Forty-Two
Heart and Soul
Tirah bit her bottom lip, sure that he’d see her as weak now. Then Saber pulled her close and almost crushed her. “Fuck, Tirah. That night, it nearly destroyed me, and the following ten years were utter hell …” He drew in a deep, ragged breath and let it out. “I’m sorry I treated you so badly.”
Tirah scowled at him. “What? You never treated me badly.”
“I did. I hunted you, keeping you on the run, then I kidnapped you.”
Tirah sighed. “Yeah, I was pretty pissed at you always dogging my trail. And yeah, you kidnapped me. But then you kept me safe from Cass, bought food when you knew I was hungry, cooked for me, and even tried to save me from losing my virginity.” She ran a hand lovingly over his skin. “You’re a horrible kidnapper,” she teased. Then she sobered. “So, you still want me?”
In answer, Saber crushed his lips to hers.
Tirah tangled her hands in his dreads and savored him. Once again, he awakened a craving, a fierce need to feel him inside of her.
“Take off your clothes,” he rasped when he finally pulled away. His eyes glowed a bright hungry blue.
Body quivering with anticipation, Tirah climbed from the bed. Then, without breaking eye contact, she slowly peeled off the shirt that he’d given her earlier.
Saber licked his lips when she dropped it to the floor. “More.”
Tirah smiled, loving the way he watched her. It made her feel sexy and desired. She continued to strip until she stood naked before him.
“Your turn,” she said, and waited as he quickly shed his clothing. Then heat flushed her body at the sight of how hard he was for her, something he didn’t try to hide. It was her turn to lick her lips in anticipation.
“Come here.” Saber’s voice was a husky caress as he lay back and waited for her.
Tirah’s heart skipped a beat. He was offering himself to her.
Just as slowly, she climbed onto the bed, then moved so that she could touch and taste him. She took full advantage, grinning at the sound of his moans as she teased one of his nipples, and then the other, her hands roaming over him.
When he reached for her, she stopped what she was doing. “No touching.”
“No?” Wide blue eyes filled with fire watched her.
“No.”
Saber dropped his hands back to the bed and watched as she explored.
Though aching to have him fill her, Tirah worked her way down his body. Then eyed the part of Saber that eagerly awaited her attention. Still she didn’t touch him there. “Soon,” she whispered instead, letting her breath caress him. Saber let out a tangled groan that made her grin.
“Tirah,” he breathed, reaching for her once again.
She shook her head. “No.”
“No?”
Tirah laughed at the pleading little boy expression. Then she nudged his legs open and crouched between them. His cock bobbed in anticipation and he clutched the sheets, his whole body tense. Tirah watched Saber’s eyes and swore she could see his dragon. She gripped the base of his cock and then ever so slowly, lowered her mouth over him.
“Fu-uck,” Saber swore, and his body trembled as she slid him deep down her throat. He was big, so there was no way she could take all of him, but she took as much as possible. Saber’s moans were almost her undoing. Though she wanted him inside of her, this time she was pleasuring him.
Going on instinct, she sucked, licked, and explored all of him, reveling in the sounds of his pleasure, before sucking him back down her throat.
“Tirah, I’m going to lose it,” Saber growled, his body vibrating with need. She wanted to grin at his white knuckles on the sheets as he strove to obey her order not to touch.
Tirah continued to enjoy him until she had driven him to a fevered pitch. Then with another growl, Saber grabbed her and rolled them both over so that she was on her back. Playtime over. This time she didn’t admonish him. Instead she let her own hunger show in her eyes. “Did you like that?”
Saber growled again in response and then claimed her lips. Sparks sizzled. He pulled away. “Do you want me?” There was a ferocious gleam in his eyes.
Tirah held his gaze and trailed her tongue over her lips slowly, savoring the taste of him. “I do.”
“You do, what?” Saber asked, poised above her, waiting for her to say it.
“I want you. Inside of me. Now,” she said. Her breath grew ragged in anticipation of him filling her up. He’d awoken a hunger in her that was shocking in its intensity.
“I want inside of you as well.” He grinned back at her. Then in one smooth motion, slid into her body. Tirah moaned and dug her fingers into him. Then she lost herself to the passion, savoring the light in Saber’s eyes, the emotions on his face, as each stroke went deeper and deeper. He moved slowly, steadily, until he had her writhing under him.
“More,” she cried, but he shook his head.
“You cannot leave me as I will always find you. I will never let you go.” Saber stared into her eyes, giving her one last chance to back out.
Tirah winced in guilt at how she had left him earlier, after he had admitted his feelings. Granted, he didn’t know she had heard him confess his love, but still, she hated herself for hurting him. “I know.” She stared into his eyes. “I love you. I love everything about you.”
