Chapter 5
Four more days went by. Things between Vizor and I were…
strange. At fifty-seven years old I was a young adult by dragon standards but I wasn’t entirely inexperienced when it came to relationships.
Okay, I’d never technically been in a relationship.
But I’d had flings and wasn’t a virgin by any means.
I adored Cerri and Eddie. Unfortunately they were both decades older than me and set the bar for relationships.
Those two were so in love it was hilarious that her father and many others didn’t realize it.
Most knew there was something between them, but I don’t think they understood just how serious it was.
That was likely because Eddie was…well…Eddie.
He gave the impression that he didn’t take anything seriously.
There were few things I knew for certain in life. But the one thing I would bet my life on was that Eddie would move heaven and earth for Cerri. Nothing would ever keep those two apart and I almost pitied the person that tried.
And because I’d seen that kind of love and devotion.
I wasn’t willing to settle for anything less.
So I had my harmless flirtations and occasionally found someone to satisfy my needs.
The latter was harder to do because it was hard to determine if a man was pursuing me just because he thought it was a way to get in good with my father.
For that reason I shouldn’t feel the way I did about Vizor. He was exactly the kind of man I was trying to avoid. Someone who was determined to climb the political ladder and more than willing to burn those around him while doing so.
My brain knowing this did nothing to stop my heart from liking him. Maybe more than just liking. Which was insane because until this week I hadn’t spent much time around him and the asshole worked for my father. Not to mention he was bringing me to my future—unwanted—husband.
I could practically hear Eddie and Cerri in my head right now.
Well, she’s finally cracked, my love, Eddie would say. Such a pity. Apparently she is just that desperate for a good fucki—
—it’s so strange, Cerri would interrupt Eddie at just the right moment so his point still got across and tilt her head as a contemplative expression came over her face. I could have sworn my best friend was smart and not some weak-minded fool who fell for the bad boy act.
I missed them terribly. Even if they were a bit judgemental at times. I glanced at Vizor. Okay. Maybe their judgements were fair in this case.
We were over halfway to Ralis now. Each night played out the same—we pretended that there wasn’t a time limit to all of this and traded stories about our life so far.
Happy stories. He told me about how there was a waterfall and pool that would form just outside the Ralis during the rainy season and how his mother would sneak them out of the city to play in it.
I told him about natural archways that had formed outside Anspolis and that me and my friends had been holding unofficial races there for years. And that I always won.
Nothing physically had happened between us—at least nothing serious.
But Vizor no longer wrapped me in his tail while flying.
Instead I rode on his back—something I still didn’t love—but it didn’t bother me that much because it was him.
He found other ways to touch me too. Holding a hand out to help me over minor obstacles when we landed.
Brushing a nonexistent crumb off my lips.
I knew I was headed for heartbreak. We hadn’t even done anything for fucks sake but I was already in too deep. This was insane… but I couldn’t stop myself from feeling the way I did.
Based on the way I occasionally caught Vizor staring off into nothing with his dark brows furrowed and his jaw firmly clenched, I knew he was feeling something similar.
At our current pace, we would be in Ralis in three days.
That realization had me feeling a little reckless tonight. Which was why when Vizor brushed his thumb over my bottom lip after we’d eaten dinner—I licked it.
He froze in a way that was so comical I laughed. His bright orange eyes widened.
What? I asked, still chuckling.
You…laughed.
I stopped and chewed on my lip. Your expression was funny.
Why’d you stop? He searched my face as if he was desperate for the answer so that he could fix it.
I like who I am. I shrugged, trying to keep my expression casual. But it’s not like I know what my laugh sounds like. If it’s weird. Nice. Normal. I have no idea.
Vizor smiled at me in a way that broke my heart. It’s the best sound I’ve ever heard in my life.
I stared at him for several heartbeats. What are we doing?
His smile faded. I have no idea. But I don’t know how to stop.
Tell me a story, my fingers were almost desperate as they went through the motions. Tell me who you really are.
He wavered for a few seconds. What if you don’t like who I really am?
Then that would make all of this easier, I answered honestly.
I could lie. He swallowed. I could make you hate me.
In three days you’re going to leave me and I’ll likely never see you again. Something dark and feral swirled in his eyes but I barreled on. Let’s just pretend a little longer.
Okay, his movements were almost tentative. Then he moved so that he was behind me and gently nudged me so that I was lying down with my head resting on my thigh, still able to watch his hands.
And Vizor told story after story, until I struggled to keep my eyes open. Then he curled around behind me, and I fell asleep in his arms. He was still there in the morning when I woke up, his arm wrapped around my waist, and his fingers intertwined with mine.
#
One night. That was all the time that we had left together. Despite the slow pace and meandering path Vizor had taken the last few days—we were out of time.
Every day he’d carried me closer to my doomed fate. And every night I’d fallen asleep in his arms. Nothing had happened between us more than traded stories and a few more sweet but quick kisses on the cheek. This didn’t seem real and I was at a loss for how to handle it.
Vizor had been quiet since we’d landed at the watchtower. The final one we’d be staying in for this journey. After tomorrow, he’d start his flight back to Anspolis and I’d have to pick one of my not-so-great plans for how to escape Ralis and my new husband-to-be.
As usual, Vizor lit a fire and we raided the meager offerings of the watchtower reserves for dinner.
I couldn’t shake the nervous energy tonight so I quickly ate my portion of dinner and then started pacing.
This watchtower was devoid of anything left by the daemons.
All the shelves and tables were empty; something I’d tell Cerri as soon as I had a reliable way of talking to her.
My bestie was entranced by discerning the daemon leftovers and figuring out what they had learned from the artifacts the fae left behind.
