Fury of Affliction (Dragonfury 2.0)

Chapter 7

7

F loating inside an air bubble at the bottom of the ocean, Hamersveld tried to lift his head. A no-go. He was too relaxed. Body lax. Magic humming. Muscles and limbs uncooperative, so sated his mind refused to come back online.

Content to stay right where he was, he burrowed deeper, maintaining the connection, determined to stay buried inside his female for as long as possible. Sprawled on top of him, head tucked beneath his chin, knees bent, thighs snug against his hips, Natalie mumbled something incoherent and snuggled closer. He tightened his arms around her, cuddling her back as pleasure rose in the drift.

Gratitude followed, tightening his throat.

Two months without her. Eight weeks plagued by regret. Long days filled with heartache. Longer nights as he went nine rounds with self-loathing, unable to believe he’d let her go. He spent those desperate hours replaying the reasons—her safety first among them.

Selfish to keep her.

Devastating to let her leave.

Most males would’ve gone the selfish route, refusing to release her into the wilds of human society. No matter the pain, he’d put her first, forced her to go, unable cage and keep her. He hadn’t been able to live with the consequences. Then and now. Couldn’t watch her suffer under the yoke of Dragonkind—a culture that was often cruel to women. Especially ones of Natalie’s caliber, a high-energy female with an unprecedented connection to the Meridian.

Plugged directly into the source that nourished all living things, Natalie was unique. A rare pearl hidden in the midst of precious gems.

Males of his kind would kill to meet her, never mind mate her. The fact she trusted him enough to rest easy in his arms humbled him. She should be miles away. Safe from him and the curse of his kind. He’d suffered to make sure it happened, except…

She’d come back. Driven straight into his territory knowing he’d sensed her. Doing the one thing he warned her never to do. And yet here she lay, flying in the face of his need to protect her.

The turn of events baffled him. Her actions made little sense. She should be miles away. Building a good life for herself far from Seattle. Not here, in his arms, lazing about with him on the bottom of the ocean floor.

She needed her ass tanned…and her head examined.

It wasn’t safe. The world he inhabited would use her for its own purposes. Chew her up, then spit her out.

“Stop it,” she whispered, interrupting his turbulent thoughts. “I’m fine. We’re good. Don’t go catastrophizing.”

He frowned. “Catastrophizing? Is that even a word?”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yeah.”

“Then who cares.”

He huffed in amusement.

Setting her small hands on his chest, she pushed upright. Still buried inside her, he hummed and palmed her hips as she settled astride him. With a practiced move, she brushed her hair over her shoulders, gifting him with the sight of her beauty, and looked at him. “You done freaking out?”

“Not freaking out, shaleima .”

She arched a brow in disbelief.

“Okay, maybe a little.” Fascinated by her hair, he fiddled with the ends, exploring the texture, enjoying the softness. Unable to help himself, he gathered it in one hand, tugged the thick mass over one of her shoulders, and wrapped the fiery strands around his fingertips. “Why’d you come back?”

Green eyes riveted to his, she stared at him, giving nothing away.

“Told you not to, baby,” he murmured, fear for her rising. “It’s not safe. I’m not safe for you.”

“That’s a load of bull. You’re the safest place for me to be.”

“Natalie—”

“I left under duress, with fear riding me hard. I didn’t want to go…to leave you… remember?”

His chest tightened. “I remember.”

“The universe works in weird and wonderful ways,” she whispered.

Confused by the cryptic comment, he scowled at her.

Her mouth curved. “Notice anything different about me?”

He opened his mouth to say no. She was as beautiful as ever. Luminous skin. Curvy body. Pretty face. Lovely hair. Gorgeous jade green eyes. A scent dominated by the perfume of water lilies. So fresh and pure as wonderous as the woman who possessed it.

Needing more of it, he breathed her in and froze. His brow furrowed. Something was different. Something had changed. Dragon senses searching for the reason, he stared at her. She waited as magic rose like a wave inside him. Energy-fuse, the magical bond between mates, tightened its grip. Her aura flared. The unique bio-energy she threw off like a beacon nearly blinded him, but he refused to look away, mining the connection, hunting for the truth and?—

“ Hristos. ” Shock battered him, swamping him under a wave of emotion. “You’re…you’re…”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I am.”

Hamersveld opened his mouth.

No sound came out.

He closed it again, then shook his head, battled through the shock, and found his voice. “How? I don’t understand…how?”

“How?” Cupping his cheek, she smiled. “Handsome, we had so much sex that day, you could’ve gotten me pregnant ten times over.”

