Chapter 29
Harlow
The naked man who emerges from the undergrowth is huge. He looks to be taller than Drake by an inch or two; his body is covered in tattoos. My breath catches in my throat when I see the color blazing within those markings.
Red.
The tattoos are filled with crimson, vivid and unmistakable even in the dappled forest light.
He is a Red. One of them. The enemy. It’s a Mistveil dragon.
“Female,” the Red rasps. He takes a step toward us, his dark eyes locked on me. He makes a sound of approval. “Mine.”
Green scales ripple across his chest, emerging from beneath his skin like armor.
“Not yours, asshole,” Drake growls, moving to position himself between us. “The female is mine!”
“No.” The Red’s lips pull back in something that might be a smile but isn’t. It’s too damned feral. “Mine. I fight for her.” He inhales deeply, his nostrils flaring. “Smells good. Hmmmmmm…warm and wet. She will make a good mate. Will give me young.”
Revulsion hits, and ice floods my veins. My whole body goes rigid as the meaning of his words sinks in. He wants to… I swallow thickly. No, no, no. I can’t think about what he wants to do to me. I can’t.
“Get to cover,” Drake whispers to me, then faces the Red. “I’m giving you one chance to leave the female alone,” Drake shouts.
The Red comes at us. He’s quicker than something that large should be able to move. One second, he’s several feet away; the next, he’s launching himself at Drake.
I barely throw myself sideways in time, stumbling over a root and going down on one knee. I pick myself up and run a few more steps before turning back, just as there is a sickening crunch as the two men collide. I walk backward, my mouth falling open as they tear into one another.
Drake’s elbow connects with the Red’s jaw. He barely feels it. The Red retaliates, claws erupting from his fingertips as he slashes at Drake’s chest. Blood blooms across Drake’s skin in four parallel lines.
Their skin ripples, scales push through.
They grow larger, more muscular. Claws extend from fingers, their movements taking on an inhuman quality.
The Red snarls, and I see teeth that look like they belong in the maw of a dragon.
They’re no longer men but not exactly beasts either.
Something in between, and it’s terrifying.
The Red lunges again, and Drake sidesteps, driving his elbow into the other male’s spine.
The Red roars, whirling around. His fist connects with Drake’s jaw with a crack. Drake doesn’t so much as flinch. Right now, they’re evenly matched, but that could change in an instant.
I should run. Every instinct screams at me to flee, to put as much distance between myself and this violence as possible. But I can’t. What if Drake needs me? It’s not like I can help him against the Red, but I can’t just leave him either.
The fight careens closer to where I’m frozen, and I force my legs to move, scrambling behind a wide tree trunk further away. My hands shake as I peer around the rough bark, unable to look away from the brutal combat.
Drake catches the Red’s wrist as he swings, twisting it with a sickening crack. The Red howls but uses the momentum to drive his knee into Drake’s stomach. Drake doubles over for just a second before ramming his shoulder into the Red’s chest, driving him backward into a tree.
The trunk splinters from the impact.
They break apart, circling each other. Both are bleeding. Drake’s chest is a mess of claw marks, and the Red’s arm hangs at an odd angle. But neither shows any sign of stopping.
The Red feints left, then lunges right, going for Drake’s throat. Drake’s too quick; he ducks under the attack and drives his claws up and under the Red’s ribs. The sound it makes is horrible; wet and tearing.
The Red gasps, his eyes going wide. He swipes at Drake one more time, but it’s weak, uncoordinated. Drake pulls his hand free and immediately drives it forward again, this time higher, between the ribs.
The Red’s legs give out. He crumples, dark blood pooling beneath him as he falls.
Drake stands over him for a long moment, chest heaving.
Something falls to the ground, and I realize with horror that it’s the Red’s heart.
Drake drops down on one knee, his eyes on the Red.
Then he wipes his hands on something before standing and turning toward me.
He covers the ground using big strides. His eyes are dark and narrowed on me.
Although impossibly huge, he’s all human once again.
With my heart still lodged in my throat, I start toward him before I can think better of it. My legs feel like they might give out, but somehow, I close the distance and throw my arms around him. My whole body is shaking so hard I can barely stand.
I let go, but only to look at him.
“Are you hurt?” My voice comes out high and thin. “You must be hurt. Your chest. You…” I touch a bruise already forming on his jaw.
“I’m fine,” he says, but his breathing is labored.
