Sea Dragon (Dragon Knights Book 9) (11 page)

Livia was the legal owner of a small but prosperous fishing fleet, though few people knew it. They all assumed it was one of her father’s many concerns, and she preferred to let them think that, even though while Father was away, she was the de facto head of the company. She was the one people came to when they had a problem. She was also the one who made decisions and paid the bills, made sales, collected what was owed, and split the earnings with the workers. She ran all of the businesses under her father’s care, but Grandpa Jonas’s fishing fleet was truly hers.

And the little boat she took out to go fishing with Hrardorr had been Grandpa Jonas’s very own sailboat. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t think about her grandparents and how very much they had taught her about fishing and running the small fleet of boats that they had loved so dearly. Granny and Grandpa had taken her out so often with the various captains they all knew her and treated her like their own daughter, and the arrangement had worked very well, even after Granny had left this world to be with Grandpa.

It was Granny Lynn who had cautioned Livia to be wary of men and take time before she married. Early infatuations had led to some very frank, grandmotherly advice that she had never forgotten.

Grandma Lynn had been a bit of a maverick in her time. She’d been around the block, as they say, and had taught her granddaughter what to do to prevent pregnancy. She’d given Livia very blunt advice on what to expect from a man and had told her there was no harm in experimenting with a few before settling down with just one.

Livia hadn’t been tempted that many times, and really, no man in recent years had caught her eye enough to make her want to take that step again…until now. Until Gowan.

Sure, there was one shy boy from the Lair whom she’d fancied as a younger girl, but he’d never expressed any real interest. If he had, she’d have been all over him in a flash. She’d daydreamed about him in her youth and still sighed wistfully when she happened to see him in town on rare occasions, but she’d given up on him. She had to be practical, like Granny Lynn had taught her. That boy was probably not attracted to her, otherwise, he would’ve done something long before now. Sir Gowan was here, now. He was real, and it was pretty clear that he was interested.

And she was interested too. So much so that she was contemplating acting somewhat rashly. It had just been so darn long since a man had turned her eye this way. So long since she’d been held in a strong man’s arms… So long since she’d had any affection in her life—fleeting or otherwise.

Gowan was sitting there, next to her, on the blanket, the dragon fast asleep, her head stretched out on the grass, facing away from them, as if uninterested in the doings of the humans. And Gowan sat there looking so handsome and strong. Livia couldn’t help herself…

She leaned across the space separating them and kissed him.

Oh, yes. His kiss was all she was hoping it would be. She’d surprised him at first, but he soon took charge, wrapping his muscular arms around her gently, tangling his tongue with hers.

He tasted of the fruity wine he’d served with dinner, along with his own unique flavor that made her want more. So much more. The feel of his arms around her sent flames licking down to her core, igniting a fire that she hadn’t quite expected, but welcomed nonetheless.

Never had a simple kiss made her feel so aroused. Not this fast. Not this hot. As it was, she felt like she would burst into flames if he didn’t move faster, deepen the kiss, claim other bits of her body that were oh-so-ready to be claimed.

All too soon, Gowan drew back. He didn’t let her go, but he seemed to be taking stock, searching her eyes for…something.

“I had no plan to rush you into anything when I invited you up here,” he said in a quiet voice that touched her deeply. His concern for her feelings meant a lot to her, but if they were to have a chance at any sort of relationship at all, he was going to have to learn a few hard truths about her.

“If I felt you were rushing things, I would let you know,” she assured him. “Though I had no expectations today other than to experience dragon flight for the first time in my life and share a meal in order to get to know you a little better…” She gathered her courage. Her next words would make or break this whole thing. “I feel honesty is usually the best policy, and so, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not a maid, Sir Gowan. I haven’t been with many men, and none in a long time, but there’s something about you…” She didn’t know what to say, or how he was taking her words. Livia looked down, unable to meet his gaze.

Gowan’s hand came under her chin and lifted her chin, but it was a moment before she could bring herself to look him in the eye. What she saw there wasn’t condemning or disapproving. He was smiling gently.

