Page 76 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

She laughed—a real laugh—as she moved closer to whisper in my ear. “Can I tell you a secret?”

I nodded.

“I’m afraid of heights.”

“Then why did you…” My voice trailed off as she leaned forward to peer over the edge of the cliff.

Her heart rate increased, but she seemed to enjoy the view. “I spent the last few years being told what to do and judged for everything I did. No more.”

“No more,” I echoed, still holding her hand.

“I’m serious.” She turned to face me. “I don’t want to be in a cage ever again.”

“Never again.” I nodded, knowing I’d give her whatever she wanted, even if that meant I had to one day let her go.

Not yet—and especially not until she was safely on flat ground—and not until I’d exhausted all other options to get her to fall in love with me.

“Good. Now can you take me home?” she asked.

“Home?”

Does she mean….

Riley rested her head on my shoulder. “Dobby is probably pissed at me for leaving him alone like that.”

She meant home!

Our home. Our nest.

Not back with her friends or to the cabin. Her home with me. My heart soared as my dragon roared.

Riley sighed as she stared at our conjoined hands.

I caught her chin and lifted her face, looking down into her beautiful eyes. “I’ll take you home, but first, do you trust me?”

“With my life,” she said and that truth was worth any battle I’d fought. It made every scar worth it.

“Good.” I stood up and moved her safely back a distance as the shadows gathered to me, growing solid as they formed my dragon. “Then let’s see you jump.”

The smile that lit up her face was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen as I backed up into the air, stretching out my wings. “Three, two…”

Riley inhaled a few quick breaths and then let out a warrior’s scream as she took off running.

And my ferocious little mate was laughing as she leaped into the sky.

29

Riley

Mine

I was flying and then falling into Lucan’s powerful arms. We crashed naked into the safety and softness of our bed. The full moon shone through the gauzy curtains of the open window, illuminating his perfect face. But it was the intensity of his gaze that stole my breath away.

I loved the way he looked at me.

Once upon a time, I’d thought that line was so cliché, but that was because I hadn’t been worshipped properly before.

He tucked my hair behind my ear, growling some strange words under his breath as his callused fingers delicately probed the lump at the back of my head.

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