Page 40 of Echoes of Fire

“Rath, I?—”

My tongue plunged into her without warning, the tapered tip curling upward to stroke that spongy ridge inside that I’d learned drove her mad. Her scream fractured against the walls as my fingers carefully stroked her clit. The dual assault left her thrashing—a wild thing caught in the jaws of something ancient and ravenous.

My claws found her hips, blunt tips dimpling flesh as I dragged her closer. “Come,” I commanded against her quivering skin. “Mark my face with it.”

Her orgasm hit like lava erupting through bedrock—a flood that drenched my chin. I drank it greedily, glands beneath my tongue swelling to absorb her essence. The tastechangedas she peaked—sweetness giving way to something metallic and vital, a flavor that seared itself into my marrow.

Mine.

My cock lashed the air, desperate and slick, as I rose on trembling knees. Her dazed eyes tracked the movement, lips parting as I gripped the base, smearing her release across the weeping crown.

“This,” I snarled, guiding that writhing lip to her tender inner thigh, “needs you.”

“Stop teasing,” she gasped, nails scoring my flank.

A feral grin split my face. “Beg properly.”

“Please fuck me.Now.”

Her plea hung in the air, and something deep in me surged to meet it. My talons flexed against her hips, the blunt tips pressing just enough to leave faint marks—not to hurt, but to claim. Her breath hitched, her body arching toward mine, and I knew I was lost.

I guided her down onto the soft moss that lined the ground, her back pressing into the warm surface as I positioned myself above her. My wings mantled around us, creating a cocoon of heat and privacy, the membrane catching the faint light filtering around us. Her eyes locked onto mine, wide and trusting, and seeing her like this—open, vulnerable, and utterly mine—sent a shudder through my scales.

“Karys’veth ir,” I growled, the endearment slipping from my lips as I bent to kiss her. My tongue swept against hers, hot and demanding, and she moaned into the kiss, her hands sliding upmy back to grip the ridges along my spine. The sensation of her blunt nails scraping those sensitive grooves made me shudder, a low, involuntary sound rumbling from my chest.

I broke the kiss, my breath ragged, and trailed my lips down her throat, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin. Her pulse fluttered beneath my tongue, and I couldn’t resist marking her there, just once, with the faintest graze of my fangs. She gasped, her hips lifting instinctively, and I growled in approval, my cock throbbing against her thigh.

“You’re mine,” I murmured against her skin, the words a vow and a warning. “Every part of you.”

Her response was a breathless whimper as I positioned myself at her entrance, the tip of my cock pressing against her slick heat. The fleshy lip at the crown undulated eagerly, leaving a glistening trail of pre-cum as I pushed forward, inch by agonizing inch. Her body stretched to accommodate me, the sensation of her tight warmth enveloping me almost too much to bear.

“Rath—” Her voice broke on my name, her nails digging into my back as I seated myself fully inside her. I stilled, giving her a moment to adjust, my breath coming in harsh pants as I fought for control. The urge to move, to claim her completely, was a fire in my veins, but I held back, my claws flexing against her hips.

“Look at me,” I commanded, my voice rough with need. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting mine, and the trust I saw there nearly undid me. I began to move, slow and deliberate, each thrust drawing a gasp or moan from her lips. The ridges along my cock dragged against her inner walls, the barbell piercing adding an extra layer of sensation that made her writhe beneath me.

Her hands slid down to grip my forearms, her nails leaving faint marks in my scales as I increased the pace. My wings tightened around us, the membrane vibrating with the force ofmy thrusts, and I could feel her body tightening around me, her climax building with each movement.

“Come for me,” I growled, my voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her. Her back arched, a cry tearing from her throat as her orgasm hit, her inner walls clenching around me in waves. The sensation was too much, and with a roar, I followed her over the edge, my release pulsing deep inside her, the scaled base of my cock throbbing with each spurt.

I collapsed onto my forearms, my breath coming in harsh gasps as I pressed my forehead to hers. Her hands slid up to cradle my face, her thumbs brushing against the scales along my jaw, and I felt something in me shift—something deep and un-nameable.

“Karys’veth ir,” I whispered again, the words softer this time, reverent. Her lips curved into a faint smile, and she pulled me down for a kiss, slow and tender, her body still trembling beneath mine.

The world narrowed to the rhythm of her breathing, the faint rise and fall of her chest beneath my palm. My tongue traced the curve of her shoulder, lapping at the residual slickness of our joining. The taste of her—sweet andmine, tinged with the smoky musk of my release—was intoxicating. My glands swelled beneath my tongue, absorbing her essence, marking her as mine in a way no Drakarn could deny.

Her fingers carded through the ridges along my spine, the touch sending shivers through my scales. I nearly purred, and she laughed softly, the vibration of it humming against my chest.

“You’re trembling,” she murmured, her voice still thick with the remnants of pleasure.

I lifted my head to meet her gaze, my eyes narrowing slightly. “Drakarn do not tremble,” I said, though the faint quiver in my wings betrayed the lie.

Her lips curved into a knowing smile, and she reached up to brush a strand of hair from my face. The motion was so tender, so human, that it made my chest ache. My tail, still coiled loosely around her waist, tightened reflexively, pulling her closer.

“You’re beautiful,” she said, her voice soft but unwavering.

The words struck me like a blow, leaving me momentarily speechless. Drakarn were not beautiful—we were fierce, powerful, unyielding. But the way she looked at me, with something akin to reverence, made me feel as though I were something more.

Something worthy of her.

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