Dragon Hunter by Charlene Hartnady
Chapter 30
Riley pushed the button on the remote to open her garage. The door started to lift as she pulled down the drive. Someone stepped out from under her porch. Someone who had been waiting at her front door. Riley very nearly crashed into the still lifting garage door as her mouth fell open.
Fog grinned. He wore a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers. He was standing outside her front door. Here! At her house! There was a big black SUV parked out front.
What?
What was he doing here?
She jumped out of her vehicle, leaving it in the drive, and ran to him. He caught her, hoisting her into his arms. God, he smelled so good.
Their mouths crashed together. Her legs were around his waist. What the neighbors must think… Good thing Riley didn’t care. She pulled back, her hands still clasping his jaw. “What happened? Are you injured?” She looked down, not seeing anything that would indicate injuries. “You don’t look hurt. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re here. Is it really you, or am I dreaming?”
Fog chuckled; he started walking toward her front door. “Yes, I’m really here. There’s no place I’d rather be.” He brushed his lips against hers.
“Why? How? I mean, I’m thrilled; I just can’t believe it. I thought you were in a cage being flogged.”
He carefully put her down and held out his hand. “Your keys?”
She rummaged in her purse and handed them to him. Still in shock. Her mind still in overdrive.
Fog unlocked the door, pushing it open and stepping to the side to let her in.
“I can’t believe that you’re in my house,” Riley said. She smiled, certain it must be taking up her whole face. “I don’t understand. I wasn’t sure when I would see you again. I never expected it to be so soon.”
“I’m glad you look happy to see me.” He pulled her into his arms.
“I am…I’m so happy.” She wound her arms around him as Fog kissed her again. “How? What happened? Did you escape?” she asked when they pulled apart. “I want to know everything.”
“Let’s sit.” He pointed at the closest sofa in her living room.
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked.
“No. We’re going to talk, and then you’re going to show me your bedroom. We’re going to test your bed. I hope it’s big and sturdy.”
She choked out a laugh, but he stayed deadly serious. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he was angry. She knew that heated look and that tightness to his features. It was desire. It made heat color her cheeks and her nipples pebble. “Tell me already.” Her voice was a little husky.
“The king called me in for a chat last night. It was many hours after you had been taken away.”
She nodded. “What did he want?”
“They offered me an ultimatum.” His eyes widened.
“I’m going to assume since you are here that you accepted?”
“I did.” He nodded. “The agreement, in short, is that I would be permitted to pursue a relationship with you if I agreed not to go after Avalanche. If I agreed not to go back into those caves.” His eyes clouded.
Riley chewed on her lip. “I’m sorry! I know how much you wanted to go in there after him.” She couldn’t help feeling glad, which in turn made her feel guilty. She’d come to the realization that a rescue mission was futile. “Maybe it will be possible somewhere, somehow…with permission, of course?”
“Perhaps. I have to honor my agreement with them.” His eyes were dark. “I won’t give up on them. I am more reassured now that I know the royals are doing more than they were letting on. I only wish Avalanche hadn’t gone in there like that.” His Adam’s apple bounced.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Riley!” He used a gruff voice.
“I’m apologizing, and I shouldn’t be since I never asked to be abducted in the first place. All of this was out of my hands.”
“Exactly right.” He pushed some hair behind her ear. “I was shocked that they offered the ultimatum. I couldn’t quite understand it since they hold all the cards. They could’ve kept a couple of guards on me day and night. They could’ve made it impossible for me to go back to those caves. An ultimatum didn’t make sense. I took it with both hands anyway since it was being offered on a platter.”
“I don’t know; maybe they realized how unfair they were being.” She shrugged.
“Oh, they realized alright.” Fog smiled. “Gayleen pulled me aside just as I was leaving. Storm and Thunder were still holed up in the office.” His smile turned into a grin. “Apparently, Thunder’s mate was upset about everything that happened. It all started when Azure had her first heat a few months ago… I won’t get into it, but Thunder forced her to choose someone to breed with. He invoked some ancient dragon tradition. It’s essentially forced breeding.”
