Taming the Dragon (Loved by the Dragon, #3) (6 page)

“The Natural Earth Wildlife Fund.”

“Ohhh. Nice choice. Is the auction soon? I can’t finish this in one day, but I can get a good start on it.”

“It is to be held on the final day of your vacation. Will you attend?”

“Sure. I don’t have serious auction money, but it’ll be neat seeing how high a price this goes for. ”

“You will be paid for your work, Marcy. I do not expect you to donate your time as freely as I donate my money. This is a vacation for you, a holiday to rest and unwind. You have given generously to me.”

“Okay.” She didn’t argue. If Saul had taught her anything, it was to accept gifts from dragons when they were offered.  They did not give them easily and took offense when denied the opportunity.

A few hours later, a text from Chloe indicated the end of their session. Her friend wanted to know where she’d gone.

“Wow, the time flew. That was actually kind of fun. Usually the guys we’d get in life drawing class were...”
Usually ancient grandfathers with saggy balls and not as fucking attractive as you.

Teo approached her for a look at her progress. “This will be an excellent portrait. I have not sat for a painting in nearly a century.”

“
¡Dios mío!”
A century? His comment reminded her of his age, which she’d quickly forgotten when distracted by his washboard abs. Thankfully, his cock had softened during the painting, no less impressive in its unaroused state than some of the hard dicks she saw while dating.

“You may leave your easel within the closet if you wish no one to see it.” His warm hands descended to her shoulders, uninvited but completely welcome. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She swallowed and regained control of her emotions. “When I finish painting your pose, I’d like to do the rest in the aviary and have some of the birds perch on your knee. If you think you can get them down. Maybe one of the Spixes or Bailador.” She could already see the beautiful contrast of cobalt blue and scarlet red in her mind. Their bright color would be stunning against Teo’s bronzed skin.

Teo dressed while she tucked her work in progress away in the spacious and empty closet, but it didn’t matter. The image of his naked body was etched into her memory.

“I wish to see you again tomorrow.”

“If we’re going to finish your portrait, of course you’ll see me again, Teo.” She chuckled and glanced down to see another impatient text from Chloe. She and Astrid were hungry, and thus leaving to get dinner with or without her. Of course, she was welcome to join them at the seaside grill.

“No. I wish to see you for personal matters.”

Her brows rose. “You mean like a date?”

“Yes.”

Play it cool. Don’t do cartwheels yet.
“Okay,” she said aloud. Her brown eyes locked to his green, before she forced herself to walk calmly out the office. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She returned to the suite as Astrid and Chloe were walking out the door.

“Just in time to come with us. So how was it? Will I get to see this mysterious portrait masterpiece?” Chloe asked.

“Oh, you’ll see it soon.”

There’d be no hiding it during the auction, but until then, her painting sessions with Teo were her little secret.

W
ith Marcy alongside him on his arm, Teo led her into the tropical resort’s restricted area. The trees grew thick and lush on the opposite side, beginning at a considerable distance from the gates. They provided perfect shade from the unyielding summer sun. She touched a few silken petals in passing and sighed once they wandered under the living canopy.

“I asked my servant to gather several specimens from the island as souvenirs of your time here. They will grow as beautifully in your home as they do in the wild.”

“You never refer to him by name. Does he have one or is he only ‘my servant’?” Marcy teased. “Is this customary? Will I be ‘the human’ next? Should I refer to you only as ‘the dragon’ so I can fit in?”

Red hot color swept over the apples of Teo’s high cheekbones. “He does have a name.”

Is he blushing? I made him blush!
“Which is...?”

“Kekoa.”

“See. Was that so hard?” she trailed her fingers over his huge bicep. His muscles seemed chiseled from stone.

“Not at all,” he murmured. His low voice was a seductive caress to her ears. It melted her insides, and clenched her pussy with anticipation.

Marcy couldn’t believe she’d put condoms in her bag, but it was better to be safe than sorry. They both wore swimsuits with the intention of walking the beach together after their lunch date. Chloe and Astrid were attending a series of mother-daughter art projects at one of the activity centers, freeing Marcy for most of the day. Prepared for anything, Marcy carried a souvenir tote bag on her shoulder with her camera, a couple lenses, a towel, and a change of clothing.

