Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Khadar stopped to drop off the lantern and grab a T-shirt from a drawer. When he stood her on the edge of the bed, she turned to crawl toward the pillows. Khadar thwarted that attempt and held her in place.
“Let me set Lettuce on a pillow. He’s tired,” Khadar said and accomplished the task when she held out the stuffie to him. With that completed, he pulled her T-shirt over her head and replaced it with a fresh one.
Had he just seen her naked?
She looked up at him. His face was drawn, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. Concerned, she scanned his body to see if he was in pain. Maybe he shouldn’t carry her around. As she reached his flat stomach, her eyes fixed on something else. A thick erection tented his slacks. Even tired, she automatically reached up to touch it.
“You’re killing me, mate. But I can control the mating urge long enough for you to sleep. Fair warning. All bets are off when you wake. Come. Let me put you to bed.”
Her brain couldn’t come up with a snappy answer. She simply wrapped her arms around his neck as he scooped her up. A second later, Khadar tucked Lalani into the softest, crispest sheets she’d ever felt. Closing her eyes, the last snapshot her brain took was the view of Khadar taking off his shirt.
“Mmm.” Lalani was having the best dream. She rubbed the warm surface below her and inhaled the best scent. “Better than apple pie.”
“Are you hungry, mate?”
Her eyes flashed open and Lalani pushed herself away from the surface she’d obviously slept on. “Khadar?”
“I hope you don’t rest on any other dragons,” he teased.
“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to slide off his body. How long had she draped herself over him?
His arms tightened around her. “Princess, you can’t flee from me. We are bonded now.”
“I’m not used to being so close to anyone,” she whispered, looking down at his bare chest below her. “You know… Sitting on someone’s lap or sleeping on top of them.”
“I like having you close. Are you uncomfortable?”
“Umm. No,” she dared to answer truthfully.
“Good. You look like you feel better.”
Lalani nodded. She studied his handsome face for a couple of seconds before she dared ask, “Did I sleep on you all night? Where’s Lettuce?”
“I enjoyed having you close. Lettuce climbed up on the headboard to keep guard.” Khadar pointed to the stuffie above them before asking, “How long has it been since you slept, Lalani?”
“Really slept? Not just napped for a few hours?” When he nodded, she continued, “Since my birth mother was killed. I haven’t slept well since. I’ve been going through her things.”
“It’s very sad you didn’t get to spend more time together. I am very glad to have found you. Your journey here to meet her brought you to me.”
“I don’t really understand what’s happening here,” Lalani said, waving her fingers back and forth between them. “It feels special.”
His slow smile whisked away the lingering sadness and helped her focus on the feelings she seemed to always have when he was around. A heat started deep within her. Daringly, she scooted up a bit and pressed her mouth against his. Instantly, that flame burnt hotter. His fingers glided through her sleep tangled hair, tugging slightly at her scalp. When she gasped at the slight hint of pain, he explored her mouth, holding her in place.
Loving his control, Lalani tangled her tongue with his and received her reward. That hand tightened in her hair, tilting her head slightly to the perfect angle. Khadar held her in place as he took complete control of the kiss. The tinge of pain wiped all miscellaneous thoughts from her mind and forced her to be fully present here and now.
His other hand stroked down her back, caressing her tight muscles. She arched her body slightly into his touch to encourage him. When his hand brushed the side swell of her breast, Lalani couldn’t believe how sensitive she was. It was as if his touch were electric.
Khadar lowered his mouth from hers to press a passionate kiss to her neck. The sizzle seemed to zing all the way to her pelvis. How can one kiss make me wet? Deciding she didn’t know and didn’t care, Lalani waited for the next sensation he would deliver.
“I need to see you, Princess,” he growled against her skin before biting her shoulder as he stroked his hands over her rounded bottom.
Distracted by how hot that was, she missed his fingers sliding her T-shirt over her hips. She’d just noticed the cool air wafting over her skin when he sat up. His muscles effortlessly lifted them both to a sitting position as he stripped off the borrowed shirt.
“Oh!” Lalani automatically pulled her hands from his broad shoulders to cover her breasts.