“What?” Riley gasped. “Poor Azure.”
“It never ended up happening, and everything worked out for her in the end, but the queen was not happy. Now she finds out that they turned a blind eye after two human females were abducted and how badly we were treated for trying to do the right thing. An ultimatum!” He laughed. “It was the queen who gave Thunder an ultimatum – to let us be together, or he had to move into the spare bedroom. As it stands, she’s still pissed at him.”
“How did Gayleen know all this?”
“She overheard them arguing. She said it was heated.” He sniggered.
“Good! I’m glad. I understand why they did certain things and made certain decisions, but it would have been much easier if they’d just told us…told everyone.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely! Thunder will be addressing the tribe later today. Soon everyone will know exactly what’s going on. The Fire King will be pissed. He’s the one who has been insisting on keeping all of this a secret. Now he and the other tribes will be forced to inform their people as well. Soon everyone will know.”
“That’s great! I’m so happy. Hopefully, more will be done to stop this from happening in the future. Speaking of the future…” She frowned. “What are we going to do? How are we going to keep seeing each other? You live so far aw—”
He put a finger over her lips. “No more talking. Right now, I want to worship you, Riley. We can discuss our future as soon as I show you exactly how much you mean to me.”
“No rules this time.” She smiled and then laughed when his eyes widened.
“You mean that?” Then his gaze softened. “We don’t have to rush into anything.”
“I know that.” She stood, taking his hand. Fog stood up as well. Hoisting her into his arms. Riley laughed. “I can walk, you know.”
“I like to carry you.”
Once again, she was awed by how small he made her feel. He seemed to know exactly where to go because he headed straight down the hall and turned into her bedroom.
Fog put her down on the bed, which dipped as he sat next to her. “I’m desperate for you.” He leaned in, clasping a hand around her neck so that he could plunder her mouth. His other hand went to her breast. Fog squeezed softly, making a groaning noise. “So damned lush,” he whispered the words against her lips, raking his thumb over her nipple a couple of times, smiling as it tightened.
Fog took off her slip-on shoes. Then he tugged on the band of her jeans. “I’m taking these off.” There was a question in his voice. He hesitated. So sweet.
She nodded. Fog undid the button, pulled down the zipper, and carefully slid the jeans down her legs and off over her feet. He leaned in and rubbed her thighs, looking her in the eyes. With a naughty wink, he put her legs over his shoulders.
Riley was wearing her usual cotton panties. Nothing fancy or sexy. Fog didn’t seem to mind. His eyes were just as desire-filled as when she had been in the lace and silk. It made her heart pump faster. He ran his fingers over her slit a few times through the fabric before zoning in on her clit.
Oh my!
Riley leaned back on her elbows, her breath choppy in an instant. Her eyes on the gorgeous shifter between her thighs. Riley wanted to pinch herself. She could hardly believe he was there. In her house. In her room. He pulled the panel of her full panties to the side with the flick of a finger.
“So fucking beautiful,” he whispered, looking at her with such intensity it took her breath away. He slowly moved in, making a groaning noise as his mouth closed over her. Fog laved her a couple of times, groaning again. Then he moved to her channel and tongued her for a few seconds before gliding his tongue back over her bundle of nerves. She made this weird noise at the back of her throat. One of her hands threaded into his hair, where she held onto him. Her hips rocked forward of their own accord. It was that darned good. The noises she was making quickly turned throaty. She could already feel the coiling inside. Could feel the build.
Fog leaned back and tore her panties open in one quick movement. Instead of freaking out, she found herself even more turned on by the move. Then he fingered her using one finger. Nice and easy. Her mouth fell open while his mouth closed back over her. Holy shit, but it felt good. His tongue kept laving her clit. Her hips were rocking; she wasn't going to last. Fog eased two fingers inside her. She moaned. He worked his fingers in and out. Her back bowed as he found that spot inside her. He was so good at this.
Riley mewled. Her mouth was open, her eyes at half-mast. Her face felt flushed. Make that her whole body felt hot.
