Page 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

BLAKE

When I woke up, sunlight was streaming through the thin curtains, filling the room with a soft glow.

I squinted at the wall clock above the bed and saw it was nearly noon. My heart skipped a beat as panic flared.

My trainer was probably wondering where I was. Finn had to have been texting and calling me nonstop by now.

But then I caught sight of my arm—bandaged—and felt Samuel’s mate mark on my neck.

I took a deep breath, grounding myself. That life—training, Guild missions, Finn’s constant reminders to watch my back—was gone.

And it could never be my life again.

I was tied to a dragon shifter now, bound by something far more powerful than anything the Guild could offer.

For better or worse, I belonged here.

As I lay there, though, doubt crept in. What did I really know about Samuel?

I’d assumed he was a lone dragon, but finding out he was part of a pack changed things.

My mind whirled with questions, but I knew that I’d have to wait. He’d promised we’d talk today.

I forced myself out of bed and into the bathroom to take a shower.

The warmth washed over me, easing some of the tension in my muscles.

When I unwrapped the bandage, I was surprised to see the wound looked nearly a week old.

There was no logical way it could have healed this fast. I’d have to ask Samuel about that, too.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, I caught a whiff of something delicious.

My stomach growled, and I followed the scent down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Samuel stood by the stove, stirring a pot, and the sight of him there, casual and comfortable, brought an unexpected warmth to my chest.

“Good afternoon, sleepyhead,” he teased, not looking up from his cooking. He grinned. “Come on, give your mate a kiss.”

I flushed, a wave of embarrassment and something else, something unfamiliar, rushing through me.

Without even thinking, I moved toward him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Didn’t realize I’d slept this late,” I mumbled, feeling awkward.

He turned to me, his eyes warm as they took me in. “How’s your arm?”

There was genuine concern in his voice, and it took me by surprise.

“Actually, it’s…better. It looks like it’s been healing for days,” I replied, glancing down at it. “Is that because of the, uh, mate mark?”

Samuel nodded, still stirring the pot.

“I transferred some of my life force to help speed up the healing,” he explained.

We moved to the table, and Samuel brought over two bowls of stew, setting one in front of me.

The rich smell made my mouth water, and I dug in without hesitation.

“This is delicious,” I said between bites.

But when I glanced up, I noticed Samuel hadn’t touched his own bowl. He was watching me with a faint smile.

“What?” I demanded.

“I like watching someone enjoy my cooking,” he said, amusement and satisfaction clear in his voice.

My face heated, and I looked down, focusing on the stew.

We fell into a comfortable silence, and for a moment, everything felt almost normal.

But eventually, the questions simmering in my mind grew too loud to ignore.

“So…this pack of yours,” I ventured, looking up at him. “Can you tell me more about them?”

Samuel leaned back, considering my question.

“For a long time, I’d roamed alone, no ties, no connections,” Samuel began. “Then I met Zane, my lead alpha, a few years back. He brought me into his pack. I told him I might leave but he reassured me that it’s fine, that I’ll be always welcome in Sky Stead.”

There was a vulnerability in his expression I hadn’t seen before, and I could tell he was letting me see a side of him he kept hidden.

The realization struck me that he trusted me enough to share this, to show me parts of himself that were usually protected.

I promised myself right then that I’d never betray his trust.

“Must have been…different,” I murmured, searching for the right words. “Being exposed to a pack after so long on your own.”

“It was,” he agreed. “But it reminded me that sometimes, you need someone to watch your back. There’s Zane, he’s married and has two kids. Doyle, his second-in-command, is recently mated.”

He hesitated, his eyes meeting mine. “Some of them might still consider me an outsider but they’re also my family.”

Samuel told me more stories of his pack, about his life, his family. It felt like he was opening a door, inviting me inside.

And as I listened, I found myself wanting to know more. But it felt only fair that I share something in return.

“What about you?” Samuel asked.

“Well, I had Finn,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “My cousin. We grew up together in the Guild. He was the only family I had. The only one I was close to.”

I hesitated, the next words catching in my throat. “It’s strange, but… I don’t think I’ll miss that life.”

Samuel reached across the table, his hand covering mine, grounding me.

“You don’t have to go back to it,” he said, his voice soft yet firm. “You’ll always have a place here. With me.”

The air between us grew thick, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

I leaned forward, drawn to him, and he met me halfway, capturing my lips in a slow, tender kiss. It was different this time.

Less about the heat, more about something deeper, something that wrapped around us both like a binding thread.

Samuel tugged me closer, and I let myself fall into him, into this moment.

I slid onto his lap, every nerve in my body ignited.

This close, I could feel Samuel’s heart beating in time with mine, a steady, grounding rhythm beneath the heat.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer, pressing me flush against him.

The warmth of his breath tickled my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

Samuel leaned in, his lips grazing the sensitive skin just below my ear. I shivered in anticipation.

