Maiden Flight (Dragon Knights) Read online

  “Lumbered! I’m insulted. I never lumber.”

  “Mistress—” Gareth shook his head theatrically. “You have insulted a dragon. That is never wise.”

  The petite beauty looked up over her shoulder at the dragon and rolled her eyes.

  “All right then, how about if I said you swooped in majestically?” She paused to see the dragon’s reaction and then went for the kill. “And stole my deer.”

  Kelvan snorted, careful to keep his flame away from the humans, though he choked the woman momentarily with his sooty wheeze. While she coughed, Gareth smiled up at his partner.

  “This is a strange one indeed. And just as beautiful as you said.”

  “She lights your fire, then?”

  Gareth had to fake a cough to hide his start of laughter. “Indeed.”

  “Good. You need a hard fuck. You’ve been much too tense lately. I’ll go hunt another deer while you settle things with Belora.”

  “Belora,” Gareth repeated. It fit her, rolling through his mind as prettily as she stood before him. It was a delicate name. An intriguing name.

  Kelvan winged away without responding, blowing the slight woman straight into his knight’s arms, belching dragon laughter as he headed back toward the forest. The girl looked up at the knight, clinging to him to hold her steady in the fierce wind created by the dragon’s massive wings.

  “Where’s he going?”

  Gareth smiled down at her, holding her tightly in his arms. “To hunt another deer. You can have the stag, with our compliments.”

  Her whole face lit up with joy, and it was a sight to behold. This young woman possessed more than mere beauty. She had a light that radiated from within, the likes of which he had seldom seen before. A rare jewel, indeed, and he knew he must have her, if only for this moment.

  “Really?” Her wide eyes held hope for the first time since he’d encountered her, and happiness that made her glow.

  “Yes, really.” He tightened his arms around her, his gaze falling to her lips. He felt her breathing hitch as her body responded to his nearness. It was a good sign, as was the fact that she wasn’t trying to get free from his embrace. Rather, she seemed comfortable in his arms, clinging to him in a way that was most gratifying. “Kelvan and I will fly you back to your home and deliver the deer there for you. Later.”

  “Later?” Her voice was soft as her eyes spoke of the pleasure he was bringing her with the soft, circular motions of his hands on her back.

  “Much later.”

  His head dipped and his lips claimed hers in a sweet kiss that swiftly turned passionate. Gareth had only meant to give her a quick buss, then sit her down and discuss her family situation. As a knight of the realm, he couldn’t let people go hungry. He’d wanted to help her, if he could.

  But her kiss brought something to life inside him that would not be denied. She was sweet, but it was more than that. Her taste and innocent, passionate response brought out a possessiveness in him that he hadn’t expected.

  He wanted her. Despite the dragon’s parting words, he hadn’t meant to actually take her. But the feeling inside him was demanding more. Truth be told, it was demanding all. All he was. All he would ever be. All they could be together.

  There was an instant recognition. An instant wanting. Needing. It was something Gareth had heard about, but never thought he would actually experience. This woman tasted like his true mate. The one woman meant to share his life. Knights often knew on the first meeting the woman meant for them. It was a blessing and a curse all knights shared. The magic of their dragon partners helped them recognize the woman that would make their extended family whole.

  Gareth very much feared—and hoped—that Belora was that woman. His woman.

  He pushed her further than he’d intended, needing to find out for certain. He’d make sweet love to her, fulfilling the driving need in his soul and then he’d know for sure. And then…well, he’d have to deal with the next part as it happened.

  Convincing a woman to give up all she’d ever known to come live in a dragon’s Lair probably wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, but he’d faced bigger battles in his time. If Belora was the one, he’d move heaven and earth to keep her with him.

  Gareth deepened the kiss. Though willing, the hesitancy with which she followed his passion told him a great deal. She was quite obviously untried, but willing. He pulled back after a long satisfying time but didn’t release her. He needed to convince her, gently. Gareth would have to use all his rusty charm to entice her into his bed.

  “You are very beautiful, Mistress Belora.” He caressed her hair with one rough hand. She blushed so prettily he had to bend down and kiss her again. Her shy response enchanted him and reminded him how inexperienced she truly was. A man of the world could always tell. He pulled back and smiled to soften his words. “You’re very young, sweetheart.”

  “Not too young, surely.” There was a teasing challenge in her tone. “I have eighteen winters.”

  Gareth clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Just a babe, you are.”

  “How old are you, then? You can’t be that much older than me. I won’t believe it. You’re in your prime.” Her gaze walked over him, heating his blood. She was definitely attracted to him. That would make his goal easier.

  “I take that as a compliment, mistress, that you think me prime. I feel like an old man compared to you.”

  “Not too old.” She chuckled as he squeezed her playfully. He liked her sense of humor and the sparkle in her gorgeous green eyes.

  “Never too old to appreciate a beauty such as yours. A man would have to be dead not to want you.” He gave her a little harsh truth as he pressed his suit.

  She gasped as his hands stroked intimately down her back and cupped the curve of her ass. He pulled her against his hard frame, letting her know how much he wanted her. The next move he would leave up to her. She was so young and obviously untried. He would have to give her some choice, but he prayed to the Mother of All that she would choose to make love with him. He needed her on a soul-deep level. He needed to know if she was the one. He thought he’d go mad if she turned him away now.

