Page 73 of Cowboy Dragon's Rose

Zeke stands, fully naked, fully massive, and fully not helping my brain settle.

“Yes. And no. It’s more than that. You’re my fated mate. This rose means you share in my fire now. My life. My strength.”

“Your fire?! YOUR LIFE?! What does that mean?”

Okay. Cue the total fucking freak out.

“Look, sit down, we’ll talk?—”

I shake my head cause first, he’s naked. If I get near him. I am jumping on him, which means no talking will happen.

When did I become such a horn dog?

“Um, part of the residual effect of early mating. We’re gonna wanna stay in bed for a bit,” he says with a cocky grin.

Bastard.

“Oh no. Nope. Absolutely not. We need to talk, not boink like bunnies,” I mumble, stumbling toward the bathroom.

“Bunnies? Casey! Wait a second,” he tries again.

And I know I’m being unreasonable, but can you blame me? Plus, I can’t stop it now if I tried.

Once I spiral, it’s typically best to wait it out.

“Nope. Not gonna happen. This is obviously a psychotic break. I'm hallucinating. That was just really good sex, and I had a spicy dream after reading those paranormal romance books Avery loaned me.”

“What books? Come on, Petals. Just hang on?—”

But I’m already slamming the door shut and twisting the lock, heart jack hammering in my chest.

This isn’t happening.

This isn’t happening.

I stare at myself in the mirror.

The glowing rose mark is fading to a silvery outline now, still warm but no longer searing.

My skin doesn’t look damaged.

It actually looks kind of beautiful?

NOPE.

I don’t know how long I’m sitting there, but a knock at the bathroom door jerks me out of my spiral.

“Casey? It’s Avery. Open up, honey.”

I press my forehead to the cool tile and groan.

“No.”

“Zeke’s not here.”

“He’s not?” I ask, and for some reason my heart hurts at that news.

“Don’t panic. He stepped out with Dante for a minute. He’s just trying to give you some space,” she says.

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