Twenty-Eight
Succulent Curves
Saber closed his eyes and fought the fracturing of his mind, as images from the past collided with the future. The screams of agony were deafening. Fire roared all through Tartaria and beyond, a scorching red-hot blaze set by him. It was a vision of the future to come, if he continued to lose his soul, his humanity.
When he opened his eyes, Tirah was staring at him in shock. “What’s happening to you?” she asked softly.
Saber shook his head, not ready to tell anyone, least of all his enemy. Because no matter how much he felt for her—wanted her—she remained an Ilyium druid. And long ago, he’d learned that they were the most manipulative creatures in all the realms.
“I really have no idea what happened to your brother. Maybe I can find out, if you’ll just let me go,” she said.
The idea of her leaving hit Saber with despair and overwhelming rage. Then he thought of Cass. He knew without a doubt his friend would find Tirah if he released her. “I’ll never let you go.”
“Why? I know you aren’t going to torture me. Do you still plan to kill me?”
Saber pursed his lips as he grappled with his out-of-control emotions.
“If you are going to kill me, just do it already. I’m tired of this.” Tirah stared at him, daring him. The sheet had dipped down, revealing more of her cleavage.
“I’m not going to kill you,” he finally managed to say between gritted teeth.
“Then let me go. I don’t know anything. But I promise I’ll try to find out about the spell that sent your brother to Hades.”
“I told you, I’m not letting you go.”
“Why? You don’t want me, so why keep me here?” she asked.
“Who says I don’t want you?” Saber growled low in his throat. His cock throbbed, and he gripped the arms of the chair to hold himself still.
Tirah’s eyes sharpened on him, then slid away. “You didn’t want me last night.”
“You were drunk,” he snapped.
“Is that really it?” Her hands twisted the sheet nervously, revealing more of her breasts.
Saber sucked in a deep breath, waiting for the rosy peaks to appear, then frowned as her question registered. “What else would it be?”
Tirah shrugged. “I’m not really desirable.”
“What?” He blinked, unsure of what she was talking about.
“I’m …”
“You’re what?” he asked, but she just shrugged.
Saber scowled, trying to understand what she was talking about.
“Overweight. I’ve ah … always been.”
Saber stared at her in disbelief. “Overweight? What the hell are you talking about? You aren’t, not at all.”
“Stop!” she said, glaring at him. “I may not be right now, but I tend to be on the heavier side, and I know it.”
Surprised, Saber leaned back and studied her. “Apparently, you don’t. In fact, if anything, you are much too skinny, but I guess that’s from running all these years.” Guilt sliced through him. If only he’d found her earlier.
“All my life I’ve been told I’m fat, and these—” She cupped her large breasts, and Saber bit back a groan, wishing it was his hands on them. Tirah, not realizing how she affected him, shook her head. “You can’t tell me these are normal.”
Saber swallowed as fresh blood rushed to his cock. His mouth watered and he licked his lips. “Who likes normal?”
Tirah stared at him as if he were crazy. “Seriously?”
Saber felt anger course through him again at the idea that someone had ever said she was fat. She was perfect. “Who told you that?”
Tirah frowned in confusion. “Why does it even matter?”
“Who?” he asked again, ready to tear the asshole a new one.
“Hmm, let’s see. My father, my classmates, my brother, my superior,” she answered quietly, still staring at him.
“Why would they say that?” He couldn’t imagine she had ever been fat. Curvy, yes. Very nicely curvy. Never fat. Saber scowled at her. “You have lovely curves, that’s all.”
“Curves,” Tirah snorted, holding his gaze with hers.
“Yes, curves,” Saber growled. He rose from the chair and Tirah’s eyes widened. “You are not fat,” he repeated and let his dragon shine through his eyes. Then he climbed onto the bed and crouched beside her. “You have very nice curves.” He inched closer like the predator he was.
Tirah moved back, but Saber kept going until she was laying on her back.
