Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series
Her Elemental Dragons: Shake the Earth: Chapter 15

Over the next day, my mates and I met with Parin, Faya, and other members of the Resistance to discuss strategy and make plans. Though I was ostensibly in charge among our group of Dragons, I felt comfortable leaving most of the decisions in this matter to my mates. Jasin had served in the Onyx Army for many years, Reven was an expert at stealth and infiltration, Auric was a fountain of knowledge, and Slade knew both the layout of the Earth Realm and the Resistance’s inner workings. It’d be stupid now to ignore their expertise, and I was quite content to sit back and let them work, although I chimed in whenever I had an idea.

By the end of the day, we’d worked out a plan. In a week’s time many members of the Resistance, along with Jasin and Auric, would ambush a large Onyx Army fort known as Salt Creek Tower. We believed a direct attack against such an important location would force any Dragons at the Earth Temple to come out to defend it, especially once they realized two of my mates were there too. The fort was close enough to the Earth Temple that the Dragons could fly there quickly, but not too close that it would be an obvious distraction. Once they were gone, Slade, Reven, and I would sneak through a back tunnel into the Earth Temple so we could complete the bonding. If Slade still wanted that.

I’d avoided him all day, and every time Faya spoke my stomach clenched tight. My mind kept drifting back to that image of the two of them standing together, before wondering what had occurred afterward. I tortured myself with thoughts of the two of them in bed together, and they only made my anger and misery grow.

But I couldn’t avoid Slade forever.

It was late by the time we went back to our rooms, but I never made it to mine. Slade stopped me with a large hand on my shoulder. He turned me back to face him and my chest hardened.

“Is something wrong?” he asked. “You’ve been unable to meet my eyes all day.”

My fists clenched at my side. “I saw you last night…with her.”

Understanding dawned across his face. “She came to apologize. Nothing more.”

“It looked like a lot more than that,” I said, remembering the way he’d covered her hand with his own.

He shook his head. “We talked, that was all. We both needed some closure so we could work together without any problems. But I swear, nothing happened.”

My jaw clenched and I looked away. “How am I supposed to believe you?”

He took my chin and dragged my eyes back to his. Sometimes I forgot how unusually green they were, as if he’d been chosen by the Earth God from the moment he’d been conceived. “I haven’t kissed a woman other than you in eight years. And that’s the way I plan to keep it.”

His lush mouth found mine and he gave me a kiss that left me with few doubts of his sincerity. Even when we’d first met I’d found myself staring at his full lips and wondered what it’d feel like with them against my own, and the reality was even better than I could have imagined. He coaxed my mouth open and worked magic with every stroke of his tongue, making me melt against him.

“I don’t want Faya,” he said against my lips. “Only you.”

“Slade…” I pressed my forehead against his. I’d waited so long to hear those words from him and I wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotions that swept through me when it finally happened.

He took my arm in his and moved us into my guest room, then softly shut the door. Once we were alone, he lovingly caressed my cheek as he gazed into my eyes. “Speaking with Faya only made me realize the depth of my feelings for you. I tried to deny them for so long, but I won’t do it any longer. I can’t.”

“Finally,” I said, as I pressed another kiss to his lips.

“Yes. I’m sorry it took me so long.” He drew me into his arms and against his broad, muscular chest. I let my arms slide around his neck, clinging to him as the sensual kiss swept us both away. His long, hard length pressed against my stomach, and I groaned when I realized his desire mirrored my own.

His kisses made my knees weak, and I pulled us both down to sit on the bed. I needed to touch him, to taste him, to confirm he was mine. I gripped his shirt and dragged it up his chest, and our lips broke apart for only a few seconds as he helped me lift it off him. My hands splayed across his hard stomach, feeling the smooth ridges of his muscles and all the coiled power underneath. His skin was so dark against mine, and I loved the contrast between us. Hard and soft, dark and light, male and female—a perfect balance for each other.

He left a slow, delicious trail of kisses down my neck that had me aching for more. And when he pushed my dress off one shoulder and pressed his lips to my uncovered skin, I couldn’t help but moan.

“I want you,” I said, sliding my hands down to the hard bulge I’d felt earlier.

