Page 17 of The Dragon Queen

Ifallintothelush,green,dewycoolnessofthemeadow.Landingonmyback,Itearatmyclothes.Theshirtrips,butitwasprobablyalostcause,anyway.Mybreastsstrain,swollenandachyandbeggingtobetouched.Betweenmylegs,I'mdripping,theemptinesswithinmeunbearable.

"Ember,"Rafesays,humanandwild.Hehaulshisshirtoverhisheadandtossesitwithabandon.Hisfieryhairisacloudaroundhishead,andhiseyesareburningwithheat. "You'reincredible--"

"Youare,"Ibreathe,andthenI'myankinghimin.

Ourmouthscrashtogether,andItastefireonhistongue.Hegroans,graspingmyfacewithonebroadhandwhileundoinghispantswiththeother.Heshovesthemdownhismuscularthighs,hishugecockspringingfree,andapiercingpangofneedzipsfrommyclittothetipsofmybreasts.

"Need--"Iclawathimandatmyclothes,andfuck--Themagicmydragoncommandedevaporatesintomist,andthat'sfine--Iknewitwouldhappen.

Idon'thavetimetomournitslossrightnow.

WhileImaynothaveanypowersinmyhumanform,theimpossible,glowingpowerofmybondwithmymatesisevenmoresparklingandvividthanever.Iknowtheshapesoftheirdragonsnow;I'vetastedtheirelementalmagicinawholenewform.Mywings,furledinsidemychest,understandwhatit'sliketobeattheairalongsidetheirs,andIlovethem,Ilovethem,Ilovethem.

Justasmuchastheyloveme.

Ishudder,thedepthoffeelingresonatingthroughourconnectionalmostoverwhelminginitsintensity.Pureemotioncrashesovermeagainandagain,theirloveaforcemorepowerfulthandragonsorshadowsormagicorlight.

"Beloved,"Malikbreathes,nakedandmoldinghimselftomyspine.Hecoastsahugehanddownmyside,pushingdownmypantsandunderwearandleavingmebaretohisandRafe'stouch.

Andit'stoomuch--Malik'scoolwatermagicandRafe'sfire.Thecontrastisdelicious,though,andIreachahandbackforMalikwhileyieldingtotheutterpossessionofRafe'skiss.

There'smorestill,though,andIopenmyeyestofindStormononesideofmeandJianyuontheother.

InStorm'sgaze,Iseeallthehopesanddreamswehadtogether,backourfirsttimearound.Somanyofthemjustcametolifeasourdragonstooktotheskyasone.Iwanttolaugh,butthescrapeofRafe'steethagainsttheinsideofmylipmakeseverythingalltooserious.

Nothingaboutourfirstflighttogetherwasthewayweimagineditasteens.

Itwasbetter.

Jianyucupsthebackofmyhead,pullingmeawayfromRafe,wholetsmegowithagrowl.InJianyu'seyes,IfindthesameintenselonginganddesireI'vefoundinallmyothermates,butthere'ssomethingelsethere,too.

"What?"Iask,mymouthahair'sbreadthfromhim.

"Youweremagnificent,"hevows,andIglowinside.

Andyet...

"But?"Iask.

"Butnothing."Hiseyesdarken. "Yourmagicmaybehidden.Butit'snotgone."

Andthenhekissesme--sohardanddeep,Ihavenobreathleftforaskingquestions.

Butthatdoesn'tmeanthattheystopforminginmymind.

Chapter

Six

JIANYU

Beherewithme.Withus.Isilentlypleadmymatetofocusonthepresent.Mydragonisstillclosetothesurface,myteethsharpandmyinstinctspossessive.

Stupid.Makingbroadstatementsabouthermagicwhentheelectriccrackleofourmatingbondistuggingatusallsohard.

Iwanttopullthewordsback,butthey'realreadyoutthereintheair.Herbeasthasbarelyreceded;IcantastetheashandshadowsonherbreathasIkisshersenseless,skatingmyhandsdownhersoftflesh.I'machinglyhard,readytothrowherdownandpressinside.

Theentiretimewewereflyingtogether,theneedtoclaimherandmateherwashotfireintheverycenterofmybeing.Shewassobeautiful--sogracefulandperfect.ExactlyasIknewshe'dbe.

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