Текст книги "The Alpha of Bleake Isle"

Автор книги: Kathryn Moon

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Mairwen's hand grasped me tightly, and it was nearly done. I scrambled in the sheets, shuttled weakly in her fist.

"Am I?" she asked brightly.

I laughed at her excitement and then grunted as she released me once more.

"You will. Just…just hold me. Yes, fuck, Mairwen, like that." More perfume to drown in. I peeked my eyes open and watched her smiling and blushing down at my cock as if I'd just kissed the back of her hand. Except what I'd done was dribbled my arousal over her fingers. "Like that. Stroke me, up and—" I bit a howl off behind clenched teeth, rocking in her gentle grip. "Down, yes. Fuck. This is…this will be your cunt holding my cock like this, Mairwen. Do you know that?" Did she know enough about sex to understand that much? Please say yes.

"Mmhm, although I've never tried to…you seem awfully thick, Ronson," she mused.

I fought my grin. I was thick. And long. I was the alpha, after all.

"Is this your knot?" she murmured, and then her other hand joined in, pressing her thumb to where I was starting to thicken and swell. I released a garbled yelp as she circled that spot too, unable to close her grip around me.

"Yesss," I hissed, nodding roughly back into the pillows.

"It looks like it hurts."

"It does and it doesn't—Oh, Mairwen, tighter—" I moaned, twisting an arm back to prop my head up. Oh, she was sweet, a little furrow between her brow as she focused on squeezing and stroking me. "I'm close. Do you know-know what—" I couldn't finish my sentence because she'd started to twist her hand around my length back and forth, right at the head of my cock where I was most sensitive. Instead, I gaped like a fish and whined, bucking into her soft palm, my sac growing tight and pounding.

"You're dripping a great deal. Do you know, you taste like something familiar… I can't place it."

I was fucking her hand, bucking too roughly, and her grip tightened around my knot to hold me in place at the same moment that she ducked her head down, lips parted and tongue peeking out. The sight, the promise of what she meant to do, and the warm squeeze of her hand on my knot was too much. I came with a bellowing shout, a shocking crack of pleasure racing through me, painful and perfect, snapping hard and making my body bow upwards. Mairwen squeaked as I burst, a hot lash of release splashing out, my arms and legs thrashing as I howled in relief.

She was laughing.

My eyes were shut, my body turning limp and weak. Her grip on my cock was too tight now that I'd finished, and Mairwen was giggling. I growled, and she muffled the sound of her humor. I hissed as she stroked my length and released me gently, petting me once more.

An alluring, wet sound finally forced my eyes open, and the sight was enough to make my cock throb and spill another quick gush of release against my thigh. Mairwen was scooping a dribble of opal white from the soft swell of her breast, and she lifted the finger to her tongue, lapping it clean. I groaned, and my wearied cock bobbed up, valiant and eager to offer her more.

"Mairwen," I called roughly.

Her gaze was warm, smile soft. "I didn't know that would happen, no."

It was my turn to blush. "I'm sorry, I⁠—"

"I liked watching you," she said, head tipping to the side. She glanced down and then tugged at her collar, revealing another slow drip sinking between her breasts. I was outrageously jealous of my own release.

"Come here."

She licked her lips, cleaning another finger, and I wondered if I hadn't reached rut after all, because I was absolutely certain that if she did that one more time, I would be pinning her down in the bed and having my way with her. She knew a little more of what to expect, at least.

"I'm not done exploring," Mairwen said primly, and then she scooted out of reach, an inviting waft of her perfume billowing closer in response, making my eyes fall shut in satisfaction.

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Chapter TenRONSON

Iwas perfectly and deliciously aware of the situation as I woke the next morning. My cock was stuffed comfortably against Mairwen's ass, barely deterred by her tangled chemise. My hands were full of the wonderful weight and squish and heft of her breasts, although one of my arms was numb, trapped between her waist and the mattress. My mouth was full of Mairwen's hair.

The sun was shining, just high enough to beam over the edge of the final remaining sheet wall of the nest Mairwen had built. The one I'd nearly torn to bits as she'd had her adorably, curiously, innocently wicked way with me. I'd come once more, this time against the belly of her chemise as she wiggled on top of me, pinching my nipples and kissing me until my lips were numb. I tried to return the favor, but Mairwen pushed my hands away every time until finally falling asleep on top of me, her lips pressed over my heart and her hand around my cock. I'd succumbed within minutes, my own hand possessively claiming her full ass.

