Chapter 151 – Always & Forever  - Cage's POV

I kissed the top of Raine's head, tasting her wet hair on my lips. It was sweet, like the finest nectar. I struggled to grasp the concept that we had been apart for five months. For me, it felt like no time had passed since I told her goodbye.

Memories of that terrible day crashed over me, causing my heart to twist painfully. My body had been so cold as it edged closer and closer to the kiss of death. Raine had hovered over me, her crystal blue eyes filled with panic and fear, screaming at me that I would be okay, begging me not to leave her.

But I had known my end was near.

And I was faced with the impossible task of telling her all that was in my heart. Everything she meant to me. Everything I had foolishly thought I had a lifetime to share. But I didn't have a lifetime, or days or even minutes.

All I had were a few breaths left...

As I laid on the cold, hard ground, images of her flooded through my brain. Memories. Frozen snapshots in time. The first time I laid eyes on her. How foolish I had been. Thinking I was the bloodthirsty predator and she was my frail prey, when in reality, she stole my heart and made me hers with just one look.

The first time she gave herself to me. Trusting me to teach her. Exploring my body without reservation. The taste of her, the feel of her against my flesh. Our bodies joined together, me deep inside of her.

The moment our souls became one during our mating ceremony. The utter love and devotion that swirled in her lake-colored eyes. Happiness. Joy. Mischievous. Playful lust.

My sweet tiger...with so much fire.

I couldn't let her go. I couldn't say goodbye. I couldn't.

But the choice had been ripped away from me.

And in those final moments, before the darkness took me, I promised her the one steadfast truth in my heart—I promised to love her forever.

But I hadn't died. And she had found me. Instinctively, I tightened my grip around her. She looked up at my face, concern creasing her forehead. I forced myself to relax and kissed her lightly on the lips. She laid her head against my chest, contentment thrumming through her.

I looked at the odd assortment of people assembled around us. Felaern, Talon and Brialle weren't too much of a surprise, but I bristled with anger when I saw Killian and the other two Fae from Marku's jail. I lifted Raine off of my lap and set her carefully on the ground. In the next second, I was on my feet, standing protectively in front of her.

Without conscious thought, I clasped my hands together, feeling power spark between my fingertips, and raised them in the air, my glowing palms facing toward the Fae. I didn't occur to me, in the moment, that I had never had, or accessed, such skills before. I just reacted on instinct—what my body demanded I do, in order to eliminate the threat against her. A growl ripped from my chest.

Killian repositioned his weight, taking on a fighting stance, and eyed me warily. Raine quickly scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide as she stared at my glowing hands. She grasped my arm and spoke hurriedly, "No, they won't hurt me! He helped us. Lady Sofielle is his mother."

"What?!" A hiss came from my throat and my head snapped in her direction. First I found out the insane revelation that the bitch who attacked me, was actually Felaern's lost mate. And now she was also Killian's mother?! How was that possible?

Brialle interjected, "It's true. They helped us find you, risking their own lives in the process."

I relaxed my stance, but I still didn't fully trust them and demanded, "What about Marku?"

Raine flinched.

Her reaction caused fury to crash through me. I remembered Marku's vendetta against her, his sole desire to cause her pain. I curled my hands into fists to keep from lashing out and spoke through clenched teeth, "What did he do to you? I swear, I will end him if he hurt you."

She stepped closer and wrapped her body around mine. I couldn't help but release some of the pent up tension and relaxed into her. She spoke softly, "He didn't hurt me. He saved my life."

I stared down at her in surprise. There was emotion swirling in her eyes, I wasn't exactly sure what it was. "We have much to talk about," she repeated my earlier words.

I nodded and let it drop. It was clearly a discussion for when we were alone. I inclined my head toward the last three people and asked, "Who are the two naked guys standing with Queen Ileana?"

Ileana cringed.

The larger of the two males stopped looking at me, his attention riveted to her as he murmured in surprise, "Queen?"

She refused to look at him or reply.

Okay, clearly a lot had happened while I was gone.

