Page 96 of Taught By the Dragon

He leaned back and cupped her cheek. After kissing her gently, he said, “We have years and years to do that, Percy. As long as I can have you to myself, I’ll be happy.”

“But won’t your dragon be upset?”

He shook his head. “He has experience with being patient.”

She murmured, “Because of your late mate.”

He caressed her cheek with this thumb. “Yes.”

Searching his gaze, she found the courage to ask, “Will you tell me about her?”

He frowned. “Now?”

She shrugged. “My dragon is taking a rest, and I need one too. I’d rather spend the time learning more about you.” Placing a hand on his chest, she rubbed back and forth across his chest hair, loving the springy texture against her palms. “I want to know everything about you, Bronx.” The corner of her mouth ticked up. “And you have more years to share than me, after all.”

He gave her arse cheek a squeeze. “You’re a cheeky minx when naked.”

She ran her hands up to his shoulders and then to behind his neck. “It’s something I didn’t really know was in me until I met you. But I like it, so you’d better get used to it.”

His gaze turned warm and caring. “I love everything about you, Percy. And I can’t wait to see what else pops up along this journey, as long as we do it together.”

Tears pricked her eyes. “That’s so lovely.”

“Well, I can occasionally be romantic.”

She smiled. “Good. Now, before our dragons wake up and want more sex, hold me and tell me some more of your past. I really do want to learn all about you.”

And as he did exactly that, Percy snuggled into his side and listened to his deep voice as he shared his life before her. Although she’d expected jealousy, it never came. Bronx was perfect for her precisely because of his experiences. After all, she might never have fallen in love with a version of Bronx that had never loved his first mate and raised Violet.

Besides, her past wasn’t exactly rosy, and he bore it whenever she talked about it.

This had to be more of what it meant to love someone—to take them as they were, flaws, pasts, and all. In the end, they were better together than apart.

It wasn’t long before she fell asleep in the arms of the male she loved.

Which was exactly where she belonged and intended to stay.

ChapterThirty-Two

Nearly two weeks later, Bronx held a sleeping Percy in his arms, torn between waking her up with the news and giving her the well-earned sleep she deserved.

His dragon yawned.I don’t care. She carries our young, and I need a nap. Don’t wake me for a while.

He chuckled mentally.Percy’s dragon most definitely gave you a run for your money.

His beast sniffed.I let her win most of the time.

Right, tell yourself that.

I’m sleepy.

And his dragon curled up inside his mind and passed out instantly.

Bronx studied Percy’s sleeping face. She looked so young like this, with her hair fanning out in a tangled mess behind her, her mouth slightly open as she snored softly. She could be free of her past when asleep—unless she had bad dreams—and could simply let go.

Their frenzy had been a bit longer than some, which had given them more time to talk and get to know each other. Percy had even shared more about her time inside the facility. Sometimes she was angry, sometimes she cried, and sometimes sadness just weighed her down.

But day by day, he liked to think she was lighter. Just the night before, she’d been teasing him, acting playful, and had slept peacefully throughout the night.

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