A Dragon's Heart

9.

TIFFANY.

Just imagine this.

It's been seven days since you last saw your husband, yet, he returns home to find you washing your hair. As though that wasn't enough, your towel slipped off your body, leaving you naked before him. You think that's the worst it can get, right? Wait till I mention how he kissed me senseless, and how I melted into him despite how angry I claimed I was.

Now, the most horrifying part of all this was the fact that I was standing in his embrace, crying my eyes out. I mean, I am pretty much an open book, and I believe in being vocal and open with my emotions. There was nothing wrong with me crying, because let's be honest, I had been and I still was frustrated, and crying seemed to be the easiest way to let go of some of it.

What was, however, the issue here, was that I chose today. Of all the days I could let the tears flow, it had to be today. The day my husband returned. The day we shared our first kiss.

I pressed my face deeper into his chest, sucking and inhaling the scent of him. I was never a fan of oud perfumes back home, but right now, no scent in the world could ever beat the scent of my mate. Those four dangerous scents. Just perfect for my wailing heart.

The tears had stopped, but my actions mortified me. Embarrassed that I succumbed to wanting him to touch me, then actually vocalizing my anger. I wanted to pull away, but I wasn't sure how I was going to face him or what to say when I did look up.

‘Safe to say neither one of us is sane right now,’ Jay said, her voice sounded slurry.

I sniffed, fisting the front of his caftan thobe even more. I wish I had the ability to magically disappear.

‘That lick from the dragon, the kiss and everything combined, was… unexpected. I mean, I was hoping to get a mate who would match my intensity in a way, but that dragon? This man? Girl, we both are in deep s**t! I don't think we can outdo them.’

‘I have no plans to outdo them. Not without a proper explanation first.’ I mumbled.

‘That's fair, and I am right there with you. A proper explanation or the silent treatment from us! Let's see how they endure that after having a taste of us!’ Jay snickered, and I couldn't help chuckling softly.

The sound must have alerted him that I was done crying, or maybe I was ready to move, because his hand moved from my back and he gripped my right thigh, causing a whimper to escape from my lips.

“Are you okay?” He asked, his voice a hushed whisper in my ears.

My fists tightened on his caftan thobe again before I managed a nod.

He chuckled, the firm grip he had on my thigh increasing, before he moved his hands an inch upwards.

I hissed. The contact of his hot palm against my bare thigh made it feel as though pebbles were appearing on my skin. The touch was as wrecking as every touch we had shared so far. Intensely satisfying.

“Want to stay this way longer?” he asked quietly.

That seemed to give me the confidence I needed to push away from his hold, but he only held me tighter.

“I like this,” he mumbled. “Let’s stay this way longer. Please.”

Could be the voice he used, or the way his hold tightened even more. Could be the surge of the mate bond as it pulsed within me. Could be the fact that I wanted this too, that I loved the feel of him against me, the thudding of his heart against mine. Could be the sizzling burn, erupting from the inside and exploring the pores all over me. Whatever it was that prompted my decision to stay in his embrace, I did. I had no idea how long it lasted. The both of us, standing in the middle of the bathroom, hugging. At some point, I felt him place his face on my head. There were also a few times I thought I felt the brush of his lips at the crook of my neck.

Jay kept purring and sighing, and the soft groans from the dragon beside us added to all the things I was beginning to like. If I still wasn’t mad, this would’ve been a perfect romantic scene.

Finally ready to face him even if that was the last thing I wanted, I tapped on his chest and pushed away from his hold. This time, he didn’t hesitate and simply let me go.

I took a few steps away from him, creating a distance between us. I finally eyed him from head to toe, taking in his dressing. A dark green caftan thobe, paired with a green and black dotted keffiyah wrapped around his head, tied into a knot in the front. Some of his black shiny hair fell on his shoulders, an earring dangling from his left ear.

He looked so handsome. And he was mine.

