by Kiki Howell
“It’s too late, I already saw, and I want you too,” he heard her say behind his back.
Looking over his shoulder at her, disbelief colored his voice, “Bronwyn, my sweet, sweet Bronwyn, you’re not supposed to encourage me like that. We need to have a talk, get you better and take our time down that path.”
“Says who? My foot is broken, not my puss—”
“Bronwyn!”
“Mac! See I can do it too.” To his amazement, she came to stand on her own behind him. “Come back to bed. I figure if I have to be in there for a day or so, you should help me start the day off on a good footing. Get it, foot and footing?”
He couldn’t deny her a laugh for that corny joke. “Haha, back to bed with you!” He gave her a smack on her bubble butt and wished he could take back his agreeableness to join her back in bed. That smack connected with her plump, perfectly round ass and had gone straight to, yes, his cock, which now stood at attention, refusing to be denied. And, it had captured it’s marks attention. Mac looked over to see Bronwyn’s eyes fixated on the front of his pajama pants.
“Why are you making it so hard for me to be with you? If there was any doubt about us, last night, and everything we went through should let you know that I’m ready. Mac, I want you. You want me. Let’s do this.”
“That’s just it. If I rejoin you in that bed, I’m going to do more than having sex with you.”
“Ooh, really? Like what?”
“Look, for a Dragon, when we find our true bond mates when we have sex for the first time, we join with our mates—forever.”
He could see the words soaking in as the wheels behind her eyes spun and worked.
“Okay, that works. Come here and join with me. Is there some ritual or words I need to say?” Serious commitment to press on, she pondered. He remained quiet, allowing her time and quiet to get her thoughts in order. Joining with him shouldn’t be taken lightly or rushed. He’d give her all the time she wanted. She spoke up, “What’s going on with me? Mac, it’s like I can’t think of anything else but being with you. I’m not this horny usually, promise.”
“It’s the mating pull. I’m feeling it too,” he said, admitting it aloud.
“Then let’s do it.”
“Bronwyn.”
“What, Mac?”
“Don’t be so quick with what you ask for.”
“Why not? You’re the only person I’ve ever had. You always found a way to find me in my dreams when I needed you most. You’ve been my guardian, my beautiful Dragon for as long as I can remember. Now that I have you in the flesh, you’re putting up barriers, nonsensical reasons, and excuses for being with me.” Her gorgeous eyes the color of rich coffee beans narrowed. “Don’t give me a complex over loving you, Dragon.”
She said she loved him. That utterance hit him harder than he’d expected. He needed to protect her more than ever.
Choosing to keep it light-hearted he said, “Haha—I have no plans to do that. My Dragon wouldn’t allow it.” She laughed. Seizing the moment to keep it going in that direction for his sake of not dealing with how much he wanted her to stay safe and happy, he added, “How can I know you want me for this part of me too? How can I compete with my Dragon side for your attention? To me, I’m working at a loss here.” He made a face hoping to show insecurity. She giggled so it must have failed spectacularly, “It seems almost impossible to measure up to the legend that you and my Dragon side have forged. Honestly, I’m feeling neglected and shut out of this love affair you two have going on.”
“Really? You’re going to go there? Get your fine ass over here and let me show you how much I see you as one and the same Dragon.”
“Now who’s objectifying whom?” He laughed. Since she’d moved back enough for him to join her without possibly bumping her leg, he leaped back into the bed. Facing her, he settled down to gain her attention for the serious conversation he couldn’t ignore any longer. “Bronwyn, as much as I’d love to join with you, the fact still remains that you’re already injured by my carelessness.”
“How so? I’m not following. It still sounds to me that you’re stalling. What gives?”
Seeing she was bound and determined to explore what it meant to be joined to him, he relented.
“I see. Hear is the truth about joining. Since you’re fully human, I’m not sure if the process would be painful or not.” Her eyes widened ever so, but enough for him to notice. “Yes, dear one, there might be pain involved. The process of joining includes matters that are best described as magic in human terms. As my mate, you’ll take on some of my abilities as a Dragon.”
“Like what?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement, urging him on.
“Like the ability to work magic. My abilities include healing magic. That’s why Colson wants me to work with your foot to speed up the healing process. He’s of the opinion that with my healing magic, what should take six to eight weeks could only be three to four weeks until your foot is completely back to normal.”
“Cool! Here, rub my foot while you talk.”
Laughter boomed from deep inside where he held on tight to his emotions. Bronwyn was what his and who he’d always needed and yearned for. Cradling her foot across his lap, he gingerly navigated the soft cast to place hands as close to her injury site as possible.
“You wouldn’t have this break if I hadn’t insisted on showing you the garden.”
“It’s okay. We wouldn’t be here without it. I see it as a necessary injury to win the battle. You and I both know we wouldn’t have gotten to this point without my busted foot.”
“Maybe you’re right. In the meantime, I want you to do what Colson says so we can get you better, faster.”
“And, that’s the doctor’s first name, Colson?”
“Yeah, he’s my cousin.”
“What? He’s a Dragon too?”
“Yep, but allow him to tell you himself. It’s not a widely known thing that we exist.”
