Page 97 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

His face scrunched up. “When it’s irrational, yes. But Udaralwaystries to take anything I have, and he usually succeeds. The only reason he was at that bank party in the first place was because he was trying to steal Kilinis from me.”

I crossed my arms. “But he can’t really steal me. I’d have to want to go with him.”

“I know, I know.” His breath heaved out. “The fact that you chose to stay is way better than any other gift you could have given me. Youarechoosing to stay, right? None of Udar’s showing off worked?”

My lip curled. “Ew, no, never. He’s a pompous asshole.”

“You don’t want a nice big library like his? You studiedbooksin college.”

I made a face. “Everyone studied books in college, in a way.”

I took in his stricken look, the way he seemed genuinely worried that I’d go for his douchey brother, every snide comment his parents had made, his siblings’ ribbing.

Dragons revered knowledgeandwealth, and I’d noticed that Az’zael was maybe not the most complicated being I’d ever met, for all that he was generous, thoughtful, and surprisingly intuitive. “Did you think I’d leave you over a library?”

And was he so insecure over something so silly because I’d held myself back? He’d bent and bent and bent for me, trying to respect human customs. When would he break?

He fidgeted. “Maybe? My treasure hoard is way bigger than Udar’s. A dragon would want both, but you aren’t a dragon, so I wasn’t sure. I thought it would be fine, but you obviously like books…”

“You told me you’d give me whatever I wanted. If I want a library, I’ll ask you for one.” I curled into him, knowing he needed the physical touch along with the words.

Az blew out a breath and clutched me closer. “Okay, good. I’d hate for that to be the last gift I ever gave you.” He jerked his chin at a stack of papers on the coffee table.

I blinked at them. I didn’t know if I could process a gift that required paperwork right now, or possibly ever. “Um, yeah. You can show me tomorrow, okay?”

I tilted my head at those papers, rearranging everything he and everyone else had said about worth and value and time. “You know you can’tbuymy love, right?”

He rubbed his forehead. “Yeah, I know. It’s just, we’ve only got one life, right? Eighty, maybe a hundred years at best, no refunds. I don’t want to waste that time. I want to spend it with someone I love, who loves me back. Money ensures I get as much of your time as possible.”

I melted into a puddle of Elle-shaped goo. “Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense.”

His scales darkened. “Shit. I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you that I love you so soon.”

“I love you, too.”

He buried his face in my neck. “Thank fuck.”

The last of my doubts, fears, and anxieties floated away. I tilted my head up so I could look him in the eye. “I…” I swallowed. This was harder to say than telling him I loved him. “I trust you to take care of me. Mate me, please.”

His hands tightened on my hips. “If you mate me, it’s for life.” His forked tongue snaked out to lick his lips. “Divorce isn’t something dragons do.”

“The permanent bite mark clued me in.” I could see how badly he wanted this, but he was holding back because he wanted what was best for me. It just solidified that this was the right decision.

“I don’t want you to regret it.”

“I won’t. You won’t regret mating a penniless, libraryless human?” Dragons placed such emphasis on those things.

“Ilovegiving you those things, but you give me so much more.”

Warmth radiated through me, and I knew. I justknew. “Do it.”

24

Elle

Az lifted me into his arms and sprinted to the bedroom, that absurd velvet wrap billowing out behind him. He dropped me on the bed, and I bounced, surprising a giggle out of me.

One flick of his claws and he’d slit the sides of my strapless gown, freeing my breasts so he could lick and suck them. A burst of cool air blew across my peaked nipples.

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