Mara’s eyes grazed over every inch of me, like they did the day before, and I fought down the urge to smile under her attention. Stripping a little slower, putting on a show for her, I slid off my undershirt and started on my belt and zipper.
Her eyes darted away in false modesty, but I spotted her pupils dilating as she looked back.
She wanted me.
I could just breed her there.
Fill her with my future offspring.
My mouth watered at the thought, but I had to fight it down again. I couldn’t have her thinking I only came out here to take advantage of her; she needed to meet my kingdom.
Still, the desire on her face was delicious.
Stepping forward, I lifted her chin with my curled finger and kissed her.
Mara’s lips were hot and wet from her licking them in frustration. She kissed me back, eager despite both of us knowing we couldn’t do this here. Her fingers skimmed over my pecs and down over my abs and I almost stopped kissing her in surprise.
She was more eager than I’d assumed.
Good.
“We should go.” I pulled back from her when she tried to deepen the kiss. I wanted to leave her dying for more.
“Sure.” Her face was a little pink.
Stepping away, I slid into my shifted form. It was like a sublime stretch, a cracking and popping of bones and joints I didn’t have as a human. When the shift was complete, I hunkered low to the ground and waited for her. It would have been easier to just carry her, but she could have anything she wanted.
Without needing me to ask her to, Mara gathered my human clothes in her arms. It was a thoughtful small gesture that I didn’t usually have to thank people for. She was so perfect.
Cautious, slow, she lifted a leg over my dragon form’s torso and settled in between my shoulder blades. Her arms wrapped warmly around my neck, and it set my body alite. I’d never felt anything like this. She was my fated mate and I understood this, but I’d never expected it to feel so powerful. This was a carrying position that should have held shame for any dragon shifter, and yet I was thrilled to have her on my back.
When she finally felt secure, I lifted us up and away from the forest floor.
She gasped in shock, and I tried to move slowly.
With every breath I could feel her chest pressing in against me and the warmth of her thighs on my back. I couldn’t think about it too much or I’d be flying while visibly half-hard and it was already shameful enough.
We only had a couple of miles of space to close, and there were few clouds in the sky. My wings refracted a spectrum of color onto the ground beneath us, and I wondered if she could see any of it.
Flying was my birthright; it felt more natural than walking.
I couldn’t imagine how she felt, though.
Within minutes, I had pushed us through the magic barrier, and we were landing in Crystal Glass.
“Oh my god!” I heard her gasp as we gently touched down.
I tried to picture it from the view of an outsider, but all I could feel was the warm nostalgia of being home. Every inch, from the castle built into the mountain to the now-small-feeling town full of royal subjects, it all felt so right. I’d only been gone from home for three days, but I must have missed it more than I’d thought.
As she slid off my back, I immediately craved the physical contact again.
Shifting back into my human form, I thanked her as she almost threw my clothing at me. Castle guards came quickly towards us, and I waved them off.
“This place is real.” Mara’s voice was faint and breathless.
“It’s real,” I replied. “My family has ruled this society since the start of recorded history.”
“That’s insane.” she declared. Her eyes were huge, as if she was worried, she wouldn’t be able to gather every last sight.