“Um, duh, I know that. I was wondering why you two were so close. I’ve never seen a doctor willing to come to someone’s house after midnight before. Figured you had a great insurance plan.”
“We’re family. I’d do the same for him and his daughter.”
“Wait, he has a daughter?”
“Oh that. He found out her mother was pregnant with her when the mother was in a car accident. He and the mom had only been friends, not mates, had a one-night stand, and she left without telling him about his daughter. When she knew she wasn’t going to make it on the way to the hospital, she made the ambulance attendant take his information and promise to contact him for the baby’s sake. He got the call, went to get his daughter and has been raising her on his own since.”
Moisture rimmed Bronwyn’s lashes. “That’s so sad. How old is his daughter now?”
“Let me see. She’s coming up on five in a few more months. Funny, her hair reminds me of yours. That kid’s hair is always running wild and free.”
“Watch it, Dragon. She’s sensitive about her bountifulness,” Bronwyn said still referring to her hair in the third-person. “Doesn’t Dr. Colson comb that baby’s hair?”
“How? She won’t stay still, says it hurts when he tries. She’s got him wrapped around her pinky finger so hard that the man lets her do whatever she wants. I fear one day I’ll drop by and she’ll have moved a toy store into the living room.”
“Aw, she sounds so cute.”
“She is, but it’s obvious she’s a full-on Dragon.”
“Her mother was a Dragon?”
“No, but that’s the thing. Dragons only produce Dragons, even if one of the parents is human.” He paused to let that sink in. “Carrying a Dragonling to term is hard for a Dragon, for a human, it can be difficult. Your body has to be able to keep up with how much the baby needs in nutrients during gestation.”
Not missing a beat, Bronwyn said, “Good thing I have all these extrens of thickness then!”
“Extrens?”
“You kn
ow, extra. That’s what I call my fat.”
“You’re not fat.”
“I’m definitely thick.”
“That’s what I love about your body. Your curves are life-giving.” He decided to let her in on something. “You know, one of my first thoughts, when I saw you at the home improvement center the other day, was how perfect your body was for Dragonling bearing.”
“What? I knew that was you looking at me from the SUV Danny was driving!”
“You could sense that?”
“Yeah, felt like someone was staring me down.”
“That was me, then.”
“Back to how you thought I had the perfect body for caring a Dragon baby.” She giggled. “Surprisingly, this doesn’t freak me out in the least.”
“Good to know, because that’s a strong possibility with the joining. Doesn’t matter if you’re on contraceptives, if I wear a condom or not, the joining is part magic. Magic overrules all that. A lot of mates can become pregnant during that time. My mom says it's the Apex Predator’s stamp on creation. Dragons have and will always be among the species who thrive and live on this planet and others.”
“Other planets?”
“Yeah, that’s a discussion for another day. I need us to stay focused on what it means to join. Bronwyn, you need to know there are perils in doing this. It can be painful, dangerous, and you could end up pregnant. Oh, and it becomes forever. We become joined together forever—no human divorce—we make it work no matter what. That means that as we grow and spend time together we’ll be able to communicate telepathically, share feelings, and you’ll most likely have heightened senses. Take a minute for that to soak in and let me know if joining with me sounds so great then.”
Bronwyn started bouncing in the bed and shimmying her shoulders in a funny dance as she singsonged, “Woohoo! I’m going to become Chocolate Wonder Woman!” Looking at his confusion, she added, “I’m going to have super powers, bitches!”
Despite his reservations that she still didn’t fully understand the strain being with him or carrying his children might have on her, he laughed.
“Dear one, please, listen and take this to heart. It’s not easy being with a Dragon. There will be a tremendous strain on every part of your being. You’ll be stressed beyond normal human limitations to adjust to what my Dragon wants and needs of you as a mate. Does it still sound so great now?”
He waited, wanting her to sit with the dark side of being mated to a Dragon.
Her comeback was vigorous and unwavering.
“In my dreams, we’ve soared above the heavens, connected on a level that defies communication, and have loyalty to one another that transcends reason. If I can have a tenth of that in real life with you, it’ll be worth it.”
Chapter Fourteen
BRONWYN
Why was he so cautious?
After spending time with him, she no longer questioned his sincerity of wanting to be with her. His cleaning the stove, refrigerator, and bathroom of the condo last night alone had put that to rest. MacMillan Kelnar was her Dragon. It all made sense once the veil of who he was had been removed from her eyes. Like he’d been in her dreams, he was the same in person. Mac was here with her every step of the way. He was stick and stay. The man was as great as the Dragon. That fact hummed and vibrated all the way down into the deep crevices of her soul.
“I’m willing to get tested for STDs and other stuff if that will make you feel better.” She was prepared to offer this to make him see she was just as invested in this as he was. She got it now. He was as much a part of her as she was to him. They already had a history.
“Doesn’t matter. Dragons have immunity to human illness. That’s another reason why we live so long.”
“You mean to tell me you don’t get STDs?”
“No, that I know of. Besides injuries mostly through combat or being stupid, we don’t suffer from human illness including cancer or other terminal illnesses. The only time we get sick is when we’re out of alignment with the universe or our mates.”
