Page 92 of Taught By the Dragon
ChapterThirty-One
Percy’s heart raced as they entered Bronx’s cottage. As soon as he shut the door, he hauled her against him and nuzzled her neck. “Please tell me you’re ready, love.”
She hugged him and murmured, “Yes. Make me yours, Bronx.”
He pulled back and searched her gaze. Cupping her cheek, he said, “I love you, Percy Wells. My mate, my second chance.”
She smiled. She’d debated sharing her feelings during the ceremony but had decided she wanted it to be their moment, and theirs alone.
Her dragon huffed.About time.
Hush.
Her beast fell silent, and she placed a hand on Bronx’s cheek. He leaned into her touch, which only made her heart soar. “I love you too, Bronx.”
He stilled. “What?”
She grinned. “I know you’re older than me, but I didn’t think you were ancient enough to lose your hearing already.”
He smacked her arse lightly, and the touch sent a rush of heat through her. He growled, “I heard you perfectly well. But I wasn’t expecting it.”
She placed a hand on his chest and leaned against him. “I wasn’t even sure what love was before I came here. Although my dragon reminded me that I had experienced it before—with her—and I realized that I felt just as strongly about you. Except for one thing.”
“Which is?”
“I don’t want my dragon’s tongue between my legs.”
He laughed, and the sound made her heart even warmer. It would take time to get used to such happiness and not constantly worry about how it might disappear. But Percy was determined to keep hold of what she had with Bronx and to fight to keep her new dream alive.
Bronx’s gaze went from laughing to molten, and he stepped back enough so he could give her body a once-over. His gaze was slow and deliberate, and judging by the approval in his eyes, he liked what he saw. His voice was deeper when he said, “You’re so beautiful tonight.” He leaned over and nuzzled her neck, right where her birthmark was. “I’m glad you shared your outer dragon with the world.”
Though it was hard to concentrate with his delicious scruff rubbing against her skin, Percy managed to reply, “It wasn’t easy, but I was tired of hiding. This is who I am. And as I discover more and more of myself, I need to embrace it, be proud of it, and forge my own path. Besides, I rather like having an outer dragon to go with my inner one.” She ran her fingers through Bronx’s hair, loving how he growled. “However, that’s enough talk about my outer dragon. Right now, I just want to kiss my new mate.”
He pulled back to meet her gaze again. “Are you sure, love?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up at her dragonman. Yes, she rather liked thinking of Bronx as hers. “More than anything. I want your kiss, your dragon, and the frenzy. I know about what happens, and how you’ve given me options to stop it. Even the doctors have given me numbers to text, and the list goes on. But I know I won’t need it.”
He brushed hair from her face. “How?”
She leaned into his hand on her cheek. “Because it’ll be with you, Bronx. Our inner dragons are a big part of who we are, and even in the throes of a frenzy, I trust you and your dragon.”
“Percy…” He paused, cleared his throat, and added, “Then come with me. I want to have a proper bed for our first time.” He lowered his voice to a loud whisper. “Although we can try against a door whenever you’re ready. Just say the word.”
She snorted but followed him up the stairs to his bedroom in silence. Her heart raced, and her dragon paced back and forth inside her head. Her beast spoke up.His dragon better give me a turn.
We’ll see. His beast is older with more experience. Not to mention no one knows where we’ll fit on the dominance scale.
She’d learned about that over the last few weeks too, how dragons had a sort of hierarchy. Dominant ones tended to be leaders or Protectors, while more submissive ones were usually caregivers or the glue that held the clan together. Everyone had been adamant that no one was more important than anyone else, though.
Although people might think she was toward the bottom at first glance, Bronx was convinced she’d be farther up toward the top. Otherwise, she never would’ve had the resolve to survive as she had.
Her dragonman had such faith in her. It was yet another thing she loved about him.
They reached the bedroom, and Bronx stopped them near the edge of the bed. “Get undressed first, love. I want to make sure you’re ready.”
She remembered how Bronx had “readied” her in that conference room with his hands, his mouth, and his tongue. Her entire body heated, and her dragon grunted.Yes, yes, about time.
She stepped back and slowly undid the tie over her shoulder. The slinky material slid down her body, baring her. She didn’t even have on underwear.
