Rendan (Scifi Alien Dragon Romance) (Dragons of Preor Book 4) (8 page)

* * *

C
arla’s
“yes” quickly turned to “no.” Not just no, but hell no. No to the katrillionth degree. She should have realized something was up the very moment he took her hand and led her to the balcony. Because, okay, she sorta thought wind in her hair would have included a walk on the beach, but…

She was still onboard with his plans at that point. Maybe sitting on the balcony was a good thing.

Then he removed the railing.

Then he removed his
pants
.

“
What are you doing?
” she screeched the words and was surprised the windows hadn’t broken. He just smiled and she spun away to face the sliding glass doors, the ocean at her back.

“
Shaa soma
,” he murmured low, and she sensed his presence at her back. His heat crept over her skin, his overwhelming scent filling her lungs. “The best way to feel the winds on your skin is on the back of a Preor.”

The way he said those words, the smooth cadence and gentle roll, nearly had her melting into the floor. She closed her eyes, fighting back the urge to lean back against him, and stiffened her spine.

“You’re supposed to be resting.” She licked her lips, imagining his taste. “Chashan—“

“Wanted us to spend time together. My wings are well. It would take more than the trials to keep me from experiencing my mate’s legs astride my back.” The deep huskiness had her opening her eyes and she met his gaze in the window’s reflection.

And she saw… her own feelings reflected from his eyes. Desire. Need. Desperation.

She imagined straddling him, his massive form undulating beneath her, the deadly dragon who’d be gentle with her. And she was sure of that—Rendan
would
be gentle.

“You were unconscious because…”

His large hands came up and cupped her shoulders. “I did not say the trials were painless. Merely that they would not stop me.” Gaze still centered on her, he slowly lowered his head. His stare was unwavering as he opened his mouth and laid a soft, sensuous kiss on the curve of her neck. “Say yes,
shaa soma
.”

The way he said those words, the tone of his voice and craving in his gaze, had her giving him the same answer once again. “Yes.”

Even if it was the dumbest thing she’d ever done.

Rendan’s lips split into a wide smile, and the tension he’d carried since they’d met vanished with that single expression. He kept his head lowered and nipped her neck, sharp teeth pinching the skin. “You will not regret it,
shaa soma
.”

She was sure she would, but she didn’t have a chance to say that. Mainly because Rendan released her and just…

The scene unfolded, reflected in the glass door, and she watched her mate spin and just
leap
off the balcony. Carla followed, rushing to the edge and staring down. Her mate headed for the ground like a bullet. His wings were wrapped around him, body forming a slim shape that easily cut through the air.

And he wasn’t doing anything to slow his descent. “Ren—“

Sand exploded near the ground, as if a bomb was detonated where her mate would have met the Earth. Was that him hitting the patio?

No. No, because the sand was pink, a ghosting of a swirling cloud that spun around a decidedly solid object. An object that grew and stretched, reshaping between one breath and the next until her falling mate was replaced with a massive, two-hundred-ton dragon.

Carla had heard about the beauty of a Preor’s shift, but she’d never witnessed the event. Now, it seemed, she had.

One beat of his massive wings and then two, and then Rendan was truly airborne. He glided over the sandy beach, rising high before banking left and making his way around the building. He circled the high rise, each turn bringing him higher and closer to her. Each flap of wings sent a rush of salty air buffeting her, surrounding her with a combination of the sea and her mate.

Rendan’s pink scales glittered in the sun’s bright rays, shades of pink ranging from the palest hue—almost white—to a deep maroon and every tint in between. A gust of fire preceded his next pass, the orange and red flames sizzling in the air while he twirled.

Show off.

What happened next nearly sent her falling over the edge of the balcony.

I merely wish my mate to see the power of her male
.

That wasn’t… He hadn’t… In her
head
? No.

She could still hear the batting of his wings, the sound coming in a regular rhythm, but he was out of sight. She was just being silly. There was no way someone could—

Not someone, shaa soma. Your Preor mate.

He whipped past again, one of his large, dragon eyes focusing on her for a brief moment before he disappeared around the corner, his tail flicking as if waving good-bye. He’d… Her Preor…

She really was gonna finish a thought at some point. A full one and everything.

I am coming around to land. Move away from the edge.
The rumbling voice in her head was so like her Rendan, yet different. Still, it stroked her in places that had her trembling and shivering with need.

Carla backed away, shuffling until she reached the glass, and then used the doors to keep her upright. Conceptually, she recognized her mate was a Preor dragon. In reality… well, reality was very different.

