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“B eing late is not the first impression I wanted to make on your parents.” Kai kept a tight rein on her desire as Aodh finished drying her body after their hasty shower.

Time was ticking, and they would soon be late for the meal at his parents' house. But, even the sense of urgency around them as they prepared to get out of the suite hadn’t stopped Aodh from kneeling before her, setting her thighs on his shoulders as he used his mouth to bring her to another climax against the wall of the shower.

“Trust me, we will make it even if I carry you.” He placed both their damp towels over the wall rack.

“Or the Mckenna.” She moved before the mirror and grabbed the jar of moisturizer to fix the wild mess her nap and their loving had made her hair.

Her naked reflection revealed the four scales now present on her lower abdomen.

As she cupped it, she realized there was a significant firmness to the ordinarily soft swell of her belly.

She smiled as Aodh tracked her touch and orange flames dancing in his gaze and along the markings of the scales that covered him from collarbone to the tops of his feet—save his cock and sac.

“Don’t make me fight my beast for your affection,” Aodh growled as he stepped behind her and kissed her gently on the slope of one shoulder.

“But, he’s so big and strong...and he can fly,” her sultry words came out slow.

Aodh blew rings of white smoke around her.

The heat of the wispy clouds caressed her skin, beaded her nipples, and made the muscles of her core dance.

“But which one of us can make you wet?” Aodh dragged the tip of his finger down the seam of her ass until he touched her damp center, swirling just at the opening.

“Only you,” she moaned and held his darkening gaze in the mirror. Before she could part her thighs and give him the space to press inside, Aodh drew his finger away.

“Aodh,” she yelped from shock as he smacked her ass before he stepped back.

“Don’t you forget it, my curvy love.”

She shifted her body to see the blush blooming on her cheek from his strike, accompanied by the deep dark prints starting to show from his earlier hold. “Even with your lusty marks,” she teased, loving the sight of them.

“Just makes you that much more beautiful. And it makes me want to ensure they don’t fade.” He winked at her and walked out.

Kai smiled at his words. Only Aodh could make her feel desirable as she assessed her large breasts, wide hips, and thick thighs. She shivered and exhaled.

By the time she walked out of the bathroom, Aodh was dressed in his standard dark vest and pants. He’d banked the fire in the hearth. She moved toward the chair that held her tunic top and pants from earlier.

He rose and faced her. “Kai, what do you know of dragon’s gold.”

She frowned as she pulled her pants up over her hips. “What’s that?”

“Dragon’s gold.” He held her gaze.

Kai shrugged and reached for her top on the back of the chair.

“Dragon, I know, and gold, I know, but if putting them together is supposed to mean something, I’ve no clue what you’re talking about.

” She worked the tunic over her head. Once it was settled, she’d flicked her thick mane out of the V-neck collar and fluffed it around her shoulders.

Aodh crossed the space to her as he dug something out of his pocket. When he stood before her, he opened his hand, and in the center of his palm was her father’s ring.

Perplexed, she reached out and took it from its resting place. “Why’d you bring the ring back? I thought the blacksmith would make pieces of your hearth-stone a part of it.”

“Brantley couldn’t.” Aodh pointed a thick finger at the ring. “Apparently, it's dragon’s gold.”

“Dragon’s gold?” She shook her head as she glanced from the man back to the ring. “That doesn’t make sense. It’s just a simple band. I doubt if it’s even worth much.”

Aodh folded his arms over her broad chest, sinewy muscle flexing. “Trust me, mate. Dragon’s gold would be worth a fortune to some. If the myth is true, attempting to possess it for the magical properties has caused wars.”

She shook her head again. “It’s impossible that this is dragon’s gold if my father had it.”

“Where’d he get it from?” Aodh eyed her.

Kai couldn’t say if his stare was suspicious of her or not.

There was a flare of anger in her core. She didn’t like feeling as if the man she cared about didn’t trust her words or was accusing her father of something.

She folded her arms, and the position pushed her breasts higher.

“He didn’t steal it if that’s what you're thinking.”

Heat flared in his eyes as his gaze caressed the cleft of her breasts revealed in the dip of her collar.

She refused to consider her answering heat.

Aodh exhaled, smoke filling the space between them as he lowered his arms. “I’m not saying your father is a thief, Kai. Just trying to get answers.”

