Galen
I was so pissed when I walked back to the campfire that I felt like I could have split a boulder in half just by looking at it. That is until I heard this tiny sound. It was so low that it took me a second to recognize it but when I did, my heart shattered.
I looked back to where I had left Aleeka on the ground, to see her curled up with her knees to her chest, sobbing. She was trying to be so quiet but I saw her frame shake with every breath. I shouldn’t have been that harsh with her. Damn, I am such an idiot; how could I just throw it in her face like that. She had every right to be suspicious of me, I would have been if the tables had been reversed.
Looking through my pack I found an extra blanket and walked over to her. Kneeling beside her I place the blanket over her beautiful body. “I’m sorry precious, I shouldn’t have done that.”
When I touched her shoulder, she turned and looked up at me. Hearing her crying was one thing but to see her golden eyes wet with tears and her pale cheeks flushed from her sobs, I was hit with such pain in my chest that I almost doubled over. Then she surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck and putting her head on my chest. I held her against me as tightly as I could without hurting her. Picking her up I made my way over to the campfire and nestled down on my own blanket with her in my lap. I held her, rubbing her back until she had cried herself out.
Suddenly she looked up from her place on my chest, looking deep into my eyes, then moving to my neck and inhaling deeply. A few seconds later Aleeka raised her head, confusion clouding her eyes.
“Yes little one, I’m the same as you. Have you never met another dragon before?”, I asked, her eyes widened even more as she shook her head.
“No. I was very young when my father left for the war. He never returned.”, she said softly. “Mother and I stayed hidden in our mountain home until she too passed away. She grieved for my father till her last breath.”
“I have often heard of that in mated pairs. Were you still young when she passed?”
“She held on as long as she could to make sure I could fend for myself. It has been two years now that I have been alone.”, lowering her head as if the tears might come back.
“That will not happen again, you are mine now. I will take care of you.” I put my fingers under her chin to raise her face to mine. Staring into the beautiful golden depths of her eyes, I lowered my lips to gently taste of hers. When I made contact, she let out a tiny squeak of surprise. Slowly, I increased the pressure until her succulent lips opened to me. I lightly let my tongue trace the inside of her bottom lip, and was rewarded with the sweetest sound I had ever heard. At her little moan, a growl of pure masculine approval surged from my chest. I wanted her, to taste her, to feel her writhing under me. I could feel my dragon just under the surface, urging me to take what was mine, to claim her for us both. Moving from her lips, I left a trail down the side of her neck. The scent of her was driving me crazy, her dragon was close too. I lightly nipped where her shoulder met her neck then I felt her hands on my chest pushing me away. When I pulled back it was not desire that greeted me in those glowing eyes but fear.
I let her pull away from me and stand. She backed away with confusion and fear still etched on her face.
“What are you doing to me?”, she whispered as she moved.
“Aleeka, I didn’t mean to frighten you. Come here darling.”, as I stood up, I held my hand out to her but she backed away further.
“No, stay back.”, her eyes wide as she looked at me.
Maybe I had been rougher than I though. She seemed to have been enjoying it, could I have read her that wrong?
“Baby, tell me what’s wrong. Did I hurt you? Talk to me.”, I pleaded with her. The last thing I wanted was her terrified of me.
“I don’t understand…”, she softly answered, “how I feel when you touch me.”
As understanding dawned on me, I walked over to her and this time she held her ground.
“Sweet one, your body is responding to mine. It is preparing for our mating. There is nothing to be afraid of, I promise.”, as I stoked her cheek. For all her fire and spirit, I had forgotten to take into account just how innocent she was. How secluded her life had been.
“How about something to eat, huh? Sound good?”, as I reached for her hand. To say I was happy when she put her delicate, little hand in mine and allowed me to lead her back to the blankets, would be a complete understatement.
“I don’t suppose you have anything else that I could wear, do you?”, she asked with a shy smile on her tender lips. I nodded and dug through my pack to find something.
“I’ll be back in a moment, I’m going to find something for supper. You can change while I’m gone, okay.”
I returned to find her stoking the fire and dressed in the clothes I had given her. I had to hold back a chuckle at the sight of her in my pants and shirt. The poor thing was drowning in my outfit but at least she was dry and warm. When she saw me approach she turned and smiled. I’m still not sure if that smile was for me or for the wild hog I had managed to bring back for supper but I wasn’t about to overthink it.