12. I will bite you.

In between what seemed like the blink of an eye, his lips were back upon hers. Urging, compelling, seeking permission to enter, and yet showing her that he didn't need it, he could make her open up to him.

And he did. Her lips parted, and so did her teeth, and his tongue slid deep within her mouth. Stroking, teaching, tenderly learning the walls of her mouth again. Every line and arc. Her tongue, her teeth. His tongue explored everything, sensually.

Not like their first kiss that was rough, this kiss was different. Like he meant to teach her to accept him, to know him. Know him deeply. He was filling her as much as he was drinking from her.

Neriah wanted to fight, to get away from the hold of this barbaric man whose mouth was starting to really taste good. So good that she could swear she was tasting something that seemed to be the sweetest honey she'd ever had. And she'd had really good honey before.

She felt his weight shift. And she was starting to think he was trying to stand up, but a shocking breath left her throat and died in his lips as she felt his finger slowly, tenderly, sliding underneath her skirt. He wasn't standing up, he was just shifting positions to gain easier access.

Fire. His touch was like smooth, hot lava crawling on her skin. Oh! he was definitely a dragon blood. Only a dragon blood will be able to burn her insides with his mere touch.

This was the first time. In all her one hundred and eighty years on earth, no one else had ever touched her like he was touching her. It tickled, and burned, and stirred her all at once. It stirred her in a way she never knew. Some kind of goodness was flowing through her entire system as he touched her.

It wasn't anything like what she felt when her father had gifted her with new horses. Nor was it like what she felt when her mother had gifted her with the jewels she liked. It was nothing like those kinds of feelings.

And lords she hated to admit it, though she wasn't in the right state of mind to deny it either, but, not even being with Lyle has drawn this kind of feeling from her. She loved Lyle's touch, but it could in no way or form compare to the sensations that the hand of this stranger was giving her.

She could suddenly feel the strength of the thighs of the man she was coming to know very intimately. The man kissing and stroking her. His hands were slightly rough on her skin, but even the feeling of his rough fingers felt good. His grip on her inner thighs was firm and powerful. And with purpose.

He was slipping his fingers even deeper, while still holding her down with his other hand.

Realization and sense fell upon Neriah again when his lips finally left her mouth and his head tilted to her neck to continue his assault there.

She was mad! She didn't know who this crazy stranger was, and yet she was allowing him to roam around her body like he owned her! But damn him! There was little she could do against such a man. So maybe it was just her instinct telling her to give in, maybe that's why she seemed not willing to fight. Maybe deep down, she knew it would be a useless fight to begin.

But hell! She'd be damned before she'd continue to allow him treat her like this! Like some cheap woman!

She'd fight for her dignity and pride. If she still had any to hold on to in front of this man.

"Let go of me you imbecile!" she roared. "Get off me! You disgusting pound of rotten flesh! You do not know who I am!"

"I know you are a woman and I am a man." was his guttural response.

"I will scream like a madwoman if you do not let me go this instant!" Neriah could only wonder if the man could switch off his hearing when he wanted because he wasn't even listening to her, he just continued kissing her. He had to stop, she'd not be able to speak for too long if he continued what he was doing. She'd lose her voice, she was sure.

"I promise you, I will scream so loud they will think you have kidnapped me!"

"Everyone saw you walk in by yourself." He replied this time. But he did so with his lips at the center of the arcs of her breasts, causing a certain vibration to ripple over her chest and down to her stomach. And she shuddered, because it felt good. His voice deep and husky felt so good upon her skin.

Why was he so strong? She shifted and twisted, but it was like a horse was placed upon her, she could not move the man at all.

He was right though, she did waltz into the room on her own. She wasn't even in front of him when they entered, so it wasn't like he was pushing her or anything. She followed behind him without any protest.

"Stop touching me, you pathetic fool!" Oh lords! But she was the biggest fool between the two of them. "What is wrong with you? I swear I will bite you like a crazed beast!" she didn't know what else to say.

"And I will slap you so hard your sweet little jaw would be realigned." He retorted, a little hint of amusement laced his words.

He thought she was joking, he thought she wouldn't do it! But she also believed she wouldn't have to stoop to biting, but the audacity and authority in his voice was annoying. It made her insides boil, and without much thinking, she launched her open mouth at him, and her teeth caught him firmly by the ear.

Instantly her hands were released, his weight was also shifted from her body followed by a series of oaths escaping his unamused lips as he stood holding onto his ears, trying to see if she had drawn blood from him.

Neriah jerked as she saw the pure rage in his eyes, and she was thinking, she shouldn't have done that, maybe she should have pleaded with him instead of biting like a rabid beast, but she could not change what she'd done now. She could only continue fighting.