Dragon Fire (Dragons of Perralt Book 1) (6 page)

His hardness, his pure maleness sent a warm feeling of want through her. Every fiber of her being cried for him. Every emotion inside of her was set aside so that she could have this.

Slowly, he started to enter her. Just a little. Slowly spreading her wider. The strangeness surprised her. Her need drove her forward.

She gasped at his largeness. Her stomach knotting up with fear, as she bit her lip. She wanted this. She desperately needed him. But still, there was fear.

Fear of pain, the fear of disappointing him. But, most of all, there was the fear of what he would think of her afterwards.

She pushed those fears aside and concentrated.

“Relax,” he said. “I won’t hurt you,” he whispered into her ear.

His voice soothed her soul. As if he had known the perfect words to say.

He entered her a little more. She felt herself expanding, she could feel him filling her. Yes, this was what she needed. The strangeness, the perfectness of it all, infused her with a need for more.

She wanted him inside of her. A part of her. As far inside of her as was possible.

She set aside the pain and discomfort. She ignored her fears as she placed her hands on that perfect butt of his and tried to encourage more.

He smiled down at her, and slowly thrust himself into her until he reached her barrier.

He halted, his eyes staring into hers. A strange look came across his eyes, as he hesitated.

“Please,” she begged. “Please.”

He slowly pushed forward until he was through. There was a brief flash of pain, followed almost immediately by a sense of wonder that she had taken him all.

He was inside her. Buried to the hilt inside of her.

He filled her. All of him was a part of her now. She had grown, expanded to take him. As if she was made for him. There was some pain, but much more pleasure.

She marveled at the thought. Relished the feeling of pure joy that flowed through her. Every nerve tingled, every fiber of her body sang.

Then he began to move, and her world shifted once again.

Slowly at first, quicker, and quicker. Slowly building to something more.

“Drake,” she screamed. “Oh, My … Yes”

The feeling was so intense, and yet, her soul told her that there was something more. Something coming.

Arching into him, she met his thrusts. Grinding into him. Demanding more, demanding faster. She needed him.

Her legs wrapped around his, her hands raked his back as she sought a release. He drove into her. Over, and over, and over again. Always pushing her higher.

She felt … Yes … Almost.

Her world exploded into a thousand stars as she felt herself become lost. A sharp, shuddering tingle traveled throughout her.  Muscles quivered, and her thoughts left her.

Still, he continued to thrust into her.

“More,” she yelled. “Please, again.”

He continued to move inside of her. Back and forth, ever onward, until she thought she would surely explode.

He thrust into her one last time, burying himself. Throwing his head back, he roared as he finished inside of her.

She felt warmth fill her. Felt him throb inside of her and she joined him in release.

Her body shaking, her world ending as they finished together.

He held himself above her and looked down into her eyes. That silly smirk on his face.

That grin of his didn’t bother her now. She knew it was for her, he was pleased with her.

Sighing, she pulled him down on top of her. She needed his weight, needed his strength. She would worry about tomorrow and next month, then. For now, she had him in her arms and the world was good.

Drake turned over onto his side. Elsbeth turned in her sleep to hug him from behind, her arm draped over his side.

He fought the need to turn back into her and take her again. She would be sore, he reminded himself. This was new to her. He must remain patient.

But the need in him was strong. The beast demanded more. It took every ounce of willpower to restrain himself.

Instead, he pulled her arm tight and tried to sleep.

Her virginity had surprised him. He shouldn’t have been. She was a princess after all. Yet, it had. It changed things somehow.

He had been her first. That fact made him smile with pleasure.

As he lay there, he wondered about this woman, and his need for her. It amazed him, this burning need to cherish and protect her. As if his very existence depended upon her happiness.

She is not your mate, he reminded himself. She is a princess. A woman destined for Sinstra where she will ask another man for help.

The thought sent a shaft of pure hate through him. An urge to destroy flowed into his soul.

No! He reminded himself. She is not yours. It is for the medallion only.

The thought of the coin lying next to her skin filled him with curiosity. How did her mother get it? What travels had it taken to wind up with this young princess?

Sighing, he pulled her in closer to him. He could wait, tomorrow night. He knew where they would stop. It would be perfect for what he wanted.

A smile crossed his lips as he fell asleep. Sleep that was filled with dreams of her, beneath him. Above him. On her knees before him. A thousand dreams, each of them better than the last.

.o0o.

Drake woke with the beast inside of him demanding to be set free. Wanting to stand on the highest mountaintop and roar.

He pushed the monster back down and turned to find Elsbeth.

