Mated to the Earth Dragon (Elemental Mates 2)

“Our doctor’s a crocodile shifter.” Damon grinned when Autumn’s lips parted in surprise. “I know, sounds weird, but wait until you meet her. You’d like her. She’s quite fierce—a no-nonsense woman who could’ve long since retired, but no one tells her what to do. She’s a real asset to the community. And we’ve put up warning signs at our lake, just in case a tourist gets lost.”

“I’m still not sure if you’re joking or if this is all real,” Autumn said, her voice faint. “But I guess I’ll find out?”

“You will,” Damon said firmly. “Once my friends arrive and we’ve dealt with those fire dragons, and once you’ve seen your friend. If you’ve got a few days to spare, I want to show you my home.”

He imagined that it was all a lot to take in for a human—but surely, once she saw Dragon Springs, his small hometown with the community of shifters that were a second family to him, she’d realize that they weren’t so different.

“I’d love that,” Autumn said with audible longing in her voice. “I’ve always wanted to travel and see exciting things—I didn’t know then that I wouldn’t even have to leave the country to get to see a dragon’s home.”

The dragon inside Damon was already happily running through a list of his most prized jewels, wondering what first to gift her. The diamond tiara his great-great-grandmother, a dragon and a duchess, had worn at her wedding? The sapphire Damon himself had found during one of his retreats into the mountains? The simple bracelet of gold that was the first jewelry he’d been given for his hoard as a tiny dragonet?

Autumn had turned away from him to look out of the window.

Sunlight glinted on the lake. The ponies that had grazed in the distance had wandered closer, and Autumn made a delighted sound when one of the ponies looked up and shook its mane. Then the entire herd broke into a gallop and came racing into their direction, manes flying and hooves thundering.

Damon joined Autumn by the window. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and she immediately leaned back against his chest with a sigh. Her eyes were still on the half-wild herd of ponies.

The sight was glorious, the dragon within Damon spreading his own wings as he thought of the joy of soaring through clouds, wild and free. But for the first time in his life, Damon paid him no attention. He’d found something even better than a dragon’s freedom.

And he had it right here in his arms. Autumn was warm and soft against him, and he couldn’t resist pressing a kiss to her nape.

“Mmm,” Autumn sighed in pleasure. “I want to go out and say hello to the ponies...”

“We could,” Damon said huskily, making no move to release her.

“But I also want to stay inside with you all day,” she murmured, the same heat in her voice that was already rushing through Damon’s blood once more.

Now that he’d found his mate, all of his dragon’s instinct were focused on the mating.

They could even do it right here. If Autumn was willing, it wouldn’t matter that he had none of his hoard to truly claim her. The bracelet or one of the rings he wore would suffice, and he’d spread her thighs and kiss her until her thighs trembled, making her come for him again and again until the room was filled with his gorgeous mate’s sounds of pleasure...

Autumn shivered against him, the fragile bond between them vibrating with heat. Damon was rock-hard already, his erection aching as it pressed unmistakably against her hip.

His lips trailed up her throat as she moaned and tilted her head to give him access. A moment later, his hand slowly trailed up her side, cupping one of her generous breasts as she sighed and pressed against him.

His dragon was on fire. His body was on fire.

And Damon Drago, the most sensible and down-to-earth council member, who’d never made a rash decision in his life, was overwhelmed by the all-consuming desire that had spread tendrils of heat through his body.

A groan escaped him as he touched the tip of his tongue to her throat, tasting the salt of her skin. His shaft throbbed in his trousers, painfully hard.

And then there was a loud whinny outside, filled with such terror that all desire drained from his blood.

A heartbeat later he felt it, even before he’d had time to look up.

Dragon. Fire dragon.

The awareness pulsed through him, his dragon’s rage at being attacked mixing with the overwhelming need to keep his mate safe.

Autumn had frozen against him. They were both staring out of the window, where the herd of ponies was now racing past their cabin with eyes rolling with fear. And there, in the sky, distant specs had appeared, which were rapidly coming closer.

“Are those... your friends?” Autumn asked, her voice trembling.

“Fire dragons.” Damon tightened his arm around her in reassurance.

His dragon, outraged at being continuously attacked, wanted to meet them in the sky, ending this threat to his mate once and for all.

But at the same time the instinct to protect his mate was too strong. He knew that he couldn’t bear leaving her here all alone, without a protector.