Just as he’d reached out and spoken to her, she did the same to him.
I… I moved away.

She waited for a response, wondering if she’d been able to reach him. The Knowing had jumped into the confusing fray at some point, explaining that Preor mates typically had a mental connection of some sort, but it was particularly strong when the male was shifted. It allowed mates to speak.

Excellent, shaa soma.
The words were innocuous, just a few quick syllables of nothing, but there was something in the
way
he said them. There was a hint of praise, but also longing and overwhelming joy. Joy that nearly sent her to her knees because it was so strong.

Because she’d intentionally spoken to him—mind to mind. The first true connection between mates. Her throat tightened as the gravity of the event sank into her, but she swallowed and pushed it down.

The sound of his approach grew and she knew he’d be swinging past at any moment, but she wasn’t sure where the hell he planned on lan—

The whole building shook, her world reduced to a wall of pale pink, and the scrape of talons on stone and metal filled the air. The tower wavered, swinging left and right for a while before the trembles slowly eased. And through it all, the balcony was shielded by a thin layer of pink—Rendan’s wing.

When the waving came to an end, her mate went into motion, his claws carefully digging into the building’s supports as he repositioned himself. That was when his eyes—okay,
eye
—came into view. He met her gaze, the reptilian pupil focused on her with wariness in that giant orb.

He was worried his landing had frightened her too much to go flying. In truth, it had. But standing there, staring into his eye, knowing his first thought was for her safety before all else. That fear was fleeting. It’d be gone as quickly as it arrived. Or at least, almost as quickly. Her heart still raced, pounding at a rapid pace, and she fought to calm her breathing.

That was… interesting.
She knew there was no way to suppress her trepidation so she didn’t even try.

And if dragons could smile, she was sure Rendan was at that moment.
The best is yet to come, shaa soma. Do I have your trust?

Did he? Everything she knew about Preors, everything she knew about
him
, rushed forward and a sense of calm settled over her. They had problems, but Rendan would die before hurting her.

Yes.
She nodded, still unfamiliar with this whole head-talking thing.

Rendan eased away from the balcony, moving to the side so she could see the ocean once more.
Then jump
.

Okay, she “heard” the words, but he couldn’t mean…

Jump, shaa soma, and I shall catch you.

She eyed him, this massive dragon who could eat her with a single bite.

I could love you just as easily.

Something she wasn’t ready to address yet.
Just… jump?

A floating tendril of smoke puffed from his nose as if he laughed at her.
Jump.

Jump. Of course. So easy. It wasn’t like she didn’t have wings or anything. Nooo… jumping off buildings was something humans did all the damn time.

To kill themselves.

On my honor as a warrior and your mate, I shall catch you and we shall fly off into the sunset.

She didn’t want to know where he got that saying from.

She would do this. Soon even. In…

Three… two…
she rocked back on her heels and then just went balls to the wall toward the edge. She shouted with that final leap, arms and legs spread. “One!”

Her yell filled the air and she also projected it at Rendan’s mind, making sure his ass was going to catch her.

She fell, careening through the air and toward the hard ground beneath. Her speed picked up, going faster and faster, the wind whipping through her hair and yanking on her clothes.

Then she waited, ground closing in on her, death looming below. One second turned into two and then three and she realized she was a fucking moron for putting her trust in a man after—

A blur of pink sped past her.
Preors prefer male.

Rendan
.

As promised, shaa soma.
He quickly slipped his massive body beneath her and manipulated his wings until they fell at the same pace. He did exactly as he’d said, sliding beneath her, and catching her on his back with ease. She straddled his shoulders, legs hooked over his wings where they connected to his body.

Rendan glided over the crowds below, their passage ruffling trees and sending beach sand flying into the air. He beat his wings once, twice, and then they were rising high, soaring through Tampa’s blue skies.

All right, maybe she was glad she said “yes.”

R
endan was
aware of human rules regarding medical
pro-fess-on-alls
and patients. He was not to listen in during her appointments with others. Yes, Preors had superior hearing, but his mate forbade him from using his abilities. He was also not to inquire about the topics discussed once she returned “home” for the evening.

That did not mean he did not wish to know. Especially when War Mistress Lana disappeared into one of the newly erected
ecks-am
rooms within medical. He did not like having Carla out of his sight. Not after the time they’d spent together and the closeness they’d shared in the skies.

His mate had straddled him, his scales caressing her bare skin. He was unable to feel the softness of her flesh against his dragon’s protection, but his imagination had soared with them through the clouds. She’d been afraid but showed true courage when she’d leapt off of the balcony of Preor Tower.

