Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I had to agree with that. “Yeah, my brother’s wife has a lot of mage relatives and they’re much better at it than any dragon in town.”
He perked up like I’d said something interesting. “My friend Lorne has two mates and one is a mage. It’s not really that common around here.”
“The two mates part or the mage and dragon part?” Neither made sense, so I waited for his answer.
“The mage and dragon part.” Cocking his head, he studied me. “Your expression says that’s just a local thing.”
Nodding, I answered him as honestly as I could. “I grew up bouncing between Canada and Montana, and there were mixed matings of all types in both areas. Until my brother mated Erin, my family was seen as odd for having mostly dragons on the family tree. I think that’s just a the locals around here are weird thing.”
Alick was trying not to laugh but his grin gave his thoughts away. “That’s highly likely.”
Oh yeah.
His neighbors were a special breed of interesting.
“I know I changed the subject accidentally, but let’s go back to the original question.” Sitting straighter, Alick was so focused on me, I had a feeling his brain was going in circles even though I didn’t understand why. “The flirting one, please.”
Please because he was polite or did it make his sub side happy?
Did he want his Dom to approve of his manners?
Reward him for being good?
“I can’t decide if I want to know what you’re thinking.” Frowning, he looked like he wanted to wiggle but was stopping himself. “Having a mate is weirder than I expected.”
Laughing, I nodded, not bothering to deny it. “But it’s going to be better than we expected once we work out the kinks.”
A cheeky grin flashed over his face. “I don’t want to work them out too much.”
Oh yes, mates were always compatible.
Chapter 5
Alick
We had to start as we meant to go on.
Dragons didn’t do the shine in the best light and then show who they really are thing.
I had to be myself or he’d be confused later.
I was brave and confident.
Start as we meant to go on…I could do it.
“Now you’re the one whose brain is going too fast.” For some reason, my mate seemed to think that was funny or cute because his smile widened and he took a step forward.
Even though the trailer was bigger than I’d expected, it was still small enough that it brought him right next to the table, and I couldn’t hide the shiver that raced through me. Grady’s smile was teasing and slightly wicked, but he paused. “Turned on or nervous? I’m sensing both, but I want to make sure I’m reading you right.”
“You are.” Reminding myself again that being honest was the only way to not fuck things up in the long run, I did my best to ignore how hot my face was getting. “It’s both.”
“Good.” Shifting slightly closer, the teasing in his grin faded until it was just wicked and hot. “Then I probably shouldn’t doubt that you’re a sub and a little? I think I saw your little side peeking out when we were in the restaurant.”
And the blush just kept getting worse.
Grady seemed to like it, though. He slowly reached out and trailed one finger down my cheek, barely touching me. “I stopped flirting because I was worried I’d be rushing you. In my experience, humans need to take things like that slower or they don’t feel special. You’re my mate. You’re the most special person to me and I didn’t want you to feel casual.”
I barely held back the whimper that wanted to escape, but I couldn’t help how hard that made me. “I…I know I’m your mate.”
That didn’t make nearly enough sense, so I tried to keep going. “I needed to…I want…You were…”
Okay, rambling hadn’t helped the situation.
“Is it hard to think when I’m this close?” Grady’s quiet question had a needy sound finally escaping. “I think that’s a yes.”
It was.
I managed a nod, but his finger traced around my ear and somehow that turned my brain off like I was a robot.
“I spent the last few days imagining punishing you in a thousand naughty ways that all started with spanking you.” His words were serious but the tone was erotic, not scary. “I could feel it every time I almost found you and those near misses were driving me insane.”
Somehow he was making me hot and cold at the same time, and all I could do was whine and fight off the shakes.
Staying big and functional was getting harder than I thought he realized.
“But you were so cute when your eyes met mine for the first time and you knew I was your mate.” Pleasure flashed in his eyes as his finger caressed down my neck and I shivered again. “The thought of punishing you vanished, but I still wanted to spank the cute man who’d turned out to be my mate.”