Felaern made the introductions, "King Morenth, may I introduce King Micage of the Esteemed Raine Bloodline and the Tremidael Empire." Felaern took a breath and looked at me as he continued, "King Micage, this is King Morenth of the Dragon Realm and Dragon Lord Tavian, third in line for the crown."

Dragons?

I hadn't expected that answer. Their nudity made sense now. I inclined my head and they both reciprocated in kind, however the king barely looked in my direction, his attention still firmly fixed on the side of Ileana's face.

Raine interjected, "King Morenth, could we beg your hospitality for one more day, to give Cage time to regain his strength before we leave?"

The king glanced at us and then his eyes changed to one of calculation before replying, "I'm sorry, but our agreement was only until you located your mate."

Ileana turned to face him with a glare and opened her mouth to speak. Before she could utter a word, he purred, "However I might be inclined to reconsider...for the right inducement."

She narrowed her eyes and snapped, "What do you want?"

"Answers," he replied pointedly.

She ground her teeth together. "One...answer."

He smiled with an air of innocence and added, "Of my choosing."

She glared a moment longer and finally hissed, "Fine."

His smile widened. "Excellent. Then you shall be my guests for one more day. If you are done here, I would advise we take our leave."

With that, he walked a safe distance from Ileana. His shape blurred and grew. Wings and a tale sprouted, the sound of tendons and bones realigning. I watched with great interest as he shifted. I had heard of Dragon Lords, but had never met one and certainly hadn't ever witnessed their startling transformation. It was fascinating to behold.

The large dragon peered down at Ileana expectantly. With a huff, she walked to him and crawled onto his back. The other dragon also shifted. Raine took my hand and pulled me forward. Talon joined us as we climbed up the creature's hind leg. He sat in the center of the dragon's shoulders, Raine slid in behind him and me behind her.

Talon's haggard appearance hadn't escaped my attention. I'd never seen him with facial hair. It was un-kept and there were dark circles under his eyes. It must not have missed Raine's either because once we were settled, she whispered, "Talon?"

He turned around to face her, unable to contain the sadness and emotion in his eyes. She lifted to her knees and wrapped both arms around his shoulders. He dropped his head against neck and clung to her. She murmured quietly, "I'm sorry for leaving you for two months."

He just nodded and held her tighter. I clasped his shoulder. He looked up at me from their embrace. She pulled back a little and wiped the pads of her thumbs across his cheeks to catch his tears. He stared at me, relief evident in his eyes, and spoke gruffly, "It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back." I gave him a warm smile and reassured him quietly, "Neither of us is going anywhere without you, anytime soon."

He nodded silently and dropped his head back into Raine's shoulder. I added my arms around both of them and held tightly. "I'm glad she had you while I was away. You are a part of our family. I think of you like a son." I tried to convey how much he meant to me and how important he was to both of us.

Raine gasped. I couldn't see her face because I was behind her and her head was buried against his neck, but I felt her body shake with silent sobs. The force of her reaction surprised me. I held them tighter and murmured, "Shh...It's going to be okay now."

We stayed in the embrace for several more minutes while Raine's tears slowed and finally stopped.

So wrapped up in our reunion, I had barely realized Tavian was in flight. I took a moment to look at the ground far beneath us, and sucked in a sharp breath. The view from this height was amazing.

Within minutes, a vast castle came into view. Tavian circled around to the side and landed in front of two massive sized doors. It only took a quick moment for us to leap down and follow the again-naked dragons through the doors.

.........

Raine and I were finally alone.

King Morenth had ensured our thirst was managed first.  And not a moment too soon. We hadn't felt the hunger pains immediately when we came out of the Pool, because our systems were riddled with adrenaline. But shortly after we arrived at the castle, both of our eyes were gleaming crimson.  We had quickly been ushered into a side room and a group of humans joined us moments later. Not sure why he had humans on hand, or why they were all female, but with minimal coaxing, they seemed happy to do whatever the Dragon Lords requested...even letting vampires bite into them.

After several humans each, our thirst was finally satiated, and we continued deeper into the castle to a luxury suite for us to spend the day recuperating together. Even by my standards, the opulence of the rooms, and the castle in general, was vast. Dragons certainly did enjoy their wealth.

