Page 12 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

Of course, that was probably heat speaking.

I’d been attracted to her before I ignited heat, though. The moment I caught the woman’s scent, I’d known exactly what magic was going to connect us the first time I touched her. Heat was instinctual for dragons, and while I lacked most of their instincts, I had enough to know when I’d found the woman meant to be my mate.

Most dragons avoided a bond at all cost, of course. They preferred not to take mates at all. I had understood the desire for freedom, until I met my blood witch.

She wasmine.

There was no way around it.

And even if fate hadn’t intervened, I’d be doing whatever it took to seal a bond with her for her protection. Regardless of fate’s interference, I needed her help to keep my resort running.

My witch slept soundly, despite the flush on her cheeks and the thick scent of her desire in the air. She had one leg on top of the blankets, and the t-shirt she’d taken from my closet had ridden up to the top of her thigh, barely concealing the slickness I could smell from my view.

The dragons had mentioned their mates being in physical pain when they weren’t touching them during heat, but mine seemed completely fine with the distance.

Well, maybe notfine.

But she clearly wasn’t hurting.

Just intensely horny.

Which was obviously preferable to her being in pain.

I’d have to figure out exactly what our version of heat was while we went through it. Though I would’ve rather had a plan and an idea of what to expect, I’d adapt.

The drier buzzed as it finished, and the woman sat up suddenly. Her brown eyes were bright with concern, and sweat glued a few strands of her natural waves to her face.

Her gaze landed on me, then jerked to the door she’d locked with magic.

“It’s still locked,” I said. “I came in through the balcony.”

Dragons couldn’t fly without their mates on their backs, hence their choice to avoid mate bonds. I’d wondered if the sameproblem would affect me—and when I’d plunged from the sky an hour after starting our bond, I had my answer.

Luckily, I’d managed to glide to the balcony.

We’d need to move to a different room. Being trapped on the top floor without being able to get in and out with my wings was going to drive me mad.

She let out a harsh breath and peeled some hair off her face.

Then fanned it.

“Is it always this hot in here?”

“No.”

I considered how to explain what was happening without panicking her. Like most witches, she seemed entirely unprepared for a mate bond or romantic relationship of any kind. The woman had been absolutely stunned when I touched her chin. I was going to have to take things slow with her.

She slipped out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom. When she emerged a few minutes later, she was pulling her own shirt on over her floral bikini.

I didn’t bother trying to stop my cock from responding.

That fucker had been hard since before I touched her in the lobby.

As soon as her top was on, she was fanning her face again. “Do you think that vampire could’ve infected me with something? I feel weird. Also, did you switch my laundry?”

“I did. And it wasn’t the vampire.”

She blinked.