Chapter 4

Staring at him, Ciel struggled to figure out what to say or do. She'd become fascinated by that type of relationship in the last year when she'd found the first book. Instantly enthralled by the dynamics of a Daddy Dom and his Little, she'd devoured all the books she could find and had done her research.

As if her eyes opened for the first time, Ciel started noticing small things about couples around her. Her chemistry professor and his teaching assistant. Could they be? The way the quarterback of the football team fastened his girlfriend's seatbelt. Just control—or something else. Something more.

Her mind whirled inside her skull. Ciel could feel her head starting to hurt. She shook her head slightly, trying to fend it off.

"Stop thinking so hard, Ciel. We have a lifetime to figure everything out. You need water, food, and rest. The rest will wait. Okay?" he asked, with an expression that told her she didn't have another choice.

He was right. She was completely exhausted and overwhelmed. "Thank you." Ciel sagged against his strength.

"Come here, my Little Sky. Arms around my neck."

"Sky?" she asked before laughing at herself. "Because of my name. Ciel means sky in French. Do dragons speak French?"

"I've picked up a few things over the years." Argenis scooped her up in his arms and held her in place with one supporting arm as he grabbed her suitcase handle. "Tell me where your home is?"

Holding it together, she guided him through the old town to the second ring of houses. "There. That green door."

"It will have to be repainted," Argenis said arrogantly.

"Really? Why?"

"You belong to the silver dragon. Your family is now aligned with me."

"Is that silly?" she asked.

"Not at all," he answered before twisting the doorknob and walking inside as if the house belonged to him. After lifting the suitcase inside, he closed the door.

"Mom? I'm home," Ciel called.

"Ciel?" The thud of something heavy landing on the wooden table preceded the quick footsteps coming toward them.

In just a few seconds, her mother appeared. She paused for a moment at the sight of Ciel in the dragon's arms. "Are you hurt?"

"I ran into some barbed wire, and I didn't sleep on the way, but I'm okay. Argenis, you can let me down."

Slowly, he lowered her feet to the flooring. The protective dragon did not release her, but stood behind her so she could lean against his body. Looking over her shoulder, Ciel thanked him.

Her mother rushed forward to hug her, hesitating for a fraction of a second when Argenis didn't step back. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, Mom. Argenis had taken remarkable care of me. These scratches came from me freaking out when a dragon flew over me, changed into a person, and talked to me. Did you know there were dragons?"

"Your grandmother tried to tell me about them. I… Um… I thought she had dementia. Since meeting Argenis, I went through her papers and found a… A tome, I think you'd call it. And a bunch of pictures. Your great grandmother's sister was the mate of a dragon."

"Khadar, the emerald dragon," Argenis commented.

"I think that was his name," Ciel's mother said in surprise.

"You can look at the history later. Now, you need a shower and sleep. Where is your room?" he asked.

"I can take her there." Her mother tried to tug Ciel's arm.

"She is my mate. Have you read that section?" Argenis asked.

Ciel watched her mother's face and saw the answer. Whatever this tome was, her current condition was detailed inside. She looked back at Argenis to protest and snapped her mouth closed. He would not allow this now.

"I need to get caught up with sleep, Mom. And eat something other than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"I can make you something on the grill. How about a hotdog and some veggies?" her mother suggested with a smile, knowing that was her favorite meal.

"With lots of mustard?"

"Of course. You go get cleaned up. I'll put a tray outside your room and knock when it's ready."

"Thank you, Mom. And thank you for getting help. I don't know that I would have made it home."

"You can tell me about it later. For now, push everything out of your head so you can rest." Her mother stepped forward to press a kiss to her cheek before disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Show me where your room is," Argenis directed, lifting her back into his arms.

"Down the hall. The second door on the left."

Ciel had never felt so completely devoid of energy. She couldn't even hold on to his neck. Somehow, he managed to get them and the suitcase through the doorway.

He sat her on the bed, and she closed her eyes. Able to track his movements with her hearing, she conserved energy. Ciel almost groaned aloud at the sound of the shower in the attached bathroom.

