Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“No.”
“No?” She twisted to face him.
“I will teach you to defend yourself,” he promised.
Rimi tilted her head as she considered his statement. “Okay. That’s good.”
He helped her recline once again. The sounds next door vanished quickly. Keres reached for a soft cloth on the edge of the tub. After dipping it into the water, he added a few drops of a gentle soap and stroked the washcloth over her shoulder and down Rimi’s arm. She sighed with pleasure and tilted her head, silently inviting him to continue.
With pleasure, he continued to wash his mate. “Close your eyes, Snowflake. Let me wash your face.”
“Can you wash my hair? It’s dirty.”
“Of course. I’ll get that when I’m finished with your bath.”
Keres loved Rimi’s curves. His cock reacted to her closeness and the feel of her skin under his fingertips. Ignoring his desires, Keres focused on his mate. They would have years together to explore each other sexually. He could wait until she had recovered from the long journey.
“Sit up, Little one. Let me wash your back,” he requested.
Rimi stiffened against him, launching herself away from him. “Little? Are you making fun of my size?”
Keres sat up and lifted her easily from the water before turning Rimi to face him. “No, Mate. I love everything about you.” He drew her rigid body forward until she brushed against the proof of his desire. “There is no part of you I don’t desire.”
She stopped struggling. “Then why did you call me Little?”
“Daddies often refer to their matches as being Little. It’s a term of endearment.”
“Oh!”
“Rimi, can you think of one time since I found you that I’ve ever said anything negative about you or your enchanting form?”
“Um, no?”
“Definitely not. Why do you assume I would judge you harshly?”
“I don’t want to tell you. You’ll get mad.”
“Perhaps.” He didn’t deny that possibility.
“About thirty years ago, I was captured by a sapphire dragon. He wasn’t nice about my human form.”
“What did he say?” Keres could hear the anger behind his words and tried to control his expression.
“That even rare creatures needed to make an effort to be attractive. And how cursed he was to find the only fat female dragon in the world.”
Keres turned his head as literal steam exploded from his nostrils. It took him a full minute to get himself under control. “Tell me that bastard is dead.”
“I think so. I was so mad, I kicked him in the nuts. When he leaned forward to cup himself, I let the blade go, and it chopped his head in half. I didn’t wait to make sure he was completely gone. I got out of there.”
“Fuck!” Keres pulled her close to him, squeezing her tightly. He detested his own species. How could anyone treat a precious creature so poorly? Deep down inside, he knew. That dragon had been further gone than he had been. Only someone who’d completely lost their mind could behave like that. “I’m so sorry, Rimi. I’m also very proud of you.”
“I won’t kick you in the balls,” she promised.
Controlling his amusement at that vow, he watched her face as he said, “Thank you, Little One.”
“You’re welcome, D—Daddy.”
That earned her a sizzling kiss. With immense effort, Keres dragged himself away from her alluring body. “You’re going to call me that again when you’re recovered and I can reward you,” he told her.
She nodded and smiled. “I can’t wait.”
The minx challenged his self-control through the rest of her bath, shampoo, and snack. Keres loved every minute. He took a second to celebrate finding Rimi. Keres had never considered the possibility of having a female dragon as his mate. Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
Chapter 6
Opening her eyes in the stunning lilac room, Rimi lay perfectly still so she didn’t interrupt her mate’s sleep. She rotated her gaze from side to side, reassuring herself that she hadn’t dreamed this. What an incredible change from a damp, dark cave where she worried every moment of every day that a male would arrive to claim her. Now stretched out on a fluffy mattress that cushioned every part of her body, Rimi tried to take it all in.
The drop-dead handsome shifter next to her rolled closer to press a kiss to her cheek. “It’s still early, Mate. Do you want to go back to sleep?”
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she apologized.
“You didn’t.” He kissed her softly before adding, “Welcome home.”
“I hoped I hadn’t dreamed all this.”
“No, Snowflake. You’re safe here. Well, at least from everyone other than me.” He pulled her against him and kissed a line down her sensitive throat before pausing to ask, “Do you need to potty?”
Freezing, she considered his question before nodding.
“Thank you for telling me the truth.” Keres rolled out of bed, taking her with him.
When he carried her to the door of the separate toilet room, Rimi reminded him, “I can walk.”