Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Even though Grace was thrilled that the custody case was over, the next twenty or so hours were some of the longest of her life.
They’d arrived back on Stonefire late, and then they’d had to take care of Eli and Eddie.
And after that, they’d had just enough energy to eat something and crash on the bed to sleep.
At least Hayley and Dawn had both volunteered to watch the boys overnight so that Trahern could finally claim her as his mate in all ways.
It was strange because, a few months before, Grace would’ve hesitated to let her twins out of her sight.
However, both women had done so much to help her, and she trusted them now.
And so, with her boys safely in the care of her friends, Grace currently waited in the bedroom. She played with the belt on her robe, trying not to be nervous, which only made her anxiety worse. She worried that Trahern had built everything up in his mind, and she couldn’t live up to his standards.
Stop it. He wants you, and that’s it. You have the rest of your lives to get things exactly right in this arena.
Still, she continued fingering her robe until Trahern suddenly appeared in the doorway and everything else melted away. With a smile, she dashed to him and crashed against his chest.
His arms wrapped around her, and he chuckled—actually chuckled—before saying, “You’re impatient.”
She met his gaze. “And you’re not?”
His pupils flashed a few times, and he groaned. “My dragon is extremely impatient.” He raised a hand to cup her cheek. “But don’t worry, he won’t rush me. You’re too important to us, and this is something I want to remember forever.”
“But you always remember everything.”
“Perhaps, but memories of you and the boys are my favorite.”
She melted against him and grinned. “You’ve gotten rather smooth, haven’t you?”
“I speak the truth, nothing else.”
As they stared at each other for a few beats, Grace’s heart raced, and love for her dragonman rushed through her. It was time, long past time, to finally claim his body in addition to his heart.
Well, his cock, at any rate.
She kissed him, and Trahern didn’t hesitate or tease. He merely devoured her mouth, exploring with his tongue as if it were the first time all over again, and running his hands down her back to cup her bum.
The feel of his large, warm hands kneading her flesh made her moan into his mouth. She was already wet, and she was as impatient as a randy virgin.
She broke the kiss. “Tell me you’re ready, Trahern. Please say you are.”
He chuckled again—she’d never heard him do that with anyone else, and she treasured it each time—and replied, “You can feel that I’m aroused, Grace. So yes, I’m ready.”
She cupped his face in her hands and shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t want you to be nervous or hesitant or have the urge to run. I want you, Trahern, but I love you enough to wait, if you need it.”
His face softened. He kissed her and then murmured, “I love you for many reasons, Grace Lewis. But I’ve been ready for a while. This first time might be rather quick, though, as Blake and Gregor have teased me ever since I discussed wanting to have intercourse with you.”
She smiled. “Well, I’ve heard dragonmen recover quickly, so we can practice as many times as you like to build up some stamina.”
He lightly swatted her arse—she’d told him once she liked it, and as always, he made sure to do everything she liked—and said, “We’ll see. Now, take off your clothes, Grace. I want to see your lovely body before anything else.”
Grace stepped back a few paces and untied her robe before dropping it to the floor. As always, Trahern’s gaze turned heated as his pupils flashed. He always made her feel beautiful and desirable, and he would only ever want her.
Wetness rushed to her core as his gaze lingered on her breasts before settling on the juncture of her thighs.
He wasn’t even touching her, and she was the most aroused she’d ever been in her life.
Her voice was hoarse to her own ears as stated, “Now, take off your clothes.”
Trahern didn’t hesitate to tug off his top, trousers, and underwear. He didn’t even bother to fold them in a pile like normal, but instead headed straight for her, pulled her close and kissed her.
Their kiss was passionate and demanding and full of how much they wanted each other.
Soon she felt the back of her legs hit the bed, and Trahern broke the kiss. “Lie back, Grace. Maybe later you can try some of the positions I found in a book, with you on top. However, I want to be on top and in charge this first time.”
She nodded, understanding that he needed to be in control for this given his past, and lay back. After spreading her legs, Trahern settled between them. The feel of his hot skin against hers made her arch her back and rub her center against his hard cock. “Trahern.”
He kissed her at the same time as his fingers found her clit and strummed in the rhythm she liked.
