Page 93 of Accidentally a Dragon Daddy

He broke that promise.

I came three more times. Not just once.

Chapter Forty-Two

Elanya

“Damon.”

He glanced up from the book he was reading about children. When he saw my face, his entire body stiffened. “What’s wrong?”

I licked my lower lip. Although I’d agreed to it in the shower, once we were done, Damon had told me to take some time, and think about it. Make sure it was what I truly wanted.

I had. It was.

“I’m ready.”

“For what?” He got up off the couch and came to me, recognizing it was something important.

“I want you to mark me,” I said, voice suddenly hoarse. “Bond with me.”

“Does that mean—”

“I forgive you,” I said, feeling a wave of peace follow the saying of the words. “Fully. Completely. I am over it.”

“Are you sure?” The hope flared in his eyes like a spotlight.

“In every way that matters,” I said. “But I’m going to hold that over you in any teasing-fit for the rest of our lives. Sorry, you can’t escape that.”

He pouted, but there was a grin breaking through it from the moment he started. “I supposed I can handle that.”

“Good,” I said, letting myself be swept up into a kiss. “Now, how do we do this? Is there some sort of ritual or something I have to do? Does it need to be witnessed?”

“No,” he said. “I simply pull the scale from my body and place it on yours.”

“Oh. That sounds simple,” I said.

He shrugged. “It is. That’s not what’s important. It’s the leadup to it. The decision for both parties to irrevocably pair themselves together. There’s no going back.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“If you remove it once it’s on, you’ll die,” he explained. “As will I.”

“Oh. You didn’t tell me that bit,” I said.

“I am now,” he said. “Before we go through with it. I … didn’t want to pressure you. If you need more time to think about it now, however, I understand.”

Chewing my lower lip some more, I thought it over. My left hand slid over my belly. The absolute barest hint of a swell was present, though it was as much imagination as reality in what I felt.

“We’re already together for life,” I said, watching as his eyes dropped to my stomach. “But I don’t want that to be our only bond, Damon. I love you. With every part of me. I want you. I want this. So, go ahead. Mark me. Make me yours for all to see.”

“I choose you,” he said, raising his right hand.

Before our very eyes, I watched it grow thick with scales, his fingers turning to claws. Then the blood-red scales spread across his chest. Tiny, no larger than the size of my palm. Without hesitation, he hooked a claw under one and pulled it from his body with the barest flicker of pain. His eyes were locked on to mine.

“I take you,” I whispered. “I choose you. For now. For life. Forever.”

I bared my chest to him, and he placed the scale against my breastbone with tender care.

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