Page 23 of Protecting His Treasure

“How badly did I hurt you?”

“The sex… it…”

“I couldn’t stop myself. I tried. Even my beast tried. There was nothing we could do but give in.”

Ugh. Why would he let her talk? “It was…”

“By the time the full moon comes, I’ll try my best to have more control. I swear. I…”

“Hush, and let me talk.”

“I’m heavy.” He moved off of her and pulled her sweaty body into his embrace. She was really going to have to wash the sheets tomorrow. “I was weighing you down.”

“No, you weren’t.” She mustered up the strength to turn over in his arms. She moved to fast. A pain zipped down her thigh, and she groaned before she could stop herself.

“See,” Kaede rushed to say. “I did hurt you. Tell me where it hurts.”

She breathed in deeply, released it slowly, and then said. “If I tell… you where it hurts… are you going to kiss it better?”

“Kissing you was what got us here in the first place.”

“No. I… blame the pie.” She breathed in deeply again and released it slowly. Her breathing was returning to normal.

“Treasure, I’m serious.”

“So am I. That damn pie did this.” She tried to look serious. But a smile broke through. Her mate tried to resist smiling back, but he couldn’t.

Lips slightly, upturned, he told her, “How can you joke about this?”

“Laughter is good for the soul. And, if you would’ve let me talk, I would’ve been able to tell you that I loved what we just did. I don’t fully understand it. And yes, it was a bit weird. But, I enjoyed it. I more than enjoyed it.”

“Seriously?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you, dragon.” Not about this.

“Where are you hurting?”

“I had a cramp. That’s all.”

“Mate, if you’re hurting, tell me.”

“I’m fine.”

Kaede sighed. “I’ve been talking to mated shifters, trying to get a better understanding of the full moon ritual.”

“Oh, I thought it was just something dragons experienced.”

“No. It’s just harder on us. All shifters experience it. Today, I spent hours taking notes and….”

“Wait. So that’s where you were today? I thought you were training?”

“I was. This is a different kind of training.”

Sin grinned. “Naughty training.” She winked.

“Safety training. I need to be able to claim you without hurting you when the full moon takes over me and my beast.”

“I trust you and our beast.”