Page 15 of Dragon Blood

His tiger had told him to walk away. His dragon had urged him on. Instead, he’d mistakenly thought he’d have more control as a man, but he’d been unable to resist the allure of her scent once the wind changed directions. The sight of her on that rock overlooking the bay.

The way the moon illuminated her smooth skin, highlighting the delicate curve of her lips and the bold arch of her brow.

It was always like that between them. From the start.

All he’d been able to think about was easing her back and tasting her. All of her.

He’d thought he would control the situation. Kiss her, be done with her. Leave her on his terms. Not hers. But then his fingers had found the sanctuary of her core. Let her know what she walked away from. And each step of the way, his tiger growled warnings in his brain.

His dragon rumbled with delight.

Kai pumped harder, soap frothing under the intense heat of the water.

He’d nearly shoved her back onto that boulder and buried himself deep inside her.

Where I belong.

And then her breath had caught, she’d moaned, her channel clenching his drenched fingers, and it was all he could do to walk away. Kai’s breath hitched as he spilled over his fist, his seed spurting into the shower drain, panting.

As his heart rate slowed, he washed and prepared for the torturous day looming before him. At least he wouldn’t have a gods damned hard-on all day.

Once dressed, he slipped on his shoes and focused on his tie, using the time to solidify his resolve.

Self-control and dignity, Kai. One more day and then it’s back to work.

Home.

Back in Hong Kong, this last year.

Before that, he’d been inland so that he wouldn’t have the constant scent of the ocean breeze or sounds of rolling surf to constantly drag his memory back to Red.

He’d thought he was finally safe. Kai laughed at his reflection as his hands released the knot, twisted, then reworked the silk fabric.

His mother had suddenly walked back into his life, gutting him. And now, his ex-lover ripped his heart out all over again.

Fucking dragons. Fucking Aeleftherian dragons.

Antarctica was looking pretty appealing right now.

Maybe Bayn and his cousin Aaron had the right idea. Toronto, right in the heart of North America, as far from the coast as you could get.

Nah, I’d just get dragged into whatever shit he mentioned last night. All this political drama everyone was whispering about throughout dinner. Don’t need that shit—had enough of it within my own clan.

He grunted, reworking the tie.

His watched buzzed, drawing his attention to dismiss the notification. It was time. Turning from the mirror, he pulled on his tuxedo jacket as he left the airy room, shoulders and chest heavy. Today was his little sister’s wedding.

Nothing else mattered.

“Everythingisgoingtochange for dragonkind after today.” Queen Regina’s gaze swept Astred’s hair, searched her face, then her attire.

Astred allowed her mother to adjust her dress rather than waste time fussing over the draped layers herself.

She observed her mother’s bent head as she worked, humming a tune Astred hadn’t heard since she was a child.

The melody tickled a buried memory, filmy and too fragile to grasp.

She shook her head.

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