Page 84 of Primal Dragon

“You’re not just anything. You’re an amazing human. When I’m done with you, you’re going to be an amazing dragon.”

Quinn shook her head. “My entire life I haven’t been a beautiful anything. I’m stubborn. I’m frustrating. I’m the black sheep. I’m an embarrassment. I’m too smart for my own good. I’m undeserving of a hot guy because I am not hot. James has been trying to get me to turn around on my own self esteem. He hates the bullshit I say about myself. I have to agree. If the last few days have taught me one thing, I’m very strong. I’m open minded. I’m capable of more than I ever thought.”

A warm sense of pride swept through him as she spoke well of herself. “What else are you?”

“I’ve been afraid my whole life that if my own family couldn’t love me for who I am, that there had to be something wrong with me and that no one would love me. I could never figure out what it was they didn’t like about me. Why they would accept my abusive father, but not me. It was like that with a lot of my friendships too. It’s why James was such a revelation in my life. Here was this guy, this vampire, who loved everything about me.”

Henrik reached across and put his hand on her thigh. He would never come between their friendship, it was something important and beautiful, but he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. James knew more about her than Henrik did. He knew he would get there, but he wanted to be that important to her.

“I haven’t been able to figure out why he loved me so completely. He would always do anything for me. Not that I asked much of him. I feel like I’ve lost him. It’s my fault. I should never had let him go. I had a bad feeling about it.”

Henrik laughed. “You can’t protect him from himself any more than I can protect you from yourself. Trust me, I want nothing more than to take you back to that cabin and leave your ass tied to the bed until this over, but I can’t do it. And you wouldn’t have been able to do it to James either. He wanted to redeem himself. He was determined. I admired it because I’ve been fighting for redemption too. You deserve to be loved. Not just in one way. You deserve to be loved in every way. You deserve the love of friends, deserving family, co-workers, your mate. There’s so much love in the world, Quinn. It’s not just romantic. It’s not just friendship. You love big and you’re disappointed by others when they can’t love as big as you do. And you should be disappointed. We should all try and do better. Loving and allowing ourselves to be loved are two of the hardest feats in the world…in any world.”

He pulled into her driveway. They headed inside, the quiet of his words floating around them. She took care of her cats, while Henrik waited in the living room, staring out the window. He hoped there was no way for Stefano to find Quinn. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her.

“I think you should claim me, regardless of if my reasons are right or not,” she said.

Henrik turned around. “No. We’re not discussing this.”

“I’ve already claimed you. What difference does it make?”

“Right now, all the difference in the world. You’re still human. You’ve had enough change happen to you right now. I refuse to claim you until it’s because you need me to claim you.” His tone was stern. “I feel like you’re proposing to me because you need a green card to stay in the country. I don’t want it to be out of necessity.”

Quinn growled. “What does your dragon want?”

“He’s a neanderthal. He wants to strip you down and fuck you right here and then mark you as many times as he can.”

Quinn’s lips parted at his words. “Maybe now is the time to give into baser needs, Henrik.”

He growled and charged right for her. He bent down like he was going to tackle her. His shoulder went right into her pelvis and he lifted so she was slung over his shoulder. His pace didn’t falter as he charged her right into the bedroom.

He dropped her right on the bed. “You’re done with the thinking tonight. To ensure that, I’m going to fuck you until you’re a boneless mess and can do nothing but sleep until I wake you up.”

She propped herself up on her elbows. “You can’t just distract me with sex.”

“Watch me.”

He grabbed her foot and pulled off her shoe, and then the other. He made quick work of pulling off her socks, pants, and shirt, tossing them over his shoulder. Then he hooked his fingers into her panties, dragging them down her legs.

“Bra. Off. Show me what’s mine,” he demanded.

Quinn shivered. She reached behind her and undid the bra clasps and threw the lacy material at his face. He caught it and dropped it to the floor, his eyes never wavering from her. He couldn’t help the shiver of possession that flowed through him seeing his heartstone dangling from her pert nipples.

“Fuck you’re perfect,” he growled.

She bent her knees and very slowly spread her thighs for him.

Henrik tore his shirt up over his head. He made quick work of his jeans, leaving his boxer briefs in place for the time being.

He crawled onto the bed and moved between her spread legs, lowering his weight onto her as he captured her mouth. He kissed her with such vigor she moaned into his open mouth. Henrik reached up and cupped her breast, teasing her nipple. He broke their kiss to look down at his heartstone glowing with a soft purple light.

He looked back at her to find her staring down at the stones glowing.

She met his gaze when she felt him staring at her. “It really is so weird I had them before I even met you.”

“I know, sweetheart. I love that you’ve been keeping them safe for me.”

Henrik leaned down and sucked her nipple into his mouth and rocked his hips against her, rubbing his erection through his boxers against her already wet pussy. He kissed his way down her body and then back up until she was panting with need.

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