“That’s not it. That’s not what I mean.”

She stilled atop him. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve tried, Natalie. I’ve tried to have a son for years. Each time the Meridian realigns I take a female to my bed. Twice a year for centuries , hoping it would happen, but it never did,” he said, trying and failing to solve the mystery. “I want children. I want a family. I want someone to call my own. But after so much trying without a single success, I thought…”

He trailed off.

Natalie picked up the slack. “That what—you’re infertile?”

Unable to say it out loud, he nodded.

“You’re not infertile, handsome. You may have been with those other women, but you aren’t with me.”

Her words registered. Acceptance came slower, moving understanding along at a snail’s pace.

Throat so tight he could barely speak, he whispered, “You’re pregnant.”

“One-hundred percent knocked up.”

Knocked up.

Fucking hell.

His mate was pregnant .

Disbelief ravaged him. Elation elbowed it out of the way. Her scent didn’t lie. Neither did her bio-energy. A quick exploration of her lifeforce provided clear evidence. His dragon half sensed it. Smelled it. Accepted it in as true as Hamersveld palmed her hips. Natalie gasped as he flipped her over. The exterior walls of the airlock undulated, sending blue light tumbling across the ocean floor.

A school of fish switched direction. Two hammerhead sharks banked hard, powerful tails pushing saltwater in his direction. Dirt swirled. Pebbles bounced off the bubble as he flattened his hand against her abdomen.

A pulse throbbed deep inside her womb.

Wonder struck. Joy joined the parade, stealing his breath, pushing tears into his eyes. Unable to hold himself upright, Hamersveld folded forward. Cheek pressed to her belly, he nestled in, listening to his child’s heartbeat.

Proof of life.

The most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.

A battered sound left his throat. “ Shaleima …a baby.”

Sliding her hands into his hair, she held him to her. “Yeah, honey…a baby.”

“You came back to gift me with a child. To make me a sire.”

“I came back because I love you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Sharing a baby with you is a bonus.”

His breath hitched.

“Look at me.” Putting on pressure, she tried to pull him away from her belly. “Please, handsome…look at me.”

Tears in his eyes, he nuzzled her belly. Kissing her softly, he resisted her pull, lingering in wonderment. So precious. On her own, Natalie was more than he deserved. Carrying his child, she became everything. Gave him everything. Her love and trust. His purpose and future. She tugged again. He lifted his head, but kept his hand on her skin, claiming the space between her hipbones.

As his gaze met hers, he dropped his guard and let her in. Let her see everything he felt for her.

Her face softened. “Happy?”

“Thank you,” he said, his chest so tight it ached. “Thank you.”

“Love me?” she asked, teasing him to lighten the mood.

“More than you’ll ever know,” he said, embracing heavy emotion, staying in the moment. It was too beautiful to do otherwise. Too important. Too much of everything he’d ever wanted, but believed he’d never have. A female to love. A child to nurture. A family to build. A life to share with those he cared most about in the world. “I love you, Natalie.”

A tear fell from the corner of her eye. “No more talk of me leaving, then.”

He shook his head. “You’re here to stay.”

“I am, so time to take me home.”

“The cabin?”

“Home is wherever you are, Sveld.” Tracing his cheekbone with her fingertips, she nourished him, replenished him, feeding him with her touch. “As long as I’m with you, I’m good.”

He’d make sure of it. Kill and maim, battle his demons and threats from others to ensure she stayed safe, happy, and healthy.

Dipping his head, he kissed her belly, then drifted up her body. A gentle touch to each hipbone. One pressed to the spot between her breasts. Worshiping her. Loving her. Showing her how much as his mouth moved on her. She shifted in welcome beneath him. Humming, he licked over her nipple, sucked on the pebbled peak, then turned his head to bathe the other.

She made a needy sound.

He nipped her gently. Kissed her softly, licking the small sting away. She moaned. Hamersveld growled and increased the pressure. As she arched, he slid his hand between her thighs and played in her slick folds, deepening her pleasure, feeding his own.

“Sveld.”

“Round two, shaleima .” Stroking her clit, he sucked harder. “Gonna love you slow and sweet before I take you home.”

Chasing an orgasm, she cupped the back of his head. “Perfect.”

Wasn’t it, though?

Perfect in every way. The absolute best. More than he ever hoped for, a dream come true, made even better by the fact it was right. Right time. Right place. Right female. Finally. At last. After decades spent alone in the dark, he’d found heaven…and its name, surprising as it seemed, was Natalie.