Not His Dragon (15 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

He did a slow circle and backtracked to the entrance with no sign of Angie. He called out her name and it echoed within the mostly empty building.

A distant, “I’m here,” answered back. It came from his workshop area where he worked on his terrible sculptures. Inside the room, where he had blasted the metal scrap, he found Angie strolling among the statues. At his entrance, she spun around with a huge grin on her face. “I got lost but I found this wonderful room. I didn’t know you collected art.” She ran her hands delicately over a mass of clawed gashes. The statue looked like a wounded animal.

His chest constricted. He’d never been shy about showing his work to anyone but now with Angie standing among his new medium, he felt stripped of all his defenses. He couldn’t bear any criticism, especially from someone he cared about. He carried enough self-doubt that he didn’t need to hear it from anyone else. “They’re mine.” The emptiness of the room allowed his whisper to travel to her ears clearly.

She didn’t seem to notice him standing on the precipice of self-loathing. “I didn’t know you were an artist.” Tiptoeing on her high-heeled shoes, she moved to the next statue with careful steps. She fingered something. “It’s a Dodge Ram emblem. You’re recycling material. That’s eco-friendly.”

It was? He had used scrap metal because it was easier to melt and more available in abundance within the city. There wasn’t a mine close by where he could just pick up raw ore. “My preferred medium is paint but my agent and gallery manager have been pushing me towards this new endeavor. They say my sculptures invoke more visceral emotions.”

“So you’re a professional artist? You show and sell your work?”

“I have a tour making its way across Europe. It’s not doing very well. In a couple days, I’ll have a show in New Port that will debut this new series.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “If the gallery manager likes it.”

“Are you finished?” She strode toward the window, the glass pane having been broken long ago. The night air breezed into the room. She fingered the old stone windowsill with the stars haloed around her shape. The more she leaned forward, the higher the edge of her dress rose on the back of her thighs, until it raised high enough to give him a small glimpse of the curve of her ass.

He licked his lips. The teasing flash imprisoned his attention. His cock throbbed in time with his heartbeat as if he’d never seen a naked woman before. The anticipation was killing him. The heat in his groin spread higher and reached his chest. He moved to an Angie-sized lump of raw scrap metal and blew a thin stream of flame over the middle until it was pliable.

His fire was back. He was back.

Viktor had suggested Angie as a muse and he was right.

If Cedric stole Angie, he would pound on her personality like Eoin did on his sculptures until nothing remained of what made Angie special. The ancient dragon wouldn’t relent until he’d molded her into his own vision. Eoin couldn’t allow this to happen, no matter the consequences.

As if sensing she was the center of his thoughts, she glanced at him over her shoulder. Her stare moved to his hands, where he had caressed the soft metal to match her shape. She twisted to face him and slid one of her spaghetti straps off her shoulder. “Do you need inspiration?”

Oh yeah, baby. He needed her like a pulse. His heart would stop without her. She stoked his flame. The soft metal slid under his heated palms like silk as he shaped in the form of the person he desired like no one else.

She slid off the other strap.

His hands refused to move as he waited, heart in his throat. Through the thin fabric, he could see the pearls of her hard nipples. Her breasts were the perfect size not to wear a bra, which he whole heartedly appreciated, yet big enough to bounce a little when she walked in those heels.

Turning her back on him, she returned to the window. Was she waiting for him to tear the dress off her body?

The liquid-like material pooled at her feet and she leaned forward to gaze out the window once more.

All the air left Eoin’s lungs. If Cedric burst in the room right now, Eoin would be flameless. The way Angie’s waist curved out to a perfect heart-shaped ass with two delicious dimples at her lower back. It was art made in flesh. As if having a mind of their own, his hands moved over the cooling metal until this moment was captured forever. No matter what the future held, he’d always have this statue.

The edges of his shirt smoked from being singed by the hot metal. He tore it off his back.

Angie spun around at the sudden ripping noise, eyes wide and innocent.

He wiped his hands on his shirt and strode toward her with nothing innocent on his mind.

Angie froze. The dragon stalked toward her, bare shoulders rolling as he moved. Every muscle in his body defined him as a predator and she was his prey. The hunger in his heavy, lidded glare sent her heart racing. He looked like he wanted to devour her whole.

“Turn back around,” he snapped before he reached her.

She did as he ordered without a second thought. This was one of those moments where she recalled that Eoin wasn’t human. The heat of his body enveloped her as his hard chest pressed against her back. A pleasant rumble rolled within his chest and vibrated along her nerves as their skin touched for the first time.

He ran his nose along her neck and inhaled deeply. Snaking his hand around her body, he fondled her right breast, pinching her nipple into a hard, aching peak. “How do you want me to do this?”

She leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes. “Oh God, what are my choices?”

