14.

Nicole

H ours later, Lee and I are situated in a bed at the town B&B. Any other time, we would be dreaming big. Relaxing. Whispering secrets and promising to love each other forever. Tonight, though, we’re tense.

We’re lying side-by-side in what has to be the creepiest room I’ve ever stayed in. Porcelain dolls line one side of the room. They’re on the dresser, the floor, and the windowsill. The opposite side of the room is filled with dragon plushies, which is equally creepy. I can’t tell if this is a themed room, or if the owner is just a hoarder. If it’s a theme, then perhaps I’m judging too quickly. Maybe this entire idea is cute.

Fated mates, after all.

Who doesn’t love a good fated mate?

“Do you think Darrin is going to find Angela?” I whisper, my words hanging in the air.

“I think he’s going to find her,” Lee sounds certain. Sure. He’s always right about things like this, so I don’t even have to worry.

“Do you think they’re mates?”

“You picked up on that, huh?” Lee rolls over, so he’s facing me. He props up on his elbow.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I don’t think anyone gets that mad about someone unless they’re mates.”

“I don’t know, I’ve been pretty mad at you before.” Lee leans forward and kisses me.

“But we are mates, so that’s allowed.”

He kisses me again, and I reach for him. I cup his face as I enjoy the way he’s touching me. When he pulls back, he looks at me with a gentle smile.

“Everything is going to work out,” he says.

“You can’t know that for sure.”

“I know that we’ll fight for Clan Thunderstorm.”

“We’ll do whatever it takes,” I agree. “We’ve fought monsters before, Lee. We can fight them again.”

“I vow to you,” he says. “I’ll keep you safe. I’ll protect our family. I’ll honor our clan.”

“I promise you the same.”

He kisses me again, and this time, he doesn’t stop.

He just kisses me, and kisses me, and kisses me. Soon I’m not worried about the creepy dolls or the hoarder level of dragon plushies. Instead, I’m just thinking about him, and how much I love the way he touches me. Lee pushes me back on the bed, and he climbs over me. He works his way down my body, kissing, tantalizing, honoring. He nips at my breasts, careful to swirl his tongue over every inch of me.

“More,” I whisper.

He laughs. “Don’t be greedy.”

I am, though. I am greedy. I’m everything he says I am. I’m terrible and wonderful and all I want is him.

I could spend the rest of my life with Lee, and it could still not be enough. He lowers himself, licking his way down my body. He doesn’t hold back. He pleasures me, playing with each of my favorite spots until I’m arching my back and crying out his name. The other dragons can probably scent our arousal through the walls, but I’m too far gone to be embarrassed.

I’m too far gone to care.

I need him more than he can imagine.

Soon I’m pushing him back. I’m crawling over him. I’m lowering myself onto him, straddling him, and I kiss Lee as I ride him.

“You’re so damn perfect,” he says.

“Shut your mouth,” I say. “Close your eyes.”

“No.” He reaches up, gripping my hair, and tugs my head back. “I want to see every inch of you. I want to see every second.”

I give in to what he wants. Our eyes lock as he thrusts up into me, filling me more deeply. I cling to his shoulders, holding on as he ravages me from below. My senses are on full-alert, and I clench him as he fills me.

“That’s my good girl,” he says. “Now come again for me.” His hand slides between us, rubbing my clit, and I know it won’t be long. He always knows exactly how I like to be touched. He always knows exactly what I need.

When I come the second time, it’s like my entire world catches fire. A chain reaction sets off, and he comes too, filling me up as he throbs inside of me. I melt against him, collapsing, and he holds me as I settle down. He doesn’t let go as I try to catch my breath.

“That was...”

“Perfect.”

“And you were...”

“Also perfect.”

I look up to see him smirking at me. He kisses me for good measure.

“I guess dragons never claimed to not be cocky,” I say.

“We are a cocky bunch,” he agrees. Then he kisses me again, and this time, the kiss is not passionate but comforting.

“We’re in for a long adventure,” I tell him.

“It’s going to be hard,” he agrees. “And I don’t know how the hell we’re going to find Ryker.”

“We’re going to do it, though,” I say. “One dragon clan can change the world, but two can save it.”

“That should be our slogan,” he laughs. “You really believe that, don’t you?”

“I believe in you,” I promise. “And I believe in Fablestone. I believe that together, we can do anything.”

And I do.

We left Fablestone to find answers, to offer hope, and what we found was chaos and destruction. Now, we embark on a new adventure. We’re going to find Angela, and we’re going to find Ryker, and we’re going to save Thunderstorm.

No matter what.