Page 194 of Labor of Love

Warmth floods my chest. He isn’t pushing or using his alpha voice to command me. His patience and kind tone touch me in a way I never knew I needed. I nod again. “I’ll tell you soon,” I agree. “I just need a little time.”

Brooks places his other hand over mine as he hums happily. “Whatever it is, pretty omega, you can trust me. Nothing you say will make me think any less of you. You can tell me on your own time.”

I cuddle up against his side, and he places his arm around my shoulders. His weight makes me feel grounded. Safe.

“What exactly do you do for work?” I ask, changing the subject. “I got the impression you work with James?”

“Yes, we work for the same law firm, but I specialize in omega rights here in Arkadia. My job is actually the reason why I wanted to participate in this program.”

“How so?” We continue our casual walk down the beach, arms occasionally brushing together as we move. The ocean breeze mingles with his sweet, smoky alpha scent.

“There’s only so much I can do to help omegas in this backwards country. When I first started this job, I thought I could come in and change the world, but things take a little more time than that.” Brooks chuckles to himself. “When my cousin Archer came up with the idea, I realized the impact I could have on someone’s life.”

He’s such a good man. A stray thought pings around in my head, and I try to shake it away, but it only grows stronger by the moment. “Is it selfish for me to say I want it to be me? I don’t care about meeting any of the other alphas. I just want you to choose me.” As soon as the words leave my lips, I want to take them back. Heat floods my cheeks, and I groan. “Oh gods, did I just say that out loud?”

Brooks barks out a laugh as we pause right before the waterline. “You did.”

“Shoot me, now.” I press my cool hands to my cheeks and pray that the sand will swallow me whole.

“Can I be honest with you, Kestrel?” He pulls me to a stop, my skin tingling under his touch. I nod, eager to hear what he has to say after my confession. “My dragon and I chose you as soon as we scented your lovely strawberry omega scent. Hell, I’m pretty sure we chose you the moment we met at your bookstore.”

My mouth falls open, and my heart flutters with excitement. Then, the rest of his words register. “You’re a dragon shifter?”

“I am. Wanna see?”

I glance up and down the beach and don’t spot anybody nearby. “Here?”

“Here.”

Before I can overthink it, I nod my agreement. When he starts stripping right there on the beach, my face flames, but I don’t turn away. Instead, I eagerly eat him up with my eyes. Brooks’ green eyes glow with lust, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

My gaze drops to his sculpted chest and chiseled abs. I never thought I was the type of omega to get turned on by an overly toned alpha, but I can’t help the slick that begins to pool between my legs as my cock grows hard. Emerald-green scales ripple across his stomach and up his chest right as a low growl rumbles deep in his throat.

I get the impression this isn’t part of his normal transformation, but rather proof he’s aroused by my hungry gaze.

“Keep looking at me with that lustful gaze, omega, and I can’t guarantee you’ll see me shift.”

Biting my lip, I’m half tempted to tell him I can meet his dragon next time.

Brooks smiles, almost as if he can read my thoughts. He spins around, giving me his back before he continues stripping until he’s naked before me. He strides toward the ocean. Just as his bare feet hit the water, magic and scales ripple across his skin, and beautiful emerald wings erupt from his back.

Then he fully transforms into a huge, stunning dragon and bounces up before taking off into the sky.

A joyful gasp leaves my lips as I take in the dragon’s appearance. He soars overhead before diving back down toward me. At the last minute, his jeweled wings tilt, causing the wind to ruffle my wavy hair before he lifts back up toward the clouds.

I throw my arms up and laugh, something like pure giddy joy soars through my heart. Just watching him fly makes me feel happy and free. I blink, remembering the life-size photo I sawearlier inside the house. It called to me on some unexplainable level. Could Brooks’ dragon be the reason why?

The idea of fated mates never appealed to me before, probably because I never truly believed. But as I watch Brooks and his dragon fly playfully over the ocean and through the clouds, I feel like our paths were meant to cross.

Once the sun begins dipping from the sky, Brooks lands by his disregarded clothes and shifts back. This time, I turn around quickly, giving him privacy as my mind whirls. When was the last time I smiled this much?

Brooks joins me and taps my shoulder, letting me know it’s okay to turn around. There’s a wild, happy look on his face, and his emerald eyes are still glowing. Scales magically ripple over his hands, and I almost expect his dragon claws to emerge from his fingertips. A part of me regrets not touching his dragon when I had a chance, but something tells me I’ll have lots of opportunities in the future.

Just as I lean forward and lace our fingers together, a magical spark lights up between us, and glowing green tendrils swirl between our joined hands. Brooks’ mouth falls open before his eyes snap up to mine. He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I, but I’m pretty sure my earlier thoughts of Brooks being my fated mate were just confirmed.

Instead of asking, I decide to let him tell me on his own terms. Maybe when he does, I can find the confidence to tell him about my pregnancy.

The rest of the evening passes quickly, with Brooks and me chatting about our love and interests. A part of me should be surprised by how much we have in common, with our mutuallove for reading and our intense loyalty to those we care about, but I’m not shocked at all. That happy, settled feeling grows in my heart the more I get to know everything there is to know about the alpha in front of me.

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