Saber blinked and his strokes increased in tempo. Tirah held on and met him thrust for thrust, feeling the pressure building.
“Saber,” she cried out, and he increased his speed, pumping into her fast and furiously now, a desperation in his eyes that wasn’t there before.
Understanding dawned. Her big, strong warrior was scared. Afraid to believe. “I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered, holding his gaze.
Moisture filled his eyes, followed by hope and Saber eased up, slowing his pace. Then he reached up and captured her hands in his and drew on his power.
Tirah felt like she was melting from the inside out, as Saber drove them both back to the brink and his magic settled on and within her, making her even more desperate.
His power encompassed Tirah’s every molecule and then began to grow more intense as it sought hers. A tremble, a ferocious need, desperate for what, she didn’t know. It snaked through her veins, drawing forth her own power and the meeting was like an explosion, a destined meeting that was inevitable and meant to be. It rocked her and electrified her all at the same time, until she was vibrating with a frenzy that was all consuming. She wrapped her legs around Saber tighter, her hands squeezing him. “More. Harder, faster,” she screamed, and caught in the same grip of magic as she was, he didn’t need any urging.
“Do you take me as your mate?” he asked, breathless as their magic churned like a whirlwind around and through them.
“Yes. I do,” she said.
“I love you, Tirah, and I give myself to you. I commit to you heart and soul. I will protect, honor, and cherish you for as long as I live. And if you die before I do, I will follow you, for I never want to spend a single moment without you in my life.” Saber’s vow was a balm on her soul and brought tears of happiness to her eyes.
“I love you, Saber. I also commit to you heart and soul. I promise to love you for all of eternity. I will protect you, honor you, and cherish you as well. And I, too, will follow you into death, as I do not want to spend a moment without you in my life.” As soon as the words left her lips, the magic whirled faster.
“Show me your dragon,” he said desperately.
Tirah drew on her power some more, and at the sight of her beast, Saber gave a frantic cry and increased his pace. Tirah held the gaze of his own beast, and then with blinding intensity, they both careened over the edge, lost in a tidal wave of passion.
Carried away on powerful waves of feeling, Tirah screamed as their magic merged, binding their souls together for eternity. “My mate,” Saber yelled, plunged inside her once more, threw his head back, and roared. He clutched her to him and they both shook, swept away on the power of their love.
***
“Thank you,” Saber said quietly afterward.
“For what? It seems that you did all the work,” she said with a smile that slipped away at the seriousness in his eyes.
“For making me complete. For bonding with me, and loving me,” he whispered in a tone that made her ache for him. During their bonding, she’d caught glimpses of his life, of all the horror he’d endured. The grief of losing so many loved ones. She knew he would have seen her life as well, yet he didn’t say anything, and now able to feel his love, she no longer worried.
Tirah cupped his face in her hands. “I should be thanking you. I never thought I’d have a home, never mind someone who wanted me the way you do.”
“Tirah, you are my heart and soul,” he whispered. And she felt how deeply he meant it.
“And you are mine,” she whispered back, then cuddled into his arms. She closed her eyes and savored the feeling of being wanted, loved.
“Oh, and there’s something else,” she said.
“And what would that be?” Saber asked without opening his eyes.
“I used to draw pictures of you.”
Saber opened his eyes and stared at her. “You … drew pictures … of me?”
Tirah thought about Saber’s drawings and grinned.
Saber did as well. “We really are fated to be together.”
Tirah smiled. Then she looked at his neck and gasped.
“What?” Saber asked, looking more relaxed that she’d ever seen him.
Awed, Tirah traced the proof of their bonding on his collarbone. “It’s a red dragon eye.”
“The color your eyes turn when you are lost to passion.” He smiled.
Tirah gaped at him. “They do?”
Saber nodded.
“Do I have one?” she asked, feeling her neck.
Saber grinned. “You do.”
Tirah tried to see but couldn’t. “Where, and what color is it?”
Saber gently drew his fingers over her throat to the side of her neck. “Here. It’s outlined in black with a blue eye.”
“The color of your eyes.” Moisture filled her eyes once again, as she stared at him. She was mated, bonded.
“Why are you crying?” Panic lit Saber’s eyes.
“Because I’m so, so happy,” she said and then snuggled into him again as they both became lost in their thoughts.
Finally, Saber snickered.
“What?” she asked, pulling away to look at him.
Saber grinned at her. “I lied earlier.”
Tirah frowned, not sure what he was talking about.
“I said I wanted you by my side for the rest of my life, but I changed my mind.” Before she could say anything, he slid back inside of her. “I want to be inside you for the rest of my life.”
Tirah gave a sharp laugh that quickly changed to a moan as he set her on fire once more.