Free Jaguin's Love: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 8 by S.E. Smith Page A

chest. Sara glanced down at their joined hands. Hers looked so much smaller in his, yet she didn’t feel afraid. Looking up at him again, she parted her lips and rose up onto her toes. She paused a brief second before sealing his lips with a tentative kiss that held a touch of hesitant wonder.
     

Chapter 8
     
    Jaguin studied Sara’s face as she gazed down at the leaf. He could see the dark circles under her eyes. She had another nightmare. He instructed his symbiot to share them with him, but the symbiot refused his request. At first, he was angry, but he quickly understood that it was loyal to Sara.
    Still, if she continued to have them, he would have to insist that it comply with his wishes. If he was to help his mate, he needed to find the monsters in her dreams and slay them.
    I wish we had just a few brief minutes with the bastard before Carmen killed him , Jaguin murmured heavily.
    Me, too, his dragon agreed. I go to her.
    Wait… Jaguin started to order before he released a frustrated groan.
    I no wait. My mate need me, his dragon snorted in response, already beginning the climb down from the thick platform that looked like a large tree.
    One of these days… Jaguin muttered.
    That what Cree and Calo say to Carmen , his dragon retorted. She just laugh at them.
    I know that is what they say , Jaguin snapped before he strained to focus on what his dragon was gazing at.
    Jaguin was a little perturbed at his dragon. Its continued resistance to his control concerned him. He never had this issue until recently. A part of him wanted to force his dragon to obey while another part was curious to see what it would do.
    He silently lowered himself down to the floor and crept through the dense imagery of the holographic foliage. They both watched as Sara turned her face up toward the ceiling. Fascinated, he stepped out onto the path and took a step closer to her, mesmerized by the peaceful expression on her face.
    He paused, one foot lifted to take another step, when she opened her eyes and turned her head to stare at him. He heard her swiftly inhaled breath and froze, unsure of what to do. His dragon trembled in anticipation of shifting should she appear scared.
    I no hurt her , his dragon whispered.
    I know, my friend, he replied in a soothing tone. Give her time to get used to you.
    His heart pounded when he saw Sara take a step away from them. He could see the fear in her eyes, but he also saw curiosity. She tilted her head and stared at him for a moment.
    “Jaguin! At least, I think it is you unless you call your dragon something else,” she exclaimed with a hint of confusion in her voice that changed to amusement when his dragon suddenly sat down and sneezed.
    What are you doing? Jaguin asked in surprise at his dragon’s behavior.
    I give her time, his dragon stated, grinning at Sara with a goofy smile only a dragon could pull off.
    A hiss escaped him when she stepped closer and raised her hand to touch his dragon. Her soft murmur teased his senses, washing through him and sending a wave of hope and excitement through him and his dragon. A moment later, he groaned in mortification when she started scratching him behind the ear and his dragon’s leg thumped in response.
    How are we supposed to impress her with you thumping like a Grombot with an itch? Jaguin muttered.
    It feel good, his dragon retorted, thumping harder and emitting a deep purr of joy.
    You are going to mess everything up! Jaguin started to say before he stopped when Sara began speaking again.
    “I used to have an old hound dog that did the same thing when I scratched him there,” Sara whispered in his ear. Her warm breath made his ear twitch and he held himself still when she continued to talk. “He was my best friend when I was ten. I grew up in the lower mountain area of the Appalachian Mountains.”
    Jaguin turned his head, his gaze following Sara as she pulled slightly away. He was pleased that she kept her hand on him. He could feel her