Protected by the HERO (55 page)

He undid her bra, then put it aside. He knelt down and took each breast in his mouth in turn. “Oh God, Kent.”

She wanted him inside of her. Yesterday.

“Easy, Melanie. We have all night.”

“Now, Kent.”

He chuckled into her chest. She undid her pants. He slid them off of her. He gasped.

“What’s wrong?” she said.

“You are exquisite.”

He lifted her onto the bed like she was china. She watched him undo his pants. Holy hotness Batman. He was huge. And erect. He sheathed himself in a condom. He climbed on top of her with a smile.

She spread her legs, more than ready for him. It was like they were destined to be here.  She couldn’t understand this. She’d never jumped into bed with anyone this quickly. Trust. That was it. She trusted Kent.

He wasn’t going to hurt her.

He kissed her, sweetly at first then his tongue darted in and out. Her body thrummed in anticipation. Her soul cried out to Kent. He slid into her. No need for much foreplay. She wanted this. She wanted him inside of her.

He gasped. “God you feel like you were made for me.”

Yes. That was how she felt. She’d say that if she could talk, but her whole body centered on what his penis was doing to her insides. It was glorious.

She wrapped her legs around him and tilted her pelvis to let him in deeper.

“Oh, Melanie.”

He had been moving slowly, but now he sped up. Her climax was coiled in her middle, ready to let loose any second. And then it did. Angels sang. Her body was no longer corporeal, but a bundle of sensations. White light lit behind her eye lids.

“Melanie,” he yelled out as he hammered into her.

Then he stopped and she started breathing again, his body slumped onto hers.

*****

Kent finally caught his breath. That had been amazing. So amazing that the beast wanted to come out. The dragon. He had to fight to keep it under control.

“You okay?” Melanie asked.

“Yeah, fine.”

He gritted his teeth willing the beast to go away. This wasn’t the time for it to come out. No. No. No. He hadn’t lost control of it like this ever. He didn’t want to run out on Melanie. That would be bad. She’d be hurt.

“Give me a minute.”

He crawled out of bed and ran down to his apartment. He let the change fly. He was a dragon, standing in his living room. He flexed his wings and arms then he initiated the change back. He pictured himself as human again.

Just in time.

Melanie had put on a robe and was walking through the front door he’d left opened.

“Kent?”

“I’m okay, Melanie. I just thought I left something on the stove. Would be bad form for a firefighter to burn down his house.”

She stood in the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself, looking as if she didn’t believe him. He’d have to tell her at some point. If their relationship ever got that far. If he kept running out after sex she’d never give him a chance.

“You look a little sweaty.”

“Well, we were working out,” he said.

He approached her, but she didn’t run. She didn’t flinch. He brushed a hair from her face. The transition had made him tired. On top of the lovemaking session they’d just had, he didn’t think he would be upright for too much longer.

“I’d like to take a nap then do that again.”

She had a small smile on her face. “Run out on me again right after sex.”

He certainly hoped that he’d have the beast under control this time. If he ran out again, she’d be suspicious.

“Not at all.”

She nodded, took his hand then led him back to her apartment. They curled up in her bed, but Kent couldn’t find sleep. It was being elusive as he worried that Melanie wouldn’t accept who he was. I mean really?

A dragon. That’s what he had to shift into. Not a lion or bear. Why not something cute and cuddly. No, he had to turn into a fire-breathing, scaly animal. Someone to take home to mother for sure. Not.

“You’re thinking so loud that I can’t sleep,” said Melanie.

From the sound of her even breathing, he had thought she had fallen asleep.

“Am I?” he said.

“Yes. What’s wrong? You should be asleep. Incapable of rational thought. At least that’s how most of my lovers are afterward.”

“Okay. I am just having some trouble sleeping. That’s all,” he said.

She rolled over to look at him. “Then let’s not sleep.”

He smiled as she climbed on top of him. She was so beautiful. So right for him. He couldn’t screw this up or he’d live his life alone. Dragons mated for life.

***

Melanie could see he was still thinking too hard. His forehead was crinkled with the effort. So she slid down his body and licked the tip of his already erect penis. Oh, yum.

He gasped. His forehead smoothed out as she took him completely into her mouth. She moved him in and out of her mouth, sucking on his balls in between.

“Oh, God, Melanie.”

He was close. She could tell from his panting. So she took him into her mouth all the way to her throat. Then she swallowed.

“Ooh.”

He came in her throat, his body ramming himself further into her. She let go of him then licked her lips.

“Holy cripes. What was that?” he said, his eyes half mast, his body limp.

He wasn’t thinking about anything else but her now. She had made sure of that. She knelt over him, still straddling him. She felt triumphant.

He smiled up at her. “That was the best blow job I’ve ever had.”

Of course it was.

“Got your mind off of whatever was bothering you,” Melanie said.

He laughed. “That it did. I’m glad breathing is automatic. I’d never be able to accomplish it right now.”

She laughed, sliding off of him. “Well, this means you owe me.”

“Give me a few minutes to get the feeling back in my limbs and I’ll take good care of you.”

She smiled, leaned her hand on her and her elbow on the pillow. “You need some water?’

He nodded.

She climbed back over him, sliding her body across his limp one before getting a glass of water from the kitchen. She brought it back. He was sitting up, a pillow propped behind him. She could see his chest now. Just enough hair on it to make him sexy. He was clearly a man. He shoulders were broad and muscled, probably from his job.

