Page 39 of When Shadows Dream: Shadow Hounds

“Yes, Jez?”

“We should clean up a bit, don’t you think?”

“Probably a good idea. But we dinnae want to waste too much water either. We’ll probably need it.” The husk in her voice brought out his own gravelly Scottish undertones.

“Good thing I spotted this in the bag then. Ballzy did put some thought into this. The guy does seem to always have a plan.” She chuckled, holding up a couple of clean cloths and two canteens, tossing one of each to Nithe, who caught both deftly in one hand. He read the label on the canteen aloud.

“I thought about a never-ending packet of Tim Tams, but decided on water instead.” He looked at Jezzie confused as he poured some on the cloth and cleaned his face of muck.

“Like the Tim Tams ad? Where they wish for a packet that never runs out. Tim Tam’s . . . forever! Dude, Ballzy should have done both.”

“What the fuck’s a Tim Tam?” Nithe felt so out of the loop.

“Right,” Jezzie said, shaking her head. “It’s an earth thing, probably don’t have them in your realm. They are these amazing chocolate biscuits, two of them, with a creamy filling sandwiched in between and covered in a layer of smooth chocolate. Trust me, they are divine, and now I want one, more than one, but one is better than none.” She actually wiped at her mouth with her wrist, leaving behind a fresh trail of grime.

“So, are you saying this water isnae gonna run out?”

“That’s my theory, yes. Wanna test it?” She didn’t wait for his response, but instead lifted the bottle over her face and tipped the contents out. Water sluiced over her, saturated cloth stuck to her skin. The thin gray tank top became transparent, her nipples almost poking through the tight fabric, and yet the water didn’t slow its flow even a little. By the time Jezzie stopped, she looked like she’d climbed out of a lake after a rather big dunking. A cold lake, judging by the shivers and goosebumps which pebbled her skin.

“I guess you were right, lass. Come here, Jez. Let’s wipe away some grime. I might need a little help since we don’t have a mirror.”

Jezzie didn’t hesitate, her gaze lingered over his body as she sauntered forward, a scent equal parts heaven and sin filled their dome. Fuck, how was he supposed to resist his mate when she smelled so fucking good. She smiled as she noticed the hardening of his cock, still sticking out of his open fly . . . Well, hell. He hadn’t remembered it had been out this whole time, and it looked as if Jezzie had just noticed it too as she licked her plump lips and eyed him lustfully as she stripped off her wet clothes.

Long, warm, toned legs straddled his waist, pressed up against his raging hard on as she rubbed herself against him.

“Jezzie, let's get you cleaned up and in some fresh clothes, shall we?”

“Uh, uh, later.” Her lips slammed down on his, nipped and licked at the seam of them, demanding entrance.

Nithe placed his hands on her hips firmly as she ground her bare pussy against him. Oh, how he wanted to flip her over and pound his cock into her. Her, his mate, his one. To forget all he’d been through and allow her all the things he’d so used to enjoy. His dragon certainly was willing, but something in his brain held him back.

He was unworthy, he always had been. Raum had just aired the news, so now he knew it too. A black cloud of melancholy settled over him. Jezzie did not want him for him, he was a warm body after all she’d been through. A way to forget the past, even for a moment. Why would she want a worthless whore like him, used trash, Raum’s pet, nothing more, probably less since now he wasn’t even that.

Jezzie rocked back as if sensing the turn in his mood, took his face in her palms and forced his gaze to meet hers.

“None of that shit is true, Ni. I don’t know how this works, but everything in me—including my shadows—is telling me you are mine. The shadows are very insistent. While it’s true I’m super horny, forced celibacy will do that to a person, you are so much more than a warm body to use.” Nithe’s eyes widened in surprise. How did she know his thoughts? He was certain he hadn’t spoken aloud. His lips parted to ask, but she continued.

“You are worth more than you realize, and I will personally help destroy everyone who has ever told you otherwise. I understand we may need to take this slow. So, you’re in charge, sexy. I gotta warn you, though, I think the change is still messing with me. Not only can I not control my wings or put them away, but my pussy is so wet I can feel streams of it over my thighs. See?” She rolled her hips and lifted, sliding her liquid heat along the length of his phallus. The sight of her juices coating his cock pulled a deep moan from them both.

He wanted her so badly, wanted to relegate his past to the deepest pits of the Horde Mines, and he knew his mate had the power to help him more than any other. But not here, not like this, on the barren wastelands of a Nestradian ridge, with monsters circling above.

Instead, he would worship the gift the Almighty and Tiamat had given him. He would ease her need as best he could, for he knew how the change could play havoc with one's libido. He just wished it had been Jezzie who had eased his.

He shook his head hard to dispel the unpleasant thought. His large hands pulled Jezzie’s hips to his own as he devoured her mouth and savored the taste of her lips. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck as she tried to impale herself on his cock. He wasn’t sure she could take it, not yet. She wasn't a dragon, and as she’d said, it had been awhile, so he lifted her up and gently laid her down on the floor.

“Wh . . .what are you doing, Ni?” she stuttered.

“Shh, Jez,” he chided as he placed one finger on the lips of her mouth, and one on the lips of her pussy. “You said I’m in charge, yes?” She nodded, her eyes curious.

“Well then, as long as I have your consent, I’m going to eat that pretty little pussy of yours, alright?” Again, she nodded. “Not good enough, sweets, I need to hear you say it. Give me permission, lass, or I stop. Right here, right now.”

His finger traced her labia, circled her clit, and slid seductively close to her entrance. He felt every moan, every shiver, and the slick wetness of her coating his finger proved how much she wanted him; how much she needed him as her hips rose from the ground and sought more. But for so long, both of them had been subject to the whims of others, consent was paramount to all his other desires, hers too. Her eyes widened, as if she’d read his mind, and maybe she had, he thought, as her words from earlier bubbled up briefly . . .

“I, Jezzie, give you, Nithe, permission to lick me, kiss me, touch me, fuck me, anywhere, as long as this dome stays strong. Good enough, Ni?”

“Thank you, lass. I am honored.” His finger thrust into her hard. He added a second and circled his thumb over her clit. Head thrown back, eyes closed, Jezzie’s hips tried desperately to increase the rhythm.

“Not so fast, a stór.” He removed his fingers from her tight pussy and placed them against her own lips. “Smell that? That’s the smell of heaven, of desire and fate, and it smells so fucking good. I’m going to run my tongue through your wet folds, thrusting it into you as deep as I can. And you, my treasure, are going to explode around it, coating it in even more of this delicious nectar of the gods. But before I do, I want to see you lick my fingers clean. I want to taste your pussy on your lips and tongue as I kiss your beautiful mouth. Can you do that for me, Jezzie?”

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