Bex’s panties dropped around her ankles. The cold air mixed with the wetness of her arousal sparked a wicked sensation deep inside her. Thane was right…she was in pain, but not the kind to hurt her, it was a pain of desire. An ache so deep she didn’t know how to explain it. All she knew was if Thane didn’t fuck her right now, she’d erupt.

A spark shot up her body when she felt Thane part her legs and caress her core. Remembering his touch from the other night, she couldn’t deny how incredible it felt to be loved—worshipped. She’d never forget this night.

They were mated?

The frightening thought bubbled to the surface, struggling to overrule her body’s need. But between his fingers teasing her hot flesh and their dragons taking over, it didn’t stand a chance. The only thought stampeding through her sex-deprived, hormonal brain was Thane. She wanted his hands all over her.

“Thane,” she whispered breathlessly next to his ear.

“Yeah, baby,’ he said between kisses and nibbles down her neck.

“Fuck me.” As the words left her mouth, she was shocked at her boldness. Who has taken over my body? But that was exactly what she wanted, what she craved. They were beyond slow and easy, she wanted hot, mind-blowing fucking.

He looked up at her, his dark, smoldering gaze sent a shudder of anticipation through her body as hot and lethal as a bolt of lightning. This was it, she was going up in flames.

He reached behind her neck and gently pulled her close, until her forehead rested against his. Her eyes were drawn to his full lips as he wet them with his tongue. “Say it again…” He needed to be reassured—especially after what had happened between them earlier.

A wicked smile spread across her mouth, and without batting an eyelash, she confirmed her command. “Fuck me.” She leaned in and took his bottom lip between her teeth and gently tugged. Just when she released her hold, he drew her back into a ravenous kiss. Their tongues swirled together in a hunger that shook her soul-deep.

She reached down and stroked his cock through his jeans. Ravenous, she unbuttoned his pants and shoved her hand down the front of his body. He grabbed her wrist and sucked in a deep breath. “If you touch me right now, I’ll come undone.”

“I want to touch you.”

“In time, trust me. Right now, I need to be inside you.” In a rush of passion, he grabbed her ass, lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, his hot skin scorching her tender flesh.

They stumbled across the garage to the Firebird, where he sat her on the hood. The urgency to feel his skin against hers took over as she grabbed at his shirt, tugging and pulling like she couldn’t get the damn thing off quick enough. Once he was free of his shirt, Bex tore hers off and pressed her aching body against his chest. The intimate contact awakened every animalistic urge she’d tried to suppress all her life.

He must have felt the wildfire burning uncontrollably within her, because in one fluid motion without his lips leaving hers, he tugged his jeans off. She wrapped her arm around his neck, fisting a handful of his hair, and pulled him down on top of her as she laid back on the car. Thane braced himself so he wouldn’t crush her. Underneath his warmth and the weight of his body, she found something wonderful …she felt more beautiful, more alive than she ever did before.

Giving him a special invitation, she pressed her heels against his ass and squeezed her legs, bringing him even closer to where she needed him to be—deep inside her. In one thrust, he fully buried himself. Pure pleasure rippled up her body. She sucked in a breath, tensing from the size of his cock stretching her. She grabbed ahold of his arms as she took every sweet inch of him in.

“Did I hurt you?” he whispered over her ear.

“No. You feel good.”

“Just good?” he looked down at her.

“Show me what you got, Dragon.”

Something behind that smirk of his told her she’d just poked the beast more. In a frenzy, he sat her up and gripped her hips, pumping her harder…deeper. He knew exactly what she wanted and how to execute it masterfully. Before she knew it, she was consumed by all that was Thane.

Heat coursed through her body. Her legs quivered as she tightened them around his waist. “Thane, I’m—”

“That’s it, baby.” She held on tight. The buildup was beautifully primal and intense, unlike anything she’d ever felt before. She threw her head back as she surrendered to wave-after-wave of perfect bliss.

“Fuck, yeah,” he growled and then his body tightened as they both shared a sacred moment…a moment she didn’t want to end.

Not knowing much about this side of her dragon, Bex succumbed to a feeling she’d never felt before. In his arms, she’d never felt more beautiful, sexy, and thoroughly loved. This wasn’t just sex, it was something much more. It was as if Thane had been etched into her soul from the beginning of time. The lost girl desperately trying to make sense of her life had finally found what she was looking for. Unfortunately, after tonight, she had to set him free.

In a blink of an eye, the dream was over.

Overwhelming sorrow slammed into her chest as she thought about their hopeless situation. She released her legs and rested them on the bumper of the car. She slipped her hands off his shoulders as her body was telling him goodbye. She never promised him tomorrow.

“Bex, don’t do this.”

She gazed at his face. A mist of gray swirled into the blue-green of his eyes, his lips formed a frown. He, too, felt the dark cloud looming over their happily-ever-after. Thane caressed her cheeks. “You understand what’s happening between us now.”

She nodded, too sad to speak.

“I have one more day to convince you to stay. Promise, you’ll live in the moment with me.”

She nodded again, pushing back the tears that had threatened to fall. Thane was right, she didn’t want to waste time thinking about being away from him. She’d spend the rest of their time together kissing him longer and loving him without regrets. She’d memorize every inch of his body and remember the pleasure he’d inspired. She never wanted to forget Thane.

“Let’s go upstairs where I can love you properly.” Thane scooped Bex up into his arms. “Baby, I’m going to love you so hard you’ll never want to leave my bed.”

Her heart raced with anticipation, for she knew the truth behind his words. If this was just a taste of his carnal appetite, she couldn’t imagine the pleasure that waited. “Promise?” She winked.

“Promise.” He claimed her lips as he carried her inside the house.