Page 30 of Wrath

“He knew that you loved him, too,” I said gently. “You showed it in all the ways that mattered. Linette told me you’d dreamed your entire life of joining the Vanguard. You all but had a free pass to join us. And yet, you happily gave it all up for him. Believe me, heknew.”

She looked up at me, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. I smiled and caressed her cheek, wiping some of her tears at the same time.

“He died for me, Wrath,” she said. “He was safe. He was out, but he stood by my side and died for me. And when I watched those fucking beasts tearing you to shreds, it was like losing Kevin all over again. I was helpless to help you just like I’d been helpless to help him or even myself.”

“You arenothelpless,” I said forcefully. I cupped her face to force her to look at me in the eye. “Our entire team is here because ofyou.Iam here because ofyou. Linette would have never been able to catch my soul without your Shield protecting her from the psychic disruptors in the base. And every single member of our unit would have been devoured by the Jadozors had you not safely gotten them out of there.”

Her lips quivered, but her eyes flicked between mine as she drank in each one of my words.

“The strength of the Vanguard relies almost entirely on its women.Youare the ones that empower us to run headfirst into those crazy missions,” I said in a passionate tone. “I could face those Jadozors and rig the place to give our guys the time to get out because Iknewthat I would live to fight another day thanks to you, Linette, and Nathalie. You ladiesalwaysbring us back. As long as you stand by us, wealwayscome home. Death has no power over me, as long as I have you.”

A hopeful smile stretched her lips, and she caressed my face again. This time, I closed my eyes and gave into the delicious feel of her soft hand on my face. Slipping her fingers through my hair, Kwan drew my face towards hers and gently brushed her lips against mine. I immediately responded, my arm tightening around my mate’s back as her lips parted to welcome my tongue.

A searing heat exploded deep within me, setting my blood on fire. I had waited for this moment for so long, and now I wanted to drown in the sweet fountain of her lips. Without breaking the kiss, Kwan shifted on me. She turned to face me, our sexes aligned as she sat on my lap, chest to chest with me. Her knees sank into the cushion on each side of me, and her soft body pressed against mine while our tongues mingled. With a mind of their own, my right hand roamed along the supple curve of her back while the other settled on her nape. Tilting my head to the side, I deepened the kiss. Despite my lack of experience, my dragon instinctively knew how to respond.

It all felt so natural. Her hands sneaked under the hem of my shirt, and the burning heat of her palms caressed my sides before sliding up my back. When her nails gently scraped my scales, a bolt of fire exploded in my loins, and a growling moan rose from my throat. I wanted Kwan to do it again and again. But she was more interested in ridding me of my shirt. Breaking the kiss, I raised my arms to help her do so. However, her arms weren’t long enough. I finished removing it myself and tossed it on the floor.

Something seemed to take over my mate the minute she stared at my naked chest. Her eyes darkened, a hungry expression descending on her beautiful features. Kwan all but ripped off the robe that hid the black silk babydoll she was wearing and threw it at the feet of the couch. She kissed me then fisted my hair, yanking my head back. Her lips traced the path along my jawline to my neck, then down to my chest. Her hands were moving feverishly over me as she kissed and licked me. I wanted to give myself over to the passion that had taken possession of my mate and surrender to the pleasure of her touch.

But in spite of the delicious sensations sweeping over me, a sense of unease doused the burning lust raging inside me. When Kwan’s hand slipped between us to rest on my loin plate, I grabbed her wrist and pulled it away. Her head jerked up, and she stared at me questioningly. Without waiting for me to speak, she used her other hand to open the magnetic clasp of my pants. Forcing myself to silence my own desire, I caught her other hand and held them both against my chest, kissing them one after the other.

“What are you doing?” Kwan asked in a soft, but confused voice.

“Not like this, my love,” I said gently.

Kwan recoiled, confusion slowly giving way to what I could only interpret as a mix of hurt and embarrassment.

“I want you,” I said in a pressing tone. “I have dreamt of kissing you since the very first time I laid eyes on you. But I believe this is your grief speaking.”

She stared at me for a moment, a series of emotions flashing over her face. She freed her hands from my grasp, then cupped my face, her fingers gently caressing my cheeks.

“Kevin died so that I could live,” Kwan said in an intense voice, aimed at convincing. “Today reminded me that life is too short. I am not going to waste another minute of the extra time he gave me by sacrificing himself. I’m going to live.”

Joy exploded in my hearts, and my arms tightened possessively around my mate as I beamed at her.

“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say this,” I said, brushing her long, dark brown hair out of her face before gently pressing my lips against hers. “But not like this,” I added, pulling my head back when she leaned in to deepen the kiss. “Our first time together will not be while you’re still distressed from a severe emotional shock. I don’t want us to be a reaction to you fearing losing me. The first time you give yourself to me, there will be no lingering fear or tears between us. It will not be comfort after trauma. There will only be you and me, and the passion we awaken in each other.”

She opened her mouth to argue. The selfish part of me wanted her to give me convincing arguments so that I could give in to the desire that still had a pool of lava swirling in the pit of my stomach. But my dragon knew this was not the time. She closed her mouth, defeated. To my pleasant surprise, instead of the disappointment I’d expected to feel, pride blossomed in my heart for my mate. The desire lingering in her eyes also soothed any fear I might have entertained that snapping her out of that lustful haze might have made her realize she didn’t really want this after all. Although that possibility still existed, I genuinely believed we had had a breakthrough today, and that our relationship had finally entered its first stage.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Kwan said, her eyes locking onto my lips.

I smiled. Although desire still coursed through me, my dragon’s protective instincts had thankfully dampened the more urgent need Kwan had stirred within me.

“I do not have to leave,” I said in a purring tone. “Tonight, you get to cuddle with me. I promise I don’t snore. And I’ll try my best not to steal your blanket.”

She chuckled, and my hearts tightened when she stared at me with a tenderness I had dreamed of but doubted I would experience anytime soon.

“Did I tell you how wonderful you are?” my mate asked in a voice full of emotion.

“Not in so many words, no,” I said teasingly. “But feel free to do so whenever you wish.”

She laughed and gave me a playful tap. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she crushed my lips in a passionate kiss. Before I could deepen it, she pressed her cheek against mine and tightened her embrace. I returned the gesture.

“Thank you for being there for me, for listening, and for just being your wonderful self,” she whispered into my ear. “Thank you for being my soulmate.”

My throat was too constricted to speak, I mind spoke to her instead.

“Thank you for coming to me,”I said, gently squeezing her against me in response.

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