The thought made me smile softly before I crossed my hands across my chest, stared into his hazel eyes, and finally spoke.

“As much as I do not know if I’m ready to hear it all, I need to. I am afraid whatever excuse you may give me won’t be enough. But I need to know. I need to understand where you and I stand. I need to know if I still matter, if you want this… this marriage to work or…”

“I want you,” he cut me off, his eyes hard and intense as he covered the space between us and cradled my face in his large hands. “I want this marriage. I want everything with you, Nurayn. Every curve, every angle. Every smile, every laugh. I want to be around you always, every day.” His thumb glided across my bottom lip sensuously. “I want to wake up in bed with you by my side, or perhaps on top of me. I want every inch you are willing to give me, and I do not want you to think for a single second that I do not want you. I forbid you from saying that ever again!”

Okayyy…

‘Burning candles!’ Jay shrieked. ‘He sounds so possessive. And maybe a bit angry at the idea of you thinking he doesn’t want us.’

Shit! I was trembling. Why does everything he does or says seem to have a strong effect on me? I swallowed, freeing my face from his hold, hoping he did not notice the effects his words had on me before I continued.

“Well, that is settled then,” I paused, clearing my throat in an attempt to eliminate the shakiness in it before I spoke again. “Let’s have it. Let me hear your excuse. Tell me everything.”

He smiled. A lopsided smile that made my insides churn. His gaze once again roved all over my body, like a deer caught in headlights. Then he cleared his throat before he spoke.

“Zaarif jdan (so cute),” he whispered, but I had no idea what he was saying. “Sure,. but I can’t concentrate with you in a towel, Nurayn. As hard as being away from you has been, being near you like this is testing every piece of resolve I have left.”

Embarrassed, I ducked my head down, scratching my head. “Right. I will be ready in twenty.”

He nodded, stepping out of the bathroom with Sameer trailing behind him, while I sagged against the door with a deep sigh.

‘I wonder if all our encounters will be this intense,’ Jay murmured.

I hope not, cause I was not sure I could handle it. But did I have as much effect on him as he did on me? Or was I the only one floating?

Shaking the thoughts off, I got up and took a quick bath, tied a new towel, this one a lot shorter than the other one I had on before. However, as soon as I stepped back into the bedroom, I stopped in my tracks. Because Bilal was right there, sitting on my bed, while Sameer laid in the middle of the room.

Confused, I asked. “You stayed here?”

He sat up. “Why? You wanted me to leave? I thought you wanted to talk.”

“After I get dressed, of course, duh!” I rolled my eyes, swallowing as he caught the side of his bottom lip and bit.

Shit!

“Well, I can wait. I don’t mind. I like seeing you like this,” another head to toe appraisal. “You have beautiful thighs, Nurayn,” he added.

‘I think he’s trying to play games with me,’ I hissed angrily, talking to Jay.

‘Why, I say you play the same game he is playing. Pretend you don’t care, even though we both know you are a shaking mess on the inside.’ Jay answered.

‘Right. I just need to pretend. Act.’

With that in mind, I ignored him and walked up to the dressing mirror. I poured a little olive oil on my palm and started to rub on my skin. I used minimal oil and body cream on my body because of the heat. I was not sure I’d ever get used to this heat.

I shifted, lifting my head a little and my eyes caught Bilal’s. Each time I looked up, my eyes caught his through the mirror, and he’d smile softly.

Soon as I was done, I pulled the chest drawer with my underwear and pulled out tight shorts and a bra. At first, I considered slipping back into the bathroom to get dressed, but I realized I enjoyed his intense gaze. I loved the way his eyes danced across my body. Loved the way he shifted with each movement I made. He liked what he was seeing, and that seemed to take my level of confidence a stage higher.

So I slipped on my bra and shorts right in his presence before I began to rummage through the wardrobe for clothes to put on.

A throat cleared behind me and I turned to find Bilal standing behind me with a small suitcase I hadn’t noticed until now.

