Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Mine,” Sam whispered again as he pulled back enough to nip at Dimitri’s bottom lip.
Dimitri chased after him, trying to steal another kiss, but Sam giggled—he actually fucking giggled. Dimitri pressed more kisses to the corner of his mouth, across his cheek, and to the end of his chin.
“Alright,” Sam said, stopping Dimitri.
He furrowed his brows at Sam. “Alright?”
“Yes. Alright, I’m your mate. You’re never getting rid of me now. We’re going to unravel all the mysteries of the Sousa, I’m going to fix my core, we’re going to be properly bonded, and we’re even going to do that thing.”
“Thing? You mean, sex?”
Sam snorted. “We do that already and we’re great at it. No, I’m talking about the happily-ever-after thing. We’re going to do that.”
“Does that mean we’re going to come up with some sensible ground rules about how and when you can take chances with your life?” Dimitri pressed. It was better to try to sneak it in now that Sam was in a good mood.
His little mate rolled his eyes. “I can learn to be more cautious if you can learn to trust that I have more sense in my head than you give me credit for.”
“Deal.” Dimitri punctuated it with a quick, hard kiss. “Does this also mean that you’re okay with moving to Brazil and living here with me and the rest of the clan?”
Sam’s cackle rang out in the quiet room. “You mean living in a beautiful country in a gorgeous house on a private beach, surrounded by magic, mages, and dragons, while going to bed each night with my sexy mate? Yeah, I think I can manage that.”
Dimitri’s heart sped up, nearly tripping over itself in his chest. His mouth had gone dry as he summoned up the courage to ask one last question. “And do you think it might be possible for you to one day…fall in love with me?”
The smile on Sam’s puffy red lips grew infinitely softer and sweeter. While one arm was wrapped around Dimitri’s neck, Sam smoothed his other hand across Dimitri’s cheek. “I wish I could pinpoint the exact moment when I fell in love with you, but when I look back across all my memories of you, there is no shining act or set of perfect words that tipped me over the edge. It’s like I’ve always loved you. That love has sunk deep into my bones and woven its way into the very fabric of my soul. I love you, Dimitri. You are my dragon, my mate, and I am never letting you go.”
When Rodrigo said people were coming, he didn’t mean next week. The response was almost immediate, in fact. Sam had all of two days to get an idea of where everything was in the ruins—which was laughable, no way he could do that in two days—before he was hit with experts.
Honestly, the speed with which they responded was more than a little exciting. It meant they were as enthusiastic about this place as he was, and Sam really wanted that. Needed it, even.
Dimitri was right at his side as the red dragon landed outside of the Sousa ruins. He was massive, enough to give even Dimitri a run for his money. On his back rode a tall, slender Asian man who waved hello.
“Dimitri! I feel like I just saw you!”
“Same, Ryu!” Dimitri waved back and then said quickly, “That is Abe Ryu, one of the leaders of the Abe Clan, and seriously the best healer they have. He’s part of the reason why King Alric is flying again after being injured for five hundred years.”
Sam let out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s impressive. So I’m getting the big guns, is what you’re saying.”
“That’s what I’m saying. The dragon is Gunter, as you probably guessed. He’s more or less the acknowledged historian for the dragon clans. Brilliant man, if highly distractible.”
Most of the truly brilliant minds were. They spent more time in their heads than in real life. Sam took that as a good sign as well.
The Jaeggi were much more relaxed now that they had a truce in place with the Valerii. They were also, after two days, thawed enough to allow multiple dragons and mages into the ruins. Really, after spending eighty years beating their heads against this particular wall with little to show for it, they were more than glad to welcome in experts. Sam could hardly blame them. They didn’t want a research project, after all.
They wanted a cure.
He was in perfect alignment with them.
Abe Ryu was a dignified gentleman, a silver fox in many ways, and he wore a smile from ear to ear as he approached. He clasped Dimitri’s hand in a strong grip before turning those dark, keen eyes on Sam.
“Ryu, this is Dr. Samuel Hunter, a talented archeologist and my mate,” Dimitri introduced. He sounded like he was bragging.