Evie tightened her grip on the plunger. “Don’t make me use this to knock you flat on your arse.”
Fuck. His female was challenging his dragon in the throes of a frenzy. If she wasn’t careful, his beast would do something crazy, such as tie her to the bed.
Bram was forced to watch, helpless, as his beast moved their body toward Evie and said, “You agreed earlier. Sex. Now.”
His human narrowed her eyes. “Look, mister dragon, I’m all for hot, slightly kinky sex, but I’m not a dragon who’s gone mental and has a never-softening cock of magic. I’m human. You try having something hard thrust into you every which way for hours and see how you feel.”
Anger coursed through his dragon-half and Bram wanted to scream for her to stop. While he was pretty sure his beast wouldn’t hurt her, there was always a chance his dragon could go into such a state that Bram would never take back control. It was rare for it to happen, especially to someone dominant enough to become clan leader, but there were stories. Some of which, in centuries past, were still legendary, such as when one dragon razed every village in a twenty-mile radius before he’d been shot down with a catapult.
No. Bram wouldn’t let that happen. He’d have to think of something quickly.
His dragon moved their body another step closer and said, “Throw the stick down or I will take it. Then I’ll toss you on the bed and scent you again.”
Bram pushed against the invisible boundary inside his mind. If he couldn’t take back control, would his dragon really force their female? Stop it. She is tired and needs rest. We can scent her later.
No. Now.
Evie moved the plunger a bit behind her, readying herself to swing. “Last warning, dragon.”
His beast growled and moved to take the plunger. However, at the last second, Evie sidestepped and swung the wooden handle against his hard cock.
Not even his bloody beast could take the pain, and doubled over. As soon as he did, Bram felt his prison give way a little.
Clever lass. Anger was weakening his dragon’s control.
Brave, too, as she swung again and smacked him in the balls. Fuck, it hurt. Pain radiated through his entire body, to the point tears formed in his eyes, but Bram felt his prison give way even more. He had a chance, and he was going to take it.
With every iota of strength he possessed, he pushed against the invisible wall trapping him deep inside his mind. The pain coursing through his body made it difficult to concentrate, but Bram had fared worse during his clan leader trials.
Each second a little more gave way. Roaring inside his mind, he gave one final push before the wall dissolved. His human-half rushed to the front of his mind. The pain was worse, but the drive to protect his female gave him the strength to toss his bloody beast into an invisible prison. Stay. I will take care of her.
Ignoring his dragon’s roaring and shouting, Bram said through clenched teeth, “Lass, if you ever want me to use my cock again, that’s enough.”
“Bram?”
“Aye, it’s me. Please don’t smack me in the cock again.”
He heard the plunger fall to the ground before Evie enveloped him in her arms. Since he was still bent over, she was mostly draped over his back. The warmth of her soft curves against his hard body helped him to forget some of his pain.
Evie’s voice was muffled against his back as she said, “I’m sorry I had to whack you in the bollocks, but it was the only vulnerable spot on your body I could attack and have any impact.”
His cock and balls still pulsed with pain and hurt like hell, but he forced himself upright and drew Evie close against his side. “Why should you apologize? My beast was being a bloody bastard and deserved it. Next time, he’ll think twice about trying to take you when you say no.”
Evie snuggled into his side. “You think so? I didn’t mind the sex so much, but we needed you back.”
By ‘we’, she meant the clan. Bram’s heart warmed at the reference. “I’m here now, lass. However, I need to be careful. Until my bloody dragon calms down, I can’t risk shifting, especially if you’re nearby.”
His female hesitated a second and he didn’t like it. “Bram?”
Giving her a squeeze, he replied, “Ask me anything, love.”
She looked up at him, curiosity brimming in her dark blue eyes. “Your dragon was acting as if he were in the throes of a mate-claim frenzy, yet that’s impossible. You’d tell me, right, if there was any way a person could instantly become compatible with a dragon-shifter’s DNA and make it possible to conceive a child?”
“I would tell you if I knew, but I don’t. Once we take care of the dragon hunters and Murray is back safe and sound, we can try asking that friend of yours, the one who ‘knows more about dragon-shifters than just anyone alive’ as you put it.”
She nodded. “Good idea. To be honest, we should find a way to ensure her safety. If word ever got out about her knowledge, she would become a target.”
“I wish I could allow an unmated human to live on my lands from time to time, but right now, the law forbids it. Maybe Melanie’s book can help change all that.” Bram turned so he could haul Evie against the front of his body. He needed her warmth to battle his inner dragon’s current roaring and pushing against his invisible prison. “For now, I need to check in with Kai and Finn and then both of us need some rest. Since I can’t risk shifting anytime soon, I’ll have to drive back to Stonefire in the morning. I don’t want to leave you here, but you’re easy pickings back on Stonefire’s lands. A guard or two should come here once Finn’s people arrive to help relieve the strain on my Protectors.”