His dad had raised him to believe women needed safeguarding, that they were weak and vulnerable without a man. His strong, capable sister, Katie, proved that theory wrong every day. Jewel, too. She sought to guard and defend his life, to place herself in danger in hopes of saving him.
'You escaped from Marina,' Darius said. His voice was as hard and unbending as his expression. 'I am unsure whether to trust you. Are you here at her bidding?'
A wave of hurt flickered in Jewel's eyes, but she quickly doused it and returned the dragon leader's frown. 'No. Do you truly believe she would have let me leave for any reason? Even your downfall?'
Darius studied her and nodded. 'You are right. I have many questions for you. The human, though—' 'Is my only reason for coming with your men. If he leaves, so too do I.'
The dragon growled low in his throat. 'Very well, then. If he hurts, destroys or steals anything, I will personally see to his death.'
'I'd like to see you try,' Gray said without fear.
Unused to insubordination, Darius advanced toward him. Anger darkened his eyes.
The redhead stepped forward with a smile, blocking his path. Her smile seemed genuine despite the tension growing in the room. 'I'm Grace, the big guy's wife. It's so nice to meet you.'
As she stretched out her hand to shake Gray's, Darius growled, 'Touching Grace is not permitted, human. You will keep your hands to yourself.'
'Oh, hush up,' she said without turning around. She and Gray shook. 'I, for one, am glad to see another human.'
Darius threw up his hands in exasperation. 'You see your brother every day.' She only smiled again. 'Can you really consider Alex a human?'
Darius's lips pressed tight as he fought a grin of his own.
'Don't let Darius fool you,' she told Gray. 'He's nothing but a softie.' Grace turned to Jewel. 'We're so happy to have you here. I've heard so much about you. Why don't I show you to your rooms, and you can prepare for lunch. We'll all have a nice conversation after we've eaten.'
Darius stalked to the petite woman's side. 'I do not want you taking part in this. You—'
Grace turned her attention full force on her husband. She batted her lashes and curled her hands over his chest. 'I seriously hope you're not trying to send me away because you'd be in a shitload of trouble.'
The man melted, that was the only way to describe it. His expression softened and he reached out and brushed a red curl from Grace's temple. 'Take them to their rooms, then. After lunch, we will question them together.'
Grace planted a swift kiss on his lips before beaming up at Gray and Jewel. 'As I was saying, I'll show you to your rooms.'
'Room.' Gray shifted to battle stance. No way was he going to be parted from Jewel. 'Only one is needed.'
She looked to Jewel for confirmation. Jewel nodded, her cheeks bright red with color.
The blue-green of Grace's eyes sparkled with knowing. 'You can bathe, rest or... whatever, and we'll meet back here in one—'
'Two,' Jewel said, looking down at her feet. Gray's lips twitched.
'Two hours.'
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Their room boasted a large bathing pool, an even larger bed, and so many velvet pillows they could drown in them. Vases burst with diamonds, and an array of jewelry sprawled atop a marble vanity. A lamb's fleece carpet lined the floor.
'The sheer amount of wealth is amazing,' Gray said, pivoting on his heel to take everything in. He stood in the middle of the room.
'I've lived in many such rooms throughout my life.' Jewel stood a few feet away from him and kept her back to him. She gripped the material of her robe, bunching it between her fingers. The time had come to admit who and what she was. She couldn't wait till morning. Worry over his reaction had slammed into her, consuming her, the moment they'd shut the door.
'I'm sorry about the destruction of the temple,' he said before she could open her mouth. 'I know how much you wanted to discover your father's identity.'
'Perhaps one day, my father will find me.' Her eyelids squeezed shut, and she straightened her shoulders, gathering her courage. 'We need to talk, Gray. I must tell you—'
'Later.'
The huskiness of his tone made her shiver. 'But you need to know—'
'I want you on a bed.' He moved behind her, his arms winding around her, his hands finding her breasts. 'We can talk later.'
She twisted, facing him, and he lifted her. He carried her to the silk-covered bed. Gently he laid her on top. Her eyes were already closed, her lips parted as she purred her growing pleasure. Her black hair spilled around her delicate shoulders.
God, he loved this woman.
He took her hard and fast, almost savage in his need. He was surprised the need to drink her blood remained dormant as he hurtled them over the edge of satisfaction. Immediately afterward, he grew hard again. He couldn't get enough of her, but at least the urgency was gone. Now he could play and savor.
He kissed his way down her body, lingering on her ankles, the insides of her knees. Soon she was writhing beneath his mouth, crying out his name.
'You didn't go this slowly last time,' she gasped out.
He heard an edge of hurt in her voice and stilled. 'What do you mean?' 'You usually go slowly with your women. Like this.'
A strained chuckle escaped him, and he hugged her close to him, loving the feel of her breasts against his chest. What an innocent she was. 'Baby, that just proves I want you more than any other. With you, I lose my control. With you, nothing matters but being inside you.'
'Oh. Ohh.'
He licked his way into her mouth, feeding her kisses. She tasted sweet and womanly, the absolute essence of desire. Passion. Hunger. His cock was already throbbing with need for her, but he was going to go slow this time if it killed him.
As soft as feathers, he moved his fingers down her stomach and glided them to her silky, wet warmth. Teasing her. Taunting her. Pushing her to the edge before pausing.
'Gray!' she shouted his name like a prayer.
He circled her clitoris with his thumb while two of his fingers moved in and out of her. When she tensed, readying for orgasm, he stopped.
'Gray!' She shouted his name like a vile curse. 'Finish. Please. Hard and fast.'
How could he deny such a delicious request? Request? he thought. No, the woman had ordered him. 'I thought you wanted me to go slow.'
'I changed my mind.'
'I'm glad, but I'm still taking this slow.' Gradually, inch by inch, he entered her. She writhed against him. Her nails sunk into his back, her hands tugged at his hair and pulled his mouth to hers for a kiss.
'Faster,' she gasped. 'Slower,' he intoned. 'I already need... I need.'
'Me. You only need me.' And he needed her. When he was in her to the hilt, he pulled out just as slowly as he'd entered, than sank back in. Her hips arched in response. Everything inside him screamed to quicken his pace, to find release, but he didn't.
'I'm going to savor you,' he vowed.
'Savor me faster.' Her nipples were pearled against his chest, rasping against him with his every movement.
