Page 10

The right corner of his mouth turned up in a wry smile. Rimi would have many adjustments in her life ahead. Hopefully, she would be his mate for the rest of his life. He closed the bathroom door between the bathroom and bedroom.

Turning on the water, he fine-tuned the temperature, thanking the old system of heating water that his staff had reinstalled after everything using technology had failed. He poured a small amount of bath salts into the cascading water and sniffed in appreciation of the soft scent.

“That smells heavenly. I can’t wait to get out of these clothes,” Rimi announced, dragging her shirt over her head.

“Daddy’s job,” Keres told her, pulling the material from her hand and tossing it aside.

“Daddy?” she whispered.

“Yes, Snowflake. Have you heard of Daddy Doms?”

She shook her head so rapidly, he knew she was lying.

“Lying to your Daddy will earn you a spanking.”

As if moving unintentionally, Rimi shielded her bottom with her hands.

“Come, Rimi. Let’s get you in the tub.”

He stepped forward and unzipped her low-slung jeans. Pushing them over her hips, he lowered himself to one knee to draw them down to her ankles. “Lift this foot,” he said, tapping the toe of her right sneaker .

Rimi held onto his shoulders and shifted her weight to follow his directions. In a short time, he had her shoes and pants removed. Rising to his feet, Keres deliberately brushed his body against her curves. He wanted her to get used to being touched. She’d spent too much time alone and scared.

“Good girl. Let’s get these off you,” he suggested, running his index finger under her bra strap. He removed the plain garment before trailing his fingertips over her tummy.

“I’m sorry I don’t have fancy underwear,” she whispered.

“I don’t need itchy lace to make me want you, Snowflake. However, I will be glad to collect some delicates for you if you’d like them,” he assured her.

She hesitated briefly before nodding. “I’d love to have a fancy set.”

“Then, I will make sure you have lingerie to wear.”

Rimi had missed out on so much. He would do his best to provide anything she wished to try.

When she was completely nude, Keres helped Rimi into the tub.

She settled into the fragrant water with a sigh of enjoyment and lowered her eyelids to savor the warmth.

His turn. Keres pulled his T-shirt over his head.

The rustle of his clothing must have reached Rimi, for she opened her eyes to glance at him.

He loved how her eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest. Keres unfastened his jeans and thrust them to the ground to step out of his shoes and the denim fabric.

“You’re going to join me?” she whispered.

“Of course. I don’t want you to fall asleep and slide under the water. Scoot up a bit. I’ll slip in behind you.”

Soon, he cradled her safely against his chest, loving how she relaxed against him.

Her eyes closed in obvious enjoyment. A quiet sound of movement whispered through the closed door between the two rooms. As Keres had anticipated, his staff had discovered he had changed rooms. They were efficiently shifting his belongings to this bedchamber and would leave clean clothing for Rimi as well.

She sat up slightly in alarm, glancing over her shoulder toward the bathroom door. “Who’s out there?”

“My staff are simply bringing us some food and clothing. They will not come in here,” Keres promised.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Would you walk into a room where two dragons bathed without permission?”

She looked at him in shock before shaking her head. “No way.”

“Neither will they. Come here. I need to hold you.” Keres drew her back to his chest, loving how she wiggled against him slightly to get comfortable before softening.

“Will you teach me how to be as ferocious as you?” she whispered.

“No.”

“No?” She twisted to face him.

“I will teach you to defend yourself,” he promised.

Rimi tilted her head as she considered his statement. “Okay. That’s good.”

He helped her recline once again. The sounds next door vanished quickly.

Keres reached for a soft cloth on the edge of the tub.

After dipping it into the water, he added a few drops of a gentle soap and stroked the washcloth over her shoulder and down Rimi’s arm.

She sighed with pleasure and tilted her head, silently inviting him to continue.

With pleasure, he continued to wash his mate. “Close your eyes, Snowflake. Let me wash your face.”

“Can you wash my hair? It’s dirty.”

“Of course. I’ll get that when I’m finished with your bath.”

Keres loved Rimi’s curves. His cock reacted to her closeness and the feel of her skin under his fingertips. Ignoring his desires, Keres focused on his mate. They would have years together to explore each other sexually. He could wait until she had recovered from the long journey.

“Sit up, Little one. Let me wash your back,” he requested.

Rimi stiffened against him, launching herself away from him. “Little? Are you making fun of my size?”

Keres sat up and lifted her easily from the water before turning Rimi to face him. “No, Mate. I love everything about you.” He drew her rigid body forward until she brushed against the proof of his desire. “There is no part of you I don’t desire.”

She stopped struggling. “Then why did you call me Little?”

“Daddies often refer to their matches as being Little. It’s a term of endearment.”

“Oh!”

“Rimi, can you think of one time since I found you that I’ve ever said anything negative about you or your enchanting form?”

“Um, no?”

“Definitely not. Why do you assume I would judge you harshly?”

“I don’t want to tell you. You’ll get mad.”

“Perhaps.” He didn’t deny that possibility.

“About thirty years ago, I was captured by a sapphire dragon. He wasn’t nice about my human form.”

“What did he say?” Keres could hear the anger behind his words and tried to control his expression.

“That even rare creatures needed to make an effort to be attractive. And how cursed he was to find the only fat female dragon in the world.”

Keres turned his head as literal steam exploded from his nostrils. It took him a full minute to get himself under control. “Tell me that bastard is dead.”

“I think so. I was so mad, I kicked him in the nuts. When he leaned forward to cup himself, I let the blade go, and it chopped his head in half. I didn’t wait to make sure he was completely gone. I got out of there.”

“Fuck!” Keres pulled her close to him, squeezing her tightly.

He detested his own species. How could anyone treat a precious creature so poorly?

Deep down inside, he knew. That dragon had been further gone than he had been.

Only someone who’d completely lost their mind could behave like that.

“I’m so sorry, Rimi. I’m also very proud of you. ”

“I won’t kick you in the balls,” she promised.

Controlling his amusement at that vow, he watched her face as he said, “Thank you, Little One.”

“You’re welcome, D—Daddy.”

That earned her a sizzling kiss. With immense effort, Keres dragged himself away from her alluring body. “You’re going to call me that again when you’re recovered and I can reward you,” he told her.

She nodded and smiled. “I can’t wait.”

The minx challenged his self-control through the rest of her bath, shampoo, and snack. Keres loved every minute. He took a second to celebrate finding Rimi. Keres had never considered the possibility of having a female dragon as his mate. Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without her.