Therian Prisoner(79)

Their link expanded, drilling into her mind. For one instinctive moment she resisted the invasive pressure, but this was Ian, her champion, her mate. She concentrated on the complexity of his emotions. Through the inferno of his desire, she sensed tenderness and joy, soul-deep longing and hope. Her spirit responded to each with equal intensity until emotions rushed freely between them, binding them and empowering them as nothing else could.

With a fierce growl, he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her against him as he folded his legs beneath him. She clung to him with her arms and legs, not wanting to separate their bodies for even a moment. He helped support her with one arm as he used the other to lower them to the bed, her on the bottom now, his feet touching the headboard.

He pulled back slightly and she wrapped her legs around his hips, digging her heels into his ass. Their lips separated as he chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. Relax.”

She laughed and drew her legs up along his sides instead. “It’s hard to relax when you’re inside me.”

“Try.” He kissed his way down her neck and explored the indentation above her collarbone. “Concentrate on the fullness and let our emotions wash over you.”

Her eyes slowly closed as she focused inward, savoring the sweet rush of simmering need. His mouth teased and tickled, licking here, nipping there, but never staying in one place for long. He rocked back onto his knees, lifting his chest away from her breasts. She arched at the first featherlight brush of his lips, but he seemed determined to take his time.

So pretty. His fingers pressed against the lower curve of her breast as his lips fastened onto her nipple. He drew with slow, deep suction and sensation cascaded from her chest to her groin. His tongue flicked over the tip while his lips continued to draw upon her and her clit seemed to echo each teasing stroke.

She tightened her inner muscles, accentuating the fullness as he moved his mouth to her other breast. It felt so good and yet she needed so much more. Why wouldn’t he move? Why was he just—

I want this to last and I’ve never wanted you more.

Though the reassurance soothed her restlessness, his effortless ability to read her mind gave her pause. She opened her eyes, needing to see his face. Will you always be able to hear my thoughts?

He lifted his head and looked at her. The golden flecks in his eyes had completely overtaken the blue. “I didn’t need our link to read your mind. Therian abilities grow stronger the longer we live. The struggle for me is keeping thoughts out.”

Awareness expanded within her, making her tense and hyperalert. “You can read anyone’s mind, anytime you want?” He was empowered with ancient dragon blood to protect the most important people in the Therian world. Why hadn’t she taken a moment away from his intoxicating presence to consider what that really meant?

He cupped the side of her face, his gaze warm and caressing. “You have no reason to fear me. You’re my mate. I will lay down my life before I harm you in any way.” He paused for a reassuring kiss then added, “And even if you weren’t my mate, a Guardian is bound by honor to protect and support those in need of his strength. If I abuse my power it will be taken from me.”

She searched his gaze and his emotions, testing the depths of his character. He held nothing back, opening even the darkest, most savage corners of his soul. His life had never been easy. He’d known great loss and debilitating sorrow, but through it all he’d remained true to his calling and always unleashed his wrath only after all other options had been exhausted.

“I trust you.” She kissed him and pushed affection across their link. “It’s just intimidating to really see you for the first time.”

“We could not take the next step until you did. There can be no secrets between mates.”

“I agree.”

They kissed and touched, hands gliding over warm skin. She wrapped one leg around him, resting her foot on the small of his back. Then she planted her other foot on the bed and pushed up against him, taking him as deep as possible.

After a long, tense moment, he drew his hips back, not stopping until only his tip remained inside her. Do you accept me as your mate?

Trembling with the import of this moment, she replied, I do.

He drove his entire length into her and she cried out against his lips, a spontaneous climax shuddering through her. She’d meant to say more, to express how much she loved him and how happy she was that they would spend the rest of their lives together. But the pleasure scattered her thoughts and burned away her surroundings until only Ian remained.

They moved together, the rolling motion smooth and deep. She clutched his shoulders and met each thrust, taking him as he took her. Their tongues played as their bodies joined, their emotions melding more completely with each rotation of their hips.