When he pushed a third finger home, her eyes widened up. Everything tightened…tightened…tightened. He suckled her clit, and she came apart on a wail. Her hips jerked forward, and she groaned low, long, and deep as she came around his hand.
Another thing he was great at doing was drawing out her pleasure, which he did again now. He wrung every last drop from her until she was panting. It took Riley a few seconds to catch her breath. Then she reached for the hem of her top and pulled it off. She was a little embarrassed. The cotton bra she was wearing was plain. The plan had been to whip it off before he had a chance to look at it. Riley couldn’t. It was stupid. He’d seen her through the lace she’d been wearing the last time they were together. But at this moment, she just…she couldn’t.
“You’re so beautiful,” Fog murmured. He pulled off his shirt, and her mouth went dry. Shifters sure put regular men to shame. Then he toed off his sneakers. Lastly, he tugged down his shorts, and his cock sprang free, jutting long and thick between his thighs. He got back on the bed. His jaw was tight. His breath was coming in pants. His eyes blazed. “I must warn you…”
“You’re making me nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. I would never hurt you, but I am starting to have mating urges already.” He sat on the bed.
“Mating urges?”
His cheeks turned a touch pink. So freaking cute. “Yep! I might snarl and growl. I might even roar. My dragon has decided that he wants to mark you and make you his. I can control it…that’s why you need not worry, but my eyes might glow, and my teeth might get sharper. I might take you hard. It’ll get better. After yesterday, being ripped away from you… Ignore it.”
“I’m okay with all of that, but you might need to explain the sharper teeth part?” She frowned, wondering why sharp teeth would be a part of mating behavior.
“We bite when we mate. We bite once we’re mated. Biting during sex is normal, and…” He chuckled. “You look horrified. You will like it when I bite you. You’ll beg me to bite you after you get a taste.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Riley shook her head.
Fog leaned in and kissed her softly. “I don’t know how I’m going to pull out.” He looked her in the eyes. “I forgot to bring condoms, and I’m too desperate to leave to go and get any. I’ll make it happen. Don’t worry about that either.”
“No condom and no pulling out. I’m on birth control, and I’m serious about you. We’re serious about each other.”
Fog grinned. “Are you sure? We don’t have to. I mean, I want to. Holy shit! I’ve never been this desperate for anyone. Never—”
“I’m sure, Fog.”
“Good, because I’m so serious about you, it’s scary.” He reached for her. “Put your legs around me.” His voice had turned deep.
Riley did as he said and hooked her legs around his hips, straddling him. “I’m not so sure about being in the driver’s seat.”
“I’m sure enough for both of us.”
She nodded. Riley couldn’t wait for him, for this.
“Ready?” he growled the word.
“Yes.” She sobbed because, in the same instant, he was lining up his cock with her opening and pushing into her. Her pussy stretching more than it could handle. “Oh god…ooohhh,” she moaned. It was good, but it stung a little too. Fog’s breathing was ragged. His eyes were lighter, brighter. His face was taut. His jaw tight. He found her clit and strummed it with his thumb. His movements were frantic. He thrust into her from below, his huge cock sliding in deeper with every movement. He grunted.
Her eyes felt enormous. Her moans loud. His breathing matched his movements. Heavy and urgent. He was gritting his teeth so hard she was sure he might crack a tooth. Sweat beaded on his brow. “Feel good…you…feel…” Another hard groan as he pulled back out. “Such a tight pussy,” he groaned. His dirty words had her firing on all cylinders. Riley realized that she was moaning…hard.
Shit, if he kept rubbing on her clit like that, she was going to come in the next ten seconds. Despite wearing a bra, her boobs still bounced, he was fucking her that hard. Then again, she was riding him, too. There was a burn in her thighs. It felt good. He looked down at her chest, a deep rumble filling his throat. His eyes darkened with desire. It all emboldened her. Riley reached back and unsnapped her bra. She held the cups in place with one arm.
“Holy shit!” Fog growled. “Holy fucking shit. I need to see you…please.” A big strong shifter was begging her. Fog was her big strong shifter. Hers!
