Chapter 18 Poppy
Poppy
The air was silent but charged as I led Viol to our bedroom. He didn’t speak, and neither did I, but I knew the same thoughts were running through both our minds.
Viol shut the door behind him and locked it without taking his eyes off me. He dimmed the lights. His breathing was low and rough, as if claws squeezed around his chest, and his frame was taut as a predator about to pounce.
The tiny flame of desire stoked low in my belly grew hotter. Just being alone with him in a room was enough to make my heart race. But after that conversation with Saffron and Rorik, my mind veered solely towards breeding.
I took Viol’s hands in mine and gazed up at him. “Tell me what’s on your mind,” I urged.
His jaw tightened. When he spoke, his voice was as hoarse as his choppy breaths. “You want me to be honest?”
“Always.”
“I’m thinking about how badly I want to flip you over and mount you.” He smirked. “But I’m trying to be a gentleman about it.”
I smiled at him, then ran a hand up his chest. “Why?”
“’Cause,” Viol said through a shudder, “that’s what you deserve.”
My hand paused at his shirt collar. I traced the line of it, then curled my fingers into the fabric in a plea. An invitation.
“So, my gentleman in black leather,” I teased. “Do you need to bring me flowers first? Take me out to dinner?”
Viol’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Before what?”
I shot a sultry glance up at him beneath my lashes. As I closed the space between us, my fingers curled harder in his shirt. When our chests were flush, I leaned up on my toes and whispered in his ear: “Before you finally breed me.”
Given our proximity, I felt the shiver that rolled through Viol as if it were in my own skin. His temperature skyrocketed. Warmth radiated off his face in rolling waves that washed over me, sucked me into their current.
I pressed my cheek against his in a fond nuzzle. “What, I don’t even get an answer?” I asked playfully.
“You rendered me speechless,” he admitted.
The words were husky with arousal. He placed his large hands on my lower back to pull me closer, despite that being impossible. I felt his thumping heartbeat like a frantic metronome. My own pulse raced in time with it, matching his swift tempo.
Viol wet his lips as his hands roamed down my back. His touch was firm and possessive, especially as he slipped lower to cup my ass. I shuddered and leaned my weight into him, wanting more.
“Is that what you want, Poppy?” Viol asked in a low rumble. “You want to be bred?”
Hearing the words out loud sent a streak of heat into my core. I shivered again, nodding fervently, shoving my body against his in desperation.
“Well, then...” Viol sounded amused as he hooked a finger into my waistband. “Are you nice and wet for me?”
I pulled in a sharp inhale. That single question ignited my lust into a blazing fire that licked every inch of my body. I was burning up with need.
“Yes,” I breathed.
Viol pulled my pants down past my ass, exposing it to the cool air. A whimper escaped me as he caressed it. His touch was both reverential and sly.
“You’re so damn cute,” Viol murmured. “Especially down here.”
My whimper turned into a small laugh. Even while being sexy, he was sweet.
Then Viol slipped a finger closer to my slick hole, and my laugh morphed into a soft moan.
“Oh, you were right. You are wet,” he purred.
I nodded again, too destabilized by arousal to speak. My skin felt electrified, and my lower half trembled. I barely resisted the urge to push into his touch.
Then his finger disappeared. My disappointed groan was cut off as Viol suddenly picked me up bridal-style and carried me to the bed.
He plopped me down gently, then tossed his shirt aside, staring into my eyes all the while.
His gaze was sharp and bright, focusing on me like prey he was eager to sink his teeth into—and I deeply craved his fangs.
Viol crawled on top of me. Slow and deliberate, he removed my clothing, piece by piece. When I was naked beneath him, a possessive growl vibrated in his throat.
“All of this belongs to me,” he said, a hint of his dragon’s voice rising to the surface.
I shivered in anticipation, then sprawled out languidly for his viewing pleasure. His obsessive gaze was pinned to my body. I felt so loved, so valued.
“Yes. All of it,” I murmured.
Viol threw his leg over my side and straddled my waist. He put his palms on my chest as if touching a precious artifact. As his thumb drew circles across my skin, he sucked in a slow, ragged breath.
“You’re so beautiful, Poppy,” he growled, as if that beauty pained him. “You always have been.”
His praise warmed my soul. It was always heartfelt, and I knew he meant every word of it.
Viol leaned over and let out another soft growl against my lips.
