Her Dragon flung back her head, exposing her throat. And he closed his teeth on the special, thickened scales there, spread his wings, and began to climb.
Higher and higher they went, passing through the clouds until they rose above them, and only the moon and stars kept them company. The air cooled; it steamed against her superheated body and frosted their breath, until ice crystals danced and sparkled over their scales.
He carried her until the air grew so thin she could barely breathe. Then he hovered, releasing her throat. He rubbed his long head against hers, his scent engulfing her. And a deep, vibrating rumble permeated the surrounding air.
Her heart raced, knowing what was to come. Afraid to hope that he could do it, that he could keep them from dashing to death on the mountains far below.
She sensed it then, the magnificence within Lucas that wasn’t his alone. Her Dragon surged within her.
We’ve got you Aria.
Lucas twined his neck around hers, folded his wings, and let them fall from the sky.
The air whistled past them as gravity took hold, carrying them ever faster toward the ground. With their minds entwined as much as their bodies, he angled his wings and they began to spin. Their wingtips caught at the cloud vapor and carried spirals of moonlit ice along with them.
With every revolution, Lucas pulled Aria closer. Her blood surged as he rubbed up against her, his tail tangling in hers, hind talons locked together as with a final, triumphant thrust, their bodies became one.
Her Dragon threw back her head, and screamed to the rushing air, his own, deeper cry echoing hers.
And with a thunderous crack, his wings opened.
Not a moment too soon. Her back brushed the treetops as he halted their fall, his wings beating hard to carry them home.
* * *
Lucas’s heart raced as he carried Aria back to the cave. Every scent, every sound, had a clarity he’d never experienced before.
Life as a Dragon, it turns out, was very good indeed.
Aria glanced up at him.You can let me go. I can fly home on my own.
I am never letting you go, my Dragona.
Her beautiful amber eyes gleamed.We aren’t done, you know.
His heart accelerated. Was she suggesting... His throat went dry. Sex as a Dragon was one thing. But as a human? He’d never had sex that wasn’t messed up.
She must have sensed some of his angst.Hey. You have to trust me, Lucas.
I do trust you.
It can’t be as scary as freefalling thousands of feet.
You have no idea.
He hovered as he lowered her to the ledge. She moved aside for him, and he tried to land gracefully. Almost succeeded, but at the last second lost control. His feet slammed down, the force of it bouncing him back up. He thrashed, tipped forward, and slammed his chin into the stone.
Well, at least you’re down,Aria noted.And thank you for not dropping me.
When he straightened, she’d already shifted to human. She was completely naked. Not a scale in sight.
His talons slipped on the rock, and suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t morph back to human, either. Not with her looking like that.
In this form, he was exquisite. Her Dragon had needed his; he’d satiated her beast’s desire. But if he morphed back to his normal self, he’d just be Lucas.
Thief.
Unworthy.
