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I smiled in relief, then took her hand and pulled her along behind me. My dragon still writhed within me, readying to take control, but I held him at bay. Patience.
I led Mariah out the back door of the house, down the porch steps, and into the open back yard. We typically all shifted in the clearings farther outward, where our dragons could have all the open space they wanted, but my patience only extended so far. I also didn’t intend to stray far from my mate.
Once we were halfway to the trees, Mariah pulled on my hand. “Where are you taking me?” Now she sounded exasperated.
I stopped and turned to her, taking both her hands in mine. “Here is fine. Mariah, I need to shift.”
She blinked, looking me up and down, then nodded. “I can tell, but what does that have to do with me?”
“If your dragon can sense me in my other form and really connect with mine, then maybe it will help her feel more settled. Maybe it would help you feel more settled.” I pulled her closer, wrapping one arm around her waist, the other hand coming to her cheek. “I just want to help you. I know you want some space, but I can’t stand that you’re feeling so distraught when there’s a way I can ease it.”
A small smile pulled at the corners of her lips. “I love you.”
My forehead fell to hers as a weight lifted off my shoulders. Even my dragon seemed appeased—for the moment. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear you say that.”
She blinked. “Did you doubt it?”
“No. I mean, not really. But it’s hard to know what’s going on in that head of yours when I’m feeling the impressions of everything you are.”
Mariah bit her lip. “I love you, Evan. You're my mate, and that’s unbreakable. I don’t even want it to be. But I can’t help what I’m feeling—”
“I know that,” I said quickly, my fingers running up and down her spine. “And I don’t expect anything from you, okay? I just want to make that clear.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, bringing her hands to my chest.
I breathed her in, my dragon stirring once more. I felt a pulse of heat from Mariah, from her dragon, sensing and recognizing its mate. Grinning, I brushed my lips over hers, then released her.
“Okay, so I don’t know what will happen,” I said, walking backward and putting some distance between us. “But I’m hoping your dragon will have some reaction to mine if I’m in full form.”
She nodded, pressing her palm to her chest. “I can feel… something.”
My grin widened. “That’s a good sign.”
“You don’t think I’ll shift suddenly, do you?” Mariah asked, sudden panic in her eyes.
“No,” I said, stopping when I felt comfortable with the distance. “Until your dragon is fully awake, you don’t need to worry about that. Even then, it might take some coaxing the first time. Here goes.”
I closed my eyes, connected with my dragon as I felt him rise in me, hot and swift. I took a breath, then released it slowly, letting go of my grip on my human form as well, allowing him to take over my body.
It happened quickly; my bones lengthening and expanding, shooting me up into the air. Sharp claws jutted out, digging into the soil. My neck lengthened, and all the while, scales spread over my body, dark as midnight, glistening like the moon.
“Evan,” Mariah breathed when I’d fully transformed, shaking her head as she stared at me. It seemed like she never got used to the sight. She took a few steps forward, and I lowered myself to the ground, stretching my head toward her, and huffing out a tiny breath.
Consciousness took a back seat as my dragon inhaled, and the world became a place of pure sensation. The wind skated over my scales, whipping through Mariah’s hair. Her scent nearly overwhelmed me as she reached out and rested a hand on my snout. My body nearly ignited at her touch, dragon fire burning deep within.
I remained still, calm, wanting her to be at ease. She gazed into my eyes, pure gold now in dragon form, and a smile curved her lips that made my blood simmer with desire.
“Beautiful,” she murmured, running her hand over my scales and along my neck. I rumbled in pleasure at the sensation.
Then I felt it—another pulse from her dragon. It was still faint, but stronger than before. A wave of heat seemed to spread from Mariah’s hand into my body, coiling within as my dragon responded, heat pulsing in an echo of hers. The inferno only grew and grew as my dragon sensed its mate stirring within Mariah.
She gasped. “What was that?”
There was no denying it. Her dragon was there and growing stronger. It wouldn’t be long at all before she truly awakened. With the connection formed, my dragon seemed both settled and aroused. Another idea struck, and I released a wave of pheromones, wondering if they’d further coax Mariah’s dragon to come out and play.
A throaty moan fell from Mariah’s lips, her eyelids heavy as she stared. She bit her lip and brought her other hand to her chest, just above her breast. I wondered if she even realized what she was doing, as she looked like she was suddenly drunk on the scent of me.
Holy hell, I hadn’t expected that, but I’d take it. I did it again, and Mariah’s knees buckled. I swept my tail around, keeping her steady as I dipped my head closer, scenting her arousal.
