Dragonkin 2: My Persistent Mate

Part 8 Flare

My options dwindling rapidly, I push at his arm, hoping to wrest my hand away from him. When that failed, I desperately kick at him. As expected, since my legs are hampered by my long skirts, it didn't do any good either. Karalian nimbly dodge my foot and yanks me flush against his body. While I land on his body with a thud, his muscular arm went round my waist, clamping me to him like a steel vice. My struggles are futile, the more I push at him, the tighter I was crushed to his chest.

Karalian originally planned to intimidate and scare Guinevere. He wants to punish her for being rude and presumptuous. She is the only one who dares to speak up against him and find fault with his actions. He has always been careful to keep himself above reproach. How dare she criticise him! His actions and decisions are always made after intense deliberation!

When she bravely fights back with reason and wit instead of using a woman's tears or flattery to get herself out of trouble with him, he is impressed by her show of defiance and courage. Women tend to fawn over me or cry in front of me to get what they want.

Last, he can't tell if she's fearless, thoughtless or stupid to taunt him when he magnanimously decides to let her off the hook. He's curious to find out which of the above applies and if she'll be cowed by him, like in the past, when she'll run away from him in fright even without him trying to be scary.

But the moment he touches her skin, all thoughts flee from his mind. An urgent need to possess and conquer sweeps over him instead. His hand pulls her closer to him without thinking. Her feeble struggles inflame him further and he wants more of her touch on him. Without thinking, he yanks her roughly into his arms. Her feminine scent reminds him of the ocean and sunshine. Home, he thought absently, inhaling deeply. Mine! A voice declares inside him, compelling him to stake his claim.

On the heels of that pressing urge, a hidden part of him surges to the fore and demands to know why she can easily flirt with other drakos but will always argue with him. As the most powerful unmated drako in this court; all the female drakas he met can't wait to pander to his whims and fancies. They hope to catch him as their lover or better yet, their mate. She's the only one who didn't care for his status, power and authority; and dares to challenge his command at every turn. And even orders him to eat! He didn't like that one bit. He's not a hatchling and she's not his mother. But somehow he does not feel anger at her actions. She is professional at her work and logical in her dealings with him. Yet in some way, the nature of their relationship chafes at him. She is curt during their conversations and always keeps him at a distance. They never interact outside of work even though he knows she is exceptionally charming to the other males at work and in the court. The unmated drakos at court are all enamoured of her and if rumours are true, her suitors are numerous although none has captured her heart yet. It would be an interesting challenge for him to snare this exquisite gem.

Guinevere looks tough and seems to have developed armour to resist him, but he has seen her frail side when she was young. If he manages to conquer her, he would handle her like a delicate flower. It would be in his best interest to protect her from all harm given that she would be an invaluable asset to him. Her wit and capability are important to assist him in his role as Crown Prince.

Foreign emotions stir within him. Jealousy? Possessiveness? Protectiveness? He can't put a finger on any of them. There is only a single thought dominating his mind right now... a single female within his sights. He wants only one draka – Guinevere – and no way is he going to let her escape.

My arms tighten around her slender build, plastering her against my heated flesh. It both soothes me and exhilarates me. Craving more contact, my finger firmly raises her chin up towards me while she tries to jerk her face away. You're not getting away so easily. Cupping her face, I force a kiss on her. There is initial resistance. She tries to tear her lips away from mine and her small hands push against my chest. Then as if giving in, she surrenders herself to the kiss.