Dai drew back fractionally. "There," he said, his lips brushing hers. He cupped her face in his palms, his thumb reverently stroking across her cheek. "That seems like a fair trade to me."
"Oh, no." Virginia pushed at his chest, guiding him down to sit on the bed. She stood in front of him, between his sprawled legs, and held up the Dragon's Eye so that the massive cabochon ruby caught the light. The hidden six-pointed star in its heart flared.
"I wouldn't want the other dragons to think I cheated you." She shook her head solemnly. "This is worth much more than just one kiss."
Dai's green eyes gleamed wickedly as he allowed her to push him back onto his elbows. His feet were still on the floor, his long, muscled body stretched across the bed. "Is it worth two kisses, then?"
"I'll show you what it's worth." Virginia let her robe slip off her shoulders. She still wore nothing but panties and one of his dress shirts underneath.
He watched hungrily as she slowly undid each button until the shirt hung open. She shrugged it off, and was rewarded by Dai's long sigh. His need pulled at her down the mate-bond as she slowly slid her panties down. She could feel how badly he wanted to touch her, to worship her.
*Wait,* she told him silently.
After all her recent fear and helplessness, she wanted to reclaim power in at least one small area of her life. From the gentle glow of acceptance and love that washed over her, she knew that Dai had sensed her need to take control, and understood it. He settled back onto his elbows obediently, though his eyes tracked her every movement with intense desire.
Virginia straddled him, feeling the thick swell of his erection even through his jeans. His hips jerked involuntarily, the friction sending delicious waves of pleasure through her.
"Wait," she said again, out loud this time. She brushed his lips with her fingertips, forestalling his protest. "It's my turn to adorn you."
"Yes," Dai said hoarsely. His eyes had gone to thin rims of gold around the wide, dark pupils. His strong hands clenched in the bedcover. "Oh, yes."
Raising herself up a little on her knees, she freed the hem of his t-shirt. His abs bunched in hard ridges as he leaned forward to let her pull it over his head. Pushing him down flat again, she sat back on her heels, for a moment just admiring the gorgeous lines of his body.
*Mine,* she thought wonderingly, and didn't even realize she'd sent the thought to him until she felt the wave of wholehearted assent coming back down the mate-bond. He was hers; all of him, always, hers and hers alone.
Very carefully, Virginia placed the Dragon's Eye in the center of Dai's chest, right over his heart. The gold and gems sparkled at his sharp intake of breath. The star at the center of the largest ruby danced with his heartbeat.
"Daifydd Drake, I adorn you." She tapped the artifact with one finger, shooting him a mischievous smile. "Now stay adorned. If you can."
Virginia bent to kiss the hollow of his throat. Her breasts brushed deliciously against the hard planes of his chest as she traced the line of his collarbone with her tongue. She ached to feel him inside her, but forced herself to stay slow
and unhurried, relishing the way his breathing quickened as she worked her way down to his tight nipple.
He groaned as she grazed his nipple with her teeth, every muscle tightening. “Virginia—!”
"Careful," Virginia murmured against his tanned skin. She tapped the Dragon's Eye with one finger. "Don't let it slip."
He subsided again, though she could feel what exquisite torment it was to him to have to hold still. To have such a powerful man willingly placing himself entirely at her command was as exhilarating as flying on dragonback. Her own heartbeat sped, matching his as she worked her way yet lower, licking along his hard abs.
"Virginia," Dai gasped as she unbuttoned his jeans. His head was raised, watching her over the gold glittering between them. Awe and agony mingled in his face. He lifted his hips a little to allow her to work his jeans down. "Oh God. Virginia."
His hands fisted as she ran her tongue along the enticing grooves leading from hipbone to the base of his rigid cock. "Please. I can't take much more of this."
In response, Virginia opened her mouth and enveloped the straining head of his cock. He threw his head back with a cry, the cords of his neck standing out. Virginia swirled her tongue around him, savoring his helpless moans as she explored every inch of his thick cock. She relished filling her mouth with him, in a tantalizing preview of being filled by that rock-hard shaft. Even taking in as much as she could, he was so long she still had room to wrap her fist around the base, working him with her hand as well as her mouth.
She could feel the way she was driving him to the very edge. His intense pleasure washed over her down the mate-bond, every stroke of her tongue or hand on him echoed in her own body.
She knew the point when he could take no more, because his urgency was her own. She reared up, straddling him again. His hands coming up to intertwine with hers, his strong arms bracing her as she finally, finally slid down onto his cock.
She was so ready that the first exquisite thrust tipped her over the edge. Waves of pleasure washed over her. She rode him in a strong, swift rhythm, his hips urging her on. They mounted to higher and higher peaks of ecstasy like a dragon spiraling up into the sky, and when Dai finally arched up underneath her, calling out her name as she gasped his, it was as if they flew together into the very heart of the sun.
Sweat-drenched and satisfied in every fiber of her being, Virginia collapsed down onto Dai's broad chest. For a long, luxurious moment, she just lay there as their heartbeats slowed in unison. Then she fidgeted. The Dragon's Eye was digging into her breast. She fished it out from between their bodies.
"Well," she said ruefully, placing the artifact onto the bed beside them. "My old archaeology professor would really not have approved of that."
Dai's laughter rumbled deep in his chest. "I did, though." His fingers traced wondering, tender paths down her bare back. "Even my dragon thinks we got the better deal in that trade."
Virginia propped herself up on her elbows, gazing down at him. "Oh, no, no. The Dragon's Eye is worth much more than that." She tried to school her face into a serious expression, but one corner of her mouth tugged up despite her best efforts. "That was just the first installment of my payment plan."