Page 47 of Princess Seeks Dragon

“I took after my father. Hot-tempered and impulsive. Smart, but refused to go to university. Willing to start a business, but didn’t stick to it. Came to this nice little paranormal community of Pine Ridge, which is full of British expats, and couldn’t even stick it.” My head droops, and I stretch out in the grass, the image of a miserable, worthless dragon. “But if I had a son or daughter for my clan—they’d make up for all my failings, see?”

“Oh, babe. That’s a lot to put on a kid. And what’s to say that he or she would turn out any better if you feel like such a failure?”

“You’re right. But when I think about my future... I pause, and my body shrinks as my heart swells. I stop at halfling form and lie in the grass. Angela slowly kneels beside me, the glass jar in her hand. “When I think about the future, I think about a family.”

Angela lies across my chest. “Why?”

Why?

I wrap my arm around Angela, and everything inside of me that I’ve been missing surges up, all the dragon instincts I’ve berated Ian for “abandoning” as he lives a simple, successful life are bursting forth. The desire to protect and defend. The feeling of honor and loyalty.

You don’t have to defend the entire castle—just your own particular princess.

My talons score her shoulder lightly as I kiss the top of her head. “Because after twenty-odd years of searching for my treasure, I’ve found it, and now I can’t get enough.” I roll on top of her in the dewy grass and resist the urge to take her again. “I want you and the children that come from you. My children.Ourchildren. Our treasures. If they don’t come, they don’t come, but you said to be honest.” I nudge my abdomen to hers. “I covet you, and I want to be the one who claims you as a mate. I want to be the one who sires your children.”

She doesn’t slap me. Doesn’t push me off.

“You save my life, so you get to spend it with me?” Angela sums up the deal.

“Yes.”

I can feel the amulet growing hot between us. I swallow hard and wait. I’ve said so much. Probably too much.

Angela rubs the spot on her chest where the amulet rests. “Is it just this thing making me want to say yes?”

I wish I knew the answer to that.

***

BEFORE DAWN, MINEGOLDcollects the jar from the mailbox. I get dressed, too full of adrenaline to sleep, rampant like a horny bull below the waist, and aching with dozens of tiny cuts above it.

I feel confident (maybe falsely so) that nothing untoward can happen with the supernatural community on high alert and Angela wearing my amulet.

Your job is to convince her to give you a chance to do more than just protect her.

What does one do to win a mate?

A heroic battle would be nice. But in the meantime...

How about a moonlight flight?

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