Chapter 62 THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
(AUREN)
Her teary blue eyes are the first things I set my eyes on the moment I come around for whatever slumber I was in.
My entire body aches and my head hurts like a bitch. I held my head and groaned as I tried to sit up. My lips pull up into a smile and before I know it, she's crashing down on me, hugging me like her life depends on it.
I wrap my arms around her and breathe in the scent that I've grown so accustomed to.
“Don't you dare do that again!" She scolds sitting up. I see her face stained with tears and my heart twists in pain, knowing I did that to her. “You almost died, Auren!"
I chuckled, sitting up fully. “Days ago you were hating my guts and thought the world would be a better place without me.”
She stares at me for a very long while, her expression strangely neutral. I've always been able to read her even without getting into her head, but for some reason I can't.
Maybe it's because I'm still too weak and recovering.
Maybe.
She takes my hand in hers and lets out a small almost sad smile. " The world is a better place because you are in it. This continent is alive today because you have been holding the door to chaos closed for years. You were not my favorite person at first, but that had more to do with the fact that you ripped me away from the world I've known into one where I have to watch my back all the time." She looks pensive for a while before continuing, “ But I'll gladly live in any world, under any circumstances as long as I have you. I love you, Auren."
She loves me.
That's the only thought that keeps ringing in my head as I reach out and pull her to me, claiming her soft lips in a harsh and desperate kiss, the need to feel her close to me overriding all others.
“Auren….” She gaps when my hand finds its way under her dress and up her thighs. " You're…you're not healed yet…aaahhh!" She cuts off with a moan when I bury two fingers into her, thrusting without hesitation. Her warm, wet heat gripping my fingers like a fucking vice.
I undo my slacks with my other hand and bring out my hard cock that's always dripping with pre cum. I'm so hard it practically hurts.
Unable to hold back any second longer, I pull my fingers out of her and yank her onto me, impaling her on my cock, fully sheathing myself in one hard thrust.
A cry rips from her throat that I'm so fucking sure they must hear her from downstairs. But for some reason, I can't bring myself to fucking care. I'll fuck her in front of the whole clan just to so them who she belongs to, only to gouge out their eyes for staring at what's mine.
What can I say, I'm a complicated man.
I grab hold of her hips as she bounces and grinds on my cock, her breasts bouncing along with every movement. She goes at a slow pace, throwing her head back as her pussy clenches tightly around me.
The last time we fucked, I was out of it and don't remember much. But this time, I'll imprint every fucking detail in my head so that I'll remember it for a lifetime.
Her cries of pleasure ring out and fill the room as she bounces on my cock. I hold her tight and guide her hips, lifting mine to meet up with her thrusts.
I flip us over, grab her throat and pound into her like it's the last time I get to do that.
“Fuck…. baby you're fucking amazing,” I growl reaching down to capture her lips in mine.
" Auren …I…. I…." She pants, her pussy clenching so hard it's a mystery it doesn't cut my dick off. Her pupils dilate, rolling back into their sockets.
“That's it, little flame. Come apart for me."
At the order, she lets out a high pitched strangled moan as she shatters all over my cock.
I hike her left leg up to my hip and increase my pace, fucking her so hard that the headboard hits the wall. I feel my balls tighten, and with a loud growl I bury myself inside her and release my load.
I collapse on her, what little energy I had having been used up completely. I bury my face in her neck and she chuckles, stroking my hair.
" I told you you haven't fully recovered yet.”
\~~~
It's been two days since I recovered and I'm feeling a lot better. Haven makes me take some sort of syrup that she says she prepared herself. It tastes horrible and I'd be honored to decline, but the look in her eyes whenever she hands it to me has me thinking twice.
Just like now.
She stares me down with a glare as I scrunch my face at how terrible it smells.
“Drink, Auren. I don't have all day here,” she orders and for some reason my cock strains in my pants.
" Fuck, you're sexy when you're bossy baby,” I murmur
" DRINK.”
I pour the syrup in my mouth and swallow instantly, trying my best not to focus on its horrible taste. She snatches the cup from my hand and is about leaving when I grab hold of her wrist and pull her back, so she falls on me.
“Come on, baby,” I murmur, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. " Are you still mad at me? I already told you I'm sorry.”
She glares at me harder and my cock twitches. Fuck, she's adorable!
But ever since I woke up two days ago, she's been mad at me. She lets me fuck her brains out whenever I want, still takes care of me, but other than that, she's not been all that smiles with me.
