Page 36 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons

Brax merely grunts, and I close my eyes.

‘Sleep for a bit. We aren’t done, you know,’ Tor murmurs. ‘Nowhere near.’

I should be worried, but I’m too boneless, sated, exhausted.

Mari looks smaller on this massive bed, especially when she curls up, hugging herself in sleep.

‘Where did you find her?’ I ask Brax, noting the bruise on her ankle and frowning a little.

‘Platform 10-RPD,’ he replies as he sits in the nearby chair.

I cock a brow. ‘I thought the doors to the dam face would be too heavy for her to move.’

He lets out a derisive sound. ‘It was, but she managed to open it just enough to slip through. Silly girl had no idea she wasn’t on the ground. Went tearing out into the snow and fell over the railing. Lucky I caught her before she was dinner for one of those giant fish down there.’

I glance at him, not liking how close she’d been to killing herself. ‘She can’t swim either.’

‘Fuck’s sake,’ he snarls more vehemently than is warranted. ‘How do these dumb creatures even survive?’

But I see something else when he glances down at the sleeping girl. He likes her, I realize. He doesn’t want to, but he does. She’s getting under his skin like she got under mine.

It makes me feel a little better about this whole thing.

‘I’m guessing you made sure she had a little scare, first? ‘ I ask. ‘To deter her from trying to leave again?’

His lips twitch. ‘Of course. I dangled her long enough for one of them to almost get her.’ He chuckles. ‘She was frightened as a doe when she saw that fucking thing leap out of the water for her. Serves her right.’

I nod. ‘We’re going to need to keep a close eye on her. She’s got a knack for getting into trouble.’

He rolls his eyes. ‘Maybe we should lock her in our rooms, chain her to the bed until she realizes where her bread is buttered.’

I ignore him, but knowing my friend, he’s probably half serious. ‘How long do you want to let her sleep?’

He glances at his watch. ‘Not long. We’re going to need to do it a few times to make sure it takes.’

I nod, watching him absently stroke her shoulder.

It’s only a few minutes before he nods at me. I shake her awake and she mutters something, batting my hand away.

‘We need to do it again, Mari,’ I tell her, and she frowns, opening her eyes.

‘Again?’

‘Yes, it’ll be on and off for a while.’

‘How long?’

‘Until it’s done,’ Brax answers, parting her thighs.

She looks scared for a minute, but he doesn’t do anything else, just waits until she gives a small nod and moves onto her back.

‘Do what you have to,’ she says in a small voice.

I don’t like her resigned tone at all, but Brax is already lining himself up and easing himself into her.

She gasps, her eyes clenching.

‘Are you okay?’ he sounds almost genuinely concerned.