Page 19 of Tempest Blazing
"Yours," I gasped, the word torn from me as he hit a particularly sensitive spot. "I'm yours, Mason."
His grip on my wrists tightened, and he drove into me harder. Through our bond, I could feel his primal satisfaction, his need to claim and mark and possess. It was intoxicating—being wanted this much, beingneededthis much.
"No one else touches you like this," he said, his voice rough. "No one else makes you feel like this."
"No one," I agreed, wrapping my legs around his waist to pull him deeper. "Only you."
Something in my words seemed to snap the last of his control. Mason released my wrists, grabbing my hips instead as he pounded into me. The change in angle sent bolts of pleasure through me, and I knew I was close again.
"Come for me," Mason demanded, one hand sliding between us to circle my most sensitive spot. "Come on my cock, Tess."
His crude words, so unlike his usual careful speech, pushed me over the edge. I came hard, my inner muscles clamping down on him as waves of pleasure crashed through me. Mason groaned, his rhythm faltering as my release triggered his own. He thrust deep one final time, his body going rigid as he emptied himself inside me.
For several long moments, we stayed like that, connected and panting. Mason's forehead rested against mine, our breath mingling in the small space between us. Through our bond, I felt his contentment, his satisfaction, his unwavering devotion.
Finally, he shifted, carefully withdrawing from me and setting me gently back on my feet. I wobbled slightly, my legs unsteady, and he steadied me with a small smile that was pure Mason—tender and protective.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice back to its usual gentle rumble as he helped me straighten my clothes.
I nodded, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks as reality began to reassert itself. "More than okay."
His fingers traced my jawline. "I'm sorry if I was too rough. My gargoyle—"
"Was exactly what I needed," I finished for him, leaning into his touch. "Don't apologize."
Mason was quiet for a moment, his eyes searching mine. "Things are changing, Tess. My gargoyle... he won't be able to stay passive anymore. Not with the threats you're facing."
I looked up at him, seeing the fierce protectiveness in his dark eyes, now returned to their normal color.
"If someone threatens you," he continued, "I'll be there. No matter what rules I have to break."
The promise should have worried me. Instead, it warmed me from the inside out.
"I know," I said simply, reaching up to touch his face. "And I'll be there for you too."
Chapter 8
Tess
I knocked on Theron's office door at exactly eleven o'clock, my usual Tuesday tutoring time. The familiar routine had become something I actually looked forward to—despite his gruff exterior, Theron pushed me in ways that made my magic stronger.
"Come in," his voice called from inside.
I pushed open the door and froze. Mason sat in one of the chairs facing Theron's desk, his massive frame making the furniture look delicate. Kane occupied another chair, his white hair catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows. And Anya—petite, mysterious Anya—perched on the edge of a third chair, her violet eyes meeting mine with a small smile.
"Tess." Theron gestured to the remaining empty chair. "Sit."
I remained standing, my chest tightening. "I thought this was our private session?"
"It was." Theron leaned back in his chair, his emerald eyes studying me with that calculating look I'd grown to recognize. "I've decided to change that approach."
Mason shifted in his seat, and I caught the subtle tension in his shoulders. Kane's expression remained neutral, but his fingersdrummed once against his thigh—a tell I'd learned meant he was processing something he didn't entirely like.
"Why?" I asked, finally moving to take the empty chair between Mason and Anya.
Theron was quiet for a moment, his gaze moving between each of us. "Because none of you can afford to prepare for the Final Guild Trials alone. Not anymore."
The words hit like a punch to the gut. The Final Guild Trials—the ultimate test that would determine if we'd become full Dragon Riders or wash out completely. They were still weeks away, but the pressure had been building steadily.