  “And do you want me, sir knight?” The coquettish smile in her eyes was promising.

  He actually growled as he ground his hips against hers. “I want you more than any woman I’ve ever known.”

  “Pretty words, sir,” she replied slowly, her gaze measuring his response suspiciously. “I bet you’ve said the same to many a maid.” She laughed as he stroked his hands upward to frame her face.

  “I’ve never said anything of the kind before. For that matter, I’ve never felt this way before. You have my word as a knight of the realm. You are special, Belora. I know we’ve only just met, but I feel as if I’ve known you all my life. As if I’ve been waiting for you.” He felt his heart lodge somewhere in his throat as he gazed down into her mesmerizing green eyes. “Tell me you feel the same.”

  Her expression sobered and her breath caught. A dazzling light came from her beautiful eyes that humbled him.

  “I thought I was being fanciful.” Her whispered words made something fragile inside him tremble. “You truly feel it too?”

  He kissed her lips sweetly. “I do.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It could mean everything, sweet Belora. Everything.”

  Nearly overcome by the thought, he lowered his mouth to hers again. His kiss was filled with savage intent as she clutched at his arms. His hands roamed over her lithe body, stroking her curves and supporting her when she sagged against him. At length, he broke away from the drugging ecstasy of her kiss.

  “Will you lie with me, beautiful Belora?” His words were impassioned whispers against the soft, warm column of her neck. “Will you give me the gift of your body?”

  She pulled back and it nearly killed him to let her draw even slightly away.

  “I’ve never been with a man, Gareth.” His heart stopped beating as he waited for he
r hesitant words. “But my mother’s a healer. I know what to expect.” She looked adorably hesitant at first, but she seemed to grow more certain with every word she spoke. A bit of the steadfast huntress Kelvan had encountered came to the fore, attracting him even more. “I want to be with you, Gareth. Will you teach me what I need to know to please you?”

  He hugged her close. Uncustomary tears formed behind his eyes as he realized the import of this moment. This small woman’s trust meant more to him than anything in the world—except perhaps for his bond with Kelvan.

  But this encounter with Belora was nearly on the same level. That alone told him this was a special moment. And a special woman. He’d be damned if he hadn’t just found his mate.

  It was a heady thought. A frightening thought. A thought for later consideration. Much later. For now, he had to concentrate on the beautiful woman in his arms.

  “You need do nothing but be yourself to please me, sweet Belora.”

  Words failed him at that point, so he turned his attentions to showing her how beautiful she was. He lifted her rough tunic slowly over her head, enjoying her maidenly blushes. He’d never had a maiden before, but he had bedded many experienced women and knew how to please them. He would make certain this first time for Belora was as good as he could possibly make it. He wanted her to remember this encounter with joy.

  When she was bare, he laid her down on the soft pile of their discarded clothing. She was noticeably shy, but willing. Her expression told him how much she wanted this, even if she’d never done it before.

  He stroked her breast with one large hand. He was a big man, but he could be gentle when he needed to be and this was one of those times. At least for now, he would give her gentleness. If it turned out she could handle more, he would give it to her later, by all means. With pleasure.

  She shivered as he stroked down to the point of her breast, pinching her pert nipple with just enough force to make her squeal with pleasure. He leaned lower and replaced his hands with his lips. Sucking her deep into his warmth, he watched as her gaze followed his movements. She looked both shocked and eager for more. The lovely flush in her cheeks indicated her rising desire.

  “Gareth!” she keened as he sucked gently on her nipple, releasing her with a pop to pay the same homage to her other breast.

  His hands were busy learning the curves of her waist, her hips, her thighs and what lay between. One hand parted the neat curls above her mound and found its way into her slick folds while she squirmed. He lifted his head and watched her carefully as he drew her nipple between his teeth with a little edge of roughness. From the way her fingers ran through his hair and drew him closer, she definitely liked what he was doing to her. No, she loved what he was doing to her. She shivered with delight each time he touched her.

  “You’ll never regret giving yourself to me, Belora. I swear it on my honor.”

  “The only way I’ll regret this is if you stop now, Gareth.” Her voice was deliciously breathy.

  He almost laughed at her honest, soul-baring answer. This was a woman who wasn’t afraid to take life by the horns. He was half in love with her already and they’d only really just met.

  “I’d never leave you wanting, sweet Belora. I need you every bit as much as you probably need me by now.”

  “No one could need you more than I. It’s not possible. What have you done to me, Gareth? What kind of magic is this?”

  She gasped as he moved the hand he’d kept between her legs, teasing her clit. Holding her gaze, he slid one large, thoroughly wet finger into her core and watched carefully as he stretched tissues that had never known the touch of a man. The thought excited him beyond reason, but he held tightly to his control. This woman was special. He would make sure she enjoyed every moment they had together.

  “It’s the purest form of magic, sweet. The magic of man and woman.”

