Page 56 of Song of the Dragon Rider
“But you do,” I said confidently, seeing the truth of it in her eyes. “Take the gamble, Cat. Just once.”
“After the craziness of tonight, I might take that risk.” She stepped closer. Her fingers lightly touched the collar of my shirt, absently toying with the edge.
I caught her hand and held it against my chest. “Risks can be rewarding,” I stated, excited by the pulse I felt racing beneath my fingers. “But are you sure you're ready for the consequences?”
She looked up at me, her eyes alight with both defiance and intrigue. “With you, I'm learning that the consequences might be worth it,” she whispered, her breath warm against my skin.
“How so?” I tilted my head to the side.
She bit her plump lower lip and the sight drove me wild. “You might be holding me hostage, but I can’t deny that whenever I’m in trouble, you’re always there. Maybe I’m losing my mind.” She chuckled and lowered her head with a rueful shake.
I grabbed her chin and lifted it to meet my gaze. “You’re not losing your mind, Cat.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” she murmured. “You’re my captor. If our roles were reversed, wouldn’t you feel insane if you were drawn to the person holding you hostage?”
With the space between us charged with electricity that felt both dangerous and inevitable, I realized we were playing a game of push and pull, each moment drawing us closer to a line neither of us was sure we should cross. Yet, as the night deepened and the quiet of the house wrapped around us, the unspoken invitation hung in the air, a challenge from which neither was quite ready to walk away.
“I'm not a complete villain, you know,” I responded, my voice equally low. My hands found their way to her waist of their own volition and drew her in until the space between us diminished to inches. “I save my darker side for more... deserving occasions.”
“Is that so?” she bantered.
Her breath caught when I leaned in and brushed my nose against hers. The air around us felt thick, laden with unspoken promises and lingering desires.
“Absolutely.” I closed the small gap between us, my lips brushing hers tentatively at first, gauging her reaction.
The kiss deepened almost instantly, driven by a raw, pent-up need that neither of us could deny. Her hands roamed up to my neck and pulled me closer, sealing the space between us with a fervor that matched my own. The world around us faded away, leaving only the sound of our mingled breaths.
When our lips finally parted, I felt Cat's fingers frantically working the buttons of my shirt, her movements deft and determined. I caught her hands, slowly backed her up against the wall, and gently pinned them above her head. “Patience,” I murmured against her neck, my lips trailing a path of fire down to her collarbone.
“Patience was never my strong suit,” she quipped breathlessly, arching into me as I nipped at the sensitive skin just below her ear.
I chuckled low in my throat, releasing her hands to run my palms down her sides, savoring the soft curves of her body hidden by her soft, silky undergarments. “Then allow me to teach you the fine art of anticipation.”
With deliberate slowness, I unclasped her brassiere and let it fall to the floor, then cupped her breasts and brushed my thumbs over her hardened nipples. Cat's sharp intake of breath was music to my ears, her body responding to my touch with undeniable eagerness.
“Damien,” she breathed, her voice filled with heady desire and unmistakable impatience. Her hands found their way to my shirt again, this time successfully unbuttoning it and pushing it off my shoulders.
I stepped back, drinking in the sight of her—flushed skin, tousled hair, eyes dark with want. “You're beautiful,” I murmured, tracing a finger along her jawline.
“And you talk too damn much,” Cat retorted with a smirk, pulling me back to her.
Our lips met again, more urgently this time. I lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her to the bed. Laying her down gently, I took a moment to appreciate the way her dark hair fanned out on the pillow, how her chest rose and fell with each rapid breath. The candlelight flickered across her skin, tossing enticing shadows I was eager to explore.
I trailed kisses down her body, savoring every inch of her golden skin. My tongue swirled around her nipple as I caressed her inner thigh, eliciting a soft moan from her lips.
“Tease,” Cat breathed, her fingers tangling in my hair.
“Patience rewards,” I murmured against her skin, continuing my descent. I kissed along the curve of her hip, my stubble grazing her sensitive flesh. Her back arched as I pulled her panties aside to taste her, my tongue exploring her most intimate places. Cat gasped and writhed beneath me as I brought her to the brink again and again, only to pull back.
“Damien,please!” she panted, her usual wit replaced by raw need.
I smirked up at her. “What happened to that sharp tongue of yours?” I teased, placing one last kiss on her inner thigh before moving back up her body.
“You seem to have stolen it,” Cat retorted breathlessly, her wit returning even as desire clouded her eyes. She pulled me down for a searing kiss, her tongue dancing with mine as her hands roamed my back.
I pulled down her panties and settled between her thighs, the heat of her core tantalizing against my hardness. With deliberate slowness, I entered her, savoring the way she gasped and arched beneath me. Her legs wrapped around my waist, urging me deeper.
“Impatient,” I murmured against her neck, nipping lightly at her pulse point.
