Chapter Eighteen
Vasili knew he had no right demanding Abigail tell him she loved him when he couldn’t say the words back. Not that he didn’t love her. He did. She was his heart, the missing piece of his soul.
Saying it was a whole other thing.
In this way, he was a coward. But he could show her. He knew she wouldn’t refuse him. She was too generous, too giving.
And she loved him.
No matter how long he lived, he would never get tired of hearing it. He captured her face between his palms and brought her mouth back down to his, telling her without words how much she meant to him.
He had to stake his claim on Abigail before they left here. Once they were back in the outside world, she would have options, including leaving him and going back to her family.
So far, being with him hadn’t exactly been a bed of roses. They’d been on the run since the very beginning. She’d slept in the back of a truck and on a train. She’d been chased and killed and held hostage and shot. Not to mention what the mage had tried to do with her with his dark magic.
This was the first time they’d make love in a real bed, and even now, they couldn’t linger. He needed days—no, weeks—to touch and taste every inch of her body, to love her as she deserved.
She slowly eased away, their lips clinging before they finally parted. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Her eyes were filled with concern, with love. For him. He’d never been more okay in his life.
He wrapped his arms around her and rolled. She gave a squeal and then laughed. It was the most beautiful sound in the world. Well, maybe after the way she called his name when they made love. That was truly the most spectacular one.
With her arms wrapped around his neck, she smiled up at him. “Wanted to be on top, did you?”
“Abigail.” That was all he said, just her name. Her smile faded and the expression in her eyes softened.
“Whatever you need.”
This tiny slip of a human woman brought him to his knees with her kindness and her ability to give. He buried his face in the curve of her neck and inhaled her sweet scent. He could still smell Bruno on her where the bastard had touched her. He hated that, but he didn’t want to let her go long enough for her to shower.
She was still mostly dressed. He hadn’t taken the time to remove her clothing before falling into bed beside her, which told him just how tired he’d been. He stripped her quickly and efficiently, tossing her clothing aside. He’d burn it all later. She could wear his until they could get some to replace hers.
He sat back on his knees on the bed and simply stared at her. She was lovely and delicate compared to him. Female to his male. Light to his dark. Before he could begin to make love to her, she scrambled to her knees and faced him. He still towered over her.
She pressed her hands against his chest and ran her fingertips over his tattoos. “I love these.” She leaned forward and traced her tongue over one of the swirls of his birthmark. He groaned, and his cock, which had been erect when he’d opened his eyes, flexed toward her.
“I love your hands on me.”
She glanced down at his erection and smiled. “I can see that.”
She slipped one of her hands lower, hovering just beside his shaft before finally wrapping her fingers around him.
Need pounded through his veins. “Abigail.” He said her name, not sure if he wanted her to stop or keep going. She was pushing him close to the edge of his control.
“Hmm.” The humming sound she made as she examined him more closely made his balls ache.
She stroked his length with her hand, pumping up and down at an excruciatingly slow pace. Using her tongue, she traced the flared crown of his erection several more times before taking it into her mouth.
His moaned echoed around the room. He shoved his fingers through her hair and held her to him. She made another humming sound, and it went straight to the base of his shaft and into his balls. He knew he wouldn’t last if she kept that up.
She released his shaft and stared at it. “It’s amazing to see tattoos covering half of your penis.” The stroke of her fingers over the left side followed her words. “I’m glad it’s a birthmark and didn’t hurt to have done.”
Her empathy and love made his heart ache and his cock throb. Vasili lost all sense of control. He tumbled her back onto the mattress and dove between her thighs. He needed to pleasure her, to taste her passion, to hear her cry his name before he took her.
…
He surprised her with just how fast he could be. She bounced on the mattress, and before she’d fully settled, he was between her legs with his mouth on her sex.
She cried out, unable to hold back. She loved touching him, tasting him. He liked it, too, but he’d obviously reached his limits. She didn’t mind. There would be time to explore him again. She’d make certain of it.
His touch electrified her. They’d made love before, and he’d obviously not forgotten what she liked. He licked and sucked at her slick folds before making his way to her clit and taking it between his lips. He flicked the bud with his tongue and then tugged lightly on it.
