Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

N athan wished he could've kissed Hayley right then and there in his parents' kitchen. Because by now, he'd be in a bed with his female instead of pacing his empty cottage, waiting for someone to bring Hayley to him.

Before the frenzy took place, Bram had wanted to file the Department of Dragon Affairs paperwork for Hayley to stay permanently on Stonefire. And the wait for an answer had been pure hell.

Not that long ago, it would've sailed right through. However, with that bastard on the internet stirring up shit about Stonefire having too many human mates, Nathan had actually been nervous.

His dragon spoke up. That is all in the past now. The DDA approved of the match, and all of the preparation is done. As soon as Hayley arrives, she's ours.

Nearly so. She didn't want the mating ceremony until after the frenzy.

Only because her sister needs approval to visit and couldn't come for a few weeks. Having her at the ceremony is important to our female.

Still, it made him a bit nervous. Because until they had the ceremony and signed the official mating certificate, Stonefire had no claim on her. If anything happened, they might not be able to save her without stoking the DDA's ire.

His dragon sighed. Bram won't let that happen. Now, stop worrying. I hear people approaching. We need to focus on our female and future.

As if I've been able to think about anything else.

Especially at night, in his dreams. Had it really only been a few days since she'd agreed to be his mate and go through the frenzy?

Just don't take too long to kiss her on the mouth. You can have the first time, but then she's mine for a bit.

I know, dragon. And she wants both of us, so you'll have your turn.

Good. Now, here they come.

There was a knock on his front door, and Nathan rushed to open it. Hayley stood there, along with Nikki, both of them holding a few bags. "What are those?"

Nikki snorted. "Some meals and such. Unless you want to try and stop your dragon long enough to do the shopping and cook?"

His beast growled. Not bloody going to happen.

With a knowing smirk, Nikki took all the bags and walked past him. "I'll put these away and leave you two alone."

He murmured some sort of reply but barely paid attention as the dragonwoman went to the kitchen. No, all he could do was drink in the sight of Hayley—she wore a simple blue dress, sensible sneakers, and had her hair down around her shoulders.

"You're so bloody beautiful." She blushed as he reached out and took her hand. "I've missed you, love."

"It's only been a day since we last saw each other, Nathan."

"It's felt more like a century."

Even a few weeks ago, Nathan would've laughed at anyone saying that kind of stuff. And yet, he meant it.

He pulled her close and nuzzled where her neck met her shoulder. "As soon as Nikki leaves again, you're mine, Hayley Beckett. All mine."

She melted more against him. "As long as you're just as much mine, Nathan Woodhouse." She leaned back to meet his gaze. "Will you last long enough for me to tease you with my mouth?"

He growled and moved his hands to her arse and gripped her possessively. "I may be older, but I'm not in my dotage. I can take anything you give me."

"Ah, now that sounds like a challenge." Laughter danced in her eyes. "And I plan to have some fun."

Nikki rushed past them. "Enjoy, you two!"

As soon as the front door closed behind her, he nipped her neck and soothed the spot with his tongue. "If you don't start your nefarious plans within the next minute, I'm carrying you upstairs."

She laughed. "I'm almost tempted to dare you to do it."

He lightly slapped her butt. "Forty-five seconds and counting."

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he grinned. But then her hand rubbed his jean-clad cock, and he groaned.

Her voice was husky as she said, "Already at attention and waiting for me, are you? Good. Because I've been dreaming far too much of you lately, and I'm impatient."

Damn, he wanted to kiss her. And yet, he'd promised her some time to tease him.

So Nathan stepped back, tugged off his top, and reveled in her gaze roaming his bare chest. She murmured, "You're only half done."

Within seconds, he stood naked in front of her, stroking his hard cock, and watching her. When she licked her lips, he growled. "Time's ticking, love, before I cart you upstairs and have my wicked way with you."

She raised her eyebrows at his challenge, sauntered over, and batted his hand away. As soon as her fingers wrapped around his dick, he sucked in a breath. And then she started to stroke him. Oh-so-slowly.

Hayley's hand was soft and warm and when her finger reached his tip and circled the drop of wetness there, he groaned. "Fuck, Hayley. That feels so good."

"Hmm?" She never took her gaze from her work.

He wanted more pressure, more friction, but she never stopped her slow pace, torturing him as promised.

His dragon spoke up. Can we kiss her now? I want to taste her, feel her pussy gripping us, and claim her. Over and over again.

Before Nathan could reply to his beast, he let out another drop of precum. Hayley immediately stilled her hand.

