Page 35 of Dance for the Dragon
He exhaled heavily. “Fine. I will know.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Promise me you won’t take any chances. If I shift, don’t be stupid enough to think I’ll know who you are. Because I swear to you, I won’t.”
She lifted her chin, breaking his hold. “I am far from stupid, Kohl.”
He rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. “I didn’t mean…”
She released her breath on a loud exhale, the tension flowing from her body. “I know you didn’t.” Then she smiled. “Come on. You promised me a dance.”
“Devon.”
She rolled her eyes at his stern tone. “Kohl.”
He just looked at her, trying to think of what he could say that would convince her of how serious this was. How serious he was.
Reaching out, she took his face between her hands, rubbing his beard with her fingertips before she leaned forward and lightly touched her lips to his.
His cock stiffened instantly, and a helpless sound left his throat. No part of her touched him other than her hands and her lips, and his body was reacting like he’d never had a woman before.
He wanted this woman with a ferocity that terrified him.
She released his face and turned the keys, shutting off the engine. Pulling out her phone, she swiped at the screen. A moment later, music played from the small speaker. Garth Brooks was singing about The Dance. Kohl knew the song well. And he knew after this night, it would haunt him whenever he heard it, because he was getting too close. This would be the last time he would see her. It had to be. And if he were any kind of gentleman, he would take her home right now. Take her home and never see her again. Tell the Master what he wanted to know, and carry on the way things were before he’d met Devon.
Apparently, however, he was no gentleman.
Kohl swallowed his frustration and fear and got out of the car, making it around to her side before she managed to get her door fully open. She froze for a second when he was suddenly there, before taking his outstretched hand and allowing him to help her out. She tossed her coat on the seat and shut the car door, bringing her phone.
He led her down to the lake, walking slowly to account for her lack of night vision, until the water lapping against the shoreline mixed with the country twang of Garth’s singing. The air was colder than the previous night, but without a hint of moisture. But he knew it wasn’t the cold that made her shiver when he pulled her into his arms and started to sway to the music in her hand.
Though she was tall, Devon’s curves were soft, and fit against him perfectly. The loose curls on her head smelled sweetly of almonds and tickled his nose when he pressed his cheek against the top of her head. Lifting her hand to his mouth, he kissed the soft skin on the back, breathing in the warmth of winter sunshine radiating from her skin.
The beast stretched restlessly. It missed the sunshine.
Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths, her hardened nipples grazing his sensitized skin beneath their clothes. Her leg moved in and out from between his as they moved in time to the music, teasing him as his did her. He wanted to hold her like this skin-to-skin, without clothing as a barrier between them, and dance naked under the stars.
Neither spoke, each too absorbed in the feel of the other. He held her close, with just enough room between them so their bodies slowly teased each other with every step. Devon let him set the pace, and even though a part of him wanted to be inside of her five fucking minutes ago, another part was thoroughly enjoying the subtle seduction of the dance.
Soon, the rising scent of Devon’s desire enveloped them, feeding Kohl’s lust. Cheek to cheek, her breath was heavy in his ear as her fingers tickled the back of his neck. Kohl pulled her tighter against him, keeping her warm with his ever-increasing body heat. Fangs bared, he slid one down her jaw, careful not to break the skin. She shivered, tightening her arm around his neck and pressing closer to him. Kohl wanted like hell to absorb her into his skin, make her a part of him, so he would have the feel of her, the scent of her, the life of her spirit, with him always.
And still, they danced.
When his blood was racing through his veins so hot and heavy his cock felt like it was about to burst from his pants, and Kohl was convinced he wouldn’t be able to breathe another breath without kissing her, he pressed his lips to the top of her head, then her temple, and then the corner of her brow.
Devon lifted her head from his chest and turned her face up to his. Her eyes were bright with desire, and he watched as the tip of her tongue wet her lips.
With a groan of surrender, he took her mouth with his. He kissed her like he would never have the chance again, while trying to ignore the truth that he most likely never would. He wanted to tell her how she affected him—what she meant to him—but for once, he found he had no words. So, he would have to show her.
Kohl tightened his arm around her hips and pulled her up into him, molding her against his hardness. He moaned at the taste of her mouth, the feel of her body, the scent of her blood and her lust for him. He knew if he touched her, she would be wet and ready for him, and once he thought it, he couldn’t remove the image from his head. Sliding his hand down over her ass, he lifted the back of her sweater, exposing her bare skin to the cool night air and the heat of his palm. He found her bra enclosure, and realized his hands were shaking so much he could barely get it unhooked.
Devon sighed with pleasure when he finally got it and rubbed the spots where the elastic had made indents in her back. A low growl rose in his throat at the thought of anything marring that beautiful skin, even temporarily. Bras were torture devices for women, but better than the contraptions they used to wear.
He let go of her hand, wrapping both arms around her as she hung on to his shoulders. Lips, teeth, and tongues clashed as he filled one palm with her curvy ass, holding her hips against his to relieve the aching hardness of his cock, while the other palm skimmed her ribcage and made its way between their bodies. He hefted the weight of her bare breast, rubbing the nipple with the pad of his thumb.
Fingers digging into his shoulders, Devon moaned and arched her body, the movement breaking off their kiss as she fought for breath. His fang scraped her bottom lip, drawing blood. Looking right at him with eyes heavy with desire, she licked it clean.
Kohl flashed his fangs at her. He wanted to taste her. He wanted it so badly that if someone tried to get between them right now, friend or foe, he would rip them limb from limb to get to her.
And still, they danced.
Chapter 12