Vasili was relentless in the pursuit of her pleasure. Heat radiated from her core. A light sheen of perspiration covered her skin. Still, he held back from giving her the ultimate pleasure.
“Vasili.” She gripped his hair and tugged, trying to bring him even closer. He retaliated by pushing two thick fingers into her sheath.
She cried out and arched her hips. Her thighs trembled. It was a wonder that her injury was healed, that there was no pain, only pleasure. Her hands shook. He pulled his fingers almost all the way out and then drove them home again.
Passion exploded inside her. Her release was powerful and emotional, but it wasn’t enough. She feared it would never be enough. There was still a sense of emptiness inside her.
“Come to me,” she pleaded. Only he could make her whole.
He growled and moved up her body, capturing her mouth in a torrid kiss as he slid his cock into her wet core. Yes. This was what she wanted, what she needed.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He braced his weight on his forearms and thrust. Together, they flew higher and higher. They were so close when he suddenly stopped.
Cursing, he rolled onto his back so she was above him. The movement drove his shaft even deeper, and she couldn’t hold back a gasp of pleasure.
“I want to try something I read about.” His voice was deeper than usual, his tone harsh.
“What? Like some position from the Kama Sutra?” She was gasping, close to coming even though she’d just had a spectacular orgasm.
He laughed and then groaned when her sex clutched his shaft. “No.” He closed his eyes for a moment. She wiggled slightly, and they flew open again. “From a drakon text.”
She stilled. “What exactly?”
“I want to share my longevity, some of my power with you.”
She shook her head. This was too much like magic for her peace of mind. She’d seen and felt enough of that to last her a lifetime. “It could weaken you.” That was the last thing she wanted.
He gripped her hips in his hands and took a deep breath. “Not according to the text.”
She leaned down, and they both moaned. Talking was difficult when all she wanted to do was ride him until she came. Drakon rider. She couldn’t help giggle.
“What?” he demanded.
She waved her hand in front of her and tried to stop giggling but couldn’t stop. “I feel like a drakon rider,” she managed to get out.
He threw back his head and laughed. When he did, the movement, the vibration, his sheer happiness, pushed her over the edge. She cried out as her orgasm swept through her. He swore, and she felt the flood of his release.
She fell forward, catching herself on his chest. Heart racing, lungs burning, she stayed there until she calmed down enough to raise her head. He was still hard inside her.
He shook his head. “What am I to do with you?”
Love me, she wanted to cry, but she kept the words to herself. His actions spoke louder than words, even though the words would be nice.
“What was it you wanted to try?” Now that things weren’t quite as tense, she could think more clearly, although she didn’t know how long that would last with his shaft still flexing inside her.
“It was an ancient text, dating almost back to the time of my birth. I’m not sure, but I believe one of the dragon sires wrote it.”
“Really?” That was fascinating. She didn’t know much about the dragons who’d sired sons before leaving this world and returning to their own, but from Vasili’s expression, she sensed having anything they’d written was extremely rare. “What did it say?”
“That when dragons mated, their energy, their essence, melded.”
“That makes sense for two dragons. But what does it have to do with us?” She wasn’t following his logic.
“I want to try to share my essence with you.”
She shook her head, and he frowned.
“Don’t you want me to?” She could hear the hurt in his voice. That was the last thing she wanted.
She touched her hand to his face. “I don’t want to do anything that might leave you more vulnerable to your enemies.”
He pulled her down and hugged her close. “That’s the thing,” he whispered in her ear. The puff of air against her skin made her shiver. “According to the writing, it made each dragon stronger.”
“But I’m not a dragon, and neither are you.” She wasn’t willing to risk it. Then there was the small concern that she had no idea what it would do to her, either.
Vasili sat up in bed, managing to stay inside her. She moaned as the movement stimulated the sensitive nerve endings inside her. She’d already had two orgasms, a third might be the end of her.
“I’ve felt my tattoos trying to merge with you.” He ran his hand over the birthmark on his arm.
“What?” That didn’t sound good to her.
