Chapter 4

Lalani blinked wearily as she slid down from the scaled back that had carried her out of town and to the top of the green mountain. After retrieving Lettuce from his safe place wrapped inside the material of her dress, she looked around. In the darkness, she couldn’t see very much and found herself hoping he’d take her flying again when it was light. He had landed in a green space before a large building.

She tried to watch closely as he shifted into human form, but just saw a shimmer. Rubbing her eyes, she tried looking again.

“Come on, Princess.”

Taking her hand, he guided her toward the building. She resisted, wondering why they were visiting a museum or a castle. “I thought you were taking me to your house.”

“This is our home, Lalani. Come inside. It’s time for you to be in bed.”

“You live here?” She rubbed her eyes again.

“We live here.”

When she stumbled on the stairs, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the door. A woman opened the door for them, holding two lanterns.

“Welcome home, sir. Do you need food?”

“No, thank you, Patricia. My mate only needs to sleep now. I will introduce her to the staff tomorrow.” He took one lantern before turning toward one darkened hallway.

“Hi, Patricia,” Lalani said sleepily as he walked away.

“Welcome, miss. Sleep well. And congratulations to you both.”

“She’s nice,” Lalani whispered, letting her heavy eyelids rest.

“Yes, Little one.”

“Where am I sleeping?”

“With me.”

That seemed to make sense. She enjoyed being close to him. Lalani inhaled and felt the corners of her mouth turn up slightly. His scent was yummy—male and something more. Dragon. Sexy dragon.

“Sexy dragon?” Khadar asked with a lilt of humor in his voice.

“I didn’t mean to say that aloud,” she mumbled.

“I’m going to stand you here by the toilet.”

“Oh! Good idea. I need to go,” she admitted. Once on her feet, she weaved, trying to maintain her balance.

“Here, Princess. Let’s set Lettuce on the vanity. He can watch to make sure you’re okay,” Khadar suggested as he steadied her.

When her arms were free, Khadar supported her as he removed the wrap dress. After sniffing, he growled.

“Do I smell?” she asked, mesmerized by how his eyes glowed slightly green in the lantern's light.

“This nightshirt smells like the men who took you to the gathering. It has to go. My dragon doesn’t like the scent of other men on you. He’s territorial.”

“Oh!” She stared up at him, not sure what she should say.

“Go potty,” he ordered.

Thankfully, it was a separate toilet area. Still, she was aware of his presence leaning against the wall. Finishing, she felt like the absolute last of her energy disappeared as she joined him.

“I’m too tired to change.”

“I know, Princess.”

He picked up Lalani before snagging the lantern and Lettuce from the vanity. She loved that he tucked Lettuce in her arms safely as if he were the most precious of possessions. Carrying her into a vast bedroom, she spotted a bed larger than she’d ever seen. It looked deliciously decadent. She just wanted to dive in and sleep for a week.

Khadar stopped to drop off the lantern and grab a T-shirt from a drawer. When he stood her on the edge of the bed, she turned to crawl toward the pillows. Khadar thwarted that attempt and held her in place.

“Let me set Lettuce on a pillow. He’s tired,” Khadar said and accomplished the task when she held out the stuffie to him. With that completed, he pulled her T-shirt over her head and replaced it with a fresh one.

Had he just seen her naked?

She looked up at him. His face was drawn, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. Concerned, she scanned his body to see if he was in pain. Maybe he shouldn’t carry her around. As she reached his flat stomach, her eyes fixed on something else. A thick erection tented his slacks. Even tired, she automatically reached up to touch it.

“You’re killing me, mate. But I can control the mating urge long enough for you to sleep. Fair warning. All bets are off when you wake. Come. Let me put you to bed.”

Her brain couldn’t come up with a snappy answer. She simply wrapped her arms around his neck as he scooped her up. A second later, Khadar tucked Lalani into the softest, crispest sheets she’d ever felt. Closing her eyes, the last snapshot her brain took was the view of Khadar taking off his shirt.

“Mmm.” Lalani was having the best dream. She rubbed the warm surface below her and inhaled the best scent. “Better than apple pie.”