“I brought you some clothes from Zambele. I noticed you have yet to adjust to our clothing.”

I furrowed my brows. “You went to Zambele?”

He simply nodded as he kneeled and unzipped the suitcase.

He lifted one piece of clothing and handed it to me. “This may be better.”

I took the cloth, the soft material instantly making me happy as I unfolded it. It was a cream-colored cotton knee-length gown, but with my curves, it barely made it past my thighs. One of my favorite types of clothing. It's also ribbed and spaghetti strapped and thin. So breathable, which was nice with the heat of the realm.

The dress didn’t need a bra, so I slipped the bra off before slipping the gown on. It accentuated my every curve, and I couldn’t help but smile at the image staring back at me in the mirror. I towel dried my hair and left it that way to dry without blow drying it. The sun was already dipping down, clear evidence that it was evening time.

Finally ready to get things over with, I walked to the bed and settled at the edge of it. Bilal still stood where I left him after taking the gown.

“So, let’s talk.” I waved him over to me.

He picked up the stool by the dressing mirror, kept it before me and settled on it. It felt like I was being caged, but his scent seemed to calm me down.

Without saying anything, he took my hands in his, his elbows resting against his lap.

“Allow me to start by apologizing for leaving the way I did. I am so sorry for hurting your feelings that way. It wasn’t intentional, but something I needed to do for both of us. Regardless, I am not saying what I did was okay, and I apologize for that. I am so sorry, Nurayn.”

Now, listen. I was expecting a half-assed explanation, not even a full one. What I wasn’t expecting was an apology, however, and it sets me off.

“One of the rules I had to follow was that I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone where I was going, or what I was doing. Now that it is completed, though, I will explain everything to you.”

“Where did you go? And why?” I asked.

He took in a deep sigh, then answered. “Ten years ago, Yasmina got sick. It wasn’t just an illness, it was insanity. It was like she was replaced by something or someone else. She would spend the night screaming and yelling. Some days, we’d wake up and couldn’t find her anywhere. She’d be here, and yet, she wouldn’t be. Nothing I or Jaddah did seemed to help, and with each passing day, she got worse.” he paused, swallowing hard as I watched his throat bob back and forth. I could hear the pain in his voice. The helplessness.

It was drowning.

“It went on for five months, and one fateful night was my last straw. I had managed to tuck her in after forcing her to take a cup of shai with some herbs that were supposed to help her sleep. I left her room shortly after, only to return a few minutes later to a gut-wrenching scream. When I got to the room, Yasmina was all bloodied, screaming at the wall and scratching and cutting at her body with a knife. I had no idea where it came from. Her dragon was frantic outside, and I had to seek hers and Sameer’s help, including Aamir’s and Jaddah’s, to knock Yasmina out. She was undeniably powerful, and she was angry.”

Another pause. A shaky breath, and he continued.

“She spoke in different voices. Some belonged to men, some to women, some to old people and even children. She also spoke more than seven different languages, shouting at the wall as we pinned her down. It was like she was… possessed.”

“What… how… is she…”

“She’s okay now. I had to do what I could to save her,” he answered quietly.

“Was that why you had to leave on our wedding night?”

He nodded, swallowing again.

“I needed to perform a ritual to protect you from the oath I took,” his head was down. Since he started talking, Bilal had avoided my eyes.

“To protect me?”

He nodded again. “The oath I took could harm you, and I wasn’t about to risk it. It was why I gave you so much time when I found you. I was trying to find a solution. A way to keep you safe. Thankfully, I found a solution, but I had to leave on our wedding night because I didn’t want to risk it. I didn’t want to do anything that would cause you any harm.”

“What did you do, Bilal? What did you do for both Yasmina and I?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“I went to the fae queen and asked for help,” he replied, finally looking at me. “And the help required I take an oath to give up my mate as a payment for my sister’s life whenever I found her,” he explained.

