Chapter 22 #2
Seeing the hurt on their faces, the guilt she knew they felt because they’d allowed her to fool them, their regret that they had prioritized themselves over her, had almost made her quickly brush everything aside again, but with Dragon beside her, she’d stood firm.
Assuring them there was no need for guilt or regret, that she’d wanted them to focus on themselves, it was why she’d kept her mouth shut, she’d promised to be more open, to allow them to be there for her rather than shut them out.
Of course, she had absolutely not mentioned the sex thing and her issues with embracing who she was and what she liked, that was something for her to work through with Dragon, not her brothers.
Major eww.
But it felt good to be honest and open, like setting down a huge weight she had been voluntarily dragging around with her when there was no reason for her to.
Despite her good phone call with her family, and the excitement of her brand-new relationship, Cassandra could feel the tension hanging heavily in the air.
Certainly wasn't immune to it. Blade was still out there, and while he’d checked in once, they were all anxiously awaiting hearing more from him.
She and Dragon might be getting their personal happy ever after, but this entire mess was far from over.
After what had gone down with Rose and her brother, then adding the mystery woman and her warning into the mix, she knew that the guys were in more danger now than they ever had been since they escaped Dr. Gardner’s clutches.
All of them were, because she was part of this now, too.
Movement near a window had her grinning, and she waved, knowing without being able to see that it was Dragon, and he’d realized she had slipped out.
Confirmation came less than two minutes later when the front door was flung open.
“You want to play, little rabbit?” Dragon’s voice came to her clearly despite the distance between them. “Then run, and you’d better hope I don’t catch you.”
Turning on her heel, she took off into the trees. She would do her best to remain uncaught for as long as possible, but the fun of the chase was the inevitable capture.
Barely noticing the cold, she ran, dodging between trees, changing directions often to try to make it harder for Dragon to track her, and pushing herself beyond what she’d thought she was capable of giving.
Adding running to her morning workout routine was a given, she loved her yoga, it helped center her for the day, but she needed something to train her body for endurance so she could drag out their fun.
She had no idea how long had passed when she heard his voice. “I can smell you, little rabbit, and when I catch you, I'm going to punish you for running from me.”
A delightful shiver rocketed through her that had absolutely nothing to do with the cold.
Punishment was exactly what she wanted.
Refusing to give in and beg Dragon for an orgasm had been fun this morning, and she’d held out a whole lot longer than she thought she would have.
Again, begging had been inevitable, especially when he’d tied her up, slipped that toy inside her, then left her there while he took the world’s longest shower.
But holding out had resulted in the most powerful orgasm of her life. After came more tender aftercare as Dragon checked her already cut up wrists for more damage, then carried her to the bathroom, ran her a bath, and cleaned her down with careful attention.
Whatever happened out there when Dragon caught her, Cassandra already knew would end with more gentle care, and it made the thrill of the coming pain all the better.
She was in her element, and Dragon was giving her everything her body craved.
She knew their games were giving him what he needed, too.
An outlet for his anger, which would always be a part of him, a way to take her the way he needed to, and know that she was getting as much pleasure out of it.
Even though she knew he was coming for her, knew he was close, she was caught off-guard when something suddenly flew at her, tackling her to the ground. Despite knowing this was a game she wanted, Dragon couldn’t completely stamp down his protective instincts.
Right before their bodies hit the ground, he turned them slightly, so his took the brunt of the impact. That was the only concession he gave her, though. Her body was roughly shoved into the dirt, and his weight settled above her, pinning her in place.
The position was eerily similar to what had happened to her last night, and for a second there was panic.
As badly as she wanted to ruthlessly shove away the memories of what the mercenary had done one game of sex at a time, it wasn't until she felt Dragon’s nose trail along her throat and heard him inhale her scent that she felt grounded to the present.
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he whispered. “You can change your mind at any time. Say stop, and I’ll pick you up and carry you back to the house. There’s no pressure, no need to push yourself.”
Yet she wanted to push herself.
Wanted to reclaim herself.
Didn't want anything to steal her newfound freedom.
“I want this. Want you. Want you to make me forget,” she whispered back.
Her permission was all he needed. His nose left her throat, and he grabbed the hem of her coat, shoving it up over her head enough that it tangled in her arms, effectively pinning them together, and covered her head, blanketing her in darkness.
Rough hands unzipped her pants, shoving them down enough to bare her backside to the cold.
There was no time to feel it, though. Her blood felt like it was on fire, and heat seeped into her from where Dragon’s large hands gripped her hips, holding her still as he shoved into her in a single thrust.
Sharp, stinging pain almost stole her breath as her mostly unprepared body accommodated his size, but it was the most perfect of pain.
It reminded her that she belonged to this man who would always prioritize her needs and wants above his own.
Dragon might think that between his DNA, the way he was raised, and the experiments done on him, he no longer possessed the ability to care for others, but at every turn he showed how wrong he had been about himself.
“Say you’re mine, little rabbit,” he ordered as he held her hips tighter, pumping in and out of her with a brutal speed that was going to make her sore and bruised tomorrow.
Just the way she wanted. That way, the memories of their game would seep deep inside her, eradicating anything else, including her own insecurities and doubts.
“Say it,” Dragon commanded, and the tone of his voice had her internal muscles begin to flutter as an orgasm tore toward her.
“Yours,” she cried out as the next thrust brushed against that amazing spot inside her.
“Forever.”
“Forever,” she quickly agreed.
With a roar, Dragon came, emptying himself inside her and marking her in a different way. The combination of his weight against her back, his tight grip on her hips, and his pleasure set off her own release, and she screamed out Dragon’s name into the otherwise quiet forest.
When she finally floated back down from her high, she was lying limp and spent against the cold ground, Dragon’s body settled against hers. His nose was at her neck, nuzzling her, and she knew he was inhaling her scent and committing it to memory so he didn't forget this moment.
Knowing that with his declaration of possession and promise of forever that they had a lifetime to go of moments just like this one, Cassandra gave a contented sigh, and arched her hips up a little, taking Dragon, who was still inside her, deeper.
A mere week ago she was consumed by guilt, loneliness, and a sense that something was deeply wrong with her. Now she might be covered in cuts and bruises, had faced death several times over, but she couldn’t be happier.
She’d found her new home, her place to belong and be accepted for who she was, and it was with the man touching a kiss to her neck, then scraping his teeth along her sensitive skin.
“Home,” she murmured happily.