Page 79 of Gold Sector

“You were the gold dragon.”

“I was the gold dragon,” he confirms, smiling. “My brother, Onyx, did all the talking. That’s how we usually run our introduction sessions. My sense of smell is stronger in dragon form. And one of my skills is the art of sniffing out lies.”

He moves on the bench, angling himself toward me a little more.

“Your scent overwhelms me, making me question my ability. But I don’t think you’re here to ensnare me, even though you quite clearly have.” His gaze dances across the nest. “And I really want to crawl in there with you, printesa mea. However, I need to know what your rules are.”

“Rules?” I parrot back to him, my voice a little breathless at the thought of him finally joining me in my nest.

Part of me realizes I just made it, yet I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time.

“Knotting you may encourage you to go into heat,” he tells me. “Are you okay with that? Do you feel ready?”

I bite my lip. Am I ready? No. Probably not. But… “I trust you to help me,” I reply. “So, because of that, I think I’m ready. I just don’t really know what to expect. I mean, I’ve seen others…” I don’t finish the statement because I don’t want to think about anyone else.

I only want to think about Oros.

About this.

Aboutus.

“There’s a part of me that’s nervous,” I admit. “But I’m also… excited.” Because I want to feel his tongue again. His hands. His mouth. And I want to explore him, too.

To finally touch his knot.

I’ve seen it in the shower. Saw it while naked on the beach. But I haven’t been able to stroke him. To squeeze him. Totastehim.

I want all those things and more.

“I’ll check in with you the entire time,” he says, his eyes holding mine.

“Okay,” I whisper. I know it’s going to hurt. I’ve heard the screams. But I hope he’ll also make me feel good. Like he did the other day.

“Do you want me to use protection?”

My brow crinkles. “Protection?”

“It’s a pill,” he says. “One that’ll ensure we don’t create a baby. During your heat, I mean.”

“Oh. I… I didn’t know that was possible.”

He smiles. “I’m going to assume there are a few things you don’t know, little diamond. Things I can’t wait to teach you.” His smile dims a bit. “But I need to know how you feel about procreating first.”

“I… I don’t know. I just assumed…”

“That it would be required when you took a mate?” he guesses.

I nod.

“Hmm, that tells me your answer, then,” he says softly. “I’ll use protection. We still need time to develop our bond anyway. And honestly, I don’t think I want to share you just yet.”

“Sh-share me?” My stomach flips at the notion. “I thought?—”

“Share your attention with our little heir,” he interjects, his words instantly soothing me.

Because that was not what I assumed he meant at all.

“Yet another reason to take the pill—you still need time to understand how things work here.” He reaches forward to catch my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.