She wanted to tell him she didn’t have to orgasm first this time, that she wanted this memory to be special for him.
However, soon she was close, digging her nails into his back, and pleasure crashed over her.
She cried out his name as wave after wave of ecstasy came over her.
By the time her orgasm finally ended, she met Trahern’s eyes again. He smiled rather smugly. Something else he only ever did with her.
“Are you going to just stare at me smiling or do you want to actually have sex for the first time?”
“I am a patient male, Grace. I could make you come again first.”
She traced his lips with a finger, first the top and then the bottom, before whispering, “Claim me, Trahern. Make me your mate in all ways.”
Letting her love for him shine in her eyes, she waited.
Trahern’s heart raced as his cock throbbed. Grace was naked and under him, and all he had to do was enter her.
But for a split second, he hesitated. Maybe he should make her orgasm again.
His dragon spoke up. Stop stalling. This is Grace, our mate, our love. She’s wet and swollen and ready.
He met Grace’s eyes again. Full of desire and something softer, maybe love, he relaxed a fraction before replying to his beast. As long as you keep your vow to give me some time after, before you claim Grace.
Of course I will, as long as you keep your promise to share.
Grace touched his cheek, but before she could say anything, he kissed her. She opened without hesitation, and he lost himself in her heat and taste and the way she threaded her fingers through his hair.
He continued kissing her as he positioned himself at her entrance. Then he pushed slowly, until he was inside her to the hilt.
Instead of the urge to run or retreat, he groaned. Being inside Grace just felt…right. She gripped him just the right way, and combined with her kisses, he started moving his hips, wanting more. Much more.
Finally breaking the kiss, Trahern held Grace’s gaze with his own. Unlike with everyone else, her eyes didn’t make him uncomfortable. He knew the dark brown depths nearly as well as his own, and they were home.
More than a place, wherever his mate was, that was his home.
The urge to claim her and fill her coursed through him, and he increased his pace. He wanted to last longer, tried his best, but she was so warm and wet and gripped him perfectly that he couldn’t. And with a growl, he stilled and released inside her.
Any doubts about her being his true mate fled as she instantly orgasmed, gripping and releasing his cock, prolonging his own pleasure.
When she’d finally wrung every last drop from him, Trahern collapsed atop his mate. He knew he should roll over and stop crushing her, but he was too happy and sated and tired.
Only after Grace started playing with the hair at the nape of his neck did he muster the strength to roll to the side. He hated leaving her body, but pulled her close against his chest. The contact helped calm him a fraction.
Just a bit, though, as his dragon paced his mind. When is it my turn?
Soon. Just give me a few minutes.
With a harrumph, his dragon continued pacing.
Grace’s voice brought him back to the present. “So how was it? Your first time?”
By now, Trahern knew most of Grace’s tells. And the slightly lower volume of her voice meant she was uncertain or nervous.
He tilted her head up to meet his gaze before he kissed her and whispered, “Bloody amazing.”
She smiled, and it stirred both his heart and his cock again.
“I’m glad. I know that’s kind of awkward, and not sexy or romantic, but it’s more important to me that you enjoy sex because I’d rather like to do it again.”
He rolled her onto her back, kissed her, and replied, “I will always want to do it with you, Grace. But it will be shared with my dragon. I hope that’s still okay.”
“I’m ready for him whenever he is. I love all of you, Trahern. Nothing will change that.”
It was still hard for him to believe someone cared for him. And yet, as Grace smiled at him, with her eyes soft and tender, he knew she did.
His dragon spoke up. It’s my turn. Warn her I want to be in charge and how dragons like it.
You’ll give me control again when you’re done?
Yes, we’re past the stage of wrestling it from one another. Grace is ours, and we share.
So, no pull for a frenzy?
No, but our past is different, and we were distant for a long time. I think even emotionally we might still never understand one another. However, Grace is ours. We work together. All will be well.
Maybe later he’d ask his dragon for further clarification, but for now, Trahern focused back on Grace. After tracing her cheek, he said, “My dragon wants his turn. It’ll be a bit different, from what he’s told me and others say.”
She smiled. “I’ve heard plenty from the other human mates, and I’m more than a bit curious. I’m ready whenever he is.”