His fierce, fearless female. One he could not wait to claim fully.

There was one small break in his scales that now surrounded him—Taulan and the damage Rendan caused to the tower.

Even now, a full rising later, War Master Taulan still glared at him. The massive male crossed his arms over his chest, purple wings slightly spread to make him appear larger in size. The male did not have to resort to posturing to intimidate Rendan. His position and natural strength was enough.

Yet he would not apologize for his actions. Not when the result was the newfound closeness between him and Carla.

“You nearly destroyed an entire floor,” Taulan rumbled.

Nearly was not completely, though he could not deny the accusation. He shrugged instead. It was a human movement he’d learned from Kozav recently, and he found it appealed to him.

“Your mate’s actions frightened the humans.”

Rendan shrugged again though added a few words. “It was an expression of trust.”

That Carla would leap from so high—knowing he would catch her—was a true testament of their connection. It was not so strong as to overcome any challenge, but there was a hidden layer of human steel in her backbone.

As War Mistress Lana said, Carla had a set of brass ovaries. Rendan did not understand the reference, but there was a measure of awe in the female’s tone and the expression made Carla laugh. So he did not object to the description.

“It was negligent,” Taulan snapped.

The male had been
test-ee
since yesterday, according to Lana. Lana smiled while she said those words and Rendan found he did not care. Especially when that also had his mate laughing.

He realized he could ignore much for a hint of joy from Carla.

Odd.

“I am
kor-ting
my mate.” Another shrug merely because it annoyed the war master and also he was not yet sure the full definition of the human word. Otherwise he would explain further.

“Your courting nearly brought down the tower—”

Rendan was not sure how the destruction of a single floor turned into collapsing Preor Tower

“—frightened the humans, destroyed a beach within one of Florida’s protected areas—“

Rendan did feel a measure of regret for that, but the joy on his mate’s face had been worth the error. The happiness and desire in her gaze when she’d seen his naked body. It’d taken all of his training not to pounce on Carla and show her the pleasure he could give as a mate.

But the definition of courting also included warnings to “take things slow.” So, he did not take her to the sands. He now understood Kozav’s references to
blue bahls
.

“—and now my bearing mate wishes to throw herself off the tower as well because ‘it looks like so much fun.’”

Rendan believed that was the true source of Taulan’s anger. “Explain that bearing females keep their feet firmly on solid ground.”

Whether that ground was on the surface or in a Preor’s aerie.

Taulan snorted and rolled his eyes. The male seemed to have picked up several human expressions as well.

The low click and scrape of metal on metal sliced through their argument and the nearby door swung open. Since Carla’s demands were so pressing, they’d decided to put in human
doors
similar to those in human history rather than wait to have traditional portals installed. It was odd, but it seemed to be enough to please the females who came to speak with Carla.

A tinkling laugh—Lana’s—filled the air just as the War Mistress appeared. “So you’re saying I’m going to lay an egg? Like a chicken?”

Taulan glared and Rendan decided he would remember the word since it annoyed the war master so much.

“You are not a
bird
,” Taulan spat the last word.

Lana rolled her eyes. “No, I’m not, but,” she patted her stomach where a future Preor dragonlet rested. “There’s a happy little shell in there.”

Shell? Rendan frowned, and Carla jumped into the conversation with a quick explanation—her speech concise with an edge of nerves. Rendan glanced at Taulan, noting his glare, and then strode to Carla’s side. He would not allow the male to frighten his mate, no matter his position within the fleet.

“It’s not a shell,” Carla interrupted. “It’s a thicker amniotic sack.”

Lana grinned. “Like a shell.”

“Like a stronger lining to protect your uterine wall should you become pregnant with a boy.”

“Boy?” Rendan murmured.

“Male dragonlet,” she whispered in return before addressing the couple once more. “And everything looks fine. Her blood pressure and pulse are normal, the baby’s heartbeat is a little fast, but we’re going to operate under the assumption that it’s due to the differences between humans and Preor. It’s also a little large, but we’re going to simply document the changes. Between Lana’s pregnancy, and others, we’ll be able to draw a few assumptions.”

“But she is well?” Taulan pulled Lana beneath his wing, curling it around the smaller human.

“She’s well.” Carla nodded. “Just bring her back once a week and call if there’s anything wrong. Get the worrying out of the way now and you’ll be the perfect papa when you guys decide to try for number two in a couple of years.”

