“Better?” I asked when we climbed into the car.

Maggie stared into the building. The bodies were still inside. “What happens now?”

“You mean with the crime scene?” I asked quietly.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

I inhaled sharply. “Well, we wait for the police to arrive. I expect a lecture for going in to retrieve you without police backup, but I think we both know why that wasn’t possible.”

“Why wasn’t that possible?” Malcom chirped from the backseat. “That would’ve been smarter.”

With a smirk, Maggie turned to her father. “Go back to sleep, Daddy.”

He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I can’t believe I slept through every bit of it.”

“You did?” She gave me the side-eye.

Malcolm nodded. “I fell asleep so fast and hard, I’d swear I was drugged.”

I coughed a few times. “I’m sure you were just overtired from all the excitement. Happens to the best of us.” I winked at Maggie.

With a yawn, he murmured, “Maybe I will rest my eyes for a minute.” It seemed within seconds, he was asleep again.

“So, you drugged my father.” Maggie giggled and shook her head. “Very resourceful.” Then she grew serious. “What happens now…with us?” She stared down at my hand and reached out to lace her fingers through mine.

“That’s entirely up to you,” I murmured. I leaned in to kiss her cheek, but then I saw her cut and swollen skin and couldn’t bear to cause her further pain, so I smoothed her hair back instead.

“How much of the conversation did you hear?” Maggie squeezed my hand extra tight.

“All of it. I have excellent hearing.” I watched her face fall. “None of that matters. Tell me the story, principessa.” I reached out and gently lifted her chin with my free hand.

Her eyes watered. “I can’t.”

“You have to. It’s the only way you’ll ever be free.” I nodded then planted a kiss on her forehead. “You must know by now, but in case you have any lingering doubt, there’s nothing you can do or say that will ever change the way I feel about you.”

“I find that hard to believe.” Maggie sniffled.

“Try me.” I studied her face. She was unmoved. “Trust me.” She visibly winced. “Let me love you, mi tesoro.”

Sucking in a breath, Maggie finally met my gaze. “She was dying. She had been dying for so long.” Her lids lowered and she blew out a ragged breath. “I cared for her while my father was at work, then when he was hiding in his office, and pretty much through all the darkest nights.” Her head tilted and she studied me a moment. “Did you know nights are the worst?”

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t.”

“They are. They last roughly fifty-seven hours. And the pain meds only lasted about four, if she was lucky.” While she curled up in the seat, she held my hand in between both of hers, and held it against her heart. “I noticed at one point that for roughly ten days, she was in complete agony. I had mentioned it to the doctor by phone. And the doctor said something that struck me: ‘if she’s taking her meds, there’s no way she should be in this much pain.’”

Suddenly, I guessed where this story was going. In an effort to comfort her, I took her hands, brought them to my lips, and kissed each knuckle individually. At first, she watched me, completely enthralled, but then she inhaled and continued her story.

“So, when she was asleep one afternoon…because she barely slept at night…I decided to investigate. I checked her bedding. I felt under her mattress. Finally, I opened the little table she used as a nightstand and found my old tooth fairy pillow. No teeth, mind you, but completely stuffed with pain pills.” Maggie glanced out the windshield and tried to inconspicuously wipe away her tears. “See, I knew she was going to do it. There’s no euthanasia policy here, no way to die humanely. She had endured so much suffering. I’d watched it for years while she tried to hang on for us, tried to survive, back when we still had hope.” She shook her head. “By the time she decided to die, hope had been extinguished long ago. I let my mother kill herself. I didn’t stop her when I could’ve, maybe should’ve. It’s why I take care of my father.” Maggie looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. “I took away his wife. I don’t deserve love and happiness. See?”

Before I could say a word and offer her the comfort she deserved, her father piped up from the backseat. “Maggie, I can’t believe you’ve been punishing yourself all these years.”

She gasped and whipped around in her seat. Fresh tears spilled down her face and a sob escaped her lips before any words could. “Daddy, I’m so sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry.” Malcolm leaned forward and rested his hand on her shoulder. “Do you think I didn’t know what she was doing? I knew. I buried myself and my shame in work because I was too weak to help end her suffering like she requested.” He sighed. “I’ve buried myself in work ever since.” Malcolm looked at me, his nose turning red from emotion. “Do you think you can love my little girl, give her the life she deserves?”

I grinned. “I do. And there’s nothing I’d like more in this world than an opportunity to prove it to you, both of you.” Lifting Maggie’s hands, I kissed one, then the other. “What do you say, principessa?”

She tilted her head and studied me a moment. “Did you mean it when you said I can choose where and how we live?”

“Absolutely.” I nodded fervently. My flutter quieted and I suspected when we were finally mated, it would be silenced altogether.

Maggie smiled shyly. “Well, then I guess we should make it official.”

