Dragon Desire: Emerald Dragons Book 2 Page 4

  “I stayed with Sandy,” Rowe answered. “Then when you two got back I made myself scarce, heading back to Fort Banner.”

  Fort Banner was the military base the army had built up around the underground portal that lead to what they assumed was the homeworld of the Outsiders. It was where General Mara and some of the dragons from the past resided when they weren’t in nearby Barton City. It made sense for Rowe to be there. As the leader of their trio, he interacted more with General Mara and the others than did Torran or Palin. Especially Palin nowadays.

  “So why are you back?”

  “I came back to make sure Palin hadn’t beaten the piss out of you after you helped him. That and I maybe got booted off the base for a bit.”

  “Oh that sounds like a good story. Do tell?”

  Rowe shook his head. “Let’s just say that Kallore didn’t take overly well to being called Sleeping Beauty.”

  Torran roared with laughter. “I bet he didn’t! Why did you call him that, you idiot?”

  Kallore was General Mara’s mate, and the first dragon to have been awoken from the past. He was a bit of a brute, and widely known for having a piss-poor sense of humor when it came to anyone but his mate.

  “It just sort of slipped out. General Mara asked kindly if I would leave for a few days. So, you’re stuck with me until I head back day after tomorrow, I think.”

  “How lovely. What did I do to get so lucky?”

  “Deal with me better than Palin does. Hence why I’m staying here and not with him and Sandy.”

  Torran groaned. “Could I punch you too? Would you leave then?”

  “Why would I leave after beating the crap out of you?” Rowe asked calmly.

  “Ha ha. We both know that’s not how it goes. I believe I’m up three to two.”

  Rowe spat. “You sucker-punched me once for no reason. That doesn’t count. It’s tied.”

  Torran grinned at the memory. “Maybe not, but it still felt damn good.”

  “My jaw begs to disagree with you,” Rowe muttered, rubbing at the aforementioned part of his face as if experiencing phantom pains.

  “I’d love to stay and argue, since there is absolutely fuck-all to do here and it’s an amusing outlet, but I think I’m going to cut our conversation off here,” Torran said, his attention elsewhere.

  “What? Why…oh,” Rowe said calmly, following his gaze to its destination. “I see. Are you sure you know what you’re doing here?”

  “No, but since when has that stopped me?” he asked, heading back to the ranch house itself and what had caught his eye.

  “Exactly my point,” Rowe said under his breath.

  But Torran was past listening to the “elder” dragon. He only had eyes for the divine sight in front of him.

  Lilly had emerged from the house looking like a goddess. She’d finally managed to get herself a plaid shirt and then she’d dug up a straw hat somewhere. All that paired with blue jeans and cowboy boots made her an absolute vision.

  “You look amazing,” he breathed as he approached, eyeing her curves jealously.

  “Thanks. But these boots are so bloody uncomfortable, I don’t know how much longer I can wear them!” she shook her left foot. “They already feel like they’re squeezing the circulation off.”

  He laughed. “Well, at least you know I can carry you back if I need to.”

  Lilly shot him a look that was a mixed glare and thanks. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. I just need to wear them in first. They’re a bit…stiff.”

  Torran admired her desire to see it through. She certainly was unique. He’d learned that the first day, but since then his interest in her had only increased. So far he’d ignored the side of him that said to slow down, she’s just a human, though he knew he couldn’t forever.

  Still, his dragon, that ancient, primal beast within, had become attached to Lilly in a way that had caught him completely by surprise. It was that which had guided him across the grounds to her side just now, as well as ensuring he did his best to spend every minute with her the past few days they’d been on the ranch. There was something about her that called to him. But it wasn’t until he’d seen her just now that he truly understood what that call had been.

  Lilly was the mate his dragon had been seeking for over six decades now, ever since his dragon manifested during puberty. It wasn’t long compared to some in the enclave, who were centuries old and without their mates. But it had felt long enough to the young dragon. More than long enough. He barely knew her, and still found himself wondering how he’d gone so long without her in his life.

