Discovery of a Queen: Resurrection of Queens Book 1

I gasp for breath, my eyes flying open and my body aching from the force of my shudders. I can still feel the phantom hellfire licking along the inside of my body. It takes a moment for my vision to focus, but when it does, I notice Caleb is leaning over me with one hand resting on my cheek. How the hell did he get in here? My mind is still fuzzy and sluggish, the pain taking forever to recede. I’m having a hard time concentrating on any one thought.

Didn’t I lock the door before I passed out? I try to remember, but my brain just isn’t functioning properly. The damn thing is still repeating the torture we’d just been through. Slowly, incrementally, I register that I’m not in danger anymore.

“I could hear you screaming.” Caleb’s voice, mixed with that of his dragon’s, blasts into my mind, and I wince at the volume, but it’s at least taken my mind off of Malick and his damn hellfire.

How? That’s a mate thing. I shouldn’t be able to hear Caleb in my mind until we’ve started forming a bond. While I’m a bit fuzzy on the specifics, I know that shouldn’t happen unless both mates accept what’s going on. I absolutely have not accepted even the slightest possibility of us being mates. Nope. Not even a little.

“We are mates. Our dragons can talk to each other, and we can speak to each other through them, even if we haven’t sealed the bond. Didn’t you know that?” He sounds concerned and confused, having clearly heard my thoughts. Should I have known that the bond would start without us actively trying? Is that a normal mate thing? I might have slept through the birds and the bees talk my mother gave me, far more interested in swords than boys, but I’m pretty sure I would have remembered that little nugget of information.

The bond has already started, Ayla, my dragon informs me. Fate can’t be cheated. Our magic has already started to tie me to his dragon. The bond will be complete once you and Caleb officially mate, connecting your human halves. I feel like snarling. Of course, my dragon had to go and start the bonding process without my knowledge. Not for the first time, I curse being a queen.

Over my dead body, I snarl, mentally snapping my teeth at my dragon. I do not want a mate, much less this one. Mates complicate things, especially the fine piece of man meat sitting on the bed next to me. He is the definition of the word complicated.

“Why are you so opposed to us?” It’s Caleb’s dragon who asks. I slam my mental walls down, even cutting off my dragon. I need a minute without so many other damn voices in my head since I’m still rattled by what just happened with Malick. I knew once mates had solidified the bond they were able to hear each other’s thoughts, but I wasn’t aware this would happen so soon, especially since the bond hasn’t been accepted.

Ayla. My dragon gives me a mental poke. I’ve erected a wall between us and them. Talk to me.

Were you going to tell me that we’ve started to bond with him? Do you even care that our lives will be over? What about all that shit you spilled about protecting this community? How can we possibly protect them if we’re completely under the thumb of the Council? He is the Council, there is no getting around that. Didn’t you notice that both Connor and Malcolm have very rare and powerful gifts? Dire wolves were rumored to have all died out. Malcolm has power that rivals Kelly’s, and I’m not sure what his specific gift is yet. I’m not interested in sharing what I just went through in my dream with her right now. While I’m sure she can sense some of what happened, I don’t want to talk about it, I feel betrayed over this bond business.

I should have warned you about the bond when it started forming. A queen’s magic will automatically start the bonding process between the dragon spirits. It’s meant to provide us with strength and even greater magical power to fight off demons. This isn’t a bad thing, Ayla, and I’m sure we can figure out a solution for the Council issue.

That’s not how it works, and you know it, I scoff. You don’t solve the Council. You get absorbed into the Council. Connor and Malcolm are prime examples. Do you honestly think he will willingly give up that sort of power? Especially since he’s used to just absorbing any rare or powerful supernatural into his community? I will not leave this community vulnerable. Period.

Can’t we at least talk about this with him? I’m not sure why this discussion boils my blood, but it does. I understand that the bond has already started to form, but I have no intention of letting it continue to grow. My dragon’s insistence grates on my already frayed nerves. I know I’m not reacting rationally right now, but I can’t seem to stop myself.

No, I snap at my dragon, my tone angrier than I intended.

Caleb is watching me intently, and his emotions are seeping through the fragile bond forming between us. He’s genuinely confused about why I’m rejecting him despite our earlier conversation, or maybe because of it. He’s also worried. Apparently my screaming freaked him out, and since I can feel his confusion and concern, it’s possible he felt my pain. Too bad for him, that’s not my issue. I didn’t ask him to burst in here…which…he still hasn’t told me how he got in here in the first place.

I let him in. My dragon sounds sheepish. I couldn’t wake you.

Why you sneaky little— I cut myself off, not wanting to snap at her again. After all, she was just trying to make sure I was okay.

