So unbelievably pissed, Ghleanna paced around the room for nearly a whole minute until she yelled, “This discussion is not done!”
Snarling—at her!—Bram pushed himself off the bed and stormed over to her. “What, Ghleanna? What is it you just have to say now? At this moment?”
“Kiss me.”
He took a step back. “What? Why?”
She had absolutely no clue! “Because I said so.”
“ No.”
“Are you going to tell me you don’t want to?”
“Maybe I don’t.”
“Liar!”
“I don’t need this.” He headed to the door.
“Scared, are you?”
Bram stopped. “What?”
“I asked if you’re scared. Frightened. Like a little mouse.”
Bram again faced her. “The only thing that scares me is how Rhiannon uses me to torture your brother, because he’s a murdering bastard.”
Ghleanna walked across the room and stood in front of Bram. “Then kiss me if you have the—”
Before she could even finish her challenge, Bram had slipped his hand behind Ghleanna’s neck and yanked her in until their toes touched. But he only stared into her eyes, not making any further move.
“What are you waiting for, peacemaker?” she asked, a little breathless.
“I’m waiting until I am ready.”
“So I’ll be waiting until the end of time for you to do something so simple?”
“There is nothing simple about you, Captain Ghleanna. And let no one convince you otherwise.”
Bram couldn’t believe Ghleanna. Such a maddening cow! And the worst part was that he’d wanted to kiss her for half a century at least! Now he had her but he was so mad at her he couldn’t see straight. And, if he were to be honest with himself, he was incredibly jealous. She was so comfortable with other soldiers, how could he ever hope to get close to her when they had so very little in common? When he’d dropped down on the bed, he’d figured it was over. His obsession for her. His quiet waiting. Waiting for her to notice him. And if all this wasn’t over, he’d make it over. He had to. How else was he going to live the next few centuries without her if he didn’t?
But he should have known. Ghleanna would never allow herself to be ignored. To be pushed aside. Not the Captain of the Dragon Queen’s Tenth Battalion.
And yet who was Bram? The peacemaker. The merciful one. The one who didn’t eat humans passing him on the road just because he’d missed his morning meal.
So, was he really going to let his peace-loving and, at times, non-violent nature stop him? Him? Bram the Merciful?
He, who had traveled all over the Southlands, Outerplains, and Desert Lands, on foot. As human.
He, who’d escaped the Sea Dragon Emperor’s dungeons with all his parts intact and wits about him?
He, who’d managed to not only survive Queen Adienna’s reign but the takeover of her daughter?
That dragon wasn’t going to take the kiss that was being offered to him because Ghleanna didn’t know what she had right in front of her.
He was many things, but Bram the Merciful was not a fool.
With his hand still gripping the back of Ghleanna’s neck, Bram leaned in, tilted his head to the side, and placed his lips against hers. He pressed his tongue to her mouth, stroked her lips until she opened to him. He pressed further, allowed his tongue to slip inside and he tasted what waited there. Gods, so wet and warm, he could almost taste the flame burning inside her.
Ghleanna slid the fingers of her free hand into his hair, leaning her body into his nak*d chest. He could feel her n**ples harden under the soft cotton of her shirt, feel her pulse race under his fingertips.
And he knew in that moment that he would never be over Ghleanna. Not ever.
Ghleanna gripped the silver strands of Bram’s hair in her fist and melted against his body as she’d never done before with any male.
Good gods, this dragon had a mighty kiss. Yet what she found fascinating was how slowly he took it all. His lips easing around hers; his tongue lazily dipping in, swirling. The dragon took his time and she appreciated that. It was a rarity with most males, she’d found. Especially in her world, where everything was about moving fast and getting things done. Even f**king. Even a kiss.
Deciding to follow her instincts, Ghleanna pulled her hand away and lowered it to Bram’s groin. She reached for his cock, ready to play with it through his leggings and then play with it without them. But he caught her hand, held it.
“No.” He stepped away from her, looked around the small room. Ghleanna tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t release her. Instead, he yanked her over to a desk tucked into a corner. He pushed her up on it, keeping her legs dangling. He gripped her leggings and yanked them off her body. She wore nothing underneath since she’d had nothing to put on and Bram stood there for several moments, his hand gliding up her thighs, brushing against her p**sy, stroking it with his fingers.
Ghleanna reached for him again with her free arm, but Bram said, “No.”
And then she understood.
She placed her hand against the desk, palm flat against the wood. Her free arm kept her propped up so she could watch, but otherwise she relaxed back and let Bram take the lead. Because for once . . . she didn’t have to.
Chapter 13
Bram slipped a finger inside Ghleanna and watched her. She stared back, panting, her bottom lip catching between her teeth.
Gods, she was so hot . . . and wet. He couldn’t believe she was already wet. From arguing with him.
