Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
The reaction of all the mates made Rimi pause. Why had they all turned red? Maybe she needed to read these books as well. “Would you recommend some for me?”
“Of course,” Ciel said and everyone giggled.
“Ciel is a writer,” Aurora shared.
“I’d love to read something you created,” Rimi said and scanned the group as their mates laughed again. And what was that expression on the dragon shifters’ faces? Something was definitely up. She couldn’t wait to read Ciel’s stories and their other suggestions.
“Who would like to hunt with Slate next week?” Keres asked, changing the subject when the conversation lagged.
“Hunt? A baby can’t hunt,” Lalani cried out in concern.
“His baby stage ended the day after he was born,” Khadar told her. “Dragons grow up fast. Count me in, Keres.”
The others indicated they would join as well. It was an important step for the young dragon. Keres nodded his thanks to each member of his horde.
“Would the mates like to join Rimi for a luncheon? She would love to have company, I am sure,” Keres added.
“Doesn’t she go hunting?” Ciel asked.
“This is a male-only expedition.” Keres laid down the law, ignoring the fumes of anger that rippled toward him from not only his dragon-shifter mate, but the other mates. His gaze met Brooks’s, and he quickly clarified, “Male dragon only, I should say.”
“Of course,” Brooks said after checking in with Rogan. “I would love to keep you company, Rimi. I will be here.”
The other mates chimed in quickly. No one would make the mother stay by herself as her baby went out into the world for the first time. Even if that baby had sharp teeth, dangerous talons, and fiery breath.
“It’s okay, Rimi. I will stay by Slate’s side. He’s already mastered flying and how to dispatch prey. This is simply the next step,” Keres told her.
“It’s a huge, bounding leap into adulthood, Keres!” She hugged Rumble to her chest and glanced toward the bedroom door. Slate had his own room in the next wing. He preferred to be away from his parents at night. Rimi knew he snuck out to explore. It wouldn’t be too long before he left to find his own horde.
“Slate will be fine,” Keres told her. “I wouldn’t arrange this hunt if he wasn’t. Trust me?”
“Of course, but couldn’t I go, too?”
“No, Snowflake. No women allowed.”
He wouldn’t budge. Arrggh! This was so unfair. Before she could stop herself, Rimi picked up the closest object and threw it at Keres. The lamp shattered harmlessly against the bedroom door. Rimi raced around the bed to rearm herself with the other one. She didn’t make it.
“You are acting very poorly, Mate. I think it’s time you found out what happens to Little girls who throw things at their Daddies.”
Keres stalked forward. Rimi drew the lamp back to toss it at him, but he was too fast. She struggled to hold on to the lamp, but her mate stripped it out of her hands with ease.
“Give me that.”
“Your level of violence toward lighting is troubling, Snowflake. Especially since that no longer works,” he said, grasping her wrist with his free hand as he casually set the lamp back on the nightstand.
“Let me go!” she demanded, twisting her arm in a vain attempt to free herself. He was too strong for her to get away.
“No. It’s time for you to learn a lesson. There’s only one Daddy in this relationship. And one naughty Little.” Keres sat down on the bed and drew her between his legs.
“All spankings are applied to a naked bottom.” He unfastened her jeans and pushed them over her hips.
Rimi considered kicking his shins, but reality dawned on her. He was too strong, even for her. She swallowed hard, trying not to react. Her body had other ideas. They hadn’t been intimate since Slate had made his arrival. Simply being around Keres had an arousing effect on her—being half naked skyrocketed her response.
Rimi struggled to pull away from him, but Keres controlled her easily. He lifted her feet from the carpet and rotated her to stretch over his lap. His hand stroked over her naked bottom.
“My precious Little. Perhaps I’ve given you too much time to recover from Slate’s birth. Let me remind you who is in charge.”
Rearing her torso up at the first slap on her bottom, Rimi gasped at the sting. “That hurt!”
“Of course, it did.”
Keres spanked her several times in succession before rubbing his palm over her skin. Before she could recover, he started again, raining swats over her tender flesh. A thought burst into her mind. I’m a dragon! She could partially shift to give herself protection from the stinging punishment.
“Not happening, Little girl,” Keres growled as scales appeared on her bottom. He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and asserted his dominance. Instantly, her dragon traits receded. “I could spank you in either form, Snowflake,” he reminded her.