Page 22 of Caress of Fire
Fedryc didn’t answer her but turned to Nyra’s broad chest and gripped a single blazing scale, then pulled it out. The dragoness screeched, her mighty wings opening until the whole world seemed painted in the colors of the inferno. Nyra’s wide chest began vibrating and she lifted her mighty head up to the sky, then a song filled the air, its rhythm slow and sensual like a caress.
Before Marielle knew what was happening, Fedryc was at her back, his hard male body pressed against her, his hand closing around her wrist with a steel embrace.
“Put your hand on Nyra’s scales.”
Fedryc ordered and she obeyed, her hand trembling in his hold until she pressed it against the dragon’s vibrating chest. Fedryc’s hand glided from her wrist until it covered her own, his long fingers covering hers completely. Suddenly a current of energy flooded her body, passing from the beast to her, and through Fedryc. Her breathing became faster, deeper, and she tried to pull back, but his hold was too strong, and she was locked with the dragon. Fire spread inside her body, coursing through her veins in a raging agony, and Marielle fought the hold of the Draekon harder, but to no avail.
“It is Nyra’svitalem, her life-force,” Fedryc whispered in her ear over Nyra’s entrancing song. “It links us—you, Nyra and me. Let it take hold of you. Let it feed you.”
Over the burning agony, Marielle heard the words. She closed her eyes against the fire raging in her veins, spreading to her heart, her lungs, her liver, running inside her bones.
Then she embraced it.
Marielle opened herself to the fire that was Nyra’s life force and slowly, the burning sensation changed. It morphed into liquid warmth, like a caress both inside and outside her body, making her feel as though nothing in this world could get to her as long as the fire burned.
“I, Fedryc Haal, High Lord of Aalstad,” Fedryc said against her cheek, in a voice that was more like a growl, “take you, Marielle Jansen, for my Draekarra, until death unties us.”
Marielle didn’t know the words of the Draekon oath but upon hearing them, her hand connected to the dragon, Fedryc behind her, his body molded to her, she was inundated by the feeling that this was meant to be. That she had been born for this moment.
Fedryc whispered words for her, words that meant the world—and more.
“I, Marielle Jansen, take you, Lord Fedryc Haal,” Marielle repeated the sacred vow, “for my Draekar, until death unties us.”
Fedryc turned her around and she faced him again. His silver eyes, so impenetrable, gleamed with an emotion that seemed out of place in such a hard, handsome face, but was somehow right. It was the savage possessiveness of a man, with all the devotion that came with it.
He lifted Nyra’s scale and, with his finger, took a bit of blood that was at the base of it, then spread it on Marielle’s mouth. His finger lingered at the plump base of her bottom lip.
“With this dragon blood, my life for yours and my nights by your side,” he said, his chest heaving deeply. “May our days run long and our nights be warm.”
Emotions filled Marielle’s mind and something happened inside her heart, something she’d never thought would happen. She believed him. She didn’t know how, didn’t know why, but she believed this strange, alien man when he swore his life to her.
It wasn’t love. This was nowhere even approaching that. It was some sort of primal devotion that ran as deep as a man’s bones. And it scared her to her core.
She opened her mouth to speak but Fedryc cut her off. He turned to Nyra, then put his hand flat against her chest. The dragoness stared at Fedryc for a few seconds and something passed between them. Then the great beast took to the skies again in a great flash of bright red scales.
And Marielle was left alone with Fedryc.
Chapter 8
Nyra became a tiny red spot in the sky until she disappeared in the distance, flying faster than any living being had a right to. After Nyra was gone, Marielle turned to face Fedryc.
He looked at her with barely contained violence, with a hunger that could consume them both. Every line of his body was taut with muscles, from his long legs to his athletic shoulders and the powerful arms that were wrapped in heavy leather. His leather pants bulged at the middle from his very impressive erection, a clear sign of his arousal and intent.
He radiated virile strength, all the way up to the expression on his face.
Her dress suddenly felt too tight for her breasts and a fine layer of sweat covered her brow despite the cold of the early morning. Fear coursed through her veins like some frozen fire, arousing and terrifying her at the same time.
Because she had never had a man before, and Fedryc was so overwhelmingly male.
With clean, efficient movements, he took off his leather jacket and silk shirt, leaving his torso nude for her eyes. The man was built like a statue, all muscles and honey-colored skin, with dark nipples that were almost chocolate in color.
Arousal awakened in Marielle’s belly despite the fear, and she swallowed past a suddenly dry throat.
Fedryc moved closer and as he neared, she could feel the heat of his skin, so surreal, soinhuman. It both scared her and made her feel strangely reassured.
“Take off your dress, Marielle.” Fedryc spoke softly, much more softly than she thought he would. “I want to see my Draekarra.”
She couldn’t speak, so she simply nodded. Her hands were trembling, but she reached up to the laces at the front of her bodice and slowly loosened them until she was able to pull the panels of her dress loose.
