Dragon Scorned

23. River

My heart thumped painfully in my chest, the anticipation of the race was killing me. I was following Ryder to the base of Snake Road. That was where he wanted to have the race. The first one to the top of the mountain wins.

The road got its name because it winds around the mountain, constricting it like a python. The road has sharp bends all the way up the side of the mountain.

I began coming here regularly when I needed an escape. That first night Nikolai brought me here, I was addicted to the place. So, I knew the winding street like the back of my hand. I”ve driven it more times in the last month than I care to admit. There was no way I would lose.

There was only enough room on the straight stretches for one car, all the bends had a pull off zone made for two cars. If he was in front of me the only way to pass him was on one of those bends. They were dangerous, most of them not having any guard rails.

I was shocked when Ryder chose Snake Road for our race, but there was no way I was backing down now. I would win, I needed to know what was in that file and where he got it from.

Breaking into Professor Knox’s office was a total bust, it didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. I was hoping there were answers inside that mysterious file Ryder had.

Maybe the hunter? Tate did say he was getting rid of the body, so maybe the hunter had it on him and Ryder found it.

Once we reached the base of the mountain, I rolled down my window. Ryder rolled down his passenger window and leaned over the center console to look at me.

“There”s a car coming down, as soon as they turn off we go,” he told me, pointing to the car on the road right above us.

I nodded my head and rolled up my window, Ryder’s laugh filled my ears before it closed. I needed to focus, not let the confusing man distract me. I was still trying to figure out what he meant when he said if he won I would be his.

He wouldn’t win, but I still wanted to know. Surely he knew that his cousin was my mate, and Nikolai. I’m pretty sure Tate mentioned he met Jax, so he had to know of him, too. There was no way I would have a fourth mate. I know really strong and powerful dragons were known to have up to seven mates, but I wasn’t that strong.

I didn’t even have a special ability like what some more powerful dragons had. Knox had mentioned that in class the other day. I didn’t even know dragons could do anything other than breathe fire. But, apparently, some could control the water, air, snow, acid, electricity, shadows, earth, plants, and the list goes on.

I was in awe when Knox was teaching the different powers some dragons possessed. My attention snapped to the car as it came around the last bend. I revved my car in anticipation.

As soon as the random car turned off, I slammed my car into gear and floored the gas. I got up just enough to zip in front of Ryder as we came to the first straight away. I lifted my foot slightly off the gas and tugged the emergency brake up to drift around the first bend, keeping myself in front of Ryder as I hugged the inside of the road.

“Woowho,” I screamed as I shifted through the gears. Ryder was swerving behind me, darting in and out of my side mirrors, looking for an opening to pass me.

“Not going to happen, asshole,” I gritted my teeth, swerving right along with him. I wouldn’t give him the option of winning.

Adrenalin pumped through my body as we made our way up the road. This was thrilling and exciting, it had my heart almost bursting out of my chest. Just the fact that one wrong move could send my car over the edge and down the mountain had a fearful thrill coursing its way through my system.

I was normally an adrenaline junkie, but this gave me a seriously new high I didn’t even know existed. Adding in the fear of crashing, had my blood pumping in a whole different way.

Ryder inched up on me, almost passing me around the next bend, but I cut him off at the last second. Whipping my car back in front of him. I smiled, watching him in my rearview mirror. He slammed his fist onto his steering wheel, and my smile grew. I told you I would win, asshole.

There were only two more turns to go, then we would reach the clearing at the top of the mountain. I was almost there. So close I could taste the victory. It was sweet and sinful, heating my body like the hot sun.

When we came to the next bend, Ryder whipped around the inside, leaving me no choice. I either pull to the outside or I crash into him. Unwilling to wreck Natalia’s car I slammed on the brake to slow down enough so Ryder wouldn’t hit me.

“Fuck.”

I slammed through the gears to catch the asshole now in front of me. That”s what you get for getting cocky. Stupid River.

The last bend was coming up and I pushed the car to its max, extending the limits of what it could do.

“Come on, just a little faster,” I gritted my teeth, willing the car to go faster.

It was no use, though. Natalia’s Cielo was no match for Ryder’s Bugatti. That car was a beast, and fast as hell. I’m not going to lie, I was a little jealous.

Tate and Ryder had matching Bugatti’s. Tate’s was cherry red and Ryder’s was hunter green. Both beautiful colors for the gorgeous car. Ryder came to a stop at the top of the mountain, getting out of his car and smirking at me as I pulled up.

