To Love A Dragon; Venys Needs Men

by Tiffany Roberts

  Their tribe sisters had said another moon cycle, perhaps, before Leyloni birthed their child. Arysteon’s anticipation grew daily and had long since surpassed reason.

  “Awi,” called Serek in his high little voice. “Da da dagon!”

  The command in Serek’s words jarred Arysteon from his reverie and called his attention down to his son. Serek—already so much bigger than he’d been when he’d first come into Arysteon’s life—was clad in his own furs and stood impatiently just ahead of the dragon. Between them was the pile of snow Arysteon had been building before losing himself in thought.

  Full awareness rushed back to Arysteon. There were voices all around, snow was crunching beneath booted feet, and the laughter of children and adults alike filled the air as everyone ran and played in the season’s first major snow.

  So many of the Snow Tree people had gathered in this clearing to celebrate the coming of winter, to celebrate the hard work they’d done in preparation. To celebrate being alive.

  Serek waved his hands at the snow pile. “Moh, Awi. Moh!”

  More, Ary. More.

  Being alongside Serek as his babbling had developed into words over the months had filled Arysteon with immense pride—the pride of a father watching his youngling learn and grow.

  Arysteon sank a little deeper into his crouch, spread his arms wide, and leaned forward to sweep more snow into the pile. He stopped building it only when it was well above Serek’s head.

  The youngling stared at the mound with wide, eager eyes and a silly smile, bouncing in place.

  Smiling himself, Arysteon stood up and stepped to the side of the mound. “Go, little dragon!”

  With a gleeful cry, Serek charged forward, his steps made awkward by his bulky furs but overflowing with enthusiasm, nonetheless. The boy growled just before reaching the pile, where he came to a sudden stop, hopped up, and fell face-first into the loosely packed snow.

  Powdery white dust fluttered in the air, and Serek sank deep enough that he was almost entirely engulfed by the pile but for his little legs sticking out.

  Leyloni’s laughter, so light and carefree in the winter air, was more enchanting than any bird song could ever be.

  Arysteon couldn’t hold back his own laughter as he bent forward. He plunged his hands into the snow, hooked them under Serek’s belly, and lifted the youngling out of the mound.

  Serek’s furs were caked with white, and he shed enough snow to create a tiny blizzard in his wake. He giggled as Arysteon set him down on his feet, immediately hopping up and down and waving his arms. “Moh! Moh!”

  “You will become a snowman at this rate, little one,” said Leyloni with gentle amusement.

  “And I had always thought he wanted to be a dragon, not a snowman.” Arysteon wiped snow from the youngling’s face before turning back toward the snow mound.

  An approaching female caught his attention—Grenda.

  Grenda grinned as she neared. “Hirdris and I are going to help the little ones make sweet snow. Would you three care to join us?”

  Arysteon stood upright, turning his gaze toward Leyloni as she walked over. Her gait had been altered by her rounded belly; she moved slower and more unsteadily than she had a few months before, but he found a particular grace and beauty to it. She was carrying their child. She was bearing this burden to bring new life into this world, into their clan.

  Heat flowed through his veins. She would always be gorgeous in his eyes, would always spark his desire no matter how she felt about herself, and his ravenous need for her had not diminished since the comet had finally vanished from the spring sky many months ago.

  Her scent filled his nostrils, stronger to him than any other in the forest, and a fire ignited low in his belly. He knew now what that enhanced sweetness to her scent had been, that change he’d first noticed while they were still traveling north—it had been the first sign that she was with child.

  “That sounds wonderful, Grenda,” Leyloni said. She met Arysteon’s gaze. The light in her eyes had become decidedly heated, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth.

  “Something sweet does sound wonderful.” Arysteon looped an arm around Leyloni, drawing her close without breaking eye contact with her. Heat blossomed in his loins, and he felt the first stirrings of true arousal pulse in his stem. The cloth covering he’d taken to wearing during his time with the tribe would not long conceal his eagerness.

  Barely suppressing a growl, he forced himself to look at Grenda. “Would you mind taking Serek along with you? I am due to relieve one of the patrols shortly, and I would appreciate the time alone with my mate beforehand.”

  Grenda’s grin took on a mischievous, knowing slant. “Of course. I know better than to stand in the way of a hungry dragon.”

  Even through her furs, which were cold and dusted with snow, Arysteon felt Leyloni’s body heat intensify—and he felt her excitement and desire through their shared spark. His tongue flicked out and drew in her scent. His fingers flexed, and he held her a little tighter, unable to ignore the taste of her fresh arousal.

  “Da da, moh,” Serek demanded, patting Arysteon’s thigh.

  Arysteon glanced down at his son and smiled. The youngling had his head tilted all the way back to look up, which made him sway unsteadily to keep his balance atop the snow.

  “Soon, little dragon,” Arysteon said.

  Leyloni eased out of Arysteon’s hold to crouch—somewhat precariously—before Serek. She brushed snow off the youngling’s hood and touched his pinkened cheek. “We will play later. For now, go with Grenda, and she will give you a treat.”

  Serek’s face lit up. He hurriedly gave Leyloni a hug and a kiss on her cheek before turning and scurrying to Grenda. He grabbed hold of the woman’s hand and tugged. “Geh tweat?”

  “Yes, little one. We will get you a treat.” Grenda led him toward the other children, glancing over her shoulder to offer Leyloni and Arysteon a sly wink.

  Leyloni cradled her belly with one arm and placed her other hand on Arysteon’s leg, bracing herself. Before she could cause herself any strain, he crouched beside her, put his arm around her back, and helped her rise slowly and smoothly.