  “Did you have a plan for that? Or just walking awkwardly around the ranch for a bit?” he teased.

  “I don’t look that bad…do I?” She pouted unhappily.

  “That depends on if you’re standing still or walking.”

  “Hey!”

  He chuckled. “The look is great. You’re killing it, seriously. You look gorgeous. But it’s obvious when you walk that you aren’t used to it or something.”

  “Not used to the way my feet chafe,” she muttered. “Footwear is supposed to be comfortable. Not painful.”

  “Now you understand why middle-aged men and dads wear certain types of shoes. They’re comfortable.”

  Lilly looked down at the tan workboots. “Those look comfortable.”

  “They are. Extremely.”

  He grinned, watching his mate as she reacted.

  His mate. His mate! Torran just wanted to shout his joy to the stars that he’d found her.

  But he couldn’t. Not yet. For one, he couldn’t let on to Lilly. Not yet. He would have to take things slow with her, until she was ready to acknowledge the bond between them.

  Second was how he was going to deal with Rowe and Palin once he told them. Rowe, he suspected, already knew, based on what he’d said earlier. Hopefully the elder dragon could be convinced it was just a physical thing.

  After all the things he’d said about dragons who mated with humans, Torran was not ready for the backlash that would bring. Not at all. They would call him a hypocrite among other things.

  It didn’t matter to him that she was human. Not now that he knew she was his mate. He wondered if this was how Palin felt. Confused and yet overjoyed at the knowledge at the same time. Because he was both of those. It was inconvenient to say the least. Humans, for starters, weren’t allowed into the enclave itself. Many of the dragons had dwellings outside it, but nothing felt quite like home compared to the massive cave complex that housed hundreds upon hundreds of dragons all at once.

  Everything had been thrown into disarray now with the revelation that Lilly was his mate. His entire ability to live at home was in jeopardy. All Torran had wanted since he’d been told he was being assigned this mission was to finish it and get back home. There was some resentment building over that, and he knew until he resolved things in his mind that it wouldn’t get any better.

  It wasn’t fair. He just wanted to take his mate home and parade her around, show her off to everyone and make them jealous of how beautiful she was. But he couldn’t, because she was human. If she’d been a dragon, he could have done whatever he wanted. Now though, his options were limited.

  “Torran, I have something to confess.”

  He carefully put his thoughts into a box and shoved them into a recess of his mind. Later. He would think on it later. For now he wanted to pay as much attention to Lilly as he possibly could. There was so much he didn’t know about her, and it sounded like he was about to learn something serious.

  “You can tell me,” he promised.

  “I’m bored here.”

  “Yeah. Same.”

  “Is there anything to do here?” she asked.

  “Nope. Nothing.” He paused. “Unless you want to go explore over by the forest.” He pointed to the northwest side of the property, where the fields gave way to a forest in the distance.

  “Yes. Yes please. I am so down. Anything to get out and about. There’s only so
much of sitting around or cleaning that I can handle. Maybe if Palin’s rich I can convince him to buy Sandy a new TV and steal their old one or something. Then I just need cable and then I’ll have at least one way to occupy myself so that I’m not always bugging you.”

  She thought she was annoying him with her presence? Was he not doing a good enough job of showing how happy he was around her? Torran cursed himself mentally, vowing to do better.

  “You don’t bore me,” he told her. “I enjoy hanging around with you, truthfully. I would do it even if there were other things to do here.”

  Lilly glanced up at him shyly, shifting back and forth on her feet. He doubted it was because of his compliment. Those boots must be really uncomfortable. “Do you want to change your boots first?”

  “Oh thank God,” she breathed, clearly relieved. “Yes, oh absolutely yes. Let me put on something more comfortable.”

  “I could go for some lunch too,” he admitted. “Maybe we’ll eat and then go? You don’t want to take me out for a walk and get stuck with me when I’m hangry.”

