Gryffnn rolled and caged Kaya between his body and the gel-mattress. He grinned at her, taking in her pale blue skin, her gorgeous bright blue eyes and her cute nose with the slight upward tilt. Her lips, too, held a tinge of blue, her high cheekbones carrying a deeper blue whenever her emotions got the better of her. Then there was her dazzling blue hair, which was as silky and soft as he’d imagined.
They had much in common with their pasts shaping them and still weighing on their decisions. Except with Kaya, he didn’t fear a bad outcome. Every part of him, every part of his dragon cried out to claim Kaya and keep her close. She carried so many qualities he respected. And Hallam liked her.
“One thing before we take things further and cure your twitchiness,” he said. “If you’re going to do away with me after we have sex, please make arrangements for my son and make my death quick.”
“Idiot,” she said with a wrinkle of her cute nose. “I don’t subscribe to my planet’s traditions, and now it’s obvious I got this from my father since he’s alive and kicking butt, doing secret squirrel stuff with Tayte.”
“Secret squirrel?”
“From Camryn’s planet. A squirrel is a small fluffy creature that skulks and scuttles around in a furtive manner stealing and collecting nuts.”
“These words make sense.”
“I suspect my father and Tayte work undercover for important people. I don’t ask questions—not that I’d receive answers. And don’t repeat this conversation to anyone.”
“I know how to be one of these secret squirrel beasties. And this is the reason two men arrived and elderly women left. Can you shift your appearance?”
“No, I take after my mother.”
“Should you have taken over from her as ruler?”
“She never asked me, but by sending me away, she muddied the line of command. A new ruler will fear my sister or I might return to snatch back power.”
“Do you want to?” Her desire to rule might ruin his plans.
She shuddered. “No. If Lys wanted to do it, I’d support her, but the ruling and court intrigue isn’t for me. I relish my life now as part of Ry’s crew. Exploring new worlds and having dangerous adventures. Excitement. Our lives have changed since we settled on Viros. I never thought I’d enjoy staying in one place, having a base, but it’s fun. We go on mostly short jaunts to haul freight or work for your people or for Jannike’s men. It can still be exciting even though we’re strictly legal now and don’t take risky jobs because Ry and Jannike have children.”
“You’re responsible for children now.”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
Her expression was so disgruntled, he had to smile. She didn’t see herself as a nurturer, yet she was. She worried about her friends, was protective of them with a she-dragon fierceness. He dipped his head and kissed her, giving in to the need coursing through him. He’d watched and waited a long time for Kaya Ignatius.
She sighed against his lips, and he deepened the contact, lost in her taste, her scent, her touch.
Lost in Kaya.
She kissed him back, demanding and taking, and he couldn’t help the small part of his mind that traveled back to examine memories of his first time with Caley. She’d lay there resembling a glittering, beautiful rock, not showing him compassion or anything except disdain. Pleased to the bone with Kaya’s participation, he shoved the viper from his thoughts and concentrated on the beautiful, courageous woman in his arms.
He savored her lips, drawing her flavor into him, the hint of the liquor they’d imbibed earlier and the tartness that was Kaya. He brushed his lips down the column of her throat and pressed them against a rapidly beating pulse point. Her scent washed through him. A trace of the spices and the smoky amber associated with dragons. The plant stink still lingered under the layers, but it was faint. He ran his tongue over the smooth flesh, the dragon part of him demanding he conquer and seize this woman.
Gryffnn knew better. Despite the urge to grab like a greedy thief, wooing Kaya and treating her as the special woman she was would pay dividends later. Even if the sensation of her hands stroking his back and darting lower to caress his buttocks played merry hell with his willpower.
Moving farther down her body, he explored her breasts. They were larger than he’d pictured, the nipples a similar shade of blue to her lips.
“Touch me, Gryffnn. Please. When I said I was twitchy, I meant it.”
“I am also twitchy,” he said, the idea amusing him.
“Then fix this,” she ordered, her brows drawing together in a frown to match her stern mouth. “Turn over. Lie on your back.”
Astonished, Gryffnn followed her directions.
