Chapter Twenty-Five
Jenna wrapped her arms around Connor’s neck and drew him in for a kiss. If he asked her one more time if she was sure, she’d scream. She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. Didn’t he know that?
She cast a sideways glance at the pearl lying in a shell on the bedside table. The light of the setting sun gave it a golden sheen — a little like her own skin. It had been good to rest over the last few days, but she’d woken up from her last nap in a totally different state. As if her body had flipped the switch from recovery to restless in every sense of the word. Restless to claim her mate and to step into a new future. To scratch the relentless sensual itch that told her Connor was the one.
“What are you waiting for?” she whispered again.
“Not waiting any more,” he growled, sliding over her body.
His eyes roved over her face, glowing like a traffic light that had just switched from red to green. When his lips touched down on hers, she moaned. He swept his tongue over her lips, asking to be let in. At the same time, he slid a knee between her legs. But a minute later, his movements were still slow and careful.
“No,” she muttered.
He pulled back, staring at her. “No?”
“Too slow. Too careful. Too…”
He arched an eyebrow. “Too what?”
She stirred a hand in the air, searching for the right word. “Pedestrian. If I’m going to mate with a dragon, I want dragon love, buster.”
He broke into a deliciously dangerous smile, and the glow in his eyes grew.
She coaxed him closer with one finger, speaking directly to his dragon side. “Come to me, my mate.”
Connor’s eyes glassed over, and he lowered his head, sniffing her neck.
She turned, giving him space, whispering, “Take me.”
It was like a car race she’d once seen on TV — all the vehicles lined up at the start, revving madly without going anywhere, waiting for the start signal to fire. Connor inhaled sharply. His body was stiff and steely, the bulge in his pants hard against her hips.
Impatient, she crossed her arms over her chest and pulled her own shirt off, leaving her naked but for her panties. After that, she settled back and stretched her arms overhead, giving him a wicked grin. There were times when she liked to show a guy she was no pushover, but right now, all she wanted was to lie back and be ravished. And they were definitely headed that way, judging by how quickly the pulse in Connor’s neck beat.
“Make me yours, Connor,” she whispered. “Please.”
He drew back to look at her, his gaze firmly on her lips. His chest heaved like they’d already gone a few rounds, and the lines on his brow deepened in concentration.
“Please,” she whispered one more time.
One second, he was looking her over with those intently glowing eyes. The next—
She moaned as his mouth slammed over hers, claiming her with his plundering tongue. His hands threaded through her hair, gripping her like the world’s most carefully tightened vise. She couldn’t move, but she didn’t want to move, not unless it was to buck beneath his weight.
But his hips pinned her down, so all she could do was moan. Faint rumblings like distant thunder echoed in her mind. Growls. A male voice, whispering something about how beautiful she was.
Her eyes flew open. Were Connor’s thoughts — and his dragon’s — reaching her mind?
In the past few days, she’d spent some time with her sister, who’d explained that and more. How closely bonded shifters could hear and feel each other’s emotions, for one thing, and how indescribably satisfying mating was — not just the act, but the state of being.
“Yes…” Jenna whispered — to all those things. Yes to being his mate. Yes to the nudge of his leg between hers. Yes to him opening himself to her as completely as she revealed herself to him.
The rumble increased as Connor swept one big hand down her body. Stroking her everywhere that counted, making her gasp and arch. She was still a little sore from her injuries, but somehow, that just heightened her awareness of how alive she was.
“Beautiful…” Connor rasped, dragging his chin down her chest until his mouth was at her breast.
Jenna hung on to the rungs of the headboard and arched into him as he nipped and sucked the soft flesh. The sun dipped toward the horizon, sending slants of red light over Connor’s back, giving him a golden-red glow. Surf crashed into the cliff beneath their rocky ledge, and she pictured Connor slamming into her the same way.
The images in her mind heated, and he whisked a hand to her core, stroking her there. Mumbling something she didn’t catch for the blood rushing in her ears. Something like perfect?
