Page 178 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Both of us stroked, explored. Bren tried to turn to face me, but I wouldn’t allow her yet. I need to see her, to touch her. When I denied her, whispering for patience, she scoffed and reached between us again, dragging a hand up the length of me, then gripping me and stroking until I shuddered and cursed.

She laughed when I gripped her hips and turned her to face me. But then I took her mouth and delved those warm, wet depths just as I had the rest of her, pressing her back over my hand splayed at the hollow of her spine.

She arched and sighed and smiled into my kiss, wrapping one arm around my neck and bowing backwards to keep her chest brushing mine.

I kept kissing. Deeper. Harder. Faster. Showing her with my tongue what I wished to do with my body—and to my eternal delight, she responded in kind, until we were both gasping, clawing, gripping. My hands clawed, digging into her ass, dragging up her back—and down—and my breath tore from my throat.

I shuddered when she stroked me again, and fought the part of me that wanted to do nothing short of possess her.

But Bren seemed determined to breathe fire on the fuel of my need.

I’d always gone carefully with her, aware that violence was a part of her experience. And even though she’d never flinched from me in intimacy, I knew she needed care. So, I fought with that side of myself, and wrestled the Primarch within me down.

Until she sighed and ran her fingers along my length, her fingers curling around me, then lower, under my balls to stroke skin so sensitive my body’s response threatened to either send me over the edge—or spluttering into laughter.

“Dear God, woman,” I gasped, and caught her hands at the wrists, pulling them up where I was safe from the onslaught. I had to close my eyes and fight for control. But then she bumped her hips against mine.

“Open your eyes, Donavyn,” she breathed.

I did as she asked to find her right there, staring at me and smiling.

“Stop fighting it,” she whispered. “Give in.”

I huffed. “I don’t want to scare you. This is our time, Bren. I’m not risking—”

“I’m not scared, Donavyn. Feeling you want me… it’s wonderful. And I trust you. Whatever you want. Whatever you need… I want that too.”

“I don’t just want you, Bren,” I croaked. “I need you with a fire that could melt stone.”

Her smile broadened. “Then show me.”

Before I could respond, she reached for my hair and pulled me down into a desperate kiss. The bond’s glow became a storm of need as she grasped and stroked, her breath fluttering on my lips and tongue, her body rolling against me.

“Stop holding back,” she whispered again. “I want to see you. Your need. All of it.”

I swallowed hard. “You have to tell me, if it’s too much,” I rasped.

“It won’t be too much.”

I caught her wrists again and made myself lift my head and look her in the eyes. “Give me your word, Bren, that you will tell me,” I growled. “If you have even a hint of fear or… or any hesitation.”

She nodded slowly, still smiling. “I’ll tell you,” she whispered, then leaned into my chest and tried to reach for my hair again as I held her wrists. “You have my word. Now… please… show me what you want.”

I groaned and descended on her.

~ BREN ~

I’d seen glimpses of it at times—a fierceness in him. I’d felt it, especially when the dragons mated. Seen the heat in his gaze, and felt the fire burning in him. He’d been strong with me at times, but I knew there was more for him. He held back with me, out of care.

And maybe I’d needed that at the beginning. So many things had scared me, who knew what might have happened if he’d reminded me of something unpleasant back then?

But now, I knew I could trust him. And a fierceness of my own was growing.

I didn’t want ease. I didn’t want simple tenderness.

I wanted him untethered. I wanted to see him in his strength. I wanted to watch him lose control.

I wanted his claws and his teeth. And I wanted to show him mine.