Page 52 of The Storm of the Empire

I growled.

He growled right back, sliding his hand up my arm to grab me behind the elbow and dragging me into his lap. “What do you want to know?”

“What are you holding back? And don’t tell me nothing. I can feel it just like you could feel it with my family.” I tried to ignore his hands sliding up my thighs, but it was impossible.

“My life wasn’t easy, and I don’t want that to become your problem.” His fingers crept over my thin shirt, causing a shiver to run up my spine.

“Why would it?” My voice hitched as my body came alive under his touch.

“Because this is going to get a lot more dangerous, and I don’t want that to—affect you.” His hand dipped under the hem of my tunic, caressing my skin.

“If you think you can distract me—” I gasped as he brushed over my nipple. I arched into his touch. “You can’t.”

“It sounds like I can.” He pulled me closer, lips brushing over my breasts, and I cursed every fiber separating us.

“I won’t forget, no matter how talented that tongue is.”

“Are you sure?” He closed his lips around my nipple, sucking lightly.

“Positive.”

“Can I make you forget, at least for a while?” He blew his warm breath over the damp material.

“After you tell me.” I dug my nails into his shoulders, not sure how long I could say no to him.

“No good will come of you involving yourself in this. If the priests are doing something, and they suspect you—” He swallowed, his words skimming his nose up my throat.

“I am useless to my people. I’ve never had a ryder, and I don’t expect to get the call after all this time. I’m way past even the latest dragons feel it. This egg is a life and a dragon we desperately need. I’d rather trade my life for it. It’s worth more.”

“Don’t say that.” He looked into my eyes. “You are worth more than you know.”

“Not as much as ensuring the future for my people. Please don’t cut me out of this.”

“I won’t.” He dropped his head, pressing his face into my chest. “Do you know how divine you are?”

I laughed. “Hardly.”

“Truly.” He pushed his hands further under my shirt, lifting it and my arms to sweep it off. “Holy Goddess.” He looked at me, like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

“Don’t do that.” My cheeks heated.

“Do what?” he asked, cupping my breasts.

“Look at me like that.” My eyes fell half closed as I rocked against him, warmth heating between my thighs. I ached to have him inside me.

He played coy and asked, “Like what?”

“You know, damn it.” I ground against his hardness, tightness coiling in my stomach while need ached in every inch of me.

“I know what I see.” He pressed his face between my tits, kissing and sucking while his thumbs rolled over my nipples.

I reached between us, working open the laces on his leathers. Goddess, I couldn’t do it fast enough. He didn’t stop, biting lightly. I clenched when his hand drifted between my thighs and into my shorts.

“Nothing on under these?” he said surprised.

“Maybe I was hoping you’d come in and ravish me in my sleep.”

His head snapped up. “Is that something you’d like?”

---