Heather gave him her address, thanked him again for helping Rory, and hung up the phone. She heard a snicker, and she looked over to see Debbie standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.

  “Debbie,” Heather said. “I didn’t know you were there.”

  “I know,” she laughed. “I’m very sneaky.”

  “I was just...”

  “Asking my brother on a date?”

  There was no point in lying now.

  “Yeah,” Heather admitted. “Yeah, I was.”

  “Good,” Debbie nodded happily. “He deserves to have a little Christmas miracle this year.” Then Debbie turned and walked away, and Heather wondered what she had meant by that. Why did Noam need a Christmas miracle?

  And why did Heather think she was it?

  Chapter 7

  Noam pulled up to the house ten minutes early, and then he sat in the car. Was it too early to go up and knock? He didn’t want to be weird. He certainly didn’t want to be rude. It seemed as though suddenly, he couldn’t think about anything at all except seeing Heather, and all of the etiquette lessons his mother had taught him just flew out the window.

  He looked up at the little house. It was a sweet home that looked a little like a gingerbread house. It was a two-story with a couple of trees in the yard and a big swing on the porch. It was adorable, and it looked similar to his. He knew that Heather and Rory were renting a house for now, and he felt like they’d chosen well.

  Noam waited for five minutes, and then he hopped out of the car and walked up to the house. The door opened before he could knock, and Heather stood there.

  Our mate.

  His dragon whispered to him, hissing the words. Noam was once again caught off guard by the message. He had never before heard anything like that. Never before had he heard his dragon communicate so very clearly.

  She’s ours. Claim her.

  He swallowed hard, looking at her. Oh, she looked so beautiful. She was lovely, he thought. Perfect.

  “You look incredible,” he managed to say. The red dress she’d chosen hung just above her knees, and it showed off all of her curves in all the best ways.

  “Thanks,” Heather said, gesturing to him. “Won’t you come inside?”

  He wanted to.

  He had every intention of walking through those doors.

  He knew that he was supposed to. That was why he’d come over. Suddenly, though, he couldn’t. All of a sudden, he felt like he was going to explode. He felt hot and cold and wild. He felt untamed. He felt uncontrollable.

  “I can’t,” he whispered, and Heather’s face fell.

  “What?”

  “I can’t come inside. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s just me here,” she said, as though there was a problem with her being a mother. “Rory is at Debbie’s tonight hanging out with Paul.” Heather’s eyes were hopeful, and Noam hated what he was about to do.

  “I have to go,” he said.

  The dragon inside of him was clawing at his skin, dying to get out. Heather nodded, but he didn’t miss the scent of salt as a tear slid from her cheeks. Damn. He’d done that. He’d hurt her. He hadn’t meant to. He certainly hadn’t wanted to, but he had.

  He’d intended to come over and enjoy a nice, simple meal with her. His goal had been to enjoy spending a delightful evening with her: not to break her heart. He’d struck out on both counts, and as he turned to hurry back to his car, he found he couldn’t wait. He couldn’t control it.

  The dragon clawed its way out.

  Heather gasped as Noam shifted from his normal, regular, everyday self into something entirely different. His dragon emerged, and he was a beast. He was a creature. He was huge. He turned, looking at her. She wasn’t cowering, though. She wasn’t hiding away. She was still standing right there on the front porch, and Noam was suddenly very aware that if there were any old ladies on this street, he was undoubtedly giving them a show. They’d probably be talking about it for weeks.

  “Is that why you said you had to leave?” Heather whispered, stepping off the porch. She walked over to Noam. He’d never had a human this close to him in his dragon form.

  He nodded.

  “Because you needed to shift?”

  Another nod.

  “Noam?”

  He waited to see what she would say, but nothing could have prepared him for the words that fell from her lips.

  “Am I your mate?”

  His eyes widened, and he pawed the ground in front of him. How could he express this to her? Only, he didn’t seem to have to. She kind of already knew. How had she known?

  “I thought it might be true,” she whispered. “I felt something that day when I met you. Do you remember that day?”

  Noam remembered, all right. He remembered everything. He remembered how sweet she was. He remembered how beautiful she was. Perhaps most of all, he remembered how kind and gentle she had been. She was protective of her son, but she was also wildly supportive. She wasn’t scared to be raising a dragon shifter. She wasn’t scared of any shifters at all.

  She was lovely.

  Wonderful.

  Perfect.

  “You remember,” she said. It was almost like she could read his mind, and oh, he liked that so very much. “Good,” Heather nodded. “Then answer me this, dragon man...will you take me for a ride?”

  Oh yes.

  Yes, he would take her for a ride.

  He’d take her anywhere she damn well wanted to go because he wasn’t let her off the hook this time. He was going to take her to the moon if she’d let him. Noam couldn’t speak, so he knelt down, and she eagerly ran over and climbed on his back. She knew exactly how to sit so that they’d both be comfortable, and then she leaned down and rested her cheek against him.

  “Take me to the stars, dragon man,” she whispered.

  Noam didn’t need to be told twice. He leapt, jumping into the air, and then he started flying. He’d flown hundreds of times, if not millions, but it never stopped feeling incredible. There was never a time when he wasn’t having the best damn time of his life.

