Page 68 of Guardian's Dilemma

“I don’t mind you staying there,” I said, and what I meant was I liked it.

After a while, Glimmer traced a finger across my peck and down my abs. He stopped at each little mark or scar along the way, as though he were mapping them out.

“You know, I think mates are meant to talk to each other.”

“I haven’t said I believe we’re fated mates,” I reminded him.

He gave a soft chuckle. Yeah, I was losing that fight. I was laying in bed with a dragon snuggled into me.

“You haven’t denied it in days, though. The point is, we’re in this together.”

I lay still, feeling the softness of Glimmer’s skin under my palm. He waited for me. He was much more patient with me than I was with him. It just wasn’t in my nature to wait.

“Why do you want us to be mates?” I asked.

“I don’twantus to be mates; wearemates. And I’m glad. You’re perfect for me.”

“I don’t feel perfect.”

He raised his head to give me a cheeky grin. “I didn’t say you were perfect, I said you were perfectfor me. There’s a difference.”

I slapped his ass in retaliation for that little dig and he yelped and we rolled about together, wrestling and struggling until we were tangled in the blankets and panting. He lifted the blanket over our heads so we were cocooned in semi-darkness, our breaths filling the space.

“You’re avoiding my question,” he said, and the sound was quieter, muffled by our blanket tent.

“I don’t know what will happen.” That was the closest I could come to explaining the nagging fear inside me.

“Neither do I. But I know you’re my mate and I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”

I huffed. “I don’t want to be protected, held in some ivory tower.”

Glimmer actually laughed. I glared at him for it because I was serious. He seemed to realise that, because he snuggled closer until I could hardly see him without going cross-eyed and then he whispered, “I know you don’t need me. I like that about you.”

“So you’d be happy if I went off alone and did my own thing?”

Was it me or was it too hot under here? It was getting hard to breathe.

Glimmer scowled horribly. “What are you trying to get me to say?”

I blinked at him. “I’m not trying to get you to say anything. I want the truth.”

“Really? Because you don’t like it when I tell you the truth. It reminds you that I’m a dragon.”

“Youarea dragon.”

We both frowned into the little space between us, neither of us sure what to say.

Eventually, Glimmer asked, “Do you want to leave? Is that what you’re saying?”

I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to leave. On the other hand, I didn’t see how we could maintain this little bubble before it burst.

My hesitation left a long moment of silence and I realised that Glimmer’s eyes had shifted. Even in the dim light, I could see them almost glow with the power behind them.

“Glimmer?”

He didn’t answer me, and I realised it was because he had his jaw clamped tightly shut. I reached out and ran my finger over his lips, and pressed between them, feeling the sharp teeth behind them. My hands explored his body, feeling for the changes I knew would be there. His scales were pressing against his skin, making it hard where before it had been soft.

I’d never seen a dragon restrain a shift before.

---