Of the scenarios that had crossed Cao’s mind, a Peach of Immortality hadn’t made an appearance in any of them.

“Those don’t exist anymore.” Ling squeezed her eyes and whipped her head. “It’s just another lie.”

“Wait.” Cao released his firm grip on her upper arms and seized a step toward Han. “How the fuck did you get your hands on a Peach?”

Smugly, Han puffed out his chest. “I made a trade with Xi Wangmu.”

Xi? The Queen Mother of the West was the wife of the Jade Emperor, sovereign ruler of the universe. Xi once had a spectacular garden and a vast orchard containing the glorious trees bearing the Peaches of Immortality. “That’s not possible, mate. The Monkey King destroyed her garden, and the trees, centuries ago.”

Han’s reply was a solid stare, lips pressed together.

Cao cocked his head. “So, you’re saying…”

“It was destroyed, but one pit might have been spared,” he offered. “Perhaps.”

Holy shit. The Monkey King had caused a ton of mischief, but destroying Xi’s garden had topped the lists.

One pit would’ve been enough to restore the orchard. Made sense for the Queen Mother to keep quiet, though. Immortality was a priceless gift, even more so in these times.

“What did you trade?” The offhand manner Han had spoken pricked Cao’s curiosity.

The immortal swallowed and glanced at the ground. “My flute.”

No way. Han still had his flute. How?

“Why didn’t you say so when the Matchmaker came? Why not explain your actions?” Waves of hurt and hope flickered across Ling’s eyes.

“She never gave me the chance.” He jerked his chin toward Tasi. “Those two schemed every way to keep you from me since the moment you were created. First hiding the egg, and then hiding you in that horrid souvenir store—”

“How do you know about the store?” Ling flung her arms out to the sides, fingers merging into talons.

Han tsked. “It was clever, I have to admit. Yet, I’m an immortal, and I had plenty of time to search for you. When I figured out where you were hiding, I set off a bomb in the souvenir store, hoping the Matchmaker would realize you were in danger with them. That you’d be safer with me. Then, I could make you immortal, like I’d always planned.”

Confusion and anger knitted Ling’s features.

Hell, Cao was bloody disoriented, too. “Why the deal with the Dragon King? You had to have realized you’d never see Ling again.”

“Would I?” Han raised one brow. “Do you think I believed for one second Tasi allowed Ao Guang to keep her locked away?” He veered toward the princess. “Oh, I knew. Every day I lamented she’d chosen exile rather than become my wife. But I’d hoped…”

“For what?” Tasi snarled, baring her fangs. “That by capturing me again, I’d somehow grow to love you?”

Sullenly, Han bowed his head, shoulders slumping. “If you could only love me, you’d set our daughter free, and we’d be a family.”

Both women shook their heads at him. Still fuming, but a touch of pity mixed in.

“That’s not how love works, mate.” Cao clamped his hand on the other man’s shoulder. “You can’t force it,” he slanted his gaze to Ling, “especially not from a dragon.”

* * *

The warmth in Cao’s grin made Ling’s insides go squishy and fuzzy. But then, her father’s words bounced around in her mind. “You had a Peach of Immortality. Where is it now?”

Han had a Peach. Cao required one to become immortal again. Her heart skipped a beat, waiting for Han’s reply.

“Ahh, about that…” He scratched his jaw, hedging.

“What did you do now, Han?” Tasi muttered.

“You traded it back, didn’t you.” Cao sighed. “That’s how you still have your flute.”

Han teetered on his feet. “Yes.”

Damn. Disappointment slushed through her.

“Hey.” Cao brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “It’s going to be okay. I’ve lived a thousand years, Ling, but I’ve never been alive until now. Because of you. I’m technically somewhere around thirty-two, and I’m going to live out the rest of this life with you.” He paused to offer her a devilish wink. “If you’ll have me.”

Staring into this man’s eyes, his devotion beaming upon her, how could she say anything other than yes? “Of course, I love you, Cao.” He swept down and kissed her fervently, wrapping her in his large, warm embrace.

“See, Han?” Tasi snorted. “That’s how it’s done.”

Right. Parents. Awkward. Ling broke their kiss and glanced between her mother and father. Han wasn’t an ideal father. Tasi might be somewhat crazy. Ling wasn’t disappointed, though. Somehow, through this entire insane adventure, she’d found Cao. She linked her fingers through his, squeezing tight. Her path had led her to this and there was no regret in that.