The bed was empty. She stood across the clearing looking at him as if he had taken her first born. Her eyes burrowed into him, trying to understand. Trying to fathom the depths of what they had done.

He could see it now. She was going to be upset. Guilty, ashamed. A thousand emotions would trouble her all day until he could put them to rest tonight.

“What?” he demanded as he rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

She hesitated a moment, shaking her eyes. “I didn’t know,” she said.

“Didn’t know what?” he asked.

“I didn’t know it could be like that.”

He laughed. “Oh honey, that was but the opening event. Wait until tonight.”

Her cheeks flashed with red and she hid her eyes for a moment.

But, he noticed that she didn’t say, ‘no.’ Didn’t cry and whimper that it had all been a mistake. No, this woman knew what she wanted and took it.

He looked at her again, surprised at the lack of shame and guilt. He had misread her. The ladylike princess persona could be set aside for the wanton woman. Insatiable, and demanding.

A powerful combination, he thought. The kind that could trap a man into wanting more. Always more.

Sighing, he pushed himself up to start the day. She backed away from him, obviously afraid he might renew their liaison. Or, afraid that she might initiate something.

Laughing to himself, he rolled up his bed. Their bed. It was going to be an interesting day.

.o0o.

Other than the initial awkwardness that morning, the day’s journey had gone well. She wasn’t a clingy woman, Drake thought.  She had too much pride for that. But she did seem to go out of her way to find reasons to touch him. Her fingers brushing against his arm. Her hand holding his a little longer than necessary when he helped her up a hill.

He had made it a point not to push the pace. Her body would ache because of him. The magic of the spring would not last. It had worked yesterday. But tonight, only he would be able to salve her tired muscles. A prospect he was looking forward to.

Throughout the day, he caught her looking at him strangely. Her brow creased with confusion. At other times, her eyes would drink him in. Savoring, enjoying herself.

She spent most of the day smiling though. He even caught himself almost smiling occasionally. The night before had been special. He would not soon forget it.

He had been with many women. But, none had drawn him in like this one. None had weaved their way into his heart like this.

Grumbling to himself, he tried to shake off the feeling. No, how could he think things like that? It was her body he wanted, he reminded himself. Only her body, and the medallion.

He glanced back. The sunlight caught her hair, surrounding her with a golden glow. Her breasts pushed against her bodice, her hips flexed as she stepped, curving in just the right way.

The kind of way that made the beast inside of him come alive. ‘Later,’ he said. Soon, they would be there soon.

They continued to walk, he made a point of not turning around and looking at her. If he did, they might never get there.

“Do you have any family?” she said from behind him.

He scrunched his shoulders. How to answer that? he wondered. With the truth. At least the part of the truth that he could tell her.

“Yes,” he replied, “my mother, two brothers, and a sister. I am the oldest.”

“No one else?” she asked. Her voice hitching, as if she were frightened about something.

His brow narrowed in confusion. Wasn’t that enough. Heaven knew his family could swamp a large ship. Their drama and issues had filled his life until he had been sent away.

He missed them, he realized. Even his mother. He missed the banter and friendly rivalry. He missed being with people who understood him. Who knew his faults and loved him anyway.

The thought surprised him. He hadn’t thought that when he had left almost a year ago.

“No, no one else,” he said in answer to her question. There would probably never be anyone else. A fact that he had come to accept long ago.

A heavy release of her breath cued him into her concerns. She had been afraid that he had a wife stashed somewhere. That was what she meant by someone else.

She was worried he had a wife. The thought sent a smile to his lips.

Only a short while later they arrived at that day’s destination.

The old stone farmhouse looked no worse for wear, it would serve them well. His body reacted when he thought of the bed inside and what was to come.

He held the door for her and flourished a hand.

“My Lady,” he said with a smile.

Her eyes narrowed in confusion, as she glanced briefly inside the dark home.

“An old huntsman’s cottage. It has been abandoned for years,” he said in response to her questioning look.

She dipped her head and stepped inside. He followed, leaving the door open for some light. He threw the roughhewn shutters open, letting in even more light.

.o0o.

The floor was made of flagstone. A brick fireplace stood on one end, with a cane chair and a small table next to it. On the other end, to her left, a bed.

Both of them looked at the bed, and then at each other. Elsbeth felt her cheeks grow pink as she imagined laying with him.

“No sleeping on the ground tonight,” he said with a smile. The idiot actually thought she was worried about sleeping on the ground.

She smiled weakly and removed her pack. Setting it down in the corner.

