Alpha's Fire (Shifter Ops 4)

I curl my lips to show my fangs. A smile and a threat. “She is royalty here.”

“It’s true,” Tabitha says.

Enough of this dominance posturing. I step back and sweep Tabitha up into my arms. “If you’ll forgive me, I have a bride to claim.”

“That’s what’s up,” the pilot, Theodore, gives me a thumbs up, even as Channing mutters, “Fucking gross. Keep it to yourself, dragon. We don’t need to hear that shit.”

“Thanks for the attempted rescue, guys!” Tabitha calls over my shoulder. “It was unnecessary, but I appreciate the gesture.”

“Yep. Anytime,” Rafe rumbles.

I hear the slam of doors on the Jeeps and then the vehicles departing, but my attention is focused solely on my beautiful treasure. My sweet bride.

“I can’t wait to make you mine,” I murmur.

Tabitha twines her arms around my neck and nips my ear. “I already am yours, dragon. I think I always was.”

Tabitha

By the time Gabriel kicks open the door to my bedroom, I’m cracking up. “I want to be in the room when Rafe tells Adele about today,” I say.

“That can be arranged.” He doesn't let me down but carries me straight to the bed. “But first, it is time for me to claim you, my treasure.”

I’m woozy with the aftermath of adrenaline. I’m barefoot–the slippers I was wearing are long gone. My cheeks are flushed, my hair is wild. The insane magnetism between us crackles like electricity, and arousal pulses between my legs.

I cup his cheek, molding my fingers over his jaw, his brows, his beard. “I’m glad things worked out. There was a moment with the dragon, I wasn’t sure he was going to allow you to come back to me.”

“He spoke to me.”

“He did?”

“Yes. We are now one. Because of you.” Gabriel turns his head and kisses my palm.

“And now you’re going to claim me,” I whisper. I crane my head to meet his lips and gasp as a fireball of heated need rolls through me. I wriggle, stripping off the sweater he gave me and the rest of my clothes. I want nothing between us.

Gabriel takes my clothes and tosses them in the corner, pausing to drink me in.

“What are you thinking?” I reach to help him with his shirt.

“The fire branding may hurt you,” he says.

“I like a little pain.” I bounce my brows.

He remains solemn, slowly shucking off his clothes.

“Are you nervous?” I ask.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Sweet dragon man. “Trust yourself,” I say. “And trust me.”

Naked now, he steps close to the bed. I examine his hardened chest. Hovering a finger in the air, I trace the lines where the net marked him.

“Does it hurt?” I ask.

“Not anymore.”

I bend my head and press a butterfly light kiss to the burned skin.

“My sweet mate,” Gabriel rumbles.

He leans forward, but I push him back, guiding him to lie down. I curl a fist around his proud cock. He stretches out, six feet plus of bronzed beauty. This is the first time he’s let me be on top, in control.

“Suck me,” he orders, and I grin. He’s still in control.

Licking my lips, I lower my head. He tastes like smoke and spice. I curl my tongue around him and hum, working my neck up and down. He fills my mouth so perfectly. My pussy aches, ripe and juicy.

“Tabitha,” he calls, but I continue to bob my head, sucking so hard I hollow my cheeks. “Tabitha.” He tugs my head up by my hair, growling, “It’s time.”

He has to help me straddle him. He’s still gripping my hair, maneuvering me into position. I spread my thighs wide, guiding his hard rod to my slippery sex. He snaps his hips, driving into me with full force, filling me. My head flies back. Only his grip on me keeps me upright.

“Ride me, my treasure.” With his free hand, he covers my left breast, squeezes, smacks it. The slap transmutes to a spear of pure pleasure, slicing through my core and spurring me to motion. My inner muscles ripple, clenching impossibly tight until Gabriel is part of my body. There is no separation between us. We are interlocking circles, woman and man and beast becoming one.

“Give yourself to me,” Gabriel grunts. “Now.”

Heat blossoms in my belly and rolls through me. The sensation spreads up my back, like someone ran a warm glove up my spine. I rock over Gabriel, my body undulating out of my control.

Red and gold flames flicker on the edges of the bed. They’re not real–they blend with the pink and green and purple of our auras. Every cell in my body tightens. An explosion is brewing inside me, fire and heat and power caught in the crucible, ready to blow.

“Yes!” Gabriel shouts.

A flash of light–a red and gold supernova–blinds me. I cry out. The heated cape on my shoulders slices into my skin. It doesn’t hurt–it feels like a metamorphosis. Awakening. Becoming.