14. Chapter Fourteen

My dragon fed off Amara's nerves. Even though he resided inside of me, a human's body, he was indeed an animal. The instinct to devour her ran deep in his blood.

In my blood.

It was part of being a dragon-shifter.

Amara felt the connection we shared. It wasn't about the riches my family owned or the castle. It was me and that led me to go after what was mine.

Amara's fingers tangled into my sheets, and she squirmed beneath me. My dragon urged me forward, demanding I slide her clothes off and give him what he wanted so desperately.

Tucking my fingers inside the hem of her sweatpants, I pulled them down her slender legs. The moonlight from my stained-glass window illuminated her pale skin.

Bone-deep desire swirled inside of me.

She was vulnerable, naive, and sat ready for me as if presented on a golden platter.

Licking a path up her thigh, I stopped at her hip, snaking a finger beneath the fabric, I felt her jerk forward and grab my wrist. Her baby blues were wide, full of longing and fear. "You're sure you are my mate? This isn't just lust I'm feeling, is it?"

Crawling toward her, I barricaded her between my arms, my wings blocking most of the light. "You know the answer to that question. Are you afraid that I will taste you and leave? Or are you afraid I'll taste you and not stop?"

Amara closed her eyes. I tried to pinpoint what was happening in her head, but she was hiding from me. "I'm afraid of it all," she whispered. "I've been abandoned my entire life and ..."

"And you think I'll abandon you too?"

Amara nodded. "I'm afraid to grow close to you like I want because I'm afraid it won't last or work out."

The insecurities she'd been hiding were common fears of humans that dragons didn't worry about. When you found your mate that was it. Mates together were strong. Their bond was thick like honey.

"Amara," I whispered in her ear. "You have much to learn about mating, Little Mouse. You have to trust me," I whispered, making a beeline down her neck. "Dragons are forever," I whispered against her skin. "Dragons mate with the one person meant for them, Amara. Once they find their mate, they never stray. Now, before we met, that's a different story we won't get into."

I stopped above her belly, dipping my tongue into her belly button she chuckled under her breath. Lightly, I tugged the sides of her panties down her thighs, and greedily stuck them into my pocket.

I told my dragon I wouldn't take them unless I was the one that took them off.

Amara's legs tightened against my head, her fingers locked into my hair. Easily, I pressed her thigh toward the mattress, spreading them for me.

My dragon shot forward, and I fought hard to stop him.

She was perfect. Knowing another man had never touched her hammered the nail of the coffin closed.

Unable to stop myself, I leaned down and licked her from front to back. It was greedy and selfish, but I never claimed to be a saint.

Amara's fingers pulled at my hair, and her back arched from the bed.

Sliding my palms underneath her bottom, I feasted like a man starved. It was walking the line between good and evil. Knowing I couldn't be with her the way I wanted right now, I knew this was the next best thing.

The soft gasp riding out of Amara's lips fueled me.

She tugged, and cried, trying to squirm away, but I only held her tighter. I felt hollow jerks from her stomach, and the rhythm of her heart picking up before she jumped over the edge.

The savory taste on my tongue and the silence after her crash warmed me. Leaning up on my palms, I stared at Amara's trembling lip, and the tears of pleasure rolling down her face.

Kissing the corner of her jaw, I watched her gaze lower to my mouth. "That was ... "

"What happens when dragon mates find one another," I whispered. "You're my mate, Amara. And as soon as I mark you, I'll show you everything that happens between mates."

Amara nodded slowly, lifting up, she stared daggers at me. There was a different glow about her. Something heavy was gone from her shoulders. "Promise?"

The little girl inside of her stared back at me. The one that was left with her step-monster. I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Promise."

I helped her back into her clothes and I walked Amara over toward her house. She stopped at the bathroom window and glanced up at me. "The ball is tomorrow."

I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "It is. I will see you there."

