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I needed to take her away, to pet her, caress her, to show her that she had nothing to fear from me… from anyone ever again. I pressed her closer to my chest and felt her make a startled sound as she gripped my body tighter.
She was still so terrified, even more than she had been before, and I hated that I brought that out in her. It made me feel shame and disgust with myself.
I was gentle as I cradled her. I rose higher, felt the warm air whipping against my body, feeling the long strands of her thick, dark hair moving against my scaled chest. Everything was much more heightened with my mate in my arms, with her close. The sounds around me were clearer. The smells were more acute. The warmth felt more pronounced.
And my arousal licked through me at an astounding rate.
I shook my massive head back and forth, trying to clear my mind. I had to focus. Although I wanted to mate her fiercely, to leave my bite on her neck, to fill her with my seed, to get her big and full with my young, I had to take my time with her.
I needed to be gentle. Always so gentle with my small mate. Her discomfort caused me a great deal of pain. All I wanted to do was protect and cherish her.
I flew the vast distance it took to get to my den—our den—and was at the rocky outcropping before long. I settled my weight on my hind legs, rocks and pebbles tumbling down the steep cliff. I kept my mate clutched to me, never wanting to let her go.
I was about to take that first step, making sure my mate was in the safety of our cave, when I caught that familiar aroma of a male Dragao nearby. The low growl left me when I tipped my head back and bared my teeth. I heard my mate whimper softly, her fingers grasping me tighter as if she thought I’d drop her.
I didn’t want to frighten her more, but I couldn’t stop the aggressive sound that left me at the threat of another male being so close to what was mine.
I inhaled deeply and for the moment was content that the Dragao was still far enough away it wasn’t an immediate danger. But with this being the second time I’d caught his scent far too close to my lair, my hackles rose, and I was on alert.
I was also picking up another scent that mingled with that Dragao, one I couldn’t place, and because of that—and on top of the fact that he was blatantly not caring about being so close to my territory—I was even more aggravated over it.
I moved away from the rocky ledge, keeping my precious cargo close to my chest, and made my way toward my den. Our den, my dragon purred with pleasure.
The swelling of my heart and the heat that filled me at the very thought of finally having my mate was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It was like I was living for the very first time.
When I was a good distance away from the ledge, and only when I felt it was safe enough to let her go, I gently set her down, wanting to stay close, to use my body as a shield to protect her from… the world. But I forced myself to retreat a step, knowing this was all new to her and so very frightening.
I tried to make myself seem less threatening and intimidating by lowering my body to the ground and extending my forelegs out in front of me. I rested my head on the dirt just as she stumbled backward, her eyes wide.
I wanted to shift into my human form, to pull her into my arms and just hold her, to tell her she was finally safe. But I waited and let her just breathe through this. I was confident she’d come to want this as much as I already did. Because the alternative was not an option. There would only be her for me. For the rest of my days. Until the end of time.
I’d follow her anywhere.
She was a tiny thing, and I had that protective need in me roaring until it drowned out everything else.
I found myself moving closer, which in turn had her scrambling backward even more. I inhaled deeply, a low sound of need coming from me. It grew louder and stronger the more I inhaled her scent, the more it changed my very DNA.
I’d never smelled anything so lovely, so addicting.
She pulled herself up, and it took everything in me not to go closer to her. All I wanted to do was nuzzle her neck, to run my tongue along that graceful arch… to pierce her soft flesh and give her my mark.