She said, "I don't want to wait for you to get hard again. So maybe we should finally kiss."

"Even if I come, it won't take me long to recover. Dragon-shifters are better in every way. We're always ready for our females."

The corner of her mouth kicked up. "Are you, now? Yet more things the general public doesn't know." She dropped her hand, walked closer, and stood on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear, "I want you to kiss me now, Nathan. I'm tired of waiting."

He nuzzled her cheek. "Are you sure, love? Because once I do, you either have to agree to the sex or run and stay away from me."

She ran her hand over his chest, stopping to tease his nipple. "I'm more than ready for the frenzy. Kiss me, Nathan. And show me just how ready a dragon-shifter always is for his female."

With a growl, he pulled her close and lowered his mouth to hers.

Maybe later he'd regret not teasing her more, or making their first kiss gentler. But as soon as their lips touched, the desire to claim her rushed through his body.

His dragon also growled and said, She's ours. Claim her. Fuck her. Make her ours over and over until she carries our child.

As their tongues twined, Hayley moaned and something in Nathan snapped. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She rubbed against his cock, and Nathan growled. He needed to feel her skin, touch her, and finally claim her sweet, hot pussy.

She was his and it was more than time to make her so.

But he wouldn't fuck her for the first time on the floor. Somehow he carried her down the hall to his room, and sat her down on the bed. Before his beast could roar, he growled, "Strip and let me finally claim my female."

Hayley didn't challenge him. And as soon as she was naked, he drank in her every curve and valley, until his eyes latched onto her pussy. Fuck, he wanted to taste her there too, but his beast kept roaring inside his head to fuck her.

So he kissed Hayley again, guided her onto her back, and lightly ran his fingers through her center. "You're so fucking wet for me, love."

"Why are you talking?"

With a laugh, he kissed her again.

For that, he would fight his dragon for a minute or two and tease her.

Hayley tried to arch up against Nathan, to encourage him. From what the human women had shared over the last few days, most dragonmen couldn't wait to claim them with their cocks.

And yet, here was Nathan, lightly teasing her pussy, and she wanted to growl for him to fuck her already.

As if reading her thoughts, Nathan broke his kiss and chuckled. He sank a finger into her, and she struggled to hear his words. "Impatient, aren't you?" He moved his finger before adding a second one. Hayley sucked in a breath at the slow friction. "But I want you nice and wet for me, love. Because once my dragon takes control, he won't be gentle."

She knew Nathan and his dragon would never hurt her. "So does that make you the nice one and him the bad boy?"

With a growl, he moved his fingers faster before taking one of her nipples into his mouth.

Hayley forgot about everything but the flicking of his tongue and the rhythm of his fingers. How the hell was she so close already?

She muttered, "Dragon-shifter magic."

He stilled, and she wanted to scream. But he nuzzled her cheek and said, "That happens when I come inside you, Hayley. Just wait and see."

She was about to ask when that would be when he removed his fingers. She nearly screamed for him to come back, but then he rubbed her clit in slow circles, and she moaned. Arching toward his touch, Hayley loved how his fingers were so much firmer than her own.

"Come for me, love. Then I'll claim you with my cock, too."

His pupils flashed faster, and she blurted, "When will your dragon come out?"

He frowned. "Not until later." He paused and then stopped teasing her clit. "You don't have to be afraid of him."

Pulling his head down, she kissed him. Hard.

Only when they were both out of breath did she stop, stare into his eyes, and say firmly, "I'm not afraid of him. I never have been. I'm only curious."

Some of the tension eased from his body. Damn it to hell, Hayley wished she could visit that other human and tell her how idiotic she'd been. The only good thing was that Nathan was now Hayley's and no one else's.

After gripping his cock, she pumped it a few times before saying, "Claim me, dragonman. Both of you."

With a growl, he kissed her again and started circling her clit. When he both bit her bottom lip and pinched her clit, she cried out as lights danced before her eyes and pleasure coursed through her body. Wave after wave, she stared into Nathan's flashing dragon eyes and couldn't hold back how much she loved him.

Whether he could read it in her thoughts or not, she had no idea. But she'd barely come down from her high when he fitted his dick to her pussy. "You're mine, Hayley Becket. Now and always."

Then he plunged into her, and she moaned. He was hard and thick and felt so bloody good inside her.

She dug her nails into his back as he began to move. Slowly at first, but he picked up his pace and she nearly cried out his name.

Then he finally stilled and groaned. And as he came, another orgasm hit her. This one harder than any before, and she did yell his name and dig her nails into his skin.

