Page 30 of Dragon Thief of New York
Thankfully, neither of them corrects me.
The silence grows as the three of us settle tightly into the small bed. Kat’s breathing expands like little waves against my chest. As worried as I am about tomorrow, I can’t help feeling content. This is exactly as it should be.
“Dream of me, love,” Damian whispers, gently touching Kat’s cheek before his hand finds mine under the covers. Our fingers entwine over Kat’s hip, and I say a silent prayer to the goddess that Kat really will remember so we can stay like this forever.
Chapter 15
Damian
Idon’twanttogoto sleep, to close my eyes and wake up to a woman who’s forgotten me again. So I watch her long into the night. I study each subtle movement of her face. Each new wrinkle, every freckle, the dip of her nose and curve of her lips—it’s all precious to me.
Eventually, I fall asleep against my will, dreaming of Kat.
She’s still conked out when I wake up, and I thank the goddess for a few extra minutes before the inevitable loss. Light pierces through the thin curtain over her window, but its softness lets me know it’s still early. Just as I’m wondering how much longer she’ll sleep, her long lashes flutter and she stretches.
I hold my breath.
She opens her eyes and blinks at me, then her lips curl in a soft smile. “Damian.”
No single word has ever sounded sweeter or meant so much. Tears crowd my eyes. “You remember?”
“Well, um, not everything… but I remember last night.” A soft blush creeps up her neck. “I remember our kiss.”
Between one breath and the next, I grab her and pull her into a kiss more urgent than the one last night. That kiss was a searching exploration. This one is a searing brand. She meets my energy, no resistance, no hesitation. Her hands grip the back of my hair as she rolls us, so I’m on my back with her pressed on top of me.
Relief radiates between us. Relief and desperation.
“You’re never leaving my side,” I say between heavy kisses. It’s unsustainable, and I know it, but I’ll do anything to ensure this woman never forgets me again. She’s mine. And I’m keeping her this time.
She parts her legs so they fall on either side of my hips, straddling me as she lets out a low moan.
“Can I fuck you, sweetheart? Please let me fuck you.” The words are a plea spoken right against her lips. “It’s been so long, and I’ve missed you so much, and—”
Stopping me with a hand over my mouth, she leans close to my ear. “Not too loud,” she whispers. “I… don’t want to share you yet.”
Otto is snoring softly beside us, completely oblivious to the deep joy I’m feeling. He’s important to me—to us—but I get what she means. This moment feels like it’s just ours. Our own acknowledgement of what we had, and lost, and could hopefully have again.
She slowly removes her hand from my mouth and sits up, raising her shirt over her head. Damn. Her breasts are even fuller and heavier than they used to be. Generous handfuls begging to be squeezed and caressed. So fucking perfect.
Wanting to savor the moment, I glide my hands up her thighs to the curve of her hips, sliding from her waist to the pillowy mounds hanging in front of me. Her nipples are pert, hard little points. I flick one and twist the other. Kat moans before laying down on top of me again. Her soft skin slides against mine as we resume kissing.
It’s so familiar and yet all new. There’s something celebratory in the way we explore each other, joyful and exhilarating. The sweetest moment of my life.She remembers.
But… with only the thin fabric of my boxers between us, I’m suddenly very aware that she only remembers as far back as last night. Not long at all.
“Are you sure?” I whisper.
She nips my bottom lip. “Fuck me, Damian. Fuck me so hard I’ll never forget you again.”
Scales pop out on her skin, a clear sign she’s losing control of her emotions as much as I am. I should probably calm her down, but I’m not sure I can. I’m too emotional myself. And maybe being claimed by her mate will help her control. Even if it’s not the mate who turned her.
Using my claws, I slice through my boxers, a precise cut that does little more than scratch my skin. Kat whimpers as I roughly tug the fabric out from between us, dragging it along her clit in the process.
There’s nothing between us now, and the feel of my mate—my beautiful, precious mate—is almost more than I can bear. She lifts on her knees just enough for me to grip my cock and line up with her opening.
“Shit, a condom,” I whisper. It’s not something I normally think about. Dragons can only have offspring if they’re mates. But Kat and I… I’m not sure how this works.
Before I can get lost in that thought, Kat shakes her head and leans over me, her soft hair framing her heart-shaped face. “I’ve got an implant.”