  “This is awesome!” Heather called out as he flew. He soared up, higher and higher, and then back down again. He wasn’t used to having a passenger on his back, but he found that it was wonderful. He loved it. She was so happy that he could scent her joy. It was intoxicating to him.

  Yeah, she was his mate all right.

  There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that she was the one he was supposed to be with. Maybe his mom had been right all along. Maybe Christmas miracles did exist. Noam hadn’t expected to find love in his lifetime, and he definitely hadn’t expected to find someone on Christmas, but here she was.

  Heather had waltzed into his life like a hurricane of happiness and peace, and she’d brought him joy he hadn’t even known he’d been craving. Now they were here, together, soaring above the clouds, and there was nowhere else he’d rather be than right here with her.

  Chapter 8

  Heather slid off Noam’s back when they got back to her house. Before her feet hit the ground, he shifted back into his human form and caught her.

  “Wow,” she whispered.

  “Wow indeed.”

  Noam looked at her like she was perfect and precious. He looked at her like she was sweet and lovely, but he also looked at her like he wanted to eat her up alive. Heat filled her when their eyes met. She knew what came next.

  He wanted to claim her.

  She was pressed up against him, and he was holding her tightly. She could feel his length against her core, pressing against her. If she reached between them, she’d be able to stroke him and touch him, and oh, she wanted that. She wanted that and more.

  Noam carried Heather into the house and closed the door behind them. He dropped her to the ground, and she instantly started kissing him. She couldn’t wait. She needed him, craved him. It was fast, but she didn’t care. She could feel the connection surging between them like an electrical current.

  “Heather,” he murmured against her lips.

  “More,” she whispered.

  “You’re my mate,” he said, but she knew. She could feel it, too. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to. She was human, after all, but she could. She knew they were mates. She could feel it in her core. The need was there: the desire. It was pulsing deep inside of her, trying to claw its way out.

  Heather leapt up into his arms, and he caught her. She wrapped her legs around Noam as he kissed her over, and over. She clung to him tightly, aching with need. Oh, she wanted him. Needed him. She couldn’t wait much longer.

  He carried her into the living room and set her down gently on the couch. He was naked in front of her, and she looked up at him. Oh, she appreciated the way that he looked. She reached out, touching his abs.

  “You look happy,” he chuckled.

  “You look delicious,” she whispered. She reached out, grabbing his cock with her hand. It was big and girthy, and she started stroking him. He closed his eyes, and that made her smile. Oh, he felt good. He was going to feel even better inside of her.

  It had been a long time since she’d been naked with someone, but Heather wasn’t scared of sex. It was actually something she felt like she was pretty good at. It was fair to say she knew her way around a dick. Noam looked surprised when she slid off the couch, getting on her knees in front of him, but she just slipped his cock into her mouth and started licking him, sucking him, teasing him.

  Oh, he tasted good.

  “You look like a fucking goddess on your knees,” he murmured.

  “You look like heaven,” she countered.

  “You’re going to make me cum,” he said.

  “Not yet,” Heather chuckled, and she teased the end of his cock with her tongue. “We have all night,” she said.

  “I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you, human,” he growled, grabbing her hair with his hand. He guided her back toward his cock, and she obeyed, sucking his dick hard and fast. He thrust into her mouth, teasing himself deeper and deeper into her throat, and she took it, enjoying every second.

  Heather reached up, gripping his balls. She played with him, teasing him with her fingers as she licked his cock. Oh, she felt like a fucking princess right now. She loved being on her knees like this with him. Noam was delicious and wonderful. She wanted more.

  So much more.

  Soon he tugged her to her feet.

  “You’re wearing far too many clothes,” he told her.

  “What are you going to do about it?” Heather teased him playfully.

  Noam growled and nipped at her neck, biting her gently with his teeth. The sensation shot straight between her legs, and she was wet almost instantly. Oh, fuck, it felt damn good to be with him. Noam was a little rough, and she liked that. She liked that he wasn’t holding back or being gentle just because she was human.

  He was taking her as he saw fit. He was teasing her, playing with her. She loved it. She wanted more of this side of him. Noam had been all business when she’d met him. He had a lot of pressure on him, she knew. He ran an entire school, and he was responsible for taking care of just about everyone.

  Well, tonight was their time.

  Tonight the only thing they had to do was take care of each other, and she was more than ready for this task. She was ready for him. She was ready for all of it.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  “Please, what?”

  “Please give me more of this.”

  “I like it when you beg, little human.” Noam was growling, purring. He was every bit his dragon self as he nipped at her again. He was touching her in ways that made her feel like she was coming alive and falling apart at the same time, and oh, she wanted more. Needed more.

  “Take my clothes off,” she whispered.

  “Take your clothes off?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to be perfectly honest,” Noam murmured, “I’ve been thinking about this moment since I met you.”

  “What moment?”

  “Seeing you naked.”

  “You wanted to see me naked?”