“But—” her protest was cut off as he claimed her mouth with his.
Saber kissed her deeply, letting her feel his hunger. He drew away and stared at her. “You are perfect. I wouldn’t change anything about you.”
“Yet you don’t want to have sex with me.” Heat-filled amber eyes stared up at him. Daring him.
Saber took a deep breath. “You were drunk.”
“I’m not drunk now.” There was an obvious challenge in her voice.
“No, you aren’t,” he answered, aching to take her.
Tirah leaned up, and this time, she claimed his mouth.
Saber inhaled and savored her taste. It was so sweet, so perfect. It set his body on fire and senses reeling. He felt himself getting lost in her. It would be so easy, so good. It took some effort to pull away. “No, stop,” he managed to get out as he held himself above her, trying to calm his racing heart and the flames tearing through him.
“See, you don’t want me,” she said, and the sadness in her eyes tore at his soul.
“I never said that. In fact, I want you very, very much.” The thought of being inside of her was almost his undoing.
“So what are you waiting for?” Tirah stared at him hungrily. Saber began to move away until she grabbed his arm, stopping him.
“Tirah, you’re a virgin. I can’t.”
“You don’t like virgins?” she asked.
Saber shook his head. “That’s not it.” He moved to sit beside her.
“It’s fine. I get it.” She averted her gaze.
Saber wanted to groan. “No, I don’t think you do.” He waited until she met his eyes. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything,” he said, telling the truth. Then Cass’s words rang in is head.
Saber knew the connection they’d forge during sex would be a way to find out what he needed, but he pushed the thought away. If he made love to her, it would be because they both wanted it, not because he needed to read her mind.
Tirah shook her head, but Saber took her hand and guided it to his straining arousal. “Here, see?”
Tirah’s eyes widened. He continued to hold her gaze. “It’s been an extremely long time for me, and as you can clearly see, I want you very, very badly, but you are a virgin.”
Fire gathered in her eyes as she snatched her hand away. “You keep saying that. I know I’m a virgin. What of it? I’m not asking you to take vows with me.”
Saber smiled and gently ran his fingers over her cheek and down her jaw in a caress. “Tirah, I’m afraid I don’t have the control to be gentle, and you need gentle for your first time.”
Tirah rolled her eyes and glared. “Who said I want gentle?”
The mental picture of plunging deep inside of her and hearing her cry his name with passion was almost his undoing. The reality was that he’d surely hurt her. “For your first time you deserve gentle, and I’m afraid I’d hurt you,” he said, while the voice in his head screamed that he was the biggest idiot alive. Saber wasn’t sure he disagreed.
Then Tirah surprised him when she pushed him back, and leaning over, lowered her lips to his.
Liquid fire completely consumed him. All his suffering was gone, like it had never been, and Saber felt as if he were drowning in her essence. He gently held her head, her silky hair soft against his hands. He never wanted her to stop, and almost cried when her lips pulled away from his.
“I want you, Saber. I want to feel you inside of me,” she murmured seductively.
Do it. You know you want to. Take her, make her yours.
With a fierce growl, Saber pushed Tirah back onto the bed and rose over her. Then he lowered his lips to hers. Tirah moaned into his mouth, and Saber deepened the kiss, his steely control finally shattered.
Tirah’s hands roamed over him, searing his skin and setting his blood on fire, and all will to resist her left. Saber allowed himself to touch her, appeasing the ache he’d had for so very long. He marveled at how soft her skin felt. He groaned. She was heaven. He could die right now and be perfectly happy.
Tirah sank one hand in his hair, while the other mercilessly drove him wild as it swept over him, leaving shivers in her wake. “I want to know what it feels like,” she whispered into his mouth.
