Free Desired by Dragons: BBW Paranormal Romance (Dragons of New York Book 2) by Terry Bolryder Page A

pay.”
    She blinked as she was whisked into Quill’s arms, feeling light as a feather as he strode back through the door Drake had broken through.
    Gentry and Sterling made no effort to stop them, and she heard Drake making one last threat before he followed.
    As they made their way along the building, Drake bolted in front of Quill and kicked open the door to the emergency stairway. They rushed up the stairs, and Tara was surprised at how easily Quill bounded up without skipping a beat. He really was strong. Once they reached the roof, Quill put her down, and both men transformed in an instant, becoming invisible to her eyes, though she could sense them both close.
    “Put your arms up and hold on tight,” she heard Quill’s voice, powerful and caring.
    She did so and felt an invisible hand, as large as her body, wrap around her from the chest down. Then she felt herself lifting off into the sky.
    She wasn’t looking forward to the conversation they’d be having when they got home, but it would be fine as long as she was home with her dragons.

7
    W hen they got home , Drake went straight to pacing, running his hands through his hair as usual, as Tara waited for him to calm down. 
    Quill was sitting stiffly by the window, staring out and staying distant from his partner.
    Tara walked over to Quill and leaned down in his ear, gesturing to Drake. “Can you do something about him?” she asked. “Work your calm or whatever?”
    Quill frowned bitterly and looked over at Drake. “He never wants it.”
    Drake snapped his gaze to them. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here. Why don’t you get that I just want to keep you both safe?”
    Quill stood. “I’m a man. And a dragon. I don’t need you to keep me safe.”
    Though Quill was tall and intimidating by Tara’s standards, he was still slight next to Drake’s bulk.
    “Like hell you don’t,” Drake said, getting up in his face. “Look, I know I wasn’t your first choice. I’m a red dragon and you’re a blue. You wanted Ran, the black dragon, someone who needed you. You always want to be the fucking hero, Quill. But have you ever thought about what it does to me when you go out like that?” Drake looked pained as he ran his hands through his hair and then shook them loose. “Have you ever thought about how I’d feel if something happened to you? If you didn’t come back? You almost died.”
    Quill was silent, his hands at his sides. He took a deep breath and then strode over to the window. “Better to be dead than not needed.”
    She looked between them, holding her breath. This seemed to be the crux of the matter, and she hoped Drake would do what was needed at this moment.
    Instead, he stood there like a constipated water buffalo, as if Quill’s words had shocked away his ability to speak.
    Then, to her relief, he came back to sputtering life and stormed over to his partner, grabbing him by the shoulders and forcibly turning him to face him. “Don’t need you? What the hell are you saying? Of course I need you. You’re my partner.”
    Quill’s face was stone as he looked up at Drake. He brushed his long hair back over his shoulder, and Tara enjoyed the way the dark locks shimmered in the sun streaming through the large window.
    “You never need me to heal you. My power does nothing for you. I was meant to be with the black dragon. It was never that I didn’t want you for a partner, but I knew you didn’t need me. If not for me, you could have been with a dragon that could have helped you fight. All I can do is heal. And the enemies you fight, you don’t want me to heal them.”
    Drake shook his head, lips in a tight line. “No, Quill. No, I don’t want another partner. You do help me. When you’re around, I’m calmer. The dragon in me is more peaceful. Without you, he rages. When you’re gone, I lose control.”
    Quill blinked in shock, taken aback by this. “I didn’t know that.”
    “Why do you think I go crazy when you’re