Hoarded by the Dragon (Monstrous Matches, #4)(65)

“It’s just a portal charm.”

He whistles. “Expensive trinket.”

I shrug. “It’s a very expensive trinket, Mr. Money, but useful.”

Kalos directs me to turn with a light touch to my waist, and I face him. My mind blanks when a talon hooks under the band of my underwear. He tugs the stretchy fabric down, leaving me bare to him.

I bite my lips in apprehension. The vulnerability of being naked when he’s clothed. We stand like that for a moment, my skin burning under his gaze, before he trails his fingers up my side, letting his hand rest on my hip.

“You’re so beautiful.” The words are hushed and leave no room for misinterpretation.

I inhale at the unexpected surge of emotion. I’m not used to getting compliments, let alone from someone like this intimidating being.

“Am I the only one getting naked?” I ask to deflect the clumsy feeling in my chest.

Kalos grins slyly, raising his hands in invitation. I want to roll my eyes at his showiness, the power of his presence, or the demand that I be the one to undress him like a devotee to a god, but I don’t, because I am a devotee. My fingers itch to slide over each plane of warm skin, but I curtail myself to unbuttoning his dress shirt.

My eyes devour all that I reveal. My hands tremble with inappropriate nerves with every scale that catches the light as his skin grays and darkens the lower I get. I slide the shirt from his shoulders, and Kalos throws it to the side, uncaring that the garment probably cost more than my apartment rent.

I’ve never done this, remove real clothing from him. We’re usually in robes by the time we start this type of play, and the increase in work to get him bare is unexpectedly erotic. I shift my weight back and forth by the time I get to unbuckling his belt. The urge for him burns, but we’ve already started this song and dance. He won’t just satisfy me how I need tonight.

He'll take me how he wants to.

One of his hard cocks brushes my knuckles as I unzip his pants. Kalos grabs my hands then, bringing them both up to his mouth to kiss each palm. “You feel too good against me. Allow me to finish undressing so we can soak.”

I almost whimper at the delay. Kalos asked to allow him to romance me, but he’s far too skilled. His eyes gleam as if he knows that.

“You said you wanted me tonight. I want to give you that, but it will require you playing my game, my queen.”

A game of deprivation. My body heats, and we haven’t even gone into the hot water yet.

“Okay,” I nod. “I want all of you.”

And I do. I want the dark fucking on his desk, the way he rubs comforting circles on my back, and his sleepy smiles in the morning. I want all aspects of this man. The dragon who makes his eyes glow and the part of his soul that aches for his past losses included.

His smile is slow, and he makes quick work of his pants and underclothes before taking my hand and leading me down the steps into the water. I pull my gaze away from his body. His strong thighs are a familiar sight, but if I let myself watch the fluid way he moves, I’ll combust. That’s not even mentioning the stiff cocks on display.

He’s a buffet that I must wait to savor.

The hot water distracts me from my lust as it laps against my skin, melting the tension in my body. The water is a perfect temperature… and stays that way. Our baby girl doesn’t suck the heat away. Even with how Kalos keeps her fed on heat, there has been more than one bath cut short from the water cooling too quickly.

I ease into the water with a delighted sigh.

Kalos looks around like he can read the magic rather than just feel it all around. “They have many spells here.”

“Have you been here before?” I ask and regret it immediately. This is a sex bathhouse. I don’t want to know if he’s been here before.

Kalos shakes his head. “No, but Gage said this place would fit my tastes and he’s right.”

My lips twitch at that. Kalos likes beauty and luxury. Most of the time I feel rather scrappy around him, but not tonight. Not when he looks at me like I’m precious.

Things have shifted between us since Kalos took me to his bed. There’s an openness between us.

Kalos sinks his body near mine, the water now coming up to our necks. He sits on one of the stone benches and pulls me onto his lap.

If this were a regular first date, I’d play a little harder to get, but I’m terrible at playing coy, especially for him. My smile refuses to be hidden. I lean back against his body.

I moan when he starts to massage the muscles of my lower back. Kalos’s laugh is soft, but he doesn’t tease me about my reaction. He continues to find each tight muscle that no amount of stretching can ease and coaxes them to loosen.

I’m practically a puddle by the time he opens his mouth again. “Do you feel the need to run?”

I hum and frown in question, but his claw taps on my portal charm.

I take a moment before answering.

“I like to be prepared,” I say. “I believe in your ability to keep me safe, but that doesn’t mean I want to be defenseless. Running and hiding is a flexible and dependable exit plan.” I bring my hands to my belly. “I don’t want to be caught in a bad situation.”

Kalos doesn’t respond at first, and I pull away to see his face. His expression is considering. “There are caverns below the house. If you need to hide for any reason. Those would be a good place to go. It’s the stronghold of my territory.”