“I can pretend I’m human and do my best to make love to you.” He bent close to her ear, his breath hot. “Or I can be myself and fuck you like a dragon.” His whispered words sent a flood of desire through her veins.

“You’ve never bothered to pretend to be human with me before.”

“I don’t want to scare you.” Now, he fondled both breasts. “Decide fast.” He pressed his hard cock against her lower back.

“I’m not scared of you.” She’d be lying if she claimed to feel no trepidation, but she never wanted Eoin to be something he wasn’t. When she agreed to this date, it was to a dragon. “I want you, Eoin.”

He fell to his knees behind her and cupped her ass in both hands, pushing her stomach against the stone windowsill. “Thank fuck.” Then he nipped her ass.

She squeaked at the sharp yet playful bite.

“I’ve been dreaming of doing that since the day we met.” He kissed the spot and proceeded to leave a trail of them to the dimples on her lower back where he slowly traced each one with his tongue.

She shivered and arched into his strong hands. The cool breeze against her aching nipples contrasted with the heat on her ass, leaving her body confused and wanton.

“Spread your legs.”

She complied, clinging to the windowsill. Her balance in the heels was precarious at best.

He wrapped her thong around his hand and with a sharp jerk, tore it off her hips. The slick touch of his tongue slid between her folds.

She gasped at the trail of wet heat he left behind.

He moaned, then pressed his mouth greedily to her tender female parts. Sucking, tasting, thrusting…

She dug her nails into the stone, her body bent forward out the window. Thank God, he didn’t have neighbors. They’d get an eyeful. She rocked her hips with need. “Eoin.” She moaned his name as he latched onto her clitoris and sucked the sensitive bud. Her knees wobbled and she couldn’t catch her breath.

Oh God.

Eoin held her thighs apart, keeping her from moving away from the intense pleasure. He was relentless. Without mercy.

She gasped for air and cried out as an orgasm exploded along her senses, leaving her blind to anything but Eoin’s mouth. Nonsensical noises tumbled from her lips as she rocked her hips, helpless to sensations Eoin created within her body.

He released his hold on her.

The sudden vacancy between her legs left her breathless.

He spun her around, his eyes slitted in dragon form, and he let out a throaty growl. With one hand, he unzipped his pants and with the other he lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his hips until his cock pressed at her entrance. Pushing her to the wall, he thrust deep inside her with one ruthless stroke.

The burn of stretching had her crying out. Pleasure bordering on heavenly ecstasy made her shiver. She clung to his shoulders, digging her nails into his back.

“Harder, Angie.” His voice sounded inhuman and deep with desire.

She scratched into his flesh, meeting his demanding strokes with her own. “Fuck me.” She bit his ear lobe.

His roar echoed out into the forest and he pounded into her as if out of control. Each stroke was accompanied by his grunt. “You’re so tight.” Perspiration slicked their flesh.

Angie licked a bead that trickled along Eoin’s corded neck.

He hissed and changed the angle of her hips so she could feel his cock run along her clit as he moved inside of her.

“Oh, oh, oh…” She flung her head back as the second orgasm grabbed hold of her body. She sensed the heat of Eoin’s climax inside her.

He buried his face in her neck and bit her. Not a soft nip like on her ass, but a possessive bite as if marking her forever.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Somebody had a death wish. They were pounding on Eoin’s front door. The sound echoed through his castle and ricocheted against his skull. If it was another group of damn tourists, he was going to flambé them. Damn the bad press. He rolled out of bed and flinched as his feet hit the cold stone. Angie was right; a few throw rugs would be nice. He glanced at her sleeping in his bed. It would give him a reason to skin Ryota.

She moaned and buried herself deeper into the bed, pulling the blankets over her head. “I’m going to find something sharp to poke whoever’s knocking.” That was the most romantic thing he’d ever heard a woman say.

He completely agreed with her sentiment and kissed her bare shoulder. “I’ve got something I want to poke you with.”

She snorted and whacked him in the head with a pillow.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back. I’ve got someone to maim first.” He whistled as he took the long, curving staircase to the foyer. With a little elbow grease, he could polish the black and white tiles of the room to their former glory. Or hire someone else to do it. He wanted Angie to desire his home as much as him.

The knocking was joined with a shout. The voice sounded familiar but he couldn’t imagine who had the courage to visit uninvited. Eoin rubbed his naked stomach and blinked the sleep out of his eyes as he made his way across the foyer. The tile wasn’t any warmer than the stone. He released both locks and swung the door opened.

“Whoa.” Zechariah covered his eyes with his hands. “I don’t need to be greeted like that. Put some clothes on, dude.”

Eoin glanced down at himself. Good thing it wasn’t a bunch of tourists. “What are you doing here? Didn’t I make myself clear yesterday?”