Well, if so, he was the perfect one. Touching her like he’d memorized the Jenna Monroe manual, whispering like a Cyrano whose dragon provided every poetic line.
He pushed the fabric of her panties aside to touch her, but then he grumbled and ripped them off in one quick motion that made her hips jerk.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
“You are so not sorry.” She chuckled. Then she howled and surged under his hand, because he’d touched her there, igniting a whole new set of nerves.
There was nothing like the sight of Connor lying over her. And although her head was tipped too far back to watch, her mind filled in the details. His broad, dragon shifter shoulders, rippling with muscle. The sweat making his skin glint under the sun. His hips, smothering hers.
She wished she could do the whole rip-clothes-off trick with his shorts, but she couldn’t reach that far. Of course, they did add a certain amount of friction to the equation.
“So good…” she moaned as Connor rolled his fingers, spreading her wetness, probing inside.
Then he clamped his hand along her inner thigh and shifted her body on the bed before rearing up over her with an intent expression, like this was the most important thing he’d ever done.
And, she supposed, it was, if he really was going to bite her neck and send a puff of fire through her veins.
She shivered — more from arousal than fear — and watched him yank off the rest of his clothes. His cock jutted high, his firm ass muscles bunched. A vein throbbed in his neck.
Oh, yes. This was going to be good.
“Connor,” she whispered, putting her hands on his shoulders. There was no fabric there to haul him over by, but she managed to guide him closer, bringing his face to within a few inches of hers. Had she ever wanted anything as much as she wanted a life with him?
He paused long enough to smooth her hair back and run his hands over her cheeks with a look of sheer wonder on his face. Then his eyes flickered, and he dropped into another of those antigravity kisses that seemed to lift her off the mattress instead of pressing her into it.
She wrapped her legs around him, desperate for more. His cock bumped her belly, hip, and thigh before they lined up just so, and he powered inside.
“Oh,” she cried, sliding up the mattress with his thrust.
Connor held her pinned there for a few hard breaths, then drew back. A heartbeat later, he rocked back in. He did that over and over, using long, deliberate strokes. Watching her come undone from an inch away, his face a mask of concentration. She wanted to chuckle, because even if he’d managed to make a few mistakes in life, there was no way he was going to mess this up. But chuckling was out of the question, because she was tripping so high on desire.
“So good,” she moaned, pumping her hips against his.
His breath hitched, and he paused long enough to pull her left leg higher along his side. “That okay?”
She let out an out-of-control cackle. “Okay does not begin to describe—” She cut off into a moan when he thrust in even deeper. Deeper and faster until she was writhing and calling his name.
Her breaths were wild pants, her grip so tight around the rungs of the headboard she feared one would snap. All her focus went to Connor’s long, searing thrusts and to timing her inner muscles to squeeze at exactly the right time. Her mind exploded with the echoes of Connor’s pleasure as he closed his eyes.
“Yes…” she murmured, urging him on.
Connor touched her neck, making her tingle all over. He wasn’t just making contact. He was seeking out the spot. Getting ready to bite her.
“Yes…” She tipped her head farther back, giving him space.
His breath warmed her skin. His body pressed over hers, and his teeth scraped her neck.
“Please,” she murmured, tightening her legs, feeling the moment approach.
Connor ducked, concentrating on thrusting for a few last strokes. Every sharp push made her blood heat. Pleasure lifted her higher and higher like the world’s most perfect wave. Then it rose even higher, making her drunk with ecstasy.
“Connor!” she cried.
Bright white light flooded her mind, and her body convulsed. Connor came, too, pushing her off on a wild ride. The rush of images in her head all hit pause at the same time, giving her just enough time to pull in a deep breath before Connor—
“Oh!” she cried when his teeth punctured her flesh.
