Light My Fire (24 page)

Dana shuffled her feet. “Uh, in case you didn’t notice, I’m not equipped for flight like the rest of you.”

“Sweetheart, who needs wings when you can ride a dragon?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Never in a million years did she think she’d be straddling the back of a dragon while the wind ripped through her hair. Hugging Aiden’s neck like her life depended on it—which quite frankly it did—she slammed her eyelids shut and tried not to think about the endless expanse of empty space between her and the ground.

“Everything okay back there?”

“F-fine.” Her teeth chattered spastically.

With a smooth glide, Aiden began descending. Dana didn’t risk opening her eyes until she no longer felt the wind’s insistent tug. They’d arrived in La Luna’s empty parking lot. She extended her leg and toppled off Aiden’s back. Far as graceful dismounts went it rated about a minus two.

Emmaline came running from the entrance and swept Dana into a hug. “Oh Lord, do you have any idea how crazy worried I’ve been?”

“Crazy seems to be the theme of the day.” Dana stared at the dried blood congealed on her aunt’s forehead. Hit all over again by how close she’d come to losing her loved ones, she started to cry. Emmaline joined in and they both stumbled into La Luna’s entryway, blubbering.

“Oh shoot.” Wiping her tear-stained cheeks, Emmaline broke away. “I forgot to let them know their clothes are waiting for them in the Navigator. We don’t need a bunch of naked dragons loitering outside.”

While her aunt rushed through the door, Dana hurried to the woman’s restroom. After availing herself of the toilet, she washed up the best she could and returned to the front of the restaurant. Aiden and Jace were sitting at the bar, a bottle of whiskey between them. At first she assumed the alcohol was for consuming—something she was fully onboard with at the moment—but then she saw the soaked strip of cloth Aiden was pressing to his shoulder. She turned her attention to Jace and noticed him threading a needle.

“Uh…guys? We do have a first-aid kit up by the hostess stand.”

“First-aid kits are for wimps.” Jace tied off the thread. “Plus his shirt was already ruined anyway.”

She took a closer look at the fabric bundled in Aiden’s hand and realized it was a shirt sleeve. “How very MacGyver of you.”

Voices suddenly filled the front entrance. Dana turned and counted at least fifteen people trooping toward them. She shook her head. “It’s like watching the opening of a joke. Fifteen dragons walk into a bar…”

Aiden and Jace hooted. Wincing, Aiden clamped his hand over the cloth compressed against his wound.

“Just a scrape, my ass.” She leaned over him, fully intending to check the injury for herself. He blocked her progress by cupping his free hand around the back of her head and sliding his lips over hers. She tasted a hint of whiskey on his breath. Ah, so he had resorted to some liquid courage.

The room seemed inordinately quiet all of a sudden. With the tiny hairs on her nape giving her a clue why, she swiveled and found fifteen sets of eyes glued to her and Aiden.

A rotund man with the coldest eyes she’d ever seen disengaged from the throng. “It’s six minutes to midnight. Unless you’re planning on the fastest binding ceremony of all time, you’ve failed your mission.”

Dana bristled at the stranger’s triumphant expression. “They’ve been dealing with a lunatic hunter all day. Cut them some slack.”

“Shut up, sacrifice.”

Aiden shot from his seat and in a blink of an eye, towered over the older male. “Do not speak to her like that. Or better yet, at all.” His jaw hardened. “Just because I didn’t give in to my instinct to kill Tony doesn’t mean you will fare so lucky.”

The tiniest hint of fear flickered across the features of the man facing Aiden. “Clearly you’ve developed an emotional attachment to the sacrifice. That alone is grounds for banishment.” He turned to the grumbling assemblage. “It looks like we’ve come all this way for nothing since there will be no ceremony this evening.”

Aiden’s father stepped forward. “You are not the sole speaker of this council, Kinnit. We will go the proper channels and take it to a vote.”

“No, Kinnit’s right,” Aiden said, his voice thundering above the shouts of the others. “There won’t be a binding ceremony.”

Everyone’s attention veered to Aiden and the bickering petered off. Calmly, he returned their incredulous stares. “I’m renouncing my title of Supreme Alpha-elect. Furthermore, Dana and I won’t be returning with you. This is her home. She belongs here.”

Her heart overflowing with so much love it nearly hurt, Dana twined her fingers around Aiden’s. “But you’d be giving up everything for me. How can I ask that of you?”

“You’re not. I’m doing it of my own free will.” He lifted her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. “You’re my home, sweetheart. I belong nowhere else.”

“You are a disgrace to the Drakoni name!”

