Part 12 (1/2)

His muscles rippled and bulged as he made his way down. His thigh muscles were thick. His a.s.s clenched and released. ”I don't understand it,” he said, breathing heavily. ”He pretended to kill me.” He was close enough now for her to make out his facial features. One of his eyes was puffy and his nose was b.l.o.o.d.y. Thunder grinned. ”I think he did it to make you submissive. If you thought I was dead then you wouldn't fight him.” His breath continued to come in loud pants, as he continued to descend. When he was about twenty feet from the ground, he let go, landing in a crouch at her feet. ”He f.u.c.ked up.”

”Yes, he did.”

”He p.i.s.sed you off.” Thunder rose to his full height. ”Remind me never to p.i.s.s you off.”

Tammy threw herself into his arms. ”You're alive.”

He pulled a face and fell back, landing on his a.s.s with a grunt.

”I'm sorry,” she laughed when she caught him smiling. ”I can't believe you're here.”

”And you're ... a sight for sore eyes. I can't believe you got away.” He cupped her cheeks, examining her. ”I saw him fall. I was sure ...” he frowned, his mouth pulling together. His eyes filled with concern.

”I cut him, he's dying,” she spoke quickly, looking into those amazing eyes of his. Her heart felt like it was swelling in her chest. ”I'm so happy you're alive,” she breathed the words rather than said them, her voice hitching at the end. Tammy gripped him tighter around the neck. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. She pushed her whole body against his. Against that magnificent chest. Tammy gave a small sob as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. Next, she threaded her fingers through his hair, loving the way it felt between her fingers.

She'd almost lost him. There was so much to say, so much to do. One thing was for sure, she was done with being afraid. Okay, maybe not totally done but close enough.

Chapter 15.

Her core was pressed against his belly. Her mouth was on his. He deepened the kiss, groaning into her mouth. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were mashed against him. He loved the feeling of her hands on him, kneading his scalp, pulling softly on his hair. He swallowed up her whimpers and moans. She tasted like he might never get enough of her.

With great effort, he pulled away, putting his forehead against hers. ”Hold that thought,” his chest rumbled with a low growl. He'd never been more turned on in all his life.

”What ...? Why ...?” Her eyes were unfocussed, her lips slightly swollen from their kiss. She pushed herself more firmly against him. Rubbed herself against him.

”You need to show me where you left him.”

That sobered her up. ”He's finished. There is no way he could have survived.”

”He was bleeding?” Thunder kept his arms around her. ”When you cut him, it was across the belly?”

”How do you know?” She frowned.

”You're covered in blood. If I'm not mistaken,” he pointed at the smears of gunk caked to her t-s.h.i.+rt, ”that's ...”

”Don't say it,” Tammy wrinkled her nose. ”Please, I'll vomit.” She touched her cheeks, her eyes wide. ”Do I have any on my face?”

Thunder had to work not to smile. ”A tiny smear.”

She seemed to relax. ”Just a smear.” She touched her cheek the one that was covered in dried gore. Her hair on that side was plastered to her scalp. She'd never looked more beautiful.

”You're so d.a.m.ned gutsy and courageous.” He closed his mouth over hers for a second. Thankfully, it was one of the only places that wasn't covered in grime. He would've kissed her anyway.

”I did what I had to,” she said as he pulled back. She frowned for a moment. ”You didn't fight back earlier.”

Thunder nodded. ”You noticed.”

”I did.”

”I would've been dead if I had. I couldn't win in my state. I hoped he wouldn't be able to do it. We've always had a strong a friends.h.i.+p. I hoped it would keep him from killing me in cold blood, despite his mental illness, and I was right.”

”He was going to hurt me.”

”I know.” Thunder held her closer, he put his cheek to hers for a moment. The dirty one. He didn't care, he could have lost her.

Tammy was the one to pull back. ”I hate to say it.” She looked pained for a moment. ”It will be better if he is dead.”

Thunder felt a deep sadness at the thought of the male being dead. At the same time, he felt relief. They had grown up together. At one time he had been a good male, one of the best. He couldn't deny it though, Cloud was no longer that male. ”I need you to show me where you left him. I need to be sure that he's dead.” Thunder struggled to get up, he held Tammy close to his chest as he did. Then he put her down and she almost collapsed.

Blast! His own energy levels were running on low as well. Thunder gripped her tighter. He shouldn't have showed off on the climb down. ”I will carry you.”

”No way!” She touched his cheek for a moment. ”You look really tired.” Her eyes darted about his face. ”I can walk. It's not too far.”

”You sure?”

She gave a nod.

”I can carry ...”

”I'll walk. I'm fine.”

Thunder nodded back, he took ahold of her hand. ”Lead the way.” He needed to try to preserve his energy. It was difficult to kill a dragon. He doubted Cloud was dead.

”That way,” she pointed to a break in the trees a couple of miles down a sloping hill.

”What happened to your blanket?” Her eyes stayed focused on the path ahead.

Thunder gave a grunt. He used one hand to cover his d.i.c.k. It was still standing at full attention. ”The blanket?” Thunder raised his brows. ”I guess I didn't even think about it. I hightailed it after you.”

She made a snorting noise. ”I should've been miles away by now. Too far for you to run. Definitely too far to find me.”

He let go of his junk. She'd seen him already. The flush of her cheeks gave her away. As did the hitch in her breathing. The scent of her arousal. Her hard nipples. ”I meant what I said earlier. I told Cloud that I would come for you and I would have. I told him I would end him and I would have.” He gave her small hand a light squeeze. ”Turns out I didn't have to because you're a bada.s.s.” Thunder shook his head and gave a chuckle.

She gave another little snort. ”If you say so.”

”I do. It's good to see that you're not afraid anymore.”

She looked away, her cheeks burning up. ”I'm getting there.” She glanced back in his direction, only she didn't look at his face. She looked significantly lower and from under her lashes. His d.i.c.k hardened up even more. The little human was totally checking him out.

”You can admit that I was right earlier ...”

Her eyes snapped back to the horizon and she tripped on a loose rock. Thunder gripped her hand a little tighter to steady her. ”Are you okay?”