“Look, Caleb, I appreciate—” I don’t get more out before his lips are on mine. His lust, fueled by the urge to mate, blares through the bond, even though I’ve still got my wall up. At first, I’m confused, and then I realize I’m still naked. Without a blanket to cover me. In my bed. The mating instinct screams through my body, causing liquid desire to pool between my legs. It’s far worse than it was on the battlefield, or even earlier today, and I’m struggling to remind myself that Caleb isn’t the mate I want…I think…right? His lips push all thoughts of Malick from my mind, and I’m only able to focus on him. His lips. How they are surprisingly soft yet unyielding.

His hand touches my hip, his thumb rubbing gentle circles along my skin before he slides his palm up to just under my breast, tracing his fingers lightly along the delicate curve there. My brain short-circuits, and instead of lying here inactive, I spring into motion, wrapping my arms around Caleb’s neck and burying my hands in his hair. My back arches ever so slightly, trying to guide his hand to my aching nipple, which is already pebbled. I need this. I need to feel, to know I’m not still in that room with Malick with his hellfire scorching along my body. I need to erase the fear and pain I experienced tonight. I’m thankful that the only heat I feel now is lust, and I bask in it, letting it soothe the sting from my body.

A low rumble starts in Caleb’s chest, and an answering purr vibrates through mine, a clear indication of our dragons’ approval. I rub my thighs together, trying to ease some of the tension building in my core, but it just serves to frustrate me further, drawing attention to just how empty I feel. I snarl into the kiss, nipping at his lip before lashing my tongue out to invade his mouth. He needs to touch me, damn it.

That thought alone sends my brain skidding to a halt, my body going stiff. I told him he couldn’t touch me unless I asked him to, and I haven’t asked him to. He lifts his head with a curse, his heated eyes drilling into me, his chest heaving and hair mussed from my hands. My grip goes limp and my arms drop to my bed. Do I dare? It’s a line we won’t be able to uncross. I’m not sure he will be able to stop himself from fully claiming me if I let this continue. As much as my body may crave his touch, my head still refuses to acknowledge him as my mate.

“Say it.” His voice is harsh, his eyes narrowed and focused on my face. I nervously lick my lips, and his eyes hungrily track the movement. His fingers lightly brush against the underside of my breast again, and my breath hitches.

“Say what?” I hate that my response is breathy, needy.

“Say you want me.”

My mouth opens to respond that I don’t want him, but nothing comes out. My mouth snaps shut. I run my eyes over him. He’s sitting on the edge of my bed in a gray t-shirt and black silk boxers. Huh…I took him for more of a briefs kind of guy. He looks good enough to eat and my mouth is watering, though I’d prefer it if he wasn’t wearing the shirt. Okay, or the boxers.

“Say it, Ayla. I can feel your desire thrumming through the bond, but I need to hear you say it.” His voice is low and dangerous, sinking slowly into my body and causing tingles of pleasure to shoot along my spine. My dragon is suspiciously quiet, although I know where she wants this to go, the traitor.

“Promise me you won’t complete the bond.” His eyes flicker to his dragon’s and narrow, a quiet snarl leaving him. “I mean it, Caleb. Promise me you won’t complete the bond, or this ends now.”

“We don’t need to complete the bond tonight.” His tone is strained, his eyes closing for a long minute before opening to reveal they’ve gone back to normal human eyes.

“Then touch me. Now.”

That’s all the permission Caleb needs. He leans down, crushing his mouth to mine, nipping at my lips before his tongue soothes the sting away. His fingers glide up to gently pinch my nipple. My back arches again, and my hands fly into his hair, securing his lips against mine. I kiss him as aggressively as he kisses me, refusing to hold anything back now that I know this won’t end with me as a prisoner or a lab rat.

I have enough forethought to snap my fingers, instantly removing Caleb’s clothes before my brain goes entirely to mush. The man can kiss. I won’t be surprised if I find my brain on the floor after this. He smiles against my lips once he feels his clothes vanish, an appreciative hum sounding in the back of his throat. He moves his large body to hover over my smaller frame, and for the first time in my life, I feel fragile. It’s an odd sensation. The hand not occupied toying with my nipple grabs my left leg and wraps it around his hip as he rests his lower body against mine.

Did I say nice penis? There’s nothing nice about this penis. It means business.

I arch against him, trying to ease the ache between my legs. I know how wet I am, and I’m pretty sure I’ll need to burn this mattress once we’re done. I’ve never felt this turned on before. Not sure where to focus first, my hands move from his hair to glide down his back, dragging my nails along his skin. My dragon roars with power when he shivers, and I roar along with her. We still haven’t broken our kiss, each of us taking frantic breaths through our noses to keep our lips sealed together, our teeth and tongues merged.

