Craved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 8)

"Your cheeks are pink, Caity."

Clearing her throat, she replied, "Well, first kisses tend to hold a special place in someone's heart. But you can't say that one kiss has made you wish for me all these years."

"While the kiss was brilliant, there's more to it."

She tilted her head. "Then tell me."

"Well, you were young. Too young, and couldn't possibly have known. But my dragon said you were my true mate. However, he would wait until you grew up before he did anything."

She blinked. "B-but, they say your late mate was your true mate."

He shrugged. "A dragon-shifter can have more than one. I found Rebekah more than a decade after you, Caity."

"Why did you never say anything?"

"We were enemies again soon after that party, not to mention you mated Kieran by the time you were nineteen. I had no choice but to stay away."

She prodded her dragon. Did you know?

No. I didn't pay attention to such things at that young of an age.

Lorcan's voice garnered her attention again. "But if you think I only want you here because of a kiss from almost forty years ago, then you're wrong."

Her heart rate jumped. "Then why?"

Closing the distance between them, Lorcan's voice was low as he said, "There are few people I feel comfortable around, and you're one of them. And not just because of the party, but you were kind to me and my daughter when we visited several years ago. I soon put together you were the same female from that gathering near the causeway in 1978. With your mate also gone, I thought maybe we should have our own go around. That's why I started sending flowers and notes on your birthday—to see if what could've been would come true or not."

His gravelly voice did something to her insides, not to mention Caitlin easily lost herself in the depths of Lorcan's eyes. There was desire there, yes, but a longing she understood, one that could only be recognized by someone else who had lost their former love and secretly wanted someone to care for again.

Raising his hand, Lorcan gently brushed a section of hair behind her ear. "So, what do you say, Caity? The time for having children and raising them is over. I want a companion by my side." He cupped her cheeks and she stopped breathing. "And I can't think of a better one than the girl I kissed all those years ago. You're sweet with a hidden strength, and I desperately need that in my life." He lowered his head until he was a hairbreadth away from her lips. "Let me kiss you again and show you we suit."

Caitlin had never been a spontaneous person by nature. She liked to plan and organize. It made life simpler that way.

But as Lorcan's lips waited so close to hers, she was curious to see if her memory lived up to the man in the flesh. After all, she was too old for a mate-claim frenzy to take hold. One kiss wouldn't determine her future.

She closed the distance between their lips, and the second they touched, electricity raced through her body.

Lorcan kissed her gently before nibbling her bottom lip. He continued his ministrations for a few seconds before seaming her lips, asking for permission. Without hesitation, she opened. As his tongue entered her mouth, she groaned at his taste. It had been a long time since she'd been kissed, but only one other male had tasted as good.

Not wanting to think of her dead mate, Caitlin focused on matching him stroke for stroke. When Lorcan growled, the vibration sent a shiver down her body.

The response stirred the dragonman into action. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he tilted her head for better access. Each slide of his tongue against hers made the years fade away, back to 1978 when she'd been a girl reveling in her first kiss.

Their encounter back then may have been sloppier, but the rush of heat and desire she'd felt then was the same as now.

As soon as she gripped the back of Lorcan's neck, he broke the kiss and laid his forehead against hers. His breath tickled her chin as he murmured, "So, do we suit, Caity?"

Her breath was as labored as his. "There's more to life than kisses, Lorcan."

"I agree. But it's a good place to start."

As they each caught their breath, she couldn't help but admit how nice it felt to be in the arms of a strong male. Maybe even one she could lean on, or an ally to have against her mother or children on occasion.

Her dragon spoke up. Kiss him again. Just to make sure we suit.

You're just being greedy.

Then why are you holding back?