Chapter Six

 

Every ounce of anger and frustration Hayes felt over being left high and dry on the night they met and Savannah’s disappearing act during their meeting evaporated the second he looked into her eyes. Nothing could have prepared the Guardsman for how he would feel once he held the woman meant to be his in his arms and the second time was infinitely more powerful than the first.

Sure, he’d heard all the stories, listened to the old dragons telling tales of the first time they’d gotten a glimpse of their mates, but absolutely nothing compared to the real thing. Savannah was the light to his soul, his reason for being, simply everything he and his dragon needed to live a long, blissfully happy life.

He’d seen in her action, running the meeting with not only her Guards and Trackers in attendance but also, he and Kayne. She was smart, cunning and from what he’d witnessed, had more than earned the respect she was given. Her quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor, even when discussing strategies for protecting her Pride, was absolutely intoxicating.

Holding her close, their hearts beating as one, Hayes worked hard to control his instincts as his dragon roared in his mind, demanding he whisk Savannah away and claim her as their own once and for all. But that wouldn’t do for his Queen, nor for the Guardsman. He wanted a partner, an equal, someone with whom he could share every aspect of his life down to the most minute detail.

Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, “You are driving me mad, mo ghrá.”

“Then do something about it.”

Leaving nothing to chance, Hayes took a step back, gave his mate a playful wink as he slid his fingers through hers, immediately leading her out of the bar when he saw that she was just as serious as he. Pulling Savannah into his arms the second they reached his jet-black Harley, the Guardsman crushed his lips to hers, pouring everything he already felt for her into that single, life-affirming kiss.

Smoke flew from his dragon’s snout as their lioness opened completely, baring not only her body but also her heart and soul to him. Craving more, needing to mark every inch of her silken skin with his scent, Hayes reluctantly broke their connection.

Looking down at Savannah, his heart soared. Not only was she the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but just the sight of her kiss-swollen lips, the lust in her eyes, and the flush on her cheeks once again assured the Guardsman that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

“Let’s get outta here,” Hayes suggested, not waiting for her answer, instead placing his hands on her waist and lifting her onto his motorcycle before climbing on in front and starting the engine.

Racing towards home, the wind in his face, his mate’s arms wrapped around his waist and her body pressed tightly to his, Hayes was in heaven. His erection pushed hard against the zipper of his jeans as Savannah placed butterfly kisses behind his ear and down his neck.

Roaring through the back entrance, the Guardsman sped to his ranch style log cabin at the far corner of the Blue Thunder Lair. Parking next to the house, Hayes shut off the engine, jumped off the bike and had Savannah in his arms within seconds.

Fumbling with the doorknob as his mate tortured him with whispered innuendos and more kisses on his neck, in his haste, the dragon pulled the brass fixture from the wood.

“In a hurry there, big man?” Savannah chuckled against his skin.

“Yes, ma’am,” Hayes growled lovingly as he threw the doorknob over his shoulder and crossed the threshold.

Letting Savannah’s feet slide to the floor, Hayes could wait no longer. Slamming his lips to hers, he dominated her mouth like he one day hoped to dominate her heart. He could feel her desire growing, racing like a roaring fire through every fiber of her being.

Deepening his kiss, Hayes slid his hands between their bodies, pulling at the buttons of her western style shirt. Tearing her lips from his, Savannah looked him right in the eye, playfully batted away his hands and with a sexy growl sending shivers up his spine, purred, “This is how it’s done, dragon man.”

Buttons flew in every direction as his lioness ripped the plaid material from her body and threw it to the side. Winking, she added with a sexy smile, “Now, it’s your turn.” And within the span of a single heartbeat removed his shirt in the same fashion before passionately returning to her lips.

The arousal already racing through his veins caught fire. Hayes was a man on a mission. He would have his mate or die trying. Grabbing Savannah by the waist, the Guardsman was shocked when she spun away, instead grabbing his hand and heading down the hall.

Walking straight into his room, turning towards him as she approached the chair beside his bed, Hayes’ heart beat double time as Savannah pulled him close and with a twinkle in her eye, murmured, “Sit down, lover,” before lightly kissing the tip of his nose.

Shoving aside his need to be buried deep inside his beautiful mate, as well as the growls and snarls of his dragon at having to wait, Hayes did as he was told, loving his mates’ adventurous spirit and strong will. No sooner had he landed on the soft leather than Savannah was reaching behind her back.

The silk straps of her bra slid lovingly off her shoulders and the band around her ribs went slack as she held the cups in place with her free arm, her hand lightly cupping one of her full, round breasts. Hayes’ watched with rapt attention as Savannah’s hips erotically swayed to the sensual beat of their hearts.

Fists clenched at his side, his cock so hard he had no doubt it would rip through the denim of his jeans at any moment, Hayes nearly jumped from the chair when almost faster than he could track, Savannah tore the silk from her breasts, raising her arms above her head, teasing him with her hard, rosy nipples. His heart beat stuttered as she danced closer, lowering her hands and placing them over her breasts, following the images racing through his mind, massaging them lovingly, letting those tantalizingly swollen tips peek through her fingers.

Unable to move, caught in the snare of Savannah’s seduction, Hayes’ eyes followed her long, elegant fingers skimming her ribs and gliding across the swell of her stomach, working their way to the snap of her jeans. Lowering the zipper with the maddeningly precision, revealing more of the silken skin he wanted to touch, to kiss, to mark, his lioness continued her deliciously erotic torture by slowly rubbing the tips of her fingers in and out of the lacy waistband of her panties, whispering, “Like what you see?”  