Mairwen's perfume was softer now, as thin as her nearly transparent chemise, but it covered the bed and traced over my skin. My mouth watered and my gut clenched, greedy for more. I couldn't pull my arm out from under Mairwen without jostling us both, and even with the numb, heavy sensation, I was far too comfortable to think of moving.

Except for perhaps…

I flexed my working hand, shifting my fingers and palm carefully to study their surroundings. I found the soft bud of Mairwen's nipple—relaxed and warm under cotton—with a stroke of my pinkie, then turned my hand. I recalled the slow circle her own fingertips had practiced on me last night and mimicked it now.

I'd known from our first conversation that Mairwen was observant, clever, and a quick thinker. I hadn't considered how she might apply those traits in bed with me, her keen stare watching my every action, noting every hitch of my breath and low groan. It would be a challenge to remain equally alert with her when I had so many goals and desires already clamoring in my head.

And yet when Mairwen's breath sharpened and her breast butted into my teasing fingertips, my attention was entirely hers. I curled my legs against hers, nudging her hair away from my face to rest my rough jaw against her shoulder, delighted by the view I'd afforded myself, all the wonderful round inches of creamy skin now on display right below my nose.

"Good morning, omega," I growled, grinning as Mairwen shivered.

The tie of her chemise had loosened in sleep and the collar was now stretched down, nearly exposing her. I reached one fingertip up to the ruched edge and then lost the train of thought as Mairwen rolled her ass back against my hard length, stretching in my hold, thrusting her breast back in my palm. We moaned together as I squeezed her flesh.

"It's not—What are you—?" Mairwen squeaked as I pinched her nipple and tugged, burrowing my face into her throat to lick away the taste of her, drawing that perfume onto my parched tongue.

"Tomorrow is today. It's my turn."

"Um…today is not tonight," she answered breathlessly.

I laughed, rising up and pulling my arm out from under Mairwen, swallowing the grunt as my blood rushed through my veins with a sharp stab of pins and needles. One hand was really not enough when it came to touching Mairwen. Considering the only one that was working at the moment was already overflowing with her beautifully pliable and soft flesh, I suspected even two wouldn't feel adequate.

Mairwen was staring up at me, lips parted and one cheek marked from the creases of her pillow, her brown eyes wide and dazed, glancing between my eyes and the enormous smile I wore.

"One kiss," I bargained.

She blinked, and her head jerked in a little nod.

She was only waking up. I ought to have leaned down and pressed my lips gently to hers, treated her as a young gentlewoman who would've been raised to believe a dragon treated his omega with care and respect, even if we all knew that was mostly a lie in the end.

Instead, I hooked my finger into the loose collar of her chemise, tugging gently. Mairwen's brow furrowed, but she huffed out a laugh and rolled her eyes.

"I know I am inexperienced, but I don't think that's what that's called," she said as I scooted down and lowered my starving lips to the slow expanse of pink and pale skin I revealed.

"Of course it is. Weren't you kissing me in any number of places last night?" I said.

I paused in my progress, admiring the flush that flooded her chest at the reminder of the night before. I wanted to tease her more, but I had a granted kiss to take and I wasn't going to waste the opportunity.

Mairwen stiffened as I pulled her collar down to expose one breast, full and round, peaked with a dusky rose—a perfect color, in my opinion—pucker of flesh, the tip firming and rising up toward my lips as if in offering.

One kiss, I reminded myself. Make it count…and then ask for more.

I took her breast in an open-mouthed kiss, tracing my tongue around her nipple, pursing my lips as she shivered and gasped, growling in victory as her chest arched closer. I suckled and laved, and Mairwen moaned, her hands sliding into my hair. The sting and throb of my arm still waking up cut through the pleasure of her voluptuous, tender flesh on my tongue and her luxurious flavor. My working arm slid under her back, hand sliding up to brace around her neck and hold in her place.

"Ronson!"

My body seemed to swell at the call of my name on her lips. She was holding me to her breast, one leg rising to curl around my back. I shifted, not releasing the treasure between my lips, just in case she might consider the kiss finished, and settled between her parting legs, groaning as her damp core kissed my belly. She was wet.

Why hadn't I considered kissing her cunt? Except that was probably a step too far, or it had been before she'd grown slick, rocking herself into the hair on my stomach in a way that assured me she would absolutely enjoy the moment I worked my way down⁠—

Knock, knock.

Mairwen let out a charming squeak, jerking in my grasp as if she had anywhere to go now that she'd tangled herself around me.

"Ronson," Niall called from the other side of the door.

