Defender Dragon (Protection, Inc 2)

The apartment reminded her of photos she’d seen of homes in Japan. She’d always wanted to go there. “Cities around the world?”

“Yes. I would like that.” Then he beckoned her farther in.

His bedroom was in the same style, but the bed looked soft and luxurious. Late afternoon sunlight filtered in through a window, dappling the white cover with gold.

Journey looked at the bed, then at Lucas. The air between them felt suddenly charged with sexual heat. Without even having been touched, her nipples hardened within the silk cups of her bra, and she felt herself starting to get wet.

Lucas had dressed in a tailored suit for the last leg of their trip back, and looked extraordinarily handsome in it. His black suit jacket made his hair even brighter by contrast. He was all covered up, with none of his dragonmarks showing and little of his gold. All she could see was the rings on his fingers and the chain around his throat, half-concealed by his shirt collar. She wanted to tear the suit off him, touch the heat of his naked body, press her skin to his—

“Outside of the jewelry shop, you made me a promise.” His voice was low, deepened with desire.

“I remember.” Journey knew what he wanted, and she didn’t mind delaying her own desires a little while. “Sit down and watch.”

Lucas sat on the bed, his amber eyes intent on her.

Journey began to strip for him. She lifted one foot to the bed and unbuckled her shoe, then switched feet and did it again. She’d never thought of her feet as a sexy part of her body, but Lucas leaned over and caressed first one, then the other, running his finger along the arch as if it was some fine piece of sculpture. His touch made her whole body tingle.

She was wearing a Brandusan blouse with crossed ribbons in the front. Journey undid the knots, then offered Lucas the end of one ribbon. He held it in his long-fingered hands, then gave it a tug. The blouse fell open. She undid her bra and shrugged her shoulders, and both blouse and bra slipped to the floor.

Lucas drew in his breath. Journey could almost feel his gaze on her skin, hot as summer sunlight, as he looked from her breasts to her belly to her dragon pendant. She loved the way he looked at her.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said. “Let me see the rest of you.”

She stepped out of her long skirt, leaving it in an indigo puddle on the floor, and then rolled off her panties. Journey stood nude before him, adorned with the jewelry he’d given her. A gold chain wound up her left forearm, emerald earrings dangled from her ears, rings sparkled on her fingers, and his dragon pendant nestled in the hollow of her throat. It was as if

he was already touching her, everywhere that his gifts to her rested, warm against her skin.

“You are my most precious treasure,” he whispered.

“And you’re mine,” Journey replied.

She couldn’t bear to stand apart from him any more. Journey dropped down to the bed, reaching out, desperate to touch him. He caught her in his arms and kissed her. The heat of his mouth and body made her feel like she was burning up. But it was the kind of fire that only made her want more heat.

She tugged off his suit jacket and fumbled with his shirt buttons, impatient to touch his skin. Caught up in her urgency, Lucas jerked at his shirt as well. Buttons popped off and went rolling across the floor. He tossed his shirt down to follow them, and then his shoes and pants.

Then they were naked together, stripped of all but their gold. The scars across Lucas’s chest had healed and gone, leaving nothing but his glittering dragonmarks. The heat from his body and the spicy scent of him lit a fire in her. They fell to the bed together, kissing and touching, frantic with desire. Everything about him dizzied her: the hot touch of his hands, the cool caress of his chains, the taste of his mouth, the smoothness of his skin, the hard rod of his erection pressing against her thighs.

Journey ran her tongue over the dragonmarks on his shoulder, following its pattern. Lucas inhaled sharply, his hands clenching on her shoulders.

“Are they sensitive?” she asked.

“Ah— yes,” he managed. “Yes, a little.”

“Only a little?” she teased.

He gave her a plaintive glance. “Don’t stop.”

She returned her attention to them, kissing and licking as if she was painting them on anew, enjoying Lucas’s reactions. When she finished tracing the dragonmarks on his belly, she wriggled downward to taste him in another sensitive area, licking around his shaft, then taking him in her mouth. Lucas gasped, his eyes falling shut, his fists clenched.

“I—” he gasped. “I— Please—”

Those were the last coherent words Lucas got out. She sucked hard and flicked her tongue over the swollen head, and then he was unable to do anything but moan. His whole body was shaking, helpless in the grip of sensation. Journey loved the clean taste of him, the touch on her tongue of soft skin over rock-hard flesh, and seeing how she could make someone so cool lose control.

He suddenly pushed her away. Startled, Journey looked down at him as he gasped for breath, visibly trying to collect himself.

“Sorry,” he said at last. “I was about to come. I didn’t want to finish so soon. I would’ve told you to stop, but I couldn’t get any words out.”

Journey grinned. “I think I’m flattered.”