Page 3 of Destined By Dragonblood
Ours.
Indeed, she was.
The instinct to hold and protect her set like stone in our mind and heart. We would move heaven and earth to see her safe from harm, content with life, and smiling with joy.
Ashley stared at us—no, through us—as though the essence of our presence escaped her. She didn’t feel or recognize the energy fate wished to utilize to weave us together, same as I wouldn’t have done without my beast’s instincts. The draw of dragonblood fated mates went completely unnoticed to the one meant to be by our side.
She blinked and turned away, giving us her back as though we meant nothing to her.
Pain ripped through our chest, and reality snapped back into real time, bringing with it the vivid bleak city surrounding us that reiterated our loneliness we’d fought to fill for too many years.
Nothing would offer release to our aching cock but her wet warmth, her submission to our tender touch.
Follow.
While in flight to New York, we had already made a plan for claiming her. Like Elijah’s, my beast wasn’t above coercion, but the human half of us preferred to have our female come to us willingly. Softened for our gentle initiation, accepting of her place—recognizing who owned her body and soul. That part of us didn’t want her obedience and submission given unknowingly or grudgingly.
Accomplishing such a task required a firm grip. Control.
And patience, which our beast side struggled with.
I shackled my inner dragon’s instincts before he realized what I did, taking charge. He grumbled at me in my head, but I muzzled him, my sole focus on the one hurrying down the sidewalk in front of me.
She kept her head lowered and could easily disappear into a crowd undetected. But not to me. Having seen and scented Ashley through my beast’s senses, she stood out like a beautiful rose among thorns, the brightest star in the night sky. She was a beacon of hope, the promise of a new beginning.
Ashley and I might be meant for one another, but I wanted contentment and perhaps a true love like I longed for yet had failed to see or feel in. And that needed to be earned above the supernatural draw between us that I hoped she would experience when I was ready to reveal myself to her.
After a childhood of having to watch a disjointed triad of Blood Born fated mates, I yearned for the type of harmony spoken of in poetry and songs. Equal give and take on all three sides, a sharing of hearts atop minds that would be linked once we properly bonded.
While severely less in intensity without my beast’s abilities to smell, hints of vanilla continued to tease my nose and keep me aroused as I followed my sweet female through the mass of people hurrying to escape the bustle of the city.
Ashley descended into the depths of the subway, and I shut out the rest of the world from my mind. A dark blue peacoat covered her narrow shoulders and the top half of her backside. Black slacks with a wider leg around her ankles brushed against what appeared to be leather boots. Even with the inch or so heel, the shoes wouldn’t bring the top of her head to my chin.
She was a delicate little thing in need of an alpha of my stature and strength, but not enough dragonblood swam in her veins to inform her the one she must long for stood an arm’s length behind her.
Even shut into a stifling subway train, Ashley took no note of me on her right side or how my naked body craved hers with pulsing throbs throughout my cells. Through clicks and clacks of the rails, we moved, the bumps shifting us side to side but not bringing us into contact with each other where we huddled amidst the crowd.
I couldn’t tear my gaze off the paleness of Ashley’s cheeks, the ripe pink of her mouth, and the hint of freckles over her nose. She didn’t attempt to cover what some would see as blemishes with makeup. No fake contour shaded her skin, nor did mascara clump her lashes together. Ashley O’Connor bled beauty from every pore, the kind of perfection others paid thousands to achieve.
Even with her curves hidden by the coat keeping the fall chill at bay, I found her more alluring than any human I’d set eyes upon, and traveling the entire planet had allowed me to behold every race known, every species unknown, to man.
She made my mouth water, my groin ache, and my heart race.
A muffled voice announced we’d entered New Jersey, and I stuck close to Ashley as she exited the train a short while later. I followed her down Walnut Street on silent, bare feet, continuing to drink in her luscious scent, my thick shaft pointing toward her like a homing beacon. We slowed at a row of condos, and I moved farther into the shadows even though she wouldn’t be able to see me with her human eyes until I uncloaked myself, which was out of the question in my current state of undress.
With a quick glance around as though finally sensing a stalker, Ashely quickly unlocked her front door and slipped inside her home, which was bracketed on either side by others of similar build and color. The sound of various bolts slid into place behind her, prohibiting me from entering without force, which I refused to do.
As the minutes passed, daydreams flooded my mind, and I allowed myself to fantasize over our future. Far beyond merely sinking into her tight heat and flooding her with my seed but building a life together. Cooking alongside each other. Cuddling on the couch, sharing about our day. She was employed by Elijah, which meant she held a good work ethic. She also hadn’t cut out early but must have stayed to finish up whatever task she’d been assigned for the day.
I allowed myself to envision our beta between us, creating the bridge that would physically and emotionally tie us together for life. I could only imagine how the bond would snap into place, dropping all walls among us, allowing thoughts and feelings to flow through us like an unhindered stream, healthy and vibrant, full of life.
Euphoria would be found in her arms, heaven on earth alongside our beta.
A real smile curved my lips for the first time in too many years to count. Hope swelled inside me to the point where I inadvertently lowered my guard, and my inner beast whimpered his need to know such happiness.
I want.
Refusing interaction with my dragon came easy. Not hearing him when he reminded our human half of his existence proved harder since I’d removed the walls between us while in Lower Manhattan, thus granting him power that would linger for a short while.
