Chapter 12

12

ARTEMIS

M arielle's eyes widened as we wound down the mountain path toward the entrance I used to my cave an hour after we left the college campus. "Whoa, it's even better from this side. I can't believe I stumbled across the cave where you hide your treasures. Not that I went much farther after I found the Lunaite."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Just wait. As impressive as the meteorite is, you haven't seen anything yet. The stories about dragons collecting all sorts of things aren't just myths."

"I kinda already figured that out for myself since I literally stumbled across a rock worth a quarter of a million dollars, and it was just lying on the ground, not even with the rest of your hoard."

The path widened as we turned down a hidden trail, and I squeezed her hand, feeling oddly nervous about how she'd react to one of my favorite spots. With as much as Marielle loved nature, I assumed she would appreciate what I'd done to the cave. But this was the first time I'd taken anyone here, not just a woman.

Marielle gasped as soon as the floor-to-ceiling windows appeared along the opening to the cave wall. "This…this is your cave?" she asked, her breath catching.

"Cave sweet cave," I said with a grin as I pulled in front of the terracotta porch.

The hot tub cover was on and not covered in too much dust, along with a set of black Adirondack chairs near the stove. Her gaze went straight to my favorite spot to relax as she looked through the sliding glass doors and the built-in bookshelves covering the rocky walls. Putting my arm around her tiny waist, I guided my mate through the double doors, dragging the earthy smell of rock and wildflowers deep into my lungs.

"When you explained that you spent most of your time in the cave, you didn't mention that it was basically a whole freaking house built into a cliff," she said, her gaze darting everywhere from the shelves to the stainless-steel kitchen and even toward the hot spring. One we would definitely need to use soon.

"It's where I come for solitude…and where I store things I don't need the rest of The Wilderness Pack getting into," I muttered, running my fingers along some of the leatherbound books, a few of which were just as old as the cave walls themselves.

"So your treasure is books?" she asked, looking at the shelves.

"Part of it," I said, carefully removing a copy of Wuthering Heights from the shelf.

Blowing dust off the cover, I then flipped it open, revealing the hollowed-out center filled with various rubies.

"Whoa, I don't think I've ever seen anything so stunning up close like this before," she breathed, her eyes shining against the light casting off the gems.

"Then you must not have looked too closely in the mirror because you're a fuck of a lot more beautiful than these stones." Her pale skin filled with a pretty pink color at my compliment. "And they're yours."

"What?" she asked, snapping her head up.

I closed the book, setting it to the side before wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her close. "You're mine, Marielle. All that I have is yours."

"And all that I have is yours," she whispered before standing on her tippy-toes and placing a light kiss on my lips.

But when it came to Marielle, that wasn't nearly enough for me.

I wanted to devour her. To make her my mate officially.

I growled, grabbing her ass to lift her so her legs wrapped around my waist. Deepening the kiss, she gasped into my throat as I walked us toward the hot spring, kneeling as I set her down on the edge of the stairs. Then I trailed my lips down her neck, tugging off her shirt and bra. My teeth nipped at her pretty pink nipples, just waiting for my touch.

She moaned, wriggling her body against mine as I slid farther down, kissing her stomach before sliding off her leggings and panties. Her pussy was so beautiful. So wet and waiting for me. And all mine.

I dipped my tongue between her folds, relishing in her gasp as she leaned back, spreading her legs wider to give me access to the prize. Swirling my tongue and tasting her sweetness, I hooked an extra finger in, knowing it would drive her wild. I was rewarded with the sweet gush of her essence coating my tongue, and I greedily lapped up every last drop.

I could have tasted her all day and night, but I wanted to feel her come around my cock.

To fill her with my seed.

Soon, her belly would be round with my hatchling, and I longed to see her like that.

I briefly pulled away from her sweet pussy only to tear off my clothes.

She giggled as I slid into the hot spring, then pulled her onto my lap, her sweet heat already so close to my cock.

"It's warmer than I expected."

"Is it too hot for you, my treasure?" I asked, massaging her thighs.

