Reawakening the Dragon: Part Four Read online

  Kai snarled, “Why did you stop?”

  A stranger might be afraid of the frustration in Kai’s voice, but she knew he would never hurt her.

  Jane tilted her head. “I’m not ready for you to come just yet. I have more teasing to do.”

  He clutched the sheets tighter. “You’re testing my patience, Jane.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you can’t take control because of the doctor’s orders.” She rubbed up and down Kai’s thighs, loving the roughness of his leg hair under her palms. “Come to think of it, I’ll save some of my teasing for when you’re well. It’ll be that much sweeter.” Kai narrowed his eyes, but Jane spoke again before he could. “But before I can ride you, I need a condom.”

  Kai didn’t so much as hesitate and nodded toward the nightstand at his bed.

  Opening the drawer, she took one out and rolled it slowly down his long length. She loved that he was prepared and didn’t try to dissuade her from using one with an idiotic excuse. She’d learned over the last few months just how much dragon-shifters treasured children, but deep in her gut, she knew Kai wouldn’t press her until she was ready.

  Pushing aside her serious thoughts, she finished with a flourish and crawled up Kai’s body until she lay on top of him, with his cock pressing against her stomach. Tracing his brow, she murmured, “Are you ready for me, dragonman?”

  “Almost. Let me touch you with my hands.”

  Bopping his nose with her finger, she smiled. “I kind of like being temporarily in control.”

  “Jane.”

  She laughed. “I know how hard it must be for you.” She winked. “In more ways than one.”

  “Janey.”

  After pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, she answered, “Touch me, Kai, and set me on fire.”

  Kai’s large, rough hands moved to her arse and squeezed. “When I’m cleared, I’m going to enjoy pounding into you from behind and feeling this soft arse against me.”

  “Me, too. So don’t do anything to piss me off.”

  “Idle threats, Jane.”

  She opened her mouth, but Kai moved a hand to her head and brought her lips to his. As he explored her mouth, his fingers found her pussy. He teased her opening, making her wetter.

  Desperate for more than a whisper of touch, Jane moved with him and managed to take his fingers deeper.

  Kai pulled away and ordered, “Fuck me, Jane. I want you. Now.”

  “So bossy.”

  He slapped her arse in response and the slight sting shot straight between her legs.

  Deciding her dragonman had enough, Jane slowly rose up and positioned herself above Kai’s cock. Never breaking eye contact, she lowered herself inch by inch until he was in to the hilt.

  Bloody hell. Kai was big.

  Her dragonman growled as he rubbed her backside in slow circles. “So tight and wet, and for me. It will always be for me, Jane. Understand?”

  “We’ll see.”

  He grabbed her hips. “You’re mine.”

  The dominance and truth in Kai’s words squeezed her heart. No man had ever wanted her to this degree before.

  She moved forward and back, and Kai growled some more. Stilling for a second, Jane whispered, “More like you’re mine.”

  Kai’s eyes flashed and he guided her hips. “Then ride me, Jane. I want you to claim what’s yours.”

  Her heart skipped a beat at his words. But Jane was done talking for the moment. It was time for action.

  Moving her hips, Jane created a steady pace. Kai’s dick reached deep and the delicious fullness created friction that hit her in all the right places.

  Kai guided her hips and moved faster, pulling her forward and slamming her back. Only because she had her hands on his chest did she keep upright.

  Even as the sound of flesh slapping against flesh mixed with her moans, Kai never broke eye contact. The heat of his blue eyes combined with their flashing pupils made her wonder what it would feel like to be at Kai’s mercy when he was healthy and whole.

  Then Kai smacked her backside and kept her hips forward. She tried moving, but his grip was like steel.

  His voice was husky as ordered, “Don’t think about anything else but this.”

  He slammed her down in one quick motioned and Jane cried out. “Kai.”

  “My human likes it rough.”

  Kai repeated his actions, but this time raised his hips at the last moment. Pleasure flashed in her eyes. “You’re going to kill me.”