Saber drew away, sucked in a shaky breath, and stared, reveling at the passion blazing in Tirah’s eyes. Then he lowered his mouth to her once again and nibbled her bottom lip, before trailing his lips along her jaw. Her neck. Her ear. He proceeded to honor her body with kisses, tormenting himself by saving her breasts until he could no longer hold back. Finally, unable to wait any longer, he lowered his mouth to one plump golden breast. His tongue flicked out and licked the sweet rosy nipple, causing Tirah to suck in a sharp breath. Saber grinned. Then he got to work, licking, teasing, nibbling, and sucking. Tirah’s moans were music to his ears as her hands clenched in his hair. When he was finished, he moved to the next one.
“Please, I want—” Tirah arched under him, and it was all he could do to go slow. Saber finally relinquished the twin succulent globes and made his way lower. Tirah’s body trembled before she tensed up. “What, what are you doing?”
“I am going to make you scream.” He nudged her legs apart, settled in, and dipped his mouth down to lose himself to her sweetness.
“Saber!”
Saber drew his tongue across her, savoring her taste and the passionate moan he wrung from her lips. Soon he had her panting, her hand urging him on, and Saber wanted to grin. He kept going until her scream of pleasure pierced the air.
When he was done, Saber drew up and lay beside her, watching, savoring the sight of her. The pain was a dull throb in the back of his skull.
After Tirah regained her breath, she stared at him. “That was … I never imagined—” Then she frowned. “But, what about you?”
Instead of answering, Saber claimed her lips again, knowing without a doubt that he’d never tire of kissing her, tasting her.
This time it was Tirah who ended the kiss. “I told you, I want this. I’m not fragile.” Her hand moved down his side to the waistband of his sweats, and he sucked in a breath. “May I?”
Yes, his dragon screamed. Take her!
No. Saber ignored the beast inside, though his heart was pounding so hard, he was surprised Tirah couldn’t hear it. He tried to say no, to stop her, but found he possessed zero will power. He wanted her hands on him so badly it made him dizzy with longing. His control shattered. Saber inhaled her tantalizing aroma and nodded, holding his breath as her hand dipped below the fabric. When hesitant fingers lightly touched the head of his straining cock, Saber bucked and just about came. He tried to calm himself, but it was with supreme effort that he managed to keep from disgracing himself.
“Tirah,” he breathed, when she finally closed her hand around him.
“I want you inside of me. I won’t break.” Luminous amber eyes, glowing with her desire, met his in challenge, and another breath hissed from his lips. Suddenly he was no longer sure why he had ever fought this. Surely he had known he’d lose as the outcome had always been inevitable.
Saber stood, and holding Tirah’s gaze, pushed his sweatpants down, revealing all of himself. As a dragon shifter, he was larger than most men, and part of him wanted to scare her off, but the other ached for her to accept him. He stood a moment, watching as she ran her eyes over him. There was no alarm at his size, though he could see the pulse in her neck fluttering. Then she shocked him when she bit her lip, lay back, and opened her legs in invitation.
Yes. A fierce tremble ran though him, and unable to fight the hunger any longer, he climbed onto the bed. Saber crouched beside her, then proceeded to love every inch of her, just as passionately as before.
“Yes.” Tirah sighed, her hands exploring him, making it harder and harder to go slow. Knowing he’d never tire of this, Saber finally dipped his hand between her legs. Finding her wet and ready, he inserted a finger, then another, and quickly brought her screaming.
“Now. I want you, please.” She gasped and then wrapped her hand around his throbbing cock again.
Saber sucked in a sharp breath. “You sure?” He had to give her one last chance to back out. “It will hurt.”
Uncertainty showed for a moment at his words, then it was gone as passion flared bright in her eyes again. “Only for a moment, right?”
Saber prayed that was so, as he carefully lowered himself over her. But as soon as their skin touched, an electrifying jolt of magical energy shot through him. Then just like before, the steady torment that he’d lived with for so long drifted away as if it had never been.
She really is my mate. Saber faltered, suddenly unsure once more. Was he really going to do this?