Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) (28 page)

His energy, strong and steady, surrounded her. Never had she belonged anywhere or with anyone as she did in that instant. The dragon wanted freedom, demanded its mate, passion and fire, but Brienne refused to rush.

Hands on his chest, she pushed him back onto the soft moss-covered ground. Her hands caressed every inch, her fingers dipped into every groove, finding every indentation. His hooded gaze held hers captive while she explored and committed him to memory.

Still straddling him, she rocked her hips back and forth. A slow, sensual motion designed to drive them both higher. When her fingernails scraped against the tight peaks of his nipples, his breath hissed through his teeth, and his hips thrust up, his hard length pressing into her.

The T-shirt she wore hugged her figure, the extra moisture in the air making it cling. Her aching nipples tightened into hard little nubs beneath the cool fabric, begging for attention. Arching her back, she continued the slow ride, back and forth against him, torn between ripping his clothes off and the leisurely lovemaking she envisioned.

As though reading her mind, he brought his hands up, cupping the weight of her breasts in each palm, massaging them, pinching the nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. Lightning zinged through her straight to her core, making her throb and ache. The dragon pushed her for more, wanting the dominant male to take her, but she shoved it aside. Later, given the opportunity, they could mate, but at that moment, it was about a deeper connection.

Without breaking her gaze, Evan came up to suck her nipple into his mouth. The glide of material and warmth against the sensitive flesh had her arching further into him, moaning as fire raced through her. Hands on her hips, he ground into her. If he continued, she’d be lost.

It took everything in her to push him back, to stop the onslaught of sensation he was creating. His eyes narrowed a little, but he allowed her to take the lead once more. Sliding lower onto his thighs, Brienne sought his lips before tracing his jaw with her tongue. Evan lay motionless beneath her, his hands once again resting on her hips as she kissed and nipped down the strong column of his neck and found her mark.

Her scent clung to his skin, mingling with his at the nape of his neck, and she breathed it in, making her dragon purr.

“Mine.”

“Yes, and you’re mine.”
Evan’s husky voice drifted to her lust-filled mind.

His body tightened in anticipation beneath hers. Her small nips had him moaning, desperate for more, and she was tempted to give in, but she held off. Not yet. It would be over too soon.

Leaving her mark behind, she scooted lower, licking and kissing as she made her way to his hard nipple. Her gaze found and held his for a moment before she darted her tongue out to flick across the hard bud. His fingers dug into her thighs and his breath caught in his throat. The plea in his eyes too difficult to ignore, Brienne closed her lips around him, suckling and flicking her tongue around before grazing him with her teeth. His entire body shuddered beneath her, his moan driving her to nip again.

Throbbing heat ran like molten lava in her veins, filling every part of her. It made her want to throw her resolve away and tear his clothes off to get to her prize. Moving lower until she straddled his legs, Brienne let her gaze travel the length of him, her eyes coming to rest on the thick bulge straining against his jeans. As different as the human fabricated material was, she certainly appreciated the view.

It took every ounce of willpower Evan had to let Brienne explore his body. Every part of him ached and needed. She drove him wild, drove him to the brink of insanity with her soft touch and tender kisses, but he forced himself to let her take the lead.

Her teasing little tongue darted from between her parted lips, wetting them as she looked upon the hard length of his erection through his jeans, and it was all he could do to keep from moaning and taking over. Her eyes, overly bright, burned with passion, yet she held herself in check, taking everything in, savoring each moment.

When her small hands slid down his chest, he expected her to reach for the fastening, to set him free and put them both out of the sensual torment she’d built, but she didn’t. Sliding one finger down the length of him, she waited, watching while the breath he hadn’t been aware he’d been holding hissed from his lips and his hips lurched helplessly forward. She was killing him one slow, amazing touch at a time. He’d never been so hard, so aroused as he was at that moment.

Pleasure, bordering on pain, filled him until all he could think about was her soft lips taking him in, the warm, moist haven of her mouth welcoming him. He couldn’t stop the deep-seated shudder raking his body when her fingers finally slid beneath the band and unfastened his jeans. Blood pumped loud in his ears. He couldn’t hear the waterfall anymore, or the sound of the zipper coming down, but the cool air on his engorged flesh made him moan. When her hands came to each of his thighs to tug at the jeans, he didn’t hesitate to lift his hips and finally rid himself of the blasted material. She shoved them down to his knees before resuming her position on his thighs. Her hungry gaze devoured him, making him throb. Just when he thought he couldn’t take another moment, she brought her hand to him. The cool touch of her fingers around his heated cock made him jerk against her. He moaned again, thrusting up into her palm.

“Brienne…”
Unable to make his throat work, he whispered in her mind.

Her gaze shot up to his. Small flames danced in the depths of her eyes. Her lips parted, and her sexy little tongue slid over them again.

“Just let me love you.”
The words he’d used on her, now turned on him, had her smiling and her pupils dilating just a bit wider.

Her hand tightened around him, teasing, tormenting until he could hardly see straight. Just when he thought she’d ease his suffering, she lowered her mouth to him. She made no pretense at playing or teasing, but took him in one long slide. Her soft moan vibrated through his aching cock, making it jerk in her mouth.

His heart pounded and every muscle in his body tightened.
“Sweet mother of all light, Brienne, I won’t be able to hold on.”

Her gaze found his again, her mouth curving into a smile even as she came up his shaft, swirled her tongue around the head and came back down again.
“You’ll hold on.”

How could she be so sure when his entire body was ready to explode?

She hummed against him, sending the vibrations through him, igniting a firestorm as her soft lips and tongue drove him higher and higher. Her fingernails scraped down his thighs and up again, adding a hint of pain to the sweet torture she inflicted.

