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SHE MIGHT HAVE sounded sure of herself, but she had never been as nervous as she was when she took off her dress in front of Cray. And definitely never more terrified than when she told him what she wanted from him.
Now here she was waist-deep in the water, acting nonchalant though she shook like a leaf. Why had she taunted him like that? What was she thinking? She knew, though. She had known since she first entered his mind and felt such blatant sensuality.
She wanted out of the cage that had been her life up to this point.
“Then I will let ye out of your cage, my wee dragon,” Cray murmured in her ear, having come up behind her. Desire cut through her so strongly at the feel of his nudity against her back that she struggled for air.
“Shh, ‘tis all right,” he whispered, turning her, very much the man who had gentled her dragon. He tilted her chin until her eyes stayed with his. His brogue thickened with his emotions, his need to see her well cared for. “’Twill be as ye need it to be, aye? At yer pace and no faster.”
She nodded, wanting that, then shook her head, not wanting that at all.
“No.” She narrowed her eyes, trying to make sure she worded this correctly. That she said what needed to be said. “I’ve been living at my pace my whole life, and I’m tired of it.” Once she started, she couldn’t seem to stop. “I’m tired of feeling like I don’t fit in anywhere, especially in a man’s life.” She shook her head again. “And I’m tired of never being desired or wanted. Of feeling more like an ‘it’ rather than a flesh and blood woman.”
“Then let me show ye how desirable ye really are,” he said gently. “But not at the pace, I have been at up until this point because—”
“Because what?” she cut him off, grabbing as much of his dick as she could manage. She dared him with narrowed eyes and squeezed. “Because you don’t think I can handle this?”
He tried, he really did, she could see it in his eyes, but she had figured him out in record time.
He simply could not back down when challenged.
Especially when she was the one challenging him.
She knew she was playing with fire but wanted that. Him. Whatever he was about to do to her. Whatever lengths he would go which, in retrospect, she should have known would be truly great lengths indeed. Endless. World-tilting, life-changing lengths.
The way in which he did it though surprised her if for no other reason than it was far more threatening than anticipated. And far more welcomed by her inner dragon.
“Let go of my cock,” he ground out. His eyes sparked with fire. “Now.”
Rather than respond with her normal defiance when it came to him, she instinctually obeyed. Interestingly enough, in direct response, the ache between her thighs became a raging inferno.
“Uncaged,” he murmured. His gaze raked over her boldly. “Only to crave another cage altogether, my wee dragon.”
Though she didn’t understand, deep down, on a level she was only now being introduced to, she suspected she did. She liked being told what to do. At least when it came to this. Him. And it seemed he was up to the task, his actions rough. Dangerous. Everything she had no idea she craved.
She gasped, pleased when he yanked her against him. Even more pleased when he clutched her butt forcibly and hauled her up. With a nudge of his hips, he ordered her to wrap her legs around his waist.
She thrilled at the feel of his rock-hard steaming hot shaft against her, at odds with the cold water. The sight of his muscles flexing, reminding her how powerful he was. How easily he could overpower her.
Or, as it turned out, give her the power to chase her own desire.
He squeezed her backside and raked his gaze over her breasts before a small, arrogant smile curved his mouth. “Now, pleasure yourself against me.”
“Pleasure myself?” she said hoarsely, pretending she didn’t know exactly what he meant. The key word had been against.
“Aye,” he rumbled, growing impatient. “Now, Madison.”
Something about the way he said ‘now’ with that cocky, his-way-or-the-highway look in his eyes made her spring into action and do something she could never have imagined. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tightened her legs around his waist, and dug her heels into his tight backside.
Then, brazen as could be, she ground up and down the length of his arousal.
Against him rather than taking him inside her.
She’d never imagined let alone actually done this to a man, but it felt amazing, stimulating her in all the right ways. He was sizzling hot and unforgiving, like blazing steel against her swollen flesh and hypersensitive clit.
“Aye, just like that,” he praised, keeping a firm grasp on her butt while allowing her to do all the work. To take him, she realized, before he took her, despite what she had requested. No matter what she thought she wanted, he wanted this to be on her terms. Her first pleasure found with him at her pace.
And by God was it ever, as she lost herself against him, only vaguely aware of his heart slamming alongside hers and his heavy breathing. In fact, she was unaware of anything but chasing after her pleasure until it crashed into her and ripped through her body. It felt that powerful too. So strong that she dug her nails into his back and bit his shoulder.
Cray rumbled with approval before he grabbed both of her butt cheeks hard, only heightening her release. He never moved, not an inch, but let her ride her wave until it became more of an ebb and flow.
Then, as if sensing she was ready, he pressed inside her. Having been almost certain she wouldn’t be able to handle his girth, she was pleasantly surprised. She was already so satisfied, and well prepared, it wasn’t painful but a mere pinch. Then a rush of pleasure as he slowly but surely mini-thrusted his way in.
Though she had unlocked her teeth from his poor shoulder, his back remained at her mercy. She dug her nails in deeper at the sensations rocketing through her. At the way he took control and growled with unmistakable pleasure as he filled her.