She slowly pulled her arm away, letting her plain cotton bra fall away. Her breasts were bouncing hard. Fog snarled, looking angry. It wasn’t anger; he was loving what he saw. He leaned down and sucked on one of her nipples. She felt the sensation all the way from her scalp to the tips of her toes.
“So beautiful,” he muttered, driving his cock deeper into her. His gaze moving from her face to her breasts and down, driving her wild.
“More,” she moaned, riding him faster. She groaned when he changed the angle slightly, thrusting into her from below. “Yes, there, god, yes.” He was using hard, even strokes that had her breath catching. His abs pulled tight with every movement. His eyes were focused on her. They drifted down to where he watched his cock slide into her.
Riley looked down, too. It was incredibly sexy. The joining of two bodies. His thick length moving in and out of her stretched opening, covered in her juices. The noises she was making were obscene, but she didn’t care.
She was so close. Her orgasm right there. Her hands were on his shoulders. Fog’s jaw was tight, his eyes dark, his skin looked tight as well. His growls and snarls filled the room. It was exactly as he had warned, and it turned her on a whole lot. Fog found her clit again and strummed it. That was the end of her. She felt herself tighten around him. Fog’s eyes widened, his jaw fell open. His hand gripped her leg, fingers digging into her. She didn’t care or feel it since pleasure was slamming through her. From deep inside her, through her lower belly and up higher. Shooting through her with every hard slam of his cock, every rub of his finger. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open.
She was making a mewling noise but couldn’t seem to stop. Her boobs were jerking so hard, but she didn’t give a damn.
Then Fog was crouching over slightly. He roared for a good few seconds. His eyes were wide. His hips jerked. His cock seemed to pulse inside her, hitting deep, sparking another orgasm of her own. How was it even possible?
Her yell filled the room, and her headboard slammed against the wall. His finger was still strumming her clit. Her pussy spasmed around him. She threw her head back and clenched her teeth. She was coming just as hard as the first time, maybe even harder, only it didn’t last as long, thankfully, since she was already oversensitive. Fog’s hips were still rocking softly, as if by their own accord. His ragged breathing almost as heavy as hers. He planted his face between her breasts, hugging her close, making a noise of rapture. “I missed you so much.”
She giggled between the pants. “We were apart for one night.”
“One night too many.” He looked up, locking eyes with her. “I’m so in love with you, Riley. I’m done for. I’m yours. I need you to come and live with me. I want to mate you. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want all of it with you.” He took a deep breath. “I’m moving too quickly. I’m scaring you.”
She smiled gently. “I want all of those things, but…it’s not that simple.”
He smiled. “It is that simple. For once, throw all caution to the wind and say yes.”
“What about my mom? I can’t leave her. She’s doing so much better. She’s even talking about being ready to date again. If I leave, she might go back into a decline. She might…” Riley shook her head.
“Would your mom be interested in coming with us? She could live at the lair. As you know, there’s a huge shortage of females, and if she looks anything like you.”
Riley gasped and choked out a laugh. She slapped Fog on the side of the arm. “This is my mother we’re talking about.”
“I’m not talking about the younger males. Although…” He lifted his brow.
She slapped him again, laughing. “She’s only fifty-two and still looks amazing, but…” She laughed harder, shaking her head. “Please don’t tell me she’ll turn into a cougar if she moved into the lair. Even if she does, I don’t want to know about it.” Riley had a feeling her mother would love living in the mountains among the dragon shifters.
When she locked eyes with Fog, she saw that he was completely serious, so she bit back her smile.
“Just tell me that we’ll take it one step at a time. That we can try to make this work,” he said.
“We can do more than try, Fog. I told you yesterday that I’m in love with you. Totally in love. We will make it work.” She reached forward and kissed him. Fog turned her onto her back, and they lost themselves in each other all over again.
Findout what happens to Avalanche. There will be another cameo of Ice and Azure as we follow their pregnancy journey. Then there’s the lovely Melina and her shifter.
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