I hopped out of my car after it came to a stop, eying Ryder wearily. He was standing like a god, arms crossed, leaning against his car. A devilish smirk tipped his lips as he eyed me up and down.

“So what, I’m your trophy now? What do you plan on doing with me? Setting me on your shelf like a prized possession,” I asked him, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

I internally cringed at my words. I think my filter is broken, Natalia must be rubbing off on me.

“I don’t want to own you like a possession, drag?. I want you so consumed with me you can’t breathe unless you”re in my presence.” His voice was low and seductive, doing all sorts of things to my insides.

“I want to be your favorite drug. To have you so addicted to me you crave the simplest touch. Just a brush of my skin against yours will have you panting for more.” He pushed off his car and started striding toward me, pulling the envelope from inside his jacket.

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t breathe as I watched him. Pterodactyls slammed around inside my stomach, because there was no way the fluttering I’m feeling is simple butterflies. I know what those fuckers felt like, and this wasn’t it. This was something more, it was making my knees weak, and I wanted everything he was saying. He was consuming me, and I didn’t know if I was more afraid of him touching me…or what would happen if he didn’t.

“So, no, drag?. I don’t want you as my trophy. Because having you as a trophy would imply I earned it, and I did no such thing…yet.”

Ryder held the folder out to me. I grabbed onto it, but he didn’t release his hold. I met his eyes, looking at the desire burning bright within them.

“I will though, drag?. I will do everything I promised. Earning your trust, and stealing your heart along the way.”

With that, he released the folder and turned around to walk back to his car. I was frozen in place, unable to move from this spot. It felt like my feet were glued to the ground. I watched as Ryder drove around me, waiting at the start of the road leading down the mountain.

I snapped myself out of the trance I was in, realizing he was waiting for me. He didn’t want to leave me alone on the mountain in the middle of the night, and I was grateful. The hunter still had me shaken up, and I didn’t want to be alone.

I finally got back into the car and followed Ryder back down Snake Road. My head was spinning with everything he said, confusing the fuck out of me. I was absolutely certain of one thing.

Ryder made it perfectly clear tonight that he wanted me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him in his pursuit.

Ryder pulled off the side of the road, getting behind me to follow me the rest of the way home. He slowed as I pulled into my driveway, making sure I made it up to the house. I lost sight of him as I made my way up the long gravel drive, but I knew he would be sitting down there. Waiting, just in case I needed him.

It was a comforting feeling, knowing that all I had to do was yell and he would be next to me in a heartbeat. I knew he would, something shifted between us tonight. I couldn’t even explain it to myself, let alone anyone else because I didn’t know exactly what it was. All I knew was that the pull to him got stronger, and I yearned for him the further I moved away from his presence.

As the house came into view, I was torn between turning around and running to Ryder or going inside. I spotted Tate’s car and knew he would be inside waiting for me. I wondered what he would say about everything Ryder told me tonight. Would he be mad?

It didn’t seem like he was mad at the fact that I had two other mates, so I could only hope he would be okay with a possible third. As soon as the thought of Ryder being my mate popped into my head, my dragon purred, and I knew I was right. There was no way she would be okay with another dragon saying what Ryder said to me if he wasn’t my mate.

I finally decided to park the car and go inside, better to get this over with sooner rather than later. Tate would probably be furious, so I squared my shoulders and walked into the house.

To my surprise, the house was dark and empty. I figured at least Natalia would be up waiting for me, but she wasn’t. As I passed her room, there was no light shining out from under her door, so I walked past and went into my room.

Tate was propped up against my headboard, with my Kindle in his hand. I eyed my e-reader before flicking my eyes to his.

A devilish smirk spread across his face. I studied it, noticing how similar it looked to Ryder’s. That must be some strong genes from their grandparents.

“You read some filthy stuff, little minx.”

I glanced at my kindle again, “If you don’t like it, then don’t go snooping.” I told him, stripping out of my black sweatshirt and jeans as I walked over to sit on the edge of my bed.

“I never said I didn’t like it.” His grin spread wider. “If you ever want to play out some of these fantasies, though, just know I’m game.”

I laughed as I crawled up next to him, settling myself against his chest. “What are you reading anyway?”

“Something called The Mate Games. It’s pretty interesting, not going to lie.”

