Page 24 of Naga Warlord's Mate

Andear’s tail slithered forward toward her, his presence overwhelming in the enclosed space. “You would rather I let them tear you apart?”

“I can handle myself!”

“Like you’re handling yourself now? Coming here alone at night, unprotected?” His massive form loomed over her. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”

“Stop treating me like I’m made of glass!” Priscilla stepped closer, tilting her chin up to meet his burning gaze. “I’m not some fragile thing that needs your protection. I survived slavery, I can survive—”

“You’re human,” he growled, closing the distance between them until she could feel the heat radiating from his chest. “And the Xirath—”

“I’m not weak!”

“No.” His voice dropped lower, sending shivers down her spine. “But you’re reckless.”

The silence lingered between them, charged with something that made her heart beat faster. She became acutely aware of how close they were standing, of the way his scales gleamed in the low light, of his scent—leather and metal and male. His chest rose and fell with each breath, matching her own rapid rhythm.

The air crackled with possibility.

Her breath caught as Andear’s massive hands cupped her face, his palms warm against her cheeks. Her skin tingled where he touched her, and she couldn’t stop the shiver that ran throughher body. His golden eyes blazed with intensity, making her knees weak.

“This is a mistake,” she whispered, but her body betrayed her words as she leaned into his touch. Her heart thundered, every nerve ending alive with awareness of him.

His powerful tail coiled around them both as he pressed her back against the cool stone wall. The contrast between the rough surface at her back and his heated scales against her front made her gasp. His large form caged her in, but instead of feeling trapped, she felt... safe.

“Tell me to stop,” he growled, his voice deeper than she’d ever heard it. His thumb traced her bottom lip, making her breath hitch. “Tell me this isn’t what you want.”

Instead of answering, Priscilla rose on her tiptoes, closing the gap between them. Her lips met his in a kiss that started gentle but quickly turned fierce. Andear’s growl vibrated through her entire body as he took control, one hand sliding into her hair while the other gripped her hip.

He kissed with precision and power that left no room for retreat. His tongue swept into her mouth, claiming every inch of her. Priscilla’s hands found his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath his warm scales. She’d never been kissed like this before, never been touched like this. Every sensation was new, overwhelming, and perfect.

“Priscilla,” he breathed against her lips.

She arched into him, wanting more, needing more. “Andear, please—”

His tail tightened around them, drawing her even closer as his mouth moved to her neck. “You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he murmured against her skin.

He pinned Priscilla against the cold stone wall with his body, his hands caging her wrists above her head. She could feel the tension in him, the way his muscles trembled with restraint.

“Tell me to cease,” he growled, his voice low and guttural, the words vibrating through her chest. But his lips brushed hers as he spoke, a tease of what could be, a promise of what he wanted to take.

Priscilla’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded, not with fear but with something wild and untamed. She’d spent her life being told what she couldn’t do, what she wasn’t allowed to have. She tilted her chin up, baring her throat in a silent challenge.

His golden eyes darkened as he studied her. For a moment, he didn’t move, his body trembling with the effort of holding back. Then, with a low growl that sent shivers down her spine, he claimed her mouth again. This time, there was no hesitation, no gentleness. His kiss was hungry, demanding, his fangs grazing her lower lip in a way that made her gasp. He took advantage,deepening the kiss as his tongue swept into her mouth with a possessiveness that left her dizzy.

His hands slid down her arms, leaving trails of fire in their wake before gripping her hips and lifting her effortlessly. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, the smooth scales of his tail providing support. The heat of him seeped into her skin, and she arched into it, wanting more.

“You don’t understand what you do to me,” he rasped against her throat, his teeth scraping along the sensitive skin of her pulse. His breath was hot, his voice rough with need, and it only fueled her desire.

Priscilla’s hands found his chest again. “Then show me.”

Andear’s growl was almost savage as he stripped away her clothes with a single, efficient motion. Her tank top and pants fell to the floor, forgotten, as his hands and his tail explored every inch of her naked skin. The roughness of his palms against her softness, the cool smoothness of his scales against her warmth—it was sensory overload, and she reveled in it.

He paused, his golden eyes locked on hers, as if giving her one last chance to back out. Priscilla didn’t hesitate. She pulled him closer, her nails digging into his shoulders and her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. “I said show me.”

Andear’s restraint shattered. His tail wrapped tighter around her, holding her in place as he guided her down onto the coldstone floor. Crouching between her legs, he let go of his own clothes, letting them fall away in a heap of leather and cloth. Her gaze dropped to his primary member, which was just as intimidating as the rest of him—thick, impressive, and clearly ready for her.

With a low growl, he leaned forward, positioning himself at her entrance and pressing his forehead against hers, his breath mingling with hers. “Last chance,” he murmured, but the way his body trembled betrayed just how much he wanted her.

She met his gaze head-on, her green eyes blazing with determination. “Don’t make me tell you twice.”

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