On and on and it went, until eventually she registered Nathan kissing her gently—on her lips, her nose, her brow, and her mouth again.

When the spasms finally stopped, she merely lay there, too spent to do much else. "Bloody hell."

He smirked. "So, the magic did its trick, then?"

"You know the answer to that." As she took in his round pupils, she frowned. "What happened to your dragon?"

"He'll be out in a second." He brushed the hair from her face. "I wanted to make sure you're okay first. You screamed fairly loud."

"It's your magical orgasm that did it."

"Good thing I proved earlier I'm not lazy." He kissed her—damn, how she loved the small intimacy and would never get enough—and added, "Tell me when you're ready for my dragon, love. I'll let him out."

"Wait, did you put him in some sort of mental maze?"

Surprise filled his gaze. "You know about those?"

"Yes. I've picked up a little whilst here, and I've had a lot of chances to ask questions. Nikki, in particular, has been extremely helpful. Percy too."

"While I'm glad you've made friends, I don't want to think of any other female but you right now."

His cock stirred and grew hard again. "You do get ready quickly, eh?"

He tickled her side for a second. "I'm going to have to work on these doubts of yours."

"Indeed. But first, it's time for your dragon."

He nodded, kissed her one more time, and said, "Tell him if it's too much."

She traced his jaw. "I'll be fine, I promise. It's not like I'll have to take his huge dick in dragon form."

He shook his head. "You couldn't."

"I know. But stop stalling, Nathan. I'll be fine, I promise."

After a second, he nodded and his pupils flashed to slits and remained that way. Nathan's voice was a little deeper as he said, "Mine. You're mine, human. I want you. Now."

She spread her legs wide. "Then take me."

With a growl, his dragon flipped her on her belly and raised her hips. He caressed her arsecheek and slapped lightly. "Mine. I need to make sure no other male will take you away."

She wiggled her backside, and in the next second, he plunged into her.

Damn, from this angle, he felt even bigger.

But unlike with Nathan's human half, his dragon didn't talk and coax and say sweet things. He merely gripped her hips and pounded into her.

And yet, there was something about his rough handling that made her even wetter.

Soon she was moaning and matching his rhythm as his beast said, "Yes, my female. Mine and no one else's."

"Yours. Both of yours."

That seemed to be the magic phrase because his dragon roared as he stilled inside her. As he came, it triggered another orgasm. Hayley laid her forehead on the bed and cried out, as the pleasure seemed even more intense.

When she finally could catch her breath again, she wondered aloud, "Will it build up each time you come?"

Nathan's voice, the one not as deep, said, "I don't know, love. I guess we'll find out."

He pulled out, turned her over and laid down. Once she snuggled against his side, she traced shapes on his chest. "Your dragon is very to the point, isn't he? Not that it's a bad thing, of course. But just different."

He caressed her arm with a finger, up and down, and she relaxed more against him. "He wants you pregnant above all else, to keep others away. But if you're too tired or sore, he'll give you a little time to rest. It may seem strange, but even dragon-shifter females need a break once in a while. If the dragon wants to finish the job, he has to consider the female, too."

"The more I learn about the two halves, the more interested I become. Too bad humans can't get a dragon half too, later on."

"If there's a way to do it, I'm sure it'll happen. But going from one voice in your head to two suddenly, as an adult, might drive someone mad."

"True." She sighed contently, lifted her head, and kissed Nathan on the lips. "I like being able to do that."

He kissed her back. "Me, too."

As they smiled at each other, it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him how she felt. But it was still early days, and the one time she'd told a guy she loved him first, he'd panicked and ghosted her.

Not that Nathan would do that. But still, if they were to make a future together, she could be a little patient. It hadn't been that long, after all.

Laying her head back on his chest, she said, "Give me five more minutes, and I'll be ready to go again."

"It might be my dragon again, love. He's rather grumpy at only one go."

"As long as I get both of you over the course of the frenzy, I don't care."

He tipped her head up. "I'll never get enough of you. Even if I have to use all my mental strength to take an extra turn, I'll do it. I'd do anything for you, Hayley."

"And now, I think my rest is over. After that, I want to claim you myself."

She straddled him and fitted his cock to her entrance. He was hard again, of course. Dragon-shifters really were something else.

Slowly she sank down onto him. His hands went to her waist, and she moved slowly, reveling in the feel of him inside her.

But all too soon she was frantic, he came again, and so did she.

And so it went, Hayley's one and only time experiencing a dragon's mate-claim frenzy—a mixture of bliss, laughter, and exhaustion.