Fury of Fire (Dragonfury Series #1)

like a man should: dark spice, erotic heat, hardcore domination in each stroke and release. And as his skin slid against hers, Myst yearned for more than just the physical. She wanted everything, the best kind of forever with the man in her arms.
    Orgasm came fast, rushing her into ecstasy. She sobbed his name, shuddered around him, reveling in the ache deep inside her. He upped the pace, hips rolling into hers. She held on tight, rode the wave, and whispered to him, telling him he was beautiful, that she couldn’t get enough, how much she needed him. His breath hitched and, muscles flexing beneath her hands, he dropped his head to her shoulder and throbbed deep inside her.
    A while later, he raised his head. His green eyes shimmering, he kissed her gently and pulled free, setting her feet on the tiled floor. She swayed. He smiled, snaked an arm around her to hold her steady, and reached for the soap. One last kiss, and he started to wash her. With a satisfied sigh, she let him, enjoying the soapy glide of his hands and the fresh scent of Dove in the air. Thorough as always, he didn’t miss a spot, massaging her sore muscles, working closer to her center until he touched the sensitive flesh between her thighs.
    When she flinched, Bastian frowned. “You’re sore.”
    “Only a little.” Running her hands down his back, she licked a water droplet from his skin.
    He nipped her earlobe. “Forgive me. I was too rough with you.”
    “No…you were perfect.”
    He grinned. “And you…exquisite. But no more today. You need time to recover.”
    Circling with gentle fingers, he rinsed her clean then stepped back to turn the soap on himself. Unable to help herself, she watched him, tracking the southbound suds across his chest and six-pack to…oh, man. He was beautifully made, so strong in all the right places.
    “No fair, bellmia . You keep looking at me like that and…” His gaze glowed as he watched her admire him. The connection between them sparked, raising awareness until she could hardly breathe. Crazy. Totally nuts, but tender or not, she wanted him again. Reading her right, he shook his head, leaning around her to turn off the water. “Now, who’s the insatiable one?”
    “Can’t help it,” she said, wanting to chase the droplets across his chest with her tongue. “You’re so fricking hot.”
    He laughed. “Later. Rest and recover, bellmia . You’ll need all your strength for tonight.”
    Picking her up, he opened the glass door and stepped onto a bath mat. Chilly air raised goose bumps on her wet skin and, with a shiver—and absolutely no shame—she snuggled into Bastian’s chest. He snagged a towel from the metal wall rack, wrapping her up before he grabbed another and went to work on her hair. And like a four-year-old, she let him. It felt so good to be taken care of…to be the recipient instead of the giver for a change.
    “Bastian?” Fighting the hypnotic pull of his fingers in her hair, she stifled a yawn. “What’s tonight?”
    He gave her a sharp look of surprise. “Nothing.”
    Myst stilled, his quick denial raising her radar. A guy’s “nothing” was the equivalent of a woman’s “fine.” Not good on so many levels, and as she stared up into his face, the link she felt between them flared, gifting her with insight, telling her he wasn’t being honest, that he wanted her question buried six feet under. The rushing sensation intensified into a warning. She tugged at the towel, wrapping the fluffy terry cloth under her arms and over her breasts like armor.
    What to do? Let it go or confront him?
    She didn’t want to push, but it wasn’t in her nature to ignore important issues. She was a take-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of girl, and if she wanted something permanent with Bastian, she needed to stay true to herself. No hiding—not for her, not for him.
    Reaching out, she spread her fingers on the damp skin over his heart. “Bastian…please, just tell me.”
    He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, like he was suddenly uncomfortable in his own skin. A muscle twitched in his jaw, and he said, “The Meridian realigns.”
    “What’s that?”
    “A biannual occurrence. It’s an…important event for my kind.” His fingers flexed in her hair a second before he let her go and stepped back to snag another towel.
    She studied him, trying to get a bead on his mood. “Like a celebration?”
    “I’ll explain everything later.” Wrapping the towel around his waist,