Chapter 13 Terra #2
I started to move, riding him with a rhythm that had his claws flexing against my hips. His tail was still wrapped around my leg, holding me tight to him. The combination was almost too much, pleasure building faster than I could process.
"That's it," he encouraged, his voice rough. "Take what you need from me."
I used him shamelessly, chasing the building pressure in my core. His hands guided me, helped me find the perfect angle.
When I came, it was with his name on my lips and my body clenching around him hard enough to make him curse. The orgasm rolled through me in waves, each one cresting higher than the last, until I was shaking and boneless in his arms.
He didn't let me rest.
Just shifted his grip, pulling me tighter against his chest, and started moving his hips. Thrusting up into me with a force that would have been too much if the water hadn't cushioned some of the impact.
"My turn," he said against my ear.
His mouth found my breast, tongue circling my nipple before his lips closed around it. He sucked hard, the sensation shooting straight to my core and making me clench around him. His tail resumed its torture, stroking my oversensitive clit with gentle persistence.
I was going to come again. Already. The realization hit me at the same time his flexible tip found that spot inside me that made rational thought impossible.
"Darrokar, I can't. It's too much."
"Yes, you can." His teeth grazed my nipple, just enough pressure to make me gasp. "Give me another one, luvae. Show me you're sorry."
The command in his voice, the absolute certainty that I could do what he demanded, it pushed me over the edge. I came again, harder this time, my body locking up and my vision going white.
Through the haze of my own pleasure, I felt him follow. His hips jerked, his cock pulsing inside me as he filled me with his release. The flexible tip kept moving, kept stroking, drawing out both our pleasure until we were both trembling.
We stayed like that for a long moment, bodies locked together, breathing hard. The water lapped around us, cooling slightly but still warm enough to be comfortable. Steam continued to rise, creating a private world that was just us.
Finally, Darrokar's hands gentled on my hips. His tail unwrapped from my leg, sliding away with one last teasing stroke that made me shiver. He lifted me carefully, letting me slide off him, and settled me back on his lap with my head against his chest.
I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady beneath my ear.
"Am I forgiven?" I asked quietly.
His chest rumbled with quiet laughter. "You were never really in trouble, luvae. Frustrated, yes. Terrified, absolutely. But not angry."
"Could have fooled me."
"I was angry at the situation. At the warriors who challenged you. At Karyseth for creating an environment where you felt you needed to prove yourself." His hand stroked down my back, claws careful against my skin. "But not at you. Never at you."
The words settled something in my chest that I hadn't realized was unsettled. "I really am sorry I scared you."
"I know." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "And I'm proud of you. Even if I wish you'd chosen literally any other way to prove your worth."
"Next year will be different."
His hand stilled on my back. "Next year?"
"I told you. I'm going to win the Skalanth. Just need to train harder, plan better, maybe convince Vega to actually help instead of trying to talk me out of it."
"You're serious."
"Completely." I tilted my head back to look at him. "You think I'm going to let one loss stop me?"
His expression was complicated. Pride and exasperation and something that might have been resignation. "You're going to be the death of me."
"You've mentioned that." I grinned. "Multiple times, actually."
The water was cooling now, but neither of us moved to get out. This moment felt too good, too peaceful after the chaos of the day. My fingers were starting to prune. But I didn't want to move, didn't want to break this moment of peace and connection.
Eventually, though, practical concerns won out. Darrokar stood, lifting me with him, water streaming off both our bodies. He set me on the edge of the pool and climbed out himself, wings spreading to shake off excess moisture.
I watched him move through the quarters, all lethal grace and controlled power. My mate. My partner. The person who'd tried to stop me today and then supported me anyway when I refused to listen.
He caught me staring and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Just appreciating the view."
His mouth curved into a smile that was pure male satisfaction. "The view appreciates being appreciated."
I threw a towel at him. He caught it easily, laughing, and tossed it back. The playfulness felt good after the intensity of the day. Normal. Like we could survive anything as long as we had this.
We dried off and dressed in comfortable clothes. The cuts and bruises from the Skalanth were starting to ache since the adrenaline had fully worn off. I knew I was going to be sore tomorrow. Probably for several days.
Worth it.
Darrokar pulled me back against his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist. His chin rested on top of my head, and I felt the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
"I love you," he said quietly. "Even when you're being reckless and stubborn and making me question every decision that led to us being mated."
"I love you too." I covered his hands with mine, lacing our fingers together. "Even when you're being overprotective and bossy and trying to keep me safe from myself."
"Someone has to."
We stood like that for a while longer, wrapped in each other, looking out the massive window at Scalvaris spread below us. The city glowed, beautiful in its harsh way. The place that had tested me and challenged me and forced me to become stronger than I'd ever thought possible.
This place that was home now, whether I liked it or not.
And I had this. Peace and warmth and the solid presence of my mate at my back.
No one would ever get to take this away from me.
Thank you so much for reading Daring the Drakarn Warrior Lord!