Page 105 of The Dragon Warlord

He nuzzles my neck. “I’m not going to be content with just cuddling. I will if you don’t consent—”

“No. I consent. I very, very, very consent.”

He laughs. “All right. It’s time for sleep.”

“Yes, sir. I can’t wait to wake up with you,” I admit.

“Me too, Riv. Me too.”

I know if I want him to continue to think this is a good idea, I have to give him honesty in all things. It’ll show him I’m not some magically bonded slave. We are magically bonded, but I’m not mindless. I’m sure I come off that way because of just how much I love pleasing him.

“Tristan?”

“Yes, Riv?”

“What you did at the end there. That’s what I like most.”

“Me being a possessive alpha dick?”

“You barely broke animalistic that time.” I still ache over how feral he was after he bit me.

“That time?”

Fuck. “Um.”

“River.”

“Okay. You’re not going to like this, but when you bit me that was my favorite time. You prowled around me like you were Hymta.”

Hymta is the pony-sized overprotective family mircat.

I squeeze his arms around me.

“Gods.”

“Please don’t freak out. It was the best day of my life.” He’s freaking out. I know he’s freaking out. Should I leave?

I jump when his fingers brush over his bite on my neck. “I wish I could remember. I hate that I don’t. I love that it was amazing for you.” He presses his lips to it. “And, Riv? I only wish I could regret my mark here. If it can be removed and you want it gone, I’ll force myself to respect that—”

“No. We’re not going there,Alpha,” I say for emphasis.

“Did you just get pushy with me?”

“I did. What are you going to do about it?”

He sucks on his mark to subdue me.

I shouldn’t rile him. I know better than to rile dragon’s blood, but it kills me that he hates himself for something I wanted and love. I can barely push the words out with him using his bite like that, but I want him to know.

“You’re mine, Alpha. I’m not letting you go for all the world.”

* * *

When my eyes popped open this morning, my over-anxious dragon brain wondered if things would be weird. He was nestled into the back of me and then—as if having caught my scent—pressed his lips against my neck. That alone was so incredibly soothing, I let myself sink into the luxury. He let out a pleasant moan and slid his hand over my belly.

“Morning, Riv,” he said with sleep heavy in his voice. Then he poked his thick dragon teeth into my neck, not piercing the skin, only applying enough pressure to liven me with gooseflesh.

My cock perked up and I filled with embarrassment. Is that all it takes? “I should get your breakfast, Warlord,” I said.