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 climax 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 pu**y 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**k 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**k sprang free. Then he gripped Ghleanna by her hips 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**k 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.

He had never imagined she would feel like this. So hot and wet and, gods, so tight!

Ghleanna brought her hands up, stroked his jaw, his neck and Bram kissed her. He pulled her tighter against him until he was buried balls deep. Until he knew nothing would be getting between them anytime soon.

Ghleanna surprised herself with a squeak. A sound she’d never made before. But she’d been unable to help herself once Bram filled her. She shuddered around him, kissed him harder and nearly wept when he began to move inside her. His strokes long, powerful, and as always it seemed, in complete control.

Knowing that for once she didn’t have to do anything but enjoy the ride was a rather heady experience for her. All day, every day, Ghleanna planned and plotted and executed. She led three hundred dragons into battle whenever they were called by their queen and every decision she made affected the lives of those dragons. But for once . . . for once she didn’t have to do anything. She didn’t have to think, question, or kill. She just had to enjoy. And enjoy she did.

Bram still had tight hold of her hips when he began to take her harder, faster. And she didn’t mind. Did her wound hurt? A bit. But it was nothing she couldn’t handle. Nothing she wouldn’t risk to experience the best bloody f**k of her entire life.

She came hard, her body stiffening in Bram’s arms, her cry of pleasure caught in her throat. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let the climax rip through her. When she gave that last gasp, Bram laid her back out on the desk and then he was pounding inside her, taking her brutally until he came, his body shaking over hers, his head dropping between her br**sts.

Ghleanna stroked Bram’s hair and let out a soul-deep breath. They didn’t speak. Perhaps there was nothing to say. Instead, after a few minutes, Bram picked her up and stumbled to the bed, dropping them both onto it. He pressed his hand to her wound and she patted it. As she’d predicted, the wound had not opened. She had not been further damaged. She was fine. More than fine in fact.

He stayed inside her, managing to get off his leggings and boots without moving away from her.

Once Bram was completely naked, he began kissing her neck, her jaw, her mouth, and slowly, taking his time, he began to thrust inside her again. This time, she knew, would again be on his very controlled terms.