Her mouth went dry and she needed a sip of the water before she gave it to him. She put the glass to her lips, but only took a little drink. She gave him the glass when she finished. He drank it down. She watched his Adam’s apple go up and down as he swallowed. Damn, this man was sexy.

How was it he was in her bed? How long would he be in her bed? Men like him, that good-looking, didn’t stay with women like her.

“Now you’re the one who’s thinking too much,” he said. He patted the bed next to him. “Sit and tell me.”

She sat, but she didn’t want to show him her insecurity. She looked down at her hands. He lifted her chin. “Are you regretting this?”

She shook her head. “No, of course not.”

“Then tell me what’s on your mind.”

She bit her lip. Well, if he was going to leave, she might as well get it over with. Now is better than later when her heart was involved.

“Okay. Here goes.” She took a deep breath, then let it out. “You’re out of my league.”

He smiled. “Out of your league?” He ran a hand down his face. “Have you seen yourself?”

What was he talking about? She blinked at him. “What are you talking about?”

*****

Kent put his hands on Melanie’s face. “If you could see yourself from my eyes, for just five minutes, you would see what I see. You are such a beautiful woman. You take my breath away.”

Her eyes had a sheen on them. “Oh, Kent. That’s the sweetest thing anyone has said to me. Ever.”

“Has no one ever told you that you’re beautiful? Didn’t your father say that?”

He had no idea how a father couldn’t say that to his daughter. Even if she was ugly a father would never see it.

“No. My father died when I was a little girl.”

His heart broke for her. “Then I’m going to tell you that you’re beautiful every chance I get.”

She blinked again. A tear leaked out and he brushed it away.

“I’m sorry if I made you cry,” he said.

She shook her head. “I’m just overwhelmed.”

“Good. I want you to feel everything,” he said.

“Why are you being so nice?”

He contemplated how to say this to her without making her want to run out of her own apartment.

“Because I feel something for you Melanie. I’m not sure I’m ready to name it, but I’ve never felt it before.”

“Really? I feel like we were made for each other. I didn’t want to say that. I figured you’d run out the door.”

He let go of her face, laughing. “I was worried about you doing the same thing.”

“I’m a realist, Kent. I write technical manuals. I don’t have flights of fancy, but . . .”

“You feel like we’ve known each other for years.”

“Right,” Melanie said.

He kissed her. It felt as if their lips were made for each other. He loved how she tasted. How she felt in his arms. Not just because he knew she was his mate. He truly felt these things with her.

But there was still one obstacle. He had to tell her about his shape-shifting. Would it be a deal breaker? He lamented once again that he wasn’t something cute. He was a dragon. Not bear or a wolf or a lion.

A dragon. Not cuddly. Scales and breathing fire.

He didn’t want to ruin the moment, but he had to tell her. He had to come clean. Or maybe not yet.

Maybe he could hold off until she loved him and she didn’t want to lose him. When she was already committed and would take whatever came her way. Then he’d reveal his secret.

He took her in his arms. He’d promised her a good time. He flipped her onto her back then slid himself so he was down between her legs.

“I could pitch a tent and camp down here,” he said.

Melanie giggled. “Really?”

He licked her folds. Her body stiffened, but it was a good posture.

Melanie almost screamed. Thankfully no one else was in the building because they might have called the cops. She did sound like she was dying. She wasn’t. Her body was on fire. His tongue was dancing across her nether regions and Melanie had lost all sense of place and time.

That was a strong tongue. Her body was humming. She knew she was making strange noises, but he was doing amazing things to her. She was feeling things she’d never felt before. She’d gone numb in every part of her body but her clit.

He had a lot of talent and her body wanted to explode. And then it did. She flew over a cliff, her body writhing, lights exploding behind her eyelids. Sounds were coming out of her that she didn’t know she could make.

Then she heard chuckling. She opened her eyes to see Kent kneeling between her legs. The grin split his face.

“What are you laughing at?”

She was a little embarrassed and wanted to close her legs, cover herself up. He was laughing at her.

“Those were some fabulous noises.” He puffed out his chest. “I made you make those noises.”

“So this is an ego thing? You’re sitting between my legs, gloating?”

“I am, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? He’d called her sweetheart. Damn. Her heart just slammed into her chest on its way to him. She was going to give him her heart. She barely knew this man and he already had it. Hopefully he wouldn’t break it.

She couldn’t move or she’d probably punch him. She did laugh at him. This naked man so proud of himself. That had been the orgasm of the century. The best orgasm she’d ever had. This was the best sex she’d ever had.

Holy crap. She was. She was falling in love with this man and that sweet grin on his face.  Oh shit. She was in trouble. She hadn’t been looking for a man. She hadn’t been looking for a romance.

But here was this man that was adorable and hot and seemed to be so into her. And he was proud of how good an orgasm he gave her. Men like this just didn’t exist outside of romance novels. Was he for real? Was he a serial killer?

What was wrong?

“Why are you looking at me that way?” he said.

“What way?”

“As if I’m too good to be true.”

“Because you are.”

He leaned down hovering his lips over hers. His voice came out whispery. “I am not. I’m just me. But I’m real, Melanie. I’m real. Touch me.”

She put her fingers on him. “You’re solid and real.”

“I am, Melanie. Please don’t ever question my existence. I’m here, sweetheart and I’m in the flesh.”

She wanted to giggle. He was in the flesh. Completely naked, hovering over her. His breath wafted across her face. His blue eyes held her gaze.