17. Chapter Seventeen

Flying was equally exhilarating and nauseating. The dips and turns reminded me that I wasn't ten years old anymore. I clung to Dorran's wide chest, wondering where he was taking me, and what would happen next.

Surprising for his height, he'd been an elegant dancer. His turns were smooth, but not as flawless as the path of his palms, and the ease of his smile.

I didn't question him as we soared toward the mountains in the distance, away from our problems, and the threat of the step-monster. She'd been livid when she found me in the hallway.

She accused me of witchery because that was the only way Dorran would pick me over Stasa or Zella. Witchery. The woman had lost it. Even though I dreaded going back to my house and dealing with the madness she was cooking up for me, I would never forget the look on her face when Dorran told her to get lost.

It would rest well on a pillow inside of my mind forever.

Dorran began to descend, and I clung tighter, pressing my head into his shoulder. I shivered at the September wind drawing goosebumps up my spine.

When Dorran landed it was with a plop. The wind picked up and his curls blew around his forehead.

Searching over my shoulder, I eyed the cabin built into the side of the mountain. It was modern but rustic, and it was isolated, which I figured was his point.

Nerves slithered down my spine and took root in my stomach.

I was going to be alone with him for the night. What did he have planned? Was he going to have his way with me? Warmth brushed my insides, and I caught Dorran staring at me as he walked us up the steps and into the home.

The cabin was beautiful. Something you would see in a magazine, but not over the top. It reminded me of him. The castle didn't suit him.

Dorran shut the door behind me, walked over to the thermostat, and turned on the heat for me. The wooden floors were spotless, so I slipped out of my slippers, and sat them to the side, not daring to scuff up something so perfectly polished.

My eyes traveled around the granite in the kitchen, the bar with barstools, and the balcony to the side of the living room. I could see seating outside on the balcony, which wasn't covered.

Just the stars.

"You're nervous?" Dorran asked.

He loosened his tie slowly, sliding it from around his neck, he tossed it and his suit jacket on the back of the couch. It left him in a button-down and slacks.

They were fitted to him, showcasing his biceps and broad shoulders.

"I'm not," I lied.

Dorran chuckled and kicked off his shoes. "Really? I can taste your fear, Little Mouse. Not to mention I can smell your sweat."

I crinkled my nose. Did I need a shower?

Dorran unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his shoulders, his eye contact forming butterflies in my stomach. "I don't have anything to change into."

A hint of a smile tugged at his mouth. "Hmm," he chuckled. "That's a sad story, isn't it?"

I folded my arms over my chest and stared him down. "I'm sure I can find something if you can't."

Dorran tossed his button-down with his other clothing and turned to walk into the bedroom. I picked up the skirt of my gown and followed him into the bedroom.

The bed was gigantic, but it would need to be for his size. The wooden posts had dragon wings engraved into them. The walk-in closet was bigger than my step-monster's, which was impressive.

Dorran tugged a t-shirt from a hanger and handed it to me. His eyes were brighter than usual, and he seemed pained. "Are you okay?" I asked softly.

He cleared his throat. "No. My dragon is being ... difficult."

I quirked a brow. "Difficult?"

"Umm-hmm," he said softly while handing me a pair of boxer briefs. "Why don't you go get a shower if you'd like? I'll fix us something to eat."

The bathroom was sparkling white with granite and a waterfall shower. The glass shower doors made me feel exposed, but part of me felt excited that he could walk in and see me.

Biting my lip, I cracked the door and started the water. Slipping from my clothing, I tossed them into a pile and stepped underneath the water. The warmth enveloped me and I moaned loudly at the force.

My shower back home didn't feel like this.

My cell phone beeped from the floor where I had it tucked into my dress. Reaching out, I grabbed it and read Sasha's text.

Sasha: Girl ... you're the talk of the damn ball. This is a real-life Bridgerton episode. Text me later. Don"t get pregnant.

I chuckled and tossed the phone back onto my gown. Standing back up, I caught movement in the mirror and made eye contact with Dorran.

I wrapped my arm around my boobs. As embarrassed as I was, I couldn't look away from him. His gaze slowly lowered, and his throat moved as he swallowed.

And as quickly as he appeared, he shut the door and I heard his heavy footsteps down the hallway. Did he not like what he saw? I nibbled on my lip while finishing my shower.

I almost felt too scared to leave the bathroom once I was finished. Slipping into his boxer briefs and a t-shirt, I dried my hair until it was only damp, and stepped out into the hallway.

The smell of food wafted toward me, and my stomach growled.

The living room was vacant, and the balcony looked empty. "Dorran?" I said into the silence.

"You're a little tease, aren't you Amara?"

I yelped at his closeness and turned to face him, the back of the sectional keeping me upright. His eyes were dark, his dragon making himself known. "What?"

He placed his palms on either side of me, and his gaze lingered over my face. "You wanted me to see you?"