  He leaned in close and kissed her deeply, catching her cries of excitement in his mouth as he added a second finger inside her tight channel. He knew it might hurt her, but she was so deep in her pleasure, she was beyond pain now. This first time it would be a blessing to her to break through her barrier fast before she had time to worry and tense up. She was in the perfect place now, if he could just keep her there until he was buried deep inside her.

  He slid over her, placing himself between her spread thighs, holding her gaze and doing his best to overwhelm her senses with deep, passionate kisses that kept her off balance. His fingers began pumping in and out of her channel, preparing her.

  He brought his wet fingers to his cock and coated himself with her essence, hoping to make his passage easier on her this first time. Before she had time to think, he pressed forward, the cap of his raging erection sinking in with little trouble. He straightened over her, bracing his arms on either side of her face as he moved steadily forward.

  “Do it now, Gareth. Come into me now!”

  “Your wish,” he surged forward, breaking through the barrier, “is my command.” She jerked beneath him momentarily and he held still, watching the tightness around her sweet mouth ease as she got used to his presence in her body. “Better now?”

  She tilted her head as if considering exactly how she felt. He loved that thoughtfulness about her. He loved her adventurous spirit. And he feared given half a chance, he would love her. Period.

  “It feels odd, but very nice. Is there more?”

  Gareth grinned down at her. “Much more. We’ve only just begun.”

  “Oh, good.”

  With a chuckle, Gareth began to move in her, watching her eyes light up as she discovered what came next. She was delightful to him. Fresh, eager and open to new experiences. She was a treasure. He’d never felt so lighthearted while making love, never knew it could feel this right, this pure, this perfect.

  She clamped her legs around him and he could feel her excitement rising fast. She was so responsive to him, it made it all that much better. He moved his hand between them and teased her clit until she tensed and cried out, experiencing her first orgasm while he remained hard within her. He watched her through it all, entranced by the look in her luminous eyes, the sheer pleasure on her pretty face.

  He rode her throughout, helping her milk it for all it was worth. When she came back to earth, he was there, looking down into her beautiful eyes.

  “Ready for more?” His smile teased her and she blushed so prettily he had to lean down and kiss her luscious lips. Rolling, he reversed their positions, keeping himself tight within her, watching the surprise enter her expression. “Do you ride?”

  “We can no longer afford to keep a horse.”

  “Who needs a horse when you can ride me?” His teasing tone brought a spark of excitement to her eyes and she straightened, letting her beautiful breasts swing as she positioned herself atop him.

  “Am I doing it right?” She began a slow up and down motion on him that made him groan in appreciation.

  “Any righter and I’d be a dead man.” His head flopped back to the ground as she increased her pace. “You’re a natural, sweet. Keep on as you’re going and we’ll soon touch the stars together.”

  “Oh, Gareth!”

  She was close. He could see it in the tensing of her sweet mouth. He moved his fingers up to cup her bouncing breasts, enjoying the look and feel of them in his hands as she rode him. He pinched her nipples and teased them with his thumbs, flicking them as she moved faster and faster in search of her goal.

  “Come for me now, sweet. Let go and come now!”

  She convulsed over him, straining as he pumped hard upward. He came with her, spilling a torrent of his seed within her tight depths.

  “Oh!” She convulsed again as he watched, close to awe at the pleasure this small, untried woman had given him. He had never come so hard in his life. He emptied into her as if she had been made for him.

  He stroked her hair, her back, her soft skin, even as his cock relaxed within her. Not seeing any reason to move further, he dragged
a dry towel over her back and settled in for a short rest. He would have her again before this day was through, but for now she was wiped out.

  Chapter Two

  Belora woke on her back beneath Gareth, his cock hard once more within her. He stroked lightly, in and out, and she realized she was very wet and very excited. This man had shown her the most amazing things, and it seemed there was still more to learn. The heart-stopping attraction she had felt on first seeing him in the water now resolved into an awe-inspiring affection for the handsome, thoughtful man. He was so gentle with her, so caring in his way, yet so exciting. He’d shown her things about herself she had only been able to guess at before, and given her a new confidence in her femininity she had never had.

  “About time you woke up.” His soft grin eased the hard words.

  She stretched, reaching out to stroke his stubbly cheek with one hand. She loved the masculine feel of him.

  “Someone tired me out.”

  “Hmm. We’ll have to see what we can do about that.”

  He rocked gently, in no hurry now to sate the hunger growing inside her. She climaxed twice before he let loose with his own completion, nearly drowning her in his seed. She knew a baby could come of what they’d just done but didn’t care. Or rather, she kind of liked the idea of having this knight’s baby, even if she never saw him again.

  Here was a man worthy of fathering children. He was brave, strong, gallant and a considerate lover. She knew her initiation into sex could have been much more painful than it had been. In fact, aside from that one moment when he tore through her barrier, it had been nothing but pleasure.

  No, if she got pregnant from this day’s work, it was the will of the Mother. Such pleasure could not be wrong and if she had this man’s child, the baby would be healthy, smart and as strong as its father. It would be a blessing.

  “Come on, Belora.” He tugged her to her feet, though the lethargy of good, hot loving weighed her down. She wanted to sleep again, but it seemed he wouldn’t let her.

  “Where are we going?”