Healed by the Earth Dragon Prince: Dragon Shifter Romance (Elemental Dragon Warriors Book 4)

doors. The bed is expansive and covered in only the finest fabrics, soft and lush. I carefully pull back the covers and lay her gently down beneath the blankets.
I scan her clothing, wondering if I should remove it so she may sleep comfortably. However, I remember Varus’s comments about how uncomfortable humans are with nudity. Unlike my people, they prefer to stay clothed.
Even though I think the custom strange, I decide against undressing her and instead crawl into bed beside her sleeping form. She has already spent days resisting our mating bond because she was afraid of the speed at which my people fall in love. I consider how far she has outrun the darkness of her past and know that I must do everything in my power to ensure that she does not regress because of my actions.
I desire more than anything to claim her, but my linaya is sleeping, and I refuse to wake her. If she wants to mate with me, she must be the one to make the first move. She has agreed to be mine. That is enough for now.
Slowly, I curl myself protectively around her smaller form and wrap my arm around her waist. I pull her back against me and bury my nose in her hair, inhaling deeply of her delicate scent.
“Mine,” I whisper against the shell of her ear as I close my eyes and allow myself to drift away.

Chapter 14
Anna
My head is throbbing as I slowly return to awareness. My skin is so warm I must have a fever. Slowly, I open my eyes. Sunlight assaults my vision as I squint against the blinding light. Oh Stars, I feel awful.
I shift, and something tightens around my waist. I freeze, only my eyes glancing around frantically. My mouth drifts open when I notice a scaled, green arm wrapped around me. Something hard presses insistently against my backside, and although I’ve never felt one before, I think I recognize a stav—as the Drakarians call their manhood.
I swallow thickly. Oh, Stars. At least I’m still fully clothed. I blink several times, trying to figure out the best way to untangle myself here. Anger rises, but I suppress it when a foggy memory floats to the front of my mind. I remember making out with Kaj on a balcony. He asked me if I wanted to move to his palace and become his mate. I remember the feel of his mouth on mine and his hands caressing my skin. My brain was swimming in champagne at the time while my body was practically screaming for him to take me right there. I said yes—I remember that part very clearly.
My gaze scans the room. We’re sleeping in what looks like a cabin built by ancient Vikings. The walls are constructed from several thick logs, the wood carved in intricate and beautiful patterns. Tapestries decorate the walls with images of Drakarians in draka form and plush gray rugs line the floor. On the wall directly across from me, a space has been hollowed out and surrounded by large rocks to make a fireplace, the hearth stacked with strange crystals and wood.
Drawing in a deep breath, I slowly turn to face Kaj. His eyes are closed, and he’s still asleep. With his warm body pressed against mine, I inhale a deep breath of his masculine scent, a heady mix of earth and cinnamon.
It would be so easy to just give in to his advances, but I’m afraid of moving too fast. Drakarians don’t do casual relationships. When they mate, it’s forever.
I’m going to ask him to take me back to the Water Clan castle. My friends were planning to stay there for the next several days. I didn’t tell anyone where I’ve gone or even that I was leaving. I’m sure they will worry if we don’t return soon.
He opens his eyes with a sleepy smile. He leans in and places a tender kiss on my forehead as he brushes the hair back from my face. “Good morning, my beautiful mate.”
His golden eyes regard me as if I were the best thing that ever happened to him.
That’s why this conversation is going to be so hard.
I smile nervously. “Kaj, I need you to take me back to the Water Clan castle.”
“But we just got here,” he mutters, scanning my face as his brow furrows deeply. “We have not yet sealed our bond.”
He traces his hand from my shoulder down my arm, then entwines our fingers. He lifts our joined hands to his lips and presses a kiss to the back of my hand. Heat pools deep in my core as his gaze holds mine. His nostrils flare and he growls low in arousal. “I can scent your need, my linaya.”
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. They’re as soft and warm as I remember. He cups the back of my head and pulls me closer as his tongue enters my mouth. The hard ridges stroke against my tongue in a delicious give and take.
I moan as he wraps his other arm tightly around my back and tugs me closer, deepening our kiss. His stav is a hard bar against my thigh, and when he rolls his hips, he shifts until it’s pressed against my folds. The only thing separating us is the thin fabric of my dress.
I want him so badly, but I know we should stop.
I place my palm to his chest and gently push him away. He studies me with a questioning look. “What is wrong, my Anna?”
“I’m sorry, Kaj. I—I can’t do this. We need to return to the Water Clan castle.”
“But you said you were mine.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I had too much of that drink last night and it clouded my judgment. It was a mistake to come here with you.”
He stills. His eyes flash with hurt. With a clenched jaw, he pulls away from me and climbs off the bed. He turns his back to