A couple weeks later, Leanne was adjusting to life at the mansion and really enjoying the company of her new friends.

Cobalt and Arsenic were standing at the back doors, looking out at the hot tub, which currently had a handwritten sign on it.

Royal use only.

Leanne stifled a laugh as she walked up behind them, bathrobe tied tightly around her.

“He can’t do this. The hot tub is for all of us,” Arsenic muttered darkly, running a hand through his dark hair.

“I don’t think the king intends to actually keep it for his use permanently,” Cobalt said, turning around to see Leanne. He gave her a bright smile. “How are you doing this morning, Your Majesty?”

Leanne returned his smile. “Pretty good, as usual.”

Arsenic raised an eyebrow. “So you’re okay with that name now? Zinc told us to be careful with it when you first showed up.”

She nodded. “It’s fine. I don’t really think of myself that way, but if that’s what it takes to be with Zinc, I’m fine with it. We’ll go wherever he needs to go.”

Cobalt eyed her carefully. “What about you?”

“My plans are a little more… flexible. Besides, running a business isn’t nearly as fun as playing around with a royal dragon every day.” She looked over to the stairs and saw Zinc descending, a towel over his arm, blue swim trunks on his powerful body.

He laughed at something Lead said and then looked up, and his eyes met hers.

She bit her lip as heat moved through her. Just a glance shared between them could be so warm and intense.

Zinc said something to Lead, putting a hand on his shoulder, and walked over to where she stood.

Arsenic faced the king, cocking an eyebrow. “So when did you decide you could commandeer the hot tub?”

“It’s a joke,” Zinc said, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips.

“Not funny,” Arsenic said. “We all must have use of it for the cuddling of mates.”

“I hear that,” Cadmium said, walking into the room and sidling up to stand next to him. His long, blond hair swished over his shoulders, and he gave Leanne a dazzling smile. “So I assume you two have plans out there?”

She looked at Zinc, flushing. “I suppose so.”

Cadmium threw up his hands. “I guess Zinc is finally acting like a real king, then. Total tyrant, imposing his will on the peasants below him.”

Zinc sent him a glare. “Oh, yes. Very oppressive.”

Cadmium shrugged. “Using your powers against us, even though we’ve always been so very loyal in serving you.”

“You did let me get kidnapped,” Zinc said, stepping forward with his arms folded, looking powerful.

Cadmium snorted. “I don’t know if I like this new Zinc or not. He’s too… truthful and blunt now that he’s not feeling too sick to fight us.”

Zinc smirked in response and put an arm around Leanne’s shoulder. “True. Not sick anymore. Something you should remember.”

Leanne knew Zinc was truly grateful for everything his friends had done for them, but he also enjoyed returning Cadmium’s frequent teasing now that he had the energy to do so.

“Where are the other mates?” Zinc asked.

Leanne looked to Arsenic and Cobalt for an answer.

Arsenic frowned. “Farrah has taken to watching reality TV with the other mates and Chromium.”

“Ah, true,” Cadmium said. “Chromium has taken to watching that show where people compete for a chance at love, thinking it will give him some sort of edge on finding a mate. Someone should probably tell him it doesn’t count as research.”

“Reality TV is about the least real thing on human TV,” Cobalt said with a sage nod. “I will talk to him, though I do think he just enjoys the entertainment aspect of it. And the girls seem to enjoy his company.”

Arsenic cracked his knuckles. “I’m headed down there now.” He said it as though he were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in facing human giggles if it meant spending some time with his mate.

“See you,” Cobalt said quietly, turning back to look at the hot tub.

“We are going,” Zinc said. “And remember, the hot tub is for royal use only… currently.”

Cobalt gave a simple nod. “I don’t have anyone to use it with anyway.”

“I don’t know,” Cadmium said. “Could be hot for you and Chromium to use it together. We could film it and put it online and—”

A short shove from Cobalt sent Cadmium flying to the side, hitting a chair and knocking it over with a thud.

Leanne burst out in giggles as Cadmium got up, feigning offense, and Zinc opened the back doors and pulled her through them.