“Savannah,” he warned with a growl.

“Yes, Hayes?” Came her lusty chuckle. “Something wrong?”

Unable to answer, his want and need riding him like the waves of a tsunami, Hayes quickly shook his head, not willing to look away, the love he had for the one the Universe made for him multiplying with every heartbeat. Holding onto the armrests for dear life, the dragon lost all control when Savannah turned her back to him, pushed the soft denim over her beautifully rounded hips and with slow, maddening precision, leaned forward and with a tiny wiggle of her ass shed the offending material.

Flying out of the chair as if shot from a cannon, Hayes shed his remaining clothing with the speed given to him by the Universe as he closed the distance between them. Digging his fingers into Savannah’s hips, he pressed the tip of his cock against the silk crotch of her panties wet with her arousal, mercilessly teasing her pussy as she had taunted him. Growling through gritted teeth, the dragon grumbled, “Enough is enough, mo Bhanríon.”

Sliding his hand under the fabric covering her hip, he ripped the panties from her body, entering the heaven that was his mate in one smooth motion. His groans of satisfaction joined her carnal moans of fulfillment as he held perfectly still, afraid even the slightest movement would cause him to explode like a randy teenager on prom night.

Throwing her long dark mane to the side, Savannah looked over her shoulder, her eyes now that of her lioness and demanded in a low, husky growl, “No more teasing, mo Dragon. Take me now. Make me yours.”

The look in her eyes, the heat of her body and the way she spoke in the language of his kin shattered the last shred of Hayes’ control. Pulling back until only the head of his cock remained within her, the dragon answered through gritted teeth, “Your wish is my command, mo ghrá.”

Thrusting into her hard and fast, the Guardsman repeated the motion again and again his heart soaring as his Queen met him stroke for stroke. Leaning forward, he placed his hands over hers, where she held tightly to the intricately carved footboard of his king-size sleigh bed.

Caging her in, his chest against her back, his dragon reaching for her lioness, Hayes reveled in the feel of their bodies together as one, just as Fate and Destiny demanded. Over and over, faster and faster, they raced towards ecstasy.

“Oh, my Goddess…yes, Hayes…yes. I need…I need…”

Knowing what she desired, feeling it in the depths of his soul, Hayes rolled his hips, changing the angle, tormenting the sensitive bundle of nerves buried deep inside her center. Savannah roared his name, her head falling forward, baring her neck to him as her pussy squeezed tight around his cock.

Kissing and nipping the spot where her pounding jugular beat just under her tender flesh, Hayes held back his climax, needing to reach that perfect moment of harmony with his mate. His hand skimmed the silky-smooth skin of Savannah’s ribs, slid across her stomach until he could run his fingers through her wet curls. Teasing her swollen clit with his thumb and forefinger, the dragon lavished his mate’s neck with his tongue and teeth until she was frantic with desire, the claws and fur of her lioness pushing through her skin.

“You are the sun, the moon and the stars…everything that is perfect in this world, mo Bhanríon, and you are mine,” he growled just before pushing the long, sharp canines of his dragon into the smooth skin of her neck.

Roaring their release in unison to the Heavens, their hearts beating as one, that final missing piece of Hayes’ soul, the one containing he and Savannah’s combined Destiny, slid into place. Releasing his bite, the Guardsman licked the mark that would show the world she was his, already looking forward to their formal mating ceremony when the Universe would mark them both with matching mating marks.

Continuing to slowly move in and out of his mate as she floated back to earth, Hayes wrapped his arms around her waist, holding tight as her legs nearly gave out. Reluctantly pulling his cock from her body, immediately regretting the loss of their connection, the dragon lifted his lioness into his arms, walked to the side of the bed and after pulling down the covers, gently laid her onto the mattress, following her onto the light blue cotton sheets.

His arm around her waist, his fingers intertwined with hers, Hayes spooned Savannah, simply enjoying the feel of his mate in his arms. Kissing the tender skin behind her ear, his eyes growing heavy, the Guardsman whispered, “ayTá tú ag an stór mo chroí.”

Rolling in his arms and placing her hand on his cheek, Savannah smiled, “And to think, I didn’t want a dragon for a mate.”

Opening his mouth to speak, Hayes’ words were cut off by the crash of shattering glass. Jumping out of bed and pulling on his boxers, he ordered, “Stay there. I’ll go see what it is.”

Out of bed before he’d finished his command, Savannah grabbed his robe from the end of the bed and wrapped it around her body as she followed him out the door, grumbling, “Fat chance, dragon man.”

Refusing to fight with her after what they’d just shared, Hayes groused, “Then at least stay behind me.”

Reaching the living room side-by-side, the couple inhaled sharply, taking in the shards of glass hanging from the metal frame of his sliding glass door, along with the huge rock surrounded by broken glass in the middle of the tile floor. Pointing towards the stone as he turned to Savannah, Hayes implored, “Please stay there. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He pointed. “It looks like a piece of paper is attached to the rock.”

Nodding in agreement, Savannah irritably snorted, “Helluva way to send you a message.”

“No shit.”

Sliding his feet into his tennis shoes by the front door, Hayes carefully made his way to the rock. “But it’s not for me.”

“Who then?”

Removing the folded paper from the stone, he returned to Savannah, handing her the note. “You, baby.”

He watched as she took the message, unfolded the paper and immediately gasped, tears filling her eyes before she growled menacingly, “I’ll rip that son of a whore limb from limb.”

Grabbing the note from her hand, as his mate spun on her toes and headed down the hall, Hayes read the words written in blood aloud, “An eye for an eye. A sister for a sister.”