18. Chapter Eighteen

My dragon saw things differently than I did. When he came out my vision enhanced. He noticed the little things. The throbbing vein in Amara's neck, the scent of her arousal, and the nervous putter of her heart.

It fed his desire like the predator I knew him to be.

Amara clutched the patio furniture below her, her legs clutched tightly, her eyes intent on my every move.

The shiver running through her seemed like it was from the wind, but it shortly turned into a nervous shutter. One that I planned to put to rest. Amara had no reason to be nervous or scared. I'd do anything to protect my mate and make her feel good.

Amara crawled away from me, heading toward the back of the sectional. Reaching forward, I grabbed her ankle and yanked her toward me, her hair haloed around her and she gasped.

"Are you afraid I'll eat you alive, Little Mouse?"

Her gaze traveled over my mouth, and slowly up to my eyes. "Maybe."

"My dragon is hungry but not for flesh. We don't have to do any of this," I whispered, fighting the reality of that sentence.

Her hands moved swiftly to my biceps, and she wrapped her palms around them, holding me still. "I want it. I'm just more nervous than I've ever been in my entire life."

I nodded slowly, feeling my dragon begging to taste his mate. To feel her. I saw a predatory glare in the reflection of Amara's eyes. "We'll go slowly," I whispered, leaning down to kiss her.

She opened for me willingly, sliding her arms around my neck, her small body quivered under me. The distant sound and smell of rain fell over us, and my wings fluttered open in preparation.

Amara's kiss was hesitant, making my dragon want more than what she gave. Irritation fluttered through him, and even though I understood her innocence, he was more demanding than me.

Amara gasped when I grabbed her waist, rolled over, and sat her on my hips. Her breathing was deep, her eyes wide in shock. "We're going to go as slow as you need us to, Little Mouse."

She licked her lips, placed her hands on my chest, and leaned back down to my mouth. I snaked my fingers into her hair and tightened it into my grip, rolling my hips into her parted thighs, eating and swallowing the moan that left her.

Amara whimpered at the pace of my hips and pressed down, bringing every part of me to life.

"That a girl," I whispered, cupping the curve of her ass with my free hand. I pushed her down harder, making her cry out.

The pressure and rhythm would kill me slowly.

"Does it feel good?" I whispered into her kiss. She nodded, her fingers eagerly grabbing the hem of my t-shirt and tugging it upward.

With a solid yank, I ripped it and tossed it down. Amara took me in from neck to the zipper on my pants that was begrudgingly holding in my erection.

Her mouth opened into an O and her fingers trailed the ridges in my stomach, stopping an inch from my pants. Glancing up at me through hooded eyes, she grabbed the edge of her t-shirt and stripped it over her head.

Her perky breasts were pale, and the softest of pink nipples peeked in the cool breeze. "Amara," I whispered.

My dragon pressed against me, shoving my conscience out of the way and rolling her to her back.

I had no time to say I was sorry for the brutness, because I sucked her nipple into my mouth, my fingers finding their way down into her panties, spreading her wide with my fingers.

Amara's back arched, and her fingers tangled into my hair.

The urge to mark her surfaced. My dragon pleaded and fought to do it.

I pressed inside of her sweetness. Over and over. Making her cry out and dig her fingertips into my skin. She began to wither against my fingers and tug at my hair.

I rolled her nipple around with my tongue. My dragon could sense her orgasm, the building in her stomach grew stronger and stronger until she cried out, and I felt the rush all over my fingers.

Amara glared at me through hooded eyes, a soft smile on her lips as I hiked one leg over my shoulder and slid my tongue from front to back.

My name fell from her lips.

Once my dragon was satisfied with her taste, I crawled back up, and kissed her neck, reaching down to slide my jeans off my hips, and settled between her thighs.

The warmth from the fire pit subsided as the wind knocked it out, but her body temperature was so warm that she didn't seem to notice.

"Are you ready, Amara?"

"Yes," she said with a breathy sigh.

Capturing her mouth with mine, I maneuvered my underwear down my thighs and let my dick drop between her legs. She squeezed her eyes together tightly.

I licked a path to her neck and stopped at the hollow of her collarbone. "Do you want my mark here?"

"I want it where everyone can see it."

My wings fluttered outward, the tip of my right one sliding against her skin until it found the spot.