“To give up your mate,” I echoed what he had said, not as a question, but just to be sure I heard him correctly.

“I wasn’t thinking. All I could think about was Yasmina and what she was going through. I wasn’t even sure I’d ever find my mate, so I didn’t think twice before accepting the terms. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, the fae queen will take her price when the time comes. I didn’t want to risk you. If anyone has to pay, it should be me.”

I didn’t know what to think. I wasn’t even sure how I felt at the moment. What I did know was that I was sitting right there listening as he spoke.

“So I had to perform a protective ritual to keep you safe, hoping to divert the consequences of the oath back to me only.”

“Does Yasmina know what you did to save her?”

He shook his head. “She doesn’t. Neither does Jaddah. No one knew except for Aamir and now you.”

He was trusting me. Sharing something so important with me. He wanted to make this work, and right now, I was even more sure he had no choice but to leave without telling me. It didn’t make me feel better, but I understood why he did what he did.

‘That is respect. That is trust. That is acceptance.’ Jay murmured.

He squeezed my hands. “Rest assured that I won’t let anything happen to you. I will protect you. I will keep you safe.”

Tears filled my eyes as I pulled my hands from his hold and brought my shaky fingers to his face. He shuddered at the contact as I whispered.

“Will you be?” I couldn’t find my anger or hurt anymore. Couldn’t think of anything past the thought that on two different occasions, he had risked his life for two women. All that mattered right now was finding out if he was okay or not. “Will my husband be okay?”

“Nurayn…”

“Will you be safe from all this? Whatever this is, will you be safe from it?” I let a single tear roll down. “Will I get to spend a lifetime with my husband?”

He covered my hand with his and pressed his forehead against mine. “Yes,” he murmured against my lips. “Yes, you will, Nurayn.”

I nodded, smiling through the tears. “I will protect you as well. As mates, we protect each other together.”

“Yes, we do,” his lips brushed mine again, his hot breath fanning my face. “We will always have each other’s back. And I want you to know that this is the last time I will hide anything from you. Ever. Unless, of course, the situation demands it.”

“And you are sure the oath you took will keep Yasmina safe?”

“I got a potion in exchange and she has been okay since then.”

“Will my coming into your life ruin everything now?”

“It was why I did the ritual. Everything will be okay.”

“Okay,” I answered, not because I was sure everything would be okay. But if he said it would be, I trust him. He has given me enough reason to.

“Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for telling me everything. I appreciate it.”

“Anything for you, Noorie. Anything.”

“And I want you to know I will always have your back, regardless of the consequences. If anything happens in the future, I want you to trust that I can handle it and still choose you over and over. The faerie isn’t getting one of us. If she comes, she’s getting us two. A team. A family. A couple.”

“Nurayn…”

His voice was strained, and I knew he was fighting the urge to kiss me. I could feel it in my veins, feel the pulsing through the mark on my wrist, one I had completely forgotten until now that the pulsing was insistent. It was like a reminder that our bond was already in place. That I got it the first day my mate had kissed me back at Zambele. It was like the mate bond was trying to tell me everything was fine and we could fight it.

So I pressed my lips to his in a gentle kiss, loving the brush of his beard before I pulled back. “Welcome home, husband,” and then I kissed him again. This time, I poured all the emotions I was holding back into it as I molded my lips against his.

Bilal kissed me back with an intensity that wrecked my nerves as his free hand settled on my thigh, moving up slowly until it rested at my apex, the heat emanating from it making my insides churn with a wanton urge of wanting him to touch me there.

“It may be too early in our relationship to say this,” he whispered as we broke apart for a breath. “But I think I like you. A lot.”

This time, when he led the kiss, I was sure it was to emphasize what he had just said.

As I felt myself wrapped in something squishy and rough-like, I realized I didn’t want to be anywhere but here. In the arms of my husband as he kissed me, and a dragon hugging us both, with a wolf that sighed constantly.

It was perfect. And I hoped it would become my new kind of forever.