Page 87 of Plug and Tame

She sighed and rose from her chair, letting the dragon retreat in thick cloudy smoke as she leant against Nathaniel’s chest.

He enveloped her in a tight embrace and did not let go. His fingers tangled in her hair, and she heard him draw a deep, relieved breath. Or maybe it was a sad sigh. She followed suit, trying to calm the residual embers searing her veins.

He didn’t pull away, and he didn’t seem to care about the other diners or hotel staff as he held her. She loved that about him, his steady patience. After a minute, she’d composed herself enough to pull back and give him a smile.

“We can do this,” she said, holding back from adding, “can’t we?”

Nathaniel closed his eyes and tipped his head until his forehead touched hers. “Yes, we can.”

He sounded earnest, but Kira frowned as she sensed a fragmented thought emanate from him. There were no words, only a feeling, but they echoed a terrible sadness that contradicted his outward optimism.

Chapter 30

Magic

Kira

The first morning bell to signal the start of classes had not yet rung when they arrived back at Volmasque Academy. They attracted curious glances from other students as they walked side by side up the school’s drive, but Nathaniel’s only response was to place his warm hand on the small of Kira’s back.

Kira felt a burst of pride at the gesture, and she smiled at him. She wasn’t even annoyed by the leash swinging from her collar anymore, not knowing that once he unclipped it, she would belong to the Poparlins and would never wear a leash again. She was simply glad that it was Nathaniel holding the handle.

He returned her smile, his eyes aglow with warmth. It sent her heart aflutter, helping soothe some of the doubt that had crept in earlier.

She’d watched him attentively on their walk, on alert for any more fragments of thought he might have projected, but she’d detected nothing amiss. Nathaniel halted at the top of the steps and pressed several soft kisses against her neck.

“Everyone’s watching,” she whispered. By everyone, she meant the dozen or so students in uniform sitting on the steps and lawn, enjoying the morning sun before the start of class.

“Are they now?” he asked, his hands running along her waist and up her back as he placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck.

She shivered as she felt the tips of his fangs on her skin. “Don’t tell me you’re going to bite me,” she said, even as she arched her neck to give him better access.

He nibbled gently, causing wicked tingles to streak through her.

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes,” she answered immediately, eliciting a chuckle from him.

He pulled her close, so their bodies fit together and his growing erection pressed into her stomach. “Right here, in front of everyone?”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly.

“Don’t tempt me, pet.”

“Please?” She wrapped her arms around him tightly.

Nathaniel flinched in response, and she released him immediately.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She’d forgotten all about the whip marks her tails had left on his back. Most had been pink and red marks that had faded, but there were several welts from when she’d gotten carried away.

“Don’t be sorry,” he said hoarsely, crushing her against his chest. “I love it. I’ve never been claimed by anyone before.”

“You haven’t?”

“No, pet. You are my first…and my last.”

Kira didn’t know why those words sounded so foreboding.

“Are you going to remove the leash now?” she whispered.