Chapter 11 #2
They reached the willow tree near the lake, and he gestured toward it. “Here’s a well-placed spot with some sun, but we can also easily move under the willow branches for shade, if needed. There is also a large area next to it for my surprise.”
Grace’s gaze moved to his. Unlike with most other people, he didn’t feel the urge to look away.
She raised her eyebrows. “Surprise? What kind of surprise?”
“One you’ll like, I think. Let’s set everything up, ensure the boys are dry and fed, and I’ll show you.”
He quickly unpacked the blanket and little supportive pillows for the boys, and lifted Eli out of the pram since Eddie had shown a recent preference for Grace.
Once he placed Eli in his supportive pillow and Grace did the same for Eddie, he retreated from the blanket and cleared his throat. “Do you want me to show you my surprise?”
As she settled between the twins, she nodded. “Of course. You always seem to know exactly what I want, Trahern. It’s lovely.”
At her soft tone and gaze, his heart warmed a little. Only because he’d learned to tame his desire a little over the past weeks did he not get an erection.
His dragon snorted. Eventually, it will be useful.
Ignoring his beast, he replied to Grace, “I want to show you my dragon.”
“Really, Trahern?” Her tone had risen a little, meaning she was probably excited.
“Yes.” He debated ending it there, but remembered his vow of honesty. “I’ve been working on shifting with my dragon. It’s not as difficult as before.”
She beamed at him, making his heart skip a beat. “Then show us, Trahern. Eddie and Eli have never seen someone shift, and I’m glad the first one is you.”
Removing his glasses, he held them out, and Grace took them. The vision in his right eye was perfect, but his left one was blurry. Together, they blurred everything a little.
Still, this was one of the places he’d used to practice shifting with his dragon, so he moved confidently, to about ten feet away. With his back to Grace, he stated, “I must take off my clothes. You can close your eyes, and I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
“No. I want to watch you.”
Her words sent a rush of heat through his body, which confounded him. Dragon-shifters, and especially doctors, didn’t view nudity as anything special. But apparently, imagining Grace’s eyes on him made it much harder to keep his penis from reacting.
Doing his best to recite complex formulas in his head, Trahern removed his clothing—folding it into a pile as he went—and then turned toward Grace. He couldn’t make out her features without his glasses, until he closed his left eye.
Her gaze traveled his body, focusing on his genitals. Before she reacted either positively or negatively, he closed his remaining eye and spoke to his dragon. I’m ready.
It’d taken a lot of practice, but Trahern allowed his dragon to the forefront of his mind as he retreated to the back.
Within seconds, he could feel his nose elongating to a snout, wings growing from his back, and his arms and legs morphing into limbs, and his nails into talons, until he was fully shifted.
His dragon opened its eyes, zeroed in on Grace, and waited to see how she reacted.
Grace had been told repeatedly that dragon-shifters didn’t view nudity as strange or unusual and was just a part of life. She’d tried to adopt that mindset as Trahern undressed, but as he removed his trousers and revealed a firm arse, heat flooded her body.
Even watching him fold his clothing made her smile. But once he faced her, revealing his front, her mouth went dry and every other thought left her head.
He wasn’t as heavily muscled as some of the dragonmen—he was leaner.
And yet, his solid chest covered with a sprinkling of dark hair, along with his firm arms and broad shoulders, made her skin even warmer.
She should’ve stopped there, but hadn’t been able to resist darting a glance at his cock.
While mostly flaccid, it was long and thick, and she could only imagine what it’d feel to have that inside of her.
After all, Trahern was thorough with everything. He was bound to be with sex as well.
What are you doing? Stop it. Trahern barely tolerated kissing and touching. His one near-sexual experience, from what she’d gathered, had been terrifying and embarrassing.
He might not wish to go all the way, although Grace rather hoped he would someday.
Thankfully, his body glowed faintly and started to change shape, distracting her, and she gasped as he morphed and grew, until he was a tall, majestic green dragon.
He slowly opened his wings behind him, the sunlight shining through them slightly, and her jaw dropped. The green beast looked like something from a fantasy painting or book cover.