“You mean it?” My eyes widened.

“As soon as possible.” She winked.

I pressed my lips to hers and savored the feeling of our closeness. This woman had the power to completely melt me.

* * *

“I half expected you to throw me over your shoulder and rush to your bedroom with me when we finally returned,” I teased while we relaxed in the hot tub after a late dinner. The water and jets had helped me unwind some, but I’d never learned how to truly relax.

Blaise wrapped his arms around me. “No need for that. We have all the time in the world. This love, this life, you’ll find it’s a marathon in all the very best of ways.”

“So, not the part where I want to die, but where it goes on and on, huh?” I winked.

He chuckled. “More like the longevity, but also much more than I can ever explain. Luckily, we get to experience everything together from now on.” His butler walked onto the patio and nodded at us. My brows rose, but Blaise grinned. “Thank you, Fredo.” Then he stood and tugged on my hands until I stood.

“What’s up?” I smiled coyly. Then I decided to get serious. “I think I mentioned I don’t have a lot of experience in this department.” He started to open his mouth to speak, but I stopped him. “Please don’t tell me about the experiences you’ve accumulated through the centuries. I think it would break me. I think I’d be so hurt I might not be able to go through with this.” I bit my cheek while staring up into his glorious sapphire eyes.

After cupping my cheek, Blaise murmured, “It’s nothing like you think. Aside from a brief period during puberty, dragon shifters don’t really have much interest in sex until we find our mate. So, all these years of women throwing themselves at me have been for naught.” He leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. “I’ve pretty much been holding out for you, mi amore.”

I inhaled sharply. “That’s really beautiful and terrifying.” My chin fell, but I peeked up at him through my lashes. “I don’t want to disappoint you. There has to have been a lot of build-up to this moment. The pressure is absolutely crippling.”

“Maggie, we have a lifetime to improve. The mating is a joining of hearts, minds, and bodies. It’s my way of gifting you with some of my abilities.” His fingers knotted in my hair and he pulled my head back until my neck was exposed. Then he scraped his teeth down my skin until he reached my clavicle, where he finally licked and nibbled.

“I have no gifts for you,” I whispered sadly.

Immediately, Blaise pulled back and shook his head. “Not true. In this moment, you become my anchor to reality, my partner in every sense, the guardian of our line.”

“Our line?” My brow furrowed.

Nodding, he continued. “Yes, our line: yours and mine. The best gift you’ll ever give me will be our sons.” The last words he spoke quietly in my ear, causing tingles down my spine.

I froze. “Wait. Sons?”

“Yes. There have never been any female dragon shifters. Ever.” He shrugged. “There haven’t even been any female offspring.”

“And this didn’t seem strange to anyone?” I laughed. When he simply stared at me blankly, I sighed. “Never mind.” I ran my hands over his chest, examining his perfect pecs. My hands pressed flat against his skin, moved upwards, and around his broad shoulders while admiring this marvel, the man who would become everything to me for hundreds of years. “We’re going to have an amazing life together, won’t we?”

“Never doubt it, Mags. We’ll see the world. We’ll make beautiful memories wherever we go.” Blaise scooped me up into his arms. “Starting tonight.” He carried me to the lounge chair where we’d left our towels and set me on my feet just long enough to wrap my towel around me, then tucked his around his hips. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to mine so lovingly, so tenderly, tears sprang to my eyes while he hefted me into his arms again. My flutter had become an ache of longing. “What are you thinking?”

I shook my head as my cheeks warmed. “Let’s talk in your room.” I blew out a breath. “Or better still, let’s not talk in your room.” Staring into his eyes, I wrapped an arm around the back of his neck and then laid my free hand over his heart. To my satisfaction, it was racing as much as mine. This made me feel better. This made me downright happy, which apparently, Blaise noticed as we finally entered his room.

“What has you smiling, principessa?” he asked as he set me on my feet.

“You. Everything about you. And…us.” My smile widened.

He laid his hands on my shoulders and turned me around to see the room. Though all the lights were out, the room shone with what seemed like roughly a hundred candles. There were candelabras ablaze everywhere. Between them and the glow from the fireplace, the room had a warm feel and a lovely aromatic scent. I heard the door shut behind me, then music began to play from his sound system.

“I’m going to make a complete fool of myself over you, aren’t I?” I sighed. There were feelings stirring in me that I never expected to feel, let alone feel so soon.

“We’ll be fools together,” Blaise murmured as he stood behind me and began to kiss my shoulder.

“So, I guess we get on the bed?” I shrugged. Behind me, I heard him chuckle and I whirled around to face him. “Listen, I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to be anything other than me. I’m stubborn, and sarcastic.”

“Those are wonderful qualities.” He laughed. “After hundreds of years dealing with passive women, I finally found someone to fight with.”