She arched, mindless with pleasure. Her voice rattled as she released a long, keening cry. The bite burned without hurting — unless she counted the near-pain of intense pleasure. His teeth were razor-sharp, yet all she felt was their firm hold.
Ecstasy. Now she knew what the word meant.
Mine, Connor’s dragon voice rumbled. The images in her mind became an inferno.
She clutched the headboard tighter, knowing what was about to come. The brand. The puff of fire that completed the dragon mating bite.
Connor held her tightly, stiffening all over. On the outside, his only movement was a tiny push of his lips. But on the inside—
Jenna rocked as the flames licking around her mind all turned at the same time and shot down a long, dark tunnel.
Not a tunnel, she realized. That was the brand traveling through her veins.
Mine, Connor’s deep, rumbly voice crowed. Mine.
Heat rushed through her body, and she pictured tiny flaming arrows — thousands of them — zipping through her veins, marking every corner of her body as his. Searing her from the inside in the best possible way.
Wow. No wonder mating was forever.
Her blissed-out mind hung on to the word. Forever had never felt closer than just then.
“Connor,” she whispered, trembling.
For another long minute, she lay still, unable to do anything but feel good. Connor was equally lost in pleasure, clutching her close, not moving a muscle.
The fire crackled and sang inside her, gradually going from all-out blaze to embers she knew would glow for a long, long time. Connor’s fangs receded, leaving just his lips covering the tingling spot on her neck. When he finally pulled away, he did so slowly, checking that she was okay. Only then did his muscles relax and his weight press down over her.
“So good,” she mumbled, touching his shoulders. Her legs were still snug around his waist, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
“So good,” Connor whispered.
His eyes remained tightly shut, as if he couldn’t believe his luck, so she cupped his cheek and tapped with one soft finger. When he opened his eyes, her breath caught, and she couldn’t help murmuring, “Wow.”
She’d seen his eyes glowing before, but this deep and intense green was different. Bolder. More powerful. More settled, somehow. As if the last of the young rebel had given way to a steadier, quieter man. The kind of man who’d been through hell and come out the other side.
His lips wobbled as he stared into her eyes. Were they glowing too?
“Wow back to you,” he whispered.
She peeked over his shoulder. The horizon was dark, the sun off visiting other lovers on distant shores.
“So… Now we’re mates?”
The second she spoke the words, they felt unnecessary, because she could sense it in her bones. She and Connor were one. Bonded for life.
Connor rolled to his side and hugged her from behind. “Sure are. Hope you’re not getting second thoughts.”
She snorted. “No way, buster.” She rolled slowly, facing him. “I’m just wondering where we take it from here.”
He considered that for a while. “Where do you want to take it from here?”
She kissed his chest. That Connor was a good man, she already knew. But the contrast to Draig, who felt entitled to drag her away without asking, made her appreciate her mate even more.
“Truthfully?” she whispered.
He nodded, drawing a finger along her arm. Slowly. Patiently. Waiting to hear her out.
Jenna closed her eyes and thanked destiny for giving her the world’s most amazing man. Then she looked around Connor’s home.
“Honestly, I don’t want to take this anywhere.” Then she sputtered and corrected herself, because that came out all wrong. “I mean, I don’t want to go anywhere, as in move. I’d like to stay here if I can. With you.”
His eyes flared in satisfaction, and his hands tightened around hers. “I want you to stay here. More than anything.” Then his face fell. “But I’m not sure I’ll be allowed to stay.”
She cupped his face. Back in the hospital, she’d picked up on his fears about that. But surely, the shifters of Koa Point wouldn’t send him packing for killing a jerk like Draig?
“I can’t imagine Kai has a problem with what happened. Who knows what other trouble Draig has caused or how many victims he claimed?”
Connor tensed as she did, recalling how close it had been.
“Let’s just play it out. Suppose we get to stay here,” she continued, trying to dismiss his doubts. “You keep working your job…”
He nodded slowly, hopefully.
“And I keep working at the surf shop.”
He perked up at that. “You can stay?”