“You told me I had to declare my presence in your territory.” Zechariah held out his arms and twirled. “I’m here.” He took off his jacket and tossed it at Eoin. “Wrap that around your waist before you poke out someone’s eye.”

Zechariah made as if to push into the castle.

Eoin blocked his way with an arm to the doorframe. “Where do you think you’re going?” He was beginning to think this dragon had been born out of a soft shell.

The young dragon bounced off his arm and stumbled back. “I thought we’d have breakfast together.” He scratched his head as if confused. “You’re not very social, are you?” Zechariah crossed his arms, leaning his weight on his back foot.

“No shit.” Eoin was beginning to remember why he’d stopped living among his kind.

“You know you don’t need to be such a dick.” Zechariah’s gaze darted over Eoin’s shoulder and his eyes went wide.

“Zech?” Angie asked.

Eoin shut his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

In Eoin’s moment of distraction, Zechariah squeezed past him and entered the castle. “You lucky jackass, she chose you.”

Eoin followed him inside. Where he found Angie dressed only in the bed sheet with her bare shoulders exposed. Sunlight streamed through the window behind her, leaving very little of her body’s contours to the imagination.

Zechariah bent over her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. He took his time to sniff her skin. “But you’re still not mated?” He gave Eoin a searching look as if sizing him for a fight.

“We just met.” She sounded almost scandalized. Withdrawing her hand, Angie approached Eoin and fingered the jacket around his waist. “Nice look,” she whispered.

Zechariah’s gaze followed Angie’s body and rolled over every delicious inch. He licked his top lip and took a step in her direction.

Gritting his teeth, Eoin grabbed the annoying dragon by his arm and dragged him out the front door.

Zechariah dug his heels into the worn tiles and struggled against Eoin’s superior strength. “If she’s in your bed then why haven’t you bonded?” The younger dragon’s eyes changed form and widened as his gaze fell upon Angie once more. He elbowed Eoin under the chin and broke loose. “What is that around her aura?” He sounded in awe.

Without a second thought Eoin punched Zechariah, knocking the younger dragon to the floor. He stepped on his throat, pinning him to the ground. “Do I need to explain what will happen to you if this gets out?” More male dragons would show up in his city if they realized the truth. The more of them who thought Angie was human, the better.

Wrapping his hands around Eoin’s ankles, Zechariah made strangling noises yet managed to shake his head slightly.

Eoin pressed harder. “Are you sure? I don’t mind going into detail.” Maybe he should make an example of the pest.

“Eoin.” Angie pushed against his hips. “Stop it.”

He waited another second before releasing his hold. Killing Zechariah would only draw more attention to his territory and in turn, Angie.

The stupid dragon coughed and crawled onto his knees. “What is that around her aura?” His question came out hoarse.

Eoin paced around the other dragon, letting him catch his breath. “I don’t know.” It was the truth. “And you should forget about it and Angie.”

Zechariah bowed his head in submission under Eoin’s glare. “I’m just curious.”

Eoin narrowed his gaze. He didn’t trust the younger dragon any further than he could—well, he could toss Zechariah pretty far if he wanted. Maybe he had the resources to help Eoin figure out this problem? He wasn’t above demanding information. “It’s some kind of curse that prevents her from shifting.”

Zechariah sat up with a surprised grunt. “Is that right, Angie?”

She stood glaring at them with her arms folded. Not a good sign. “Oh, I’m in the room now? For a moment, I thought I’d gone invisible. Yes, Zech, I can’t fucking shift.”

Eoin kept forgetting how sensitive this was for her. All the brownie points he’d scored last night were going to vanish fast if he kept choking on his foot.

Zechariah continued to stare at her with his dragon eyes. “She’s definitely dragon and from her colors I’d say she’s from one of the older clans.”

Eoin blinked and resisted the urge to shift his eyes to dragon. “You can tell the difference?”

“Sure, I’ve been studying auras most my life.” Zechariah rose to his feet. It hadn’t occurred to Eoin to analyze her colors.

She scowled at both of them.

He still had the manila envelope to share with her once they were alone. This might turn into another pepper spray kind of day.

“So maybe you can help me—” Eoin cleared his throat. “Help her. Until we break the spell, we can’t mate.” He grabbed Zechariah by the throat and pulled him close enough to smell the coffee on the younger dragon’s breath. Their gazes locked. “And I will mate her, so stop sniffing around. She’s made her choice. She’s eaten my food and slept in my bed. So get the fucking idea of stealing her out of your head.” He pressed the younger dragon toward the exit. “Let me know if you have any ideas. And, Zech, if any of this gets out I know who to hurt. Your clan doesn’t scare me.” He slammed the door shut on Zechariah’s face.