He caught my hand in his much larger one, stopping me from opening his trousers. “Not yet. Not until the Earth Temple.”

An overwhelming need to be joined with Slade made it hard for me to think, to breathe, to live. “Please, I can’t wait. Let me touch you at least.”

He dragged my dress lower, until it freed one of my pale breasts. “When I finally take you, I want it to be in the Earth Temple before the Gods. I want everyone to know that I’m your mate for all eternity.” His mouth continued lower, along the curve of my bosom. “But somehow I can’t seem to stop myself.”

“There are other things we can do,” I said, as my hand moved to the back of his head, holding him against my chest.

He let out a low chuckle that vibrated against my skin. “Yes, there are.”

He took the hard bud of my nipple between his lips then, making me gasp. His tongue slid along my sensitive skin, awakening every nerve in my body and sending a rush of heat between my thighs.

Just when it became almost too much, he tugged the other side of my dress down and began to lavish attention on that breast too. I threw my head back and succumbed to the pleasure of his mouth all over me, and the relief that came with knowing he wanted me as much as I wanted him. For so long I’d thought he wasn’t interested in me romantically or sexually, that he was only with me out of duty and loyalty, but with every stroke of his tongue and sensual touch of his hands he showed me how wrong I’d been.

I dragged him back up to my lips, needing to kiss him again, and we fell back into the bed together. While our mouths collided, our hands slowly explored each other’s bodies over our clothes. We touched each other like we had all the time in the world, so different from my encounter with Jasin last night, but just as satisfying.

While we kissed, my legs tangled with Slade’s and my skirts inched their way up around my thighs. I felt one of his large hands settle on my bare skin just above my knees almost possessively, and I held my breath as he began to inch his way upward.

When his fingers drew close to my core, I draped my thigh over his hip, spreading wide for him. I stroked his bearded jaw and stared into his rich, emerald eyes. “Touch me,” I whispered.

His thumb brushed that spot between my thighs, and I gasped. Yes, that was where I needed him. Ever so slowly he ran another finger along my wet folds, tracing my skin and learning me with exquisite patience. My hips strained toward him, craving more, and I was rewarded by the slow slide of one of his large fingers inside me.

I reached for his trousers again and this time he didn’t stop me as I slipped inside and took hold of him. His cock was so thick it barely fit in my hand, and was the perfect mix of velvety soft and rock hard. I couldn’t wait to feel it inside me, but for now I was content to wrap my fingers around its length. Slade groaned as I took him in hand and seemed to get even harder somehow. The sound, deep in his throat and all male, only made me desire him even more.

I began stroking his length the way Jasin had showed me, and was rewarded with another low rumbling from Slade. He slipped a second finger inside me, while his thumb began to rub that spot Auric had once called a clit.

Slade started up a slow rhythm that felt divine and fondled my breasts with his other hand as he claimed my mouth again. While we shared deep, passionate kisses, our fingers began to move faster, bringing us both closer to release. We moaned and sighed as we touched each other, our hips rocking together while my breasts crushed against his broad chest. His thumb pressed harder against my most sensitive spot, and I gasped into his mouth as sensations crashed over me. My body tightened up around his hand as pleasure took hold of me, and then I felt him surge in my palm as he joined me. He kissed me the entire time while the last tremors ran through us both and a sense of satisfaction settled over me.

As our heartbeats slowed to a normal pace, Slade wrapped me in his dark, muscular arms and pulled me against his chest. I snuggled up against him, savoring this closeness and how right it felt. I no longer had to wonder if Slade wanted me or cared for me—he’d showed me the depths of his feelings tonight.

“Thank you,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “It’s been a long time since I touched another woman that way. I was worried I’d forgotten how.”

“You definitely don’t need to worry about that,” I said with a smile.

“I’m glad to hear it.” He slipped his fingers through the long strands of my hair, idly playing with it. “We have a few days while the Resistance prepares and moves into position. I thought perhaps we might visit my village in that time to make sure my family is safe.”

I sat up a little to look him in the eyes. “Truly? You’re all right with me meeting them?”

“Yes. I think it’s time.” He cupped my cheek and brought his lips to mine again. “You’re my future, Kira. I’m not going to deny that any longer. And it’s time everyone knew it too.”