Page 304 of Dragon Slayer

“It’s only anticipation, love. But if you–”

She shook her head. Took a deep breath and let it out slow. Smiled at him. “I’m not afraid of you. I promise.”

“I know. But it’s overwhelming. I understand.” The glow was beginning to fade, and he didn’t want that to happen. He shifted around her so he could stretch out on top of the sheets, head resting on the pillow. “Will you lie down with me?”

She snuggled up to his side with a grateful-sounding exhale, head on his shoulder, hand on his chest, over the steady thump of his heart. The skin-to-skin contact soothed worries he hadn’t known he’d had. It had been so long since he’d been touched with kindness or affection that even the simple act of his brother braiding his hair elicited breathless emotion. This, having her pressed to him in a long, warm line all down his side…that nearly brought tears to his eyes.

He blinked away the burn and tried to focus on the sensations: the softness of her skin, the weight of her breasts against his ribs. Her lashes tickling his throat as she blinked.

“Have you ever turned anyone before?” she asked, voice hushed.

He traced the back of her hand with his fingertips, little circles around her knuckles. “Yes. Once.”

“Then it’s just the first time for me, then.” She pressed in closer, and in a very small voice said, “I’m ready. Just…whenever.”

Val hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his chest, hauled her up until her face hovered above his. He didn’t expect her to look startled.

“You’re really strong,” she blurted out, and he grinned.

“You will be too, soon.” Then sobered. “Physically. You’re already strong in every other way.”

She rolled her eyes.

Val cupped the back of her head and pulled her down into a kiss.

It started slow and easy, afterglow kisses. But then Mia slid her leg over so she was straddling him, planted her knees on the mattress and rolled her hips. Easy little movements, slow flexes, but the friction had Val curling his hand into her hair, chasing her mouth, lifting up to meet her.

Val caught her lip with his fang, and the taste of her blood bloomed across his tongue for the first time.

It did things to him. His insides were a riot; competing, visceral urges: bite, keep, claim, feed, mate. His growl started low in his chest, a deep rumble, and worked up his throat; she caught it in her mouth with a little gasp.

When she pulled back a fraction, her pupils were blown. A bead of blood welled up on her lip, and Val didn’t think: he leaned up and licked it off with a slow swipe of his tongue.

The sound she made in response was incredible.

He was purring now, and the sound threaded through his voice. “Ready?”

“Y-yes.” It was desire that made her stutter; he couldn’t catch a trace of fear anywhere on her.

“Alright, darling.” He turned them onto their sides. Swept her hair back over her shoulder to expose her throat. He could see the leap of her pulse beneath the skin, as beckoning as a sly look and a crooked finger. “We’ll go slow.” His voice was rough and awful, more animal than man, but she leaned into it, pressing her head into the pillow, offering her throat. “It won’t hurt, darling. Just a little, at the start, but then it won’t.” Please God, let that be true. “I’ll do it right. I promise.”

The last he breathed across her skin, leaning down closer and closer as he spoke. He watched goosebumps form, smelled the rush of blood, and sweat, and skin, and sickness. He was going to pull that out of her – draw it into his own body and let his impossible immortality duel it to the death. He felt like an awful predator, poised above her, tip of his tongue tracing up her jugular, but she wasn’t his prey. This wasn’t a feast.

This was a beginning. The start of the rest of his life as a free man. As someone with a mate. As someonelovedagain, for the first time in so, so long.

Mia put her hand on his shoulder, and pulled him in that last half-inch.

Val closed his eyes and bit her.

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