Page 19 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
In that split second of vulnerability, Kitsuki struck. He landed behind Maseo and swept his legs from under him, following him down to the floor with predatory grace. Before Maseo could recover, Kitsuki disarmed him and pinned him beneath his weight, one hand securing both of Maseo’s wrists above his head, their bodies aligned from chest to thigh.
The position was unmistakably dominant, their faces close enough that Kitsuki could feel Maseo’s rapid breaths against his lips. The sudden stillness after their frenzied combat was dizzying; the only sounds were their synchronized breathing and pounding hearts. His dragon took complete control before Kitsuki could stop it.
“Such a fierce little wolf,” his dragon purred. “You fought magnificently with exquisite skill.”
Maseo lay still beneath him, his eyes wide with something that wasn’t fear but might have been wonder. His chest heaved with exertion, his body warm and pliant against Kitsuki’s. He met Kitsuki’s gaze with equal intensity, accepting the pin without surrendering his dignity.
“We wonder what other strengths you possess,” his dragon continued, lowering his face until their noses almost touched. “What other talents do you hide beneath that controlled exterior? What sounds would you make when truly tested? How would you respond to conquest?”
A flush spread across Maseo’s cheeks, but he didn’t look away. Instead, his pupils dilated, the green of his irises reduced to a thin ring around expanding black. His lips parted, tongue darting out to wet them in a gesture that Kitsuki’s dragon tracked with predatory focus.
Kitsuki felt an almost imperceptible arch of Maseo’s back pressing them closer together. He tilted his head to expose the vulnerable line of his throat in ancient submission. Maseo’s unmistakable hardening against Kitsuki’s thigh spoke of arousal rather than fear.
The realization that the fierce warrior, who had held his own against two dragons, yielded to his dominance ignited a possessive hunger in Kitsuki. His rational mind screamed caution about propriety, but his dragon was beyond such considerations.
He wants us, his dragon crowed in triumph.We could have our trinity bond if we claimed him now. Kizoshi was right. He is the missing piece. He is ours.
Kitsuki lowered his head further, drawn by instincts older than reason, his lips hovering above Maseo’s pulse point, where his scent was strongest. He could feel Maseo’s anticipation building in the body beneath him. The urge to taste, to claim, to mark was overwhelming, drowning out every rational thought.
“Well,” Jaega’s amused voice cut through the haze of desire, “this is certainly an interesting development. Though I suppose I should have expected it, given our family’s particular needs.”
The words shocked Kitsuki back to awareness of where he was and what he was doing. Horror washed over him as he realized he had Nasume’s son, a half-blood refugee who depended on his protection, pinned beneath him in a blatantly sexual position, with his uncle watching the entire display.
He scrambled off Maseo as if burned, his face flooding with heat as mortification replaced desire. What had he been thinking? How could he have allowed his dragon such complete control?
“That was—my dragon was…” Kitsuki stammered, unable to form a coherent explanation for his behavior. “I apologize for the inappropriate?—”
He couldn’t even finish the sentence, shame closing his throat as he watched Maseo sit up in confusion. There was also hurt there, a flash of rejection that made Kitsuki’s dragon snarl in protest at their sudden withdrawal. The connection that had been building between them during their combat shattered, leaving an emptiness that ached in Kitsuki’s chest.
Go back to him, his dragon demanded.Finish what we started. He was willing. He wanted us. You felt it, too.
Kitsuki suppressed the urge, forcing his dragon back into his cage, where he continued to claw and protest. “I believe we have seen enough to evaluate your combat skills,” he said, retreating behind formality like a shield. “Uncle, perhaps you could see to Maseo’s quarters in the barracks? I worry about the optics of letting him stay in the castle.”
The excuse sounded hollow even to his own ears. They both knew the real reason he wanted Maseo at a distance was because of the magnetic pull between them.
Jaega gave him a long look that contained equal parts understanding, amusement, and concern. “Of course. Come, lad, let us get you settled.”
Maseo rose to his feet with the fluid grace that had so captivated Kitsuki’s dragon, his expression neutral now, although his scent still carried traces of the arousal that had flared between them. He bowed to Kitsuki, the perfect picture of respectful deference. But Kitsuki didn’t miss the slight tremor in Maseo’s hands or how his gaze wouldn’t quite meet the king’s.
“Thank you for the assessment, Your Majesty. I appreciate the opportunity to prove my worth.”
The formality was like a knife to Kitsuki’s heart, erasing the moment of connection they had shared. But it was safer that way. He inclined his head in acknowledgment, not trusting himself to speak without his dragon’s influence coloring his words.
As Jaega led Maseo from the training hall, Kitsuki remained rooted in place. He could still feel the phantom weight of Maseo’s body beneath his and smell the intoxicating blend of exertion and arousal that had clouded his judgment. When the door closed behind them, he let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through his long hair, trying to ground himself in the present moment.
Why had his dragon reacted to Maseo, of all people? And why did Maseo’s lingering scent still call to him?
Because Maseo should be ours, his dragon pressed.He responded to us. You saw how perfectly he fought, how beautifully he yielded. Kizoshi has seen the truth of it. Stop denying what is meant to be.
“Be silent,” Kitsuki hissed aloud, pacing in agitation. “He is under our protection. He depends on our sanctuary. What you suggest would be an abuse of power.”
It is not abuse when the desire is mutual, his dragon argued.You felt his response. You saw his submission. He would come to us if you allowed it. He wants Auslin just as much.
His dragon subsided, but the embers of desire continued to burn. Kitsuki needed Kisano’s wise perspective as someonewho would grasp the complexities of dragon nature without judgment.
With a final glance at the spot where he had pinned Maseo to the floor, Kitsuki left the hall, his steps purposeful despite the turmoil within. His brother would help him make sense of the unexpected reaction and regain the control that had slipped during what should have been a simple assessment.
One thing was certain. Kitsuki could never allow such a lapse again, no matter how his dragon raged or how the memory of Maseo’s willing surrender haunted him.
