Page 16 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

At long last, we arrive at the door to his building, and he firmly bids Obi a good night. Obi grumbles, but consents to leave us alone. He gives me another look of warning as he goes, though, and I do my best not to roll my eyes.

We enter, and the door swings shut behind us. Malik makes a show of securing it with a magical lock before turning to me.

The predatory cast to his gaze ignites something within me. I shouldn't enjoy feeling like prey, but his dragon is staring at me from within him, and my own dragon longs to be chased and fought for and won. My knees wobble and my nipples tighten, my entire body longing to give in and sag into his arms.

He stops a few inches short of pressing himself into me. I don't step back, but I don't allow myself to lean forward, either. Lifting a hand, he drifts the backs of his knuckles down my cheek, sending effervescing sparks dancing along my skin. My eyelids flutter against my will, my entire being drawn to him.

He was made for me, and I was made for him.

My mind flashes back to the look Rafe gave me in that cell, though. He was resigned to the fact that I'd connected with another mate. He accepted that fate had left me no choice but to sink into the deepest levels of intimacy with Malik.

Jianyu accepted it, too, but the pain it caused them both was almost too much to bear.

Maybe, in another universe, we could have all met each other under better circumstances, without their royal allegiances getting in the way. Hell, maybe we could have met Malik when he wasn't in a position to be able to literally lock my other mates in a cell. Any scenario I can imagine would have been easier than the one in which I find myself now.

Rafe and Jianyu may have given me tacit permission to pursue my relationship with Malik, but I still hate that it has to happen this way. I'm desperately aching to let my new mate touch me, but I can't forget that he's holding my other mates hostage.

No matter what I do, my new relationship will be tainted. I give in to the need building between us, and I betray Rafe and Jianyu. I ignore it, and I hurt both myself and Malik.

Even the promises I made, back in that prison, assuring Rafe and Jianyu that I would convince Malik to let them go... They feel wrong. I don't want to use my connection to my new mate to make him do anything.

A flicker of pain passes through my bond with Malik. I open my eyes to find him staring at me with longing in his gaze, but also with resolution. He leans further in, and I freeze, stuck between letting him kiss me and pushing him away, and either option is abhorrent in its own right.

Fortunately, at the last minute, he saves me having to decide. He shifts ever so slightly to brush his soft lips against my cheek. His breath is warm against my skin, his deep scent utterly intoxicating. The heat of his body, so close and yet not quite touching mine, sinks into me, and my resolve threatens to shatter. Every inch of me wants to be connected to every inch of him. I'm wet between my legs, my nerves on fire for him. Our bond is so fresh, so powerfully needy.

But he pulls away.

"You are tired," he pronounces, and he's right.

"I'm exhausted."

"You'll sleep here tonight."

"But--"

"I have a guest room."

I try to imagine it--sleeping just down the hall from this man, when I want him so badly. The idea is torture. And it's absolutely the right decision.

Nodding, he takes my lack of response for the assent that it is. "In the morning, I'll take you out and show you my kingdom." A new warmth colors his tone, and one corner of his mouth lifts, his eyes softening. "It's so beautiful."

"I'd like that," I allow, tentative. I'd like it even more if he'd show it to Rafe and Jianyu as well, but I'm not going to get anywhere, bringing that up again right now.

"You need time. We need a chance to get to know each other."

He's not wrong about that.

"But then?" he continues. Liquid heat smolders in his gaze, and a shiver runs through me as a fresh wave of wanting threatens to undermine our resolve.

"Yes?" I ask, my breathing shallow, my insides quivering.

He puts a big, hot hand on my waist. "Then?" Pure sex gleams in the brilliance of his eyes. "I'm going to eat you alive."

MALIK

It takes every ounce of my willpower to stand there and watch my mate close the guest room door between us. I wait, sensing her presence on the other side.

For a moment, I entertain the fantasy that she'll open the door again and reach for me. Yank me into the room with her and let me finally kiss her red, hot mouth. I'd give her pleasure like she's never known. My hands twitch, starving for the softness of her skin; my erection hasn't subsided in hours. I need her like air.

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