His magical manipulations continued, and I lifted my hips to meet each of his licks, able to match the speed but unable to control my body. Then I snapped. My orgasm seizing my body and lifting me in the air. I was floating, not by much, but I was no longer connected to the ground. Only to Ivan, whose mouth remained on me, lapping at my wet core.
I tightened my grip on Ivan’s hair, hoping I was causing him no pain but also unsure I could stop. Vaguely, I felt a pinch of pain from somewhere, but I wasn’t sure. Too much pleasure continued to ripple through me, masking any other feeling. But my darkened mind soon awakened with visions and emotions that were foreign to me but also familiar. A wholeness grew inme and expanded from the top of my head through my fingers and toes. I opened my eyes, and fresh tears blurred my vision. It was all too much and also just right.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed when I finally floated down to the chaise lounge, every muscle relaxed. I would need several moments before I could move again. A minor sensation between my legs brought my attention downward, and I found Ivan was licking my upper inner thigh. “Did you mark me there?”
He looked up, giving me a devious grin. “Perhaps?”
“Are you insane?”
He sat back, lowering my gown. “I thought we already established that I was.”
The claiming mark was a very sensitive area. And when touched by your mate, it would be an erogenous zone. The same could be said if I were to touch it myself, only Ivan would know and get turned on as well. In theory, that could be quite fun. However, I had thighs that touched. “I don’t want to worry about orgasming every time I walk! That’s simply not practical.”
Ivan got up and collapsed beside me, chucking. “It doesn’t work that way, Sunshine. It has to be more purposeful manipulation. That’s what Aaron and the others told me.”
I eyed him suspiciously as I closed my legs expecting to feel something, but instead all I felt was a slight dull ache from the bite. It would heal quickly but not before the end of the night. I wasn’t that excited to go out and walk around awkwardly. We’d have to leave right after we spoke to the king and queen.
“I can carry you around all night, if you prefer,” Ivan offered.
I playfully slapped him on the thigh. “Don’t even try it. But I’m not opening my legs to prove to the court that I got claimed.”
“No need. They’ll scent the difference. We will smell the same.”
That made sense. “Fine. Let’s go.”
He stood up and offered me a hand. “You sure you’re okay being tied to a crazy dragon from a working-class family?”
I grabbed his hand and got to my feet. I still didn’t feel totally steady standing up, but I was getting energized. “Yes. You sure you’re okay being tied to a stubborn faerie from a controlling family?”
He leaned down and kissed me so deeply my already weak knees almost gave out. Every part of me wanted to leave and go home with him. If just to snuggle. Be in his arms. Laugh together. Do nothing with each other.
He slowly pulled away from me, a soft smile on his lips. “I want that too, love.”
I huffed. I forgot we could read each other’s minds now, among other things. Before I could respond, we heard a thump and then the door cracked open. We looked back at each other and shrugged before heading to the door.
Ivan leaned into me. “See, I told you they were spying on us.”
“Perverts, the lot of them.”
He snorted in response, but then stopped, throwing his arm in front of me. “Did that door magically open or is that attendant behind it? Hey, show yourself. I kind of have a history with doors.”
He was oddly suspicious, which only made me nervous. If Ivan’s dragon senses were going off, we were in trouble.
There was nothing at first and then, seconds later, the door opened wide. I noticed feet on the ground and, as the door continued to open, we could see the full body of what appeared to be the now dead attendant.
Chapter Fourteen
Jalisa
At least I assumed he was dead. It was hard to see from where we were standing. I took a step forward, but Ivan kept his arm in front of me. “Can’t let you do that, love. For all we know, he could have been hurt from another ward meant to take one of us out.”
“We still have to get help him.”
“Understood, but who opened the door?” He opened his other hand, and a sword materialized there, bright with a glowing white aura. “Come out, you fucker!”
I opened my own hand and summoned my sword. It’d been years since I had to use it, but I never lost the connection to my weapon. The heavy sword appeared in my right hand, a golden glow surrounding it.
Ivan kept his eyes on the doorway, gripping his sword with both hands now. “It’s very much a turn on that you can still do that,” he said to me in a low voice.
