Page 23 of Captured By the Dragon Warrior
“Well,” he said, “if you’ll let me, I promise not to leave your side for, um, forever.”
I nodded because of course I would accept that, but then I heard his words. Tipping his chin up, I met his gaze. Hecouldn’t quite hold my stare and his cheeks were turning a brighter pink by the moment. How could he be worried that I wouldn’t want him forever?
Tucking my nose close to his ear, I whispered to him, “Forever may not be long enough, Mate.” I flicked my tongue into his ear, pleased when he flinched and gasped.
Quincy chuckled and tucked his hands down the back of my pants as though he meant to stay there a while. If it weren’t for the fact we were on a shuttle with a pilot who would check on us at any moment for not securing ourselves into seats by now, I would strip us both down and take Quincy right here. I reached down to squeeze his butt cheek before turning him around and encouraging him into a seat.
When I made to sit beside him, Quincy stopped me. “Sit on the other side.”
I did, unsure why, until I finished strapping myself in and Quincy took my hand in his. He’d wanted me on the other side of him so that he could hold my hand. That he understood and accepted my need to be close to him made me feel like my heart might swell right out of my chest.
“Tell me more about how you spew fire,” Quincy said as he leaned against my shoulder.
“There isn’t much more to tell. It’s both a weapon and a danger, as I’m sure you’ve figured out. We use it sparingly.” I rested my chin on top of his head. “I hated to use it so near you, but I had to stop him.”
“I’m not upset that you did it, or anything like that. I actually think it’s really cool,” he said on a chuckle. “And I hope you don’t mind, but I’m seriously going to keep thinking of you as my fire-breathing dragon.”
I rolled my eyes and huffed a laugh. That he wasn’t disturbed by this trait of mine—of every Cero—was a blessing.I would happily put up with an incorrect and odd label. “I don’t mind at all.”
After our shuttle landed in the bay of the ship, I braced myself for more discussions with my team and possibly with the prince as well. I’d alerted both to the situation once I’d retrieved my tablet, so it could be hours before I might get away with Quincy. There was an itch in my blood that had me desperate to claim him, as though the bond might be weaker for us having been kept in separate cells in that disgusting prison. Or possibly because of what I’d done to free us. I was exhausted from the effort that had taken, but I needed to be with my mate.
Munni was there the instant the shuttle’s ramp lowered. I took a breath, prepared to begin explanations now, but Quincy skirted around me and got to Munni first. By the time I got to the end of the ramp, Munni was smiling and turning to walk away.
“What’s happened?” I asked Quincy.
“We have the day off.” He took my hand and led the way out of the bay.
“The day? But they’ve asked for—” I made to remove my tablet from my thigh, but Quincy pushed it back into place.
“And I’ve told them we’re taking the day off.” He grinned up at me. “I was an officer, too, buddy. I know the tone to take to make everyone get out of my very important way without asking questions.”
A laugh leapt out of me even as his care and concern warmed my heart all over again.
To distract myself from wanting to ravish him in the lift, I asked, “What was your rank in Earth’s military?”
“Well, it’s America’s military, remember, and specifically The Marine Corps, but I’m a second lieutenant.Or was. Or something.” He smirked up at me. “Regardless, it means I outrank you, Sergeant.”
I smirked back at him. “We don’t have a rank of lieutenant, second or otherwise, so you can’t outrank me, Civilian.”
“Civilian?” he said with affront, though he still grinned. “How very dare you?”
Chuckling, I stepped off the lift when it stopped on the level of our quarters. A moment later, I nearly stumbled as Quincy landed on my back and wrapped his arms around my neck. He wiggled around, grunted a few times, and though I wasn’t sure what he was doing, I kept walking.
“For fuck’s sake,” he grumbled, “that was supposed to take you down.”
It was? I snorted and patted his arm.
“I bet I can find a way to get you on your knees,” he said directly into my ear before I felt his tongue tickle me there as well.
“Ack!” I pushed his face away and rubbed at my ear. “That waswet.”
He laughed and readjusted his hold on me. “Bet you wouldn’t mind it if I licked open your cock pouch.”
I did stumble then and grunted as I reached out with my injured arm and tapped my sensitive new wrist against the wall.
“Careful,” Quincy chided. “If you’re going to flail around and cry out, I want it to be from pleasure.”
My mate was filthy minded. Goddess bless, he was perfect.