“Are you hungry, mate?”

Her eyes flashed open and Lalani pushed herself away from the surface she’d obviously slept on. “Khadar?”

“I hope you don’t rest on any other dragons,” he teased.

“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to slide off his body. How long had she draped herself over him?

His arms tightened around her. “Princess, you can’t flee from me. We are bonded now.”

“I’m not used to being so close to anyone,” she whispered, looking down at his bare chest below her. “You know… Sitting on someone’s lap or sleeping on top of them.”

“I like having you close. Are you uncomfortable?”

“Umm. No,” she dared to answer truthfully.

“Good. You look like you feel better.”

Lalani nodded. She studied his handsome face for a couple of seconds before she dared ask, “Did I sleep on you all night? Where’s Lettuce?”

“I enjoyed having you close. Lettuce climbed up on the headboard to keep guard.” Khadar pointed to the stuffie above them before asking, “How long has it been since you slept, Lalani?”

“Really slept? Not just napped for a few hours?” When he nodded, she continued, “Since my birth mother was killed. I haven’t slept well since. I’ve been going through her things.”

“It’s very sad you didn’t get to spend more time together. I am very glad to have found you. Your journey here to meet her brought you to me.”

“I don’t really understand what’s happening here,” Lalani said, waving her fingers back and forth between them. “It feels special.”

His slow smile whisked away the lingering sadness and helped her focus on the feelings she seemed to always have when he was around. A heat started deep within her. Daringly, she scooted up a bit and pressed her mouth against his. Instantly, that flame burnt hotter. His fingers glided through her sleep tangled hair, tugging slightly at her scalp. When she gasped at the slight hint of pain, he explored her mouth, holding her in place.

Loving his control, Lalani tangled her tongue with his and received her reward. That hand tightened in her hair, tilting her head slightly to the perfect angle. Khadar held her in place as he took complete control of the kiss. The tinge of pain wiped all miscellaneous thoughts from her mind and forced her to be fully present here and now.

His other hand stroked down her back, caressing her tight muscles. She arched her body slightly into his touch to encourage him. When his hand brushed the side swell of her breast, Lalani couldn’t believe how sensitive she was. It was as if his touch were electric.

Khadar lowered his mouth from hers to press a passionate kiss to her neck. The sizzle seemed to zing all the way to her pelvis . How can one kiss make me wet? Deciding she didn’t know and didn’t care, Lalani waited for the next sensation he would deliver.

“I need to see you, Princess,” he growled against her skin before biting her shoulder as he stroked his hands over her rounded bottom.

Distracted by how hot that was, she missed his fingers sliding her T-shirt over her hips. She’d just noticed the cool air wafting over her skin when he sat up. His muscles effortlessly lifted them both to a sitting position as he stripped off the borrowed shirt.

“Oh!” Lalani automatically pulled her hands from his broad shoulders to cover her breasts.

“No mate. No hiding from Daddy.”

His hands moved hers behind her back. Holding them in one hand, he pulled her wrists downward, making her arch toward him. She watched him scan her body. His expression hardened and became… Hungry.

“Princess…”

He caressed a line down the side of her body, just as he had before. The next brushed over her bare skin. His touch felt electrified. When he cupped her breast, she shivered in reaction to the feel of his fingers on her curves. When he pinched her nipple slightly, she moaned.

“I know, mate. I feel it, too.”

He lifted his hips to grind his erection against her. Instantly, Lalani responded, wiggling against him. This time, she wasn’t the only one who moaned.

With a flick of his wrist, the covers landed at the bottom of the bed. Khadar wrapped his arms around her and Lalani’s world whirled as he quickly rotated their bodies so that she was under him, releasing her hands. She immediately grabbed his broad shoulders to hold on.

She stared up into his eyes and pulled her mind back together. In a display of athleticism, Khadar rose to kneel between her legs. Lalani stared at his chiseled body without shame. Male beauty like that needed to be admired.

Khadar ripped away the thin pants he’d worn to bed and tossed the scraps over the side of the bed. Lalani swallowed hard at her first sight of his cock. Thick and long, she couldn’t imagine how that would feel inside her. Khadar widened his knees, spreading her thighs to allow him to settle himself flush against her.

