34. Chapter 34
Daxton awoke in his bed. His heart thundered, fear and bewilderment disorienting him. It took a few heart-stopping moments to figure out that the emotions came from the link.
Izzy sat with her back against the headboard next to him. She gazed at the wall as if she were awake but a million miles away in her spirit form. He rested on his elbow and ran his fingertips down her arm, prickling her skin. Her mouth twitched, curving slightly as she glanced down at him.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked.
“The link. I feel whole again. But—it’s just—there might be adverse effects. Benefits always come with risks.”
“What’s wrong?”
She blew out a breath, stood, and paced alongside the bed.
“Simon shared a theory with me. He thinks…” Her mind moved like pages, turning too rapidly for him to follow, making him dizzy.
“When Simon tested your blood, he found that your spirit energy was fused with your biological blood. My recent human blood sample showed similar results, and Simon thought it was cross-contamination. But now, he doesn’t—and I also don’t think it is.
It’s been getting harder for me to separate from my body.
Not because of my enjoying humanity, which I am.
It’s…physically harder and more taxing because my spirit energy is fusing with my body.
I think…I think you’re the saving grace. ”
He leaped to her. Grabbing her arms with shaking hands, he stilled her long enough to guide her onto the bed. “What are you trying to say?”
“What if…when we link our spirit energies again, or I don’t know how many times…what if my body and spirit become one? I’ll age like you and can collect my feathers to return to Heaven.”
Return to Heaven? His heart drummed in his ears.
“It’s what I’ve wanted for so long, but to tell you the truth, I’m a little scared now that it’s a possibility.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not prepared to give up my life and return.” Her gaze pierced into his, and she swallowed hard.
He struggled to breathe. “Even if we completed the link, it would take time for you to collect your feathers anyway, right?”
“Yes. Right now, it would also be dangerous for me if Fotios is still around. If he took out my theorized Fallen-and-human-fused form, it would send me straight to Limbo and give him my power. But I’m trying not to overthink this.
” She pressed into him and licked her lips, an invitation that warmed his body.
The link vibrated as a gentle flow of energy caressed the line, and his dragon held its breath. It was almost as if she were trying to connect them.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Choosing you.”
His heart melted, turning his blood to liquid lava. But something still tugged at his mind, and he forced himself to protest even as she leaned into him. “Izzy…we don’t know the consequences.”
“Not without experimentation, we don’t.”
“And what if we are linked for life?”
“Good.” She brushed her lips against his, shy and tentative. “I want this to work between us. I know the danger we face. But I feel safe. It’s a feeling, like many others, you instill in me. I don’t want fear or uncertainty to rule my life anymore. I want to live. Enjoy my humanity. With you.”
Her gentle flow of energy reached his dragon. He closed his eyes, accepting her offering. The link flexed, and the joining forced them into a wicked flux of pleasure, muscles clamping and spasming as warm euphoria poured in.
He kissed her like a desperate man, a man glad he had given something to her. She had given him a way to control his other side, fire to his life, and such joy every time he stood in her presence. She kissed him back like a wild animal that had been set free from captivity.
As he covered her body with his, she parted her legs to pull him closer. His arousal brushed her core, sending streaks of delicious fire to his balls. He growled against her lips as he fought the urge to rut against her. Her kisses became feverish, her nails digging into his back.
His dragon snarled for release, ready and willing. He tore himself away from her to stand at the end of the bed. His body ignited as if he had walked into a firepit.
Fuck. Need to stay calm for her.
He couldn’t tear his gaze from her. She sat up, frowning. He clenched and unclenched his hands, trying not to feel like the burned flesh he was fast becoming.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, tensing.
He loosened his jaw. “I want you. All of you. If you’re not ready, tell me.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. The tantalizing view tormented him. She looked down as she plucked at the T-shirt she’d borrowed. His hands flexed again.
She released a long, unsteady breath and rose to her feet. He froze, muscles bunching. She took a step toward him and, lifting shaky fingers, traced them against a throbbing vein in his neck. Her touch flashed electricity through him.
“I want you too, Daxton.” Her voice quivered, but dauntless eyes stared at him.
The link thrummed, and their desires intermingled—hot and edgy. He held himself still, wanting her to commit to the choice. She ran her fingers to the back of his head and tugged when she leaned in toward him. Her mouth pressed against his. They kissed slowly, a melding.
His heart thundered.
He pushed her onto the bed and fell on her like a dragon claiming his mate. She moaned harshly as he nipped at her collarbone and ground his body into hers. When he kissed her, she tentatively reciprocated, as if her mind was elsewhere.
He said, “Just like your meditation—focus on the sensations.” Kissing her, he swept his hand up her torso until he tugged her bra down and caressed her breast through the material of her shirt. The mound in his palm, round and firm with a peaking nub, sent him groaning. “You feel so good.”
She cried out and angled toward him. Her leg draped over his, opening her core to him.
Her lips became forceful, less timid. His cock pulsed, and he ground himself against her thigh, searching for her heat.
She pushed her chest forward, and he palmed her nipple.
Her hands brushed against his stomach. Skin pressed to skin, causing pressure so damn close to the throb in his pants.
He rocked himself against her. Exhilaration drifted through his body.
An explosion of air escaped their joined lips.
“Take off your shirt,” he said against her ear.
Sitting up, she tore it over her head. Her confidence struck at his heart. His teeth and tongue found her neck as he unclasped her bra. The fabric popped free, and he tossed it aside, anticipation sizzling along his skin.
His gaze lingered over the rosy peaks of her breasts before he covered them with his hands. He worked the nubs between his fingertips. She jerked as he replaced his hand with his mouth.
“I love how you react to my touch,” he said.
The warm, soft tip turned hard while he lapped his tongue against the top. She gyrated against the bed, her breath shaking out of her as she sought release.
Her strong, caressing fingers slipped up his thigh. She cradled his length through his pants. Fuck. Shuddering, he groaned when she stroked him. Shocks of pleasure scored through his shaft.
He kissed her while his hand trailed down her frame until he cupped her.
The wetness of her panties strangled his thoughts.
She writhed against him, gasping from the contact.
He pulled the waistband of her panties, and the intoxicating scent of her arousal permeated the air.
His beast side roared, pushing scales against human flesh, wanting to ravage her.
Gentle. She needs me to be gentle.
“I want to taste you so badly,” he murmured while his lips traced her stomach. He gazed up to lock eyes with her.
Her fingernails scratched over his short hair as she ground herself against him. Taking it as an invitation, he kissed across her torso and pulled her pants and underwear off. Her naked body lay before him, legs closed and rolled to one side. It left him with a view of her exposed butt and breasts.
Her red cheeks highlighted her wet eyes. He rubbed his aching chest and grabbed her legs. Pliant flesh met his touch as he feathered kisses up her calves. Her trust in him made him smile.
His fingers trailed over her hips. He wished to unwrap her like a present. He drew her apart with gentle hands and kissed her inner thighs. His heart galloped in his ears.
“Daxton…” Her stare held a twinkle of curiosity.
His mouth watered. “Tell me you want this.” He bit her thigh and licked the sting away, staring at the prize of her glistening womanhood before him.
She shivered, but she didn’t break eye contact when he met her gaze.