Page 6 of Crown and Dragon

Tahlia’s mouth fell open. “You must be so proud.”

The female grinned and refilled Marius’s and Tahlia’s crockery mugs. “He’s only just reached adulthood and he’s already working his way to mastery.”

“Give him good wishes of undying love from me, would you?”

Laughing, the female walked off to join another female standing by the front door.

Marius pursed his lips. “Leaving me for a cheesemonger, are you?”

Tahlia patted his hand, then downed her wine. “At least you were defeated by the finest of competitors.”

Growling quietly, Marius shook his head and finished his wine too.

When Waithand the rest of the staff had retired to their rooms in the house and in the outbuildings, Tahlia tugged Marius’s arm until they were back in the vineyard. She had knotted her hair on top of her head and donned the linen shift that the staff had given her to sleep in. He wore trousers woven of the same type of linen. Both of them were barefoot, and with the crescent moon shining down on them, that fact only made him more aware of how wild he felt at the moment. His mate. A fine night. Time enough for mating.

Tahlia stopped near the vine they had worked on and turned to face him. “I’ve decided to wait on leaving you for the young cheesemaker until I’ve had my way with you.”

He took her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her ear. She smelled like a goddess of pleasure—gently floral and as aroused as he was.

“Such a cruel mate I have,” he whispered. “How will I survive you?”

She laughed throatily, the sound rousing his body as well as any touch. He laid her in the soft grass and braced himself over her, kissing her jaw, then the pulse point underneath. Her throat was silk. He licked and nibbled his way down to her collarbone while her hands tangled in his hair. She bucked her hips and rocked against his length.

“What if I slipped away and ran from you?” Her tone was teasing.

He was quite nearly shaking with need. “I would be forced to chase you, love.” He set his teeth on her breast and growled, driving his hips forward. The pressure between their bodies poured pleasure through his blood. “You’re mine, remember?” He gripped her hip and held her against him.

She moaned softly and shifted underneath him. And then she suddenly had a vine knife in her hand and was holding it to his throat.

“You will let me run, darling.” Her gaze was taunting and absolutely the most desirable look she’d ever given him.

He eased away from her body a fraction.

She was up and running, laughing quietly, before his lust-hazed mind caught up.

“Oh, you are finished, little salty. I will hunt you and take you down in a way you will never forget.”

Laughing again, she turned at the end of the row. He followed.

Chapter 3

Tahlia

Tahlia hid behind the stand of maples near the first rows of vines. The bark was cool and soft to the touch. She leaned around to see how close he was.

Her heart stuttered. Just a fraction of his face and body was visible behind the grapevines. A low, quiet growl emanated from him. A shiver of delight ran through her. This dangerous fully Fae male with the vicious fighting prowess and the golden heart of a dragon was her mate. She had to keep reminding herself because it seemed too wonderful to be true.

And for some reason, she absolutely adored how frightening he looked right now. Her body melted with want—knees weakening and breasts drawing taut.

She fled her cover, grinning, and dashed behind the beautiful wooden structure that housed wine aging in barrels. The scent of the wine and the green aroma of the vineyards filled her nose.

Another rippling, spine-tingling growl announced that Marius was close. Tahlia took a trembling breath. She couldn’t see him anywhere. Studying the shadows and patches of moonlight, she tried to see him. But?—

Suddenly, she was up against the wine house wall with Marius behind her, breathing over the back of her neck. He hadboth of her hands pinned above her head and his other hand was rucking up her shift. Tingling showered down Tahlia’s body from her scalp, down her thighs, all the way to her feet.

“Mine,” Marius growled over the back of her neck.

He licked his way over her skin, and she gasped, heart pounding. With a quick movement, he twisted her shift around his hand and roughly shoved it above her waist, exposing her skin to the night air. The cool breeze was a stark contrast to the heat of his body. He pressed himself against her and the feel of him so ready to take her stole her breath. She was dissolving into pure pleasure.

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