Page 86 of The Dragon's Mate Proposal

“It’s about your family,” I said heavily, knowing I couldn’t hold back, couldn’t delay. The bond we shared was a real thing. He would know I wasn’t telling the truth.

And he deserved it. Cade had done nothing wrong.

“What about them?”

I inhaled deeply, taking his hand and leading him into the shower, where I proceeded to run my hands over his body, and while I washed him, I told him about the sovereign’s visit. About the letter. And what the letter said.

Cade leaned heavily on the wall as he tried to process it all. His heart beat. His chest rose and fell. But his eyes never blinked. They stared off into something only he could see.

“I believe it,” he said at last, regret pouring through our link. “Uncle Porve was always a bit out there, a bit off. I could see the discovery of that much gold affecting him.”

His breathing deepened, and without speaking, I helped him to the floor. He sat there, under the pouring water, taking his time. I never left his side, always touching him, reassuring him, making sure he knew I was there. For him. I wasn’t going anywhere. He wasn’t alone.

At one point, he rested his head against mine and simply took comfort in my presence. Wrapping my arms around him, I stroked the back of his head, kissing the top as water poured down over us.

A sob racked his shoulders a moment after sadness poured through our bond.

“Cade,” I whispered, holding him as he rocked. “Oh, my Cade.”

“I miss them, Sam,” he moaned. “So much. I wish they were here. That I could bring them back. I wish I’d never left.”

“I know.” I stroked his head. What else could I say? I wanted to find the words, the ones that would make it all better, that would stop his pain, help him heal his hurt. But they didn’t exist. There was no magical cure for what had happened. Cade would simply have to work through it.

And I would be at his side the entire time.

“Thank you,” I heard him mumble at one point.

“For what?”

“Being here. Being you,” he said, clutching at me for support.

I gave it as best I could. It didn’t feel like enough. But I gave him all I had anyway.

When his mood changed, and he sought a distraction, I gave it, relinquishing my body to him. Pushing him down to the floor, I sat back onto him, moaning as his cock filled me and his hands slid up my waist to caress my breasts.

Riding him, I watched his face, taking comfort in the pleasure that replaced the pain. The relaxation that accompanied his orgasm as he filled me was all I could have hoped for him.

Then the water abruptly grew cooler. Yelping, I jumped off Cade and hurried to get clean. He just laughed, and suddenly, the shower was warm again. That time, the steam was coming off him.

We got out and dried off anyway, at which point he scooped me up again and carried me to bed.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said, cuddling up next to me as we got under the sheets. “It hurts, but now I know, and I can’t begin to tell you how relieving that is.”

I stroked his face.

“But I can’t let that happen to me.”

“You won’t,” I assured him.

“I know,” he said. “Because I’m going to sign the mine over to you.”

I sat upright. “What?”

“Exactly what I said. I’m going to do what Kalann wanted, but I’m going to give it to you, instead. Cede that chunk of property to you. That way, the gold isn’t mine. It’s yours. You’re a good person, Sam. I can trust you with it.”

“I … don’t know what to say.”

“Say ‘okay.’ And then I’ll say thank you.”

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