Even more, she fathomed exactly where she belonged.

That was a first.

Ling released Cao’s hand, marched to her parents, and smiled at them, and even at Seral. “Thanks for clarifying everything, and for what you’ve both done for me. It’s time for us to leave, but I’d love the chance to get to know both of you better.”

“Of course, my darling.” Tasi inclined her head.

“Sure, Princess.” Han shifted his weight.

“Before we go, I have one more question.” From behind her, Cao cleared his throat.

Curious, she spun around and gasped.

In the middle of the garden, he sank to one knee, a sparkling ring sitting atop his palm. “Ling, will you spend forever with me?”

“Cao?” she squeaked, her focus riveted on the gorgeous gem. Smaller sapphires tapered around a sizeable diamond set in a band of yellow gold. She ripped her attention away and gazed into Cao’s honey eyes. Love and warmth filled those pools, and all of it directed at her.

Tears building in her eyes, she clasped her hand over her mouth, and nodded.

“That a yes?” He leapt to his feet and tackled her in a massive bear hug. Then he stole a kiss, making her tears fall joyfully down her cheeks.

Chest heaving, he wrenched his mouth off hers, and murmured huskily, “I’d still like to hear it.” The seductive tilt to his lips would be her undoing.

“Yes,” she bleated, and snared his mouth again, tangling her fingers in his hair. Though he slipped the sparkly ring on her finger, she’d much rather gawk at him.

After savoring this perfect moment, they broke apart, and she regarded her parents.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I figured we could ask for their blessing.” Cao squeezed her arm. “Because I vow to do a hell of a better job than they did.”

“Ha!” Han slapped his thigh. “You’d better, mate.”

“Indeed.” Tasi’s mouth curved in approval.

Okay, now, her heart was ready to burst. She tipped her head at Cao. “Need a ride?”

His lips quirked. “I’d love one.”

Together, they strolled through the garden to an open expanse. Stretching her muscles, Ling transformed into her dragon and then lowered her head for Cao to hop aboard.

The diamond on her finger glinted, the ring having expanded to fit her talon. Way cool.

It was a short flight back to his flat. She landed on the roof, the cover of night concealing her. Cao had fallen silent on the journey and, in truth, she welcomed the quiet to collect her thoughts.

They were engaged. He’d asked her to spend forever with him. Although she loved Cao with all her heart, one worry crushed her joy.

They didn’t actually have forever.

“How weird is this, heh?” She shifted into her human form and followed Cao inside. “First, I was mortal and you were immortal, and now, we’ve switched.”

He chuckled and seized her wrist, towing her to his chest. “I don’t care what we are so long as we’re together.” Caressing her face, he slanted his mouth across hers, feathering her lips ever so slightly.

Her eyes shuttered in blissful peace. It had taken them a while to get to this place, but the journey had so been worth it. She refused to imagine their story ending.

“Wait, Cao, I…” She nudged him back, struggling for words. Her hand on his chest, the ring sparkled and twinkled. So enticingly. She couldn’t help being drawn in. It was gorgeous.

“Where did you get this ring?” Tossing her head, she tried to pull her stare off the gem. It was really hard. However, she managed to frown at Cao.

He glanced at her sideways and scratched the bridge of his nose. “I may have pinched it from your grandfather’s chamber…when I snatched the qì stone.”

“You stole it?” She punched him in the arm. “Cao!”

“Once a thief…” He shrugged, casting her the most wicked smirk. “Well, I figured you deserve some kind of inheritance from the sonovabitch.”

She shook her head, unable to counter that. “Wait, why did you get a ring back then?” He’d been holding on to it for this long?

He brushed aside her locks, his fingertips grazing her skin so gently. She trembled beneath his intoxicating affection. “Because I knew I wanted you, Ling, and it didn’t matter how long I’d have to wait for you to want me, too.”

* * *

In Cao’s arms, Ling quivered, so bloody beautiful. Warmth pooled in the depths of his soul, spreading through his chest, and he grinned. This was what he’d been missing. A thousand years without love.

He didn’t care if he had but a few decades to savor it. Every moment with Ling passed like a lifetime.

She closed her eyes, her features peaceful and content, then fluttered her lashes, those silver pools beckoning him to take a dive.

Though his body was unusually sore, it was probably a side effect of becoming mortal. His body had taken a beating these past weeks, not to mention past centuries.

