Page 22 of Red Dragon’s Heart

You’re here, he murmured. I never thought you’d come.

She didn’t know who he was imagining she was, in his dream, and right now she didn’t even care. She could still feel what he was feeling, and as he looked down at her he felt awe and wonder—like she was something amazing and utterly precious—and also a deep desire underlaid with an aching loneliness.

She recognized that loneliness; it echoed deep within her. The aching, and the fear that it would never end—that there would never be anyone for her, that she didn’t deserve love, that work and friends and even her brother would never fill that hole.

She put her hand on his chest and felt the connection between them, the heat and the fire. The smile spread slowly across his face, and he bent his head to kiss her, skimming his lips ever so lightly over hers.

Just that one simple, perfect touch was like flipping a switch—as if she’d been waiting all her life in a dark room, and he’d brought the sunshine.

He kissed her again, and again, each time a little deeper. This was it, this was what she needed to fill that hole.

Part of her remembered it was an illusion, but the rest of her didn’t care. It was only a dream, and she’d been through so much and been so scared, and she just wanted… this.

The kind of love she’d dreamed about—a man who believed she was the center of his universe, who would do anything to keep her, protect her, make her happy.

She snuggled closer to Zak, kissing him back, opening to him as his mouth explored hers. His lips moved to her cheek, her neck; he kissed her closed eyelids. His fingertips moved lightly up and down her bare arm, sending tingles all through her body.

His mouth returned to hers, kissing her deeply, and once again it felt like a heat explosion inside her. She pressed against him, wanting to get close, so close, even further inside him. Suddenly they were kissing with hot desperation, her lips parting, his tongue tangling with hers, tasting, wanting, drinking her in like a man who’s been lost in a desert and has suddenly found water.

His kisses were hot and demanding, soft and caressing. She ran her hands through his hair, silky and sensual. The fire inside moved to her core, hot and wet and wild, and she could feel his shaft pressing against her thigh. She rolled her hips against it, and he gave a soft growl.

You’re so beautiful, he said. You’re better than my dreams. She didn’t know if he said it out loud, or only in her mind.

Their hands were up inside each other’s shirts—no, somehow his shirt was gone, his muscles hard under her hands, his skin velvety soft and full of heat and fire. She ran her fingers over all the ridges and valleys, wanting to touch all of him, trace him with her fingers so she could remember every detail.

He sat up, lifting her to her knees, and slowly pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it aside. Her hair tumbled free and he ran his hands through it, smiling slightly.

Then suddenly his hands had claws, like dragon claws. Before she could pull away, he ran the claws up her skin in a shivery pathway to her bra, and then sliced through the cloth, the pieces falling around her.

So. Hot. But the claws were gone now, and he was cupping her breasts, teasing her nipples, his hands warm on her skin. You are more precious than gold; you shine brighter than jewels. I want to devour you.

He pushed her gently down on the cushions again, following her, covering her breasts with kisses. His tongue moved slowly over her nipples, one by one, drawing them into his mouth, sucking on them until little darts of desire lightning-bolted straight to her core.

Yes. Devour me.

She could feel the power in him, the danger, but the terrible nightmare rage was gone. She’d never felt safer.

Just when she thought she’d go crazy with wanting him, he left her breasts to kiss her shoulder, the hollow of her neck, her belly. For a moment she was embarrassed by the softness of her newly curvy body, but Zak seemed mesmerized, unable to stop touching her.

He undid her jeans, still kissing his way excruciatingly slowly across her skin. Maddie let herself moan and writhe the way she’d never done in real life, letting him see how much she wanted him, because what did it matter? It wasn’t real, though it felt more real than anything she’d ever experienced.

Zak pulled her jeans off, still kissing every inch of her skin, the heat of his lips and tongue on all her most sensitive places.

Then he moved between her legs, pressing her thighs apart, and kissed her core.

She thought she was going to come apart. His tongue swirled lazily over her clit, making slow circles, flicking softly, then stroking slowly once more. Maddie whimpered, rolling her hips and dissolving into a molten pool of desire.

Just as she was on the edge of an explosion, he pulled back, kissing her thighs, running his tongue down the crease of her hip, the top of her slit, everywhere but where she really wanted it.

Please, she panted. You’re driving me crazy.

I know. I want you crazy for me. I need you crazy for me.

He moved back up to lie next to her, running his hand up her thigh before playing with her clit.

Maddie wanted more. She slid her hand into the front of his pants and suddenly they were gone too, his shaft springing free.

She wrapped her hand around it—so huge and hard, just thinking about it inside her gave her a rush of heat, and she could feel herself getting wetter.