Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
She wiped a slow tear that slid down his cheek and felt her heart lurch. “You don’t have to show me,” she whispered.
“You will always have questions. This will set your mind at ease.”
At the top, he set her on her feet. Aurora was amazed he wasn’t out of breath after the flights of steps he had taken. He rolled another heavy stone door away. A faint odor of smoke reached her nostrils. Aurora stepped forward in curiosity. Drake’s arms wrapped around her just as the wind caught her.
“Stay in the doorway, Little one. The wind is strong here.”
Aurora looked out to see a large pit. Glowing embers shone in the gathering night from the bottom of the vast depression. Ashes and remains of something poked out.
“What is all that stuff?” she asked.
“Furniture, clothing; everything personal belonging to my late mate except for a picture of us when we were young and when we were old.”
“Old?” She turned to look at Drake and noticed his hair and beard no longer contained any gray streaks as they had when they’d first run into each other. Reaching up, she stroked his temple. “It’s jet black now.”
“Yes.”
“You aged with your last mate?”
“Just as I will with you.”
“And when I’m gone, you’ll return to this?”
“Only if I am gifted with a mate. Otherwise, I will continue to grow older,” he explained.
How old he must be was incomprehensible to her. She turned back to the view ahead of her. “You burned everything? To like, wipe her away?”
“Never. I burned everything to start new memories that were only ours when I met you.”
Drake drew her from the doorway and sealed the door closed once again. “It is important you know my previous mates hold a special place in my mind and memories. I will never forget them. A dragon holds only a select few in his heart. Mates are forever engraved there. Each mate is loved and cherished for the special women they are. It is the reality of my existence.”
“That’s hard to hear… To hear that you love someone else.”
“Do you love your grandmother?” he asked.
“Yes. Of course.”
“Will you stop loving her when she dies?”
“No. I’ll remember all the good times we had together,” Aurora shared.
“Exactly. She will always be a part of your life you look back on fondly. It is the same for the mates I’ve had in the past. They are part of my story. I’m not looking for you to be like them. I treasure you because you are you.”
She looked at him and tears gathered in her eyes. “How sad it must be to lose mates over and over.”
“No, Little one. You don’t understand. Mates are a gift. Every moment I have with you is important—is to be enjoyed and treasured. Come. It is time I fed you.”
He scooped her up in his arms and pressed a kiss to her lips. This one was different than the fiery passion they had shared before. His kiss soothed her soul. She could feel the love in the tender exchange.
“Thank you for explaining.”
“Of course, Little one. Now, you have free questions until we reach the bottom of the stairs. Take advantage of it,” he suggested as he descended.
“What’s your favorite color?” she asked immediately. Aurora wasn’t going to waste this opportunity to get to know Drake well.
“Gold, of course.”
Chapter 6
Feeling warm and protected, Aurora blinked her eyes open and found herself wrapped in Drake’s arms. She froze, not wishing to wake him.
“Good morning, Little one.”
“Oh, you’re awake,” she said, relieved as she wiggled around to face him. “Oh!”
“Yes, Little one.”
Drake leaned forward to close the few inches between their lips and kissed her. Instant heat flared inside her and Aurora wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him tight. She was breathless when he lifted his lips from hers.
“Drake…”
“Daddy,” he corrected her before trailing kisses down her throat. Cupping her breasts, he made it very hard to think.
“Daddy?” she repeated, feeling her body respond.
“Yes?” he asked before swirling his tongue around her nipple.
She gave up trying to think. Brushing her fingers through his hair, she arched her back to encourage him. It didn’t take much.
Drake drew her tight peak into the heat of his mouth. She gasped at the feeling as he brushed his tongue across it. His hard thigh slid between hers and she ground her pussy against him. Instantly wet and needy, Aurora responded eagerly to him.
“Please!”
Wrapping his arms around her torso, Drake released her nipple as he rolled onto his back. Aurora blinked down at him from her new position draped on top of him. His hands stroked down her back to cup her bottom and squeezed firmly.
The stingy reminder of her spanking only made her hotter. Drake was in absolute control. Aurora knew this would never change. She shivered, loving his dominance.