Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
She walked into her grandmother’s arms. “Thank you for helping me understand,” she whispered.
“You will live an adventure like no one else. Think of us,” her grandmother urged with tears in her eyes.
“I’ll come visit,” Aurora promised.
“Hug your grandfather. We’ll give your parents the news and your love,” the elderly woman told her.
Seconds later, she was walking through that intricately carved wooden door. A luxury sedan waited just outside. Drake helped her inside and reached over her to latch the seatbelt around her.
“I can do that,” she protested.
“My job, Little one,” he growled at her before standing and closing the door silently.
Chapter 4
Unable to keep from touching her, Drake wrapped his hand around her delectable thigh. His gaze focused on her as often as possible as he drove carefully through the traffic. Finally, the road cleared as he guided the vehicle out of the city and across the wild space of valley that still remained uninhabited. The paved road turned into a gravel one.
“Where are we going?” his mate asked, clutching her stuffie.
“We are almost there, Aurora.”
To distract her, he requested, “Introduce me to your friend.”
Her gaze zoomed to her stuffie, and she clutched the creature a bit closer. “I know it’s silly for me to have a stuffed animal at my age. My sister loves to make fun of me, but he’s my most cherished possession.”
“I don’t believe it’s silly. Why not have something you love close? What’s his name?”
Her shoulders lowered a bit. “This is Firefly. I know—it’s a stupid name. He’s been with me for a long time.”
“I like it. He is an orange dragon?” Drake asked.
“He is now. He was gold when I first had him according to the pictures we have. Over the years, he has faded a bit.”
The paved road ended at the edge of a large clearing. Drake stopped the car and turned it off, dropping the keys on the dashboard. He squeezed her thigh and ordered, “Stay there. I will let you out.”
Ignoring the way she bristled at being told what to do, Drake stepped out of the car and retrieved her suitcase. He carried it to the center of the open space. Drake didn’t turn as he heard the car door open and close. He’d thoroughly expected her to test his power.
Leaving the suitcase, he turned and walked back to her. “You did not follow my instructions.”
“I wanted to see where we were. Does it matter?” she challenged him.
Oh, he would treasure this mate.
“Yes.”
He lifted her up to sit on the hood of the car before bracing his arms on either side of her, putting their eyes on the same level. “Little one. You are mine. There is one rule now in place. Do as I say.”
She had the audacity to roll her deep brown eyes. “Like if you tell me to jump off a cliff, I’m supposed to do that without questioning it?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think I’m going to be able to follow directions like a simpleton,” she said, shaking her head.
“I am aware you are highly intelligent.”
“But you still expect me to do as you say?” she challenged him.
“You are my mate. I will guard you with every ounce of strength in my body, but…” He paused, assessing her stiff posture. “Your training begins today.”
“Guard me? Training? What are you talking about?” she asked, clutching the stuffie to her chest.
“As my mate, you are vulnerable. We have dallied too long here, and you have been exposed to the sky. There is no time to explain but you will be punished later.”
Standing, he backed away and added, “When my transition has occurred, run to my dragon and climb up onto my back between my wings. Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tightly. We will communicate differently. Do not be afraid.”
Before she could ask the questions he knew were streaming around in her head, Drake strode into the clearing. Allowing his transition to shift his body as he walked, he heard the gasp fall from her lips. That was not the only thing he heard. Wings flapped over them high in the cloud cover.
Come now!
He saw her jump off the car and hesitate. His mate was frightened of the beast in front of her.
Come now, Aurora!
She ran toward him, pausing again as he stretched his neck low to the ground for her to mount. Her hand stroked over one scale on his shoulder and Drake gritted his teeth at how good it felt. Their connection was strong.
When she didn’t move, he turned his head to meet her gaze directly. Now!
He watched her tuck Firefly into her shirt to free her hands before climbing on. As she moved, Aurora scrambled over his gold scales, and each brush of her body against him was exquisite torture. Finally, she settled into place.
Hold tight to my scales.