  He kept her on top of him and rotated his lower body. His hard dick hit her G-spot and Jane clutched the hairs on Kai’s chest.

  He murmured, “Just wait, Janey. This is me holding back.”

  After slapping her arse, he roamed up her side to her breasts. Tugging one of her nipples, he murmured, “Move.”

  She should argue about how it was her turn to be in control, but Jane decided to just fuck it. She was close, so she moved her hips.

  As she increased her pace, Kai continued to roll and pinch her nipple. Just the one, and her other ached for his touch. Kai slapped her bum again and then moved his other hand to her lonely breast. As he lightly twisted both nipples at the same time, Jane lowered her head.

  Kai dropped his hands and she cried out, “Don’t stop.”

  “Look at me.”

  Slowly, she raised her head. The second she met his gaze, Kai lightly brushed her clit. “I want you to come for me, Janey.”

  She opened her mouth to tell him he couldn’t just order for it to happen, but then he tweaked her sensitive bundle of nerves. When he did it again, lights flashed across her eyes as her orgasm hit her hard.

  When her pussy gripped and released Kai’s dick, he moved his hands to her hips again and moved her forward and back. “You’re mine, Janey.” He claimed her with a hard piston. “Don’t ever forget that.” And again. “Mine.”

  He increased the tempo. Each long, hard thrust increased her pleasure to the point it was nearly too much. A mixture of pleasure and pain, Jane barely noticed when Kai cried out and stilled.

  Eventually, Kai moved his hands from her hips to her back and pressed down gently. Too boneless to protest, Jane curled on top of Kai’s chest and he engulfed her in his strong arms.

  The sound of his heartbeat combined with his masculine scent filling her nose relaxed her even further.

  For whatever reason, laying in Kai’s arms made her feel safe and cared for. It was almost as if it was where she had always belonged.

  An image of her waking up in the arms of her dragonman when she was old and gray popped into her head. Given it had only been a few days, the thought should terrify her. Yet as she snuggled into his chest, Jane thought it might not be a bad thing.

  True, there were still issues between them, especially when it came to ensuring Kai was over his true mate. But if they could work them out, she might’ve found a strong man who wasn’t afraid to stand up to her.