"It's perfect," she murmured into my lips before intertwining her tongue with mine.

She straddled my lap, each of her thighs against mine, her pussy pushing right against my cock. As always, she felt so damn good. I had to hold back from exploding right then.

"Do you want to ride me, treasure?" I asked, running my fingers up and down her sides.

"I've never done that before…" she said, her cheeks glowing red.

Fuck, she was adorable and sexy at the same time. "It'll be my first time being ridden, so we'll figure it out together."

She lifted her hips just over the head of my cock before slowly sinking down.

"Fuck, you feel amazing," I whispered as she continued sliding her beautiful body farther into the water, my cock filling her to the hilt.

Her thighs already quaked around me, and I realized she was close to the edge. Gripping her hips with one hand, I held my other to her clit, rubbing my thumb in the same motion she rocked against my cock. Her orgasm ripped through her, her head throwing back as she exploded around me.

I kept my hands on my mate, ready to bring her to even more pleasure before I filled her with my seed and made sure to have her good and bred.

Guiding her hips forward, I moved our bodies together, her perfect breasts bouncing right in my face. Taking one hardened bud in my mouth, I nipped at the pebbled pink nub, feeling another gush as she screamed my name, riding out her orgasm on my cock.

"Fuck, my treasure. You're so incredible. I can't believe you're mine," I growled, picking up the pace as I pushed my hips against hers.

"I am yours. Just like you're mine," she gasped, throwing her head back, her tits bouncing in my face as she continued to ride my cock hard.

I needed another orgasm from her before I flew over the edge. I wanted her to open up that womb for my seed.

Circling her clit again, I picked up my pace as I bucked up into her, her thighs quaking around me.

"That's it, baby. Come for me," I commanded.

She moaned, her essence filling my senses as I came hard deep inside her pussy, making sure she milked every last drop of my seed.

Breathing hard, I laid my head on her shoulder as I came down from my orgasm. But we both knew something was missing, as amazing as it was.

"Do it, Artemis," she breathed.

I looked up, meeting her hooded stare. Her eyes were at half-mast, and I knew she was tired. But she wanted this. She wanted the mating bond to be complete, just as I did.

I kissed a small trail on her shoulder before licking the tender flesh. Then slowly I nibbled just ever so slightly.

"Let me know if this hurts," I murmured. "It shouldn't since I've been told the pleasure you'll get from my mating bite is more than enough to make up for any pain you might feel."

"You could never hurt me," she whispered, gripping harder onto my shoulders.

My dragon's scales brushed against my skin, and I knew he was close to the surface, beyond ready to fully claim our fated mate. My canines extracted, and I licked another circle before biting down on her tender flesh. For the first time in my very long life, I finally felt complete.

I didn't think it was possible, but another burst of pleasure sailed through me as I spilled my seed a second time, feeling her come around me again as our moans mingled together, rattling the cave walls.

When I was finally able to breathe normally again, I looked up to meet her gaze and her lazy smile.

"That was amazing."

"The mating bond has snapped into place," I said, tracing the crescent moon mark on her shoulder.

"Will it feel like that every time now that we're fully mated?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm more than willing to find out."

She laughed. "Same. But I might need a little bit of a nap first. I'm kind of worn out."

Taking her by the hips, I slowly lifted her and helped her out of the tub before getting out myself. She was like a newborn fawn, wobbly on her legs as I guided her toward the canopy bed I had built into the cave wall.

"We'll have plenty of time to experience all the mated sex that we want. We have the rest of our long lives, after all," I pointed out as I tucked her under the plush velvet comforter before sliding in next to her.

"Yes, we do." Twisting her neck to beam a sleepy smile at me, she whispered, "Which makes me the luckiest woman in the world. I love you."

Hearing her say those three little words would never get old. Not even if we lived for another thousand years. "I love you, too."

As she drifted off to sleep in my arms, I let my fingers trail over the expanse of her soft belly, imagining it soon rounded with my child. Then I moved my fingers up to her shoulder, tracing over the mark. I finally had a mate, and I would never let her go.