Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“Yes, it does.” He squared his shoulders again. “You had a body the size of a large SUV and your wingspan has to be at least twice that. You also have very large teeth. Did you know that? I’m pretty sure one big bite and I’d be a goner. Yes, I was terribly frightened and very brave and I made lots of notes. See? I deserve my reward.”
This conversation had gone completely off the rails, but I couldn’t back down now.
“You understood what I was communicating. I stayed very still. And you would’ve gotten out a measuring tape if you’d thought of it, so that’s not fear.” The best part of the whole nonsense was his eyes going wide with the tape measure comment.
“I should’ve thought of that.” The fact that he was serious had me fighting the urge to smile and shake my head. “Next time. Yes. I have one around here.”
When he realized how off track he’d gotten, he huffed and went back to mirroring my stance. “That’s not what we’re discussing, though. I get to kiss you and that’s final.”
Adorable.
“Fine.” Leaning in, I puckered my lips just to see what he would do.
“No.” It seemed that Stefan had found some of his gumption because he huffed and glared more firmly. “That’s not what I want. You said I could kiss you but you didn’t say where.”
Oh, we’d taken an interesting turn somewhere in the conversation, but I did my best to keep my delight under wraps as I straightened and glared. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. You’re taking liberties here, naughty boy.”
There was no way to hide the shiver that raced through him, but he did his best to pretend he was still frustrated with me. “You should’ve made your intentions clearer. That’s not my fault. I was even taking notes. There were no qualifiers given.”
Technically, he was right.
And he probably had been taking notes based on how tightly he was holding onto his little notebook.
“The qualifiers were understood.” I’d assumed we’d be keeping things on the more innocent side of the relationship spectrum, so it hadn’t occurred to me to make explicit qualifiers.
He raised one eyebrow like I’d said I’d lost a library book. “They were not.”
Whatever he was thinking had him working at the confident attitude because I could see him take another breath. “I will, however, capitulate to your limits. Please elaborate on what they would be under these circumstances.”
Oh, asking for my limits.
Curious to see where it would lead, I nodded and gave him my actual limits. “I have no issue with nudity or being touched by you. I do not want to get naked in your front yard, though. I am not at the point where penetrative sex is something I’m ready for. I also do not appreciate pain above and beyond low-level nipple pinching. No CBT.”
That just made me flat out uncomfortable and it wasn’t even something I’d do to a sub.
“This does bring up a good point, however. I will send you my full limits list later this evening and I will send you a link to a blank form so that you can start working on yours.” I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he’d done his best to keep his mouth from dropping open.
“I’ve been tested since my last partner but there are very few things that I could pass to you because of the shifting. That’s something we can discuss in more detail once you have another list of questions written out.”
I knew that was coming, so I didn’t even smile when he nodded.
“Yes, that’s thoughtful of you. Thank you.” He didn’t let himself get distracted for long, though. “I have also been tested and I’m negative for anything that a human would be concerned about. But that does bring up a possibly illogical question.”
I thought I knew what he was going to ask but I didn’t interrupt as he processed his thoughts and cocked his head. “I can’t catch being a dragon through bodily fluids, can I? That might not be the right way to say it, but I don’t want to unexpectedly end up a dragon.”
He didn’t want to end up one unexpectedly?
Nope.
Not asking yet.
“No, that is not something you need to worry about.” Stomach acid was strong shit, but even if it wasn’t, that wouldn’t be something he needed to be concerned about. “There is a mix of biology and magic involved with shifting.”
“Good. Good.” He nodded to himself, completely forgetting that he was still supposed to be glaring at me. “Some things need to be planned out.”
I couldn’t decide if he was adorable or insane.
“I agree.” Both. Definitely both. “Some things shouldn’t be rushed into.”
To prove a point or to answer a question…but I wasn’t sure if either of them was right. I also wasn’t sure if asking at that moment would be a good idea.