“Are you sure?”
After kissing him, she replied, “Yes, I’m ready for your dragon.”
His beast growled. She’s ready. Don’t fight me.
Battling the urge to hesitate, he retreated to the back of his mind. He needed to trust his dragon completely, or they would never form a close bond.
And while he had Grace and the boys, he wanted that with his dragon, too.
As his beast took control, he said, We’re on our way, and won’t go back to how it used to be. I won’t let it.
Neither will I.
Good. Now, let me claim our female.
With his dragon in control of their human form, Trahern watched to see what happened next.
Grace was more curious than anxious about Trahern’s dragon half. From all she’d heard, the sex would be rougher but still fantastic.
Although she was more curious about what his beast would say while in charge. Sometimes, she wished there was a way to talk with his dragon more often, without the human half being the middleman.
However, as soon as Trahern’s pupils turned to slits and stayed that way, she pushed all other thoughts out of her mind.
Trahern’s voice was deeper than normal, and sent a thrill through her body, in a good way, as he stated, “You’re my mate. I’m claiming you. Now.”
She spread her arms and legs wide, but his dragon surprised her by flipping her over and raising her hips up.
Then without preamble, he entered her. At this angle, Trahern’s cock filled her up more, and rubbed against a spot inside her that drove her wild as he moved.
Because his dragon didn’t hesitate or say pretty words or take things slow. Oh, no, he moved his hips quickly, keeping her in place, and she moaned into the bed as she felt herself getting closer and closer.
Never close enough, though.
Then she felt fingers on her clit, and with a few firm strokes, pleasure shot through her as she came.
She’d barely started to come down again when Trahern’s dragon stilled, released inside her, and another orgasm crashed down, intensifying the pulses and pleasure to the point it was nearly overwhelming, bordering between pain and bliss.
However, as Trahern’s dragon pressed his front against her back and hot breath danced against her neck, her body started to relax, hovering between an orgasm ending and the world coming back into focus.
She was about to collapse onto the bed when cool air suddenly hit her back. In the next second, she was cuddled against Trahern’s side again as he kissed the top of her head. “Are you okay?”
His voice was back to its normal timbre, and a quick check revealed his pupils to be round. “So your dragon doesn’t mess about, does he? Done and gone.”
Trahern frowned. “I did tell you dragons were different.”
Reaching up, she smoothed the lines on his forehead. “I was teasing, Trahern. Dawn and Hayley both warned about how a dragon half might be quick, and sometimes that’s nice. In fact, having two halves to one person, and different approaches to sex, makes for never getting bored.”
He visibly relaxed a fraction, but remained silent as he stroked her back with his hand. Not wanting him to retreat, she asked, “So what’s this book you talked about? The one with sexual positions?”
She swore his cheeks pinkened a fraction. “Blake gave it to me so he wouldn’t have to talk about it.”
“I’m interested in seeing it later. Maybe even your dragon will find a few positions to try out.”
His gaze finally met hers again, and his pupils flashed a few times. “He’s not against the idea.”
She moved to straddle Trahern’s hips and pressed her hands to his chest. After leaning down to kiss him, she whispered, “For now, I have an idea about how to try it next.” She rubbed her pussy against his cock, and Trahern moaned.
“If you’re up for it. Dragon-shifters are supposed to have more stamina, but if you need some time to recover… ”
His fingers tickled her side, and she laughed. He flipped her under him again, kissed her, and then murmured, “You know how I become fixated on things. I think making love with you will be my new favorite one.”
She touched his cheek. “Making love, huh?”
“Yes. I love you, Grace. And I always will.”
Grace expected skepticism to course through her, but the tender look in his eyes, complete with flashing pupils, and the way he then kissed her slowly, as if she were the most treasured thing in the world, made her realize she believed him.
“I’m glad you mated me, Trahern. I love you, and I look forward to growing old with you and our boys. ”
“You three are my family, Grace. And I will always take care of you.”
“Kiss me, Trahern. For now, just kiss me.”
And so he did, before claiming her over and over again until Grace fell asleep in the arms of the man she loved, looking forward to a future she never would’ve imagined having until coming to Stonefire.