Chapter 111: Tahr
She's killing me slowly and I can't stop thinking about her-her scent, her silky skin, her tight warmth. It all drives me crazy and there is nothing worse than a crazy dragon.
Betty doesn't help. I had to banish her to the human tower because of the angry looks she constantly gives me. I was also afraid she would bash my head in while I slept.
Women!
This last time, I made it a week between visits. Each day was a nightmare. I can't do it again. How can I miss her like this and not love her? And how can she stay away when she professes such love for me?
I'm soaking in a bath when I feel two dragons cross into my realm. I would know Pepper's magic anywhere. The other dragon is closely connected to Bastian. It could be Acasia or Ashrac. I jump from the tub and dry off quickly. Pepper is coming here. What does this mean? Has she come to her senses and decided that her place is with me? Or does she plan to torture me further?
I don't care. She's here and I'm not letting her go.
I watch them fly nearer with Acasia in the lead. This doesn't reassure me. I wait while counting silently in my head. Between each number I tell myself not to do something foolish.
They land and Acasia gives me a hard stare before leaping from the perch and flying away. I'm completely bewildered. Pepper watches Acasia's form grow smaller and I only see that something is very wrong when she turns in my direction.
I shift and leave the perch. "Fly with me, mate, and all will be well," I try to assure her. She will never leave me again. I'm just not stupid enough to say so.
Of course she does the opposite of what I ask. Her magic spikes and she shifts to human. She crumbles and lies on the perch crying. I land, shift, and have her in my arms in mere seconds. I hold her close as I carry her inside. "Tell me what is wrong."
She hiccups. "I hate you."
She doesn't hate me. Enjoys making me miserable, yes; hate, no. I sit down in a large chair and situate her in my lap while her arms remain loosely around my neck and her head against my shoulder. "Okay, why do you hate me?"
Her head tips back so I can see her face. She closes her eyes for a moment and when she opens them her irises are bright yellow. I could float in her eyes for years.
"Wwweee," she takes a deep breath.
I hold my patience. "Yes, we..."
"We're having a baby," she finishes in a rush.
I almost spill her from my lap. "What?"
Red flames dance in her yellow eyes. "You knew this would happen," she whispers forlornly.
I pull her close again as my heart races and pounds until there's a good chance it's going to crash through my chest. We're having a baby. A baby dragon. My son. Emotion swells inside me. Her fists beat against my back and she cries harder.
I'm never letting her go. But, I've learned a lot these past weeks so I'll try persuasion first. "I need you here, Pepper. Hell, I was so close to stealing you. Please, you must stay."
"You... you don't love me," she cries louder.
My heart is there, but something holds back the words. "I care so much."
It's the wrong thing to say.
She twists and before I can stop her, she lands on the floor on her bottom. I try to stand, but she grabs my leg and I end up sprawled beside her. "Stop this at once, Pepper. You can hit and trip me all you want, but you don't need to be landing on the floor. Think of the baby."
"I hate you," she yells again and hits me with her small fists.
What the heck do I do now? I could pitch her over the side of the tower-anything to end her tantrum. With my luck she wouldn't shift to dragon and she would make that beautiful splat that Ashrac wanted to see. So, I sit here, on the floor, and let her strike me.
A baby dragon. I'm going to be a father. The strikes slow and she eventually stops. A slight snore escapes her and I can only smile.
She slumps over my thighs and sleeps.
I carefully stand and carry her to my bed. I have so much to do-a tower to clean, a nest to build, and I must tell my friends. I guess Acasia will tell Bastian. I so want to celebrate and be congratulated for my accomplishment.
I do none of those things. I look at Pepper's tear-stained face and know that I can't leave her. She needs me. I curl around her back with my hands on her lower belly and fall into the first heavy sleep I've had since she left me.
Her fingers are running through my hair when I wake. Yellow flashes in her eyes. My beautiful mate. She leans over and kisses me. She's mine. She's in my bed and she will never leave me again. I run my hands across her skin and feel the magic sizzle between us. I roll to my side and bring her with me. I need to taste her skin and stare at her breasts. They're perfect. She's perfect. She's impatient and pulls my hair while wiggling to get under me. I'm more than willing to give her everything she desires.
I take her in one smooth stroke.
Again, the word perfect captures her completely. I move slowly, loving her warmth and filling her with mine. She meets me thrust for thrust. My balls tighten and with a groan, I release inside her. She's moaning and twisting beneath me as her body quickens and she joins me in an incredible explosion of light.
