AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I ambled forward. “Maybe you need a different kind of provocation,” Isuggested.
She straightened up, the fire in her eyes coming back. “What did you have inmind?”
I rolled my shoulders, testing the limits of my shirt. The fabric had enough flexibility to stay comfortable. “Spar with me a bit, and you’llsee.”
Aaron gestured for me to go ahead and take over. “If you think you have a better idea,Marco...”
“Even if I don’t, a little variety never hurt anyone.” I shot him a grin and then turned it on Ren. “Let’s go,princess.”
We circled each other, Ren watching me warily. Waiting for me to make the first move so she could decide how to respond. Fine, I could play along. I feinted and took a controlled jab at her stomach. She dodged, smacking my arm to the side with a well-executed block. Then she dove at me, swinging her elbow at my ribs. I just barely leapt out of the way. Damn, the girl was fast when she wanted tobe.
I moved closer, speeding up my own movements. A tap to the shoulder, a strike at her neck. And smaller gestures I gave enough concentration to that I could be sure they landed. A caress of her hip. A fleeting stroke of her side. I blocked her flying fist—and let my knuckles graze the peak of herbreast.
Her breath caught, her cheeks flushing darker. She narrowed her eyes at me, as if to say she saw what I was doing. That was fine. I wanted her to feel it. To feel the desire that sparked hotter between us every time wetouched.
If aggression didn’t bring out her dragon, maybe passion would. And if it didn’t, I was sure as hell enjoyingtrying.
It was probably obvious to our audience what I was doing by now, but I didn’t care. She was my mate as much as any of the other alphas. They’d better get used to seeing her withme.
As she ducked low to block a kick, I took the opportunity to tease my fingertips over her cheek. She jerked up, throwing a punch. I bobbed out of the way and gave her ass a quicksqueeze.
With a heated noise of frustration, she came at me swinging. I wove back and forth and then threw myself right back at her when she least expected it. She yelped as I tackled her to the ground. I pinned her on the grass, my body pressed against hers, my dick getting harder with each heave of her breath that shoved her breasts into mychest.
“Marco,” she growled, glaring at me, but at the same time her hips canting welcomingly toward mine. There was as much lust as frustration in hereyes.
“Yes, princess?” I said sweetly. Before she could answer, I caught her mouth with akiss.
* * *
Ren
Marco’s kisswas as hot as the look he’d been giving me a second before. A shiver of pleasure rippled through me. God, did I want this man. I couldn’t do anything except kiss him back just ashard.
He let go of my arm to trail his fingers down my side to my hip, and my hand leapt up to tangle in his hair. I yanked his mouth even tighter against mine. Marco hummed approvingly, nudging my lips apart with his demanding tongue. Mine slicked over his, tasting hismouth.
I could feel his pulse thumping in his chest, smell the spicy coffee scent of him, feel every shift and flex of his muscles as if I were all around him. The claws in my chest spread wide, reaching. The flavor of ash tainted the back of my mouth, but somehow that made the kiss evensweeter.
I nipped his lower lip—and tasted blood. My heartbeat raced faster. I wasn’t just some girl for him to make out with. I was adragon, and we were here to fight. I couldn’t let him make me forgetthat.
With a strength I hadn’t known I had in me, I shoved Marco off. He stumbled right onto his feet. A laugh jolted out of him, startled and impressed. Then I was springing after him, my feet barely seeming to touch theground.
Marco’s eyebrows rose as I lashed my arm out at him. The wind whistled strangely through myfingers.
Or rather, my talons. Scales had formed over my fingertips and sprouted dagger-like claws.Yes. A smile stretched across my face. I dashed faster, feeling the sinewy energy snaking through me, ready to breakfree.
Shouts carried across the field. “All right, Ren! You’re amazing!” “Beautiful. Just give yourself over to the shift.” “You’ve got this,Ren!”
The voices rattled my thoughts. I didn’t have it, not yet. I needed more—I needed tobethatdragon—
Even as I groped after the serpentine sensation inside me, it whipped away from me. I stumbled on the grass. My hands hit the ground, fully human again. I stared at them, those weak pale digits. My vision blurred. I blinkedhard.
No. I was not going to cry. Not in front of the guys. Even if I’d just proven myself an even bigger screw-up thanbefore.
I’d been so fuckingclose.
I dug my fingers into the earth, clawing my disappointment into it the only way I could. A large form hunkered down besideme.
“It’s fine,” Nate said. “You’re getting there. That wasprogress.”
