Page 79 of Burned

“It’s water under the bridge, love,” Lord answers my unspoken thoughts. “The fates don’t hold you responsible and neither do I.” He nuzzles my ear. “I’ve spent a lifetime collecting the things on the other side of that door. Foryou. Let me show you?”

There’s a swell of nerves on his side of the bond, and strangely, that washes away my guilt. My fierce, unbreakable dragon is nervous about whether I’ll like his hoard. Is there anything more precious than that?

I nod and slip the chain from around his neck, twisting in his arms to unlock the door. It swings open and he steps inside, finally setting me down once we’re over the threshold.

I’m speechless. The room was clearly specially constructed to fit Lord in his full dragon form, the ceiling at least thirty feet high. Everywhere I look something sparkles. There are piles of priceless jewels and precious metals, renaissance paintings hanging on the walls, and gold coins scattered across the floor.I’ve never been a greedy man. I don’t crave wealth or expensive things, and I never have. But I can feel the pride swell in Lord’s chest and the anxious way he holds his breath, waiting for my approval.

One of the many reasons I was taught that dragons are evil, terrible beasts was their greed. Lord admitted back in Paris that he’s unapologetically drawn to priceless, shiny things. But as he moves to stand behind me, his heart beating out a rapid staccato, I understand it for what it really is. Not greed, but an offering for me, a desire to provide for his mate for the rest of our very long lives. A beautifully misguided way to woo me.

I smile and look over my shoulder at him, placing my palm on his stubbled cheek and leaning back so I can feel his body against mine.

“It’s perfect. You did so good, Balriss.”

His eyelids flutter at my praise and he lets out a low purr that rumbles through the room and echoes off the high ceiling.

“You really like it?” His voice is deep and rough, more dragon than human as he wraps his arms around me from behind. I can feel the heat pulsing from his skin and his cock already thickening against the curve of my ass.

“I do.” I crane my neck to brush my lips softly against his and smile. “Show me more. Show me your favorite thing in your hoard.”

His cheeks turn a light shade of pink and I laugh with surprise. He’s shy? He’s embarrassed about something he’s hoarded.

“Tell me.” I grin, wriggling out of his grasp so I can go in search of his secret on my own.

“It’s nothing,” he huffs, reaching for me.

I dance out of range and look around the room. It’s well organized, I’ll give him that. There’s a heaping pile of jewelry,coins and precious gems piled on a bed with satin sheets, more art… nothing that would be considered embarrassing.

“Are you ashamed that you only haveonesword with a diamond encrusted handle?” I tease.

Lord growls and lunges to grab me again. I laugh and dart around a massive throne, bumping into a sturdy old chest of drawers on the other side.

“What do we have here? Is this where you keep your secret hoard of shameful sex toys?” I ask, pulling open one of the drawers.

I’m expecting to find more of the same inside—rubies, diamonds, gold—but I cock my head curiously at the strange items hidden inside. Pieces of cheap aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic, all in odd shapes fill the drawer. Lord is behind me again as I reach inside and pull out a few of them to get a better look.

“Are they…?”

“Cookie cutters.” He finishes for me, sounding just as shy as he looked when I asked about his favorite item in his hoard. “I don’t know why.” He gives a cute little huff that ruffles my hair. “My dragon can’t get enough of them.” To prove his point, he yanks open a few more of the drawers. All of them are just as full as the first one, packed to the brim with cookie cutters.

I laugh again, but this time it comes out sounding breathless, emotion welling up in my chest and sticking in my throat.

“What is it, treasure?” Lord asks.

I shake my head and smile, putting the cookie cutters back and turning to face him. “I just… It’s such a silly thing, but when I was little, I always had this fantasy where my mom hadn’t passed away, and instead of moving around and constantly training for battle, we lived in a little house in the countryside. I used to imagine baking cookies with her.”

I bite my lip, and Lord pulls me close again. Instead of looking embarrassed, he’s smiling now too.

“My dragon was hoarding them for you.”

“Before you even met me?”

He cups my chin and bumps his nose against mine. “You were always my destiny.”

His words find a home deep inside me and every cell in my body knows it’s true. Not that I didn’t believe him before, but the cookie cutters feel like proof that we really and truly were brought together by fate. Lord was always meant to be mine and I was always meant to be his.

Forever.

I close the fraction of space between our mouths, claiming his lips in a hungry kiss. He groans and opens to welcome me in. Our tongues duel, but deep down neither of us cares who wins. It’s enough to enjoy the playful power struggle of sharp nips and tangled tongues. Lord drags me blindly through the room, swallowing my muffled laughter as I trip over random piles of priceless artifacts, too busy fumbling with his clothes to worry about anything else.

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