I chuckled as I curled up against him, he was in for an intense ride if he was just starting that series, it was a roller coaster.

I quickly read the page he was on, realizing he was already on the second book. “Holy shit, you”re already on book two?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “Yeah, I skimmed most of it. It”s getting interesting now, though.”

“Of course you would think Sunshine literally getting fucked twelve ways to Sunday would be interesting,” I told him, giggling at the fact that he was reading about the female main character getting fucked in the middle of her heat.

“Like I said, if you ever want to play out anything in these books you read, I’m game, baby.” He placed a kiss on the top of my head and taped the screen to turn the page.

Reading this scene was turning me on all over again. I was on book four, so I already read this one, but I wasn”t opposed to reading it again. I wiggled as my arousal leaked out of me, rubbing my thighs together.

In one swift move, Tate tossed my Kindle onto my nightstand and flipped us so he was settled above me between my thighs.

“Are you turned on, little minx?” He asked, dragging his nose along my neck, inhaling my scent.

A shiver raced down my spine, increasing my arousal. My breaths were coming in short, shallow pants as I spread my legs further, touching the side of my knees to the mattress.

I felt his cock thicken against my center, straining against the boxers he had on. I cursed at the thin layers of fabric separating us.

“Did you have fun with Ryder tonight?” he asked between the kisses he was leaving on my neck.

I tipped my head to the side, allowing him more access. “Mhum,” I hummed, clearly my words were failing me at this moment. I probably couldn’t put a cohesive sentence together right now even if I tried.

All I could think about was him sliding home, settling his cock deep inside me where it belonged. My dragon hummed inside me, pulling to the surface. She was reaching out to his beast to stake the claim on me that she craved.

I watched as his eyes turned that beautiful shade of gold, so much like Ryder’s it was alarming, but all of the red flags flew out of my mind when he crashed his lips to mine. He tasted like freshly roasted marshmallows, and I parted my lips, coaxing his tongue with mine.

I felt the growl from him vibrate through me, intensifying the kiss. I could still feel him holding back, though; he was careful. His hands were balled into fists, resting on either side of my head. My dragon was not letting him go this time, though; she had waited long enough. Her demanding emotions mixed with mine, and the need for him to claim me intensified.

I reached down to the hem of my tank top, breaking our kiss for a moment while I slid it up over my head and tossed it to the floor. Then I reached behind me, unclasping my bra and tossing it aside before finally shifting one of my nails into a sharp talon and shredding both of our underwear.

Nothing was between us now, and I felt the heat of his cock. I writhed under him, trying to get him down to my entrance.

“River,” he moaned my name almost painfully. I pulled back to look into his eyes, so much raw emotion stared back at me I couldn’t decipher it.

I brought my hand up, cupping his cheek as I peppered kisses down his neck. I trailed my other hand down his stomach, grasping his cock and lightly squeezing.

“Fuck it.”

I felt it the moment his composure snapped. He ripped my hand off his dick and slid into my pussy in one swift movement. I screamed as he stretched me, it was too much, I was so full.

I felt the bond fully snap into place, it wasn’t like with Kai, or maybe I didn’t notice it before. I felt it this time though, it was like a rubber band wrapped around us, pulling us together and not letting go.

Tate began moving inside me, hard and fast. It was borderline painful. He was fucking me like an uncontrollable beast, and when he pulled back, I saw his searing golden eyes.

Tate, come back to me.

I cupped his face with both my hands, whispering into his mind, willing his beast to let him go. I saw the fight for dominance in his eyes, his dragon didn’t want to relinquish control to him. This was the first time I’ve truly seen Tate like this. We all lost control sometimes, but we quickly regained it. Taking the reins back and pushing our dragons back down into their carefully crafted cages. If Tate couldn’t contain his beast, he would surely shift, and there was no stopping it after that happened.

True fear sank into me, I cried out as he relentlessly pounded into me. More pain than pleasure consumed my body, causing tears to prick at the corner of my eyes.

Tate, please. You”re hurting me.

I don’t know if it was the tears spilling over, or the pleas I cried into his mind, but something got through to him.

He stilled his painful thrust and closed his eyes. I watched his mouth move, silently counting to ten before he opened his eyes again. The brightest shade of green was now staring back at me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m so sorry, River,” he said, pulling out of me and jumping off the bed.