The feel of his cock gliding across her pussy made her juices gush. The sensation was totally beyond her comprehension. If he didn’t kill her with that thing, it was going to be amazing.

“I will only kill you with pleasure, Little one.”

“Khadar, I don’t think this is going to work.”

“Daddy, Princess.”

“Daddy?” She struggled to follow his logic as he moved against her.

“Call me Daddy.”

Cupping one of her breasts, he leaned down to capture her nipple in his lips. The brush of his beard and mustache on her tender flesh added extra sensations as he tasted her ruby-colored tip. He sucked it gently in his mouth and swirled his tongue around the taut peak. She gripped his shoulders, trying not to moan. He drew his mouth back, increasing the pressure, and released his target with an audible pop.

“Always let me hear your sounds, Princess. I’ll think I’m doing something wrong.”

“I don’t think you could do anything wrong,” popped out of her mouth before she could stop it.

His low chuckle fueled the fire inside her. See! He can even make that sexy.

“I’m glad you think so. Let me hear you, Lalani.” The second part of that was a definite order. She nodded quickly and closed her eyes when he praised her. “Good girl.”

Lalani didn’t want him to know how much he turned her on.

“Eyes on mine, Princess.”

“Don’t I get any privacy?” she demanded.

“None, Little one.”

His mouth captured hers and kissed her deeply. She was panting when he lifted his lips and clung to him for stability. He captured her gaze before tracing his fingers up the inside of her thigh. It seemed so intimate to have him see how much his touch did to her.

Khadar eased his pelvis away from her to let his fingers caress her. Gliding through her wetness, he traced her inner labia before brushing across her clit—so lightly that she lifted her hips, trying to get more direct contact. She could see her growing desperation for something she didn’t quite understand reflected in his eyes that watched her. It was so intimate. It was also hotter than hell. She could see his need for her as well.

She slid one hand from his shoulder to his chest and played trace the muscles. They led her on a twisting path straight toward his…

He hauled her hands up above her, pinning them to the pillows. He held her arms in place with one hand. “No touching, Princess. You don’t have permission.”

“Permission?” she repeated, tugging her wrists to test how secure his hold was. There was no way she could evade that iron-clad control. Lalani wanted to touch him, but being restrained was hot. She lifted her pelvis to press against the hand that had returned to explore her pussy.

“Look at me,” he required.

When her gaze fused back with his, it felt like he could see inside her. When Khadar slid two fingers into her tight channel, she struggled to keep her eyes from rolling back into her head. Those digits seemed to brush past a thousand nerve endings, making her feel more sensitive than she imagined possible. If this was his hand, what would his cock feel like?

“Good girls get rewards, Lalani. You want to be a good girl, don’t you?”

She nodded without losing eye contact. A question popped into her mind. “What do bad girls get?”

“Bad girls receive just what they need.”

She didn’t ask for clarification. The ominous tone told her she’d hate and love any punishment he would dole out. “Please,” escaped from her mouth.

“You’ve asked so nicely.” His fingers stretched her, continuing to push her arousal higher with a combination of sensuality and a hint of pain.

When his fingers slid from her body, she looked down to see her juices dripping from his fingertips. “I think I need a taste,” he shared. Khadar raised his hand to his mouth and licked her juices from his skin. “Delicious. Here, try your nectar.” He held a fingertip at her lips.

Lalani opened her mouth and licked tentatively. The flavor was so hedonistic she couldn’t resist and lifted her head to wrap her lips around the digit. Swirling her tongue around his finger, she tried to imagine what it would be like to taste his cock. Sucking on it, she saw his eyelids lower to half mast as a deep groan emerged from his throat.

He drew his hand away from her mouth and shifted onto his knees to loom over her. After fitting himself against her, he recaptured her gaze. “Now, mate.”

