Chapter 38
Alex stood at the foot of his bed and marveled at the creature before her. Confusion clouded her mind. She'd left her mother and Aunt Quinn arguing in Quinn's room hours before. It had been an insane day. Almost too much to manage. She’d given up hope of having a family years ago. Now they colored every corner of her world.
She remembered thinking, before falling asleep, how nice it would be, to be alone with Collum in his rock castle. To be cocooned with him for a while. She’d fallen asleep with his name on her lips. Dreamed of flying through the night sky with him. She’d missed him. Seeing his face made the ache in her gut settle. Perhaps that desire to see him had been enough to convince her sleeping mind to seek him out?
Did he normally sleep like this? Half dragon, half man. Breath caught in her throat at the sight of his wings. Their massive expanse shimmered silver black. He’d wrapped those wings around her the last time they’d been together. She tiptoed to the bed, reached out with aching fingers. Hoping if she touched them very lightly it wouldn't disturb him. Would they feel like silk or like steel? She stroked one finger along the edge of a wing and felt the soft velvety texture. Rested her whole hand gently along one of the veins rising from the wing. The vein pulsed under her caress.
She looked up to see Collum staring at her with eyes turned black.
“Keep touching them,” he told her, his voice deep, guttural.
She stared into his eyes while stroking his wings. They trembled. A low growl escaped him.
“Do dragons purr, Collum?” she asked as she bent down to rub her face along the velvet of his right wing.
He lifted his left wing, stroked her legs, the tip reached up between her legs. “Do you, little kitten?” he replied.
Lust burned her throat. She climbed on the bed and lay against him.
“The dragon wants you tonight and I'm inclined to let him have you.”
“You know that I am here don't you.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know how it happened.”
“Crawl inside my wings, Alex,” he commanded her.
Desire was a fire raging in her gut. She pulled the silk nightie off, kept her eyes locked with his. He growled again and heat pooled in her uterus. Her tattoo pulsed against her skin. She waited, let him look his fill. God, it felt amazing having this man look at her like that. Like he would die without her.
“Fuck, Alex, I need to feel you.”
She let her body slowly sink on to his. Soft female flesh met muscles carved from rock. Collum closed his wings around them, nuzzled her neck.
Alex sensed the wildness in him, soaked herself in it. She rocked her body within the confines of his wings. Gyrated against veins throbbing under velvet. She controlled her fire, wanted to feel the heat of his body without the fire taking over.
Collum licked and nipped at her neck and breasts. He rolled them over until he held himself above her, slowly scorched his way down her body.
She writhed beneath him, enclosed in the cocoon he’d created. His tongue and mouth found her core. He feasted on her, suckled her until she was nothing but the desire he’d built in her. Her voice sounded foreign to her as she begged for more.
When he lifted his head, she saw the world in his eyes, the slits deep and dark. His voice gutted her. This ancient being wanted her.
“Release you claws, kitten.”
She thrashed below him. “I don't know how yet. I've tried but I can't transform to a cat form.”
He used the tip of his wings to scratch the inside of her leg, drew blood. “Bullshit. I can taste the feline in you,” he thundered as he raised up and thrust himself inside her body.
She came instantly. Little claws exploded from her body, tore at his back. Collum thrust into her over and over. She arched her back, met every thrust with strength of her own. Her hands locked into his hair and forced his mouth to her shoulder.
“Bite me,” she begged him.
Her dragon did as he was told. His fangs descended, sunk into her flesh. He clamped down on her shoulder with his sharp teeth and growled into the flesh with each thrust. She came over and over with each suckling motion. Could feel her fire screaming in release to join with him. With a final thrust her dragon lifted his head and thundered his release into the night.
Alex slowly became aware of Collum licking the wound on her shoulder, crooning, “My fierce mate,” into her skin.
She smiled into his sweat-dampened hair. “Yes, I’m yours, you big beast.”
He pulled away from her, rested on his haunches, tipped her chin with his finger. “I’m coming for you soon. I’m done playing. You can't hide out with your brother forever, only coming to me in dreams. It isn't enough for either of us.”
“I know that, but I'm not ready yet. It’s not like I’m actually hiding. I want more time to find out how my family connects.” She smiled radiantly. “Grandfather and Aunt Quinn came yesterday.”
“Excuse me?” He dropped his hand. “I don't think I heard you correctly?”
“Oh God. Don't get all upset about it. I had no idea they were coming. They showed up yesterday. Neeren must have been in contact with Grandfather.”
Collum climbed out of the bed and marched to the window. “So, let me get this straight. Everyone except me—the one person going nuts without you—is on your fucking island.”
“They’re my family, Collum.”
“Right, and I’m just a good lay.”
“That’s not fair.”
He sneered at her. “Really? Seems real convenient you want everyone near you except me. But you have no problem fucking me, do you princess?”
“You’re a prick.”
“Nope, just don’t like being used.”
“You started this. You came to my room first, remember.”
“I was stupid. Should’ve never let goddamn Domhall near you.”
“Wait a minute. I want my family to be near me. I want Domhall to be near me.” She climbed out of the bed and threw her nightgown back on before adding, “He's not as crazy as you made him out to be you know.”
“Yeah, figured that out on my own, sweetheart. Don’t any of you realize that if they’re all there now, the elders will soon follow? Don't you think the council will wonder why Quinn isn't keeping their precious records?”
“Even record keepers must get vacation time, Collum.”
He turned back to her. “Don't be stupid, Alex.”
“So, I’m a slut and stupid?”
“If the shoe fits.”
“You’re an ass sometimes. You don't know everything, you know. And I can make my own decisions thank you very much.”
“Wrong again, sweetheart. I'm two thousand fucking years old. I do know everything and you can tell your shithead grandfather that too.”
“You know what? I'm outta here. You're gonna feel like crap when you calm down and I hope you drown in it.”
“Don't count on it, princess. And don't come back to me until you're ready to stop playing games. I'm too old for this shit.” He turned away from her and stared out the window.
Alex was about to remind him that he should be old enough to know better than to react the way he was. Except she didn’t get the chance. She blinked, or breathed, or something, and suddenly was back in her bed on Neeren's Island.
He’d done it again. He’d pushed her out of the dream. What the hell was going on?