Everything felt…unreal. I’d been away from the home I’d known my entire life and my friends for over a week. This incoming future was on the horizon—one I would vehemently fight against. And then there was Vizor. The man I had grown to know and adore in the span of a week.
It was ridiculous to think that I loved him. I mean we barely knew each other. My intense feelings for him were insanity. Rationally I knew this. But my heart didn’t give a single fuck.
My gaze drifted from the flames I’d been absently staring at to Vizor. His gaze of eternal burning flames met mine. His lips moved and this time I caught the words they formed.
Fuck it.
In a heartbeat, he rose from where he was sitting on the other side of the fire and crashed to his knees in front of me, his mouth finding mine a second later.
The world melted away as he rocked back and pulled me forward until I was straddling him.
His lips never left mine, like he was afraid he’d lose me if he did.
I poured everything I’d been feeling towards him into that kiss. And Vizor took it all and gave it back to me tenfold.
I wrapped my hands around his neck and parted my lips. His tongue slipped into my mouth, coaxing and teasing. Despite his forwardness, he was being gentle.
I didn’t want gentle. I wanted Vizor to be as consumed with me as I was with him.
Maybe he just needed a hint.
I sucked on his tongue before pulling back enough to bite his bottom lip–hard. Vizor fingers bit into my waist, yanking me forward until my core ground against the enormous erection that was pressing against his pants.
Gods, yes.
I kissed him like he was the last breath I would ever take and he did the same. One of his hands started sliding down from my hip to dip between my legs.
Fuck, you are wet, his growl rumbled through my mind as his fingers rubbed against my panties. Tell me you want this, Lynette. That you want me.
My fingers released their hold on Vizor’s hair and I leaned back enough so that I could sign. He could hear my thoughts but I wanted to tell him myself. You. Only you.
I jolted when I felt the tug of my panties tearing followed by Vizor’s fingers gliding across my slickness, eliciting a shiver from me. He raised his other hand from my hips and spelled out four letters.
M.I.N.E.
Two fingers plunged inside me and my hands shot out to clasp around his neck as my back arched. His other hand wrapped around my hair and pulled my head back further at the same moment he started fucking me faster.
I moaned and rode his hand. A delicious tension building in my core. My eyes fell shut as I tilted my head back and lost myself to the sensation. My knees squeezed against the outside of Vizor’s thighs as my climax grew closer.
When he brushed a thumb against my clit, I erupted with a scream. Pleasure rolled through me in waves and when I finally opened my eyes and looked at Vizor I found him staring at me with satisfaction.
His lips curled up into a sly smile as his voice rumbled through my mind. You screaming for me is the second best thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Behind your laugh of course.
I yanked at his tunic. Please fuck me now.
Please? So polite.
I got frustrated with the buttons on his tunic and tore it in half. His raspy laugh filled my head and he held up two glistening fingers.
Suck. Then I’ll fuck you.
My toes curled. Normally when people told me what to do I balked at it. Or plotted ways to make their lives miserable. But with Vizor I knew he’d never push me too far. That the second he thought I wasn’t into it, he’d back off.
I was diving head first off a cliff that would probably lead to heartache but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Because despite the warning in my mind, my heart was adamant that Vizor would always catch me.
Holding his gaze, I slowly stuck my tongue out and licked his fingers. His eyes darkened as my mouth followed and I sucked them clean just as he demanded.
Suddenly he pulled his fingers out and then my clothes went flying. It felt like only a second passed before Vizor was lying me down on the pile of our discarded clothing, parting my thighs, and notching himself at my entrance.
Instead of thrusting in, he leaned down to kiss me. It was an all-consuming kiss and I relished the taste of him. Vizor broke our kiss, his lips trailed down my jawline and kept going until he reached the crook of my neck and paused. I knew what he wanted to do–to bite down and claim me.
But he was giving me the choice. Dragons only bit the one they wanted to claim as a mate.
My fingers twisted in his hair, pulling him to the side. He let me move him away without a fight even though I could sense his disappointment at being denied.
I pushed myself off the ground and Vizor went still when my lips brushed against the same spot on his neck. Just like he did for me, I gave him the choice as I kissed his skin lightly. Waiting for him to decide.
A hand cupped the back of my head and gently pushed me towards him.
Yours, a voice echoed in my mind.
I bit down hard enough to draw blood at the same moment Vizor pushed himself inside me. My body stretched around him and I wasn’t sure if the groan rumbling through my mind was his or mine.
He kept a torturously slow pace for the first few thrusts. Pulling himself almost all the way out before sliding back in. I released my hold on his neck and nestled back down into the pile of clothing and smiled up at him with bloody teeth.
Dark orange eyes flared like flames flickering in the night. Then Vizor’s control snapped.
I arched my back and screamed as he slammed into me, his pace turning hard and fast. Strong hands gripped my wrists and pinned them over my head. I spread my thighs even further allowing him to sink even deeper. My pussy clenched around his thick cock and my eyes drifted shut.
Eyes open, love.
Instantly I opened my eyes and held Vizor’s gaze as he pounded into me. His dark red hair fell around his face and I knew I would never get tired of this sight. Of this feeling.
As if he could see all of this on my face, Vizor groaned before his head snapped down the same spot on my neck he’d been kissing earlier.
Teeth sank in and I screamed from both the delicious pain and the orgasm that erupted. He fucked me through all of it.
Two words chanting over and over in my mind. Mine. Mate.
His teeth left my neck and crashed my mouth. The coppery taste of my blood on his lips as his thrusts became more frantic as he found his own release.
Gradually the pistoning of his hips slowed and he gripped me to him, rolling us over until I lay on top of his chest with his cock still hard and buried inside me.
I rested my head directly over his heart, and let it lull me to sleep.