We had much to talk about, but first...

With Raine's hand tucked into mine, we made our way into the bathroom. Reaching the ridiculously large walk-in shower, I turned to face her and placed my hands at her waist, stroking the soft skin under her shirt with my fingertips. 

Instantly, the scent of her arousal filled the room. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Fuck, she smelled good. I wanted to bend her over right then and there...but all in good time. I opened my eyes to find her staring up at me, lust and desire swirling in her crystal blue orbs.

I lifted her shirt over her head, dropping it behind her, and reached around to unclasp her bra. She pulled her arms out of the straps and tossed it near her discarded shirt.  Her pants were next. Never taking my eyes off of hers, I unbuttoned her pants, and slid the zipper down slowly. She trembled with anticipation. Pushing the garment and her panties together, over her hips, I let them both fall to the floor. She took a small step out, leaving her bare before me.

I dropped my eyes so that I could savor her. Her breasts were full and rounded, the curve of her hip pronounced as it swayed from her trim waist. Her pussy was covered with a triangle of tiny blonde curls. I wrapped a ringlet around my finger, intrigued. I had never seen her with hair before. It was so soft. At my touch, her taut pink nipples tightened even more, standing at attention, begging for my mouth. I looked at them approvingly.

Soon...

I released the curl and let my hand drop lower, stroking one finger lightly through her folds to collect her arousal. "Always so wet for me," I murmured as I brought my finger to my lips. It tasted like her and the sweet nectar of the lake.

"Cage," she moaned, letting her eyes flutter shut and back open.

Now it was her turn to stare as I freed myself from my own clothing.  And her eyes were riveted to just one place...my hard cock. She licked her lips when I dropped my pants and it sprang free. She reached a hand toward me, but I caught her wrist. Her eyes snapped up to mine.

I couldn't help the wicked glint in my eye. My voice was just a purr, "Not yet."

Her gaze widened in surprise, and then she gave me a little nod with a smirk of her own. The game was on. One, I would win. I intended to worship her body, enjoy what was mine, and make her wait, through our shower until we reached the gorgeous bed, before I fucked her senseless and let her come. Given the calculated look in her eyes, her plan was to have me inside of her, sooner rather than later, multiple orgasms on her mind. Oh, I would give her that, she would come again and again, just not until I brought her right to the edge of her sanity first.

I stepped into the shower and turned on three of the plentiful shower heads, keeping my body out of the initially cold spray. Water rained down from the ceiling and the walls. Within less than a minute, steam filled the room as the temperature rose. She followed me in, closing the door behind her.

"Turn around," I spoke gruffly. She obeyed, giving me her back. I lathered her hair with shampoo, my fingers massaging her scalp. She exhaled in contentment, and rested against my chest.

But I had no intention of letting her relax. By the time I was done, she would be strung so tight, she would shatter apart with just one touch to her clit. I gripped her hip with one sudsy hand, holding her steady, and slid my hard manhood up and down between her ass cheeks and lower spine, heightening her focus, promising what was to come, the same rocking motion of our bodies I would use later, but it wouldn't be calm.

I growled, "When I'm finished with you, that sweet little pussy is going to be raw.  You're going to feel me between your legs for days." I need her, and wanted her, and planned to take her sweet sex savagely.  Those were the images I wanted in her head. I wanted her to think of nothing else.

She gasped, another hit of arousal releasing from her body. She arched her back and eagerly tilted her ass up, giving me easy access, encouraging me to enter her pussy. But I had no intention of doing that...yet.  I stopped moving against her and resumed washing her hair.

She whined in frustration.

I chuckled low.

She glanced over her shoulder at me with her pink lips turned down in a pout. Her eyes narrowed as she studied my expression. She knew what I was doing. "Turn back around," I ordered her.  She hesitated, but something in my eyes must have made her realize I wouldn't relent, and then she obeyed. With a little huff.

My smile widened. I rinsed the soap from her hair and reached for the body wash. No need for a washcloth, my hands would work perfectly. I poured a generous amount into my palms and began at her feet, building a lather, as I moved up her legs. She trembled the closer I got to her pussy.