He shook his head and made a sound of frustration. “That’s not quite right. It’s difficult to explain. It’s as though my birthmark wants to extend to you. There’s a possibility you could wear my mark, truly be mine.”
A thrill went through her. If he wanted to share his birthmark with her, he had to love her. “Okay, say it’s even possible. What would that mean for you? For me?” She had to consider that. She was human.
Vasili frowned. “I don’t think it would hurt you. Both sides of me—human and dragon—would die to protect you. I can’t see the mark harming you.”
That made sense. “But it could change me.”
He nodded. “That is the unknown.”
“But you want to do this?”
“With all my heart.”
Abigail knew there was no choice. Not for her. She loved him, and he needed to do this. At worst, it wouldn’t work and nothing would change. At best, it would work and she’d have some tattoos and maybe a little something more. It was the more that had her concerned.
But taking more time to ponder it, to think about the implications, wasn’t going to change her mind. She was committed to their relationship. Maybe it was crazy since they hadn’t known each other long, but nothing in their world was normal and never would be. The regular rules of human courtship didn’t apply. They’d been through so much together, had faced life and death and magic. No, she didn’t need more time. She knew what was in her heart, knew it would never change.
She took a deep breath and nodded. “What do I have to do?
…
Vasili knew he’d found a treasure unparalleled by any other in the world or that would ever exist in the future. Abigail had no idea what might happen, but she was willing to do this, for him.
“Are you sure?” He was an idiot. Of course she wasn’t sure. He wasn’t 100 percent certain, either, but he knew in his heart it wouldn’t hurt her. He’d stop before he’d let that happen.
“Yes. Let’s do it. I’d rather not put it off and spend time worrying or thinking about it.”
He ran his hands over her back and arms, trying to reassure her. “When we make love, I will make a conscious effort to send my energy into you. I expect you’ll have to ingest some of my blood, too.”
Abigail nodded. “I can handle that.”
“You can handle anything,” he told her. She’d proven that time and time again. He kissed her, wanting to ease some of her fears. Tension made her stiff, but she gradually began to soften against him.
He liked this position with him sitting upright in bed with her on his lap. He leaned against the headboard and continued to kiss her. There was no rush, and he wanted her relaxed and feeling good before he attempted anything. She made a sound of pleasure when he covered her breasts with his hands, massaging the mounds and then flicking his thumbs over her tight nipples.
His cock was full and hard, and she surrounded him in her wet warmth. Home. She was his home. Wherever she was, that was where he needed to be. But their joining was more than physical. It was emotional and mystical, touching something deep inside him. Nothing would ever keep them apart.
He focused his attention inward, calling on the dragon part of him, something he’d never done while making love to a woman. But this was no woman, this was his mate. His dragon side surged to life, eager to share in the experience.
The left side of his body began to tingle and grow warm.
“Look.” There was awe and more than a hint of fear in her voice.
A light seemed to surround his tattoos. It changed color rapidly, like a shimmering rainbow.
He manifested a claw and drew it across his chest over his heart. “Drink.” He needed her to take him inside her. His blood, his energy, and his essence.
There was no hesitation. She lowered her head and sipped his blood. His cock jerked inside her, and then he was coming. Abigail cried out, and her sheath rippled and flexed around him.
At that moment, the energy surrounding his tattoos reached out and enveloped her in their multihued glow. She cried out again, not with pain, but with a passion that equaled his. He called out her name just as the world around them exploded with a brilliant flash of light. It quickly dissipated, and she fell against him.
“Abigail.” He shook her lightly, fearing something had gone wrong, that he’d somehow harmed her.
“What?” Her voice was slightly slurred. “Why do I feel drunk?”
He eased her back and peered down at her beloved face. “I don’t know. I’m energized.” He was more alive, more powerful than he had been in his entire life, which was incredible considering what he was.
“You’re okay?” she demanded. “Your tattoos are still there?”
But it wasn’t his tattoos he was concerned with. Swirls of the palest blue outlined in the icy blue of his eyes ran down her left arm to her elbow and across the left side of her chest. It seemed to stop at her waist.
