Mated to the Earth Dragon (Elemental Mates 2)

“Food,” she reminded him when he finally pulled back. “And talking.”

Her need for him still made her feel dizzy, and she wanted nothing more than to pull his powerful body over hers—but there were so many things she didn’t know yet.

Damon nodded in agreement, raising a hand to rake it through his wet hair. His shirt was clinging to his chest, which was rising and falling rapidly now.

The sight sent another jolt of desire through Autumn. To think that she’d done that to him...

She wanted to fan herself at the sight, or pull that shirt straight off his muscles again. Instead, she forced herself to turn away, determinedly leading him back into the cozy living area.

Chapter Ten: Damon

The kitchen was well stocked. Even so, after a moment of deliberation, Damon began making grilled cheese. There was, in his opinion, very little that couldn’t be made better by melted cheese—and after the day they’d had, they were both in need of comfort food.

“This is amazing,” Autumn said after the first bite, sighing in deep pleasure.

The dragon within him coiled his tail around himself with satisfaction at providing for his mate.

It’s going to take more than this, he warned his dragon. There are fire dragons out there.

His dragon ignored him, releasing a deep rumble of possessive satisfaction.

Next thing you’ll want to drape her in our treasure.

Inside his mind, his dragon laughed, deep and soft.

Damon smiled ruefully. His dragon was right—that was as much his own desire as that of his dragon.

He wanted to mate Autumn. He wanted to forge an unbreakable bond. And he wanted to decorate her with his gold and jewels.

But that had to wait until the mating. And the mating had to wait until he’d had a chance to explain the shifter world to her.

Perhaps, after her holiday, she’d agree to come back home with him. He wanted to show her the small town where he’d grown up. Hidden in a valley and surroun

ded by mountains, it was a green, peaceful place. Many shifters lived there, united by the dragon’s peace. With a dragon overlooking the settlement, even sheep and wolf shifters could live in peace.

It was a good place. Long ago, his ancestors had built a huge mansion out of stone. They’d carefully tended to the garden, planting flowers and pruning trees. To Damon, it felt like the house itself had become part of the valley, rooted deep in the earth of his home.

There was only one thing missing.

Someone who’d share this home with him. And then, perhaps, in time, another dragonet or two learning how to fly in their garden among the trees that had watched generations of dragons learn how to spread their wings.

“Hey, you okay?” Autumn carefully rested a hand on his arm.

“Sorry, I was just... thinking of home.” He flashed her a quick smile. “I think you’d like it there.”

“Is it a dragon town?”

He shook his head. “A shifter town. When I came into my power, my parents were happy to leave the house to me—they visit every year, but they moved to Europe to stay closer to my mother’s family.”

“A shifter town,” Autumn echoed softly. She smiled a little. “I’d love to see that. It still doesn’t sound real—but I guess if dragons are real, why not werewolves?”

“We don’t actually have a werewolf,” Damon had to admit. “For the most part, they aren’t the type for settling down peacefully in town. Our sheriff’s a dog shifter.”

“As you’d expect.” Autumn laughed. “Let me guess—German Shepherd?”

“Bulldog.”

Autumn beamed.