Page 33 of Flameborne: Fury
I tried, grasping her hair with a trembling hand, pulling her back, stammering her name.
But she shook her head and pulled me in.
“Please, Donavyn.Please.”
My self-control was shredded, and the look in her eyes—themisery—when I hesitated laid a blade to the last leash I possessed.
But, as we leaned closer, bodies thrumming, there was another roar, another creak, and I was reminded that we were in the middle of a storm with two mindless, mating dragons.
She was my mate. And she was in danger.
As another tree crashed to earth behind us, taking its brothers down with it, I snarled a curse and grabbed her up. But she pushed to her feet, to a run, pulling me with her.
“This way.This way!”
She sprinted, still holding my hand. I couldn’t tell which rumbles were the thunder, and which erupted from Kgosi, but a minute later, Bren pulled me straight into thick scrub and branches, then broke through, stumbling to a halt in a dry, dark cave.
The moment we were out of the storm she turned and stood, staring up at me. She looked like a sleek seal, her braid dark with rain and loose strands painted against her neck, leathers sucking against her skin,everythingwet. But it was her eyes, wide, and pleading…Begging.
My breath shuddered out of me as I fought for control. “Bren, we’re…” I croaked.
“I know.” Her throat bobbed, and I grunted with the punch of need that stole my breath. “Donavyn, please… Don’t run away from me again.”
With a groan that tore out of my throat like it was ripped, I descended on her, pulling her to me. Wet leather and brass buttons, clothing suctioned to skin, fingers clawed, nailsscraping, breath panting, teeth bared, I feasted on her mouth, her throat, herbreathas I tore at her buttons, while she struggled with mine.
As if the dragons heard our need, they raised their calls together, echoing through the storm and vibrating in my bones. But I pushed them away. Pushed itallaside to drink in the sight ofher.
Mate.She wasmine.
The dream I’d forsaken. The desire I’d thought selfish. She was here. And she wanted me.
For a split second, duty weighed heavy on my shoulders. The warnings that were part of my life, my role, thepurposeechoed in the storm.
But I set them aside.
Mate.
Mine.
If she chose me for herself, nothing else could take her from me.
No one.
12. Mate, My Mate
SOUNDTRACK:Love Me Harderby Steven Rodriguez.
~ BREN ~
Donavyn stared down at me, scanning my body,drinking me in.I was fully-clothed, yet I was naked under those eyes. Naked and desired andnecessary.Instead of self-doubt and self-consciousness, his hungry gaze made my body flush and bloom.
Donavyn didn’t stare at me like a choice cut of meat to be torn and chewed for his own gratification. His gaze was awed. As if I wereprized.
Iwantedhis eyes on me.
Then he closed the space between us and touched my cheek, a low groan rolling in his chest as he trailed trembling, featherlight fingertips down my jaw, raising goosebumps like cold comets, skating down my spine.
I shivered and bit my lip, but he shook his head and used his thumb to stroke my lower lip, teasing it out from under my teeth.