  In other words, Jane might have found her perfect match.

  ~~~

  Kai laid his cheek on the top of Jane’s head and breathed in her scent. The combination of her long body on top of his, and the heat of her pussy around his dick relaxed him in a way he hadn’t felt since before meeting Maggie.

  There might not be a frenzy, but he didn’t care. His dragon’s instinct had been wrong eleven years ago. Jane would be his.

  His beast’s sleepy voice filled his mind. I can’t control the frenzy, either. Don’t blame me. Beside, who cares? We have Jane.

  Stroking the soft and slightly damp skin of her back, Kai answered, It’s a bit soon to have her, if we can ever have her.

  If we lose her, it will be your fault.

  Just shut it and go to sleep.

  And miss seeing Jane’s flushed face again? I don’t think so.

  Then just be quiet.

  With a harrumph, his dragon faded into the back of his mind.

  Kai had never been chatty, but for once, he wished he were. He wanted to know everyth
ing about his human, but didn’t have the foggiest idea of how to ask her without issuing an order.

  His dragon snorted, but thankfully remained silent afterward.

  Content to stroke up and down Jane’s back, several minutes passed until Jane’s voice filled the room. “I do care about the dragon-shifters, you know.” She looked up. “And not just because you’re good in bed.”

  “Good, am I?”

  She playfully slapped his chest. “I’m trying to work up the nerve to tell you something about my past and you want me to feed your ego.”

  Both man and beast perked up. “You can tell me anything, Janey. I’m pretty good at keeping secrets.”

  She smiled and rubbed her hand back and forth across his pecs. “Yes, but only because you utter the bare minimum.”

  Moving his hand to her bum, he squeezed. “Except for you. I don’t know if it’s your years of being a reporter or your pretty eyes, but I like talking with you.”

  She snorted. “You don’t have to sound as if that’s a bad thing.”

  Giving her backside a light tap, he asked, “What were you going to tell me?”

  Jane looked back to his chest and traced circles with her forefinger. It was the first time she’d shown any lack of confidence and he didn’t like it. “Jane, tell me.”

  She met his eyes once more. “Again with the orders.” Kai merely raised his brows and she sighed. “Since I have a feeling you won’t feed me again until I tell you, I should just spit it out.”

  Kai remained silent despite his dragon pacing back and forth in his mind, concerned about feeding their human. If she’s hungry, we should find food.

  She’ll last a little bit longer. Aren’t you curious about her secret?

  His beast paused and finally replied, I do like secrets.

  Good. Then hush.

  Kai’s silence was finally rewarded when Jane spoke again. “It was my first exciting assignment. After a few years of reporting on things such as dangerous weeds for children or senior citizen art shows, I was more than ready to investigate an arson. My boss at the time said it was a test—if I could handle the story, I would move up from local inconveniences and events to crime.

  “Back then, I thought crime was where I wanted to be, so I dug in and went to work.” Jane laid her head on her hands and continued, “I did what I would do with any story and reached out to my police contacts, interviewed witnesses, and eventually discovered the two men suspected of the crime as well as a third person of interest.

  “I tracked down the person of interest first. He was determined to clear his name and so he agreed to do an interview.

  “Fast forward two days and my story was in the newspaper. The story did well and my boss promoted me. It should’ve been a fantastic day.”

  Kai’s voice was quiet when he asked, “So what went wrong?”

  Jane closed her eyes a second and then opened them again. “While everything the suspect, Tom Smith, had told me was true, I didn’t provide the whole context.”

  “How did that slip past your editors? Or were you working for a tabloid?”

  Jane shook her head. “It wasn’t a tabloid, but it was a smaller newspaper with a limited number of staff. Our fact checkers were overworked and some things slipped through from time to time. And my story was one of them.”

  He rubbed Jane’s lower back. “What exactly did you say and what happened as a result?”

  “Tom had told me about how he picked up his two friends from the nightclub and drove them to a local train station to catch the last southbound train for the night. Since they were students at the University of Manchester with him, he just assumed they were going home for the break and thought nothing of it. He had no idea his friends had just committed arson.”

  Kai interjected, “But arson itself isn’t that bad of a crime, compared to others.”

  “That’s true, but two of the injured died the next day and it became a homicide case.”

  “Right, so what did you leave out and why does it still linger with you?”

  Her brows furrowed. “How did you know that?”

  “Jane, it’s my job to notice changes in behavior. Ever since you got the idea to tell me about this story, you’ve lost most of your confidence. That tells me something happened and it left a lasting impression on you. So tell me what it is.”

