Page 42 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

Nix’s face was dead serious. “I think he has as well. Do you have any idea how amazing you are? Pulling that off… that’s not to be taken lightly, Rowan.”

“Nope.” I smiled, shirt going over my head as I lightened the mood. “I need to be reminded of it regularly—so, thank you!”

Nix turned to me, a bright smile on his face. “Okay, I think we would both benefit from a morning nap. What do you say?”

Before I could even voice my agreement, he was dragging me back to bed, wrapping me up in his arms. I expected him to try something, but true to his words, Nix buried his head in my hair, and we were both dozing off in no time at all.

Nix

After Rowan had been lying in bed with me for a while, I’d fully relaxed, holding her close to me. I’d missed holding on to my mate more than I could say. That hospital bed, while certainly not terrible, was lonely. I’d only been burned a little, after all, and every other part of me had gotten really bored while lying around, doing nothing.

“I just wish Ma healed as quickly and thoroughly as you did.” At Rowan’s dejected words, I peered down at her, my brows furrowing. “I’ve been using that salve as much as I can, making more nearly every day. I know she was burned by dragon fire, though. That’s… well, that’s a lot worse than regular fire. And Ma is older. Her body isn’t as proficient at healing as it once was. I mean, she’s getting back to normal, which is good. Hell, she’s been cursing out the younger dragons I have keeping her in bed. I just⁠—”

“Rowan.” I shifted so that I could look her in the eye, lifting her chin. “You’re doing everything you can. We all see that. It’s okay to be worried, but you need to cut yourself some slack.”

The surprise on her face melted away, and Rowan sagged, resting her head against my chest. She sighed, her breath warm on my chest, then mumbled, “I know. Ugh, I really do. It’s just… hard. I’m so stressed and anxious. I can’t relax. I feel like I should be doing more somehow.”

“The only thing you should be doing is relaxing with me, letting me take your mind off things.” I pulled her up again, kissing her gently. “I’ve heard I’m pretty good at distracting you.”

She smiled, cocking a brow at me. “Oh, really? And who says that?”

Swiftly, I rolled Rowan onto her back, hovering over her as I dusted my lips across hers, whispering, “You did. In fact, you once said that the best distraction from the real world is…”

I kissed her again, dragging my lips down her neck and over her chest, taking her breast in my hand and squeezing. She groaned low, humming and arching into my touch as her eyes rolled closed.

“…getting laid.”

Rowan giggled, eyeing me as I kissed her stomach, reaching for the waistband of her leggings and beginning to roll them down.

“I did not say ‘getting laid.’” She laughed when I yanked her pants off, crawling up her body, winding my touch across her thighs until I was between her legs, ghosting my touch over the waistband of her underwear. “I wouldn’t phrase it that way.”

“Apologies.” I teased her folds, making Rowan’s breath hitch in her chest, her back arching again. “I may be paraphrasing. It was closer to, ‘My mates taking care of me.’”

She hummed, a squeak leaving her as I pressed against her harder, finding her clit underneath the fabric. “That sounds more like it.”

“The only sounds I’m concerned about right now are the ones you make when you come.”

Rowan’s eyes flared wide, her head tilting toward me. I seized the opportunity to kiss her, slipping my hand into her underwear and stroking up and down her slit, loving how wet she was for me.

“Nix,” she moaned, rocking her hips up into my touch. “I really don’t think… Oh, fuck it.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at how quickly she gave in. Rowan was my perfect match, and I fucking adored her.

She grabbed the hem of her shirt, hauling it over her head, and then I did the same with her underwear, taking them off and letting them drop to the floor. I was back in place in seconds, pulled to Rowan’s mouth as I slipped my fingers between her legs once more and explored her slick pussy. As she devoured my mouth, I pushed two fingers inside her, stroking her walls, moving in and out, enjoying the way it made her squirm.

“Oh fuck… Nix…” Rowan was deliciously breathless, and I was on cloud fucking nine. I’d been waiting to do this every day I was in that damned clinic, seeing my mate but unable to do more than steal the odd kiss here and there.

It was no way to live, and I was thrilled to be able to claim her again. She had unfortunately denied my requests to play a little healer and patient.

I moved slowly, purposefully. I wanted this to last. If I’d had to stay in that bed for days, I was going to make up for it with at least a good hour of sex.

Truth be told, I wanted several hours, but after so long without my mate, or even a little self-loving, my stamina wasn’t at its peak.

“Hey.” A familiar voice broke through the haze, and I paused, looking down at Rowan, whose eyes widened. “I was just coming in to check on—Umm, okay. Not what I expected.”

I turned to glance over my shoulder at Orsen as Rowan peeked out from her position under me, her expression glazed and hungry.

“Get over here,” she demanded, holding out a hand toward Orsen.