LICKED BY THE FLAME
The Forbidden Realm #2
Serena Gilley
July 7, 2015
Forever Yours E-Book
One hot kiss from a smoldering dragon and all her thoughts go up in flames . . .
Lianne McGowan is a scientist on a mission. As brilliant as she is beautiful, she believes the key to the Earth's future is a new energy source. To find it, she'll delve deep into the fiery heart of an imposing mountain-and take on an even more imposing man: the sinfully seductive Nic Vladik.
Lianne McGowan is a scientist on a mission. As brilliant as she is beautiful, she believes the key to the Earth's future is a new energy source. To find it, she'll delve deep into the fiery heart of an imposing mountain-and take on an even more imposing man: the sinfully seductive Nic Vladik.
Shape-shifting dragon Nic has sworn to guard the secret to his brethren's insatiable power. He must stop Lianne's search, yet the moment he feels the soft silk of her skin, his soul is set on fire. Unable to resist, Nic and Lianne submit to desire, and experience an exquisite passion unlike either has ever known. But their pleasure is short-lived. Lianne has made a discovery that endangers herself, Nic, and all Dragonkind. With his world at stake, will Nic save his clan-or the woman he loves?
"Which
one of these buildings are you staying in?" he asked as they stepped out
into the chilled night air.
His
touch was light as he helped her down the wooden steps onto the chipped gravel
pathway that connected this modular to the others. It was late and the windows
around them were dark. Aside from the wind, the only sound she could hear was
the droning hum of generators and heating units.
And
now their footsteps as she led him toward the boxlike building where she was
staying. Would anyone see them? She hoped not. Maybe common sense would tell
her to stop, to send Nic off and ignore the burning want in her core or the
smoldering promise in his eyes.
She
paused on the pathway and gave common sense about three seconds to chime in.
"What
is it?" Nic asked. His voice was deep and hot and as intimate as if he
breathed into her ear.
"Nothing,"
she replied. "Come on."
She
reached the steps leading up to the main door of her modular. A porch had been
constructed there to give the place a homey, welcoming feel. She took a heady
breath and Nic's scent filled her senses. Her legs felt like jelly and she
stumbled a bit on the stairs. He put his hands on her waist to steady her. She
nearly melted under his touch.
"I'm
okay, thanks," she said, steadying herself and realizing that she'd never
before actually felt dizzy from pure desire. His hands practically burned
through her clothes, yet she couldn't wait to get even closer to him.
She
fumbled with the key card they'd assigned her. Finally the lock clicked and she
pushed the door open. Nic was at her side, but he didn't follow as she stepped
in. She held the door, confused by his hesitation.
"You
coming in?" she asked.
"Are
you sure that's what you want?" he asked.
Hell.
Her heart pounded and her body threatened to burst into flame at any moment
now. Yes, it was what she wanted! The fact that he asked made her remember how
serious this was, though. She'd come to do an important job, not get herself
tangled up with the resident bad-boy. Would she be jeopardizing her ability to
get things done? Would she lose the team's respect if they found out about
this? Would she ever forgive herself if she sent him back to his room now?
She
contemplated the answer. When she finally spoke, her reply hung like a mist in
the crisp air between them. She couldn't take it back if she wanted to. Which
she didn't.
"Yeah.
It's what I want."
He
smiled at her. Those damn eyes were black and fiery all at the same time. She
fell into them, trapped by his intensity and aching for something to quench the
heat burning inside her.
"I
know what you need, Lianne," he said as he reached for her.
She
pulled him into the homey modular and practically slammed the door behind him.
"Good. Then you aren't going pretend this has anything to do with the job or
any kind of relationship or fluffy rainbow dreams for the future, right?"
He
gave her another of those boiling hot grins just before he pulled her into his
arms. "I was hoping it was about really hot sex."
Yeah,
she was damn sure hoping that, too. She felt good, pressed up against him as
his body literally sucked the cold night chill out of her. She'd left her
sweater back in the computer room, but the way she was heating up now, she'd
never need it again.
The
man might be an ass, but he certainly knew how to give the right answers. From
his cocky attitude to his smoldering eyes, broad shoulders, and tight,
grabbable ass, he seemed to have everything that she wanted. At least for one
night. She was getting really good at taking life one night at a time.
They
were making out in the lounge area of the VIP guest house. There was a small
kitchenette behind them, plus two bedroom suites, one at each end of the
building. She was the only VIP staying here right now so they'd have the whole
place to themselves. Not that she expected they'd use much of it. The way he
was touching her now, pressing his lips to her neck and murmuring in—she
guessed—Russian, they might not even make it to the bedroom.
"Just
be sure you're out of here long before anyone on site wakes up and sees
you," she admonished, knowing she'd better talk now before his kisses
turned her brain to complete mush.
He
scooped her up into his arms. "Which bedroom is yours?"
As if
that really mattered. She'd settle for any place with a flat surface right now.
But for the sake of propriety she pointed to the door at the east end of the
modular where she'd stowed her suitcase and freshened up after arriving. He
marched forward like a man on a mission. Maybe she'd regret it in the morning,
but right now she was perfectly content that she was his mission.
Serena Gilley grew up reading fantasy and fairy tales, and believing there was a distinct possibility that both of them were real. Somewhere. Even all these years later, Serena's belief in magic and mystery hasn't diminished. In fact, She is living out her own happily-ever-after with a handsome prince in a beautiful castle, taming dragons and granting wishes every day. Okay, so the prince is a regular guy, the dragons are really just teenagers, and the wishes she grants are as spectacular as frozen pizza on Friday night, but it's a fantasy world just the same.
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