Chosen by the Beasts, Claimed by the Dragon-Chapter 22: Claimed **R18

(A/N: do not worry, beloved readers! Although they are fated mates and making it official, this IS STILL A HAREM! ^_^ Everyone gets healthy, supportive love from our precious FL, it’ll just take some time. It’s important to me that I create a happy, non-toxic, plot-relevant harem for you all. <3 Thank you for your support!)

— ZORYN —

His hands are all over me, and I’m no better—we’re taking each other’s clothes off before I can even say his name.

When Ren pulls my shirt over my head, and my chest is bare to the night air, I whimper a little. My nipples are so sensitive that the crisp chill hardened them instantly, and it’s almost painful. He looks down at my body with dilated pupils, and in return, I shamelessly admire his smooth skin.

He has nearly full-body tattoos with faint traces of his scales on his shoulders and hips, framing his form. His cascade of wine and violet hair spills over his shoulder, the tips tickling my sensitive chest.

I can’t help myself, curiosity getting the better of me—I reach up and wrap a few locks of his hair around my finger, caressing the soft strands. It’s just as silky as it looks.

Ren watches me curiously, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "You’re being a little cute," he says—not mocking, just an observation.

My hand freezes for a moment. I’ve been called handsome, beautiful, pretty... but cute? That’s a new one. I furrow my brows. I feel... complicated. Normally, I would hate being called cute, but something about hearing it from him makes me feel... warm.

Instead of pulling back, I decide that if I’m going to make this life-altering decision and follow fate’s wishes by becoming his mate, I should do it with my whole chest. I’ve never been someone to hesitate or regret, and I’ll make sure this is no different.

"You’re the only one I’ll tolerate calling me cute," I say, moving my hand to the back of his neck and pulling him close. I look at him from beneath my lashes, "As long as I can call you cute, too."

"You can call me whatever you want if you’re looking at me like that," he whispers, leaning closer. He rubs his nose against mine, inhaling deeply as he does. "You smell so good."

I hum in agreement. His scent permeates the tent, and is even stronger with him on top of me—it’s downright intoxicating.

"I’m going to release the suppressant rune I put on you," Ren says, pressing his lips to mine in a soft kiss. "That way, we can actually fix it. You’re going to feel like you did yesterday morning, though. Hot, disoriented, needy."

I frown a little, "...But doesn’t that mean I’ll forget?"

"If I mark you properly," he says quietly, "then no, you won’t forget. Your heat cycles will be a lot less volatile. So, now’s your very last chance—if you..." his face tightens a little, like he’s forcing the words out, "If you don’t want to be mated to me for life, I won’t. I’ll just... have sex with you and hope it’s enough to satiate your heat."

I look at him for a long time. Our dragon eyes glow in the dim light, and it makes it easy for me to stare into them—and the longer I gaze, the more certain I am that he’s the correct answer.

Is it too fast? Yeah, absolutely.

I don’t even know his surname or his favorite color, or what his personality is like when we spend a long time together.

But when I look at him, it feels like I’m staring at someone who was made just for me. Not only because he’s incredibly handsome, although that’s certainly a bonus—but his presence, his aura... he’s supposed to be by my side.

As a notorious and firm fate-denier, I am loath to admit that there’s no other explanation than that for how deeply connected I feel to him. And, looking at him from a purely logistical point of view, he’s probably the optimal mate for me to have anyway.

The youngest, most powerful dragonkin—one who will have the same lengthy lifespan as me. He’s strong and respectable, already acquainted with my frightening father, and seems willing to do anything I ask of him.

Are we in love? No, but romantic love was never something I thought I would ever have before yesterday. It doesn’t come overnight, so we can figure that out along the way.

"I’m sure, Ren," I say resolutely. "I know becoming mates is a big, confusing deal, but of all the people I’ve met, you’re the one I’m most willing to learn what it truly means... together."

He nods once earnestly as he presses a few fingers to my waist, "I’m honored. I’ll be good to you, I promise." With a few incoherent words muttered beneath his breath, I feel an icy sensation where his mark used to be as it disappears.

I can feel the heat creeping in the moment it’s gone, just like he said I would.

