Free Dragonkin by Crymsyn Hart Page B

morning. Concentrate on being the way you were, and you’ll shift back.”
    Kestrel closed her eyes and thought about returning to normal, but it wasn’t working. A momentary bolt of panic went through her. Andrik stroked her hair.
    “Don’t think so hard. It’s like water. We flow back into our human bodies. There should be no pain once you’re used to it. Trust yourself.”
    She drew in a deep breath, but the shift wasn’t happening. She groaned in frustration. He kissed her ear and the side of her throat. The sudden pleasure roaming through her made her quiver. Her nerves were on fire once more. The power ignited and moved through her. Once it did, she felt it connect the link between them. Andrik moaned again.
    “I’d forgotten how this can be.”
    “What do you mean?” Kestrel closed her eyes. She tried to push the pleasure aside that had awoken inside of her, but it was consuming her.
    This time he straddled her and held her hands above her head. “The bond between mates lets me experience everything you feel. And vice versa. I might be able to help. Close your eyes and trust me.”
    He kissed her slowly, but kept a hard grip on her hands. She began to squirm under him when the power between them grew to be too much. The fire went over both of them. Passion burned along her nerves. It seemed she was going to crawl out of her body. Kestrel wanted to writhe and get lost in the ecstasy. She arched her back when the orgasm hit her. Stars appeared in her vision. When the rapture flowed through her, her body responded. Andrik was inside her mind, coaxing her down, pushing the dragon back inside of her for now. He kissed her again. His lips were soft.
    They gave her a connection back to reality. He broke the kiss and rested his head against her chest. He breathed heavy. When she opened her eyes, she could see clearly again. Everything about them had returned to normal, too.
    “Thank you.”
    “You don’t have to thank me, Kestrel. I’m always going to be here for you. I’ll never leave you again.”
     

Chapter Nine
     
    The next morning when she awoke, it took her a minute to remember where she was. Her body ached from the night she had spent with Andrik. Once she looked around the room in the sunlight, she saw, besides his clothes, it was filled with books. A small painting stood on one of the chests of drawers. It was of a woman with blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and a round face. I bet that is his first mate. Kestrel searched the room and didn’t see him in it. A momentary bolt of panic gripped her. Then the door opened. Andrik entered carrying a tray filled with food and drink. He smiled when he saw her.
    “You’re awake. How are you feeling?” He set the tray down on a small table near her side of the bed and sat next to her.
    “Good. A little sore, but nothing that won’t heal.” She winced when she moved her arm. Her shoulder with the burn always gave her problems after strenuous activities. He saw her grimace.
    “Come here.” He motioned her closer.
    She bit her lip and gathered her hair onto her shoulder. His thumbs pressed against both of her shoulder blades, and his fingers began to warm. The warmth eased into her flesh and made it a little easier to move the more he massaged her. She moaned from the magic flowing into her. It made her wet. He rubbed her a little harder, and she drew in a cool breath, trying to stay steady.
    “If you keep that up, I’m going to fuck you right here.”
    He kissed her neck. His tongue licked the side of her throat, and he nibbled her ear. “I can certainly oblige you, but I think we should eat something first. Ralag knows one of our healers that can look at the burn for you. Dragon fire wounds are hard to heal if they’re old, but she might be able to do something for you.”
    “Thank you.”
    He got up and uncovered the tray. Her stomach grumbled. However, what she saw was a plate of bread, cheese, and raw meat. She blanched at the raw meat. Andrik took