Page 76 of Smoke and Lure

Then he was gone, leaving her splayed on the table with her heart pounding, the remnants of his hot taste in her mouth, and her bare toes curling as her legs swung below the tabletop.

Finally, she pried open her eyes and stared at the high, stone ceiling.She wanted to be pissed at his Neanderthal ways, but her mind hadn’t recovered enough to grab the reins of her anger that lay with her pride on the floor.

Avalore shoved herself up, refusing to be caught in such a defeated position.The man wrecked her, but she would never confess that to him or anyone.It was just proof to herself that she needed to get out of this place soon.

Sliding off the table, she prayed her wobbly legs would support her.When she heard people walking, she turned and spied the Great Hall staff coming out of the back with bins and trays, collecting the discarded dishes on the tables.

She felt a little guilt that she...no Liekki’s antics; she’d place the blame squarely on the shoulders where it was due: He had kept the workers from doing their job.

You were just as culpable grinding beneath the big man on the table.

Shaking her head at her annoying inner voice and forcing her chin up, she strutted out of the hall.

“You okay, Avalore?”

She spotted Chumana leaning against the wall by the door, appearing patient but not bothered; however, the arch of her elegant brow showed she was concerned.

Avalore’s cheeks heated.She was sure the other woman had heard her moans, but she fisted her hand at her side and shoved away the embarrassment.“I’m good.Let’s go get these clothes and shoes.”So, I can get the hell out of here.

~YH~

His fucking dragon thought his ass was slick.

Claiming fire?

The beast rolled over and stretched, too damn satisfied with its antics.

You haven’t evenclaimedher.That is an action word, not a want.Liekki growled as his dragon merrily painted a picture in his mind of just how claiming happened, featuring Liekki and Avalore on the table naked and him buried so deep inside of her that his dragon’s stem could extend and locate her womb like he needed sex education.I don’t need your fucking mental Etch A Sketch, either.

Myhnn.

Yeah, I heard you the last fucking time.Just because you desire something doesn’t mean you'll get it...or should get it.Liekki stomped toward the Mckenna office building and tried to ignore that he’d whispered the same word to Avalore.Thank God she didn’t know the Drahk language.

His beast was getting out of control.It had been close in the Great Hall.

Instead of going to Aodh’s office, he would prefer to be flying to burn off the fires of lust roaring in his core.Last night had been torture, sleeping another night on his couch and knowing the tempting Avalore was right above his fucking head in his bed.He knew she needed to rest and finish healing.Hell, he’d known that when he arrived home, and blew more healing smog over her while she slept.But knowing something didn’t stop his body from wanting something else.

The reason it had been damn close at the hall.He should not have touched her.When he walked in, he should have just kept going to the head table, eaten his early morning meal as he intended, and exited.

But he admitted to himself that he was way too attuned to her.And when he’d heard his friend’s words and seen the way Brantley was looking at her, as if the food on the table hadn’t been enough and he wanted to feast on Avalore as his dessert, Liekki had lost his shit and made a beeline towards them.

Fuck.Fuck.Fuuuuck!

Yeah, it had been close.And that damn nothing of an outfit she wore, borrowed from Chumana, was too damn tempting.When Avalore rose, it didn’t matter that she was angry at him, his gaze had taken in her bare midriff, full breasts, and golden-brown skin of her shapely legs.

Brantley was none too happy about him cock-blocking, either.Drahks were free to fuck anyone they chose as long as they weren’t mated.But, Liekki didn’t give a shit about their rules of sexual liberation, not when it came to Avalore.

And that was a fucking problem.

And that’s why it was too close because it had taken all his strength not to rip off the too-tight top that showed her hard, large nipples just right, and shove up her skirt and make way for his hard, throbbing cock.

Shit, he should have told Chumana to find a nun’s habit for Avalore.

He inhaled deeply and smelled the lingering scent of the spiced ginger and sweet honey caramel of Avalore.

He let out a loud growl that sent birds scattering, and more than a few heads were turning his way.He knew his behavior shocked those in the Thunder because they were used to his light and jovial attitude.

It was a good thing he finally arrived at the office because all he could hope for was that Aodh’s assistant Yeongi had enough paperwork to keep his mind occupied and off Avalore.Otherwise, he’d shock people more if they caught him running laps around the office building every half hour to keep himself from chasing down Avalore.

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