I pull him back in for another kiss, but this time I don’t bother being chaste. I shamelessly shove my tongue into his mouth and let him play with the piercing he gave me. As our lips become entangled, he reaches one of his hands up to squeeze my chest, then pinch my nipple.

I can’t help but whimper a little; my skin has become increasingly sensitive with each passing second as warmth starts to overtake my body.

"Where do you want me to mark you?" he asks, his voice dark with need.

My mind is a little foggy, but I hum, "Where do you want to?"

"Your neck," he answers without hesitation. "Where everyone can see."

I hum in thought, "Does it look cool at least?"

Ren raises a brow at me and laughs, "I mean... I’d say so?"

"As long as it’s badass, I don’t care if everyone sees it," I answer with a sly smirk.

"If it’s not good enough by itself, I’ll use some dragon’s ink to decorate it with a design you deem cool enough," he offers.

"Deal," I stick my tongue out at him, showing him the gem. "I like your taste, so I’ll trust your judgment."

Ren kisses me again, then trails his lips down the line of my jaw until he reaches the side of my neck slightly below my ear. He licks the spot, leaving a cool wetness, immediately followed by a pinching pain.

He must have... bit me? I recall reading that wolves mark their mates in this way, so it must function similarly for us.

My body trembles with pleasure as warmth blooms from the place he bit me, and a shiver runs down my spine.

"You’re mine now," he says lowly.

To my surprise, he doesn’t bring his face back up to me. Instead, he licks my blood from his lips before pressing kisses to my collarbone... where he suckles and leaves several marks in his wake. Then he continues lower, all the way until he’s reached my breasts.

He drags his warm tongue over one of my nipples, teasing the sensitive bud with the tip of his tongue. He swirls around it a few times before he closes his teeth around it.

I gasp in surprise and pleasure at the sensation.

Ren rolls my nipple between his teeth gently, with just the right amount of pressure. It doesn’t hurt, but it still stimulates me a lot.

I can feel the place between my legs warming up and getting wetter with each of his ministrations. He and I both have our underwear on still, and I’m starting to think that needs to be fixed immediately.

I drag my hand through his hair affectionately as he continues sucking my tits, and I relish the feeling for a few more moments before I fist the hair at the back of his neck and pull him off.

He looks at me curiously, and I smirk as I demand, "Underwear off. Now."

Ren doesn’t protest. I release his hair, and he straightens up, running his hands along the sides of my body before getting to my navel, then to my hip. He hooks a finger in my waistband and lifts my legs into the air to tug the piece of fabric off, then tosses the underwear to the side.

I suck in a sharp breath when the cool air meets my bare, wet flesh. "Fuck—"

"Fuck is right," he says warmly as he looks at my newly-exposed privates.

Ren removes his own underclothes next, revealing his fully-erect, sizable manhood. I’ve seen dicks before; hell, I grew up with the guys constantly changing in front of me—but this is the first time I saw one and wanted it.

Yet, instead of getting ready to use it, he brings his head between my parted legs and presses his mouth to my pussy. Ren’s long tongue (which is quickly becoming my favorite part of him) curls around my most sensitive spot and licks my inner walls with ease.

My thighs clench around his head subconsciously, but when I try to ease up the pressure of my legs squeezing him, he growls in protest and uses his hands to keep my knees firmly behind his head.

He licks and sucks until I see stars behind my eyes, and I experience a small wave of convulsions—fuck, that feels so good—and Ren continues his work even through my orgasm.

But it’s not enough.

"Need more," I say forcefully, even though I’m not exactly sure how much ’more’ I want or what I need more of. Him, I guess?

Ren finally comes up for air and meets my eyes, licking his lips free of my wetness. The sight makes my stomach clench all over again.

"I’ll give you what you need," he says, straightening his back and positioning himself so his cock is resting against my clit. He rubs a few times, giving us both a little friction.

"Stop fucking teasing me," I hiss. "Fuck me now."

"You’re really hot when you tell me what to do," he says, using his hand to press the tip of his dick partway into my entrance.

I scoff, but a smile sneaks its way onto my face. "Glad you think so, because I won’t stop telling you what to do for the rest of our lives, probably."

Ren bites his lip and chuckles, "Good."

Then he starts thrusting.