Page 32 of Joven's Bride
“I know that now, but I didn’t then. Think of her more as a hologram representing you.”
“You loved her, though.”
Joven’s brows knitted. “I thought so, then… But it didn’t come close to what I feel now.” Joven raised his hand and drew his fingertips lightly down her cheek. “You aremeomee,”he whispered and tilted up her face to kiss her. His kiss became steadily more passionate until she moaned against his mouth. “If I didn’t know the difference, then, I certainly do now.”
“I believe you,” Carly said shakily. Her eyes narrowed as he gave her his now familiar sexy smirk. He knew just how aroused he had made her. “No fair!” she pouted sassily.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Let’s walk a little further. I want to show you something.”
Joven took her hand, and they walked a few more minutes down the path. He stopped just as they came to a small clearing. There was a small herd of dragons grazing and eating leaves from small bushes. Among them were three tiny babies.
Carly sucked in a breath, and her eyes lit in wonder. She glanced up at Joven and smiled. Neither of them spoke so they wouldn’t spook them. Their heads were shaped almost like seahorses, and the shape of their bodies was somewhat equine. Their front and back feet each had four toes, but the front feet had longer toes and an opposing thumb. Their wings were folded on their backs.
Their colors varied from gray to brown to gold. The little ones had black and gray spots. A small furry animal was trying to cross the field. One of the baby dragons caught sight of it and began to stalk it. As it got closer, the baby leaped to pounce on it, but it broke free, scurrying away.
One of the adults looked up as the baby leaped to pounce on it again. When it did, a large raptor swooped down and grabbed the baby dragon and flew away with it, screaming for its mother.
“Oh, no!” Carly cried.
Two of the adult dragons launched themselves into the air and flew after it while the other adult herded the babies together.
“Joven, can’t we do something?”
“There’s nothing we can do. Two adult dragons should be able to handle the raptor. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Carly sighed. “I used to see stuff like that on TV all the time. I just hated to see the baby ripped away like that, but raptors have to eat, too.”
“There’s still a chance they can rescue the baby,” Joven said. “They looked docile grazing quietly in this small meadow, but they are fiercely protective of their own. I got to close to the herd in my cat form, and they attacked me.”
“What did you do?”
“I ran.” He smiled sheepishly. “I could have taken them, but they are protected. I was just there to look. I don’t hunt, I just prowl.”
“You killed Crazell.” She looked up at him with a slight frown.
“That was personal. He took mymeomee. That was all the reason I needed. After you told me how he tortured you, I wished I could do it again.” Joven hugged her tightly. “Are you ready to go home, or would you like to see some more?”
“Let’s go home. I’m starting to feel hungry,” she said.
“Me, too.”
Carly laughed as she looked up at him. She knew very well that was a doubleentendre.She meant food, and he meant sex, but she was game. She laughed as she thought it.
He had that look in his eyes that sent a flash of desire through her body. And she liked it.