“Are you sure? You—”
“I’m fine, Harlow. They’re superficial…nothing. Are you okay?”
My lip feels like it wants to wobble, so I bite down on it. My throat feels clogged all of a sudden. I look up at him, and something breaks inside me.
“I was so afraid.”
“I will always protect you.”
I realize in that moment that I’ve been drifting since my parents died. Right now, I feel anchored. I feel…safe.
“I thought you’d be killed.” My voice hitches. “I was terrified, Drake. I thought… I…”
I just rise up on my toes and cover his mouth with mine. I close my eyes and grip his strong shoulders.
The kiss lasts barely a second before I pull away, horror washing through me.
I hadn’t meant to do that. Crap! He’s going to get mad, going to start lecturing me again.
I’m about to apologize when Drake’s hand cups the back of my head.
There is a charged moment that seems to last forever.
Drake licks his lips, and stupidly, I track the movement of his tongue.
Then he leans in and kisses me. He freaking kisses me.
It’s nothing like the brief touch of lips I gave him.
This is hungry, hot, it’s desperate. It’s everything.
His mouth claims mine like he’s been starving for it, his tongue finding mine.
I respond right back, my fingers gripping his hair.
My eyes widen and then flutter closed. I make a strangled sound, pressing myself against his hard body.
I say his name against his lips, and he deepens the kiss, pulling me against him by gripping my ass in his big hands.
He devours me. But it’s all good because I devour him right back. I claw at him. I mewl. I arch into him.
“Fuck, Harlow!” he rasps against my mouth.
Then his hands are everywhere. They’re sliding down my sides, gripping my hips, roaming over my back. On my breasts, briefly skimming over my belly. Even through the leather, every touch sets me on fire. But it’s not enough. Not nearly enough.
“More,” I whisper.
Drake cups my breasts, and I moan. He kneads them in his big hands, and I arch into his touch.
When he strokes me between my legs, I groan low.
The sound is filled with desperate need.
It doesn’t sound like me at all. He rubs me through the soft leather, somehow finding my clit.
I moan. He’s nipping and kissing my neck and rubbing on my clit.
I arch into him more, mewling…rocking against his hand.
Holy shit! I could come from this, and I’m still fully dressed.
He rubs a few more times. I groan in frustration when he stops.
“Need you naked,” he growls. By now, his voice has dropped several octaves.
“Yes.”
I help by unzipping and stepping out of my boots while he tugs down the zippers on my pants and then my tank top. He peels them off. I lift my arms and kick away the pants. I’ve never been so frantic to be naked.
“Beautiful,” he rasps as I start to undo my bra.
Drake tears my underwear, the fabric giving way with a sharp ripping sound.
Next to go are my panties. He rips them off me like they’re made of paper.
His eyes stay on mine. They’re filled with such intensity that I can hardly breathe. He’s so damned sexy.
He puts one arm around me and covers my mouth with his, his hand sliding back between my legs, this time the tip of his finger directly on the bundle of nerves. I cry out. The sound is a little anguished and a lot primal.
His fingers slide inside me, and I buck against his hand.
“Wet for me,” he drawls.
His touch is electric, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through my veins. His hard length presses against my hip, and I reach down to stroke him. He growls, a low, feral sound.
I keep stroking his cock, loving the velvety feel of him.
He groans, his forehead resting against mine.
“I need to be inside you.” His voice is urgent.
I make a noise of agreement.
“Lie down,” he commands.
I do as he says, the moss soft beneath my back.
“Open your legs for me.” His voice is gruff. My nipples tighten. I’m wet. I’m so turned on, I’m vibrating. It’s never been like this for me.
I didn’t think I’d like being bossed around, but I do. I freaking love it.
I do as he says. Opening my thighs wide.
His eyes move over my body, his lids at half-mast. He makes a sound that tells me he likes what he sees. Then he gets onto his knees before me, spreading my thighs a little wider still. Drake leans forward, his hot breath right there. I whimper. And then cry out when he puts his mouth on me.
Oh, good lord…his mouth.
His tongue drags over the heart of me, hot and insistent.
I grip the moss below me, crying out, sounding like a wounded animal. His mouth closes over my clit. He suckles me there, and I groan so deeply that my throat hurts. One of his hands grips my thigh while the other joins his mouth, fingers sliding inside me as he works me.
Holy shit! Holy hell!