Then the dragon tilted his head and blinked at her, and she found her voice. “Eli, Eddie, look at Trahern’s dragon form. Isn’t he bloody amazing?”
Both of her boys stared at the dragon, and she wished she could lift them both at the same time to give them a closer look.
However, before showing either of her boys, Grace wanted to touch Trahern’s scales. Maybe scratch behind the ear, as Dawn and the others had told her to do.
After ensuring the twins were secure and wouldn’t be able to roll or wiggle out of their supportive pillows, she stood and walked toward Trahern. His dragon lowered his head just as she reached him, and Grace extended a hand. “I want to pet you. Can I?”
The dragon nodded, and she ran her fingers over his snout.
Green scales glinted in the sun, and were warm and smooth, like polished leather.
The dragon started to hum, and she smiled.
“If you like that, then you should like this better, I think.” She moved until she could see the dragon’s ear.
“Lower your head a little more, please.”
The dragon complied, and Grace found the little patch of skin behind the ear where there weren’t any scales. She scratched her nails lightly, and the dragon’s humming increased. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw her boys were still watching with big eyes.
Even though she wanted more time to explore Trahern’s dragon form, she couldn’t hog him all to herself. So she said, “I’m going to bring Eddie and Eli over one at a time. They should see you up close, too.”
The dragon nodded, and she reluctantly removed her hand but not before giving the snout a quick pat and smiling at the single dragon eye she could see.
After trying to read his expression and failing, Grace finally turned and went to fetch Eddie first, who was the most animated she’d seen to date.
Having Grace’s fingers scratch behind Trahern’s ear had been pure bliss, for both man and beast.
His dragon hummed as they watched her pick up Eddie. I want her to pet me again. We need to shift more often for our mate.
Before Grace, Trahern never would’ve desired changing forms often. It’d always been a battle, one he’d been afraid to lose, and had worried he might turn rogue.
However, the earlier fears and nervousness had faded significantly. His dragon was happy, and Trahern nearly trusted him.
His beast said softly, You will trust me soon. I was young before, and impatient.
And I was damaged and afraid.
Together, we fucked up badly.
Yes, but Grace and the boys have forced us to work together. And I’m…glad.
Me, too.
For the first time in his life, Trahern appreciated the second personality inside his head. He and his dragon almost felt like…friends.
His beast grunted. We are friends.
Trahern wanted to believe his beast, to trust him completely.
But he wasn’t quite there yet.
However, before he could think of how to reply, Grace stood in front of them again, with Eddie in her arms. The little boy stared up with big eyes and reached a hand toward his face.
His dragon lowered his head until the boy could lightly slap his hand against their snout.
Grace said, “Be gentle, Eddie. Don’t hit the dragon. Pet him. Like this.”
As his female’s fingers stroked his snout again, both man and beast hummed.
The sound didn’t frighten the female or the boy. Instead, Eddie started to babble as his mother helped him pet his dragon’s snout.
Something shifted in Trahern’s heart at the sight. He’d worried about not being able to help the twins as they grew up. Worried that he couldn’t help them with understanding inner dragons. Or be able to teach them how to defend themselves against bullies.
And yet, as the little hand stroked his scales, Trahern knew he’d do whatever it took to protect Eddie and Eli.
And Grace.
No matter what Trahern had to face or overcome, he’d do it for them. They needed him, and he would step up.
His dragon spoke up. Of course we will. I have faith in you.
The words made Trahern a little more hopeful about the future he wanted.
One where he could kiss and claim his mate whenever he wished.
One where Eddie and Eli might even have a sibling.
One where Trahern would be the opposite of his father and treasure the precious boys instead of trying to change them with pain and fear.
Grace kissed his snout and whispered, “Let me get Eli now. Then you can shift back, and I’ll kiss you for real.”
He watched his mate as she retrieved their other son. As she bent over, need rushed through him.
He wanted to see her naked, too. And he wanted to try and do more than kiss her mouth.
Some of the taunts from his younger days, right after he’d been humiliated with that female, tried to rush forth. However, he pushed them back.
Grace was different. Hell, he was different.
And he was determined to lose his virginity soon. Very soon.