His cock surged into her. Whatever she expected was blown away by the feel of his thick erection filling her. Readied by his touch, her body adjusted to his dominance. When he became too much, Khadar leaned down to kiss her. As his mouth seduced her, he withdrew slightly before pushing forward again. This time, she relaxed around him, allowing him fully inside. She could feel him brushing against her womb, setting off sensations she didn’t know existed.

He paused, allowing her to adjust to his invasion. The slight burn of the stretch inside her made Lalani grip her hands tightly together as she struggled to follow his dictates. She kissed him back with excitement escalating inside her body, feeling every millimeter of his body in and over her. He held most of his weight on one forearm to keep from crushing her, but Lalani loved feeling pinned under his body.

Khadar pushed forward a scant inch more to grind his pelvis against her clit. Her body hovered on the edge of pleasure for a fraction of a second before she exploded.

“Ahhh!”

She felt something deep inside her. Lalani struggled to process all the emotions and pleasure that cascaded over her. Her fingernails dug into the muscles of his powerful shoulders as she grounded herself to him.

A brush to her cheek brought her back to focus on him. She took in the hungry need mingled with concern on Khadar’s face. Forcing her fingers to relax on his shoulders, she lifted one hand to cup his face.

The mate bond has fully snapped into place. Are you okay?

She nodded. I can feel you in my head.

Just wait.

Khadar withdrew and pressed forward in a slow, controlled thrust. Lalani gasped at the sensations gathering once again inside her. This time, she could feel an avalanche of pleasure. Is this what it felt like for him? The tight grip of her slick walls against his throbbing cock combined with the feel of his shaft rubbing across all those responsive spots inside her.

Princess?

Move, damn it.

His deep chuckle echoed in her head, as well as in her ears. Without hesitating, Khadar complied with her demand. His warm mouth pressed kisses over her skin as they moved together.

His scent mingled with hers as their bodies heated the room. She licked his shoulder, making him groan as she savored his taste. Lalani loved how he experimented with different angles and strokes, searching for whatever brought her the most pleasure.

She ground herself against his cock and tightened her muscles around him, trying to return the attention he lavished on her.

“Touch me, Princess,” he growled aloud.

Lalani had fought to follow his mandates. Now, with permission, she explored his powerful torso and back. The feel of the strength corded into every inch of his body was beyond alluring. She tried to memorize every bulge and dip of his muscles, knowing it would take a lifetime to appreciate his body completely—especially as he distracted her with such pleasure.

Each time her body hesitated on the edge of a climax, he drove her over it. He filled her not only physically, but mentally with such sensuality. She knew she’d never be the same.

When she screamed his name, Khadar corrected her as he pounded into her body.

Daddy.

Daddy.

As she agreed, a memory of one of those kinky videos popped into her brain, and she tried to shut down the spanking scene. She did not want him to know that turned her on. Her anxiety skyrocketed, drawing her away from the magic of his lovemaking. He filled her fully and stopped moving.

Khadar brushed her hair away from her face and spoke aloud for the first time since their connection had begun. “Shhh, Little one. There’s nothing wrong with having fantasies. Just imagine what you would like me to do to you. Picture me in your mind. I do not wish to have another man in our bed.”

“You’re not turned off?”

“I’m balls deep in your tight pussy. Our bond is the closest I’ve ever heard of. Mate, know that what turns us on meshes perfectly. I don’t want to be anywhere else with anyone else. You are a precise match for me.”

She could read the truth in his gaze. Move!

Instantly, he moved inside her. His attention wiped out her slight freak out. Feeling closer to him than she’d dreamed possible, Lalani didn’t worry about what he would see in her mind. She caught hints of his desires as well and used those to drive his arousal higher.

When she thought she couldn’t come again, he pushed her into a fast climax that took her breath away before powering into her until he shouted his pleasure into the room. Drooping over her as their bodies calmed, he pressed a hundred kisses to her face, neck, and shoulders.

His withdraw made her ache for him even as she realized her body couldn’t take any more. He gathered her close to him and kissed her temple.

Rest now, mate. He plucked Lettuce from his perch on the headboard and placed him in her arms.

She nestled against Khadar’s side, letting him support her. Even the bright morning light couldn’t keep her from submitting to her exhaustion.