Page 28 of Marked By His Alpha Dragon's Desire

Tyler came over, smiling like a wolf who had captured a bunny.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said. “I just lost a bet because of you.”

“What bet?”

“Levi was sure that you would sneak your mate into the dorm at some point this weekend or sneak over there for some hanky-panky. But no, you two had to play it cool and follow the rules. I sided with Levi, AJ bet you’d be able to make it three days.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t think I wasn’t tempted.”

“But you didn’t do it,” Tyler said.

“No. Don’t remind me that it’s been three days since I’ve had my mate in my arms. I’m barely containing my dragon as it is.”

Tyler grinned. “Listen, he can come around the station as much as he wants. The two of you don’t have to worry so much about what’s proper and what’s normal. Luca especially needs to know that everything might feel fast because he’s human, but you’re mates. This is in your biology. Don’t fight the instincts, okay? And if you need more time off, we can make that happen.”

“Thanks, Tyler. I appreciate it. It’s very likely my mate is expecting, and we’ll be negotiating some time off for when the eggs arrive and then when they hatch. So I might just save what little time off I have.” Which was almost nothing, since I had just started this job.

Tyler grinned. “Congratulations! I’m always happy to have more members of the pack.”

I held up a hand, stopping him before he could get too excited. “I don’t even know for sure. It is rather soon. We’ve only been mated a week.”

“Of course. Now get out of here. Get home to your mate.”

I didn’t have to be told twice. I slipped my bag over my shoulder and slid down the pole. Yes, we had a pole in the fire station.

There was soft music playing when I entered the house. The curtains were all drawn, and the place was dark, though it was just a little after seven in the evening.

“Luca?” I called, sensing that he was here.

“In here,” he called back. His voice came from the back of the house, where the living room was.

I wasn’t expecting what I found in the living room. Next to the large bay window, the couch had been pushed aside, and now there was an assortment of soft, pillow-like things all arranged in a nest-like form. My mate, wearing a pair of short shorts anda tank top, lay in the center. He was surrounded by colorful blankets of varying sizes. One was a plush fleece, the other a velvet material.

“I’m really glad you’re here. I’ve been busy today,” he said.

“I see that. Where did all this come from?”

“Theo and I went shopping. I grabbed everything that felt right.”

He held his hand out, a small item resting in his palm. My heart rate increased. I stepped forward, my breath catching in my throat. Already, my dragon suspected what my human side was only now realizing.

I needed to see it for myself.

I grabbed the item in his hand. “I don’t know what I’m looking at. Is this... is it a pregnancy test?”

Luca grinned and nodded. “It is. I’m sorry that I took one without you and that Theo was with me, but I had to know. This morning, I started feeling not so great. Thankfully, Theo’s mom is a miracle worker, and he brought me tea she makes. Did you know she is a doula?”

“And all this?” I gestured to the nest.

Luca looked down at the nest he stood in, and his brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Once I realized I was pregnant—and that I was going to have eggs, of all things—I thought theyprobably needed a place to go. Right? Someplace warm and cozy. I just… followed my instincts and got what I felt made sense.”

“Indeed, they do need a nest.” I grinned, my dragon roaring to the surface at the news of our clutch.

“Good. So I bought all of this. What do you think?”

“You did perfect, mate. I’m so proud of you.”

---