, Ling,” Cao murmured.

“Step away from the dragon,” one masculine voice barked. The clang of scraping metal indicated various weapons poised at him.

Cao raised his hands, seizing a pace back.

“You all right?” the tall, burly male strode toward Ling.

She tensed, coiling, as though afraid to even flinch.

Yeah, that made two of them.

Ling would as likely fry him as the intruders.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, her luminescent gaze focused on Cao.

He nodded, encouraging her.

“He not bothering you?” the male demanded, directing the tip of his sword to point at Cao.

“No, he’s ah, he’s my boyfriend, err, mate.”

Mate was more appropriate for dragons. Despite their circumstances, he had to smile. Warm fuzzies filled him at being claimed by her.

“He is?” The man lowered his sword. “Okay, then. Sorry about the intrusion. We don’t often encounter dragons traveling here with mortals.”

Immortal, actually, but Cao clamped his tongue.

“Well, I have.” Ling steeled her voice. “He’s mine.”

The man leaned the tip of his sword on the ground. “The male and female dragon, they yours, too?”

Did he mean Ry and Taelen?

“Yes. They’re my friends. My…den mates.” Ling gave an assured sweep of her claws.

“Okay, good.” The man inclined his head. “I’ll take you to them.”

Wait, huh? Cao stiffened. Were they being welcomed, or taken as prisoners?