  Lilly giggled. “I thought you were taking me out?”

  He shrugged, trying not to draw too much attention to the almost-flirtatious way she’d looked at him. It was an ambiguous look, that sort of little demure “I’m going to look up at you while tilting my face downward” thing. It didn’t always mean flirting; sometimes it just happened. The biggest thing he needed to do was not misinterpret her signs. If there were even any signs to begin with.

  “You look like you’re getting hangry now,” she teased. “Your face just went all serious. Come on, let’s go.” She headed back to the ranch, each step looking like it was hurting her.

  Torran followed, eager to lift her and carry her back. It was tough to restrain himself.

  So why bother? It’s not like you haven’t picked her up before. You’ve been inside each other’s space. She cried on your chest! Just pick her up. Your mate is in pain.

  So he did, sweeping forward, easily lifting her into his arms.

  “I can do this on my own,” she protested, though she didn’t try to escape his grip.

  “Trust me, you don’t want anyone getting that on video.”

  Lilly groaned. “Do I look that ridiculous?”

  Wisely Torran declined to answer.

  Chapter Six

  Lilly

  These boots were far more comfortable.

  They were also the only ones she’d managed to bring with her when they fled Damien’s place, and she was getting them covered in mud. The path they were taking toward the forest was not meant for walking this time of year. If they had been any less bored she was betting that one of them would have suggested turning back by now. They were both in desperate need of doing something, however, and so they pushed on.

  “I’m going to need new boots. Other than the new ones Sandy gave me, this is all I have besides heels and wedges. None of which are really winter-appropriate.”

  “Online shopping.”

  “What?”

  Torran frowned. “Are you not a human female? Do you not love to shop for clothes? Do it online, have it shipped out here.”

  Lilly rolled her eyes. “Are you not a human male? Who talks like that anyway? Have you ever dated a girl who’s ordered clothes online? Half the shit never fits.”

  He shrugged. “So buy twice as much.”

  Her mouth dropped open at his cavalier attitude to spending money. “If only.”

  “It wasn’t a hypothetical. I’m telling you to do it.”

  Lilly laughed. “Listen, moneybags, I don’t have any money. At all. Even my phone is still being paid for by Damien. That’ll probably get cut off any day now when he clues in to it. I can’t see him wanting to give me money after I left.”

  “I wouldn’t tell you to do something like that and expect you to pay for it. I’ll give you the money. It’s the least I can do to help you get back on your feet.”

  “What? Torran, no, you can’t do that. Women’s clothing is not cheap.”

  He frowned, a sort of thoughtful look. “Yeah, I’m aware. I’ve seen the prices they charge you for little triangles of material that they call underwear. I would call it extortion if it didn’t look so good.”

  “Still,” she said, smiling over his truthful comment. “I can’t.”

  “You can, and you will. I told you, money is not an issue. You need new clothing. Proper clothing.”

  Lilly looked up at him in wonder. There was something different about him. He was just unlike what she was used to. He had the size and the muscles that she liked in men—who didn’t?—but also he had the gentleness of touch and kind personality that all too often didn’t go together.

  Plus on top of that his smile could drench the ground she was walking upon if she let it. Which she wouldn’t. Because that would just be trouble.

  “You look at me like that a lot,” he remarked, calling her out on it.

  “So?” she shot back, doing the exact thing she’d just told herself she wouldn’t do. Flirting with him was not wise. “You have a problem with that?”

  Apparently he was wrong that time he’d told her she wasn’t an idiot. Because she was doing the exact stupidest thing possible.

  “Problem? No, not at all. But I should warn you that if you keep looking at me like that, I will have to kiss you.”

  His tone was light, airy, and designed to be a complete joke if she took it that way. It was only his eyes that gave it away. They were an olive, avocado-like green, depending on the lighting, and while his face danced with humor, there was a secret desire lurking in the depths of his gaze that told her he’d like nothing more than to make good on his “threat.”