“What is it?” she asked. Then she followed his gaze and gasped. “Oh my God. I have a tattoo.” She ran her fingertips over the swirls. “Is it just on my front?” She climbed off his lap, wringing a groan from him, as he was still semi-erect.
She turned away and swiveled her head around. “Well?”
Just like on the front, the drakon swirls covered the upper part of her left arm and continued down to her waist. “The mark bisects your back as well. It stops at your waist as it does in the front.” And it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. She was marked as his.
“Wow.” She sat back down and would have toppled over if he hadn’t caught her. She studied the markings on her upper arm and torso. “Did you know this would happen?”
“Not for certain.” He belatedly realized she might not like them, might not want them. “Are you okay with them? I’m not sure they can be removed.” That was something he should have really considered before attempting this.
“Hey.” She scooted up beside him, so close only inches separated their faces. “I’m fine with this as long as it hasn’t weakened you.”
“I think it strengthened me.” And that was the honest truth. He was more somehow. More alive, more complete, more content. Just more.
“I’m glad.”
“And you don’t mind the tattoo?” It was important to him she was happy.
Abigail laughed. “I’m a mini you. The tattoos don’t go as far, but they’re pretty cool.”
“And you feel normal?”
She shook her head. “Not normal. Seriously, though, I’m good. Like maybe I drank too many of those energy drinks or something.”
“God, I love you.” He dragged her across his lap and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent. She even smelled different now. Oh, she was still sweet Abigail, but there was a slight layer of his scent just underneath. He liked that. She wore his mark and his scent. And it was permanent. He was no longer alone. He finally belonged to someone.
“Wait. What?” She tugged on his hair until she could see his face. “You love me.” There was wonder in her voice.
“How could you not know?” Exasperation tinged his words.
“You never told me,” she pointed out. “I thought you did, I’d hoped you did, but now I know for sure.” Then she looked around the room. “Hey, I can see better. Almost like the lights are on in here.”
“Really?” That was something he hadn’t anticipated.
“Yeah. Cool.”
“Any other changes?”
She hesitated and then shook her head. “I think all my senses are a little sharper. Nothing over the top, just better.” She shrugged. “I can live with that.” She met his gaze, her face solemn. “We have to leave, don’t we?”
“Yes.” He placed a kiss on her forehead. He wanted to spend the next week making love to her, tracing her tattoo with his tongue before expanding the exploration to the rest of her body, discovering any other changes the mark might have made. But there wasn’t time. “I don’t know if Bruno sent for more men. The alarm would have sounded if someone breached the perimeter.”
“But we can’t take the chance, can we?”
“No,” he told her. “I need to pack my belongings. I have a shipping container I can fill and then store deep in the mountain until I can retrieve it.”
“I’m sorry you’re losing your home.”
He could not bear the sadness in her eyes. “I am not losing my home,” he told her, his voice fierce with the love he had for her. “I finally found it. You,” he emphasized. “You are my home.” He brushed his lips over hers, tasting her love.
He lifted her off his lap and stood. She stared at the tattered remains of her clothes scattered on the floor. “What am I going to wear?” she asked.
Vasili laughed. “I’m sure we’ll find you something. But first, we need to shower.” He held out his hand, and a thrill shot through him when she took it.
“My family? How could I have forgotten them? They’ll be worried sick until they hear from me.”
“After,” he assured her. “As soon as we’re clean, we’ll contact them and let them know you’re safe.”
“Ah, we probably shouldn’t tell them about the tattoo yet.”
“You are ashamed?” He hadn’t considered that.
“No.” She lightly punched his side. “How could you think such a thing? I love my tattoo, sharing a part of you. It’s just not something you say over the phone. Best to save it until we see them in person.”
She was right. It was also a reminder that he had to take her back to her family, at least for a visit. It wasn’t a bad idea to get out of Russia for a while, either. But there was much work to do before that could happen, loose ends that needed to be tied up.
But first, he wanted to clean his woman, his mate. He wanted to run his soapy hands over her tattoo and the rest of her. His cock flexed in agreement and, inside him, his dragon roared with pleasure.