“Why?” Amber asked. “What changed?”
“Mac and his family. Seeing them meet their mates. Seeing them happy. And the prospect of sharing in just a sliver of their new lives once they found their mates.” His eyes misted with tears which he dashed away. “Seeing Martha’s baby growing inside her. Hearing its heartbeat grow stronger.” He swallowed hard. “Not exactly what you’d expect a fire-breathing dragon to say.”
“No, it’s what I’d expect a person who has been lonely for some time…a man who sees what is missing from his life and wants to change that would say.” She slid out of her chair, placed her coffee cup on the ground before she came to him, slipping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his chest. “It’s what makes me know that you are the man for me. Even if there was no bond between us, I still think I’d fall for you and fall for you hard.”
“Thank you.” His brow creased. “Wow, after all the many long years I’ve waited to hear those words from my mate, all I have to say is thank you.”
Amber laughed and looked up at him, her eyes fixed on his. “You’re a simple man. I like that.”
He caressed her cheek, his fingers lingering on her skin as he fought to control his need to pick her up and carry her to his bed. Claiming his mate was a primal urge, one he needed to keep under control. But when she was so close, it was hard to resist his instincts.
“Shall we go for a walk?” Kelos asked suddenly.
“Sure.” She slipped out of his lap and scooted backward to retrieve her coffee cup. Tilting her head back, she drank the contents, her throat exposed to him. Kelos pursed his lips, he could almost feel her soft skin as he kissed her neck. He blinked and drank his coffee so fast he nearly choked. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” He nodded firmly.
“It’s all new, isn’t it?” she asked as if she could read his mind.
“It is.” He stood up and adjusted his jeans which clung to his groin.
“Is this the first time you’ve been… I want to say in love, but I think that’s a bit premature.” She took the plate of cookies and her coffee cup into the kitchen and he followed like a little lost lamb.
“It’s not premature,” he admitted. “Not for a shifter.”
She swung around to face him after placing the cookies in a Tupperware container and sealing the lid. “You love me?”
“I think so.” His confusion was real. “I have never been in love before, so I have nothing to compare it to.”
Her expression faltered and pity registered on her face. “Never been in love?”
“No. I’ve always known the women I’ve been with were not my mate, so I have never allowed myself to love anyone. It always seemed as if it would be a betrayal.” He was nothing if not honest. Particularly with his mate.
“Wow.” She puffed the air out of her cheeks. “I’m honored that I am your first love.”
Amber moved closer to him and he reached out for her, needing to touch her and pull her into his arms. “You were worth the wait.”
She slid her hands around his neck and tilted her head back to look at him. “I promise to keep your heart safe, Kelos. I will never hurt you.”
“And I will never hurt you.” He gave her a quizzical smile. “Not that I could. A shifter can never intentionally hurt their mate.”
“Good to know,” she murmured as she stood on tiptoes and kissed his lips.
Kelos slipped his hand into the small of her back and supported her as she pressed closer to him. Their lips moved, tongues entwined as their kiss deepened. Sensations flooded his body, new sensations, a mixture of need and longing that he’d never experienced before.
And we thought we’d experienced all that life had to give, his dragon chuckled.
That wasn’t true. They always knew they had never experienced true love or the companionship of a mate or the cry of their own child.
“Let’s go for that walk.” Amber lowered herself to the floor and took his hand, leading him out of the kitchen and into the light.
“This way.” He led her across the lawn toward the right-hand corner of the back yard where an overgrown gate stood partially open. He’d been meaning to fix it but there were plenty of other jobs that had taken priority. Grabbing hold of it with two hands, he lifted it, making a gap big enough for them to both fit through.
“This place really was neglected.” Amber shielded her eyes from the sun as she turned around and looked at the cabin.
“It was. It’s going to take a while to fix it up. But I always did like a challenge.” He reached for her hand. “Come on, there’s something I want to show you.”
“Is there?” she asked suggestively.
Kelos shook his head. “I am not the most magnificent thing on this mountain.”
She let out a belly laugh as she followed him along the overgrown trail. “You aren’t the most modest either.”
“I’m a dragon shifter. What do you expect?” Kelos asked as they climbed higher along the trail.
“I don’t really know what I expect.” She hummed thoughtfully. “Can you breathe fire?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever eaten anyone alive?”
“No.” He wrinkled his nose.
“Can you fly?”
“Of course.” He stopped walking and pointed to the mountain peaks way in the distance. “One night I’ll fly you to the highest peak.”
“I can ride on your back?” she asked in surprise.
“Yes.” He chuckled as he resumed their journey.
