Page 38 of Shifting the Flame

"I trust you," she whispered, leaning forward to wrap her arms as far around his neck as they would go.

Her trust inflamed something primal within him. With a powerful thrust of his wings, he launched them skyward, feeling her gasp and tighten her hold. The sensation of her body pressed against him, riding his dragon form, created an even deeper connection between them. The festival lights grew smaller below them as he soared toward his mansion.

But one question burned in his mind. Why would wolves target his mate? Wolf packs rarely challenged dragons directly, especially not an Alpha dragon on his own territory. Something wasn't adding up. The wolves had focused specifically on Danica- not on him, and not on challenging his authority. They wanted her. But why?

Despite his worries, Asher couldn't deny the perfection of this moment. The way she moved with him, adjusting to every bank and turn without fear, felt like she was born to fly with him. Her yellow sundress fluttered in the wind, and her delighted laughter reached his ears even above the rush of air. He allowed himself to savor this moment, circling higher into the star-studded sky, giving her more time in flight than strictly necessary.

Her body melded to his scales as if she'd always belonged there. This was right. This was how it should be. He made a wide, swooping turn that caused her to squeal in excitement rather than fear.

When he finally descended into his backyard, landing with a graceful touch that barely disturbed the grass, she dismounted with surprising ease - sliding down his side as if she'd done it a hundred times before. Asher shifted immediately, his form condensing and reshaping until he stood before her, human again and unapologetically naked.

In one fluid motion, he pulled her close, his eyes intense with determination. "I'll find out why those wolves were there and why they wanted you." His voice was a rough growl, his hands gripping her waist possessively. "Nobody threatens what's mine."

But she didn't seem too concerned with that situation at that moment. Her eyes were bright with lingering adrenaline. "That was—Asher, that was incredible! I've never felt so alive!" Her hands traced the contours of his bare chest. "The way you move through the air, the feeling of your scales beneath me, the wind in my hair—" She laughed, breathless and exhilarated. "I felt like I belonged there, on your dragon's back. Like that's where I was meant to be."

The combination of her words and her touch ignited something in Asher that couldn't be contained. She hadn't run from his dragon. She'd embraced it. Embraced him—all of him.

"You do belong there," he growled softly, pulling her flush against him. "And here."

His lips crashed against hers in a kiss that demanded everything. Gone was any pretense of restraint or patience. His hands tangled in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss as he backed her against the nearest stone wall. She matched his intensity, her fingers digging into his shoulders, pulling him closer rather than pushing him away.

"You're not afraid," he breathed against her lips, the realization striking him. "Not of them. Not of me."

"Never of you," she whispered back, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "Your dragon is magnificent, Asher. You're magnificent."

Her words sent a surge of primal satisfaction through him. His dragon rumbled in approval, a deep, possessive sound that vibrated through his chest. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers, and without breaking their gaze, he lifted her off the ground effortlessly. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, her arms looping around his neck as he carried her through the back door of his mansion and up the staircase.

The journey to his bedroom was a blur of heat and anticipation. His bare feet padded softly against the wooden floor, the cool air brushing against his naked skin, but he barely noticed. All he could focus on was the woman in his arms—her warmth, her scent, and the way her body molded against his as if she always belonged there.

Once inside his bedroom, he wasted no time. He set her down on the edge of the bed, his hands already moving to the straps of her yellow sundress. Her eyes never left his as he slid the dress down her body, letting it pool at her feet. Her whitebra and panties followed quickly, until she was gloriously naked before him.

"God, you're breathtaking," he growled, his voice low and rough with desire. His eyes roamed over her curves, taking in every detail—the softness of her skin, the way her chest rose and fell with each breath, and the way her brown eyes darkened with need. He wanted to savor her, to memorize every inch of her, but the urgency burning in his veins wouldn't allow it.

He guided her onto the bed, laying her down gently against the soft sheets. The moonlight streaming through the windows bathed her in a silvery glow, making her look ethereal, like something out of a dream. He joined her on the bed, his body hovering over hers. He claimed her lips once more, his hands roaming over her body memorizing every curve.

His fingers found her breasts, teasing her nipples until they hardened under his touch. Her breath hitched and her back arched, pressing herself into his hands. He deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers as his hands moved lower, tracing the curve of her hips, the softness of her thighs, until he reached the wet heat between her legs.

"Asher," she gasped as his fingers stroked her sensitive folds, her hips rocking against his hand. She was already so wet and so ready for him, and the thought drove him wild. He slid two fingers inside her, feeling her inner walls clench around them as he moved with deliberate, measured thrusts.

"That's it," he breathed, his voice filled with need. "Let go for me."

Her body responded to his command, her hips matching his rhythm as he worked her closer and closer to the edge. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her hands gripping his shoulders as her release built. When it finally hit, it was like a tidal wave—her body shuddered, her back arching off the bed as she cried out, her inner walls pulsing around his fingers.

Asher didn't give her a moment to recover. Before her tremors had fully subsided, he guided himself to her entrance, his cock thick and aching with need. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his as he pushed into her slowly, inch by delicious inch.

"Damn, Danica," he groaned, his jaw tightening as he felt her tight, wet heat envelop him completely. "You feel so perfect."

She gasped as he filled her to the hilt, her hands gripping his broad shoulders as he began to move. His thrusts were deliberate, deep, and unrelenting, each one driving her higher and higher. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer, her body meeting his with a desperation that matched his own.

"Harder," she begged, her voice a breathless whisper against his ear. "Please, Asher, harder."

He didn't need to be told twice. He quickened his pace, his hips slamming into hers with a force that had her crying out in pleasure. The sound of their bodies coming together filled the room, a rhythm so primal and raw it left no room for thought, only feeling.

Her nails raked down his back, the sharp sting of pain only heightening his pleasure. He growled, his dragon stirring within him, urging him to claim her now. He thrust into her with a ferocity that left them both trembling, sweat slicking their skin as they moved together in perfect harmony.

"Asher," she moaned as her body began to tighten around him. He could feel her orgasm building, her inner walls clenching around his cock as she teetered on the edge. He reached between them, his thumb circling her clit, and that was all it took.

She came undone beneath him, her body convulsing as her release crashed over her. Her cries echoed through the room, her hips bucking against his as she reached the peak of her pleasure. The sight of her, completely undone, was enough to push himover the edge. With a low growl, he buried himself deep inside her, his own release surging through him as he filled her with his seed.

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