scent, her feel, and the sensations racing through him, could no longer be contained.
Arysteon’s every muscle flexed, and for a moment he could not breathe, see, or hear—he could only feel the crushing pain centered on his stem. Then a wave of pleasure crashed down on him, obliterating his conscious thought. Somehow, he kept his lips pressed together, reducing the roar that threatened to rise from his throat to a strained sound somewhere between a growl and a rough groan.
His seed poured into Leyloni, intensifying their mutual heat, and his hips bucked erratically. She would take all of it. He would give until he was dry; he needed to fill her completely. She was his. He was hers.
Arysteon’s spark danced and thrummed, and he knew somehow that part of it was within her, responding in turn. He sensed that they weren’t merely connected by it—they were intertwined by it, two made into one, neither complete without the other and together so much greater than the sum of their parts.
When finally there was nothing more to give, he ceased his thrusts and bent forward, wrapping an arm around her middle. He pressed his cheek to her back and closed his eyes, taking in her scent anew as his breathing eased. The Heat lingered all around him, inside him, just as it would for the next several weeks, but this had been enough for now.
At some point, he guided Leyloni down, lying on his side while keeping her tucked against him. His stem was where it belonged—sheathed in her heat. He was content to leave it there.
She nestled back and released a contented purr when he placed a kiss on her tousled hair. Where there had been only fire and unbearable pressure within him moments before was now a soothing, blossoming warmth. There was contentment.
It was almost more surreal than the dream that had awoken him, but could that not be said about his entire relationship with her from the moment they’d met?
He would never have imagined himself lying with a human this way. He would never have imagined himself being human—or whatever it was his current form could be called. And after his clan had fallen apart, he would never have imagined himself finding true happiness and companionship again.
He would never have imagined himself finding this love.
“Thank you. You have made this Heat tolerable for the first time in all my life,” he said, holding Leyloni a little tighter. “I did not hurt you?”
She hummed and turned her face toward him, her lips curled into a smile. “No. And if I were not so exhausted, I would ask that you do that again. Though”—she pressed back against him, pushing his stem deeper inside her—“I still might.”
Arysteon groaned, drawing his knees up against the backs of her thighs and tightening his arm around her middle to pin her in place. Her small movement had already rekindled the fire in his loins.
“You should sleep, my heartsong. I will be in Heat as long as the comet is in the sky.” He kissed her shoulder. “We will have many more opportunities.”
Leyloni sighed morosely, but it ended with a yawn. She chuckled. “Okay. You are right.” She laid her head down upon his arm and covered his other hand with hers, lacing their fingers together.
Though he’d been the one to deny her, Arysteon was hit by a pang of disappointment. He’d not had nearly enough of her—and he knew he never would. But there would be time aplenty in the coming days, in the coming years. They had a lifetime to share.
“Rest well, my love,” he said softly, closing his eyes and willing his body to relax around his mate.
“Goodnight, my dragon.”
17
Leyloni woke with a soft cry as pleasure speared her dreams and returned her to reality. Heat flooded her fluttering sex, slicking her inner thighs, and she bit down on her bottom lip to quiet her moans as she arched against the hard body behind her. The movement only pushed her mate’s cock deeper.
Arysteon’s arms were around her. One of his hands had slipped under her top and was caressing her breast, pinching and teasing her aching nipple. The other was over her pelvis, and his strong, deft fingers were stroking her pleasure bud. The overwhelming pleasure of his touch was heightened by his hot breath fanning over her shoulder, by the feel of his tongue running from the base of her neck all the way up to her ear, which he nipped gently