“We are here.”

Colorful, thick pillows covered the ground in an open cabana before them. Beside it, a bucket held a chilled bottle of Prosecco. Their date location was charming yet simple. Marcy’s brows rose. “Did you have one of your employees arrange this?”

“No. I did it. Chloe told me you have a fondness for dragon fruit and other rare delicacies.” He gestured to a carved wooden bowl piled high with papaya, pink dragon fruits, and strawberries alongside others Marcy didn’t recognize.

Marcy removed her shoes and lowered herself to the cushions. Each one cradled her body like heavenly clouds, molding to her curves, pliant, but firm enough to support her lazy sprawl. Her beach coverup shifted to her mid-thigh and she had the pleasure of watching Teo’s eyes rove over her legs.

He surprised her with a small cooler of cocktail shrimp and sauce, then surpassed her expectations again when he sliced the various fruits and offered her tidbits with his fingers. The time passed in pleasant talk about their surroundings and quiet observations. Marcy lifted her camera and snapped a few shots of the occasional monkey wandering near to investigate them. One had a baby clinging to its back, prompting Marcy to coo at its cuteness.

“It is a shame you are barren. I have seen you with Astrid and you seem quite capable with her.”

“Barren?” Marcy queried, voice rising in pitch. “Why do you assume I’m barren?”

“Is it not a human woman’s place to be in the home with her offspring? I assumed your failure to acquire a mate indicated you were barren.”

So I have to be sterile to decide against having a husband and kid? What the fuck?
“Screw you and your sexist bullshit,” Marcy hissed at him between her teeth. She crawled to her feet in an impetuous decision to stalk away. Teo rose to pursue her.

“Wait—” Teo reached out and grabbed her wrist. His fingers were like iron bars molding around her limb, anchoring her in place and also cutting off the circulation to her hand.

“Ow!” Her other hand came up and smacked his cheek, stinging her palm.

“I barely touched you!” he growled back at her.

“You are a dragon! Did it ever occur to you I’m not as sturdy because I’m not a supernatural creature? You can’t grab humans on a whim, even Saul knows better.”
And why does something about his incredible ignorance to his own strength turn me on?
“Is that the first time you’ve touched a human woman like this?”

Teo’s silence was an answer in its own right. She peered up at him through the difference in height, barely reaching his chest. “Yes,” he gritted out after a delay. “And you have my apologies for any pain I have caused you.”

“Only you could make an apology sound like you’re being asked to drink
snake venom
.”

Teo glowered down at her. He opened and shut his mouth a few times, comically searching for a retort, only to glare at her in silence instead. The muscle in his cheek jumped. “You are infuriating.”

“And you’re—”

His lips crashed against her mouth. With no warning given, Teo’s ferocity caught Marcy off guard and her fingers flew to his shoulders to push him away. They curled into his shirt instead then she smoothed the garment back from his body and down his arms.

Marcy snatched at the velcro closure of his board shorts and tore it open. His shorts fell to his ankles a moment later, revealing Teo in all of his nude glory to her again. She broke the kiss to stare down at his erection, and when she dared to skim upward over his perfect torso to find his face, she found him watching her intently with a hint of a rise to the corner of his mouth.

“You did not answer when I asked before. Am I to your expectations?”

“Who says I expected anything,” Marcy fired back, but her slowly exhaled breath betrayed her. She ran her fingers slowly over his abs, tracing the dips of his muscles and the hard planes making his six-pack. She didn’t dare to touch his cock, no matter how it swayed in front of her, enticing and larger than any she’d seen in all of her sexually active life.

Teo peeled the clothes from her curvy body and dragged her swimsuit down her thighs. On his way back up, he kissed the top of her slit and lingered. She tangled her fingers in his immaculate mane of black hair and cried out when his tongue split her folds. A spark of electricity combusted and spread through her nerves like fire. Teo coaxed her down to the pillows with ease then his dark hair fanned over her thighs as his tongue performed an intimate dance, darting between her lips.

Holy shit, he knows what he’s doing.