She dragged herself off the mattress and headed for the bathroom. Ciel pulled her torn and bloody T-shirt over her head as she walked. Strong hands gripped the material and pulled it off easily. "I can do it," she told Argenis.

"If I walk away, you will hurt with need and might drown in the shower. I'd promise to keep my eyes closed, but that won't happen. Let me unwrap my present," he coaxed, as he unfastened her jeans.

With sweeping caresses to her skin, Argenis smoothed her clothing, shoes, and socks off. The hungry look on his face told her he did not see all the flaws she did when she looked in the mirror. "Argenis?"

"Daddy."

"What?"

"It's time for you to call me Daddy."

He pulled his shirt over his head and pulled his belt from the loops on his pants. She froze as he wrapped the leather strip around his hand. "You're not going to spank me, right?" she blurted.

"Definitely. Now? No."

She opened her mouth to ask another question, but froze as he unzipped his pants and pushed them over his hips. In a few seconds, the most scrumptious collection of manly attractions appeared on a display she wouldn't forget. Ciel didn't know where to look. Maybe she'd start with those attractive V-shaped grooves at his hipbones.

Argenis stepped forward and lifted her chin up to close her mouth. "Ditto." Taking her hand, he led her into the shower.

The feel of the cool water was heavenly and distracted her for a moment. He pulled the clip, restraining her super-long tresses. She groaned with relief and allowed him to tilt her head back into the spray to wet her hair. Moving as if he was used to taking care of someone, Argenis turned her away from him before grabbing her shampoo and smoothing some on. A light floral scent filled the air as he gently coaxed the cleanser all the way to the ends of her hair.

Pretending not to feel the brush of his fingers on her hips, Ciel breathed a sigh of combined disappointment and relief when he finished. Those magical digits scratched her scalp lightly. "You can keep doing that forever?"

"How about if I promise I'll wash your hair from now on?" he suggested.

"Deal," she agreed, as he tilted her head back into the water.

A few minutes later, she stood with conditioner in her hair as he squeezed a healthy amount of body wash into his hand. "I can wash myself."

"Not anymore."

She blinked at that statement. And he smoothed the silky cleanser over her skin. It felt so good to have the sweat and dirt of her struggle to make it home rinsed from her body. His hands didn't linger, but washed her completely.

Scooting away when he reached her pussy, Ciel knew what he would find. She was absolutely slick with her arousal. She couldn't help it. His touch, even on something as innocent as her shoulder or her face, did something to her inside.

He controlled her movements and slid his fingers into her wetness. "I would be very concerned if I didn't find you aroused."

"The mate bond," she whispered.

"Our bond, Little Sky. I want you equally hard." His hand left her pink folds to stroke over his hefty erection that she had tried to convince herself was an illusion. It wasn't.

As if unable to stop himself, Argenis pulled her close and kissed her deeply. Her arousal exploded. Ciel wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he lifted her and carried her the short distance to press her against the tile at the side of the shower.

He ground his thick cock against her mound. Acting on instinct, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Argenis settled into her slick folds, drawing a moan from each of them.

A loud knock on the outer door interrupted.

"Mom," she whispered.

"She is taking care of you the best she can. She is also right. This isn't the time and place for me to claim my mate. Even if she is a heaven-sent temptress."

While Ciel celebrated his attraction to her, Argenis finished her shower quickly and rinsed the conditioner from her hair. When he'd bundled her in a towel with another one around her head, Argenis carried her back into the bedroom. She inhaled two hotdogs, and some roasted vegetables before refusing a third.

"Then it is time for bed, Ciel. Where is your nightie?"

"I just wear a T-shirt."

"Little girls need pretty sleep things. We will rectify this," he promised as he swept the covers to the bottom of the bed. "For now, a soft shirt and Silly will do."

Ciel turned onto her tummy in the crisp sheets and pulled Silly close with one arm. Argenis settled behind her and towed her back a few inches until their bodies aligned. "Night," she murmured, already half asleep.

"Sweet dreams, Little Sky."