“Well, I don’t have any.” She cocked her hip to the side.

“The only thing I can tell you is the rings are heirlooms. My father got them from his mother, who got them from her mother...and maybe her mother before that.” She lifted one shoulder, still unwilling to let go of her attitude.

“We never got to talk much about the rings in great detail. I don’t know if my dad knew more.

They were handed down when someone got married. ”

He nodded and appeared to take her words at face value. “Once you have your shoes on, we’ll go. Maybe my father knows more about the origins of the rings.”

Kai went to the chair so she could slip on her shoes.

Aodh may be satisfied by what she said, but Kai’s words revealed something inside of her that she didn’t realize was hidden in her core: despondency.

She took the rings from her parents after they had passed, wanting to keep the treasure as a symbol of them for her and her sister.

However, a voice echoed inside her that she had no right to them.

Not because her father, if he were alive, would not have eventually given them to her or Morlie, whichever one of them married first, but she wasn’t.

Yes, she had a mate, and by now, she was positive Morlie was mated, but she and Aodh were together because some biological force that drew them to each other told him she was his mate—made her the mother of his unborn child.

No ceremony had been performed to bind them as man and wife until death parted them. That was a commitment her parents had, her grandparents, and their parents...and so forth.

It was probably best that the blacksmith couldn’t add Aodh’s hearth-stone to the gold; wearing it on her finger as a symbol of her and Aodh’s union would be a fraud.

“Mate.” Aodh stepped before her, cupped her cheek, and tipped her chin. “What noise is rushing through your mind?”

She licked her lips, convincing herself that her worry was in her heart, not her thoughts, and Aodh couldn’t access her feelings. “Nothing. Just want some answers, like you.”

Something flickered through his blue-opal gaze, but it happened so fast she could not read it, and his markings and pupils remained flameless—giving nothing away.

“Are you sure?”

She caressed a hand down his sternum briefly to distract him. “Let’s get to your parents' place to get home and play. Maybe you can show me your fire.”

This time, she saw the low, blue embers. “You tempt me to radio my father and shift our evening meal plans to tomorrow.”

“Don’t you dare!” Kai stepped away and then headed toward the stairs. “What would they think of me if we canceled at such late notice? I’m sure your mother has already had food prepared.”

“Cooked. My mother would’ve cooked it all herself.” Aodh followed her down to the lower level.

Kai gasped and rushed forward. “That’s even worse. Come on before we are even later.”

Aodh chuckled as he stepped past her and reached the door. “Are you sure you don’t want the Mckenna to carry you?”

“No. The flight would wreck my hair, and I don’t need to add fright to our tardiness.” Kai breezed out the door he opened and rushed to the stairs.

“You’ll still be beautiful.” Aodh took hold of her hand and strutted beside her, thankfully keeping pace with her shorter strides.

“Be that as it may, I want to make the best impression.” Nerves were causing her heart to pound, and she felt a little queasy. The baby never caused her sickness, so she knew it had to do with knowing she’d be meeting two people important to the Thunder.

Gracious, it was his parents.

Other dragon-shifters crossed their path, heading to the hall for an evening meal or on their way to their dwelling to eat and rest. Each of them offered Mckenna and Aguya greetings. They returned each one with a smile, nod, or verbal affirmation even as they continued their private conversation.

They are just dragon-shifters like everyone else you’ve met. Aodh’s response made her aware she was literally thinking out loud.

No. he is the old Dragon King, and your mother his mate. Aren’t they like Drahk royalty? I saw a library video about old European customs.

Aodh’s chuckle fluttered through her mind. We don’t have royals.

I’m sure it equates to the same thing. When your father or mother walks the territory, I assume your kind respond to them with a measure of respect.

Well, yes. My father will always be honored until he passes.

See. Kai declared.

Aodh squeezed her hand. “Love, do not stress yourself. I promise tonight will be fine.”

She glanced up at him and felt his stalwart strength beside her. She wasn’t doing this alone.

“Okay. I will try to keep calm.” She placed a hand on her stomach, hoping to steady her emotions for the baby she carried.

It took them longer than Kai thought it would to reach the home that sat just within the boundaries of the center of the territory but still far enough away to offer space and solitude.