Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
When she was nude, he scooped her into his arms as he rose to his feet. Striding into the water, he watched her reaction to the chilly water. Her nipples tightened the minute her bottom touched the water.
“It’s freezing!” she shrieked.
“There’s only one way to get used to it. Hold your breath,” he ordered as he turned around and fell backward into the deeper water.
“You!” she sputtered when she surfaced to tread water as she pushed her hair from her face.
“Me. I did it. How does the water feel now?”
Khadar reached out to pull her close to the warmth of his body. She wrapped her arms and legs around his torso, plastering herself against him. The feel of her wet curves against him was irresistible. He leaned down to kiss her lips.
Several sizzling kisses later, he asked that same question again. “How’s the water now?”
She wiggled around a bit, swishing the water with one arm. “It’s good. Feels refreshing. Did you do your dragon heat thing?”
“No, Princess. I would not disturb the creatures that frequent this watering spot.”
Instantly, she plastered herself back against him, trying to climb out of the water. “Creatures? What creatures?”
“You’re always safe with me, Lalani. Look into the water. See the minnows? They nibble all the moss off the rocks, keeping the water clean.”
“Oh, those are okay.” She relaxed a bit against him before pointing. “Look! That’s a big fish.”
“Those big fish keep the minnows from filling the pool. There are turtles and other creatures in and around the water.”
“Snakes?”
“No snakes allowed.”
“Really?” she questioned, glancing around. “There’s like a snake fence?”
Laughter rumbled deep in his chest as he tried to keep a straight face. She must have heard the noise because she turned back to look at him.
“You!” she rebuked him. Smacking his chest, she joined his merriment. “That had to be the stupidest question ever.”
“Not stupid, Lalani. You’re just not used to predators. I like to bathe here in dragon form as well. Smart creatures will avoid contact with more powerful predators.”
“Do you eat snakes?”
This time he couldn’t control his guffaw at the disgust on her face. He pulled her close to kiss that expression away. When he lifted his lips from hers, Khadar shook his head.
“You don’t?”
“I could if I were desperate. But you could do that in human form, too.”
“No, I couldn’t.” She shook her head vigorously.
“You wouldn’t want to, but you could. Snake bites, snake fricassee, snake soup…”
“No, no, and definitely no,” she answered. A second later, Lalani asked, “What’s fricassee?”
This time, she joined in his joyous laughter. His mate was the most precious thing on earth.
“You delight me, Little one.”
“I heard Ciel call Argenis, Daddy. Are all dragons Daddies?”
“I cannot answer for all dragons, Princess. Dragons are definitely dominate creatures at the top of the food chain.”
“Alpha males, hmmm?”
“Yes.”
Lalani looked at their surroundings and relaxed against him. He felt waves of contentment coming from her and guessed his answers had satisfied the questions she’d pondered upon for a while. He didn’t add more, nor did he dive into her thoughts.
“Are you happy with our mental connection, Lalani? Do you want me to show you how to shield your thoughts from me?”
“Am I bothering you?” she asked, studying his face once again.
“Never.”
“I’m happy. It makes me feel safer to know I can think at you,” she confessed.
Shielding his thoughts, Khadar cursed the Petersons for causing her to feel at risk. “Then we won’t change anything. I enjoy being connected to you as well.”
Khadar shifted them, moving to float on his back with Lalani balanced on top of him. She squirmed a bit before finding a comfortable spot.
“You’re hard,” she explained.
“Always when I’m with you.” He knew she could feel his erection against her. Just as he could smell her arousal.
“We could…”
“Let your body recover,” he finished her thought.
“You are Mr. No Fun.”
“That’s Daddy No Fun to you,” he corrected her before wrapping his arms around her and sinking under the water to dunk them both.
The resulting water battle was epic.
Chapter 7
Later that afternoon when they returned for lunch, Lalani surprised herself by automatically climbing onto Khadar’s lap. She felt better close to him and could feel how much he enjoyed holding her in his arms.
“Here, Princess. Try this.”
“That cheese tastes amazing. It’s so fresh,” she said, taking another bite.
“Ciel helps make this on Argenis’s mountain.”
“Really? I don’t do anything. I really need to help somehow.”
“Being my mate is a big adjustment. Give yourself some time. Perhaps you’ll find something you like to do. The wine grapes are almost ripe. How do you feel about stomping grapes?”
“Like with my feet?”
“The old manual presses work, but sometimes it’s best to do things by hand, or in this case, by feet,” he confirmed her thought.
“I would love to try that.” She paused for a moment before asking, “Could we ask Ciel and Aurora? Maybe they would have fun, too?”