He swayed with Ling, dancing into the kitchen, their bodies pressed together, and his cock proving it was in perfect working condition, growing hard between them. Cao backed her to the island, gripped her hips, and lifted her onto the counter. They hadn’t bothered to switch on the lights, so moonlight cascaded in from the windows, casting a silver glow across her skin.

Inhaling her vanilla scent, he nuzzled her neck, pressing kisses to her throat.

Ling mewled, her breasts full and round, pressing against him, demanding. A growl in his chest, he snared the hem of her shirt and tugged it off, then unclasped her bra and tossed them both to the ground. Burying his face in her plush breasts, he groaned. Ling squirmed out of her pants, and he helped her pull them down her long, sexy legs. Desperate, he unbuckled his belt, tugged down the zipper of his jeans, and freed his throbbing length. There wasn’t enough time for him to get naked, too. He had to have her, now.

Cao drove his hips forward, thrusting into her so hard they both rasped sharply.

Breathing roughly, he pounded into her until his ballocks exploded. While hot, thick heat blasted from him, he roared, found her nub, and worked her with his fingers, until her pussy clamped around his stiffening erection, spasming wildly, and her nails dug into his shoulders, her screams ringing through his ears.

They held on to each other, glued together, until their racing hearts slowed pace. Her respirations evened, puffing rhythmically next to his ear.

“I think I like mortal sex.” He stroked her hair, his fingers trailing up and down her back.

She shivered with a laugh of delight. “Oh, really? I couldn’t tell.”

Hoisting her hips, he whispered at her ear, “Baby, you haven’t seen anything yet.” Her weight balanced on his left arm, he walked backward to his desk, swiped the blue dildo, and kept shuffling toward the bedroom.

“What do you plan to do with that?” Her hands on his shoulders, she arched a brow at him.

“Anything you wish, butterfly. We shouldn’t let a good gift go to waste.”

She laughed while he set her on the bed, then peeled off his clothes.

He was still hard as he fisted his width, the dildo in his other hand. Ling reclined on the bed, one knee crooked, those lovely curves bared and waiting for him.

Too many bloody things he longed to do with her. Gods, a mortal lifetime wouldn’t be enough.

Cao strode to the bed and stalked toward Ling, settling atop her. “Where would you like Mr. Blue?” He trailed the dildo along her stomach and between her thighs. After he flicked on the vibrate setting, he watched Ling’s eyes widen and grow round.

“Hold that thought.” He reached over to the bedside table and grabbed a handful of everything—lube, flavored condoms, cock rings.

Tonight was going to be a hell of a lot of fun.

As he flicked open a bottle of lube, Ling’s brows knitted. “What are you doing?”

He squirted the warm silky liquid onto his hard-on, ensuring to coat himself well. “That depends.”

“On what?” she breathed, rising onto her elbows.

Setting down the bottle, he climbed atop her again. “On how many firsts you want to tackle tonight.”

“Oh.” Her lips rounded, her eyes dilating. He viewed the flicker of intrigue from her dragon in those silver depths.

Dominate her.

What was more dominating than making her vulnerable and showing her how to utterly submit to him?

“Here, you play with this.” He placed the vibrating dildo in her hand, then positioned himself at her untried rosebud waiting to be explored. Gently, he rubbed the lube around her, playing with her tight hole, teasing his fingers in and out. Ling shifted beneath him, mewling, her body thrashing to the side. With his free hand, he guided her to push the dildo inside her pussy and, once she did, he switched his tip for his fingers, prodding inside her. Filling both her openings and possessing her.

The vibrations felt damn good, and he suspected Ling enjoyed them, too, her sensual writhing reflecting the dragon she was.

A creature of passion.

He was the lucky bastard who got to unlock it all.

Slowly, he rocked his hips, diving deeper inside her, grunting to the rhythm of her low moans.

The slick sheath gloving him and the fake cock pressing against him were exquisite torment. Ling clawed the sheets, her whimpers growing higher in pitch, until he detected her suctioning around him. She bucked her hips fiercely and an airy cry parted from her lips.

Hell, yeah. He braced on his elbows, watching her break beneath his lust, and become still, piecing herself back together again.

After she calmed, he slid out from her and withdrew the dildo, holding it to his face and grinning. “Well, buddy, I think you’ve proved your worth.”

“Oh, yes,” Ling murmured, sinking against the bed. “You both did.”