Matthew
Jessica hasn’t been herself the last few days, and I’m worried it’s my fault. I haven’t been there for her as much as I should have been. I haven’t been the supportive, caring man she needs. Instead, I’ve been overwhelmed with learning how to be a father and figuring out how my new job is going to work. I haven’t been paying her as much attention as she needs, and I can see the stress she’s been feeling.
It wasn’t until Jessica went for her flight tonight that I realized she felt unwanted.
Brooke was actually the one who pointed out. The fact that my six-year-old daughter had to tell me how to be a mate is embarrassing enough, but knowing that Jessica was hurting and I had no idea is devastating to me.
She’s going to fly. Jessica only goes to fly at night when she’s feeling sad. Why is Jessica sad, Daddy?
It hit me like a ton of bricks. Jessica and I have been intimate. We’ve kissed and touched and explored, but we haven’t truly bonded to each other the way a dragon is supposed to. We haven’t had that moment of intimacy where we feel our hearts merge into one.
We haven’t because I’ve had so many other things to do that I’ve neglected the most important person I’ve ever met in my life. I haven’t been there for Jessica, and that breaks my heart. I know tonight isn’t going to erase the pain I’ve caused her, but I plan to spend the rest of my life making things up to her.
I plan to spend the rest of my life worshipping her body, taking care of her, loving her.
I’m going to spend the rest of my life adoring her.
Luckily, my parents were overjoyed at the request to babysit Brooke on short notice. My mother actually squealed with delight when she found out she was going to get to spoil her granddaughter for an entire night. Even though I’ve only been a father for a short time, I’m already worried about how much sugar my mother is going to shove into the little dragon child.
Whether or not my mother gives my child cavities tonight, I’m lucky that Brooke is safe and protected and cared for this evening while I make sure that Jessica is also safe and protected and cared for.
I carry Jessica into the jungles of Dragon Isle. This area is really more of a forest, actually, while the areas in the center of the island are solidly jungle. There are some places on Dragon Isle you can only access if you fly, which is one of the most wonderful things about being a dragon here, of all places. When you’re a dragon on Dragon Isle, you can fly anywhere you like. Other shifters aren’t banned from living on the island, but this haven was created specifically for dragons. Some shifters on the island live off in caves in the middle of the jungle, while others have built incredible mansions on different parts of the island.
Tonight, I’m going to show Jessica just how wonderful being mated to a dragon can really by.
Tonight, I’m going to show her she’s mine.
Now and forever.
“Where are you taking me?” She whispers.
“You’ll see.”
“How very mysterious.”
“Jessica, you’re important to me. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know, Matthew.”
“I feel like I really let you down this week.”
She shakes her head. “It’s okay, Matthew. You don’t need to feel bad.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, love. I shouldn’t have gotten distracted. I should have put you first. Instead, I was thinking about work and moving and all of these other things, and I forget about the most important thing of all.”
“What’s that?” She whispers, and I look down at Jessica. I’m still walking deeper into the woods, but despite the darkness, I can clearly see her face. One of the perks of shifter-sight, I suppose. I can see the way she looks up at me with hope in her face, with light in her eyes. She’s the most beautiful, most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.
I can’t wait to show her exactly how I feel.
“How you’re the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me, Jessica. I never thought mates were real, and even if they were, I never thought I’d find one. You proved me wrong, baby. You proved me wrong.”
I stop walking, and she peeks to see where we are.
“Oh, Matthew,” she whispers.
We’re in the center of a clearing. There’s a large blanket spread over the soft grass, along with a bottle of wine and several pillows.
“What is all this?” She asks, and I lay her down in the center of the blanket. She’s still naked from her flight, still completely bare, and she looks more beautiful than she ever has in her life.
“Jessica,” I whisper, kneeling beside her. “I may not be the best man in the world. I’ve already made many mistakes, and I promise you I’ll make many more, but I will always try. I will try to get better, try to improve, and try to impress you every day of your life. You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, and you make me want to be a better man. I don’t promise things will always be smooth or easy for us, baby. I can’t promise you that, but I can promise you that no matter what happens, I will always be there for you. I will always take care of you, and I will always love you. Jessica, will you be my mate?”
I can smell her tears before I see them, but she nods her head as she looks up at me.
“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes, of course, Matthew. Of course.”
She reaches for me, and I pull Jessica back into my arms. I wrap myself around her and I just hold her for a very long time.
This.
This moment is what being true mates is all about.
This moment is what having someone to love and to cherish is all about.
It’s not about the ceremony or the social prestige or impressing people.
It’s about taking care of someone very special for the rest of your life.
It’s about loving someone so completely that it hurts.
She looks up at me and kisses me, and I kiss Jessica back eagerly, hopefully. I kiss her with the fervor of a man who has made mistakes, but who knows he’s being given a second chance. I kiss her like I’m not going to screw this up a second time because I’m not. Jessica is incredible, and I know I don’t deserve her love, but I’m going to try to earn it anyway I can because she’s the most amazing dragon on the entire damn island.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you, Matthew.”