Page 39 of Beauty At Stake
“I can be fast.”
“Raza!”
“All right, I can't be fast, but I can make it feel as if our lovemaking has passed too quickly.” He grinned wolfishly—or rather, dragonly.
“Babe, you do that every time.” I tapped his lips.
His grin widened.
I looked at the bed. It was right there. Then I started kicking off my boots.
Raza would never lower himself to whoop, but he did swoop in and pick me up. I took that as his version of elation. A second later, I was falling onto our massive bed, staring up at my fierce husband as he loomed between the carved dragon tails that formed the posts of our bed. He slipped out of his clothing, his glowing stare locked on me.
I was more impatient and used some apportation to help me remove my clothes, taking them off with waves of my hand before sending them to reappear on the floor. A low growl came from deep in Raza's chest when I finished my task. I grinned and held his stare as I bent my knees and spread my legs. Slowly.
Framed by those posts and then my bent legs, Raza looked magnificent. Nothing new, but the view, like his kisses, never got old. Especially when he spread his black dragon wings wide—a sort of mating dance for his kind. The light coming through the crystal windows caught in the membranes of his wings, bringing out the ruby tones. Those highlights matched the strips of red in his hair, the straight, almost sharp angles of the style giving him a rock star vibe that went well with his savage look. He'd been a bit of a rebel before he became King.
Did I mention Raza's eyes were glowing? Against his pure black skin, that glow was nothing short of stunning. It cast his face into ferocious shadows, turning him from a king into a rebel once more as he bent forward and crawled onto the bed. Or maybe he was both. If anyone could do it, it was Raza.
My bad boy king. Gods, I loved him. I especially loved the way his claws dug into my thighs without breaking the skin. Raza had the utmost control over his body. It came from centuries of shapeshifting. He could have banished those claws, but he knew I loved to feel them gliding over me, scraping me without drawing blood. It was the perfect expression of our love.
“Mo shíorghrá.” Raza settled between my thighs, his enormous body spreading them wider. His wings curved over us, separating us from the rest of the world.
“I love you, dragon,” I whispered before pulling his head down.
This time, I didn't stop the kiss. Instead, I sank into it, luxuriating in the feel of our naked bodies pressed together. My hands wandered up and back, over Raza's thick arms and broad shoulders. So much strength beneath that silken skin. He felt carved of ebony—sun-warmed ebony. His back muscles wereincredible, the sweeping lines contracting and bulging. They had to be huge to work those wings. I gripped them briefly, then swept my touch upward, into his thick hair. Squeezing handfuls of the pin-straight, silken length inspired growling and undulating from my husband.
“I don't like it when you get upset with me,” Raza murmured.
I pulled back to look at him. Raza rarely brought this kind of stuff into our bed. Which meant it had really bothered him.
“I didn't want to discuss private things in front of strangers, but you wouldn't let it lie.”
“Yes, I know. Try harder next time, mo shíorghrá.”
I sat up, pushing him back. “Are you saying that it was my fault?”
Raza made a frustrated sound, body hunching forward and wings drooping. “No. I'm saying that we're partners. Help me instead of attacking me.”
“I could say the same to you. You literally swooped in like you were arriving at a battle. You took that woman's word as absolute truth and didn't think to ask me my side of it before you reacted.”
“I can't help but react.” He spread his clawed hands. “I am who I am. And you weren't there to counter her.”
“Oh, now you're going to blame it on your dragon? So, you can go on the attack, but I can't?”
“Yes. That's our relationship. You know how my beast can control me sometimes.” Raza cupped my cheek. “And only youcan bring me back to myself, mo shíorghrá. That's what made me first realize how important you were to me. How deep my love for you went. Seren, I rely on you to ground me. To tame my dragon. To unite us. Please, don't leave me to face myself alone. It will tear me asunder.”
My throat closed up, so powerful were the emotions that rose with Raza's words. A memory rose as well—of Raza demolishing a forest in his dragon form. Nothing can stop a dragon once they've gone into a rage. But I had gone to Raza and called him back, out of that fury. I conquered the dragon with love. And he conquered me right back. I mean, really—how could he not when he said things like that?
“Raza.” I laid my hand over his as I turned my face into his palm and kissed it. “You, dragon, tame me. I'm sorry I forgot the dynamics of our relationship. You're right. You rage, and I bring you back. That's the deal. But, babe, sometimes, I need to rage too. Like when you trust another woman more than me. I think I deserve to get angry over that.”
“That's not what happened. I trust you above all others, mo shíorghrá.” He took my hand and held it between us. “But Malai's words struck a cord in me. You know how I worry when you're on a mission. Especially when Astaroth is with you. I couldn't stop my reaction. It was instinctual. I went to you immediately so that you could reassure me. It wasn't to attack you.” He gave me the look I deserved. “I would never. You know that. I would sooner cut off my wings than hurt you. You are my heart.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, okay. I forgive you, and I ask for your forgiveness.”