  “Thank you,” she said with a chuckle, “but I can still stand up on my own, dragon.”

  “Mmhmm,” Arysteon rumbled. Keeping his arm around her, he turned to face her and tipped his head down. He inhaled deeply, taking in air that was redolent of Leyloni’s scent—of her desire—and the fire inside him flared. “But you must conserve what strength you can. I have need of you, female.”

  “Oh?” Leyloni slipped her arms around his neck, drawing her body against his. “Has my dragon saved enough of his strength to satisfy his mate’s needs, too?”

  “Always.” He claimed her lips in a slow, hungry, smoldering kiss. The shared, growing warmth of their bodies chased away more and more of the winter’s chill.

  Powerful emotions tightened his chest, foremost of them being his love for her. He had never felt so content, so full, so at peace.

  When they finally separated their lips, Leyloni looked up at him with moisture gleaming in her eyes.

  Arysteon frowned. He had learned that her emotions were stronger—and more malleable—while she was with child, but that did not make him empathize with her any less. He could not bear to see tears in her eyes. “What is wrong, Leyloni? What troubles you?”

  Her brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “I am just…happy. And I…I wish I could have shared this joy with my people, as well. That they could have come to know you, to know my mate. That my mother and father would have had a chance to hold our child. And you and I only met because…”

  She turned her cheek against his chest, and her tears were hot as they ran over his scales.

  Arysteon lowered his chin, resting it gently atop her hood. “We cannot change what happened, but we also cannot deny the contentment we have found. Tragedy is part of life, Leyloni, but it is not always the end of life. Even after the destructi
on of a fire, the forest will bloom anew.”

  He cupped her chin in his hand and guided her face back up toward his. “Your tribe lives on with you, with Serek, with Grenda and Hirdris. My clan lives on with me.” He leaned back slightly and lowered his hand to her belly. As though in response to Arysteon’s touch, the youngling within pressed up against his palm, and Arysteon’s heart leapt. “All our people, all those we have loved and lost, live on in us. In our youngling. In our love.”

  Leyloni stared up at him, searching his eyes for several moments. She stood suddenly on her toes and kissed him, quickly, desperately, greedily. “I love you,” she said before kissing him again. “I need you. Show me your love”—another kiss—“show me your need.”

  Arysteon growled as he returned her kisses. His heart was pounding, his scales were burning despite the cool air, and his spark was dancing more frantically than a snowflake caught in a windstorm.

  He stooped down and swept her up into his arms, holding her against his chest, and she looped her arms around his neck.

  “I will show you my love, Leyloni,” he rasped as he carried her away from the festivities. “I will show you my need. I will show you every moment of every day that I am yours, and all the world shall forever know that you are mine.”

  Author’s Note

  Thank you so much for reading To Love a Dragon! We hope you enjoyed Arysteon and Leyloni’s story. Their book was completely unplanned for, but after writing To Tame a Dragon, we had the urge to write one more book in the Venys Needs Men world. Whereas Falthyris’s book was more of an enemies-to-lovers story full of heat, we wanted something a little sweeter this time around—but still passionate, of course!

  If you’d like to keep up-to-date with us, be sure to join our newsletter, and/or follow us on Facebook! You can also join our private reader group on Facebook to for extras that we share.

  What’s next from us? We’ll be diving into Tethered Souls, the fifth book in our Infinite City Series. We’re excited to begin Kier and Kayl’s book.

  Thank you again for reading! And please, if you have a moment, we’d love it if you could leave us a review. <3

  Venys Needs Men Collaboration

  This collaborative series are all standalones and can be read in any order. Every dragon is unique!

  To Tame a Dragon by Tiffany Roberts

  To Love a Dragon by Tiffany Roberts

  To Touch a Dragon by Naomi Lucas

  To Mate a Dragon by Naomi Lucas

  To Seduce a Dragon by Poppy Rhys

  To Desire a Dragon by Amanda Milo

  To Enchant a Dragon by Amanda Milo

  Also by Tiffany Roberts

  THE INFINITE CITY

  Entwined Fates

  Silent Lucidity

  Shielded Heart

  Untamed Hunger

  Savage Desire

  Tethered Souls (Coming Soon!)

  THE KRAKEN

  Treasure of the Abyss

  Jewel of the Sea

  Hunter of the Tide

  Heart of the Deep

  Rising from the Depths

  Fallen from the Stars

  Lover from the Waves

  STANDALONE TITLES

  Claimed by an Alien Warrior

  Dustwalker

  Escaping Wonderland

  His Darkest Craving

  The Warlock’s Kiss

  Ice Bound: Short Story

  ISLE OF THE FORGOTTEN

  Make Me Burn

  Make Me Hunger

  Make Me Whole

  Make Me Yours

  VALOS OF SONHADRA COLLABORATION

  Tiffany Roberts - Undying

  Tiffany Roberts - Unleashed

  VENYS NEEDS MEN COLLABORATION

  Tiffany Roberts - To Tame a Dragon

  Tiffany Roberts – To Love a Dragon

  About the Author

  Tiffany Roberts is the pseudonym for Tiffany and Robert Freund, a husband and wife writing duo. Tiffany was born and bred in Idaho, and Robert was a native of New York City before moving across the country to be with her. The two have always shared a passion for reading and writing, and it was their dream to combine their mighty powers to create the sorts of books they want to read. They write character driven sci-fi and fantasy romance, creating happily-ever-afters for the alien and unknown.

  Website:

  https://authortiffanyroberts.wordpress.com

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTiffanyRoberts

  BookBub:

  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tiffany-roberts

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