I debated my choices. I could release my divine mouthful—I licked around Mairwen's nipple once more in objection to this idea, and she sighed—in order to tell Niall to fuck off. Or I could carry on as I was and hope he took the hint.

Considering my left arm was now capable of moving and was making its way up Mairwen's side, cupping under her neglected breast and claiming the spot, I chose the latter. I suckled Mairwen once more, giving her more of my weight to grind against, and she bucked back responsively.

"Ronson, I'm sorry⁠—"

Hinges creaked, and Mairwen wrenched herself free. I rose with a snarl, turning toward the door.

The last stalwart sheet was blocking Niall's view, thank goodness, or my half-brother might've lost his eyes for daring to enter the room.

"—there's a dispute amongst the dragons," Niall continued.

"Out!" I snapped, not really satisfied with the thin barrier of the sheet guarding my omega from view. I glanced back and let out a heavy sigh. Mairwen had tugged the drawstring of her chemise so tight, it looked like the ruffled collar might be choking her. Her knees were tucked under the skirt, body bundled together and arms wrapped around herself. Her cheeks were as red as ripe apples—equally tempting to take a bite—and her eyes were huge.

"Is it the rut?" Niall asked, still standing in the room, out of view.

I didn't like having him in here with us. I wanted to rush off the bed and grab him by the collar and throw him down the stairs. Or perhaps out the window? No, the window would bring him into view of the bed.

Hmm, was this the rut? No. If it had been, Niall would've been testing the strength of his wings out my window already. But that didn't mean I didn't want to make use of the hours until the rut in bed with Mairwen, teaching her all about what we'd enjoy together.

"No," I admitted in a grumble. "I'll join you outside."

There was no other answer but the squeak of the door as it shut behind him. I groaned as I fell back in bed, and Mairwen leaned over, upside-down in my view and wearing a shy half-smile.

"Tonight," I warned her, low and dark.

Her cheeks pinked and she placed her hands on either side of my head, ducking down and grazing her lips sweetly over mine. "Tonight," she murmured.

I grasped her face, licking into her mouth as she gasped, humming as her tongue brushed against mine. Fuck Niall. Fuck the other dragons.

Fuck Mairwen, my brain corrected.

She pulled away, still blushing, smiling wider, turning her face away but glancing down the length of my body from the corner of her eye. I wanted to stretch for her gaze, let her admire in daylight all the places she'd studied so sincerely by muffled candlelight.

But the sooner I was done with whatever tussle the other dragons needed mediated, the sooner I could return to the castle and declare it evening. My turn.

"Frannie, you promised."

"Oh, I did, and I did mean it, Jeffery, you must understand."

"Quit manipulating the girl, Bexam. We've established that Francesca gave out a great many promises."

"The fact remains, gentlemen, a contract was drafted between myself and her family," Gryffyd Evans declared, putting a clawed hand on the delicate omega's shoulder.

The girl withered, and her eyes dropped to her skirts.

This was absurd. Somehow, Francesca Huberts had promised herself to a half-dozen of the gentry dragons of the island. She's very weepy and incredibly biddable, Mairwen had said. And now here I was, faced with the truth of that observation. Francesca was indeed weeping, and with every reminder of her devotion, she renewed the sentiment to the gentleman in question, in spite of just having declared it a moment ago to another. Even her parents could not agree on whom Francesca preferred.

I cleared my throat, and the many eyes in the room all turned in my direction. I focused first on the easiest suit to clear, narrowing my gaze onto one dragon in particular.

"You seem to draft a great many contracts, Beta Evans," I said, glaring at Gryffyd.

His chest puffed, but his face was spotty with color. "I put very little stock into girlish vows and prefer concrete, legal⁠—"

"There is nothing more legal on this island than my decision, yes?" I prompted, and Gryffyd paled and bowed his head obediently. "When was the contract drafted?"

"Yesterday, my lord, after the selection," Mr. Huberts, a generally jovial man, answered. His hands were twisting nervously in front of his rounded stomach, and he had yet to meet my eyes.

"Presumably after Francesca's other agreements?" I asked.

A chorus of yes rose up from the other five dragons.

"Then it does not stand," I said, waving a hand.

"With all due respect, Alpha Cadogan," Gryffyd said, starting a bow. "Mine is the only written contract in question."

"I don't care, Beta Evans. You were too late."

"But—!"

"You are dismissed."

Gryffyd blustered. "Am I to have no omega⁠—?"

"Not this time," Niall answered, shrugging. "Best of luck in a decade."

I hid my quirked lips behind my hand and studied the other five dragons as Gryffyd Evans was ushered from the room. I was only going to secure the favor of one dragon today, and I needed to consider this lot carefully.