“Right here,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent warmth flooding through me. “This is where you belong.”

I tangled my hands in his hair, pulling him close.

Our lips met in a kiss that started slow, almost teasing, but quickly deepened, growing more urgent.

I felt his hands slide over my back, one slipping beneath my shirt, his touch searing against my skin.

His fingers traced a line up my spine, each touch drawing me deeper under his spell.

I felt a need I’d never known building inside me, pulling me toward him like a magnet.

The room around us faded as the kiss grew hotter, and suddenly, I didn’t just want him—I needed him.

I tugged at his shirt, pulling it up, our lips only parting for a split second as he helped me slip it off him.

I ran my hands over the hard muscles of his chest, memorizing every line, every curve.

He was a mixture of power and warmth, and he was mine.

Samuel cupped my face in his hands, his gaze locking onto mine, his golden eyes dark with desire.

“Blake,” he murmured, almost reverently, and I felt my heart stutter at the way he said my name.

He leaned forward, pressing soft, open-mouthed kisses down my neck, his hands roaming over my body with a hunger that matched my own.

I leaned into him, feeling the heat radiate from his skin, every inch of him calling to me.

“Samuel,” I murmured, my own voice thick with want.

I pressed closer, feeling his muscles tighten beneath my touch, his body responding to every shift, every movement.

He pulled me even closer, standing up and carrying me effortlessly toward the bedroom.

My pulse raced, anticipation thrumming through me as he laid me down on the bed, following me down, his body warm and solid against mine.

He kissed me again, slower this time, savoring every second, as if he was trying to memorize the taste of me.

I lost myself in the warmth of his mouth, the press of his body against mine.

His hands slipped beneath my shirt, pushing it up, and I lifted my arms, letting him peel it away, our eyes meeting as he took me in, his gaze reverent, almost worshipful.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured, his hands tracing slow, heated paths over my skin.

He leaned down, pressing soft, lingering kisses to my collarbone, my chest, each one leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

I reached for him, pulling him closer, my fingers tracing the muscles of his back, feeling the tension beneath his skin.

He responded instantly, his mouth finding mine again, our kisses deepening, growing hotter, our bodies moving together as the space between us vanished.

Every touch, every breath, pulled me further into him, until I could feel his heartbeat matching mine, his pulse racing against my skin.

In that moment, I let go of everything—my doubts, my fears, the world beyond this room—and gave myself over to him completely.

He was my mate, and I was his, and right now, that was all that mattered.

I unzipped his pants, revealing his thickening dick, my mouth watering at the sight of it.

Hungry for more, I slipped out of his lap and hurriedly took off my pants and boxers.

Samuel pulled out something from the pocket of his jeans—lube. He really did think of everything.

I climbed into his lap again, gripping his shoulders as he applied a generous amount of lube into my ass.

Once he was done, he gripped my hips and entered me. I gasped at the thickness of him.

He went in, slow and easy until he was balls deep in me. Samuel hungrily took my mouth and I responded passionately.

Samuel began thrusting in and out of me, and I began moving in sync with him.

The world slowly fell away until there was only the heat, the closeness, the connection that burned between us.

It didn’t take long for my balls to tighten against my body.

The next time Samuel entered me, I climaxed. Screaming out his name, I coated his abs with my need.

Several thrusts later, Samuel came with a growl, his mouth on the mark on my neck.

I panted against him, our breaths mingling, our hearts slowing.

A realisation dawned on me.

I knew that I’d found something I never thought I’d have—a place I belonged, in his arms, with him, my dragon shifter, my mate.

“Bedroom,” he said, his voice a soft rumble that vibrated through me as he rubbed my back in slow, soothing circles.

I barely had time to process the warmth of his touch before he swept me into his arms, lifting me effortlessly as if I weighed nothing.

I chuckled, about to protest, but the look in his eyes silenced me.

There was something possessive, something tender, in the way he held me.

I melted into his embrace, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me to the bedroom.

Once there, he set me down gently on the bed and climbed in beside me, tucking me close.

I expected round two, my heart racing with anticipation, but instead, he surprised me by simply wrapping his arms and legs around me.

He pulled me into the warm cocoon of his body.

His chest was firm against my back, and he draped his arm over my waist, holding me with a gentle but unyielding strength.

I shifted slightly, relaxing into him, feeling his steady breath on the back of my neck.

“This is good too,” I murmured.

I let out a contented sigh as I leaned back against him, allowing myself to sink into the comfort of his hold.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I responded, letting the warmth of his body seep into me, calming every restless part of me.

Safe in his arms, I felt my eyelids grow heavy, and I nestled closer, feeling a peace I hadn’t known in years.

His fingers traced lazy patterns along my arm and I let out a sigh of contentment.

I felt myself drifting, lulled by the quiet rhythm of his breathing, the steady beat of his heart against my back.