Firefighter Sea Dragon (Fire & Rescue Shifters 4)

“John?” He’d taken too long to respond. The Empress’s eyes widened as she stared at him. “There is something, isn’t there? Something you don’t want to tell me.”

“I…” He could not tell a flat-out lie. “Yes, there is. But it would not be wise. Please, trust my judgment on this, Your Majesty.”

Her mouth set in a stubborn line. “No. If you’re still going to insist on calling me that, then you can damn well treat me like your Empress. I order you to tell me whatever it is.”

His inner human pumped a fist in the air in exultation. Yes!

Yes, echoed the lake, currents urging them together.

He would still have refused, if he could. But his Empress had commanded, and he had to obey.

“We could…” He swallowed, mouth dry despite the water all around. “We could mate, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 12

She had water in her ears. Neridia shook her head, trying to clear them. “I’m sorry, could you say that again?”

“We could mate,” he repeated, even more reluctantly.

She had heard him right the first time. In her shock, she forgot to tread water, and promptly swallowed a wave. All her subconscious swimming skill deserted her. She slipped under the surface, flailing.

“Neridia!” John’s strong hands closed around her waist, bearing her up. “I mean-that is-Your Majesty.”

Neridia clung to his broad shoulders, gasping. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist…and her breath caught for a different reason than her brief dunking.

Only her underwear separated their bare torsos. She could feel every ridge of his muscles, hard against her own softness. Even in the bizarrely tropical waters of Loch Ness, his naked skin burned, igniting fire through her blood.

Her hands slid over the water-slick swells of his shoulders. “When you say mate…”

“Join. Unite our souls.” He was as solid as a rock in the water, supporting her without any apparent effort, but she could feel the pounding of his heart. “If we were mated, we would be able to touch mind-to-mind, sharing everything. You would know what it is to be a sea dragon, as surely as I do.”

Her stomach sank, and her hands stilled. “So this mating would just be a meeting of minds?”

He met her gaze. “No,” he said softly.

Her heart leapt again, but she forced herself to stay still. “What about your vows? I thought you were sworn to chastity.”

“Before all else, I am sworn to the Pearl Throne. My highest duty is to serve the Empress. To serve you.”

“Even if it means sacrificing your honor?”

“It would not be a sacrifice,” he whispered. “To be your mate would be the greatest honor of my life.”

Their faces were very close now. His eyes were very dark with desire, his breath coming short and fast. Her own heart was beating so hard, her blood sang in her ears.

“Neridia.” He brought up a hand, preventing their mouths from closing that last fateful distance. His calloused fingertips traced the curves of her lips. “If, if we do this…it is forever. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Yes.” Her body yearned for him so fiercely she was physically shaking, her thighs trembling against his hard flanks. “But—are you really sure you want this?”

He made a low, inarticulate noise in answer, half-moan, half-growl. His hand clenched around the back of her head, pulling her against his mouth.

Neridia melted into the fierce kiss, lost in the glorious feel of his lips against hers. His demanding tongue pressed into her, deep and hot, sparking an answering throb of need between her legs.

One hand still tangled in her hair, his other slid down over her hips, underwater. Neridia sucked in her breath as he slipped under her panties, exploring the soft curve of her butt. He tightened his grasp, fingers deliciously rough against her skin, pulling her more firmly against his hips. His unmistakable erection pressed into her stomach even through the thick, sodden fabric of his dress pants.

“Um.” Neridia broke the kiss, gasping for air. “Shouldn’t we get out of the lake?”

He pulled back a little, his brow furrowing. “Why?”