“There’s something special about you too, Livia. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to get to know you. I will never take advantage of you, but there are reasons it’s a relief to me to know you’re not a virgin.”

He looked so very relieved, she had to ask.

“What kind of reasons? You have me intrigued.” She smiled a bit, feeling more comfortable with his easy acceptance of her revelation.

Now he looked uncomfortable. “It is hard to put delicately. Also difficult not to sound boastful.”

“Really?” She thought she had an idea of what he might be referring to, and it made her want to find out for sure. She put her hand on his thigh.

“It’s a matter of…size.” He caught his breath as she stroked his thigh, very close to the large bulge in his trousers.

“You don’t say?” she whispered, growing bolder with her hand. “That is something I’d like to know more about.” Her words were calm, but as she spoke, she moved her fingers up his thigh to encounter the object of their roundabout discussion.

Bright stars, he wasn’t kidding. His cock was hardening under her palm, and it was huge. Not that she’d been in a position to feel many, but Gowan was, by far, the most well-endowed man she’d ever been this close to. And she wanted to get even closer. So close she would no longer know where he ended and she began.

“Unless you want to take this all the way to its conclusion, you should probably stop what you’re doing, much as it pains me to suggest it,” he said with a tight grin.

“Maybe I like to live dangerously,” she teased, squeezing him through his pants.

“You’re living on the edge right now, sweetheart. And you’re about to fall over it into my territory. Are you sure you want to go there right now?”

She lifted up, moving closer to him again, until her lips were against his. “I want to go wherever you’re willing to take me. Take me right now, Gowan.”

What followed was hot and fast.

He loosened her bodice, but didn’t take the time to remove her dress completely. Next time. She was too eager to feel his large cock inside of her channel. She arched her back as he uncovered her breasts, his mouth latching onto her nipple for a quick, hot, wet tug with his lips.

She squirmed in his arms, moaning as he took command of her body. It felt like they were in sync. She wanted the pleasure she sensed he could give her. Pleasure like she hadn’t had in a very long time—if ever. Compared to her few previous lovers, Gowan was a bit rougher around the edges and definitely more mature and gruffer.

But his gruffness turned her on. She never would have believed it before meeting him, but while the decisive way he moved, the bulge of his muscles and the other purely physical attributes were all well and good, it was his commanding presence that really flipped her switch. He was all man. He was almost overpoweringly masculine—sure of himself and of his command of everything in his realm.

She found that devastatingly sexy.

“I can’t wait,” he whispered against her breast. “Are you sure?”

She moaned in answer, unable to form words right away. She tried again.

“Need you, Gowan,” she gasped. “Do it now.”

He lay her back against the soft blanket and flipped up her dress, peeling down the undergarments with a skill she should have expected of a man of the world like Gowan. Yet, she wasn’t jealous. He was with her right now, and she could feel the way she affected him. Whatever had come before had readied them both for this moment in time, and she couldn’t begrudge the other women he’d been with. She thought he would probably say the same about the few men who’d been in her life well before him. What mattered was the two of them together now.

His fingers tested her readiness before he slowly pushed inward with something a whole lot bigger. He wasn’t kidding about being well endowed. She could feel it for herself.

So much so, she pushed against his shoulders.

“Give me a minute,” she whispered, gasping as she tried to catch her breath. She was desperate for his possession, but her body was balking at accepting all of him so quickly.

“You’re so tight,” Gowan said, stopping all motion. He waited, placing soft kisses all over her face. “It’s all right, Livia. Just let me know what you want. I’ll give you anything.”

She breathed in little pants, concentrating on relaxing her inner muscles. His words and the caring way he held her helped too. He was a thoughtful man who cared for her comfort. He wasn’t going to force anything. He would give her the time she needed to become accustomed to him, and he’d hold her through it all. He’d be there for her.

Her heart melted, and her insides made room for him. What had been a little overwhelming a moment ago suddenly became something she craved like her next breath.

And she wanted more.

“Keep going,” she urged him in a breathy voice.