"If I finish the list of things my step-monster left for me. I'm going to get up early and try to finish—,"

"Don't worry about it," I said, tracing her mouth with my thumb. "You'll be at the ball tomorrow."

"Don't get me in trouble, Dorran."

"I would never," I said. "The chores will be done, and I'll be waiting on you at the throne. I still have your slipper. Come with the other."

"You want me to come shoeless, Dorran? Why don't you fly back over and bring it to me?"

"Because that's not the plan, Little Mouse."

I swept forward and kissed her once more before opening her bathroom window. "Send Toby out when you get in. I would hate to have to fire him for sniffing your sheets."

She chuckled. "I do use a really good detergent. The step-monster has to have the best."

Grabbing her hips, I lifted her toward the window and sat her there on the ledge. "I'll be waiting for you."

"I'll be there ... in sandals."

Amara slipped inside quietly, while I flew back to my room, waiting for Toby on my balcony. He landed with a heavy thud and gave me a sly smile. "What are you doing, Dorran? Who is The Little Mouse?" he teased.

"You just keep your mouth shut as I asked of you."

Toby stepped in front of me. "Is she your mate?"

I'd known Toby for years, and frankly, he was the only guard I trusted. "Yes," I said.

Toby pulled me in for a hug. "I'm happy for you, but why are you sneaking around with her? What am I missing? She's not a kid. Does your father have beef with her family?"

I sank my fingers into my hair. "It's a long story. I'm dealing with it. Keep it to yourself until I can get it fixed up, okay?"

Toby saluted me and jumped onto the ledge of my balcony. My dragon begged and fought to fly, but I needed to rest. The ball was tomorrow, and I had to gather people to help Amara get her chores done.

I couldn't wait to see the look on her stepmother's face when I chose her to dance.

I slipped out of my clothes and into the shower. The feeling of someone watching me stirred up my spine. I took my time, dressed, and found my mother sitting at my desk, running her fingers along the jewelry meant for The Dragon Prince to wear.

"Have we gone back in time?" I asked, flopping onto my bed. "Are you back to sneaking into my room to find something to hold over my head?"

"You embarrassed me today," she said. "The way you treated Georgina." She stood and walked toward the foot of my bed. "I had her brought here because she has royal blood and will bear children easily with her frame. You shooed her along like you're too good for her."

I shrugged. "I'm not interested, and I'm not sixteen anymore. I refuse to end up like you and Dad. I want to be happy. Did you see the way she treated our server? That's the persona you want for our kingdom? Because it's not what I want, Mother."

She turned her head from me. "You will pick a queen tomorrow at this ball, you'll show up, and stay, and if you don't, I will decide for you. Is that clear?"

"Looks like we're not agreeing on this. I'm next in line to be King, not you. I'll choose who I want as my queen, and no one will change my mind. I am not marrying someone from The East Kingdom because you all want to build this alliance. I don't believe for one second that they wouldn't attempt to overpower our kingdom. The answer is no, Mother. I will choose my queen, and you will be happy with it or not. Either way, I will be happy. I refuse to spend the rest of my life trying to fall in love with someone that wasn't meant to be."

She turned sharply on her heel and walked toward the door. "I never realized how selfish you were until now, Dorran. I gave up my entire life to marry your father and create a bridge from this kingdom to mine."

Leaning back against my pillow, I stared at her. "And look how happy you are now, Mother. You should write a book."

She opened the door and slammed it shut behind her.

My dragon huffed, irritated that she would try to stop our happiness and force some random dragon on us.

Part of me couldn't wait to see her face when I plucked Amara from the crowd and danced with her all night.

Then the other part of me couldn't wait to see Amara in her dress and sandals, and her nerves as I slipped her mother's glass slipper onto her foot.

Then when I claimed her in front of the entire kingdom.

I closed my eyes and smiled, the taste of her still lingered on my lips, making my dragon relax knowing tomorrow would be one step closer to my happy ever after.