Dana glared at Kinnit. “You are a vile little weasel, you know that? What’s your problem? Penis envy?” She ignored the snorts of laughter from the crowd and continued ranting. “Aiden is a good and honorable man. Dragon. You should be bending backwards, begging him to be your Holy Alpha.”

Aiden chuckled and squeezed her fingers. “Supreme Alpha, sweetheart.”

“Oh. Right.”

Kinnit smirked. “Regardless of your glowing recommendation, we simply cannot allow it. You’re no longer his sacrifice and he’s no longer the elect. Now, my son on the other hand—”

“Is dead. By his and your folly.”

The blood drained from Kinnit’s face and he staggered back. “Did you…?”

“No. Not that I wouldn’t have if I’d gotten to him first.”

A gray-haired gentleman in the middle of the pack suddenly spoke up. “We still have to come to a conclusion on the Supreme elect. And the way I see it, we still acquired our sacrifice.”

“What are you talking about, you idiot?” Kinnit’s mouth practically foamed. Apparently his grieving period was officially done.

Unperturbed by the hostility directed at him, the other man shrugged. “Aiden was willing to give up his title. That’s a sacrifice in my book.”

Excited murmurs erupted and Aiden held his hands up in front of his chest. “I appreciate the sentiment but I’m out.” He glanced at Dana and gave her a smile that took her breath away. “I’m going to be too busy trying to keep my new wife deliriously happy and out of trouble to take on the responsibility.”

She gaped at him. “You want to marry me?”

He nodded.

“Do I have to learn how to cook?”

“Not if
I
want to be deliriously happy.”

Maggie Fortune stepped forward and wrapped Dana in a warm hug. “Welcome to the family.”

Soon enough, Dana found herself surrounded by well-wishers.

Maggie extricated herself from the assemblage and strode to Jace. She slung her arm around his waist. “You know, it just dawned on me who would make a perfect candidate for Supreme Alpha.”

Jace stared down at his mother. “Have you stopped taking your meds?”

“Sassy boy. You’re a natural-born leader, just like your brother. Don’t you think it’s time to embrace your heritage?”

“Mom has a point.”

Jace glared at Aiden. “Hey, I’ve put in thirty-one years perfecting the art of laziness. Don’t blow it for me.”

Maggie peered up at Jace with her big, luminous eyes filled with hope. Jace groaned. “Shit, this is really gonna impact my daily siesta.”

Dana elbowed her way toward Jace. He grinned at her and she tossed her arms around him, squeezing hard. “They’re right. You’ll make a great Holy Alpha.” She joined in his boisterous laugh. Emotion welled in her chest as his hands slid along her back. She’d come to love Jace in a way that was different from what she felt for Aiden, but it was real nonetheless. How could she not after everything they’d shared? “I’m going to miss you.”

“Me too, sweetness. Now how about a kiss for old time’s sake?”

She tilted her face in offering. The kiss Jace bestowed on her wasn’t exactly chaste. By the time their lips parted, she was fairly certain she’d steamed off a few pounds.

“You better have enjoyed that,” Aiden growled at his brother. He stopped beside them and planted his fists on his hips—though he looked like he’d much rather plant them on Jace’s nose. “It’s the last time you’re frenching my woman.”

“Shit, can you blame me? You get the hot babe and I’m stuck with the old farts. I needed some kind of consolation prize.”

Aiden’s scowl vanished, morphing into an expression of tenderness. “Guess I can’t argue with that logic. God knows, I got the best prize of all.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Baby, I’m just now getting off the expressway. Should be there before you know it. Jesus, I’ve missed you like crazy.” Aiden hung up his cell, a little disappointed he’d been forced to leave a message. They’d been separated for two long weeks while he’d taken care of business back in Washington. He didn’t want to talk to a damn answering machine. He wanted Dana.

Determined not to take a second longer getting to her than he had to, he accelerated on the gas and the new SUV he’d bought for Dana bulleted down the deserted stretch of road. He couldn’t wait to surprise her with the car, after he made up for two weeks of no lovin’.

Yep, he was especially looking forward to that part.

Leaning forward as if he could make the vehicle go faster by sheer will alone, he barreled onto the road leading to Dana’s house. Correction—
their
house. The SUV rattled over the plethora of potholes, testing the car’s shocks and his bladder. He barely registered the discomfort. Five minutes later he swung into the drive and screeched to a halt next to POC. He wrenched the door open and almost forgot to shut it again during his haste to reach the house. After fixing the oversight, he raced up the steps and rushed inside the house.

Ms. Whiskers greeted him with a welcoming meow. Scooping the cat into the crook of his arm, he hurried down the hall to Dana’s studio. Nada. He ventured into the bedroom and discovered a note on the bed.

For one terrifying moment he worried she’d left him a Dear John letter. His hand shaking, he picked up the paper.