“After everything we’ve shared, I’m still not good enough to mate?”

The question stabbed Eoin like a blade between the shoulders. Angie did not know how to hold back her punches.

He spun around. “What? No! That’s not what I meant.”

“Funny, because that’s what I’m hearing. Is my supposedly pure blood not good enough for you?” She turned away, her head hung low and her arms wrapped around her in a hug. He hated seeing her spine bent in defeat.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” He slid his hand under her chin and lifted her face. Her clear glare challenged his, even when hurt. She was the strongest person he’d ever met. “Sorry.” He had never apologized to one single person so many times in his life. Maybe one day he would learn to stop screwing up around her.

She sighed and her gaze softened. “I’m sorry too.”

He grinned. “All right.” Entwining his arms around her, he tried to pull her closer.

She knocked his hold loose with her forearms. “Back off.” Her bared teeth bit off her words.

He raised his hands in the air. “We’re cool.” And he circled away from her, giving her space.

“Not in the slightest. You got what you wanted from me last night.”

Eoin wouldn’t make any kind of commitment to her unless she could shift. He’d said it right to her face. She’d known he was too good to be true and she fell for him anyway. If she was ever going to find somebody to share her life with, she would need to get away from the shifter community. That meant closing up shop and cutting all ties. The only humans she knew were her neighbors. That said a lot about her.

“You didn’t even get a glimpse of my appetite last night.” He yanked the blanket off her body and dropped Zechariah’s jacket. His skin seemed like silk as his hard muscles slid underneath. He stormed towards her, his grace fluid, his gaze dark. He countered her retreat. Caught within his intense stare, she witnessed his eyes change from human to dragon. The slit pupils dilated as if taking in every detail of her body. Something inside her didn’t want her to run. She should stand her ground and claim Eoin as hers. But she didn’t know how or where these urges came from. He circled her slowly, as if waiting for her to make the next move, but she wasn’t familiar with his needs.

“Eoin?”

He flinched and shook his head. When he lifted his head, his eyes had returned to human form.

She retrieved the sheet from the floor and rewrapped it around herself. Whatever trance he’d been under was gone. “What was that?”

He stood dazed, rubbing his head and taking in their surroundings. “Wow, I never expected it to be that intense.” Without another word, he left the room, turning in the direction of his bedroom. Suddenly, the castle seemed too big for Angie and too empty.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and followed Eoin to the bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watched him dress. Was this when he would give her the breakup speech?

Eoin tugged on his jeans and shirt with sharp jerking motions. “I think I was initiating the fucking mating dance.” He fastened his jeans, crossed his arms, and loomed over her. “I can’t believe you inspired the urge so soon.”

“Why, because I’m still considered human?” The edge of her voice was sharp enough to cut.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled up so their noses almost touched. “No, Goddamn it. I would’ve mated you right there in the foyer. You are mine forever. Don’t think just because you can’t shift I’m ever going to let you go.”

“Then why don’t you mate me?” She hated the way her voice quivered.
Stupid girl, get a grip and ignore his fancy words.
They were just intangible things to keep her from running. If she really meant something to him, he would have finished.

“Because you didn’t continue the dance. The mating between two dragons is magical, Angie. It’s a spell that’s created instinctually between a mated pair. Don’t you get it? I’m not the one who stopped the binding. It was you. Without your dragon, you can’t respond and complete our mating.” His voice sounded so raw it made her eyes water. She’d hurt him.

Shrugging out of his grasp, she pulled him down next to her on the bed. She cradled his head against her shoulder and rubbed the soft fuzz on his scalp. “That wasn’t my intention. You know that, right?” God, she loved the feel of him against her.

He gathered her onto his lap and squeezed her tight against his chest. “I’m never going to let you go.” If her heart swelled any more, it would burst. She’d only known Eoin for a week but already she knew she’d spend the rest of her life with him. “It felt like you dumped me, kicked me in the balls, and slept with my best friend all at the same time.”

She gasped. “But none of that’s true.” She cradled his face within her hands and made him meet her stare. “If I knew what to do, I would’ve finished the mating dance with you. I need you to understand that.”

He nodded and broke his gaze from hers. “But you have to understand my dragon nature feels rejected, even though I know that’s not your intention.”

“Then we need to fix my shifting problem.”

“That means we’re going to have to delve into your past. Are you prepared for what we might find?”

No,
spoke her younger self inside her mind. Would the truth change the way she felt about her parents? Not in a million years. She knew they had loved her. Whatever she found out, that wouldn’t change. If Eoin was going to be her future, she’d have to learn to let go of the past. “I’m ready.”

He rose, setting her on her tiptoes. “There’s a bathroom through that door where you can shower. Meet me in the kitchen. I’ll cook breakfast. Then I have something to show you.”