  When she didn’t even try to argue back, Kai knew he was right. “Well, I mentioned Tom knowing the suspects and driving them to the train station. However, I didn’t quite mention that he had no idea what was going on. My conscience ate at me and I forced a correction two days later. But by then, the damage had been done. Everyone accused Tom of being a part of the crime. He lost his part-time job and eventually dropped out of uni. He couldn’t take the stares and accusations.”

  Kai frowned. “No one bothered to read the retraction, I take it. But the bigger question is whether he ever was convicted or not.”

  “Tom was deemed not guilty and cleared of any charges. However, it was all because of me that Tom’s life went off track. I tried to hunt him down, talk to his employer, and make things right. But while I was trying to do that, Tom committed suicide.”

  “Jane.”

  Jane rolled off him and sat up. Hugging her chest, she continued, “It took me years to get past that, but I vowed that I would never misdirect the public again. With my new work ethic, I switched jobs and worked on fluff pieces again. When my next shot came, I took it. But never again did I not disclose the full truth and distort the narrative to fit my goals.”

  Kai wanted to hug his human close, but sensed Jane didn’t want it quite yet. “That’s why you were so upset when I accused you of using the dragon-shifters only to further your career and that you didn’t give a shit.”

  She bobbed her head. “Helping the dragon-shifters was risky, but I knew I could help make a difference. Telling the truth would do all dragon-shifters good. In some small way, I thought it might help make up for ruining someone else’s life.”

  Kai sat up slowly and reached out a hand to touch her bicep. “You have helped.”

  “Not nearly enough.”

  He grunted. “I agree. You need to do more.”

  Jane unfolded her arms and leaned forward. “If you’re ordering me to work harder, that’s not what I need right now.”

  “Wrong. It’s exactly what you need.” Kai cupped Jane’s cheek firmly and leaned closer. “I think your podcast idea from earlier is brilliant and only you can pull it off.” He pressed his forehead against Jane’s. “So you’d better stick around long enough to see it through.”

  Jane raised an eyebrow. “So you can make those decisions now, huh, instead of Bram about who gets to stay or not?”

  He shrugged his good shoulder, knowing it might stir her fire even more. He’d do anything to keep her from doubting herself again. “If I recommend you, then Bram won’t think twice about letting you stay.”

  There was a question in Jane’s eyes. Instead of asking it, she scooted over to Kai and leaned against his chest. “We’ll see. I think my first real test will be luring the Dragon Knights to a specific location so you can deal with them. The combined Lochguard and DDA attack last month helped to thin out their numbers, but one more major takedown should do it. At least, in the UK. I wish there was a way to help the other clans around the world, too.”

  He laid his head on top of Jane’s. “Clans are territorial. Hell, I can’t remember the last time we even talked with any of the clans on the Continent, let alone America.”

  “That’s going to change, I think.”

  He snorted. “Oh, really? Are you a psychic now, too?”

  She pulled back and looked up at him. “I would almost think you’re teasing me.”

  The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Kai Sutherland doesn’t have a sense of humor. That’s what everyone says.”

  “I think he does. It’s just a bit rusty.”

  She tickled his good side and a bark of laughter escaped bef
ore he could stop it. Jane removed her hand and grinned. “That laugh sounded pretty rusty, too. I’m going to have to coax it out of you some more.”

  “I have a better idea.”

  He flipped Jane onto her back and tickled her side. As her laughter rang out, he couldn’t help smiling.

  Then she kicked him in the balls and pain shot through his body. “Bloody hell, woman, are you trying to make me a eunuch?”

  Jane’s eyes were bright and she put on a look of fake innocence. “I can’t control my legs when you tickle me. It’s your own fault.”

  Ignoring the dull pain in his balls, Kai removed his condom, tossed it aside, and then laid on top of Jane. “Then we’ll just have to make sure you’re restrained.”

  “Don’t you dare, Kai.”

  As he tickled her again, he enjoyed the feel of her body wiggling under his. Only because his dick was still soft from Jane’s kick did he not put on another condom and take her again.

  Instead, he switched to caressing her side and nibbling her neck. His female started to relax and he murmured, “You’re going to ride me again as an apology, Jane. But first, I’m going to make you come again.”

  “Kai, you just can’t—“

  He shut her up with a kiss. Jane melted as he devoured the inside of her mouth. Raising his hips, she moved her legs to wrap around his waist.

  The time for talking was over. Kai was ready to play.

  Chapter Two

  Ten days later, Jane stood on the edge of one of the dragon landing areas and watched as her dragonman performed a series of dives, twirls, and escape maneuvers in the air. Bram, Dr. Sid, and Aaron, Kai’s second-in-command, were at her side.

  To Jane, Kai looked to be in full fighting-force again. But she wasn’t a dragon-shifter, so she glanced at Bram and Sid. Their faces were unreadable as always, so she looked to Aaron.

  While she was still getting to know the dragonman, Aaron Caruso was one of the more approachable clan members she’d met so far. He always had a smile and liked to tease everyone. Of course, there had to be more to him than he allowed Jane to see.