'Tsk, tsk. So impatient.' How much longer could he hold back? Out. In. So slowly. When she gasped his name, his control almost broke. His muscles were bunched with the strain.
'I love you,' she moaned.
That was all it took; his control snapped completely. With a growl of need, he slammed inside her, quickly drawing back, only to pound deeper inside her.
Over and over, again and again, he sank into her depths, loving the feel of her hot wetness. And when she screamed her release for a second time, he spilled deep inside her, his orgasm shaking his entire body.
Naked atop the bed, Jewel lay cuddled in Gray's arms, quite positive she'd never been more content. Even the knowledge that the Temple of Cronus was destroyed, her father an eternal mystery, couldn't dampen her lassitude. Then...
'Now we talk,' Gray said, his voice raspy from all the growling he'd done. He rolled to his side, facing her and propping his head on his upraised hand.
She sighed, mentally saying goodbye to her relaxed mood.
'What did you want to tell me earlier?'
Dread curled in her stomach, but she forced the words from her mouth. He deserved to know the truth.
She'd promised him the truth. No matter his reaction, no matter what he decided to do to her, she'd promised to tell him. 'I am—I am the Jewel of Dunamis.'
She expected him to gasp, to push her away, or to snort in disbelief. Every muscle in her body tensed, waiting for his horrified reaction.
It never came.
He sighed, and the sound echoed hers. 'I thought so.'
Confused, dazed, she jolted upright. 'You thought so? You thought so! I've been sick with worry and you thought so? Why didn't you say anything to me?'
'Honey, it was just a matter of sorting through certain facts.' He tugged her back into his embrace. 'Plus, I'm a genius. You said the stone's protector wanted to keep it safe but would willingly hand it over for destruction. That protector is me, right?'
'Yes. You're not angry?' she asked, softening, still unable to believe he accepted her so readily. 'You don't want to destroy me?'
'Of course not. For an all-knowing being, you sure can overreact. You're the jewel. We can deal with that. I'm not going to kill you, and I'm not going to give you to OBI. They would hurt you, and that I won't allow. I love you too much for that.'
'What?' Heart thumping in her chest, she jolted up again. 'What did you say?' 'I love you.'
Her eyes widened. Ribbons of happiness curled around her every cell. He loved her. Gray James loved her. He'd never said those words to another, and she heard the truth in his voice. Of all the things she'd imagined happening, this had never entered her mind.
'This is—this is a dream, right?' She rubbed her eyes, blocking the momentary glimpse of wonder she knew gleamed there. 'I'll awaken soon.'
'Uh, excuse me,' he said darkly. 'Don't you have something you want to say to me? You've said it before, but that was at the height of pleasure, so it doesn't count.'
With a whoop, she threw herself into his waiting embrace. 'I love you. I've always loved you.'
He reached between them and cupped her jaw with his palms. 'That's better.' One of his hands twisted her hair, banding the locks around his fingers. 'You realize you're coming to the surface with me, don't you? Don't even think about saying no. I'll think of something to tell my boss, even if I have to steal one of the jewels here and give it to him, claiming it's Dunamis.' He paused, his expression guarded. 'You still want to come with me, right?'
'I'd follow you anywhere.' She licked his collarbone, reveling in the sound of his sharp intake of breath. 'We have some time before our presence is required. Think I can keep you busy until then?'
'I think you could keep me busy forever.'
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Jewel rifled through the only closet in the room and found several robes. She withdrew a sheer blue one, lace jagged across the hem and small, glistening sapphires sewed into the bodice. They'd bathed and Gray was already dressed in the leather pants and tie-shirt of the dragons.
He'd radioed his boss several moments ago and told the man that he had Dunamis in his possession. After minutes of the man's excited whooping, minutes of her heart skipping multiple beats, Gray pried a sapphire from the wall and gave her a secret, tender grin before stuffing it in his bag.
How they were going to get her past OBI, she didn't know. She only knew she was going to the surface! 'What do you think?' she asked, holding the glittery material up to her body.
'I think I prefer you naked.'
She laughed and shimmied the material over her head, covering her nakedness. 'I refuse to go to lunch naked.'
'Too bad.'
Just as she was fastening the ties of her new light blue robe, a knock sounded at the door. 'Enter,' she called.
The doors slit down the middle and slid apart. A blond warrior stood in the entrance, the dragon medallion hanging from his neck aglow.
'Brand,' Jewel said with a smile. 'Nice to see you again.'
'And you. Come,' he said, his golden eyes averted to keep him from seeing anything he shouldn't. His hair hung in disarray around his shoulders, giving his amused features a roguish quality. 'Lunch is served.'
Jewel sighed, already mourning the loss of this wonderful reprieve. Of the soft touches Gray liked to slide over her body, of the hot kisses he liked to climb up her legs. As if he couldn't stand letting her go, either, he strode to her side and placed a kiss on her lips, their tongues daring a quick mating.
'Gods above,' Brand muttered, spinning on his heel. They followed him down the hall.
Gray linked their fingers and gave a gentle squeeze. 'Everything's going to be okay. You'll see. I won't leave your side.' Releasing her hand, he anchored his palm to her neck and massaged, shifting strands of her hair. 'If there's any trouble,' he added, staring into her eyes, making her feel warm and cherished, 'I'll go all demon on Darius's ass.'
The dragon-carved table was piled high with food and drink, wafting a mouth-watering aroma in every direction. All of the warriors Gray had met in the forest were there, plus a few more, sitting impatiently, waiting for him and Jewel to arrive. Darius claimed the head of the table with a formally clad Grace on his right. A ruby necklace draped her neck, her red hair was piled high on her head, and she wore a soft pink gown.
The only two available chairs were on Darius's left. Gray claimed the one closest to the dragon, and Jewel eased in beside him.
'You may eat,' Darius said.
Immediately the men dug into the food, a meal that consisted of honey-glazed ham, cranberry turkey, and some kind of white pudding. Each recipe came from the surface, Jewel realized, for she'd seen Gray eat each of these dishes. She spooned a bite of the pudding into her mouth and closed her eyes in surrender as the rich, decadent flavor spread on her tongue.
'I hope you found the room satisfactory,' Grace said after swallowing a bite of ham. 'We did. Thank you.' Jewel offered her a soft smile.
'Darius explained that you have no name.' The pretty human wore an expression of utter perplexity. 'He said most people call you 'it' or 'slave'.'
'She has a name,' Gray said, his tone flat and hard and brooking no room for argument. 'It's Jewel.'
'See.' She tossed Darius a smug glance. 'I told you she had a name. A beautiful one, at that.' Smiling, she returned her attention to Jewel. 'I think it's so cool you can predict the future. Darius and I could have used that kind of ability when I first came here. You could have told him how much he loved me, so he wouldn't have fought it so hard.'
