Craved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 8)

"Well, if there was more intermingling and inter-mating between the clans, I think there would be less bias and hatred."

"I agree." He glanced to her suitcases in the hallway. "Do those mean you're ready to move in with me?"

She allowed the change of topic. After all, she had the rest of her life to convince Lorcan to open up to her clan. "You said tonight would be the earliest we could mate, so I'm ready."

He studied her a second before reaching out a hand and lightly caressing her jaw with his finger. "Are you truly ready, Caity?"

As he continued to stroke her skin, her dragon spoke up. Kiss him.

Lorcan's whisper filled her ear. "For the moment, talk to me and not your dragon. I can't take care of you if you don't speak your mind."

His words made her want the mating to work even more. Her daughter might make a quip about being taken care of, even if her mate did so sometimes now, but Caitlin missed having someone look after her.

She cleared her throat and replied, "Yes, I'm ready to move in with you. Kiss me again and maybe you'll believe me."

Lorcan's pupils flashed. His voice was gravelly when he answered, "Kissing you alone, in private, is dangerous, love."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not sure I can stop at kissing your lips."

Her heart thundered in her chest. She could easily tell him they could go outside for a quick kiss and play it safe.

But that wasn't what she wanted.

It was time for Caitlin to live a little, so she leaned against him and looped her arms around his neck. She smiled at Lorcan's intake of breath. "This might be the best way to discover if we suit, I think."

Nuzzling her cheek, he murmured, "I like the way you think, woman."

Before she could do more than open her mouth, Lorcan pressed his lips to hers and slipped his tongue inside. She groaned as each stroke wiped away any lingering hesitation.

She wanted Lorcan Todd, and for once, she was going to think of her own needs over anyone else's.

He ran a hand down her back to cup her arse cheek. The second he pulled her even tighter against him, she groaned at the feel of his hardness against her.

She'd been a fool to wait so long to have sex again.

Lorcan soon had both his hands on her bum and lifted. She wrapped her legs around his waist without hesitation, almost desperate to feel his hard muscles under her thighs.

She barely noticed the wall against her back when Lorcan moved one hand around to cup the side of her face and then slid it into her hair.

Just as she was about to guide his hand to her breasts, a mobile phone rang. She'd barely noted that it wasn't hers before Lorcan ended the kiss and cursed. "That's Adrian's ringtone. I need to take it."

Since the news could be about her son, Caitlin nodded and allowed Lorcan to release her to the ground.

Pulling out his phone, Lorcan asked, "What?" He glanced at Caitlin. The worry in his eyes sent a thread of fear through her heart.

Still, she'd worked with enough clan leaders to know waiting was the quickest way to get information. As soon as he clicked off the phone, Lorcan said without preamble, "Killian's kiss stirred Brenna's dragon to a frenzy."

She blinked. "Wait, what? They've kissed before in front of all Glenlough without that happening."

"I don't know. Adrian thinks it might be because Killian wasn't a whole person without an inner dragon. And as soon as the dragon came back, Brenna's beast recognized him."

"Did Killian agree to it?"

Shaking his head, Lorcan headed toward the door. "No, she's sedated and Adrian is keeping them apart." He paused and faced her. "I need to try contacting Stonefire's leader." He leaned over and kissed her quickly. "We'll have to finish this later."

"Of course."