Page 17 of Leif

“Awww.” She turned and leaned on the doorframe. “What about you? Are you married?”

I shook my head. “You?”

She shook her head, a suddenly worried look on her face. “I’m only twenty-five. I still have time.”

I lifted both shoulders. I’ve never been a believer that you need to hit life milestones at the same time as everyone else. My mother didn’t get pregnant with me until forty-two.”

Her head jerked up, her eyes sparkling. “Really?”

I nodded. She and my father had both wanted to live their lives without kids. But at forty, my mother asked my father if he ever felt like something was missing. And from there, they’d decided to have a child; me.

“Do you want kids someday?” She walked back in and sat on the edge of my bed, making my thoughts tangle strangely in my head. She ran both hands down her thighs to her knees and glanced up at me, curiosity in her expression.

“I’m not sure. I’d have to meet the right woman first.” I’d never looked for a mate. I wouldn’t even begin to know what to look for. Sure, I’d had plenty of encounters, but none of them were love or caring. They were a chance for my body to blow off steam. And that method worked, but I’d be lying if I tried to say I wasn’t lonely.

I wanted a relationship like Ryker and Kat, or Draco and Luna. I wanted love like that, unconditional acceptance, and a badass companion to enjoy life with. I’d always assumed I’d meet some nice dragon girl, and we’d settle down to carry on the pure blood of my ancestors. That’s what my parents hoped, anyway. Meanwhile, I just wanted to meet someone I could imagine being around often and not hating.

“You said they’re expecting baby number two.”

I nodded. “They have a little daughter, Flara.”

“Flara. Pretty name. Very unique.” Her lips curved into a smile. I could see her pulse thumping at the base of her throat and noticed the rounded slump of her shoulders as she straightened before standing up at the foot of my bed.

I turned the tables on her and asked her almost the same thing she’d asked me. “What about you? Want a husband? Kids?”

Her eyes met mine. “Is that an offer?”

My whole body froze as the sudden thought of being with her hit me like a runaway freight train. The thought of her growing larger with our babies filled my mind’s eye, as did the thought of her in my arms, holding me close and whispering her love.

My whole body responded, and I watched goosebumps race up and down her arms before crossing her chest. A shiver snuck down her spine, and she studied me with those wide, innocent brown eyes even as I wanted to tear her apart.

“Because if it was an offer, I’m interested.” Pink stained her cheeks as she spoke, and her eyes pressed closed as she moved another step closer to me. Her sweet scent filled my nose, and I inhaled.

My whole being turned on me, raging toward her as if my soul could pull her closer to me even if my body didn’t move.

I growled, then grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. “If it was an offer, you’d know it.”

9

Mel

Despite his harsh words, his lips came down on mine, and I tried to breathe even though crushed to his hard chest with his mouth moving against mine. My heart pounded hard in my chest, and a faint sensation washed over me.

His tongue pressed to my lips, and I opened for him, hoping he wouldn’t sense my lack of experience. I didn’t want him to treat me like some fragile thing he might break if he touched me.

His tongue swirled around mine, and I was lost in the taste of him.

He reminded me of fresh coffee in the morning, the sun warming a damp mountainside, warm blankets on a cold morning. All the things that were right and wonderful even if I couldn’t quite pinpointwhy.

I kissed him back, loving how his hand came up to cup my cheek as his tongue plundered my mouth. My arms circled his wide shoulders, and I clung to him. The hard, flat plains of his body sent primitive signals through my quickly-clouding brain, and I opened my mouth wide, needing more without understandingwhatI needed more of exactly.

He gave an appreciative growl as his lips left mine. With my head still tilted back and my mouth open, I must have looked silly, but the heat in his eyes couldn’t be denied as he leaned in and pressed his lips to my jawline.

My eyes closed again, and I let out a soft, involuntary sigh of pleasure as his lips trailed toward my ear. His teeth tickled my earlobe, and the rush of his breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine. My arms tightened around him as my legs threatened to drop me at his feet.

“Hold on to me,” he growled.

In the darkness behind my eyes, I could focus on the sensations as his soft lips trailed down my neck toward my collar bone. He kissed in toward my throat, his tongue tracing the hollow at the base of my throat in a way that made me whimper.

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