She grinned. “Big news. Jody told me in the hospital. Can you keep a secret?”
He nodded eagerly.
“When Jody first got her job at Teddy Akoa’s surf shop, we were all thrilled. Teddy is a legend. And getting to help out there has been a great opportunity for me. But that’s not all.”
Connor waited breathlessly, so she rushed on.
“Teddy is awesome, and he likes us.” She beamed. “He says we’re the daughters he never had.”
Connor grinned. “As long as he thinks of you as a daughter, I’m okay with that. But if he gets any other ideas…”
She laughed and play-smacked him. “Teddy’s not like that. He’s awesome. Very laid-back. The thing is, his boards are so good, he gets more orders than he can fill, so he offered to turn over some of the new customers to Jody.”
Connor’s eyes shone. “Great chance for her.”
Jenna grinned. “For me too. We’ve always talked about going into business together, she and I. And now…” She got goose bumps just thinking about it. “Now we have our chance. Helping my dad was great, but even he said it’s time to spread our wings. My uncle is helping him in the shop now, so really, I could stay here.”
“You could?”
She’d never heard a man sound as hopeful and eager as that.
“I could. And it gets better. Teddy got an offer he didn’t have time for, but it’s perfect for us. Some Hollywood producer wants eight boards for an upcoming movie — eye-catching boards for the female stars to ‘capture the 18-25 female demographic,’ as he put it. So the contract is ours for the taking. Just think.”
Connor looked as excited as she was. “People see the movie. They want your boards…”
She nodded a hundred times a minute. She and Jody had already reached the same conclusion. “It would be a great way to kick off our business. And we can make our dad the sole distributor of our boards, so it would all stay in the family.”
“Wild Side Surf Shop meets Surf Chique,” he murmured.
She gaped. Connor remembered? Not just the name of her dad’s shop, but the name of the business she’d dreamed of. Some guys didn’t bother to remember what a girl said or liked. But Connor had listened and stored it all away.
She kissed him. Once. Twice. Trying to calm herself down. Her heart was still racing from the physical high she’d just hit, and combining that with so many hopes and dreams made her stomach do flips.
“Anyway, that’s the idea. There are still a lot of details to work out, but I think it could work. Heck, even if we failed, we want to try.”
He held her hands tightly. “You have to try if it’s your dream.”
She held his gaze. “What if you’re my dream, Connor Hoving?”
He pulled her into a hug. “I want you to have all your dreams. But yeah, especially that one.”
She burrowed against his chest and held on to him for a long time. So much was undecided, yet the future had never seemed so promising.
When she rolled in his arms, spooning up again, her gaze landed on the pearl beside the bed. It looked just like an ordinary pearl — okay, a gorgeous gold-black pearl — yet there was something about it that suggested a slumbering, secret power.
Connor hugged her to his chest and looked too. “I guess destiny was on our side all along.”
His jaw had just about dropped when she’d first shown him the pearl, and then he’d looked up at the sky and whispered, Thank you.
To who? she’d asked.
To destiny. For bringing us together, and for keeping you safe.
Now, his eyes were bright and trusting as he gazed at the pearl and whispered, “Still wondering about it?”
She nodded, slowly reaching for it. “I guess I’m wondering about a lot of things.”
They studied it in silence. Was it glowing slightly, or was that just the shiny surface?
“It’s warm,” she whispered, bringing it closer.
Connor cupped her hand, and they both stared at it for a time.
“It’s amazing,” she whispered.
Connor snorted. “You’re the amazing one.”
She grinned for a while then went back to thinking about the pearl. “I definitely need to chase down that saleslady. The one who knew about the old legends. Maybe she can tell me more.”
“Maybe.”
She rolled in his arms, wondering why he didn’t seem more interested. “Hey. I thought dragons were all into treasure.”
A little smile played over his lips as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Like I said. Got all the treasure I need.”
Then he kissed her, making her body heat all over again.