Divine Dragons 2: A Bride for the Mountain God

I was taken aback, and before I could think, I blurted out a response. “No.”

The Mountain God’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his handsome face contorting in confusion. “No?”

I took a deep, shaky breath. “Exactly. No. I’m not a bride or a mate—or whatever you’re implying.”

His annoyance quickly turned into frustration. “Life mate. Soulmate. Mate. Call it what you want, it doesn’t change the fact. They offered you to me, and you responded to the call of the forest. You’re my wife.”

“I didn’t say ‘I do’ in any ceremony,” I retorted.

He sat back, still straddling me, and shrugged. “The rituals you mortals think make a marriage don’t matter here. You answered the call, and now we’re bound.”

My body was a whirlwind of emotions. The rational part of me wanted to run from the terrifying—attractive—dragon-man claiming me as his own.

But a quieter, yet increasingly louder part of me was drawn to him, wanting to accept his words as truth.

“I am not!” Before I could argue further, he suddenly stood, lifting me effortlessly over his shoulder. I let out a surprised yelp.

His strength was astounding, and the ease with which he carried me through the woods left me speechless.

“Put me down!” I finally managed to protest.

“No,” he replied simply.

I squirmed in his grip, but he didn’t even flinch. “What’s your name, wife?”

“I’m not telling you anything.” I tried to cross my arms over his shoulder, watching the ground pass beneath us, his long tail swishing, and his wings folded neatly against his back.

Smack!

A sharp pain spread across my butt. I let out a cry of surprise, shocked that a dragon—a god—had just spanked me!

The heat that had been simmering in my lower belly since he’d licked my neck and chest flared up again. I squirmed on his shoulder, my legs kicking more than before.

“Name?”

“I’m not telling you!”

Smack!

I gritted my teeth as my other cheek stung. A satisfied rumble vibrated from his chest, and I could feel it against my stomach. My face felt as hot as my spanked bottom.

“Where are you from?” he asked casually. “That little kingdom in my shadow, I suppose.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” I shot back, my voice shaky from the lack of breath.

Smack!

The humiliation was unbearable. My royal upbringing screamed at me to maintain my dignity, but it was hard to do so while being carried over a dragon’s shoulder, my butt stinging from his slaps.

Yet, a part of me was drawn to the arousal building within me. I wanted to give in to the pleasure his hands were igniting.

It would be a betrayal of my better judgment, but maintaining my dignity while dangling over a dragon’s shoulder seemed impossible.

But I could annoy him, as risky as that was. Keeping my answers vague or not answering at all seemed like the best option.

“My new wife keeping secrets from me is quite unbecoming,” he complained dramatically, as if my stubbornness was the greatest insult. “Name?”

“Bugger off!”

Smack!

“Ouch,” I hissed, the pain in my butt echoing between my thighs.

“Hm,” he mused. “You better get used to saying that.”

“How dare you!” I squirmed again. “I am a princess, and you have no right—”

“So, you’re King Nelus’s daughter?” He didn’t sound like he needed my confirmation. I fell silent, regretting my slip-up.

“That old bastard has many children. Let me guess, his people pressured him into sacrificing one of his own to atone for his sins?”

The Mountain God scoffed. I imagined him rolling his eyes, though all I could see was his muscular backside. Gods, his muscles were sinfully attractive, even if they were green.

Smack!

I bit my tongue to keep quiet, but he could feel how tense I’d become. He grunted and continued walking uphill. I swayed on his shoulder, the persistent ache in my butt strangely not unpleasant.

Just when I thought he wouldn’t say anything else, he spoke. I tried to convince myself that I was disappointed.

“Your sacrifice won’t be enough, you know.” He heard my quiet huff. “Not that you aren’t a magnificent prize. You’re beautiful, stubborn, and a bit bratty, but I can handle that.” His large hand began to massage my sore butt. “And you have a nice round ass. I’m not complaining about that.”

His compliment made me blush. I was too stunned to speak at first. “What do you mean, my sacrifice won’t be enough?”

“King Nelus has caused too much harm. If he wants my mercy, sending my fated mate might have been enough. But that was a coincidence, so I’m not sure I’ll grant it. Besides, your sacrifice won’t appease the forest spirits he’s angered.”

“Don’t you control them? You’re the Mountain God, after all.”

His hand continued to knead my butt as he walked, as if he had all the time in the world to get to know my body. “God of the Mountains and Nature, King of Forest Spirits. Yes, in theory I could. But spirits aren’t like mortals. There’s a balance, and Nelus not only disturbed it, he destroyed it.”

“So, what will happen to me?” My voice was barely a whisper.

The Mountain God halted his steps. His large hands wrapped around my waist in a manner no other man had ever done. He didn’t seem bothered by the softness of my belly and hips. In fact, he held onto them with a certain fervor, as if he relished the feel of me as he lifted me from his shoulder and placed me on the ground.

Once on my feet, I tilted my head back, looking up at the towering dragon-man who loomed over me. My head barely reached his sternum, right where his chest heaved and his muscular pectorals bulged. His dark green scales, stretched over those muscles, made my mouth water.

Get a grip! Stop letting your lower regions do the thinking, I chastised myself.

“First, tell me your name,” he said, his hand smoothing over my shoulder, catching a tangled strand of my hair. His voice, low and gravelly, made my breath hitch.

“Nia,” I replied, albeit with some hesitation.

“Good girl.” His knuckles brushed my face with a touch as light as a feather, causing my knees to rub together in search of friction. “Well, Princess Nia, first we’ll get you fed and cleaned up. Then you’ll rest, and after that, you’ll spend eternity by my side.”

His certainty was so convincing, I almost found myself agreeing.

“Eternity?” I gaped at him, my mouth hanging open in disbelief. “Wait, where are you taking me?” I blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the trance I’d fallen into.

His laugh was dark and devastatingly beautiful. He gently grasped my shoulders, turning me around until my back was pressed against his front.

I paused, first focusing on the sensation of his tense abs and warm, powerful hands on my body. Then the moonlight broke through the gray clouds, revealing the massive, tiered structure built into the side of the enormous mountain.

“Why, my home, of course. No mortal has ever ventured this deep into the forbidden forest or laid eyes on this place. Welcome to the Mountain Palace, wife.”