Page 85 of Dragon Daddy Protector

I pictured the majestic creature within me, her emerald scales shimmering in the sun, wings outstretched, ready for flight. The image solidified in my mind as I felt my skin prickle and tighten, and then the transformation took hold.

“Let go, Mariah.” Evan squeezed my hands. “Trust yourself.”

With one last deep breath, I surrendered to the shift. The sensation was indescribable. Not early as painful as before, though I wouldn’t exactly call it pleasurable. It was more of an uncomfortable sensation as my body reformed itself into my dragon form. The world around me seemed to fall away, replaced by one full of rich impressions, and my senses sparked to life, heightened far beyond that of my human form. An overwhelming sense of freedom coursed through me.

“Beautiful,” Evan breathed, his eyes practically glowing as he took me in for a moment before shifting into his own dragon form beside me. His midnight black scales caught the sun, creating a gorgeous interplay of shadow and light.

I responded to him instantly, feeling the intensity of our connection growing stronger by the second. He stepped closer, rubbing his scaled head along my neck, breathing me in. His scent was nearly overpowering, and waves of desire, sharp and hot, flooded my veins. I rubbed myself against him as if real fire burned within.

Mariah.

The sound of his voice in my mind took me off guard, but then I remembered that it’d been that way before.

Are you ready to fly?

His mental voice was strong and reassuring, but I wasn’t quite sure how to answer him. I concentrated on my thoughts. I could have sworn his huff was an amused laugh.

What?

He made a low, rumbling sound then, and I realized he’d heard me. It was as simple as communicating with my voice. Several emotions bubbled up inside: awe, trepidation, and excitement, but I’d already considered this before. I wanted to fly.

I breathed slowly. I’m ready.

I’d thought I wouldn’t know what to do, that I’d have to learn, but when I spread my wings, it was as if an innate knowledge surfaced. I knew exactly what to do. Or rather, my dragon did. But weren’t we one and the same?

I marveled as I flapped my wings, feeling the air currents flow around me with the different minute adjustments of position. Then with a powerful downward thrust, I lifted from the ground, with Evan right beside me, soaring higher and higher with every flap until the earth below was a mere patchwork of green and gold.

Amazing, isn't it? Joyous laughter rang out within our mental connection.

Absolutely breathtaking. The wind was whipping over my scales, every fiber of my being alive with an energy I'd never known before.

As we flew side by side, I felt my anxieties and fears melt away, replaced by a profound sense of peace I’d so desperately been searching for. For the first time since discovering my pregnancy, I genuinely believed that everything would be all right, not just for me, but for our family and our future.

We glided through the sky for a long time until the sun began dropping toward the horizon. The warm awareness of Evan's presence, both beside me and within my mind and heart, set my senses ablaze.

Mariah. Evan's tone was filled with an undeniable longing.

I glanced over at him, at his golden eyes, and it wasn't difficult to discern what smoldered in their depths. I felt it, too: a flame burning in the pit of my stomach, hungry for his touch. It was raw, potent, primal, and I suddenly couldn’t stand the thought of going another second without our bodies being connected as fully as our hearts.

I need you.

He growled, and we started our descent back to solid ground, both of the same mind.

Touching down in the clearing, I shifted back to my human form much more easily this time, my body tingling with exhilaration. In an instant, Evan was by my side, wrapping me in his arms and crushing my body to his, his mouth finding mine.

The heat between us was a wildfire, burning hotter with every second that passed. His lips were soft yet fiercely passionate, and all of my senses seemed to be in overdrive as his tongue explored every inch of my mouth. His hands desperately, urgently roamed my body.

I curled my fingers around his locks, holding him to me as the desire to deepen our connection even further brought out a hunger I'd never known.

The intensity of the mate bond had become tangible. With his body pressed on mine, our tongues tangling, this connection between us seemed to know no bounds. We were linked together, heart and soul.

When we finally broke apart, gasping for breath, I felt dizzy.

“I need you,” Evan groaned, his hard length pressing against my belly.

I moaned in response, and in the next instant, he'd swept me up into his arms and was striding back the way we'd come. We didn't make it far before he was setting me back on my feet, pressing my back against a tree, his lips on mine again. The need was so overpowering, we simply couldn't wait until we got back to the house.

My heart pounded as his hands moved from my face down to my shoulders, tugging my clothes off as he trailed hot kisses all over my body. I felt alive, every sensation amplified by the connection between us, and as his fingertips brushed over my taut nipples, my desire became a living thing.

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