“Not that I don’t enjoy my friends’ shenanigans as much as anyone, but right now, I just want time with my mate.”

“I keep expecting you to be sick of me,” she said, following him out to the hot tub and watching him uncover it.

“How could I ever be sick of you? I’ve been waiting for you all my life.” He set aside his towel and put out a hand to help her up into the hot tub. When she reached the top step, he helped her take off her robe and set it on a nearby chair.

She walked down into the waist-deep, steaming water and groaned at how awesome it felt against her skin and muscles as she sank into one of the seats.

“Jets?” Zinc asked, and she shook her head.

“I prefer it to be quiet for now.”

It was a beautiful day at the mansion. Light wind rustled the leaves and grass, and the austere building in front of them blocked out the rest of the world. She leaned back as Zinc took the seat next to her, cuddling close.

“You dragons sure know how to live,” she said, enjoying the moment.

“We do when we aren’t on missions,” he returned.

They’d been in the hot tub quite a few times since she’d arrived at the mansion. Sometimes alone, sometimes with the others, but he’d never before designated it for their use only.

“So what’s with the sign?” she asked, snuggling in against him.

In response, he picked her up in his arms and pulled her onto his lap. He leaned down to nibble her ear. “I can’t very well do this to you if they’re around, can I?”

She twisted her ear away from him, laughing. “They could be watching.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, leaning back but keeping her against him. “Either way, I thought it was funny, but I also just wanted some time alone. I like my friends and I like being in the mansion, but the truth is sometimes I miss the dungeon.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Where you were dying?”

“I guess because we were in our own little world. Nothing intruding. No other duties, no one bothering us like they do here or on Drakkaris.”

She laughed, rubbing a hand over his chest and shoulder, loving the feel of his muscles there. “Hopefully, when the honeymoon feeling is over, you’ll be a little less possessive.”

“I don’t think so,” he said. “You’re mine, and I’ll always want all your time. I’ll always wish we could just be on our own little planet.”

She looked into his sparkling gray eyes and felt her soul light up. “I guess we’ll just have to make it feel like that wherever we go together.” She put a hand up to cup his face, then brought him down for a kiss.

They stayed there with the steam and cool breeze swirling around them until Leanne was the one who wished they could be totally alone so she could do things to her dragon in the hot tub.

Zinc laughed.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you read my mind?”

“Maybe? Not on purpose.” He put up both hands. “Hey, don’t punish me, Princess.”

She splashed him, and he caught her hands, pinning her in place. She loved when he did that. Whenever he held her, he made her feel safe and secure.

“Zinc…” She trailed off, looking into his eyes.

“Leanne.”

Her eyes flicked to the back door. “I mean, it looks like no one’s watching. I think they’re all downstairs.”

Zinc chuckled and waved a hand, and she gasped as she saw a massive wall of metal rise up, blocking the view from the hot tub. He gave her a winning smile.

“See? There we go. Privacy.”

“Ah, tricky dragon.” She giggled as he began to kiss down her shoulder again, starting a searing heat inside her that was so much stronger than any hot tub. Her laugh turned to a moan as his hand grasped her butt possessively, feeling over her curves and pulling her in against him.

“Works for me.” She pressed in as well, her hands moving down the ridges of his abs until she found his hard length.

“You’re so perfect. I love you.” His hand explored between her legs, reaching under her swimsuit as she let out a little squeak. She still couldn’t believe the strength of the sensation he brought her.

“I love you, too, so much,” she replied. And then she couldn’t speak any longer, and he did things to her that made it impossible to do anything but simply lose herself in his love.

On this or any planet, her dragon was out of this world.

* * *

* * *

I hope you enjoyed Zinc and Leanne’s story. If you enjoyed it, I hope you’ll give it a review to help other readers find it.

Thanks again so much for your support! I always know I have the best readers.

Sincerely,

Terry

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Boxed set for Rent-A-Dragon!

To thank you all for being so patient with this release, I decided to release a limited boxed set of my popular Rent-A-Dragon series, with all three books for only .99. Hope you enjoy!

Sample on the next page: