Temper the Flame: An MM Beauty and the Beast Retelling (Beautiful Nightmares Book 4) by Anna Fury & Amy Pennza

Author:Anna Fury & Amy Pennza [Fury, Anna & Pennza, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Fuoco

I sit in a velvet chair next to the bed watching Beau sleep. One of his arms is shoved under the pillow, the other slung off the side of the bed. His fingers twitch now and again as he slumbers. His legs are pressed tightly together like he’s trying to take up the least amount of space possible. Perhaps that’s accurate. His cottage in the village was tiny. His bed was probably little better than a cot.

Regret is a heavy weight in my gut. I’m not foolish enough to believe that one well-timed orgasm is enough to make Beau drop the subject of returning to his bakery. I coerced him into staying with me. Used his father’s illness as leverage. That sort of dominance can force cracks into any relationship—even a fated one. If I try to compel Beau’s love, I’ll break us.

I prop my elbow on the chair and rest my chin on my hand. I keep my free hand on the chair’s other arm, my fingers stroking the velvet. Beau is right in front of me and yet he’s not totally mine. When I dreamed of my mate, I never imagined I’d have to convince him to accept our bond. For me, our connection is clear as day—bright and beyond certainty. But Beau isn’t a dragon. Maybe he doesn’t feel the same pull that I do.

The panic of the infirmary is a painful undercurrent to the sated, hazy afterglow of having his mouth on me. As much as I tell myself I shouldn’t force him, I know I’ll do anything to keep him.

Treasure-hoarding thieves, the lot of you.

The words ring through my mind for the hundredth time, along with the growing realization that the old man was right. Because if Beau returns to that village, I’ll find him. Steal him. Make him the jewel of my hoard.

Perhaps I’m exactly the monster that human accused me of being. I thought myself better than other dragons—certainly better than the enforcers who betrayed me.

A growl rumbles in my chest. Lirem is still out there, and that won’t do. He’s dangerous. He could hurt Beau…

The chair’s arm creaks under my hand.

A knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts.

My beast screams to the surface, the dragon riled at the thought of anyone disturbing our sleeping mate. I rise and cross the room, ripping the door open with a scowl.

One of the human servants flinches on the threshold, then quickly drops her gaze to the carpet. “My lord…” She gulps a breath and speaks in a rush. “I’m sorry to bother you at this late hour but there’s a pixie in the Great Hall asking for an audience.” She hesitates, her blue eyes darting from the carpet to my face and back again. “He said something about you missing an appointment—”

“Jasper Lilygully,” I bite out. The meddlesome pixie is the very worst of his kind, always sticking his nose in other people’s business. But perhaps I can use him to my benefit.

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