The Warrior King (Inferno Rising) by Owen, Abigail (reading a book txt) 📕

Sam grunted when she didn’t answer. “And the dragons who’ve had to watch the devastation of a woman burning in their fire when they choose the wrong mate?”

Meira looked away. Mostly because she’d always hated the idea of those poor women. Also, because her reasoning around that was difficult to swallow, let alone put into words. What if mating was simply a matter of faith? Of a belief strong enough, or a choice solid enough, to stand the test of flame?

“Kasia fell in love with Brand and chose him. Skylar chose Ladon for specific reasons. Choice is the key.”

“For a phoenix.”

She didn’t have enough evidence to refute him. “Why do you think we’re…” She trailed off, not wanting to voice the word. It gave too much power to the seductive idea. An idea that aligned too closely with secret wishes she should never have allowed to remain within her, no matter the dark corners she’d stuffed them into. Now those wishes were turning dangerous.

Instead of answering, he reached out and traced her lips with his fingertip, leaving a trail of tingling nerves in his wake. “Don’t you feel it?”

My own response to your emotions. It’s not real. “Pheromones. A biological response.” Except her voice came out all husky.

Sam’s lips quirked in a tilted smile more frustrated than amused. “So, you do feel it.”

Dammit.

She must’ve given away her emotions by a flicker in her expression, because his smile turned predatory. “I need to protect you.”

“You’re meant to. It’s your job.”

He shook his head, trailing that finger over her skin, tracing her jaw. “No. This isn’t duty. It’s a compulsion. I have to make sure you are safe…and happy.”

He frowned over the last word.

Meira frowned, too. “Not adding more complication to my life would make me happy. I’m bound to your king.”

Sam closed his eyes. “I know. I’ve stayed away—not let myself believe—because of that, because of loyalty to Gorgon, who is almost a father to me, and because I don’t deserve you.” He snapped his eyes open, black flames consuming the orbs, scales framing the sockets, his dragon closer to the surface than she’d ever seen. The burn of his desire reached for her in the night.

An answering heat ignited inside her, flowing through her veins and coalescing in her belly. A reaction she desperately tried to ignore. This couldn’t be happening. She’d made her choices. “Why now? What changed?”

“I couldn’t ignore the signs anymore.” His voice had dropped to a deep growl, the sound rumbling over her skin, stoking the fire. Was she glowing yet? “And…”

Meira held her breath. And what? She should be stopping him.

“And this.” He slid a hand up under the fall of her hair and claimed her lips with the softest of kisses.

…

Meira whimpered against him, the response uncontrollable. Undeniable.

And a tiny balm to the panic rioting inside him. He’d told her they were mates, and all she could do was deny it. Even the pain that had privately taken him to his knees the day she’d promised herself to his king didn’t come close to this.

The small sound she made set him off. With a groan that welled up from deep inside his chest, he pressed into her. Claimed her with mouth, body, hands. Kisses that he used to try to reach into her, through her, speaking to her soul. He coaxed and demanded at the same time, asking for her submission. Asking her to admit the truth of what he’d said. Because while her mind could deny, could make other plans, could know that this thing had no future, mates or not, her body and her heart couldn’t say no to him.

Samael lost himself in her.

With a shuddering breath, she opened to him, skating her tongue over his, twining with his, the first time she’d taken the initiative between them. He recognized how big a moment that was for her.

Fuck.

He hauled her across his lap so she sat straddling him. Meira was so far gone, she followed where he led, wrapping her arms around his neck. He smoothed a hand up her back, pressing her into his hardness, and she shuddered and let loose another whimper.

At the sound, Samael jerked his mouth away and they stared at each other, both panting, the tips of her breasts pushing into him.

He let out a sharp breath and put his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry.”

Meira stiffened.

Almost in a convulsive spasm, he tightened his arms around her. “No. Whatever you’re thinking, no. I just…didn’t mean to go that far.”

Though she relaxed against him, closing her eyes, he could still feel her pulling away. Feel her mentally reaching for what was right, just as he’d been doing for months. The right thing. Helping her family, helping take down Pytheios, her promises to Gorgon. His promises to Gorgon.

Fuck.

“Don’t do that, either.” He released her to take her face in his hands and Meira opened her eyes to stare at his, the flicker of the flames he knew reflected there illuminating her face.

“I’m not doing anything,” she said.

“You’re pulling away from me.”

She started under his hands, eyes going wide.

He pressed a quick, soft kiss to her lips. “Don’t deny us.”

Meira pursed her lips in the way she did when she was thinking hard. “I hardly know you. This is…” Her hand fluttered then landed on his chest. “Lust combined with a fraught situation.”

His dragon snarled in his head. How could she deny this connection? What about every other indication? Seeing her in the mirror. His dragon’s instinct to claim. His need to make her happy. None of those things happened with just anyone. Not for dragon shifters, at least. Realization lined his heart with a thick layer of lead. He couldn’t force her to see. She had to get there on her own.

The dragon inside him wound tighter and strained outward, already not liking where Samael’s thoughts were headed. He willed himself to loosen his hold, dropping his hands to his sides, though he couldn’t make himself lift