  She swallowed, readily aware of the urge to give him another of those looks, whatever they were, just to test the theory.

  Just then they started hiking up a mild incline. The ground grew drier underfoot, and by the time they reached the top of the hill, the grass and dirt beneath them was actually relatively dry, all the moisture traveling downhill.

  A river gurgled and swirled on the far side of the hill, carrying water downstream. The hill was formed at a bend in the path. It came almost right at the hill, then banked away again. Lilly stood at the summit, watching the water go past. The surface was calm, rarely broken by any turbulence, moving fairly slowly in the late-autumn weather.

  “I feel so at peace here,” she said. “So…I don’t know.”

  “Free,” Torran supplied, coming up to stand next to her.

  Free. That was exactly it. She was outside. Wearing clothing she wanted to wear. Talking to another man. All because she’d chosen to. She, Lilly Jordan. Nobody had forced her into doing this, and she wasn’t terrified of being discovered while doing so either.

  Her life was suddenly hers again, and she could do with it as she pleased. She was free, like Torran had said.

  Maybe it was time to celebrate that freedom.

  Shifting her feet, she looked at Torran, admiring the strength of his solid, blocky features. His stubble was getting a little long, but she actually liked it that way. This way she could admire the slight reddish tinge in the beard hairs compared to those on his head.

  He wasn’t anything at all like what she’d expected. And even more confusing was his apparent interest in her.

  “You’re looking at me like that again,” he said, giving her a warning.

  Here went nothing. “I know,” she said softly.

  Torran turned faster than she expected. The movement startled her and she stumbled backward without thinking, losing her balance on the decline. Lilly didn’t have a chance to even yelp before Torran was there, his arms encircling hers, lifting her free of the ground.

  But where her feet could touch nothing, her lips felt something as he grazed his face against hers. She closed her eyes automatically, arching back into the kiss without a second thought as heat settled over her body in a haze of need and desire.

  “I warned you,” he sa
id, pulling back with his face but keeping her pinned against him, her feet dangling in the air.

  “I’m a big girl; I know what I’m doing.”

  Wow, she was getting good at lying. Lilly truthfully had no idea what she was doing. Besides kissing him. Again. This time it was her move. She pulled him into her, hooking her arms around his powerful neck. Their lips parted. They tasted each other, and then again a few seconds later.

  Lilly moaned softly as he ran his tongue along her neck, alternating between that and sucking and biting the tender skin there. Her nipples were hard, and each brush of his steel-like chest against her sent waves of pleasure through them and into the rest of her body. By the time his hand came around her rear and between her legs from behind she was already nearing climax.

  It didn’t take long from there. Her body exploded with longing as he stroked her with his fingers, touching her gently, quickly, hard, slow, never sticking to one thing long enough for her to get accustomed to it. His mouth covered hers and at the same time he started moving two fingers in a circle. Or was it three? Fuck it, she didn’t care. Her moans filled her mouth and his as he kissed her through her orgasm.

  She was glad he was holding her in the air, because her legs spasmed and twitched violently. Lilly didn’t realize how much she craved being touched, being wanted. Being the center of attention. For so long she’d been the provider that now, suddenly, to have her pleasure taken care of first was almost overwhelming.

  “Wait,” she gasped as he started to play with her clit again through the thick denim. How the hell does he know exactly where to put his hands? “I need a moment to recharge. Then you can go back to doing that.”

  Torran grinned and didn’t fight as she slipped out of his grasp and landed on the ground. “If you insist, though I suspect I could persuade you otherwise.”

  “You know, you just might,” she agreed. “But right now, I want this.” She pressed her hand against the hard bulge in his jeans that had been pressing into her stomach.

  Torran undid his belt, but Lilly’s eager hands flicked that and his boxers over the massive erection and pulled them down to his ankles, leaving them there so he was immobilized.