Page 31 of To Quench Her Thirst

“You just…for a minute there, you looked…”

“I know. I looked scary—because getting so close to you made my Drake want to come out. He wants to Claim you—to possess you.” He unwound his arms from around her thighs and pushed quickly away. “Sorry—I think I need some fresh air.”

“You’re going now? You’re leaving me?” Addie couldn’t keep the hurt from her voice. After such an intimate act, she’d hoped to cuddle with her Protector—maybe even fall asleep in his arms.

But Drago was already headed for the door.

“Sorry baby—it’s not safe for me to be in here with you right now—not when my Drake wants you so fucking badly. I’ll be back in a little while.”

And then, before she could protest again, he was gone.

15

DRAGO

Stupid fool—reckless fucking idiot!Drago couldn’t think of a bad enough name to call himself. He’d risked Addison’s life just to be near her—his Drake hadalmosttaken over and come out. If it had, it would have damaged the structure of the room, knocking the black stones of the palace aside with its vast wings like a monster knocking over a child’s blocks.

Addison could have been crushed—killed! And all because he’d wanted to fulfill his fantasy of tasting her.

I had to heal her though,he argued with himself as he paced on the black flagstones under the dark, night sky.I couldn’t let her fuckingdie!

Fuck that—he should have found another way, Drago told himself, pushing the excuse aside. Or he should have licked heronlyto heal her—he shouldn’t have made her come. Her need and pleasure brought his Drake to the surface like nothing else. It was a mindless beast—it wanted to Claim her so badly it didn’t realize how dangerous and destructive it was.

It could have killed her—Icould have killed her,he thought, feeling sick.What the fuck is wrong with me, letting myself get so close to the edge?

But up until she came so hard for him, it had seemed all right. He had made her come earlier by sucking her nipples and his Drake hadn’t tried to force its way out then. It must have been the combination of his Fated Mate orgasming and the taste of her sweet honey that had stirred his other half so deeply.

And yet, he had been in control right up until the last. It had helped that Addison had been gripping his hair and showing him what she needed. Being restrained and held down in some way by his Fated Mate made his Drake behave—seemed almost to have a calming influence on it for some reason.

But at the end, when she was coming so hard and her juices were flowing, all restraint had been lost. Drago had never felt his Drake so close to the surface since the fateful day of his manhood ceremony when he had let it out for the first and only time.

The frightening thing was, he had felt his control over the beast inside him slipping away. It was why he had run outside the palace, in case he couldn’t stop it from coming out. Even if it hadn’t been a huge and extremely dangerous Fire Drake, there was still no room for it to come out within the confines of the small servant’s bedchamber he and Addison had been in.

The bedchamber where he had left her, alone and afraid. Gods, he wanted to go to her so badly! Wanted to Claim her and make her his. But that was impossible—he could never have her. It was too fucking dangerous to Claim her as his Fated Mate. He had gotten as close to her tonight as he ever would—it wasn't safe to get any closer.

As soon as this mission is over I’ll ask to have myself reassigned,he promised himself.And I’ll ask that Addison be given a new Protector.

The very thought made him sick and caused a howl of rage from the Drake within. But Drago simply couldn’t see any other way to keep her safe.

He had no idea how much danger both of them were already in.

16

ADDIE

It took a long time, but Addie finally got back to sleep. She didn’t dare go back to her own room with its vast bed and the giant spider hiding somewhere inside. So instead, she stayed in the servant’s room and curled up with her face pressed to the pillow Drago had been using. His warm, spicy scent comforted her, though she still wished her Protector had stayed to hold her.

The memory of him healing her played over and over in her head. The way he had licked her so eagerly—his deep voice telling her to come while he fucked her with his tongue…just thinking of it made her hot all over again. But then, what about his eyes?

They were filled with flames…was that his Drake? Was it about to come out?

What would happen if itdidcome out, Addie wondered. She wished she had any friends aboard the Mother Ship that were mated to Drake Kindred so she could have a frame of reference. But Drakes were a rare branch of the Kindred family tree. She only knew they were huge and powerful and that they could fly. She’d heard of Fire Drakes and Ice Drakes and she’d even heard of Lightning Drakes but Drago hadn’t told her which kind his was.

He said his Drake wanted to Claim me though—that he wanted to possess me.

What would it mean to be Claimed and possessed by a Drake? Was it sexual? Or just a matter of ownership? Addie thought of the old fantasy novels she’d loved reading as a kid. All about dragons guarding their hoard. Wouldshebe the hoard in this scenario—the precious treasure the great beast would do anything to protect?

The idea didn’t soundthatbad—though Drago’s flaming eyes had been scary. But he hadn’t said his Drake wanted to hurt her—just that it wanted to Claim her. Claiming a bride and bonding with her was the mark of ultimate ownership, love, and devotion for a Kindred warrior. But how would it be possible to be Claimed by a Drake?

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