I sat stunned for a moment before I snapped myself out of it and walked over to him. I touched his arm, only for him to shrug me off. I was upset. Now, I was just pissed. We all had control issues, that didn’t mean he got to push me away when he was close to breaking. I wouldn’t stand for that shit, he needed to know I was okay. It would take a lot more than a slip of his composure to scare me off.

“Don’t you dare shrug me off of you, Tate Stonewell. Do you hear me?” I growled, stepping in front of him and jabbing my finger into his chest.

“That was your dragon, not you. I know you would never hurt me. Our beast can be uncontrollable sometimes, but you do not get to blame yourself for it.”

Tate looked everywhere but at me, only increasing my anger. He pursed his lips, not saying a word.

“Beastly, you lost control for a moment, but you got it back,” I told him, walking around so I was now facing him. I reached out to clasp his hands in mine. “At least you didn’t take out the side of a building like I did the last time I lost control.”

I was trying my damnedest to comfort him, and he needed to know I wasn’t mad at him. I was only mad because he stopped once he re-caged his dragon.

“I hurt you,” he said through clenched teeth, finally meeting my eyes.

My heart squeezed in my chest at the amount of pain in his gaze.

“I’m a big girl. I can take a little pain,” I told him, standing on my tip-toes to nip at his neck.

He tipped his head back and moaned, unfolding his arms and snaking them around my body to cup my ass. He squeezed and lifted, and I wrapped my legs around him. I bit his neck a little harder, causing a growl from him. I felt his cock press against my entrance and wiggled, trying to slide it into place.

“River,” he cried, my name sounding all wrong on his lips. Earlier it was like a plea, now it was full of anguish.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, placing my forehead against his, forcing him to look at me. “I’m fine, beastly. Now, please. I need you.”

He pressed his lips to mine in the most gentle kiss, walking us over to my bed. He laid me down, covering my body with his, never breaking our kiss.

Stop me if I go too far, please.

His voice flowed through my mind, it was the most perfect sound.

“You won”t,” I promised him. “I trust you.”

With that, he slid into me, agonizingly slow. Setting a lazy rhythm, being careful not to go too hard and hurting me again.

“I won”t break, beastly,” I told him, pushing up to meet his thrust.

He finally gave in, increasing his rhythm.

“Gods, yes.” I moaned, locking my ankles around his back, pulling him closer to me. I writhed as he thrust in and out of me. My orgasm was just out of reach, skating along the surface. I reached between us, rubbing my clit to release the ache.

Tate batted my hand away, replacing it with his own. He pinched my sensitive bundle of nerves between his finger and thumb, ripping a cry out of my lungs.

“Tate,” I screamed his name as he rubbed faster against my clit.

“Come for me, little minx. Show me how good you feel.” He moaned against my skin. Licking and nipping along my neck.

“Let me hear the pleasure I bring you as you soak my cock in your sweet release.”

Hearing those words come from his mouth sent me over the edge, and my orgasm slammed through me.

My walls clenched around him, sucking him into me. I moaned his name, bowing my back as my climax worked its way through my body.

“You’re fucking perfect,” he told me, kissing along my jaw. He fucked me through my climax, not slowing as my body squeezed around him.

Once my climax resided and my body stopped shaking, Tate increased his pace. He began fucking me relentlessly, pushing me toward another orgasm. He pulled back to look in my eyes and I saw gold swirling within his green gaze.

I reached up to rub my thumb along his cheek, “Stay with me.” I whispered before placing my lips against his. When we separated, his gorgeous green eyes met mine once more.

“River,” he moaned my name. It sounded like pure sin and salvation when he said it like that. Showing me how I was saving him and destroying him at the same time.

He increased his thrust, pounding into me so hard the bed was rocking underneath us. He increased the pressure against my clit, and I released a whimper. Pleasure pulled in my core, my release was just out of reach. It was just under the surface, waiting to be released.

“You can give me another, little minx.” He demanded, pinching my clit again.

I screamed his name as my climax ripped out of me. Tate thrust a couple more times before stilling deep inside me, coating my insides with his release. He moaned as he climaxed, kissing me softly. It was a stark contrast to the way he just fucked me, showing how sweet and kind he could be.

He pulled out of me, went to the bathroom, and came out with a towel to clean up our combined pleasure.

Tossing the towel aside, he laid down and pulled me into him. I fell asleep fast, listening to the steady thump of his heart.