Page 21 of Her Dragon Defender

Eden's cheeks grew hot. No one had ever called her beautiful before – she'd seen her own reflection, so she knew why. Even in the foster homes, there'd been guys who saw girls as little more than fresh meat, their own private property, with the kind of predatory expression Eden knew could only be wiped away with a well-placed punch or kick that told them she wasn't prey.

But the way Blaze was looking at Eden now – with longing and awe – ignited a fire within her that she didn't want to go out. Not ever.

"Let me pleasure you," Blaze said, reaching out to cup her face. He kissed her softly. "Let me worship you, and we'll take things as slow as you want."

TWENTY-SIX

"Yes, please," she whispered, moving in closer as she lifted her lips for another kiss. A whole lot of kisses, and more besides.

His hands trailed down her throat to her breasts. God, she could feel the heat of him through all the layers of her dress and underthings. Her nipples puckered up, begging for some kisses of their own.

As if reading her mind, he reached around her to unzip her dress, easing it down until she was bare to the waist, except for her padded bra, which she'd needed to properly fill out Diana's dress.

"You really are amazing," Blaze whispered reverently, feathering kisses down her throat until he reached the valley between her breasts. With quick, deft hands, he unfastened her bra and tossed it to the floor.

Before she could cover herself, his hands were there, cupping her breasts and squeezing them together more firmly than any push-up bra, before he buried his face between them. Heat bloomed in her chest, radiating out from where his lips touched her, and she let out a moan.

"I'll make you moan like that all night, Eden. But we need to get you out of that gown so I can lie you down on the bed," he said, sliding his hands inside the dress, easing it down over her hips, until it pooled at the floor, leaving her wearing nothing more than her knickers.

Blaze's eyes drank her in, like she was a bottle of the finest champagne and not...well, herself. She'd never been so naked and exposed to anyone, and her hands itched to cover whatever they could, but as her eyes met his, she knew she didn't need to. The desire in his eyes sent tingles down her spine.

This was exactly what she wanted. He was everything she wanted.

She let her own eyes travel down his body. Down all those hard ridges of muscle she'd forced her gaze away from before, right down to...what she already knew was an impressive length. But now it was hard and ready for her, it looked even bigger.

What would he feel like inside her? Would he even fit?

Eden reached out and curled her hand around his shaft, stroking slowly. Like molten steel encased in silk, she wanted...

"Not yet," Blaze whispered huskily, tilting her chin up so she met his gaze. "Tonight is about you."

She released him, and he backed her toward the bed, until she tipped over against a mattress bigger than any bed she'd ever slept in. Maybe even as big as that monstrosity in the tower, but this one was better. Better because she was alone with Blaze, and no one else.

Then his lips descended on her body and there was no space in her mind for anyone or anything else but him. He crouched over her, like some enormous bird of prey, mantling without wings, as each kiss became a spark of fresh desire that set her whole body alight. Her breasts were on fire, then her belly, until he reached the waistband of her knickers.

Hungry eyes begged her, and she was helpless to refuse, even if she'd wanted to. Light glimmered on claws, before he tore her knickers away. A moment later, his hand was back to normal again, stroking her thighs apart as his breath ignited a fire in her core.

She was naked in bed with a dragon. A tiny voice in the back of her head told her she should be afraid, terrified even, and she should run away. But she didn't want to. Instead, she spread her legs wider, and said, "Please, Blaze."

He laughed, his hot breath tingling inside her for a moment, before he began kissing his way down her leg, all the way to her ankle, before switching to her other leg, bestowing a torturously slow line of kisses upward, back to where she wanted him. Needed him.

This was insane. She'd never...and now she desperately craved...dragon.

He reached the apex of her inner thigh, and Eden let out a shaky sigh. Finally.

Only he paused to meet her eyes. "I want to taste you," he whispered reverently.

She was lost. Utterly lost in those dark indigo eyes. "Okay," she breathed.

His hands slid around her hips, cupping her arse as he lifted her to his mouth. Small, light kisses peppered the tops of her thighs, tantalising her as he got closer and closer to where she needed him.

Then a sharp sting, that raced through her veins like lightning, lighting her up from the inside.

"Did you just bite me?" she squealed, half sitting up to see.

Light glinted on fangs for a moment, before he grinned, looking as human as her. "Just a little love bite. To be certain..."

Then he began kissing her again, more ardently this time, and Eden collapsed back on the bed, writhing beneath his touch as his tongue swirled against her sensitive skin.

---