  “Oh, yes,” he nodded, chuckling. He reached out and stroked the soft fabric of her dress. He touched her tummy, and then he moved his hand up. “I wanted to see you naked, and I still do. There’s still the matter of you wearing too many clothes.”

  “It’s just a tiny dress,” Heather pointed out. She swallowed hard. Suddenly her entire mouth felt dry. What was he going to do to her? Oh, she wanted him to do so many things to her. She wanted him to touch her and tease her and she wanted him to just tear the whole damn dress off.

  “And what should we do with the dress?” Noam asked.

  “You could rip it off,” she said. Her words came out a whisper, and he nodded.

  “Yes, little human,” he agreed. “I think that’s a very good idea.”

  Noam reached a finger out toward her straps, and he shifted only his hand so that there was a long, sharp talon resting against her skin. He moved his talon quickly, tearing her fabric with his claw, but he didn’t hurt her skin at all.

  Her dress fell to the floor, and Noam smiled.

  “I think that’s much better. Don’t you?”

  Chapter 9

  She was gorgeous.

  Heather had soft, creamy skin that just begged to be touched and kissed, and Noam was just the dragon to do it. He reached out, rubbing his hands over her breasts.

  “That feels good,” she smiled.

  “You have incredible tits,” he murmured.

  “I’m glad you like them.”

  “Oh, I do.”

  He’d thought about her naked. He’d imagined the way she would look more than he cared to admit, but he was still wildly pleased. She looked even prettier than he thought she would. Wasn’t that a lovely surprise?

  “I like the way you look,” he told her.

  “I like the way you look, too.”

  Usually, when Noam was with someone, he wasn’t nearly as vocal. It was usually just a blur, a rush to the end, but with Heather, he wanted to take his time. He wanted to savor her. She was so precious to him that he wanted to enjoy every bit of this. Noam knew that they had all damn night, and he planned to make the most of it.

  But then she reached for his cock and started stroking him, and all rational thoughts flew from his head. Suddenly, he needed to be inside of her, and he needed it right then. His eyes went to hers, and she looked just as needy and aroused as he was, and he knew.

  Their first time could be now: hard, fast, wild. The next time, he’d take things a little more slowly. Right now, he just wanted her. Needed her.

  He spun her around so her back was to his front. She wiggled, grinding her ass on his cock, and oh, that felt even better than he could have imagined.

  “I think you like that,” she teased.

  “I do,” he swatted her bottom. She groaned, looking over at him. She was biting her lip. He knew he needed to get inside of her as soon as possible.

  Heather reached out, grabbing the back of the couch. She was bent over in front of him, wiggling her ass at him, and he teased his cock along her bottom. He could see her dripping, wet with need. He knew she wanted this just as much as he did.

  He nudged his cock at her entrance, teasing it inside.

  “Oh,” she whispered.

  “You like that, little human, don’t you?”

  “I do.”

  “Tell me you want more.”

  “I want more.”

  “Tell me you want this cock inside of you, princess.”

  “I want it,” she groaned. “Please, Noam, don’t keep me waiting.”

  She spread her legs a little bit, and he pushed his cock all the way inside of her. He sheathed himself in her body, and she cried out at the intrusion. He was thick, and she was tight, and he gave her a minute to adjust her body to him.

  “Oh,” she whispered. “More.”

  He chuckled. She wanted more? He could give her more. He’d give the sweet human everything she needed, everything she wanted. She was his mate, after all, and she deserved to be given everything she could possibly crave.

  Noam slid his cock deeper inside of her. He reached out, grabbing Heather’s hair, and he tugged, pulling her head back. She turned her head and he claimed her mouth, kissing her as she plunged his cock inside of her.

  “You are so fucking gorgeous,” he murmured. With his other hand, he teased her nipples, pinching and rolling them between his fingers until they were hard little buds.

  “Your cock feels so damn good in me,” she whispered.

  “I want to feel you come for me,” he told her. He slid his hand down her tummy, over her soft belly to her pussy. Then he started to rub her there, playing with her clit as he slid in and out of her pussy.

  Everything about her body tensed. She stilled, tightening her muscles as he teased her. She was so fucking close. He could feel it.

  “That’s it,” he murmured. “Be a good girl and come for me.”

  “I’m so close,” she whispered. She didn’t need to tell him. He knew. He could tell. He rubbed faster, bringing her closer and closer to the edge of orgasm.

  “Come for me, sweetie.”

  “Noam...”

  “Come, princess.”

  “Noam...”

  “Just let go.”

  She did. She opened her mouth to scream as she came, but he claimed her with a kiss. He kissed her, dominating her mouth as her body pulsated with pleasure. It was enough to push Noam over the edge himself, and he, too, came for his mate. He filled her with his seed. His cock twitched with happiness, and his entire body felt like it was on fire in the best possible way.

  Noam stepped back, and Heather turned around. She immediately collapsed on the couch, exhausted. She looked up at him and smiled, and in that moment, he felt like his heart had never been fuller.

  “That was...”

  It was perfect.

  Wonderful.

  It was chaotic beauty.

  Everything that had just happened between them was incredible, and he wanted more. Needed more. He wanted a lifetime with her.

  “Be my mate,” he whispered.