The courage I pulled from my ass was unexpected. "Yes," I whispered.

Dorran chuckled, trailing his fingertips against my neck and down the curve of my breast. "How about we eat, and then spend some time outside? The view is amazing."

He backed away from me, offered me his hand, and led me toward the kitchen. My lack of experience had my body shivering, my legs wobbly, and my heart racing. Knowing he could sense it all meant that the smile on his face was aimed at my nerves.

I liked that he was in control.

Cool and collected.

I just wish I didn't feel like my heart was in my throat.

Dorran grabbed my hips and sat me down on the barstool. "I hope you're hungry. I made garlic parmesan chicken. I hope you love it."

"I'm sure I will," I said inhaling the goodness.

Dorran slid me a plate and took a seat across from me. He watched as I took a bite, and bit back my moan. God, he can cook, too? What kind of parallel universe have I fallen into?

"This is good," I said, smiling over a bite. "I didn't realize you cooked."

"Glendora taught me," he said. "I tried to stay away from my mother as much as I could growing up, and I found myself watching Glendora cook to stay out of trouble."

"You don't like your mother?"

He spun his fork around his pasta and slid his tongue across his teeth. "I love my mother because she's my mother, but I don't like her most days. She's very overpowering, snooty, and always ready to toss someone under the bus for our family to look a specific way. It's annoying."

"I understand the annoying mother role, though mine doesn't consider me her child."

Dorran reached toward a bottle of wine sitting on the bar next to him and poured us each a glass. "Too annoying. Your stepmother doesn"t know what she"s missing," he said.

I eyed the wine, my tongue snaking out against my bottom lip. "Does wine make you nervous, too?" he asked with the same smug smile.

I took it and inhaled the strong scent. "I've never drunk it. Well, I had a sip of alcohol on the bridge with Sasha, but it wasn't wine. I've never been drunk."

Dorran froze with his glass inches from his mouth. "Never?"

I lifted the rim of the glass to my lips and watched him as I took a sip. The liquid was strong and fruity and left a distinct taste in my mouth. "Never," I said.

Dorran went to grab the stem from me, but I moved it out of his reach. "Are you scared for me to drink it? I'm not a baby."

He swallowed. "No, Amara, you're not, but I want you to remember tonight."

I swirled the wine around my glass. "Yeah? What's happening tonight, Dorran?"

The dark color twirled in his eyes again. "Whatever you'll let me have is what's going to happen tonight."

I gasped under my breath. "You want to mark me?"

"I want to do everything to you, and I don't want you half-drunk in the process, Little Mouse."

I kept the glass out of his reach, even though we both knew that he could easily grab it. I appreciated the respect.

"Maybe I need a little liquid courage, Mr. Dragon Prince."

He watched me take a few more sips before swiping it from my hand and downing it so I couldn't drink it. "I need your mind right. I don't want to do anything you'll regret in the morning."

I chuckled, feeling a heavy warmth seep down my legs. "I regret a lot of things in my life, Dorran, but you'll never be one of them."

Dorran's fingers curled into fists on the table, and he inhaled deeply. Leaning forward, I watched as he fought his dragon, his body openly struggling with him.

When he opened his eyes, my breath caught.

The dark red color seemed to look into my soul.

"Eat. Your. Food. Amara," he whispered. "Before I put you on the table as dessert."

Something told me to do as he asked. Slowly, I ate my food, feeling a haze take over, and turn my insides into mush. I needed Dorran to touch me so badly that I ached everywhere.

Those few sips were pushing me to make a move that I wasn't prepared to make.

I slid my mostly eaten plate away and finally gathered the nerve to look up. Dorran was stiff, his laidback demeanor gone. "Finished," I whispered in a soft voice that didn't sound like my own.

Dorran stood up, grabbed our plates, and placed them both in the sink. I watched him lean over the cabinet, clutch the edge with his fists, and mumble to himself.

Carefully, I slid from the stool and walked over to him. Sliding my fingers down his spine, he straightened, turned, and lifted me to the bar where we'd just eaten.

He captured my neck in his palm, angled my mouth toward his, and smiled. "I can smell how bad you want me."

I was equally aroused at the idea and grossed out.

"You be honest and open with me tonight. No secrets. Whatever you want, whatever you need, you tell me. If you want me to stop, I'll stop, no questions asked. Got it?"

I swallowed, staring at those daring green eyes. "Got it."

Dorran palmed my ass and carried me with ease to the balcony. The cool air whipped at me, peeking my nipples and causing goosebumps against my flesh.

He tossed me onto a huge outdoor sectional next to a fire pit that Dorran lit with the flick of his hand. Nervously, I slid against the pillows and watched him crawl over me.

He hovered, not touching me in many places, but his eyes were eating me alive. The stars danced above his head, and the wind picked up, making me shiver.

"Don't worry, Little Mouse. I'm gonna warm you up."