I’ve missed you too. Come into the backyard. I have something I think you’ll like.

“Well, that certainly sounds intriguing.”

Ms. Whiskers purred in agreement. He lowered the cat onto the comforter and retraced his steps to the front door and outside. Rounding the corner of the house, he slammed to a halt. And swallowed hard.

“Do you like it?”

He almost couldn’t find his tongue to answer Dana. “Grrr.”

She laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Coming to his senses, he approached the wooden jungle gym she’d handcuffed herself to. She undulated seductively, rattling the short chain that linked the handcuffs to the overhead bar. “Since it’d be kind of hard tying myself to a tree, I opted for the next best thing. Plus I figure the play set is a good investment for when we have kids. In the meantime, we’ll get our money’s worth out of it using it for kinky dragon bondage.”

His mouth crooking in appreciation of her brilliant thinking, he stalked toward her. She licked her lips. “You’re staring at me like you’re going to eat me alive.”

“Amongst other things.” He could hear her sudden rapid inhalation. “I think you’re looking forward to it.”

“God, yes.”

“Me too.” The fact his cock could hammer a nail pretty much proved it. He fingered the virginal white, nearly transparent baby-doll nightie covering Dana. “Pretty. Is it a family heirloom?”

“Nope. Bought it today.”

“Expensive?”

She snorted. “Come on. You know how cheap I am.”

“Just covering all bases.” Shifting his hand into a talon, he shred the nightie down the middle.

“Uh, is it going to be a waste of money me buying lingerie?”

“Possibly. But I do have a fondness for garters.” He lowered his head and kissed her, sipping at her mouth, steadily stoking the fire for both of them. Journeying to her breasts, he teased her nipples until they were pebbled and glistening with his saliva. She trembled and swayed, driving him insane with her breathless moans. He dropped to his knees and gripped her thighs, swinging them over his shoulders. The ecstatic cry Dana made when he buried his tongue inside her was the sweetest music he’d ever heard. Almost as sweet as the taste of her honey.

He could have spent all day just pleasuring her with his mouth but he worried about the strain on her arms. Giving a final lick to her swollen clit, he set her down gently and utilized his talon again to release her from the handcuffs.

“I have keys to those, you know.” She dragged his shirt from the waistband of his trousers and frantically wrestled with the zipper of his fly.

“But I’m quicker.” He kicked off his shoes and worked on the buttons of his shirt while Dana yanked his trousers down. Past all patience, he ripped the shirt off and tossed it aside. Her hot mouth closed around his cock and he about lost it.

Tunneling his fingers in her hair, he succumbed to five seconds of blissful suction. Any more than that and he would have embarrassed himself with the shortest lasting power in history. Easing her onto their discarded pile of clothing, he spread her legs wide, bracing her thighs with his arms. The position opened her completely to him and he took full advantage, plunging inside her almost to his balls. She flung her head back, exposing the graceful column of her throat. Leaning forward, he licked its length. He felt her pulse in two places. Beneath his tongue and where his cock was deeply embedded.

“Say it,” she begged, clawing at his wrists.

“Mine.”

Her pussy quivered around him. He pulled back, her juices making it feel like he was sliding through wet silk. Their eyes locked and he waited.

“Mine,” she whispered.

He down-stroked again, his balls so tight they ached and a tingle built at the base of his spine. Gritting his teeth, he blinked against a bead of sweat. “Mine.” The word resembled an animalistic growl more than anything.

Dana cried out, her inner muscles spasming. The massaging clasp of her pussy was more than he could take and he bucked into her a final time, coming hard. He poured himself into her. Seed. Heart. Soul. She owned his very essence. Rolling onto his side, he cradled her against him. Their limbs tangled together and they held each other, content to kiss and cuddle. She nuzzled his nose and he shivered.

Her fingertips trailed through the sweat coating his back. “You know, maybe one of these times we’ll actually make love in our bed.”

“What are you talking about? We used the bed the morning before I left for Washington.”

“No, that was the couch, dingdong.”

He cocked his head, considering. “Oh yeah.” Recalling in Technicolor detail the lovemaking session that nearly made him late for his flight, he started to go from semi-soft to granite.

Dana obviously noticed because her eyes widened. “
Again?
”

“Mmm, is it too soon?”

“I don’t know. Will you let me handcuff you this time?”

He stood and stretched, pretending to mull the idea. Instead he sprinted away. “You’ll have to catch me first.”

“Don’t you know better than to challenge a sacrifice?” she yelled, evidently in hot pursuit.

Aiden laughed, his heart thumping with adrenaline and joy. Oh yeah, they were going to have a lifetime of fun challenging each other.