Chapter Eight
The kiss was everything Avalon had hoped it would be.
His lips were firm and demanding against hers and a peculiar smoky scent she hadn't noticed before filled her senses. She ran her tongue over his lips, enjoying his taste and his arms tightened around her. He thrust his hips forward, grinding against her and Avalon gasped as her body instantly responded.
His hands moved up her shoulder blades, resting against her neck. Avalon leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his head. A buzzing started at the base of her skull like she'd had a couple of beers, but her mind was perfectly clear. As Vaughn's thumbs stroked the pulse in her throat, she moaned into his mouth.
"Avalon," he whispered, moving his mouth to her neck. Bolts of electricity traveled through her bloodstream, pooling in her core. "You're so beautiful."
His words sent unexpected sparks through her. As confident as she was in her looks, hearing those words was always so nice. She pulled him closer, letting her head fall back.
"You're so handsome… your body is perfect."
"I know." He chuckled into her skin, tickling her with his breath. She instinctively squirmed away, giggling.
In response he spun her around, pinning her hands to her side as he kissed the back of her neck. Avalon ground herself against him, groaning.
"What do you want me to do?" he hissed in her ear.
"I want you to take me."
His hands ran down her body, tracing every curve, before returning to her breasts and squeezing them. "Should I rip off all your clothes and take you like an animal?"
"Yes!" She reached for her waistband but he grabbed her hands and returned them to her sides.
"Or should I undress you slowly and kiss every inch of your body?"
"Yes."
"Which one?"
"Both!"
Vaughn laughed as he spun her around again, catching her face in her hands. She was hardly aware that he was walking her backward. She was fully engrossed in his tongue flicking into her mouth, fast and wicked, seeming to find all the right spots to fill her with a pooling desire. Both panted, chests heaving, hands dancing over each other's bodies.
The cool air brushed against her skin as he tugged her clothes off, his eyes roaming over her body as though he owned her–and she found she loved it. She loved the raw power, the possessive need in his face as he tore off her lacy bra, fondling her breasts, teasing the nipples with his fingers as he pushed her onto the bed and kissed her hip.
Avalon lost herself, pleasure coursing through her as his mouth focused between her thighs.
She never wanted this to end, but it did–just long enough for him to swing her higher onto the bed and crawl over her, parting her thighs with his knees.
His mouth was on hers again, she tasted herself on his lips, and then he was inside her, thrusting with all his strength. She cried out as pleasure bolted through her, grasping at his shoulders. He pulled back, staring into her eyes, his lips curled back into a snarl.
He finished suddenly and violently, biting her neck before he grew still. Her fingers ran down his back, feeling his muscles bunch and relax. She breathed heavily, gulping in, trying to find words that could describe what she was feeling.
Bliss? Or ecstasy? She'd never done drugs, but couldn't imagine it would feel better than this. And he hadn't even brought her to climax with him! How much better would it be when he did? She grinned, imagining it.
Eventually, he propped himself onto his elbows. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" she gasped.
"I lost control."
Avalon bucked her hips upwards again. "I want you to lose control again."
His eyes widened. "You liked that?"
"Loved it." She curled his red hair around her fingers. "I've been waiting for this for so long…"
Vaughn groaned. "I know. You think I didn't notice those looks you gave me? Your blushes, the way you checked me out when you thought I wasn't looking, the way you'd bend over or flip your skirt up… It's been torture trying to resist you."
"I'm sorry I was torturing you," Avalon said demurely, batting her lashes.
He groaned again, pressing a searing kiss to her mouth. "You're doing it again."
Avalon moaned into his mouth and they spoke no more.
***
They held hands when they left the dorm the next morning, headed for the Offense building to get some more training in.
Avalon couldn't stop grinning, though her body ached for Vaughn's with every step she took. He had insisted that they get to sleep around one, even leaving her in the bed alone to make sure she couldn't tempt him into changing his mind.
"You know," she said casually, leaning against him. "Some people say bigger women are better lovers. Is it true?"
"Definitely," he grinned at her.
Avalon laughed, but the sound was drowned out by a sudden, terrifying screech. She jumped, head jerking from side to side as she looked for whatever it was.
A huge dragon flew low over the Arts building. Its leathery wings beat the air, the narrow head on the end of its long neck swinging back and forth until it narrowed in on Avalon. It was covered in white skin, thick and wrinkled like an elephant's, with two legs ending in gigantic talons. A whip-like tail streamed behind it, ending with a nasty-looking barb.
"Wyvern," Vaughn whispered.
His arm shot out, slamming into Avalon's chest. Pain shot through her ribs as she flew back. She landed with a thump on the grass and saw a large stinger where she had been standing seconds ago. The wyvern ignored Vaughn, swooping in towards Avalon. She scrambled backward and dived under one of the stone picnic tables that dotted the ground.
Claws scraped against the stone. Avalon shuddered, drawing a magical shield around herself.
An enraged roar rang in her ears. Something streaked over her and the white wyvern collapsed onto the ground next to the table, writhing. Avalon slipped out from under the table as it struck out. A Red Dragon stood over the wyvern, flames licking from its mouth. Vaughn.
Avalon gaped, forgetting the wyvern for a moment. She had never seen Vaughn in his dragon form before and he was magnificent.
Everything was sharp points and spikes on him, his red scales gleaming in the sunlight. Four feet like eagle's talons flexed and slashed as he leaped at the wyvern. His tail ended in a spear point that stabbed towards the wyvern.
The White Dragon avoided his strike and took to the air, opening its mouth wide. A cloud of stingers came from the back of its throat, shooting towards Avalon. Vaughn let out a pained roar and let himself drop into the path of the stingers. Avalon screamed.
The wyvern made a sound like laughter–until the stingers bounced off of Vaughn's scales. It whirled around and sprang into the air, rapidly beating its wings.
Vaughn did not chase it. He turned, grabbed Avalon in his front talons and launched himself into the air.
***
The ground swaying beneath her made Avalon sick twice and when Vaughn finally set down in a clearing halfway up a huge mountain, all she could do for a few seconds was lie still. By the time she regained her senses, Vaughn had set up a lean-to with cedar branches and started a fire.
Avalon moved closer, shivering. There was still snow on the peaks around them, and she was only wearing a t-shirt. Vaughn was completely naked, but Avalon couldn't bring herself to admire his body right now.
"Do you believe me that somebody wants you dead now?" Vaughn's expression was furious and he stood, pacing back and forth. There was a red glow around him, like an aura of fire. "I let my guard down."
"My parents," Avalon said. "I need to let them know I'm okay."
"Do you have your cellphone?"
Avalon patted her empty pockets and her heart sank.
"We have to stay here for right now. There could be more of them," Vaughn said. He knelt beside her and put his arms around her shoulders. "Uncle Stane will find us. Right now we have to stay away from public places. That was too bold. Something's changed, they’re confident they can get away with it."
"Who? The Ladies of the Lake?" Avalon thought she might be sick again.
"Maybe. Whoever it is, they're serious, sending a dragon after you…" Vaughn pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
Avalon closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around him. He was scorching hot but she was so cold that she welcomed it. What are we going to do now?
She didn't dare ask–she couldn't imagine how it could be answered.