An interesting thought dawned on her. “If you don’t get sick, then why is your cousin a doctor?”
“Because it pays so freaking well giving humans medical attention. He makes a killing fixing Dragon injuries. Dragons hate pain more than anyone. We’ll pay out the ass to alleviate it—fast. Remember, he’s a Dragon. You can always find us where there’s loads of money to be made. Making house calls to Dragons and shifters is beyond lucrative.
“Then why wouldn’t he allow me to pay him?” Mac looked away as if he didn’t want to tell her. “Mac, why?
“Because you’re mine. Let me clarify though, he doesn’t do day to day work for humans. For that, he owns a conglomerate of Medical healthcare systems that make up one of the largest in the nation. In a few years, he’s going international.”
“So, his coming over to check on me?”
“A favor for my mate. He’s the best doctor I know, so you were in the best hands I could have found.”
“I assume he has healing magic too?”
“Yes, our family is known for our strength in various forms of magic. My mother is gifted with sight. She can see past, present, and future.”
“Whoa! That’s scary powerful.”
“Not really. She doesn’t like to use it. Says folks are too flaky and irrational. She prefers to only use it when something important is going to affect a lot of people.”
“Your parents are still alive?”
“Yes. Pardon me, I forgot to bring you up to speed on my background and life. I’m oldest of three with my sister as the youngest. I’m thirty-eight in human years. My brother is thirty-five, and my sister is thirty-two. Up until now, she was the only one of us who’d found her bond mate. They’ve been together for a little over a year and live close to my parents back in Asheville, North Carolina where I grew up. That’s another thing. If you want to know where a lot of Dragons live, look for places with mountains. We like being able to fly without a lot of detection, so we go up and high. The cold doesn’t too much affect us. Colorado, Tennessee, the Georgia Mountains, California mountains, all of them have huge Dragon populations.”
“It’s like another world right under my nose. Who knew?”
“Humans, that’s who. They’re usually so scared of finding out they’re not the absolute top of the food chain that they get a bit testy when they find out about us or others. Instead of wiping them out, we kept an oath to only reveal ourselves to human mates, other non-humans and trusted inner circle members. That’s why I don’t have a housekeeper at any of my properties.”
“Let me fix that for you.”
“We have time for that later, my love. If I had one, I’d like to have a cat shifter. They tend to like everything very clean.”
“Wait, shifters are real?”
“Yes, but Bronwyn, let me get back to telling you about my background. You need to know as much as possible before making a decision to join with me.”
“Okay...” she said, allowing the whine in her voice to elongate.
“I own a venture capital firm, but my primary interests centralize in brokering deals between large companies. I have the ability to see profitable business outcomes. When I sense that the fusion of different companies will work, I either put a meeting together for them to meet and get paid if it works out. Or, if they’re stubborn and their business will fail without taking that step, I take them over and do it myself.”
“That’s harsh.”
“No, that’s profitable and the way of the Dragon. We love money, wealth, and treasure. There’s no hope for those who would get in between a Dragon and his treasure. That’s who I am. Do you still want to join with a greedy Dragon who will stop at nothing to possess his treasures?”
“You’re my Dragon. This makes so much sense. That’s why all those fairy tales talk about the Dragon guarding his horde?”
“Yes, but trust me, the knights never won. That was told to make the humans feel better. And
no, we don’t eat humans. That’s more propaganda.”
This was fascinating, but she wanted to get back to steering him toward their mating. This was another way he was stalling. Bronwyn searched to find a way to convey her desires and decisions to him in the way he’d be able to accept. The hard intake of breath she took was more for emphasis. What she was about to say was more important than a need to strengthen her ability to get it out. Bronwyn was in fight mode. She’d fight for the chance they needed to move forward.
“Look you, remember when you asked me if I would take the leap of faith to see who we are together?” She wanted him to know she’d been listening to everything he’d said and asked of her. He nodded, refusing to relax those massively broad shoulders of his.
“I did.”
“I did too. Mac, I see you, and I know you see me.” Looking down at where he cast his concentration, she moved her foot from his lap to the side, placing it next to his muscular thigh. Leaning into him more she waited until he looked her in the eyes. The foot was stiff and a little sore, like she’s slept on it all night, but there was no pain. “Mac, I’m fine, and my foot feels a million times better. Yes, I’ll do what you and your doctor cousin ask me to heal, but I also think this is as important as my foot. I’m excited about and grateful for you telling me about your family. More importantly, I’m ready to mate with you. The question is, are you?”
He continued to hold her gaze for a while. Gone was her insecurity that he’d flake out and wake up to see she wasn’t the one he should be with. This was her Dragon. She loved him and had seen what he’d do to make sure she was taken care of and protected.
“Yes, I’ve been ready for a long time.”
“Whew, all right. As for me, I’m simple. Was orphaned at birth, raised in an orphanage, never adopted, been on my own since turning eighteen. I’m twenty-eight—yes, I know, I look great for my age, heehee—and been working to get enough money to find out who my mother was if I have any siblings, and to show her that I made something of myself despite her leaving me.”
“I already know about your background. I vetted you soon after I saw you.”
