A Dragon's Hoard

Chapter Five

Damian turned away from the light of the early sun that tried to wiggle its way into his eyes. Too early. His body was worn from travel and the other activities he had indulged in last night, and he would much rather spend his morning allowing himself to slowly wake up. But, there was work to be done. As much as he wanted to stay here, he knew better...

...but maybe a few more minutes wouldn't hurt.

That was a dangerous thought.

Ignoring the warning sounds in his head, he let go of a low groan and rolled onto his other side, curling his arm around the gentle dip of Raven's waist. She shivered at the sudden touch before she sighed, pushing her back against his chest as if seeking his warmth in the chill of the early morning. Damian opened his eyes for a brief moment, taking in the sight of a bite mark on her shoulder and thin red lines sliding down her back, and he bit back a strange purr of content agreement. She even smelled different, like earth and rain and sex... like something that belonged in his life.

He frowned at that thought and pushed her away, ignoring her small noise of annoyance at his abrupt departure. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he stood up and stared out the dirty window at the thin light that crept in. Damian took a deep breath and let it out slowly, reminding himself that Raven was a convenient (and somewhat pleasant) distraction, but at the end of all of this, she was nothing more than a mark he was destined to kill. When they were both fully healed and they could battle on equal ground again, he would take her head and mount it above his throne. It was a definite fact he needed to keep reminding himself, if he had these rogue thoughts again.

He was going to kill her. That was indisputable. She was a plaything to be toyed with, and a dragon to be hunted. Mindless fucking was just a way to pass the time in the interim.

Raven stirred with a soft sigh, the covers rustling as she moved. "Is it morning already?"

"Mm." Damian continued to stare out the window, his arms crossed over his chest. At the sound of her drowsy voice his cock stirred. It would be so easy to slide back under the covers and bury himself deep into her welcoming body. Slow. Lazy. Bringing her orgasm after orgasm until she was a filthy mess, pliable to his every whim.

He grit his teeth against the image, and forced himself to think about how her white, iridescent scales would look on the armor he was going to make from her hide.

"It's barely dawn." Raven let go of another annoyed sound, followed by a low, beckoning hum. "Come back to bed. It's cold without you. Keep me warm."

Her voice was sultry and welcoming, and his hands shook at her invitation. Finally, he turned and looked at her. She was watching him with her dark eyes, the sheet sliding down to display her breasts, marred by one or two love bites he left on her last night. Without his permission, Damian found his legs taking a half-step towards her, tempted by the pale expanse of her skin. His mouth was watering at the sight of her. It wouldn't be so bad if he stayed a little longer in her arms...

Yes it would.

He snapped his hand back to his side, glaring at her, the haze in his mind clearing abruptly. Clicking his tongue, he turned away from her and moved toward the pile of clothes scattered throughout the room.

"We have to get an early start this morning. The trek back up the mountain will be arduous after the rain, and it will take far more time to return to your home than to leave it." He pulled on his breeches and shirt, watching Raven's face fall at his brusque tone. But, he ignored it. The last thing he needed was to be tempted back into bed with her. "I will have breakfast sent up to you in a few minutes."