Page 76 of Feathers and Scales

“That interruption was unexpected,” Daxton said, leaning away with a wide and warming smile.

She gazed down, fiddling with her bra and shirt. Wobbling, she buttoned her pants. Daxton grabbed her hips to help her stand.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

Daxton framed her face with his hands and raised her head until she met his gaze. The joy and possessiveness melted her. She’d given herself over to him with no reservations again, but she felt no regret. But something whispered that she shouldn’t have allowed herself to become so vulnerable.

His eyes searched hers. “Don’t go escaping into your brain, Izzy.”

She frowned.

He chuckled. “I want to eat you up sometimes.”

Sinful impressions floated into her mind from the link. Her, flat on her back, legs open, and his mouth…

Her body quivered. “Daxton.”

His loud laughter hypnotized her. She joined him, endorphins firing in her brain once more.I miss laughing like that.

He sobered, gaze flowing like molten bronze as the dragon stared at her.

“Did you enjoy your flight?” he asked, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

Her eyes stung from the embarrassing amount of happiness bubbling within her. “It was…everything I could have asked for. Thank you, Daxton.”

The pad of his thumb wiped a tear from her eye. “Anytime. My dragon is yours for the taking.”

Elated heat rushed outward from her core.

Daxton clutched her hand and gave it a tug. “Want to fly again?” His determination to give her an enjoyable time chipped at her heart.

She wanted to, but guilt welled up. “But you didn’t…you did not…finish.”

He smiled and pecked her lips. Even that brief contact sent her to the sky.

“I’m turned on as hell, but this was about you,” he said.

She swallowed her nerves and offered him a tentative smile. What would it be like to let him take her? Her body tightened at the idea. But she wasn’t ready, and she appreciated he took care of her needs.

He turned around, showing the shredded shirt covering his back.

She gasped. “Daxton, I didn’t…?”

He followed her stare.

“No, it’s from my shifting. Usually, we will our clothes away instinctively, but that hit me by surprise, so I willed them away a little late. Hasty shifting can lead to material casualties.”

She swallowed a lump. “I want to apologize for losing control. I didn’t mean to blast you with power—only give you a taste.”

“It’s unnecessary.” He caressed her cheek. “We’re both new to this. You didn’t know what would happen. I’m glad it did.” His hand shook as he took it away from her.

“What do you mean?”

He swallowed. “I’ve been scared to shift. That’s the first time I have in a year.”

“A year?”She’d read of dragons becoming uncontrollable or ill if they hadn’t shifted that long. “What happened?”

“Keiran had gathered all the chiefs to our capital for a yearly briefing. It was my first time attending. Being in that room…” He winced. “Surrounded by all the dominant dragons that had disciplined me at one point in my life. I was itching to get out of my skin. I went to the drive-in theater at the border of the Illusion, and I had a singular thought. Scare the moviegoers. Next thing I knew, I was a dragon, unable to shift back.”