Teo circled her clit with his tongue, then sucked the swollen nerve bundle between his lips. Her hips jerked up and she cried out an impassioned plea for more. His hand smoothed up and down her thigh, squeezing and palming her flesh. By the time his mouth made its ascending path to her breast, both nipples had tightly budded, hard as pebbles beneath his exploring fingers.

“Are you ready for me?”

“Fuck yes,” she breathed out. “Just... wait a second.”

Marcy dragged her tote bag closer and fumbled inside. She removed a condom and ripped open the foil before raising her eyes to find Teo staring at her, his inquisitive features filled with lust.

“What is that?”

“It’s called a condom. I put it on your—”

Teo snorted. “I know what it is and where it goes. Why must we use one?”

“Uh... because if we don’t, we’ll end up like Saul and Chloe. Because as far as I know, I am
not
barren.”

“Is the thought so displeasing?”

A kiss to his firm pectoral muscle provided an excuse to remain quiet. Marcy took the lead and slid the latex ring over his cock. He pumped in her hand, a groan leaving him as his fingers slipped between her own bare thighs.

“I need to be inside you,” he said, voice thickened with lust. “I want to feel you.” Two digits stroked her outer folds then curled to test her wet channel. Marcy shuddered and yanked him back down to the cushions with her.

With her legs around his waist and her dark hair spread over the cushions, Teo lowered his manly bulk to her body. His dick bumped against her inner thigh until Marcy reached between them and guided him within her slick entrance. He surged forward, burying himself until their pelvises met. They moaned together in blissful harmony at the completion of his next stroke.

“You
are
to my expectations,” Teo whispered huskily against her ear. “Perfect.”

She shivered and pressed one heel to his ass, urging him deeper. Her snatch was so wet for him that he slipped in and out without difficulty, clapping their bodies close on each thrust.

Her dragon lover took his time, unhurried and unrushed. The sweet penetration stretched her to the limit until her eyes rolled back in her head and a guttural groan parted her lips. The base of his dick rubbed her clit, bringing her close to orgasm. He took her to the brink and held her over the edge.

“I’m so close, Teo. So close.” The tightening sensation in her core lingered and blossomed, an unbearable tease she endured.

He drove into her harder. With his weight propped upon one elbow, Teo gazed down at her luscious body. Her squeezed one weighty breast in his other hand then curved his spine until his lips reached the tip. Her pussy tightened around his dick, eliciting a growl from his throat.

“You feel amazing,” Teo hissed between his teeth. “Better than... than...” God, she wanted him to finish his sentence, but he never did. He drove into her harder, jostling Marcy until her breasts shook and trembled.

His pounding thrusts hurled her into an intense orgasm that curled her toes and tightened every muscle in her body. As she cried out in ecstasy Teo didn’t slow until his own grunts announced his release. For a moment, Marcy loathed the condom between them, denying her the hot rush she craved.

Teo lay heavily over her, his face buried against her sweaty throat and his chest heaving. Marcy wasn’t any better. Her exhausted body protested any idea of moving from beneath him, limbs too weak to even nudge the dragon off of her.

After their heaving breaths quieted, Teo rolled to the side onto his back. Marcy slid the condom off of his softening length and tucked it neatly into the torn package. Without a trash can at hand, she placed it into her bag, only to be drawn into her dragon’s arms and held close.

They chose silence over awkward pillow talk and after-sex conversation, caressing each other, kissing, and nipping playfully until a second condom was needed. She didn’t think it was possible for sex to be any better than their first time, but Teo’s relentless pace proved otherwise. At the end, Marcy couldn’t do anything but succumb to the blissful peace of sleep.

She awoke to the slanting rays of the late afternoon sun shining on her face. Teo wasn’t beside her but she spotted him at the nearby spring. He had dressed, so she slipped into her own before wandering out to join him.

“Was your rest pleasant?”

“It was. Did you sleep?”

“For a short while. Your phone has been ringing. Chloe, I believe.”

Marcy swore under her breath. “Crap, yeah. We had plans for dinner and drinks with someone from Saul’s studio.”

“Then we should return.”

“Okay...” Marcy had expected something different. A request to stay maybe, or his usual careless directive. Instead, Teo offered his arm and led the way back toward the resort grounds. As before, he pointed out several animals as they passed through the natural landscape.