“Ah, where to touch first.” Her gaze roved his body and her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.
Gryffnn stared, mesmerized by her open inspection of him, the concentration on her face and the lust shining through. Curious, he forced himself to lie still and watch for her next action.
“Your scales are cute. Will you let me see you and touch you in dragon form? I’ve only seen you from a distance and we were in a public place. It didn’t seem polite to go around stroking the dragons.”
“That would get you in trouble,” he agreed, trying to imagine the chaos on the training field.
“But you’ll let me touch you?”
“Any time.”
“No time like the present,” she said cheerfully and grasped his cock. “Ooh! You’re right. They’re softer than I imagined.” She ran her hand up and down his shaft as she squeezed and experimented.
Gryffnn groaned, and her gaze flew to his.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No, but you’re determined to cure this twitchiness of yours in a hurry.”
“Yes.” She cupped his balls, examining the minute scales that covered them and squeezed them too. “Interesting. They’re changing color.”
“Yes,” Gryffnn said in a strangled voice. To halt his escalating arousal, he counted, from memory, the items of jewelry in his wealth hoard. One, two, three…
By the time he reached forty-seven, Kaya had clambered onto him and straddled his hips. Her feminine essence wafted to him, the scent rich and heady. He lost his tally and grimly, began his count again. All it took was a tiny wiggle by Kaya and his current total flew out of his head and his control snapped.
He flipped her off him, flinging her onto her back. Secs later, he pushed his thigh between hers and parted them, pleased—thank every goddess his mother had ever taught him about—with Kaya’s obvious arousal.
“Yay!” Kaya said, her blue eyes full of laughter.
Gryffnn released a growl as he guided his cock into position. He pushed his hips forward, the snug walls of her sex squeezing and welcoming. A slice of paradise. With another shove, he rocked until he was balls-deep in her. A groan slipped free as Kaya clasped him to her, lifting her lower body in welcome.
“Yes. Goddess, Gryffnn. Move. Please move.”
He needed no urging, every particle of his body ordering him to withdraw and sink back into heaven. Desperate to taste her again, he crushed his mouth to hers, stroking their tongues together. She curled her legs around his hips, her urgency spreading to him, making him increase the pace of his hot, easy glides. Sensations poured through him with each thrust. Pleasure. Happiness. Joy.
Hungry little noises escaped her as he rolled one nipple between his fingers and pushed deep into her.
“Yes. Hit me there again,” Kaya demanded.
And he laughed, following her direction because he wanted to please her and every time he drove into her it felt so damn good. He withdrew and surged deep. Her channel clenched around him, and Kaya gasped.
“Gryffnn, so good. So, so good.” Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as she took her pleasure.
He gritted his teeth and held back until the spasms rocking her tapered off. Her eyes, which she’d closed, flicked open, the same clear blue of the swimming pool beneath the waterfall. Her lips curved.
“I am officially no longer twitchy.”
“Excellent, then I can have my turn,” Gryffnn said.
“Sounds fair.” Laughter shaded Kaya’s voice as Gryffnn let lust take him over.
With a convulsive heave of his muscles, he surged into her heat, shifting the angle a fraction to increase the friction as their bodies slid together.
“Again.” Kaya sighed happily. “Oh, yes.”
Gryffnn nuzzled her neck, his balls drawing up tight until he balanced on a point between pain and ecstasy. Despite the heavy fog of desire clouding his mind, driving him to take his pleasure, he slipped his hand between them and stroked her nub.
She mewed secs before he reached the point of no return. His release rampaged through him, destroying him yet building him back up again. His seed spurted from him as he writhed in the heat of his lover. Each breath emerged in hoarse rasps, his lifeforce muscle pumping extra hard.
Kaya pinched his biceps. “You’re more relaxed now too.”
Gryffnn smiled and leaned closer for an affectionate smooch. Lazy satisfaction filled him as he withdrew from her and sprawled on his side. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her against his chest. When he inhaled, their scents had blended—not fully, but enough to bring a surge of contentment, enough to warn other dragons that Kaya belonged to him.