Page 12 of Protector Dragon's Shattered Mate

I think you might have heard me earlier. I’m going to keep scooting closer. I’d like to end up close enough for us to sleep back-to-back, or side to side. How does that sound?

She didn’t startle this time, but she cocked her head to the side, as if listening to him.

Maybe it was working! If it worked, then they were mates. There was no way around it. Not that he needed to bring that up to her. God, that would terrify anyone.

But could she be his mate? He could hardly let himself consider it. He pushed it out of his mind and concentrated on his task.

A few hours later, he was finally close enough to touch her. She hadn’t run away again. All he had to do was reach out one wing, and they’d be touching.

I’m going to cuddle up next to you now, so we can sleep next to each other. Most dragon shifters like being together. I hope bears are like that too.

He slid his wing over, letting the edge curl protectively over her back. As soon as his skin touched hers, a current of electricity surged through him. God, it felt good to be close to her. He didn’t have time to examine it too closely. He didn’t want to push her, but he didn’t want to lose what progress they’d made.

He moved over until his side was pressed against hers. Then he ducked his head and inhaled, taking a deep breath. She shuddered once, and then relaxed.

Oh hell. She wasn’t running away. They were actually lying together. He tried to stay calm and keep his breathing even so that he didn’t freak her out. Eventually, he felt her fall asleep. And not long after, he joined her in slumber.

9

Sofia

When she woke up, she felt much better. And next to her, Levi was still asleep.

She couldn’t believe she’d let him so close! And before they’d fallen asleep, she had heard his human voice in her mind, she was sure of it. Much of it had been ideas, instead of perfectly formed sentences, but the ideas had come across.

Was that possible?

She’d heard that mates within her clan could communicate without speaking aloud, or when shifted, but her parents never could. Maybe because they hadn’t been mates. The less she thought about them, the better. Obviously, she’d never experienced it herself.

But it was inconceivable that this male could be her mate. They barely knew each other. And yes, she’d heard of fate, and love at first sight, but she needed to be able totalkto a male—with real words—before she committed to him.Notthat she was considering any type of relationship. Any male that was interested in her would be in for a rude awakening when they got to know her and saw how jumpy she was now. She couldn’timagine a day when she wasn’t plagued by the constant need to flee.

That was what her clan had done to her, by making her steal for them. And that was also what the wolves had done to her. They’d made it impossible for her to ever trust anyone again.

As the sun came up, Levi stretched.

Good morning.

She tried to say it back, but the message was not received, if the look of disappointment on his face was anything to go by.

Don’t run, he said.

She tried not to get upset over that. She couldn’t shift, and she couldn’t communicate, but for some reason, he was determined, and he was trying to help her. So, she wasn’t going to run again. She was going to stay there and try to let him help her. Maybe she wouldn’t ever live as a human again, but she wanted to have the option. She didn’t want the wolves to have that kind of power over her life, keeping her trapped in her bear’s body permanently.

She took a closer look at Levi as he stood up. Of course, he was much hotter in his human form, but he was gorgeous as a dragon. There was something majestic looking about him, with his wings and his shimmering scales, and his vibrant yellow eyes.

He stretched and moved away from her, closer to a grouping of trees.I’m going to change back into a human now.

Would she see him naked again? She felt bad for looking, but it was hard to resist. She must have been feeling closer to her human self because she found herself unable to draw her eyes away. When she was most in tune with her bear, she had very little interest in a male in his human form. But maybe it was just Levi. Maybe he was the only one who would affect her this way.

He let the change ripple over his body. She averted her eyes as he pulled his boxers on. He had given her privacy, soshe would do the same for him. After his boxers were on, she let herself look her fill. He reached for his jeans first, but she had enough time to admire his muscular thighs. He took his time getting his shirt, so she was able to revel in looking at his sculpted pecs and his washboard abs. He tugged it over his head, but it was short-sleeved so she could still see the outline of his powerful biceps. From what she’d seen of Levi and the four brothers who lived on the ranch, bear shifter males weren’t quite as powerfully built as dragons, but they were still buff.

However, she had never been this attracted to a bear. And now wolves were ruined for her. She shuddered at just the memory of them.

“Hi,” he said. “You stay put, and I’ll get breakfast for us.” He smiled at her. “Or would you like to hunt a little later? I’ll change back if you do.”

She nodded. She could do that. Surely, she could force herself to move in a deliberate way, and not just blindly flee.

“Okay great!” His face lit up. “I’ll get us some breakfast, and then we’ll hunt for our lunch. I’ll be right back.” She watched him go, even appreciate the way his firm backside looked in his jeans.

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