The vibration felt good, as did the suspense of what came after it.
He captured my lower lip and sucked it gently before his tongue snaked into my mouth.
I moaned into the kiss. The velvet heat of his mouth dissolved all my thoughts, and I sank into a pool of bliss.
As we made out, our bodies grinded against each other like two magnets unable to resist the other’s pull. Viol’s heat and weight on top of me was like armor, a shield against all the bad things in the world. When he was by my side, I felt invincible. Protected. Loved.
Emotion and arousal swelled up within me. My slick entrance twitched, impatient and longing for my alpha. I wrapped my legs around his lower back. A keening whine escaped me, disappearing into the open-mouthed kiss.
“Please,” I murmured against Viol’s lips. “I’ve needed you for so long...”
I felt the violent, pleasurable shudder ripple down his back. His hips grinded against my lower belly. His thick bulge was evident behind his jeans. But the sensation of denim on my bare skin felt like he was teasing me. He’d stripped off my clothes, yet left his pants on.
“No more,” I grumbled. To drive my point home, I dug my heels into his waistband.
Viol smirked. “All right, all right. You know I can’t resist you.”
Holding my gaze, he sat upright and slowly undid his zipper. I was breathless as I watched my mate strip. He was so unbelievably handsome. Irresistible.
Suddenly, tears sprang to my eyes.
“W-why are you crying?” Viol asked with his fly halfway down.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “You’re just so attractive.”
“And you’re crying about it?”
I chuckled wetly. “No, it’s not that...”
Viol frowned as he reached out a gentle hand to wipe my tears. “Tell me what’s bothering you, Poppy.”
I shook my head, feeling silly now. “I was thinking... if you were a bachelor on the Dragonfate Games, you’d be the most handsome one. You would have a huge line of omegas wanting to date you. To be your mate. None of them could resist you.”
Viol’s mouth twisted in flustered confusion.
“What the hell? I don’t give a shit about that!
Even if a million omegas wanted my attention, I’d tell them to fuck right off because none of them would be you.
” He lurched closer, his mouth hovering above mine.
His warm breath contained a hint of fiery dragon smoke.
“Poppy, you know damn well you’re my fated mate.
You’re the only one I love, and the only one I’ll ever love.
You’re the most beautiful, kindest, hottest, most everything man I could possibly imagine. ”
By the time he finished his proclamation of love, Viol was breathing hard.
Adoration swam in my chest. His aggressive devotion was magical.
With a sheepish smile, I reached up to stroke his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was mostly thinking about how lucky I am.”
Viol snorted. “If anyone’s lucky, it’s yours truly. The sweetest omega in the world belongs to me. In my arms.” His voice dropped to a sultry murmur, and his mouth curved into a grin. “In my bed...”
A tingle danced along my skin. Hearing him say that caused the kindling warmth in my chest to expand until it filled every inch of my body.
Suddenly, the distance between us—however minimal—was too much. I wanted him on me, in me.
I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, cognizant of the powerful muscles beneath his skin. His warmth only added fuel to the fire of my arousal. I dragged my fingernails down the back of his neck, teasing. Demanding his attention.
Viol shuddered as he let out a rough growl. He angled his hips lower, and I felt his trapped bulge push desperately against me. Then I recalled that I’d interrupted his strip show with my silly nonsense.
“Um... can you take the rest of your clothes off?” I asked.
His reply was a breathy chuckle. “Sure, Poppy.”
Viol kissed my cheek before sitting upright again. After making swift work of his jeans and boxers, he tossed them aside. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his body. In the dim shadowy light, illuminated by the flickering glow of candles, I thought Viol looked like an angel.
I reached for him wordlessly. He accepted my invitation.
He gently lay on top of me, his thighs straddling my waist. The not-so-accidental brushing of our erections made me whimper in pleasure.
As if I wasn’t already burning up, now I felt ready to explode.
Sating my arousal was the only thing I could focus on.
It haunted me like a ravaging hunger, or terrible thirst.
“I need you,” I begged, my plea a shaky whisper in Viol’s ear. “Please, I—ah...”
He didn’t force me to wait any longer. A finger slipped deftly down past my cock, between my thighs, only stopping when it found its quarry—my slick entrance, twitching impatiently for him. He teased the tight ring like a greeting, announcing his presence, then slipped gently inside.