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)
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It is better to ask than to worry. Even as connected as we are, I wouldn’t have known something was bothering you unless you thought hard about it. Then, I wouldn’t have known what troubled you,” he told her. “I want you to always promise to tell me if you’re worrying about something.”
She walked to him instead of the play area he indicated and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry. You were so happy to show this to me and I ruined it.”
“If you enjoy your nursery, then you haven’t ruined anything,” he told her. “Come sit on my lap and ask me questions.”
He led her to an oversized rocking chair and helped her up on his thighs. “What would you like to know?”
“How many mates have you had?”
“Six. They were in all shapes and sizes. I love them all and remember our time together happily.”
“You say love in the present tense. Do you still love them?”
“Of course. It is not the passionate, in-person love like I feel for you, but a fond love for the years I was lucky to have them in my life.”
“You love me?” Lalani asked, studying his face.
“From the moment I saw you,” he said simply.
“Just because of the mate bond?”
“In the beginning, yes. Now, no. I love your quick mind, your arousing body, your tender heart, and everything that makes you… You.”
“I feel for you more than anyone I’ve ever met. Is that love?” she asked.
“I hope it is or will be in the future. We have not been together long, Princess. Feelings grow deeper with time.”
She rested her head against his broad chest and allowed him to rock her. Listening to his heavy heartbeat, Lalani looked around the room he’d created for her. It was his favorite place on his mountain, and he’d chosen to share it with her. That meant something.
“This room is so pretty. I love it.”
“I’m glad, Lalani. Everyone needs a space to call their own. I hope this will be your happy place. You’ve had so many things happen to keep you all jumbled up. Finding your birth mother, losing her, the change, the mate bond…”
“It’s been crazy. She had to give me up. My birth mom that is. My dad’s family was from Hawaii, and he was so handsome. He was gone by the time she found out. His grandmother, Lalani, was ill. The family returned to Hawaii to care for her. My birth mother was only fifteen and knew she couldn’t take care of me. She made the placement agency let her name me and choose who adopted me.”
“Did she choose well?” Khadar asked. She could hear the concern in his voice and lifted her head to look at him.
“She did. They were the best. I miss them, too.”
“Of course you do. I’m sorry your life has included such sorrow, Lalani.”
“And happiness. She was overjoyed when I contacted her and invited me immediately to come visit. I put it off for a little bit, thinking it would be weird. It wasn’t. I’m sorry I wasted time I could have spent with her.”
Khadar’s fingers smoothed away tears she didn’t even know she was crying. “I’m glad you got to talk to her, Lalani.”
“Me, too.”
Lalani laid her head back on Khadar’s chest and let herself cry for the first time. Her birth mother had been a stranger, but Lalani would never forget the short time they’d had together. He held her, rocking her slightly from side to side as she cried for her loss. She felt his lips press a kiss to her hair and she lifted her mouth up to meet his. His lips touched hers softly to reassure her.
When he lifted his mouth, she whispered, “I’ve only felt truly comfortable around four people in my life. My parents. My birth mother. And…”
“And who, Princess?”
She swallowed hard and forced herself to tell him the truth. “And you.”
His fingers stroked through her hair. “That makes me very happy, Lalani.”
“It makes me happy, too. You make me happy.”
His kiss this time went straight to her heart. He loved her. There was no way she could mistake the level of his feelings. She poured her emotions into her response and felt his heart skip a beat under her hand. She didn’t need to say the words yet. He understood.
Chapter 8
Watching her sleep in the narrow bed in her nursery had become one of Khadar’s favorite activities. After that first nap left her refreshed and unstressed, he’d put her down each afternoon. She always fussed. Yesterday, she’d had a very red bottom by the time he convinced her to stay in bed when he put her there. Today, she’d climbed under the covers herself and waited to be tucked in.
Khadar?
Is something wrong, Ardon?
The bronze dragon was a loner—even more reclusive than the other dragons in the horde. Well, excluding Keres. Fighting the darkness that came from missing a mate for so long made the black dragon shun interactions. The bronze dragon was still a mystery even after so many years.