Rendan froze and slowly turned his gaze to Carla. He surely did not understand his mate correctly. “Number two? Couple of years?”

His mate’s smile didn’t waver, her happiness obvious in her expression. “Sure. In general, women are encouraged to wait eighteen months or so between pregnancies. It gives her body time to recover before being stressed by another baby.”

“Eighteen,” he whispered. “Months?”

“Earth months.” Taulan’s tone was much calmer now that Carla had spoken. The male’s eyebrows lowered and lips turned down. “Humans are capable of becoming pregnant approximately every thirty risings.”

“Thirty,” he rasped. It could not be. He focused on Carla, pure terror suffusing him. Every thirty risings? That meant he would have to acquire protection often if he did not wish her to bear for him.

And he did not. Ever.

Carla’s smile wavered. “Human women have monthly menstrual cycles. I know Preor females only go into heat every ten years, but we are capable of becoming pregnant once a month.”

Once a month. He could not believe her words.

Taulan punched his shoulder. “Is it not wondrous? A mated male can have many dragonlets. He will not have to hope and pray for offspring every ten years.”

Which was a fact that would please many males, just not Rendan. He would never inflict such pain on a dragonlet. Not if he had a choice. With the advances in Preor technology, he had such a choice.

“That would mean a female would birth twelve dragonlets an Earth year?” He would cut off his
bahls
now to avoid such events.

Carla’s tinkling laugh gave him hope that he was wrong—very wrong. “No, once she’s pregnant, she can’t get
more
pregnant. She’ll carry one—or more—babies. Then wait eighteen months before she should try again.”

“Yet during that time she could become bearing again? Try means she can
not
try? How would pregnancy be prevented?”

How could he prevent it for the rest of his risings?

“Chashan developed an injection that renders a male’s
syha’i
unable to impregnate a female.” Her gaze was intent, eyes scanning his face, and he pulled his attention from her. He did not wish her to see his thoughts in his expression. The injection would make his seed incapable of fostering dragonlets.

“It is good that medical was able to find a way to protect recently-bearing females.” And give him a way to avoid his worst imaginings. He hated himself for his thoughts, but could not stop them from coming forward.

“Rendan?” Her delicate fingers danced over his forearm. “Are you okay?”

He forced a smile to his lips, pushing his troublesome thoughts away. “Of course,
shaa soma
.” He stroked her cheek, enjoying the feel of her warm skin. “Merely anxious to spend time alone with you.”

He hadn’t been permitted to engage in another Trial of Syh, ordered to
rest
, and now he wished to hold his mate in his arms—naked, skies permitting. Yet if he was with her without clothes, he would be tempted to fully mate Carla, which could risk pregnancy. Perhaps time alone was not the best idea.

“And
I
,” a feminine purr drew his mate’s attention, breaking the spell between them, “want to be alone with
you
.” War Mistress Lana pressed to her tip-toes, using the war master’s uniform to pull him down. She captured his lips and soon the two wrapped around one another in a passionate embrace.

Their moans and seductive kisses made Rendan’s condition even worse, his desire for Carla rising with every whimper Lana released.

If Rendan remained another moment, the display before him teasing his senses while the scent of Carla’s burgeoning arousal filled his nose, he would take her to the exam room. He would strip her, explore her body, and then slide into her wet heat until he filled her with his
syha’i
.

Rendan focused on Carla, ignoring the other couple. “Are your duties complete,
shaa soma
?”

Her smile was radiant, wide and sparkling. “Yup, Lana was my last patient and now I’m all yours.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Gonna take me home and—“

No, he wanted her nowhere near a home. Not while he could still give her dragonlets. He sought out the Knowing, hunting for alternate activities that would not end with Carla beneath him.

The Knowing showed him examples of love making that could occur with Carla above him as well.

The Preor blood memory was not helping.

“I intended to walk along the beach with my mate as the sun sets. Research indicates that a ‘long walk on the beach’ is a favorite past-time of females.”

When her smile widened, he believed he made an excellent choice. He would not tell her it was one made of desperation.

“But not in your natural form.” The war master’s voice was muffled, but Rendan recognized the order.

“But not in my natural form,” he agreed. He would agree to much to leave the cramped medical office. His gaze drifted back to Carla. “A walk and perhaps a
pik-nik
?”

His mate eased closer, sliding beneath his wing and aligning her lush body with his. “That sounds perfect.”

He wished he could agree.

“Then let us enjoy the sunset,
shaa soma
. Let us enjoy our evening together.”