Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 111252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Kai had barely finished saying those words when a thousand invisible threads dove into Xiang’s soul and streaked back across to Kai, binding them together. He gasped at the feeling, but Kai continued as if he felt nothing.
“I would give up all of my hoard to keep you. I would give you all my hoard and more if it would make you happy. And if you asked, I would give up my life for you.” Kai lifted his empty hand, his fingers curling like long talons, while eyes once again flashed bright gold. “You are mine, and I will never part with you.”
For a second, within his mind, Xiang swore those threads flashed gold and then faded from sight. But he could feel them even now, binding him permanently to Kai. Pure, unadulterated joy pumped briefly through his veins, but it froze almost as quickly.
He wanted nothing more than to belong to Kai, to have Kai at his side for all time, but Kai was a dragon…and he was just some vampire who’d done some truly horrible things within his lifetime. How could he be worthy of Kai?
“But…you’re…you’re a dragon. You’re practically a god. I’m not worthy,” Xiang stumbled, trying to untangle his tongue enough to speak, but his brain wasn’t cooperating.
“Why?” Kai’s hold on his hand tightened, stopping Xiang’s attempt to pull his fingers free. “Because of decisions you made in the past? I don’t care about those things. What you have survived and learned from in your past are the very things that make you so priceless to me now. You are mine.”
Xiang could feel the echo of those three words through his entire body, branding him in the very best way.
Swallowing past the lump that threatened to block his throat, Xiang cupped Kai’s cheek with one hand and pulled him closer. “Does that mean that you’re mine? That I won’t have to share you with anyone else?”
A soft growl rumbled from Kai. “Dragons don’t share.”
Their lips met across the table in a hungry, desperate kiss that soothed old aches and insecurities. Xiang lost himself to the heat of Kai’s mouth, the caress of his tongue along his own. He pushed away thoughts of the strange magic spell that bound him to Kai. It wasn’t important. The only thing that mattered to him was that Kai wanted him completely. That Kai would never leave his side.
He slowed the kiss to a series of small, slow nips and brushes, as if they couldn’t quite get enough of each other. With his forehead pressed to Kai’s, he smiled. “Come to bed with me. You need to give your body more time to heal.”
Kai pulled away and grinned. “Will we have sex?”
A bark of laughter jumped out of Xiang’s throat and forced his head to tip to the ceiling. “No sex. Healing.”
The dragon released him and smoothly stood. He stripped off his clothes, tossing them about the room without a care. “You know, I’ve heard that sex has many healing properties.”
“No,” Xiang repeated as he also stripped to his underwear.
“I assure you that my ass suffered no injury in the fight with the fae. It is perfectly fine.”
This dragon was trying to kill him with temptation.
Kai flashed him that evil pouty expression, but Xiang ignored him as he climbed under the blankets. Kai’s warm body soon joined him. They wrapped their arms around each other and tangled their legs.
“I just want to hold you and listen to your heartbeat,” Xiang murmured, his head resting on Kai’s chest.
Strong arms tightened on Xiang, and a contented sigh escaped Kai’s lips. “Yes, this. I need this too. You are mine, and no one will ever take you from me.”
Mine.
Kai was his at last. And Xiang would allow no one to separate them.
Which meant they needed to come up with a plan to defeat the fae now.
Chapter 27
Kai
Kai did not want to leave the cozy cocoon he and Xiang had built in his bed. For almost the entire day, they’d remained in Xiang’s bed, wrapped in blankets, napping, kissing, eating, napping, and—when he finally convinced Xiang he was healed—having sex. Kai had no interest in leaving this happy spot. The only thing better would have been cuddling within his own hoard.
But there was no leaving while the sun was up and Xiang’s clan was vulnerable. He didn’t mind sticking close, protecting the Zhang clan with his mate. Plus, his hoard was right below them. He could feel that everything was safe and sound there. It was more a drive to drag his mate to the place where they had their special, secret moments away from the world. He wanted to put Xiang back in his hoard so he could create more happy memories there.
And also have sex on his bed.
Later.
All of that would have to come later.