Page 36 of Centaur Bolt

No. One. Touched. Me. It was a mantra I repeated, most often right before I shredded someone. But dammit, she was doing it, and I was letting her. Mostly because her touch was electric. A tremor ran right through me, and to my horror, I felt the beast give way to the man.

Within moments, I stood before her. Even my scales were in full mutiny, refusing to grow to cover my nakedness.

Her gaze scanned me from toes to hair while I shook with effort—trying to regain some semblance of control over all this. But her hand remained on my jaw, her fingers sending jolts zinging through me.

My no-touch rule took on a new dimension as she stroked my throat. Me, the Dragon that knew no fear, trembled as her fingers curled into my hair and pulled my face toward her.

Her warm lips pressed to mine, and it rocked me to the core. Because sex for me was about my beast. Engorged with lust, I flew and I thrust and I mated until it was sated enough to return to my human form.

Xumi had put me in chains, but she’d never pushed me like she pushed Ace. She’d known I couldn’t control it. That I would die, like he had, but with far less provocation.

So I had never kissed or been kissed, until this woman had entered my dreams. She’d done it once before, and I’d liked it then, too. Far, far too much. As her tongue tangled with mine, her small fingers chased fire over my chest and abs, and by the time she reached and curled them around the very tip of what now pushed between us, I couldn’t help the groan that ratcheted from me. Or the way my hips thrust, ever so slightly, into her hand.

No.I wouldn’t be enslaved to another bitch. I wouldn’t give one this kind of hold on me. Females were good for quenching one’s lust. That was all.

While my monster and my beast raged, my human finally seized control. I fastened my hands on her slim shoulders and pushed her away.

I ignored the confusion and hurt in her gaze. For a moment, I wasn’t sure she’d release the most sensitive part of me, but she did. Not without a final stroke that threatened to undo me. But I backed away, breathing like I’d flown a thousand miles. And then I turned and flung myself off the cliff.

For an instant, I thought I’d miscalculated. That the rocks below were just too close. This might only be a dream, but I wasn’t sure if dying here would take me in reality, too.

But then my wings spread to cup the air, and my beast took hold. Just in time. My talons skimmed the rocks as I leveled out, then winged hard for the clouds.

I risked a glance down. The cliff where she’d stood was empty.

She was gone.

I blinked awake, relieved to find myself in the cave. No one was here, except for an annoying Centaur who now wasn’t.

I could handle him. But the woman in my dreams was trouble. I knew it.

Just wasn’t sure what I could do about it.

14

Riley

Kiko snored and muttered gently within minutes of us switching off the lights, but sleep did not come easy to me.

I tossed and turned. I finally had a man in my life who mattered, and there was nothing I could do for him.

“Ooh, my Centaur. That isspectacular.”

Kiko’s murmur had me on instant full alert. The Satyr writhed beneath her sheets, on her way to the first orgasm of the night. Dreaming of my man? Or another Centaur?

He wasn’tmyman. Kiko had every right to dream of him. But I had to squelch the urge to throw the dresser lamp at her.

If we couldn’t find Isobel, all anybody would have of Marcus was dreams. I had never felt so helpless.

The Satyr’s moans refused to be muffled by covers, so I was wide awake until she finally—well, until she fell back to simply snoring. After that, I dozed off and on until, at last, exhaustion pulled me under.

And I dreamed of the red Dragon.

I stood upon a cliff and watched him fly off into the clouds.

The moon was framed by vapor painted silver and gold. Beautiful, but not as magnificent as what I’d just seen.

He’d fought my call to him. I’d sensed his struggle. But it was my dream, and I wanted him to come to me. My soul had called for him, and he had answered.

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