Page 37 of Savoring Her Snake

“Do you feel the heat?” I ask weakly.

“Yes. I have wanted you desperately since we met. It will only get worse when you are changed.”

“Worse?”

“Or better, depending on your point of view.”

“Will the heat be painful?” I can understand the pain of changing into an animal.

“Only if you ignore it. We won’t ignore it,” he rumbles.

“Will I gain powers like you?”

“Probably,” he says, leaning back. “There are no guarantees. Your senses will be enhanced. You will be stronger, faster, and more agile. Any shifter is difficult to kill. If you are careful, you can live forever.”

“How do you shift?”

“The first time is scary, but you must believe in the magic. Your snake will aid you. Shifting back the first few times will be challenging, but I will help. Most shifters remove their clothes because they would shred them during their shift. The dragons keep them on and don’t lose them. I strip.”

“How often do you shift?” The world is becoming interesting, and I want to explore it.

“Not as often as I would like. My control has slipped. I’m very careful where and how many times I do. I believe I will let my snake out more after we mate. He’s been angry and dangerous. A mate is something we both have been waiting for.”

I can feel the touch of his gaze over my body, and I squirm in my seat.

“He’s not dangerous to me,” I state. It’s odd, but I can see his snake looking out of his eyes, and I don’t sense anything bad.

“All he wants to do is mark you,” he says through gritted teeth. “I’m holding him back.”

“Does it hurt you?” I whisper. The thought of him in pain bothers me.

“Not exactly,” he says.

“Both sides of you want to be close to me.” It’s wild that I feel the same way.

“Yes,” he hisses.

“You said we would have to discuss your preferences before going further.” I can’t make a life-changing decision after barely two days of knowing him. I know how much I want to be near him and crave his touch.

“I’ve already said I like control,” he says, sliding forward in his chair. “I like to instruct and be obeyed. If I tell you to strip, I expect you to do it. I might use something to bind you, blindfold you, or I might purchase toys to use on you.” Tingles spread rapidly over my body. “Perhaps I would instruct you to leave your panties at home and wear a skirt when we leave the house. So in the car, I could use my fingers on you and have easy access. Maybe I would tell you to drop to your knees when we are in a restaurant so you could suck my cock,” he says. I gulp, picturing it. “I am not shy. I will want to fuck you anywhere, anytime. I will always protect you, though. No one except me will ever see your body. I would be creative in public but never show your skin. You need to pick a word you can say that stops everything. I will never ignore it or the word stop. I want your trust to listen to my demands, yet I won’t cross the line that you are uncomfortable with. My goal is your pleasure. Of course, in giving you what you need, I will get what I want. There should be no shame in anything we do. It is a gift, your submission to me. I will protect it and you forever.”

“Do you have a preference on what I call you?” I ask, my skin pricking in anticipation.

“I will always acceptmate.” He studies my face.

“What else?”

He’s unsure how his honesty is affecting me. If his nose is as strong as he says, he should be able to smell it.

“Sir,” he whispers, tilting his head.

“Shit,” I breathe. He reached into my deepest fantasies and pulled out everything I had dreamed of. If he can be honest, so can I. “In my life, I have had to make all the decisions. I’ve worked so hard to build a life away from my fucked-up family, but they keep pulling me back. I’m so tired. I told you, I dreamed of being rescued. The man doing the rescuing was like you. Your preferences don’t scare me; they set me free.” The blue of his eyes glows bright. “I am not ready for sex.” He nods.

“Is there anything I could do that you don’t like?”

I lick my lips. “Degrade me in any way. I don’t get off on insults.”

“Thank you for telling me. I would never speak to you in that way.” He grips the sides of his chair and spreads his legs. “You will always be my good girl.”

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