Page 51 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

“Are you saying you’re going to claim her as your mate?” TJ says.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to do! I need to think,” I say, pacing the length of my office. “I need to think,” I repeat, looking at Pat and TJ meaningfully. They understand what I’m saying and leave me alone.

I quickly make my way to the roof after donning on my Skin, and even though it is broad daylight, I shift, letting the uncomplicated emotions of my dragon take over my mind. My hands and feet are replaced by sharp talons. My body elongates rapidly. Hard, almost translucent silver scales cover my body. Large scaly wings sprout on my back.

My dragon takes a flying leap off the edge of the building and soars up. I would never take such a risk, but I needed to let my dragon out or risk having an apoplexy. To say that the news has come as a shock would be an understatement. After all the care I took not to get too involved with Nic, this is what happens. She says I’m not obligated to her in any way, but how can I not be obligated? She’s growing a life inside her that we made together. I am going to be a father!

I fly faster and higher, trying to untangle my emotions. I wonder if Dad was ever as fearful of claiming a mate as I am. When I think about Mom and Dad or any of the guys’ parents, I feel hopeful. If they can make it work, perhaps I can make it work as well. Suddenly, losing Nic and the baby forever seems far, far worse than the hypothetical possibility of losing my mind. Besides, I won’t let anything happen to Nic. I will keep her safe. Little by little, I find my fear abating. Mom and Dad were right. I have been focusing on the wrong things.

I can’t wait a minute longer to find Nic and confess my feelings for her. My dragon does a happy upside-down flip mid-air before we begin our descent.

I am in love with Nic.

She is my soul mate.

I am going to claim her as my soul mate.

Chapter 25 - Nic

After leaving Druk Technologies, I took a ferry across the river to New Jersey and rented a car from there. I have been on the interstate highway for the better part of the day, making just one stop to fuel up and grab a bite. I should reach my mom’s place in Pittsburgh in an hour or so. The sun has set and the first stars are twinkling in the sky. The car I rented had GPS, so I turned off my phone. It was making me too jittery, glancing at the phone, wondering if Lex was going to call. He has certainly seen the pregnancy test and my note by now.

I take the exit that will take me to my mom’s house when I spot a car pulled up by the side of the road. The man is looking under the hood while the woman’s eyes are on the road, looking for other vehicles. When she sees me approaching, she almost gets in front of my car and waves frantically. I have no choice but to pull over.

I curse as I turn off the headlights and lower the window. I do not need this right now. But if they need my help, I can hardly leave them stranded here.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, leaning over.

“Hi, thanks for stopping. We need some light. Both our phones are dead. Jimmy is a pretty good mechanic. If he can only see what’s happening under the hood, he’ll have it figured out in no time.”

The words come out of her mouth in a rush. She keeps glancing over her shoulder at the man. His head is still bent under the hood, which is very strange considering that apparently he’s unable to see a thing. She’s quite young, eighteen or nineteen, while the man looks much older, making me wonder how exactly she’s related to this Jimmy character. Something about the situation doesn’t feel right. I am tempted to drive away. But the girl is almost in tears. Is she in danger?

“What do you need me to do?” I ask, making no move to get out of the car.

“Do you have a flashlight?” she asks hopefully, walking to my window.

“No, but you can use the flashlight on my phone,” I say and turn to reach for my phone on the passenger seat.

The moment I turn my head, I feel a cloth with a sickly sweet smell pressed against my nose and mouth. My eyes roll back in my head and everything goes dark.

I don’t know how long I’d been unconscious. I wake up groggy, stiff, and disoriented. It is pitch dark. I think I’m in my bed at home and try to get up, but I can’t. For the first time, I realize that I am not lying down, but am sitting upright in a chair. And what’s more, my hands and legs are bound. The events leading up to my kidnapping come flooding into my mind. I begin trashing around on the chair, crying for help, but my cries go unanswered.

After many minutes of struggle, I give up and slump in my chair. What kind of nightmare is this? When I woke up and found out that I was pregnant with Lex’s child, I couldn’t possibly imagine my day getting any worse than it already was. But apparently it has gotten worse.

My eyes are slowly getting used to the darkness. I crane my neck, trying to get a better look at my surroundings. I am definitely not in a room. The floor is too uneven. The ‘walls’ are damp. It seems to be some sort of a cave. What am I doing in a cave? Just what have I gotten myself into? My breath starts coming on in short gasps, but I force myself to breathe slowly and evenly. I can’t panic. I can’t give in to my fear. It is not just me I must think about, but also my baby. My kidnappers are bound to show themselves soon. I need to do everything in my power to keep my baby safe.

Chapter 26 - Lex

I shift as I land on the rooftop and hurry downstairs to my office. I feel a lightness I haven’t felt in months. I love Nic! I’m going to claim her as my soul mate! Sure, I’ll have to tell her that I’m a dragon shifter, but she already suspects that I’m more than just an ordinary man. And yes, it might come as a shock to her, but I’m confident that she’ll get over it.

As soon as I reach my office, I grab my phone and dial her number. It keeps going to voice mail. No matter. I’ll show up at her door with flowers.

I put my plan into action and soon, I am standing outside the door of her apartment with a massive bouquet of flowers.

I knock impatiently, finding it difficult to wait for even a second longer. When the door opens, it is Nic’s roommate Penelope on the other side. I have a tough time masking my disappointment.

“Whoa! Are those for Nic?” she asks, holding the door wide open for me to pass through.

“Yes. Where is she?”

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