My mouth gaped open. I snapped my jaw shut and shook my head. “I don’t get you. Shouldn’t I, if we’re to be mated?”

“Are you trying to talk yourself out of this, or me?” He reached down, took my hand and walked me out to the balcony.

I thought he’d say more, but obviously, he genuinely wanted a response. My shoulders drooped. “You. We’ve known each other a matter of days and you think you want me forever. You must be crazy. You have me wondering if I understand love and relationships at all.”

“That you are questioning this tells me you do. This matters to you. So, let me ask you a few questions. Indulge me, principessa.” Then he gestured for me to sit in the cushioned chair. Once I did, he began his line of questioning. “Do you care about me?”

I grinned. “Yes. This much I know.”

“Are you attracted to me?” He eyed me curiously.

My cheeks heated as I nodded. “Too much. It scares me.”

He crouched down in front of me. “For once in your life, you don’t have to be afraid. I can protect you. It’s a dragon thing.” He grinned, which caused me to giggle. “And I have more money than we could spend in a thousand years. So, you have financial security.” I nodded nervously. “And I’m insanely attracted to you. Already, I know if I were to lose you, I’d be heartsick, which is worse than death for a dragon. Even now, if you decide to put me off, I’ll stay with you. I’ll be with you because I can’t be without you.”

My throat constricted and I nodded. “This, I understand. I had a taste of being away from you today. It was lonely and painful. Will being mated make it better or worse?”

“Both,” Blaise responded honestly. “But know this: we’ll be forever faithful to one another. Our love will only grow as time goes on. And the passion between us, like a dragon’s ability to breathe fire, will never die out. How does that sound?”

“Perfect. So very perfect.” I sighed as I stood and dropped my towel, then I walked inside and motioned for him to follow me. The autumnal night air had cooled and I needed warmth from the fire, and from the man I was about to be joined to for all time.

Sensing I had finally made my choice, Blaise stood behind me and began to kiss down my neck. As he lavished attention on me, I barely noticed I was being undressed. I turned and smiled shyly as I stepped out of the bikini bottom. “Now you,” I whispered.

His towel was removed with little effort, then I worked to slide his swim trunks down his hips, and thighs. Soon, I was face-to-face with his cock, which had sprung the minute I’d freed it. I felt strange staring at it, and I suppose it was nothing like I’d expected, since I secretly guessed he’d have some strange dragon dick…whatever that meant.

“Did you want a glass of wine?” he asked as he gestured to the tray on the table near the fireplace.

I shook my head. “Tonight, I want to remember everything, every minute detail.”

“You will. I’ll make sure you do.” Blaise bent low to press his lips to mine. Then he scooped me into his arms and carried me to the bed. The sheets and blanket had already been pulled back by Fredo.

I sank into the mattress and tried not to feel self-conscious about my body. Like most women, I knew I had flaws and I worried what my lover would think of me.

“You’re perfect for me. You’re precisely what I would’ve picked had you not already been chosen for me.” He shook his head and smiled as if amazed. Slowly, he climbed onto the mattress to join me.

“You would’ve ordered a slightly overweight, disproportionate female with a venomous tongue?” My brows rose.

“Is that what you see?” He shook his head. “Let me tell you what your eyes have missed, mi amore.” He lifted a section of my hair. “You have gorgeous long black hair, and these incredible eyes which have the power to make me forget everything but you.” I inhaled sharply at his assessment. “You exude this confidence I admire more than you can imagine. You’re so petite, with tiny delicate features. I’d think you were fragile until I see you in action, a force to be reckoned with.”

I shook my head. “That is what you see?”

“Let me show you how attractive you are.” Blaise moved me to my side and spooned me. He wrapped his arms around my body and something about his hug soothed my fears, eliminated my doubt, and made me actually believe he saw past my flaws.

By the time he began kissing me and running his hands down my side and pressed my body to fit more tightly to his, I was lost in the moment and completely his. Soon, I was on my back and his kisses were way too chaste for my liking. “What gives?” I murmured, ready to pout.

“Your face. You haven’t looked at it, but I can see so much bruising and your cheek is completely busted open. Until it heals, I’m going to be gentle.” Then he began to nibble, and lick his way down my neck, and finally my chest.

“So, I need to be patient a few more days? I can live with that.” His explanation warmed me.

Blaise chuckled. “Try a few hours.”

I lifted my head. “How?”

“You’ll see.” He winked.

Patience was a virtue I had never mastered. Even now, I was eager to see what this mating was about and the foreplay was taking entirely too long. I mean, once I made a decision, I acted on it. This…was killing me. Seconds later, I discovered he had expertly spread my legs and was kissing up the inside of my leg toward the junction of my thighs. My eyes widened. The college boyfriend had never done that. His beard tickled my skin, but when his tongue began to work its magic on my most private spot, I no longer noticed. My hips rose and met his tongue. I’d never experienced anything like this. The ache within me intensified and having his finger slide deep within me didn’t help. Suddenly, he stopped and my eyes flew open, questioning. When he settled his hips in between my legs and I felt his cock pressing against me, I gasped in anticipation.

