She blinked. “Oh. I . . . I guess the gods protected me.”

“I guess.” He paused a moment, then said, “Can you shift back now?”

She reached inside herself but after a few moments, she knew. “No. I can’t.”

“Perhaps soon, though.”

“Perhaps.” Or, perhaps she’d be trapped like this forever. Stuck in this weak body until her ancestors called her home. But one look at her human body and they’d most likely send her away in disgust.

“Don’t worry, Rhiannon. I promise we’ll fix this. Soon you’ll learn to manage the Magick that flows through you, and then nothing will stop you.”

“You seem so sure.”

“’Cause I am sure. Now,” he kissed her forehead, then her cheek as he moved down her body, “let’s no longer talk.”

She pushed against his chest, but even she had to admit it was a very halfhearted effort. But what could she do? Especially with him nibbling under her chin and his hands roaming over her body.

“Bercelak,” she panted, “stop.”

He chuckled seconds before his mouth closed over one hard nipple and sucked. His “rules” came rushing back to her and she realized he wouldn’t stop. If she wanted him to stop, she’d have to say “no.”

She said, “Don’t.”

A deep groan reverberated through her breast from his mouth while one of his big hands slid up the back of her leg, settling between her thighs. One of Bercelak’s large fingers slid inside her and Rhiannon heard herself whimper. Gods, the beast had her whimpering like some weak human.

Still, it felt so damn good. His fingers making her body go wild. His tongue and lips teasing her ni**les.

Rhiannon wanted release. Preferably now. But she would never ask. So, instead, she said, “Bercelak . . . we mustn’t.”

Like that she was flat on her back, Bercelak’s hard body pressing down on her, pushing her into the mattress.

Oh, she enjoyed these rules of his. She didn’t have to act like the slag she currently was. Instead, she could pretend this was all beyond her control when, in fact, he’d given her complete control. How did he know all this would turn her into a ball of flame? How did he know her so well? She’d never spent any time with him. Barely spoke to him unless her mother was around and she didn’t want to hear her telling her she was a horrible bitch. Or was it that they were merely well matched? Dragons believed that their true mate waited “out there” for them. The one meant to be theirs until their ancestors called them home.

Could her true mate truly be this overbearing, cranky, arrogant bastard?

He moved down her body, his tongue leading the way, until his big shoulders pushed her legs apart and he settled his face between her thighs.

For the moment, she answered her own question out loud. Actually, she screamed her answer. “Yes! Gods, yes!”

Hearing her scream out in lust nearly sent Bercelak over the edge. He gripped her thighs tighter and delved deeper inside her tight pu**y. She groaned and bucked under him, her hands digging into his hair.

Gods, she tasted good. Smelled even better.

This was the Rhiannon he always knew existed. The one he knew would be his forever. He’d wanted to wait until they’d returned to his den before taking her since he had no doubts he’d never be able to wait until their Claiming. Which, due to her royal lineage, must take place at the full of the moon . . . four very long days away.

Still, he never planned to do this here, in his father’s house. But he couldn’t help it. Especially with her goading him. That “we mustn’t” nearly killed him. She knew exactly how to entice him. She understood him better than anyone; she just hadn’t realized it yet. She would. Soon she’d understand everything.

She’d realize that apart they were strong . . . but together they were unstoppable.

One of her hands released his hair and grabbed hold of the headboard. She writhed beneath him, unable to move her hips because he’d pinned her lower half to the bed while his tongue tormented her toward release.

“Bercelak,” she whispered his name and his entire body clenched. “Gods, Bercelak . . .” She probably didn’t even realize she’d said it out loud, but it was all he needed to hear.

He closed his mouth over her clit, suckling. Rhiannon’s entire body bowed and she let out a shattering groan. He felt her toes curl and uncurl where they rested by his shoulders and he feared she’d break the headboard with the way she was holding it.

Finally, she settled down and Bercelak moved back up her body until he hovered over her. He took firm hold of both her hands—after prying one of them from the headboard and the other from his hair—and pinned them over her head.

Then he waited.

After a few moments, Rhiannon’s eyes slowly opened and he smiled down into her face.

“Feel better?”

Giving a wicked grin he prayed he’d be able to keep on her face the majority of the time they were together, she nodded. “Aye.”

“Good.” His grip tightened on her wrists, pushing them down onto the mattress. She raised an eyebrow in question.

“My turn,” he answered as he slammed his hard c**k inside her, letting her delicious roar of surprise wash over him.

Chapter 6

Finally, her mind cleared and she could again see straight. But by then it was too late.

She felt his c**k push inside her with no warning, no preamble . . . and it felt delicious. It also meant she’d have little grounds to refuse his right to Claim her. If he hadn’t made his intentions clear in the beginning, she could have used him until the two suns burned away and the oceans disappeared and he’d still never be able to have her without her agreeing. Yet she knew his intentions, and without any force whatsoever, he’d taken her . . . and she let him.