Page 53 of The Dragon of her Dreams

His eyes glistened with unshed tears and his lower lip trembled ever so slightly.

And with that, I knew I’d hit the nail on the head.

He swallowed hard, his throat working overtime. “You deserve a palace.”

I shrugged. “We have two of those, but it doesn’t mean we have to live in them all the time. I just need you, Jaegar... and a really warm, well-insulated house.”

“Two castles...” He shook his head and chuckled softly. “I can build you another house. One like Dymitri’s, warm and big enough for a princess.”

And a prince...

“I know you can,” I said, gripping his hands. “And if you choose to step up within Damon’s family, I’ll stand by your side and live wherever you want us to.”

He frowned at me then spoke slowly. “And if I don’t want to do that?” It was clear this subject was at the heart of the conflict raging within him.

“Let’s sit on the bed,” I said, standing up and pulling him to his feet.

When he finally sat down on the mattress, he was stiff and wasn’t touching me.

I sighed and tamped down my impatience, just as I had promised Aunt Cass I would. I had to try...

But why is he still worried about me loving him?

Instead of sitting down beside him, I stayed standing in front of him. “If you don’t want to be a prince and accept those responsibilities, I’d like to spend some time at the other kingdoms throughout the year. My sister mostly lives in the Black Mountains, and my brother is home in Bravadok. Iain floats everywhere. So, I’d like to travel as much as we can to see them.”

“But we could still live here, in the North, in a home of our own in town?” he asked, his voice sounding hopeful for the first time since his return.

I nodded, resolute in my decision. “Yes, of course, Jaegar.”

He grabbed me around the waist and hauled me against him.

I hopped onto his lap, straddling his waist, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I love you and I’ll do whatever I can to keep us together, and to make sure you’re happy.”

His hands pressed into my back, his breath caressing my lips. “But I want you to be happy too, Vanya.”

I laughed, feeling truly happy for the first time in days. “As long as I’m with you,andI’m warm enough...” Something we’d have to work on. “I’ll be happy.”

He kissed me then, stealing the breath from me.

The passion of his touch made me moan with longing, and his kisses caused all rational thought to fly from my mind.

We’re together now. That’s all that matters.

I thrust my pelvis against his, wanting a deeper, more intimate connection.

He stood up then, turned around and laid me down on the mattress, his heavy body pressing into mine. When he lifted his head, I tried to pull him down to me again.

But he stopped me, holding firm in his position. “So, you really don’t care if I’m a bastard?”

I shrugged, still in disbelief that he’d think that would matter. “So is Uncle Erik and he’s the King of the Black Mountains.”

“Or that I might never want to be a prince or do any of the royal things?”

I laughed and shook my head. “As long as you lovethisprincess, nothing else matters to me. We’ll figure it all out along the way, one day at a time.”

He stared at me for too long, lost in my eyes.

I wriggled in his grip, wanting more. Truthfully, I wanted to get naked and feel his beautiful, hot, ripped body against mine.

---