“May I, mi amore?” Blaise stared down at me with such tenderness, tears once more sprang to my eyes.

“Yes,” I whispered as I ran my fingers through his hair. “Please do.”

Slowly, he slid inside me, and stopped. He pressed harder until I winced. My brow furrowed. “What’s up?” I whispered, afraid of ruining the mood, although my bum vagina seemed to have already done that.

Blaise pulled out and sat back on his thighs. “Principessa, I thought you said you’d done this before.”

“I did.” My head tilted. “I thought I did. I mean, he had a much smaller…” I gestured to his bulging erection. “Well, his dick was out and he was rubbing and pushing around down there. It was very quick and super awkward and I didn’t enjoy it, so I mostly looked forward to him being done.”

“Maggie, your hymen is still intact.” He blinked at me a few times.

I bit my lip. I had no idea what to say. “Are you mad?” I blurted out.

With a chuckle, Blaise shook his head. “No, but I’m afraid this is going to be more painful than we anticipated. I’ll do my best to make sure you enjoy it.”

I shrugged. “Okay then.”

This time, Blaise bent his head low and began to lick and suck on my nipples. Immediately, the longing had returned. His fingers began to slide in and out of my vagina and when my hips rose to press against his palm, he moved between my thighs again. “I’m yours for always,” he whispered in my ear as he slid his cock inside again. He moved back and forth with just the head inside me until I was about ready to beg him to go deeper.

I stared up into his eyes, well aware he was watching my reaction. Then he pressed his lips to mine and our mouths opened, our tongues dancing, while his cock shoved all the way inside me. I squeezed my eyes more tightly shut for a split second as I grew accustomed to sharing my body with his. Blaise began to move slowly, gently, but it wasn’t enough. In frustration, I shifted and urged him onto his back so I could take the top. This position felt different than I expected and though I wasn’t sure what to do, I soon discovered when I moved my hips up and down, a pleasing pressure began to build inside me. While he held my hips and cupped my ass, I moved him in and out of me, varying the depth and speed until I found just the right pace to accommodate having him as deep as he could go.

“You’re amazing,” Blaise whispered.

Opening my eyes, I smiled down at him. “Thank you. For everything.”

Reaching up, he flicked his thumb across my nipple and the sensations he created soon had the pressure at a breaking point. I whimpered, knowing I was close to something so moving if I could just… Then it happened. Something in me broke, and my muscles contracted around him, but I didn’t want to stop yet. Finally, when the rippling inside ended, I collapsed on his chest.

“Mi amore,” he murmured as he rolled me onto my side and smoothly entered me from behind. “I want to be able to hold you,” Blaise explained as he moved in and out. He cupped my breast with one hand and wrapped around my middle with the other.

I was tired, the product of a long day and my emotions being on overdrive. Still, I was wildly aware of everything happening. Inside, I could feel him growing impossibly large. His cock felt so hot, I thought I’d go up in flames. Before long, he erupted inside me. I felt him jerking, and I grew even wetter. Lying there happily satisfied, I expected him to withdraw from my body; when he didn’t, I peeked over my shoulder.

“I have to wait a few minutes,” Blaise murmured as he held me tightly against his body.

I giggled. “Is this a dragon thing?”

“No, it’s a virgin mating with a dragon thing.” He chuckled. “If I pull out now, every time we make love, I’ll have to break your hymen again.”

I frowned. “How?”

“My gifts,” he explained quietly. After we laid in silence a few minutes more, Blaise finally withdrew. “Lay here. I’ll be right back.”

When he returned, he brought a hand towel, which he used to gently clean me. He disappeared again and returned with a hand mirror. “Look,” he urged.

Holding up the mirror, I studied my face, wondering what to expect. The bruises on my cheeks were purple, but as I watched, they turned yellow and then were completely normal. I turned my head to see what happened with my cut. It, too, was rapidly healing. “Wow.” I sat up smiling. “That’s some gift.”

“One of my favorites.” Blaise nodded. “How’s your flutter?”

I gasped. “Gone!”

“Mine too.” He sat beside me on the mattress and cupped my face. “My feelings for you, however, stronger than ever.”

With a nod, I asked quietly, “So now what?”

“You want more?” Blaise laughed.

“I mean…next, I guess.” I shrugged. “What do we do?”

“We plan our wedding, Maggie. And we live happily ever after.” He wrapped his arms around me and I settled in against his chest, reveling in the warmth between us. “Is that enough?”

I sighed, blissfully content. “You’re kidding, right? This is more than I ever expected.”