“Are you certain?” he asked, and she could hear the strain in his voice. It was costing him to hold back, but she knew in her heart that he would put her first, no matter what. He was just that kind of man. Her heart melted a little more.

“I want you, Gowan. All of you. Now. It’ll be all right.”

“I’ll go slow,” he promised, putting actions to words and pressing inward by small increments.

He kept going until he was seated fully inside her, and then, he stopped. His gaze held hers.

“Are you good?”

“Any better and I’d be in heaven. Take us there, Gowan,” she urged.

Then he began to move. Slow at first, his strokes became more urgent quickly. He held her by the shoulders, surrounding her as he lay over her on the blanket. She loved the way he sheltered her with his body, even as he took possession of hers.

She whimpered with need, and he answered by speeding his strokes even more. He pushed hard, fast, deep and thick, and she began to moan. She cried out as her climax hit, stunning her so much with its intensity she thought she felt the earth move.

Maybe it had. Or maybe it was just her world that had shaken off its foundations for a few moments. Gowan held her throughout, and when she was done with the first climax, he coaxed another out of her straining body before he joined her in a shattering orgasm the likes of which she had never experienced before.

She felt like she could touch the sun, she flew so high in his arms.

And then, it was over. But it wasn’t really. He stayed with her, within her, for long moments, just…savoring. Or at least, that’s what it felt like.

When he finally rolled away, he didn’t go far. He tucked her into his arms as they lay, looking up at the stars. Night had fallen while they’d been wrapped up in each other. The perfect end to a perfect day.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I hear a certain lady dragon has been seeking you,” Seth said one night, while he was tending Hrardorr’s eyes. “Genlitha is her name, and I’ve had the pleasure of making her acquaintance. A very sweet-tempered lady, she is.”

“Is she well?”
Hrardorr asked, as if worried she might be hurt. Seth could make the connection. He was the healer’s apprentice. He didn’t usually meet dragons unless they were hurt.

“Merely a strained muscle,” Seth admitted, bending the truth a little.

The muscle strain had been quite a while ago. In the time since, Seth had been waiting to see if Genlitha would finally corner Hrardorr somewhere. He’d been avoiding her, and Seth had been hoping he wouldn’t succeed in evading her this long.

In the meantime, Seth had been studying with Gowan, and Gowan had been learning about how to care for his dragon in return. They’d struck up a friendship, and Seth enjoyed spending time with both Gowan and his dragon partner. So much so that Seth had grown impatient with Hrardorr’s hiding and decided to broach the subject of Genlitha.

“She flies beautifully,” Seth added when Hrardorr made no reply.

“She always had good wings,”
Hrardorr said softly.

“She’s been teaching the youngsters,” Seth said conversationally. “They say she has a real gift for it.”

“I am not surprised. She was ever a patient and kind dragon, even in her youth,”
Hrardorr admitted.

“So why won’t you see her?” Seth came out and asked bluntly. “She wants to talk with you. She wants to help you.”

Seth knew immediately that he’d said the wrong thing as Hrardorr rose up to his full height and stalked toward the ledge.

“I do not need her help!”

It was dark out, well past the time that Hrardorr usually settled down for the evening, but he looked like he was going out again. Damn it. Seth’s unwise words had driven him into this. Seth ran after the dragon, reaching out for him with his hands, so Hrardorr would know Seth was there.

“I’m sorry, Hrardorr. Truly, I am. I said this all wrong. She wants to be your friend, as you were of old. Please come back. It’s late and very dark out. A storm is rising. You shouldn’t be out in it.”

“Do you think I am so infirm that I cannot smell a storm?”
Hrardorr’s great head turned in Seth’s direction.

“I didn’t say that,” Seth replied. “I’m just concerned for your wellbeing. If my words have driven you away from comfort, then I am shamed for saying them. I did not mean to drive you out. Please, come back. I’ll leave and keep my mouth shut in future. If you’d rather have someone else do your treatments, I’ll find someone else. I’m sorry, and I humbly apologize.”