Gideon Millward was a fair dragon, still quite young and without influence, but it might serve me to cultivate a good relationship early. And yet he was now glancing at Francesca Huberts—who was admittedly a very pretty omega, even as fat teardrops rolled out of her glassy green eyes—as if he was wondering whether she were really worth the trouble.

Redmond Palmer was an ass. He was friends with Hugh Gamesby, had traded out his last omega when she offered no issue over a decade—a very ungentlemanly although still technically excusable act—and generally pissed me off every time he sniffed his nose and opened his pompous mouth to speak. Even if I did grant him the right to the Huberts girl, he probably wouldn't shift his opinion of me.

Jeffery Bexam was the fourth son of a fourth son, with barely a cottage to his name and no influence to speak of, but of the lot of them, he seemed the most distraught by Francesca's betrayal. I wasn't sure if that was due to a highly delicate ego or genuine affection.

Tybalt Dunne and Julian Dunne were twin brothers, and I was hazarding a guess that Francesca's favors were a bone they'd chosen to fight over. One might speak in my favor with the right incentive, but the other would become an enemy.

I resisted the urge to groan. I didn't want to be responsible for this decision. One, it was a stupid waste of my time, which I was feeling especially bitter about, considering what the summons had dragged me away from. Two, it didn't sit right with me. Surely the girl had some stronger opinion she was too nervous to voice?

"I would like to speak with Miss Huberts for a moment," I said.

The girl gasped and froze. She was scarcely eighteen years old, and I considered whether we were really putting young omegas into courting at quite the right age. She seemed very young. Mairwen was practically on the shelf by dragon standards, but there was no chance of me mistaking her for anything but a woman. An extremely—and yet also surprisingly—tempting woman.

Mrs. Huberts nudged her daughter forward, and the girl stumbled out of the grasp of the dragons who surrounded her. None of the betas moved."Alone, please."

Mr. Huberts gave his wife a hopeful glance, and I understood the look with a sick twist of my stomach. They were hoping I would take her for myself. As if they hadn't witnessed my choice yesterday. My hands clenched to fists, and Francesca released a small sound of terror, stepping back toward the wall. Jeffery Bexam had the decency to glare at me, but he filed out of the comfortable sitting room with the rest of the gathered dragonkin.

Francesca remained across the room, quivering against a sideboard laden with delicate porcelain trinkets that rattled in sympathy with her terror.

"Sit."

I tried to keep my tone gentle, but Francesca jerked and stumbled toward an armchair as if I'd put the full roar of an alpha's command into the word. Her russet curls bounced as she dropped into the cushions, a wave of cloying omega perfume wafting toward me. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant scent, something like honeysuckle and caramel, and my mouth did water, but it wasn't right, either, too sticky. I resented its presence washing over the lingering taste of Mairwen.

I glanced over my shoulder to Niall and nodded my head toward the door the others had left from. "Keep an eye on them. Keep things civil." He grimaced, but nodded and joined the others, leaving Francesca quaking and crying, teardrops splatting against her hands.

"You don't need to be frightened," I said, my jaw grinding.

"Of course not, Lord Cadogan," she answered with a wobble and a sniff.

"I only asked to speak to you alone so you might feel you could express your preference freely."

I caught the furrow of her brow before her face lifted, eyes wide and baffled. "My preference?"

I stared back at her, and her gaze dropped once more. "Your preference of the gentlemen."

Lace around her collar ruffled as she swallowed. "I will of course prefer whomever you deem best."

"What? No, that's not—Which of the dragons do you choose, Miss Huberts?"

This time, I could've sworn she scowled, but her expression smoothed too quickly. "They are all very fine. Very good gentlemen. I would never presume to know better than you, Alpha."

I opened my mouth to ask about Jeffery Bexam, but then shut it just as quickly. If I so much at hinted a name, she would probably immediately agree. This was beyond biddable and had crossed into the territory of stubbornly submissive. Certainly there were men who might assume any woman was this much of a…blank drawing board for them to sketch out their own desires on. But I'd grown up with Beatrice for a sister and seen my father's heavy hand on women and the way it crumbled the person inside of the body he coveted. I did not want to be another man in a woman's life telling her what she would prefer.

My nose wrinkled, and I backed away from the girl. "Stay here," I muttered to her.

I needed someone with sense. Someone who knew more about this omega and these dragons, had seen more of them, than I had. I hurried to the door, yanking it open and ignoring the many expectant faces until I found Niall.

"Get me Mairwen. Now."

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