“I’ll go get dinner,” he said as he turned to quickly leave. What? He couldn’t get away from her fast enough? All day, he had been like that. She had wanted to talk. Wanted desperately to hold him. Have him hold her. To learn about this man. What were his dreams, his secret fears? She wanted to know everything.

All he wanted was to walk. To hurry up and get to Sinstra so that he could get the damn medallion.

Sighing to herself, she looked around, again. Someone had left the makings for a fire. She smiled to herself. At least she could do that. She would show him.

Bending, she gathered up some straw. Retrieved his flint and steel from the pouch he had lain on his pack. Being careful, she struck the steel. It took several attempts before a small spark landed in the cupped shavings.

She brought it to her mouth and blew on it gently. A small hint of smoke appeared. Then, more. Her heart raced as she focused everything she had on the ember.

At last, a small flame came to life. She squealed with joy as she quickly brought it to the fireplace.

Setting the nest of shavings down gently, she blew onto the flames, then lay more twigs across it. Those caught and she squealed again.

It was like bringing new life into the world. A sense of power and accomplishment flowed through her. She had started a fire.

Gingerly tending her new creation, she slowly brought it to fulfilment. Eventfully standing before a raging fireplace. A smile a mile wide, creased her face. She couldn’t wait for Drake to return so he could see.

It wasn’t long, she heard him approaching. She was sure, deep inside, that he had purposely made noise so that she would know and not be startled. Confirming it, he called her name.

“Elsbeth, it’s me,” he said.

Her heart hitched. The sound of his voice alone could send shivers of anticipation up and down her spine. She stepped aside and watched the door. She wanted to see his face when he saw the fire.

He had to bend at the waist to fit his head under the door frame. He held three large trout, already cleaned and skewered on green branches. Her mouth began to water immediately. Thank God, she had been growing tired of rabbit. His other hand held several wild onions and other plants she was unfamiliar with.

His eyes went immediately to the fire, then to her. His face broke into a huge smile as he nodded, ‘well done’ to her.

She felt herself grow warm under his admiring gaze. He was proud of her. It was as if she had conquered a new land. He turned to look at what she had made.

Something was wrong, there was too much smoke. The fire was growing, but the smoke wasn’t leaving. Instead, it was backing up into the room. Threatening to chase them from the house.

He chuckled and walked over to the fire. Without any regard to himself, or the flames. He reached up into the chimney, opening the flue.

The fire had been fed a new burst of energy. It flared up. The flames licking at his arm as he wrestled with the mechanical contraption.

“Drake,” she screamed, “your arm.”

The flue clanked into place, and he stepped back. “It’s alright. See. No harm,” he said, as he turned his arm back and forth. Displaying it to her.

He was right. He wasn’t burnt. The hairs on his arm weren’t even singed. The sight shocked her. She had been so sure he would be hurt. Was there nothing this man couldn’t do?

He retrieved two wooden spoons and pewter plates from a box in the corner.

“We’ll borrow these for the trip, and I’ll return them the next time I come through,” Drake said as he served the dinner at the small table.

Elsbeth nodded as her mouth watered, she was so hungry. She wondered if she had ever had this good an appetite in her life. It was all the exercise, she realized, then immediately thought of their coupling the night before.

Her body grew warm thinking of what was to come. Or, was she assuming too much? Would he want her again? He had taken her virginity. Had he already gotten what he wanted? Maybe he wouldn’t want her. Not as desperately as she needed him.

The thought made her frown. She didn’t know what to do in this situation. Everything was new and strange. Her world had become narrower and yet wider at the same time.

Her stomach clenched in fear of the future.

She caught him staring at her with that slightly tilted head look of his. As if he were trying to discern the puzzle before him.

His look sent a shiver down her spine. She needed to get away before he learned all her secrets. If the man knew what he did to her insides, there would be no peace.

Rising, she took a step towards the door. Her legs buckled with the pain. She groaned as she reached to the table to steady herself.

“You don’t happen to have a hot spring behind the trees?” she asked with a chuckle, trying desperately to shake off the embarrassment of being unable to walk.

He frowned and shook his head.

“I have pushed the pace to much,” he said, continuing to frown.

Her heart raced at the look of concern in his eyes.

Grimacing she tried to walk off the pain in her legs.

“Here, Princess,” he said as he rose to stand behind her. “No hot springs, but perhaps I can do something to help.”

His hands came to her shoulders and gently began to knead the tension from her muscles.

She moaned as she closed her eyes and sank into his touch. His fingers seemed to caress all pain and stiffness from her.

“Elsbeth,” he murmured as he bent to kiss her on the back of her neck.

The tension and soreness in her muscles were instantly replaced by a burning need.