Page 11 of Having the Dragon's Baby

A suave, deep-timbered voice caused Rachel’s eyes to dart away from the vivid shrubbery and upward several feet. Standing there was Marcus, still looking dapper in jeans and a soft teal polo.

Rachel’s heart fluttered, her lip sliding under her teeth instantly at the sight of him. She wore a terra cotta-colored jumpsuit, and it hugged her slender, fit form. The buttons ended just above her breastbone, allowing a sneak peek of her cleavage.

His dark, forest-green, golden-rimmed eyes never descended downward, but that didn't mean he wasn’t attracted to her. Rachel got the feeling that being a gentleman was a big part of being a dragon shifter … especially as the leader.

He approached her and held out his arm just as he had at the garden party. And just like then, she hooked her hand under his elbow and nestled against his bulging bicep. They sauntered along the trail, which broadened into a wooden walkway with immaculately cultivated greenery lining their pathway.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Rachel. I had so much fun last night. I hope you were able to get some sleep.”

Rachel gulped, wanting to maintain the allure of the sarcastic jokester that had clearly appealed to him the night before. She was anxious, without a doubt, but not in a way that was dreadful.

“I slept like a baby,” she responded, gazing ahead at the gathering of people. “Though, I was a little hopped up when I got to the hotel.”

Marcus chuckled. It was a lovely sound, like the ringing of a bell.

“Why is that?” he asked.

Rachel inhaled deeply, holding onto his arm a little tighter. She wanted to be honest with him. In fact, she needed to be if they were to form any kind of relationship.

“Well, for one, I’ve never signed a surrogate contract before.”

They stopped just before a large gathering of shifters standing beneath a canopy. Marcus turned to Rachel and took both her hands in his, which was a big surprise.

“I want you to know that I will never force anything on you. I want you to be comfortable. This isn’t a normal thing for me, either. It's also my first time.”

His inky, black hair was pushed back out of his face and gave off the gloss of a raven’s wing. She started to daydream about what those eyes of his could do to her under the cover of a dark bedroom when he flashed a sly smile as if reading her mind.

Rachel stuttered slightly, feeling her cheeks flush. It wasn’t an effect anyone had ever had on her.

“I appreciate hearing that,” she said, speaking coyly. “I have never met a dragon that I know of, but I’m very excited about it.”

For a moment, Rachel thought Marcus was leaning down to plant a kiss on her forehead. Her heart felt like a steel drum in her chest as she caught a whiff of his essence, smokey sage, and cedar wood.

He turned toward the gathering of his people, sliding his hand into hers. Their fingers intertwined like they had done it a thousand times.

“Here’s your chance then. You’re going to love it,” he said.

Marcus led Rachel to where the shifters were gathered. He introduced her to a few of them, including Vincent, whom he called his beta, along with a handful of other den members who appeared to be slightly lower in rank than his beta. They were all friendly, incredibly tall, robust with strength, and captivating in their mystical appearances.

Rachel watched as a few of the young shifters were being trained, turning from human to dragon in a matter of seconds. She marveled as bright, iridescent shades of scales popped out from beneath their skin, jaws elongated, tails sprouted, and fire purged from gaping jaws. She sat with Marcus next to her, his hand resting on her knee in reassurance.

They were sublime and dazzling, though it was difficult for Rachel to believe that everything in front of her was not a mirage.

“Holy shit,” she muttered.

Marcus laughed, sliding his hand higher up her thigh. It was pleasantly distracting from the images of creatures that she once believed only existed in the world of fiction. He placed his other hand on her lower back, and he turned to face her on the bench.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he inquired.

Rachel inhaled sharply as she wrung her hands and then forced them apart, resting them on the hand that was stroking her outer thigh. She faced him directly, and she judged by his amazed look that it wasn’t what he was expecting.

“They are incredible, Marcus. It’s just so … bizarre. I feel like I’m high on acid."

Marcus snorted with laughter, which spread to her. She chuckled, too, the swirl of his thumb along her flesh intensifying the growing bond.

“I like your honesty,” he murmured. “I haven’t ever known anything else, so it's normal for me. I can only imagine what it would be like seeing it for the very first time."

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s beautiful. Stunning and a bit shocking, but still beautiful.”

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