Call of the Dragon (Return to Avalore Book 1) by Elianne Adams

her pity party, but for now, Drake needed her, and she wouldn’t let him down again.
    Each breath she took centered her as she relaxed, pushing her energy to build stronger and more pure than she ever had before. She ignored her exhaustion, shoving it away along with her discomfort. All negative thoughts and emotions were eradicated from her mind as the purple light built and expanded.
    It was barely there at first, but deep within her, something reached for him. It was as though something was waking and unfurling inside, stretching and yawning as it woke from a deep dormant state. Her heart raced as the unfamiliar sensation grew stronger with each passing second. She tried to move, but her body was frozen in place. She was powerless to stop it as it overwhelmed and overtook her. She would have pulled back, but whatever had awoken was strong—too strong. It didn’t let her back down as it pulled at him, drawing his very life essence and holding it in its grip.
    Only once an intense feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment swamped her did whatever that was, ease back and then disappear.
    Her head spun as colors swirled behind her closed eyelids. Deep, vibrant red and orange mixed with bright yellow danced in her mind before fading into the background.
    What the hell was that? She didn’t feel different, yet she knew deep down, somehow she was.
    When she opened her eyes again, his deep blue ones, although glazed, were open and locked onto hers.
    Her quick indrawn breath was cut short when his arms came up and dragged her down so she lay sprawled over him, her face inches from his. Had she not been so tired, she might have been able to brace herself or at least cushion the fall, but as it was, she fell hard.
    Seeing what was coming, she tried to stop him, but was too late. One hand stayed on her back, holding her to him while the other tangled in her hair, pulling her head closer. His lips slid over hers, teasing, enticing, his tongue darted out to probe at the seam, seeking entrance.
    Although shock prevented her from moving away at first, his kiss kept her there. It was so much more than she’d imagined and her dreams hadn’t done it justice either. His firm lips and warm tongue teased a response from her, even though she knew she shouldn’t allow it. She’d dreamt of his kiss, his touch, but this was just wrong. He was sick and needed care, not a makeout session, but her body refused to listen. Her lips parted of their own volition, deepening the kiss, drawing his tongue into her mouth. Desire blazed through her like wildfire, making her burn from the inside out. Her nipples peaked against the hard planes of his chest, demanding attention.
    His hands slid down the length of her back to the hem of her t-shirt, finding the rounded curve of her ass. A soft purr-like rumbling vibrated in his chest as he ground her closer to his hardening body, moulding her to him, enflaming them both.
    He was hot, too hot, and not the yummy hunk of male kind either. The heat from his hands cut through the haze of her desire as she fought to control her raging need.
    “No, Drake. Not like this. You’re sick.” Her voice was breathless and not very convincing at all, but she had to break the spell. She pulled back, easing away from him, even as every cell in her being cried out in protest.
    Her chest heaved with ragged breaths as she tried to control her wayward body. His hungry eyes followed each up and down movement, making her nipples tighten again under his hot gaze. It took everything in her to scoot back out of his reach when all she wanted was to lean in and get lost in his kiss again.
    “That’s enough of that.” Her eyes widened at the sexy huskiness in her voice. Where was the stern voice she’d been trying for? “You need to get better. Save your strength for healing.”
    His devilish grin was nearly her undoing.
    “Kissing is so much more pleasurable. Come here, beautiful.” His sensuous voice slid into her mind,