I am not as strong a warrior as I could have been. He swelled at the thought. Any time I was beaten, it was because I did not allow the beast to have some say in the fight. By holding it back, I crippled myself. I have angered it, and now it will consume me for that arrogance.
“Tyff,” Renay said, cautiously. She was still caught in his hands and he knew he was gripping her arms quite tightly. She wasn’t complaining, but she did seem disappointed that he had stopped kissing her.
With a moan of need he dropped his head and found her lips again. She gasped eagerly and pressed herself against him, her hands hungrily moving on his body. The effect on him was extreme as his body roared with desire. He dragged her to the floor and threw himself on top of her.
The world disappeared. There was only Renay, and she was his world. Her soft curves, gentle lips, and eager hands. He wanted to give himself to her. He wanted to take her. He wanted everything, and he wanted it right now.
He gripped the edge of her dress and ripped it savagely, baring one of her breasts. He moaned as if he had been wounded and clamped his lips around her nipple, biting gently with his teeth. She threw her head back and twisted on the floor, her legs opening from the hips. His other hand quickly dove between her thighs and felt the hot, wet entrance. She screamed and Tyff was obliterated by the power of his dragon.
Lack of breath brought him back to himself, dark spots dancing on his eyes and a dizzy feeling around his temples making him aware of his body again.
Stop. I have to stop.
I can’t stop!
“Yes,” Renay moaned. “Yes, Tyff. I’ve waited for you, just for you. Only you, forever.”
The words were intended to urge him on, but they had the opposite effect. He was so stunned by the fact that she was a virgin he stopped kissing her and pulled back to look into her eyes.
“Renay… Really? You have never been touched by a man before?”
“A few kisses, here and there,” she admitted, breathlessly. “But no, I have never made love.”
The fervor didn’t die, but it did settle. He crawled backward and sat up, watching her. The hurt on her face cut him right through the chest, but he stayed away, careful not to let their bodies touch.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, pulling her dress back over her chest.
He shook his head. “I cannot, not like this—” He looked into her eyes, wanting to touch her but knowing that if he did, he would never stop.
“I won’t take you like this, here on the floor of the garden, all rushed and hurried. You are too fine a gift to be treated in such a way.”
“Not really complaining here.” She grinned.
He shook his head. “I… I have to collect myself. I will not be manipulated this way, not even by the Knowing.”
“But, Tyff—”
“No,” he snapped. “The Preor need their war master! Do you have any idea how strong the urge is to just fly away with you right now? Even worse, I don’t ever want to return.”
Her blue eyes were deep and serious. “I know, Tyff. I can feel everything you feel. I do know.”
“Then you also know I cannot leave my duty,” he said softly. “We have almost fallen apart so many times since we came to Earth. I finally have a chance to set that right. I can’t leave the Preor. I can’t.”
“And neither can I,” she answered. He shook his head.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
She smiled. “It makes perfect sense. All I care about is you. I would never ask you to choose. I want to stand by your side while you turn the Preor into a force to be feared, on this planet or any other.”
“But the others… Their mates never asked them to choose, and they chose all the same.”
“And we are not them.” She slid over closer to him, almost touching him but not quite. “Our path is different to theirs. You don’t even have to believe me, Tyff. Just trust the Knowing. Look into your heart.”
He wanted to. Above everything else he wanted to trust in everything that was happening inside him right now. He was just too worried about what he had seen so far when it came to Preor and their mates.
“Renay,” he said gently. He reached for her, holding her hand almost reverently. “I want you by my side… I want to plan my life with you, not have it dictated to me.”
“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.” She grinned and slithered close to him, kissing him gently. He returned the kiss hesitantly but then with greater passion. He couldn’t fight this and they both knew it. He just had to trust that she could lead him where he needed to go.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The day was still dark when Renay stirred. She had never been an early riser, even back on the farm with her parents. She didn’t mind getting up for her nine o’clock start at the library, but that was vastly different from getting up at five or earlier.
She moved in the bed, stretching her legs. It took her a couple of seconds to remember exactly where she was, and for a while, she actually thought she was back home again.
Then Tyff moved beside her. She realized his rise to wakefulness had triggered her own. He moaned in his sleep and yawned as he stretched his arms. She sat up and watched his brow furrow as he woke up.
They had disentangled themselves yesterday to finish up their tasks for the afternoon. It had hurt Renay to break up the love fest, but duty was just as important to her as it was to Tyff. She had found it very satisfying and fulfilling. By the time they returned to Tyff’s room and ate dinner, she was exhausted and had fallen asleep easily. She had not even had time to take in the luxury of his room.
Tyff blinked slowly. As he opened his eyes and saw Renay looking down on him, he smiled. It was one of the most beautiful smiles Renay had ever seen, completely relaxed and full of pure joy. On impulse, she leaned down and kissed him. She put a hand on his warm chest and felt her body throb from the bones up.
Tyff broke off the kiss and slipped out of bed, giving Renay a fine look at his tight ass as he bent over to put on his pants. She enjoyed the view even more as he carefully crossed the leather straps over his big chest.
I never knew men were so difficult to get into bed, Renay thought. So much has drawn us together now, yet he still holds back. I think I’m going to literally explode!
She didn’t even really know how to masturbate. She had never felt aroused like this before, so she had never had an inclination to try.
When Tyff hurried over to the table for breakfast, she got out of bed and put on soft pants with a loose blouse. They had brought clothes up for her yesterday and she now had a chest full of garments here to choose from. She wanted to be comfortable but well presented. She was prepared to work hard today.
Tyff smiled as she joined him at the table and handed over some fruit and yoghurt.
“Good morning, Renay.” His eyes sparkled as he said her name. He was clearly feeling more comfortable with her now than he had before.
“I know you Earth girls love coffee. We can stop by the dining area on our way out and grab one.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” She grinned back at him. “I’m fine with juice. I thought you didn’t eat breakfast before training?”
“I don’t,” he replied. “But today I’m not going straight to drills. I’m going to organize the big event. We only have two days now. I also wanted to make sure I had something for you.”