Donald
When I left Fablestone, Natalie wasn’t even on my radar. She was young and reckless, but now? Now she’s an adult woman and she’s the most incredible one I’ve ever met. I’ve never known anyone who was as brave as her, and I like that.
I like that she saw a need, and she was willing to meet it.
I like that she risked everything for the clan.
Traveling to Storm Dawn may seem like a simple task, but the reality is that it was a dangerous journey for her. Not everyone in the city is welcoming to shifters or their kind. If she had asked the wrong person about me, suspicions would have been raised. She’s lucky she found Ted right away and not someone like the butcher, who doesn’t like strangers, or someone like the banker, who is just a general asshole.
And now we’re kissing, making out like a couple of teenagers who can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other. Wistfulness washes over me as I realize that this is what I’ve been missing: this connection. I didn’t even know that I missed having a woman’s hands on me until now, but something tells me that no other woman could make me feel the way that Natalie makes me feel.
My hands are on her hips, firmly holding her in place. She’s pressed against my body and I can feel her nipples rubbing against me. They’re hard, tiny peaks and I want to pinch and bite them. I want to roll them between my fingers until she moans. I want to lick them until she begs me for more.
“Donald,” she whispers, rubbing against me. She’s a wanton and I love that about her. She’s not holding back. She’s rubbing against me like a contented kitten, like she’s getting everything she needs in this moment, and that satisfies me more than it should.
“Natalie,” I whisper right back, and she giggles, pulling back for a second.
“I can’t believe this.”
“What?”
“I’m kissing you.”
“You aren’t right now,” I pout playfully, pulling her back toward me.
“We should go,” she says.
“We have time for one more kiss.”
I kiss her again, long and slow, taking my time. My hands are on her body and in her hair. There’s no time to make love to her right now, but my body is begging me to.
She is our mate, my dragon whispers to me, and I don’t bother fighting him. Whether you believe in mates or not, whether you believe in true love or not, none of that really matters because you’ll either find someone to love or you won’t.
Right now, I think I have.
I think I’ve found someone who makes me feel like I can be strong when I feel weak. I’ve found someone who can make me feel brave when I feel afraid. I’ve found someone who makes me think that somehow, suddenly, I’m not completely alone in the world.
This is a feeling I want to cling to forever.
She pulls away and this time, her eyes are serious.
“Donald,” she says.
“It’s time,” I agree silently.
“What about Cameron?” She asks.
“What about him?”
“He’s going to come for me in the morning,” she says.
“I’ve got it covered.”
“How?” She asks, and I wink at her.
“Every dragon has his secrets,” I tell her.
“Is that right?”
“Yep.”
We move down the hall. She rushes to keep up with me.
“Where are we going?”
“Here.”
I stop at a room with a heavy door. I move to the keypad beside it and enter a series of numbers before pressing my thumb to a little sensor. I’m a little protective of this room. After a second, the door unlocks, and I push it open. She gasps as she looks inside.
“Donald…what is this place?”
“It’s my treasure room.”
“You’re a dragon living in a cave and you have a secret room of treasure?” Natalie shakes her head. “So stereotypical, but also, so wonderful.”
She walks into the room and gawks at the piles of treasure that fill it. Yeah, I’ve been collecting for awhile. Ten years, to be exact. There are items from all over the world in here. Each time I travel to a new place, I manage to come back with something new that will remind me of the place, but that also holds monetary value.
“What are we doing in this room?”
“We’re going to Dragon Isle,” I tell her. “And we’re planning on taking a bunch of their plants.”
“So? Plants are for everyone. Besides, you’re a dragon, too.”
“I’m not a member of the clan,” I tell her. “And I don’t plan on making enemies. This,” I pick up a heavy gold vase. “Will make a good peace offering for their clan leader.”
She comes over and runs her hands over the engraved vase.
“It’s beautiful. Where did you get it?”
“China,” I tell her.
“When were you in China?” She looks up at me. “I thought you did your medical training and stuff in Africa.”
“I did, but since leaving Fablestone, I haven’t stayed put.”
“You’ve been traveling.”
“A little.”
“No, you haven’t been vacationing,” she realizes. “You’ve been helping people, haven’t you?”
She doesn’t say it like she’s impressed or upset or curious or surprised. She just looks like she’s realizing who I am, what I am.
“It’s kind of what I do, Natalie.”
“You’re a good man, Donald.”
“I’m not a good man.”
“You save a lot of people.”
“I haven’t saved enough.”
“Donald?” She steps forward and presses her hands to my chest. We’re both still naked. I’m going to have to find her something to wear since I destroyed her clothing when I was bandaging her. Now she’s in front of me, broken, bruised, and battered, but still dreaming big with those beautiful, hopeful eyes.
“Natalie.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, baby,” she whispers. “You can’t save everyone. You’re just one dragon, and I…” She presses her lips to mine. “I’m glad I found you.”