I know it's for the fight on the mountains, but I'm not sorry. I'd do it a hundred times if it keeps her safe.
I settle her more comfortably across my lap, one arm banded around her waist so she can’t escape even if she tries. My free hand traces lazy circles on her thigh, right where the hem of her dress rides up. “You’re cute when you’re plotting my murder, Little Flame. That little wrinkle between your brows? Makes me want to kiss it until you forget why you’re angry.”
She huffs, arms crossed tight over her chest, but I catch the tiniest twitch at the corner of her mouth, like she’s fighting a smile and losing. “I’m not plotting your murder. I’m plotting ways to tie you to this bed so you stop throwing yourself in trouble like some immortal idiot.”
“Immortal idiot has a nice ring to it.” I grin, nipping at her jaw. “Besides, I had it handled. Mostly. The part where I passed out was… dramatic flair.”
“Flair.” She pokes my chest hard. “You dropped out of the sky like a sack of bricks. Lyle had to fly extra miles with a wounded wing to catch your ass. I thought…” Her voice cracks for half a second before she catches herself and glares again. “You promised you wouldn’t scare me like that.”
I rest my forehead against hers, voice softening even as my hand slides higher under her dress. “I know. And I’m sorry I scared you. But I’m not sorry for protecting what’s mine. You, Amelyn, Imogen… even that mouthy wyvern who has no problems spilling my secrets to you. If I have to burn every last drop of fire in me to keep you breathing, I will. Every single time.”
She sighs, the fight draining out of her shoulders as she leans into me. “You’re impossible.”
“Yet you love me anyway.” I steal a quick kiss, then another, until she’s smiling despite herself. “See? There’s my girl. Smiling looks better on you than murder-face.”
“Only because your syrup is working,” she mutters, but there’s warmth in it now. “It’s supposed to rebuild your dragon fire. Tastes like dragon shit for a reason. ”
I wrinkle my nose dramatically. “Next time, flavor it with something sweet. Like you. I’d drink poison if it tasted like your skin after I’ve had my mouth on you.”
Her cheeks flush that pretty pink I love. “You’re disgusting.”
“Disgustingly in love with my wife.” I tug her closer until she’s straddling me properly, hands sliding up her back. “Tell me you forgive me and I’ll let you boss me around some more before I have to go deal with court.”
She arches a brow, fingers playing with the laces of my tunic. “Court? Already? You’ve been conscious for two days.”
“Unfortunately, the kingdom doesn’t run itself while its king is busy getting railed by his furious queen.” I wink. “The fae ambassadors are still sniffing around, and Tyren’s threatening to burn the reception hall if I don’t show my face. Apparently being half-dead isn’t a valid excuse for missing state nonsense. Besides, if Tyren is still here after all these days then whatever he has to say is serious.”
Haven’s expression flickers—something guarded, almost pained—but she covers it with another glare. “Fine. Go. But if you come back bleeding or exhausted, I’m tying you to the bed for real. And not in the fun way.”
I laugh, the sound rumbling through my chest. “Deal. I’ll be good. Mostly.” I cup her face, thumb brushing her lower lip. “Save some of that bossy energy for when I get back. I have plans that involve you, me, and zero clothes.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling for real now—soft, reluctant, perfect. “You’re going to be the death of me, Dragon King.”
“Only after I’ve lived a very long, very loud life with you, Little Flame.” I kiss her slow and deep, tasting the faint sweetness of the herbs she’s been forcing down my throat. When I pull back, I rest my forehead against hers again. “I love you. Even when you’re mad. Especially when you’re mad.”
She huffs a laugh against my mouth. “Go. Before I change my mind and keep you here.”
I steal one last kiss, then gently slide her off my lap. My body still protests every movement, but it’s nothing compared to the warmth blooming in my chest as I watch her fix her dress and try and fail to look stern.
“Try not to miss me too much,” I tease, heading for the door.
She throws a pillow at my back. “Hurry up and come back in one piece, you stubborn lizard.”
I catch the pillow mid-air, grin like an idiot, and toss it onto the bed. “Yes, my queen.”
The door clicks shut behind me, but her laughter follows me down the hall, light, alive, mine.
For the first time in days, the weight on my chest feels a little lighter. But my smile drops when I spot Draven staring at me with an expression that tells me everything is far from being alright.
“Something is terribly wrong, your grace."