Closing his eyes tight, Evan breathed in and out, fighting against the inevitable. Her silken touch was pushing him too far. Fire raced down his spine and up from his toes. Just when he thought there’d be no turning back, she pulled away with a pop, the cool air pulling him from the edge, if only just.

Without saying a word, she brought her hands to the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. The lush curves of her breasts drew his attention. Just out of reach, all he could do was stare as they bounced back into place, the dark rosy nipples hard and begging for his touch.

She rose above him, one foot on either side of his thighs as she unfastened her own jeans and slid them down her hips before kicking them off. Moisture darkened the pale pink of her panties where they covered her soft curls. He’d have loved to take his time, teasing her as she’d done him, but already she was sliding them off and down her legs to land on top of her jeans.

The glide of her skin as she straddled him again was like the softest silk. Gazing deep into his eyes, she positioned herself above him, and with a soft sigh and a moan she lowered herself, impaling herself on his cock.

He couldn’t keep her gaze, couldn’t keep his eyes open. For a moment, all he could do was breathe and hope the sensation eased enough to allow him a shred of dignity.
“Don’t move. Please. Not a muscle.”
His voice sounded strained even to him.

Her body shuddered against him.

He breathed deep, trying to ignore the fire racing through him, threatening to consume him. When the deep, pulsing ache receded and he was able to open his eyes, he found her with her head thrown back, her lips parted and her eyes closed. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight, and his heart contracted.

Surging forward with his hips, he knocked her off balance, bringing her closer. He brought his hands up her sides to her ribs, then forward to cup her breasts. When his fingers plucked at the sensitive nipples, her body contracted around him, making them both moan.

Somewhere deep inside, something unlocked, releasing memories, merging past lives with the present. Words welled up inside him, words he didn’t understand, yet his lips formed them perfectly as he spoke the ancient Avalorian language in soft, hushed tones.

Her eyes snapped open, and her pupils widened. Raising her hips, Brienne took him, locking her gaze to his with the dragon’s fiery stare. With each downward stroke, he surged forward. Fire raced through him as tiny flames erupted over every inch of his body, consuming them both. Energy from his deepest recesses surged forth, pouring into her where their bodies joined at the same moment hers came to meet his.

Brilliant colors danced around them, exploding in all directions as he whispered the last of the words pouring from his soul, and with the last one, he bent his head to her neck and bit. He didn’t know the words, but the connection between them deepened and his hand burned as if licked by a flame. Brienne’s scream filled the air before she brought her mouth to his neck and did the same for him.

Her muscles clenched his shaft, over and over, tightening and releasing, while she undulated over him, and he was lost. Spasm after spasm raked his body until he had nothing left. She fell forward, and he welcomed the slight weight.

Fingers stroking up and down her spine, he held her close. Her energy didn’t lie. She’d been saying goodbye with her lovemaking, but he’d be damned if he let her go. She was his, and he sure as hell wasn’t giving her up.

Stunned, Brienne couldn’t stop staring at the back of her right hand. She’d lain in Evan’s arms, his hand stroking lazy caresses up and down her spine. The sound of the waterfall mixed with his heartbeat where her head rested on his chest, lulling her to sleep until she’d snuggled closer and brought her hand up to stroke his chest. There was no mistaking the mark she’d found on her hand.

Part of her wanted to laugh and shout for all to hear, while the other part silently wept. One moment her heart ached so much she could hardly breathe, the next it raced and pounded, ready to burst.

“Did you…” She looked at Evan, who had yet to utter a sound. “I didn’t…” Brienne shook her head and ran her trembling fingers through her hair, trying to tame the wild mass.

“I’ve never heard of a joining without the Elders performing the ceremony.” He took her hand and traced the dragon enveloped in the phoenix’s wings with his finger. The gentle caress made her want to weep even more.

“It’s you. You did it when you were speaking in the mother tongue, wasn’t it?” Her tone was sharper than she’d intended. She took his hand and looked at the identical marking on it.

“I don’t know the mother tongue, Brienne. All I know is that the moment the final word slipped past my lips, we were joined. My hand stung as though scorched by fire.”

“How can you be so calm about this?” She released his hand. “I’m the one who’s supposed to say when I’m ready to be joined.” How could this have happened? She’d dreamed of joining with this man even before knowing anything more than his name, and now her heart—her very soul—belonged to him, and his to her. Why now when she’d come to the realization that she’d have to sacrifice herself for her pack, did fate intervene and give her what she wanted?

Every muscle in his body tightened beneath hers.

“You made that decision three years ago when you asked for the Elders to have me named.” He sat up, taking her with him, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “As much as you may wish it, I can’t undo what is done.”

Her gaze whipped back to his. “I don’t wish it undone.” And she didn’t.

The corded muscles of his neck jumped with the grinding of his teeth. “Your energy doesn’t lie, and your eyes glisten with the tears you refuse to let fall.”

Overwhelmed at finding herself joined she’d hurt him. Her hands trembled as she brought them up to cup his cheeks and lock gazes with him. He had to know—to understand. “There is nothing I want more than to be joined with you.” Pressing her lips to his, she poured every ounce of love she had into him. The last thing she wanted was for him to think he wasn’t her every dream come true.
“I love you, Evan. I always have.”

His deep sigh was her only warning before he stood, taking her with him. Head resting on his shoulder, she nuzzled the spot she’d bitten, flicking her tongue over it just to feel his body tense and hear him moan. “Where are you taking me?”

“Not far. It’s a surprise.”

Her heart quickened. “Someone could see us.”

He chuckled, his arms tightening around her. Joy vibrated through him, seeping into his energy, making her want to smile even as her fear of discovery mounted.

“No one is around. I want to show you something.”