The spot where I'd mark my mate.

Where I'd make her mine forever. This was different—more intense—than marriage. It was a forever bond that you couldn't break, and I'd never been more excited about anything in my life.

She would be mine forever.

Slowly, I positioned myself against her sweet heat, and I interlaced my fingers with hers, bringing them above her head. "We're all alone out here," I whispered. "Scream as loud as you need to, Little Mouse."

Amara's eyes rounded as I plunged inside of her, breaking her innocence, and my wing piercing her skin.

Sweet liquid fire licked at me from the inside.

My entire body tensed at the tightness wrapped around me, and the feeling of my bond crashing into her.

Amara's legs tightened around my waist, and a scream ripped from her mouth. The first few seconds felt like diving into a swimming pool, slicing through water and silence enveloping me.

Barricading me from the outside world.

Nothing mattered at that moment other than Amara.

The mate bond was deafening.

It consumed me.

I felt the excitement rush through Amara's veins and into mine. The painful bliss that shocked her core and slithered up her spine—I felt it all.

"Are you okay, Little Mouse?" I asked into her ear. I listened to her heartbeat quicken and the soft rasp of her voice.

"Yes."

Dipping my head lower, I rested my lips against the hollow beneath her ear, and whispered, "Do you feel that?"

Amara nodded swiftly, rubbing her chest with her knuckles. "I feel it in here. My entire body feels heavy and connected to you."

"That's because we're bound now. You're mine forever."

Carefully, I pulled back and pushed into her further. She locked her legs around me and moaned deeply.

The more she moved, the easier it was for me to push it further. Her tightness clung to me, making my eyes flutter closed and my dragon took the front seat.

His eagerness spilled over until my thrusts were quicker, and Amara's entire body was screaming in painful bliss.

Rain began to tickle my wings, but I couldn't stop the feeling of sinking into her, demolishing her innocence. Destroying another's man opportunity to court or win Amara.

Because she wore my mark, and in the morning, she'd wear my fingerprints on her hips, and my bite marks on her neck. My dragon was pushing so hard, wanting so much more from her, but I held him back.

Lifting her hips with my palms, I sank deeper, listening to the curses fall off her tongue, and the bounce of her breasts in the moonlight.

Screw the castle.

Screw the royal family.

I wanted to stay right there with her forever. She could do whatever the hell she wanted because I was a sucker—a fool—for her.

Amara tumbled over the edge again, her hands cupping her breasts and biting her lip, words I'd never thought she would say spilled out.

Only minutes later, when I'd hooked one knee over my forearm, did I pull out and cum onto the sofa. Thunder rattled the windows of the house, so I picked her up and hauled her into my arms, shutting the door with my foot on the way inside.

Amara was sleepy-eyed, her body limp and a smile on her face. I took her to the bathroom, sat her on the counter, and filled the tub with warm soapy water.

She hopped down and dipped her toe in before I helped her into the claw foot tub. Amara glanced up at me with those too-blue eyes and smiled. "Aren't you coming in?"

The corner of my mouth lifted, and I squeezed in behind her, my knees bent on each side as she rested her head against my chest.

"How do you feel? Are you in pain?"

"Not now. I will be in the morning," she said, blowing bubbles from her palm. "Do you still feel the same way about me?"

"No," I said, wrapping my arms around her. "I feel like I just marked my mate and we're about to start a journey together."

Amara smiled and closed her eyes. "I don't want to leave tomorrow. Maybe we can stay a few more days."

"We can stay as long as you want, Little Mouse. We'll deal with our families whenever we get back."

I knew my parents would fly up here before then. My mother couldn't stand not being in control, and we needed to deal with The East Kingdom merging. But maybe my parents would have enough compassion to let us enjoy a week or so together before they barged their way into my home.

I'd move Amara to another house, or out of the damn kingdom to have tonight all over again. I'd offer her step-monster whatever she wanted to buy the restaurant. Save her family's business. I'd make an oath to take care of her no matter what.

Amara's breathing evened out, and I noticed she'd fallen asleep against my chest. Sliding my fingers into her hair, I glanced down at my mark against her pale skin.

My dragon stirred at the sight.

I felt myself drowning in the taste of forever.

However, if I'd learned anything about getting something you want. There is always someone there to try to knock you down.

And I had a feeling something—someone—was going to try.