Only aware of how he made her feel, she didn’t realize he had walked out of the water until he sat in the grass on the shore, braced his feet on the ground, and ordered her to take him.
“’Twill be ye again, lass,” he said hoarsely. His dragon eyes were locked on her with such raw lust, it drove her wild. “Until ‘tis me for as long as I want.”
She got his message loud and clear.
He wanted her to gain confidence in herself and learn what she wanted from this before he took over and controlled her like he needed to. Like she needed him to.
She truly had wanted out of one cage only to crave another.
Eager to fly so he could catch her all over again, she gripped his shoulders and took a moment to truly appreciate the man at her disposal. One who far outdid any she’d come across at home. From his broad shoulders, and the tattoos roping over his shoulder, to the muscles rippling down his arms and abs, he was perfect.
And hers.
When she shifted her hips ever-so-slightly, it elicited a moan from them both. Oh, how she looked forward to this. How wonderful it would feel. But she wanted something else first. Something she had wanted again since the moment it ended.
So she cupped his cheeks and kissed him.
Not rough like the night before but soft and tender, the moment only made more poignant because they were joined together. Because she felt him deep inside as he kissed her just as tenderly, his tongue and lips not harsh but gentle as though tasting her for the first time.
As though loving her with his mouth.
She tensed at the thought, fearing it wouldn’t bode well with him, but he only kissed her more deeply, his thoughts in perfect harmony with hers. In sync in a way that translated to her dragon so profoundly that she orgasmed right then and there without moving her hips.
He groaned into her mouth, clearly pleased as his dick leapt inside her.
That, as it turned out, made her jerk, which only led to another mini-climax.
“Och, lass,” he murmured against her mouth. “Ye are nae making this easy on me.”
She imagined she was not, and that wasn’t fair. After all, he was long past needing a release of his own. That in mind, she met his eyes and finally began moving the way he needed her to. Moreover, she began moving in a way she had no idea she was capable of. But then her inner beast was at the helm, guiding her, showing her how to give them both a tremendous amount of pleasure.
“Bloody hell,” he groaned through clenched teeth, watching her through half-mast eyes as she slid up and down, swiveling her hips in circles all the while. She felt sensual. Desirable. Experienced and using her body like she never had before. Aware of it in a way that felt more natural and freeing than the shell she’d been living in up to this point.
She felt sumptuous and alive as she ground and moved, brushing her breasts against his chest every so often, but mostly staying just out of reach, teasing him. Tempting him to touch her though he wasn’t allowed.
So he touched her with his eyes instead, his hungry gaze eating her alive. He made her feel like another woman entirely. Like a sensual siren. And she reveled in it. Gained confidence from it. Within that confidence came freedom to trust her body. Her inner dragon. To take what she needed, knowing it would be what he needed as well.
It was too, as she rode him, chasing the sensation she had in the water only to find herself hovering on the edge of exquisite pleasure...only to wait. She wasn’t quite sure for what. Not until she moved her hips faster still, and he couldn’t take anymore.
He fell back, thrust up hard and roared with release.
Just like that, her body let go, and colors exploded around her. All the while, elongating her own rapture, he throbbed inside her, his strong body trembling beneath hers as he released. Limbless and shaking, she melted against him and rested her cheek on his chest, drawing in his scent.
She wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way, coming down from their crescendo, only that she reveled in it. She could stay like this forever. Laying here sprawled over him felt right. Where she belonged. Where she was meant to be. The overwhelming sensation didn’t daunt her either.
Rather, she felt a sense of relief.
“’Tis your dragon at work,” he murmured, massaging her butt with one hand while trailing his fingers up her spine. Though he still pulsed inside her and softened for a minute or two, she wasn’t surprised to feel him swelling all over again.
“I know,” she whispered. Where before she might have shied from his gaze, she felt far bolder now, so she sat back a little and met his eyes. “And what do you make of it? What do you think of what my dragon wants?”
Naturally, she feared his response, but she had to know. She needed to see in his eyes where he stood moving forward. Because she had already made it clear. Some might say, his sleeping with her made it just as clear, but this was Cray. A man who lusted after women. Many women. Yes, he had loved but one with Maeve, but could he do that again? Would he risk it? If he did, would he be content with only one?
Because she would not, under any circumstance, share him with another.
Those days would be firmly behind him.
“A confident wee dragon indeed,” he said softly, rock hard inside her again. Clearly pleased.
Then seconds later, troubled.
Her heart turned sluggish. Was that doubt he felt? Was what she wanted too much? If so, that would be that. This would end here and now. Because she deserved more. She would have more.
“Aye,” he said softly. Fire suddenly sizzled in his eyes along with fear, catching her off guard. “And ye did have more. Ye gave me no choice but to do things yer way.”
Seconds later, his thoughts slammed into hers, and she saw what he saw.
Then just like that, she was thrust into a memory alongside him.
One neither could have ever seen coming.
