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

idea. As we go through the meal prep for a dish that reminds me of spaghetti, I find myself smiling more than I have in a long time.
We chat while we finish adding all the ingredients then place the dish in the warmer to finish cooking. “What about dessert?” I tease.
He arches a brow. “Dessert is much easier to prepare, but should not be eaten before the main meal.”
I remember my mom giving the same advice. I guess some customs are universal. “I agree. So, what did you have in mind?”
A grin splits his face. “I believe you will enjoy coliza.”
I hum in acknowledgment. “I’ve never heard of it, but I trust you.”
His smile grows even brighter, baring two rows of sharp fangs. Instead of scaring me, the sight only makes me appreciate how carefully and patiently he treats me. This man is an apex predator on this world, yet he’s so gentle and caring when it comes to me and my comfort.
When the coliza is ready, I realize we’ve made the Drakarian version of chocolate chip cookies. However, I’m hesitant to try them because I don’t want to be disappointed.
He offers me the first one.
Cautiously, I take a small bite. A burst of a taste eerily similar to dark chocolate floods my tongue. I close my eyes and hum in pleasure. I never thought I’d taste this again.

Chapter 17
Kaj
She takes a small bite of coliza and closes her eyes. A sensual hum sounds in the back of her throat, close to the soft moans she made earlier when we were touching. It makes me want to pull her into my arms and capture her mouth with my own. I want to bear her to the ground and taste her sweet nectar on my tongue again as I did earlier.
I want to sheathe myself deep inside her and fill her with my essence, claiming her as my mate.
Swallowing thickly, I force myself to remain still. She does not want to fully mate yet. I must wait for her to make the first move. Though it is difficult, the reward is worth the wait. Normally, I am a patient male. But when she takes another bite of her coliza and a crumb sticks to the edge of her lower lip, I must curl my fingers into my palms as a distraction from the urge to pull her into my arms and seal my mouth over hers.
“Kaj?” She stares up at me curiously.
“Yes?”
“Are you all right?”
I mean to reassure her, but instead, I say, “I’m uncertain.”
Her small brow furrows. “What’s wrong?”
I clear my throat, turning my attention back to our meal. “The food should be thoroughly cooked if you’d like to check on the warmer now.”
She studies me for another moment before turning to the warmer. A smile lights her face when she pulls out our dinner and sets it on the counter. “Ta-da!”
I cock my head to the side. “This is... not translating correctly.”
“It just means you should be impressed with my cooking skills,” she teases.
“You are a fast learner. I already am impressed by everything you do.” I grin.
I’m rewarded with another of her dazzling smiles. She is perfect, my mate. Now, if only I could convince her to be mine.
We take our food to the balcony and watch the rain fall endlessly outside. She takes in the world around her in such wonder. “It must have been difficult living on a ship for so many cycles.”
Sadness flits across her expression. “It was. That’s why I always tried to keep busy with work. It made the days seem to pass by quicker.”
I lean forward. “What made you decide to become a healer?”
“When I was little, I got sick with a virus. I couldn’t even get out of bed because I was so weak. The doctor—Healer, I mean,” she corrects. “She stayed with me, even though I put her at risk of infection. She never gave up on me, and slowly, I got better.” She pauses. “I remember thinking that I wanted to be able to do that someday. It wasn’t just that she healed me; she sat with me, made me laugh... we even played a few games. She didn’t just take care of me, she brought me joy.” She lifts her gaze to mine. “Does that make sense?”
“Yes.”
“What about you?” she asks. “What made you become a Healer?”
“My grandfather was a Healer. I used to follow him everywhere, even to work.” I smile at the distant memory. “Seeing what he was able to do for the ill was inspiring. He was my hero, I suppose. Eventually, he became my teacher and my mentor.”
“Where is he now?”
I lower my gaze to my hands, remembering how I tried so hard to save my family. “He died when the plague swept through our world. He and my sister, only a few days apart.”
“I’m sorry.” She places a hand atop mine. “That must have been devastating.”
Clenching my jaw, I struggle to push down the pain. “I’ve carried the guilt of their passing for a long time.”
“And now?”
I lift my eyes to hers. “I understand that there are some things only the gods can decide, despite the plans that we may make.”
She nods. “I learned that lesson, too. Watching my parents and so many of our crew die when the flu went through the ships, I... I felt so useless.”
I turn my palm up to hers and gently squeeze her hand as her gaze holds mine. “It is hard for a Healer to watch a patient cross from this world to the next. I believe it is because we are taught how to keep people alive, so when we fail, letting them go is like going against all we have ingrained in ourselves.”
Moisture gathers in the corners of her eyes. “Yes. It is.” She sniffs. “I’m sorry, I... shouldn’t be so emotional.”
The first tear escapes her lashes and rolls down her cheek. I reach across and brush it away with