He turned his finger, curling the tip and rubbing a little spot inside her. He watched her, enjoying the way her back arched, listened to the groan she let loose.
“I should leave you alone,” he murmured while he slipped another finger inside her, continued to play with her. “You need your rest. You’re still healing.”
“Don’t you dare stop.”
Bram grinned and pulled his fingers out of her. “But I have to stop.”
Ghleanna groaned again, but this time there was real frustration.
“I’m fine,” she told him. “I swear. I feel great.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. I am extremely sure.”
“Lie back, Ghleanna.” She did. “Close your eyes.”
She lifted her head. “Why?”
“Because I told you to.”
Her eyes narrowed a bit and Bram was certain she was going to argue with him, but she again stretched out on the desk and closed her eyes.
“Now do me a favor,” he murmured. “Just relax.”
And exactly how was she to relax? But she kept her eyes closed and waited.
“You aren’t breathing, Ghleanna.”
“I’m not?”
“No. But you should.”
“Of course, of course.” She forced herself to breath and continued to wait. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long. She felt Bram’s mouth press against the inside of her thigh, teeth grazing the skin. She shuddered and tried to spread her legs wider but he held her legs in his arms, and he was controlling how far she could open or close them.
The thought made her shudder.
“Are you in pain?” he asked, his breath—but not his mouth—brushing her p**sy.
“What? No. No. I’m fine. Really. Fine.”
“Just checking. We don’t want any relapses.”
“There won’t be.” And she knew she was begging. “I promise.”
“Good.”
Ghleanna still had her eyes closed, was still stretched out on the desk. Then she felt Bram’s mouth pressing against her, his tongue sliding inside her. And, as he’d done with that kiss, he took his time, rushed nothing. He used long, sweeping strokes of his tongue to carefully lick out her p**sy. She moaned, unable to stay still on the desk, her body writhing underneath his mouth.
She should have known, shouldn’t she? That he’d have this talent. That Bram would know how to bring tears to her eyes and pleasure to her body. He’d be as careful and determined with her as he was with everything else in his life.
Ghleanna gripped the back of Bram’s head, her fingers digging into his hair.
“Bram,” she begged through her panting. “Bram . . . please.”
He didn’t reply but his finger returned, pushing up inside her, twisting and turning until it found that spot he’d discovered earlier. Ghleanna choked out a gasp, her body beginning to shake, her legs fighting to close. But Bram never lost control. Not of her, not of the situation. Without moving her from that spot, he twisted her around and tore her apart until Ghleanna came hard, her fist shoved in her mouth to stifle her scream since she had no intention of entertaining every Fin within hearing range.
When the cli**x had passed through her, Bram was moving up her body, kissing and licking his way across her flesh, spending extra time on her scars. Maybe Addolgar had been right—Bram did seem to enjoy her scars.
His lips moved over her throat, past the gold collar she wore until he slid over her jaw and took her mouth. Ruthless. There was no other word for the way he kissed her. There was nothing merciful in that kiss. He must keep his merciful side for every place but his bed.
And she had to admit—she really liked that about him.
Bram felt the way Ghleanna kissed him and he knew she wanted him. And the gods knew he wanted her. He wanted to be inside her so badly. But giving her pleasure by enjoying her p**sy was vastly different from f**king her. He couldn’t f**k her. Not until she was better . . . right?
Making up his mind, he pulled back but Ghleanna came with him, her free arm around his shoulders, her chest lifting from the desk.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“Leaving you alone.” He took a breath, tried to steady his legs. “You’re wounded and it would be wrong to—”
She tore off the material keeping her arm tied to her body and reached for him.
“Ghleanna, what are you—”
“Don’t leave me like this, Bram. Please.”
“But—”
She licked his throat, nipped his chin. “You can’t leave me like this,” she whispered.
“I can,” he reminded her. “I should.”
“Please don’t.” She kissed him again and by the gods her tongue was talented. “We both know that once won’t be enough for me,” she reminded him when she pulled away. And it was true. She-dragons were demanding of their lovers, why should Ghleanna be any different?
“And if I hurt you?”
“You won’t.” She grinned. “I’m incredibly sturdy. It’s in the bloodline.”
She reached down and gripped his c*ck through his leggings and they both gasped, her hand stroking the length of him.
Bram began panting, his legs shaking. He caught her hand, held it.
“Evil vixen,” he accused her.
“I do what I must to get what I want. Perhaps you can punish me for my evil ways . . . later. But for now . . .”
Bram pushed his leggings down until his c*ck sprang free. Then he gripped Ghleanna by her h*ps and dragged her ass to the very edge of the desk. Still holding her tight, he brought her close until he could push inside her, his c*ck hard and demanding. One good shove and he was there, both of them stopping, mouths open, their breathing shallow as they gazed at each other in unabashed amazement.