Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
“Yes, I do,” I said recklessly.
His eyes went dark.
“I want to kiss more than your mouth. I want to kiss you here.”
And tangling a hand in my hair, he bent my head to one side and began kissing the sensitive side of my neck.
I moaned helplessly, feeling like my whole body was on fire with need.
This was different from the dragon lust, I thought dimly—the dragon lust forced me to want him. But this…these gentle kisses…his deep voice growling in my ear…the feeling of his hot mouth on the side of my throat—they built desire in me that was every bit as hot as the lust from last night, but it felt like my own.
There was no outside force that was making me want him—there was just Ryse, taking his time with me and making me crazy with desire.
“Goddess, you taste so sweet,” he murmured against my throat. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”
One of his hands slid down my shoulder and cupped my waist, pulling me closer.
I came willingly, flowing towards him. He lifted me into his lap and a moment later, we were in the same position we’d been in the night before. Ryse’s hands were on my hips, pulling me closer as he sucked and licked the side of my neck, sending chills of pure pleasure down my spine.
I was moaning—I couldn’t help myself—and pressing against him. No one had ever made me feel like this before and I didn’t want to stop, even though a little voice in my head was screaming that I had to end this, that things were going to go too far…
“I want to taste you too,” I heard myself saying, as I dug my short fingernails into his broad shoulders.
He pulled back, panting, his eyes glowing in the dim room.
“Do it, then.”
Ducking my head, I pressed my mouth to the side of his throat. His skin was warm and smelled so good—that dark, masculine musk I associated with him. I could feel the scratch of his whiskers against my cheek as I began to kiss him and then…as I grew bolder…to lick. I loved the salty flavor of his skin.
“God and Goddess, little one!” Ryse groaned. “Your mouth is so hot!”
Encouraged, I sucked the side of his neck and then bit down—not too hard, but enough to leave a mark. He had said he felt possessive of me—well, I felt the same way. I wanted to make him mine.
Ryse’s fingers tightened on my hips, and I could feel the hardness between his legs pressing against my core. Did he notice that I didn’t have an answering bulge to press against his own? If he did, he didn’t say anything—he just pulled me closer as I bit and kissed and licked him.
Suddenly, I wanted him so badly I didn’t care anymore if he knew who I really was. I wanted him to kiss more than my throat—I wanted to feel his hot mouth on the sensitive tips of my breasts, wanted his hand between my thighs. I felt like things were going too fast and yet not fast enough.
I stopped biting him and looked into his eyes.
“Ryse,” I moaned. “I’m not who you think I am.”
“You’re not?” His eyes were still half-lidded with lust. “Who are you then, little one?”
“I’m—”
And that was when the dragons started calling.
45
AURORA
I say calling, but it was more like singing. Their deep voices were raised in the most amazing harmony. Their song sounded like pipe organs and horns blended in a clarion call that was impossible to ignore. It sent chills down my spine and stopped me in my tracks.
I pulled back from Ryse and saw that his golden eyes were wide.
“What is that?” I asked. “What are they singing for?”
“It’s the Hatching!” he exclaimed. “Hatching Day!”
“What?” I frowned. “But how can Hatching Day be in the middle of the night?”
He shook his head.
“Hatching Day is like a Mating Flight—it can occur at any time. The minute the drakelings start trying to break their shells the dragons sense it and call it to everyone’s attention.”
He stood hurriedly, pushing me off his lap.
“Get dressed! You have to get up to the Hatching Grounds!”
I ran for my clothes, not bothering to go into the bathroom. Instead, I turned my back to him as I pulled them on as fast as possible. Then I turned back to him and took his hand.
“Come with me,” I begged.
We had been told that we could bring one single person with us to the hatching. (Well, the other cadets had been told. Master Yarsmouth was still convinced I was fooling myself about L’eesha’s egg.) It was a great honor to be chosen to be with the candidate while his new dragon hatched.
“I recommend you bring an upperclassman—a trusted friend who’s an experienced rider and has gone through a hatching before,” Master Yarsmouth had told us. “Remember, no one but you can touch your egg, but it’s good to have someone there to support you in case your egg doesn’t hatch.”