But my touch was feather light as I cleaned her folds, just barely brushing against her skin. Nothing that would come close to giving her release. She tried to grind against my hand, but I kept control of her hip, limiting her movement.  She let out a growl of discontent and actually stomped her foot a little. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. I continued my slow progression to her belly and arms, even her neck. Massaging her flesh. I wanted her to feel my touch on every inch of her body.

"Cage...," she whined and panted.

"Yes, Tigru?"

"I want you," she whispered, her voice low and needy.

"Not yet," I replied huskily. She wasn't nearly ready. It would take time and skill to get her where I wanted her to be. I was perfectly willing to put in the time. And I had the skill to make her body do exactly what I wanted. I kept her back tight against my chest, and reached for her breasts, rubbing and tugging on her nipples.

"Oh..." Her head fell back and she let out a moan. She squirmed, rubbing her ass against my dick, a subtle movement, a slow grind,  and pressed her chest forward into my hands.  I squeezed both breasts, pushing them together, and rolled her nipples roughly through my fingertips, pinching hard.

"Cage...!" She gasped at the force I was using. Her grind against me lost it's subtlety as she pushed her ass into me hard, stroking up and down my shaft.

I groaned and grabbed her hips to stop her movement.  "Patience, Tigru," I breathed on her neck, smiling to myself, she wasn't a patient person. "We need to get clean first."

Abruptly she spun in my arms. She tilted her head up to me. "You're right. Why don't I help you with that?" Her eyes danced with determination and confidence. Okay, her turn.

Exactly as I had done to her, she washed my hair and ran her hands on my body to clean it, leaving no skin untouched. She paid particular attention to my balls and swollen coçk, spending extra amount of time rolling them between her fingers and gripping me tightly, almost painfully, running her hand up and down my shaft.

I growled and thrust into her hand. She smirked and released me, letting the water rinse away all of the soap. I reached for her, but she slipped through my fingers, dropping to her knees in front of me. She looked up at me through her eyelashes, a devilish grin on her face, as she clutched my manhood in her hand and wrapped her lips around one of my balls, pulling it into her mouth, twirling her tongue while she sucked on it.

Fuck. Me. My breathing became shallow. I placed a palm against the wet tiled wall to steady myself, and watched her. After thoroughly pleasuring one nut, she released it and gathered the other one into her mouth, giving it equal attention. I groaned. She was playing the game brilliantly.

She pulled back and purred, "Do you like that?"

"You know I do," I gritted out.

"Uh huh," she affirmed almost to herself, and then sank her hot, wet mouth, down around my cock, angling her neck to push me deeper into her throat.  She closed her eyes and groaned with her own pleasure of having me in her mouth. The sound was sexy as fuck. The vibration from her mewling, reverberated against my dick.  She loved it as much as I did. It was one of her favorite ways to wake me up in the mornings, wrapping her lips around my cock,  enjoying the way I felt against her tongue, licking and playing to her hearts content. Of course, I never argued.  She was fucking fantastic with her mouth, the best head I've ever had. She had killer instincts and no inhibitions...the combination was almost deadly.

And every time, I would explode with abandon. But not this time.  This time something edgier was brewing inside of me. A need to dominate her, the predator very close to the surface. I tangled my fingers into her hair to keep her head in position and thrust farther down her throat.

Her eyes flew open as she looked up at me. But she didn't pull away. I gave her a moment and did it again, pushing deeper than she had ever taken me. She gagged a little but recovered quickly. "All of me, Tigru," I grunted, letting her know what I wanted.

Her eyes darkened with lust, she was ready to try again.

"Relax your throat," I murmured, still pumping in and out of her shallowly.

She gave me a little nod.  I rolled my hips forward, pushing deeply. No gag this time.  It took a few more strokes, progressively going deeper each time, but finally I was there, her lips coming flush against my balls. Fuçk it felt amazing. I shuddered hard, forcing back my release.

I didn't miss the triumphant gleam in her eyes. She was proud of herself. And I loved her that much more, for submitting to what I wanted, even when it was difficult for