The Dragon Stirs by Lynda Aicher Read Free Book Online

stroke, claiming as much as she gave. And it fired him hotter, stoked his desire and made him forget where they were, what they needed to do. 
    His mind failed completely when her tongue danced with his, circling, dipping, trusting until the tempo increased to a dizzying, racing pace. Their energy powered within him, meshing to form its own unique blend of intoxicating strength. The raven rejoiced in fluttering song that serenaded his senses and intensified the energy that threatened to pull him under with its current.
    It was more intense than last time and turned his mind to a pooling mush of need. His cock ached in his jeans, and he wanted nothing more than to throw her down and claim her. There. Now. 
    The need built until he thought he’d burst from it. It rocked the foundation he was raised to believe. How could he feel this for her? So fast? So intense? So overwhelming that he forgot everything but her? Airiana. 
    She groaned into his mouth, and her hand clenched on his chest. He tightened his own hold and tried to absorb her into his body. Pull her in until she couldn’t escape. Until she was his forever.
    His.
    The thought rang with clarity through his mind and shocked his system with its truth.
    A high-pitched creak rang through the air and raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He pulled his lips from Airiana’s and tensed. A deep, guttural roar fired up from the depths of the cave. It bounced off the walls and rang with the manic tint of possessed evil. The energy sucked in, flipped and smacked against them with a punishing blow that flattened them to the rocky wall and sucked the breath from their bodies.
    The ground beneath them quivered, rocked and undulated until only their joint effort kept them standing. Louk pressed his back into the rock and held Airiana tightly to his chest. He widened his stance and rolled with the movement until it slowly stilled.
    The energy chilled around them, the temperature dropping a quick twenty degrees in mere seconds. Airiana’s breath brushed against his ear in harsh, jagged gulps. His heart hammered against his ribs and sounded like thunder in his ears. 
     “What the hell was that?” Airiana whispered, her breathing slowing as she turned, her breath brushing against his neck.
    “Whatever it is, it sure as hell isn’t normal.”
    “Well no shit. It’s a good thing you’re not the brains of the operation.” Her sarcasm succeeded in lightening the moment just enough for him to regain his equilibrium. 
    He puffed out a breath through his nose, then planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “So brains, what do you suggest next?”
    “At least that’s a step up from sweet cheeks,” she muttered as she stepped away from his hold and turned to peer into the darkness. 
    “Only temporary.” He reached out and gave her ass a squeeze. She shot him a look of pure death. He winked. She scowled. He laughed.
    “Grow up,” she said before she stomped off into the darkened cave.
    He laughed again and caught up to her. The strange ambient glow flowing up from the very depths of the cave provided them with enough light to see. “Where are you going?” 
    “Down there.” She pointed ahead.
    “Got that.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a halt. “But let’s get a plan first.”
    She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “We go. We look around. We see what we find. How’s that for a plan?” 
    “Rather undetailed, if you ask me.”
    She looked away, and he swore she rolled her eyes as if she were talking to an imbecile. “And yours?” 
    He took a breath and mentally counted to five before he spoke. “We use what was given to us before we stalk into the unknown.”
    She gave him a scathing look, but remained quiet. 
    “Right.” He held out his hand and waited. Her lips pressed together, and her spine stiffened before she slapped her hand into his. He bit down on his cheek and resisted the urge to smirk. Now was not the time to push his