My heel digs into Caleb’s ass, trying to encourage him to rub against me. He simply bites my lower lip, ignoring my plea. Instead, his hand slides along the inside of my thigh, brushing lightly over my core. Once. Twice. I moan into his mouth, frustrated yet pleased he’s finally touching me. But I need more. So much more. And I need it now. Right fucking now.

His chuckle seems to come from everywhere as he pulls his lips from mine, his eyes darkened with desire and a smirk playing across his face.

“Right now?” Ah, fuck. I forgot he can hear me if I don’t keep my walls up. “Don’t you dare put them back up. I want to feel you everywhere when I finally get to fuck you senseless.”

“By all means. But I’m not sure what you’re waiting for.” I scrape my nails down his arms now, making sure to add additional pressure to emphasize that he needs to fucking move! He chuckles again before nipping my collarbone, instantly licking away the sting. I arch my neck to allow him better access, but he moves my leg off his hip and starts sliding down my body.

“You had better be a pussy eating champ.” I make sure to directly aim that thought at him, and I can feel him smirk against my sternum. “I’m serious. If you’re gonna go down on a girl, eat that pussy for days, worship the pussy.”

“You don’t need to worry about me worshipping your pussy, babe. You want to be eaten out for days? Fine. Cancel all your plans for the rest of the week.” My core clenches, bringing my attention to how empty I am, and I let out a frustrated groan, which is quickly replaced with a moan when Caleb’s mouth latches onto the nipple he had been neglecting.

He suckles, causing me to lift my breast further against his face, his fingers pinching my other nipple. I widen my legs, thrusting my hips up in an attempt to rub against anything I can. Caleb lightly bites down on my nipple before releasing it with an audible pop. He switches to the other nipple and I moan again, weaving my hands into his hair as I try to push him down my body. Eager to experience his pussy eating skills.

When he finishes with my nipples, he moves slowly down my stomach, licking a teasing circle around my belly button before moving down to the apex of my thighs. Finally. But he doesn’t dive right in. No. He starts kissing and nibbling on my inner thighs instead, making me want to scream. Fuck this. My hand moves to brush my fingers against my clit, but a warning growl from the male between my legs makes me freeze.

“If you touch this pretty little pussy, I won’t eat you out. Choose.”

“Eat me out already, you bastard!”

“You may outrank me outside of this bedroom, but in here, I’m the boss.” I snort. Yeah, okay. He lifts his head and rests his chin right above my achingly empty core. Smiling, he cocks an eyebrow at me.

“Would you like to debate the issue?”

“No. I don’t want to fucking debate anything. I want you to go to town eating me out like I’m your favorite damn meal.”

He tsks. “You’ll need to ask nicer than that.”

My mouth falls open. “Eat. The. Pussy. Now.”

“Or what?”

I growl. I didn’t want to have to do this. In a lightning-fast move, I have him on his back with my pussy directly over his face. I’m lowering myself down when his hands grip my hips, halting my progress.

“You still haven’t asked nicely.”

“I will literally smother you with my vagina if you don’t eat me out right now.” I pause. “Please.”

His laughter causes my core to clench again, and I grit my teeth in frustration, but I sigh when his hands tighten around my hips and he holds me firmly against his mouth. About damn time. His tongue does one long sweep over my clit—thank the gods he knows where the clit is—and my hips buck against his face, my head falling back.

“You taste as delicious as you smell.” Oh, gods.

That’s the only warning I get before he’s eating me out with zealous enthusiasm and insane skill. Gods, is his tongue in two places at once? My hands go to my breasts to play with my nipples. Caleb pushes my hips more firmly against his mouth as I ride his face. My orgasm hits me suddenly, and I find myself on my back with Caleb’s head still buried between my legs. Only now, two of his fingers are easing into my core, stroking my inner walls as his tongue continues to attack my clit. My orgasm is still going, my pussy desperately clenching around Caleb’s fingers as he pumps them in and out of me.

“Again.” He growls low, causing his tongue to vibrate and my hips to lift off the bed. Fuck it feels so good. I’ve barely come down from my first orgasm as my second one begins to build. I pinch my nipples, eager to catapult myself over the edge again. His fingers stroke my pussy faster, harder, deeper. My moans echo around us.

Caleb gently rakes his teeth along my clit. I’m gone. My eyes slide shut as I scream out my second release. I’ve never been able to come a second time this fast before, and it feels as though I’ve had several glasses of witch wine. My limbs tingle, my toes curl, and all I can focus on is how tightly I’m clenching around Caleb’s fingers, fingers that are now stroking my G-spot, causing this orgasm to stretch out longer than the first.

I want more. So much more.