Page 51 of Dragon Fight

We were all sitting on a broad shelf of rock. Glimmer and Wraith seemed content to lie on the sun-warmed surface, absorbing the heat as we sat together and watched the sun set. I was sitting between Soren’s legs as he rested his arms on his knees, caging me in. It was a comforting feeling, and then he passed me another bite of the travel rations he had in his saddlebags.

“And you haven’t eaten nearly enough today,” Soren told me, prompting me to take what he had given me. “It’s just jerky. Chew it long enough and it’ll taste alright.”

“That’s no way to recommend a food,” I replied but took the dried meat from his fingers. Freed of the job of feeding me, he stroked his hand up and down my neck and over my shoulders, a sensation that filled me up as much as the food. I finished chewing that particular bite and turned around to peer up at him. “You know exactly what you are doing, don’t you?”

“My dad always said keep your woman fed and then, if she’s still mad, give her a cuddle until she either forgets what’s worrying her or it all comes out in a rush.” Soren winked at me. “I figured it wasn’t bad advice to follow.”

“And was your father in the corps as well?” I asked, then flushed. “Of course, he couldn’t be. Riders don’t bear children.”

“No, he runs an alehouse in Tharfield. Ged loves it when I go and visit my family.”

“Free beer?” I asked.

“Free beer. Speaking of drinks…” He handed me a water skin. “You haven’t had enough water either.”

“And what happens if I refuse to follow my drill sergeant’s directives?” I said, cocking an eyebrow as I put the skin down on the rock without drinking from it.

I was just being silly with my fake attempt at rebellion, more to amuse him rather than stage any real revolt. He seemed to sense that, cocking his head to one side, but his dark eyes narrowed right before he moved.

He might have been my rock, but he was totally the trained soldier as he scooped me up, turned me around and laid me across his lap like a naughty child, all before I could even catch my breath. My eyes went wide and I blinked at my change in circumstances, not sure how to respond.

“Well, it’d be time to spank this impudent arse.”

His hand rubbed over the offending body part, but rather than inspiring fear, it stirred something quite different in me. Being powerless, completely at his mercy while he stroked me? It wasn’t something I’d expected to feel a sensual response to. Yet here I was, waiting so very quietly to see what he would do next, my entire focus trained on him.

“Pippin?” All the faux menace was gone from his voice and, with that, the moment was lost as he righted me so that I came to kneel between his thighs, facing him. “You know I’d never hurt you. I was just—”

I pressed my fingers to his lips to stop him talking, from apologising, from saying anything more because I couldn’t articulate what had just happened and I didn’t want him to. But as I looked at him, I saw the moment the concern faded from his eyes and was replaced with something far darker and knowing. When he pulled my hand away, he just smiled and then pulled me down to kiss him.

Desire flared hot and hard at the feel of his lips, the prickle of his beard. I didn’t want to think anymore, I just wanted this. The way his mouth took mine, his hand sliding to the nape of my neck, making sure I wasn’t going to move away. The way his lips parted, letting mine move against his. And when I kissed him, his tongue flicked out, stroking mine until the kiss became an open-mouthed hungry exchange.

“Soren…” I whispered his name between kisses, feeling his lips trail down my neck, setting my body on fire when I did. “Soren…” But when my hands went to the top button of his shirt, he grabbed them and gave them a squeeze.

“Damn me, if I don’t want exactly what you’re offering right now,” he told me between kisses, a steady hum from the dragons forming a counterpoint.

“And what am I offering?” I asked.

“I’m not sure you even know.” He waited a beat, giving me a chance to contradict him. “And we need to get back.” I was facing the drill sergeant now, not the man. “Wraith has been pestered by the other dragons from the moment we left and it appears our hostess has returned to find us missing, as well as the prince.”

I stiffened at the mention of Draven but I managed to breathe through that and I nodded. Glimmer stretched like a cat as Wraith began to shift beneath her.

They are your mates, she said again,but it is good to fly free of them sometimes. They need frequent reminding of what you are to them.

Is that what you’ll do when you come to adulthood?I asked my dragon with a smile.

I’ll rule the skies, she promised me,and these fools will do well to remember that.

I shot Wraith a sidelong look, catching his long-suffering expression right before he readied himself to fly us back.

“Gods, there you are!”Ged was at Wraith’s side before he could even get his feet on the balcony, reaching up and pulling me from Soren’s arms into his. “Pippin… Fuck, Pippin…”

“As articulate in love as you are in everyday life,” came a sardonic remark and I forced Ged to let me go, facing a recovered Draven.

“Don’t listen to that jealous fuck,” Ged told me, reaching out to pull me back. “I’d be a sour bastard, too, if my mother was ordering me to slip my dick to that Harlston viper, Beatrice.”

I took Ged’s hand, giving it a squeeze before I moved.

I intentionally took on some of my dragon’s confidence as I stepped forward, away from Soren and Ged, even from Flynn, who moved in wanting to hold me as well. I warded them all off with an outstretched hand as I walked to face down the prince, noting how he watched my every movement with hungry eyes.

---