Page 41 of Purple Protector

Aaron cried out as Birch thrust into him again. His body felt like jelly as he shuddered with pleasure. Birch didn’t stop moving. His pace quickened, his movements becoming more urgent as he chased his own release. Aaron could feel Birch’s breath coming in short, uneven bursts against his neck as he drove himself deeper and harder.

“Aaron!” Birch cried out as he finally came.

For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The world narrowed down to the two of them.

Then, with a shuddering exhale, Birch collapsed onto Aaron, his weight pressing him down into the nest.

They lay like that for several long moments, neither of them speaking as they tried to catch their breath. Aaron’s heartbeat was still racing, and his limbs felt heavy and sluggish. He could feel Birch’s chest rising and falling against his own. He liked it.

Aaron tilted his head to the side, meeting Birch’s gaze. “That was incredible.”

“It was. You’re amazing, Aaron.”

Aaron blinked, caught off guard by the sudden compliment. “I think that’s you. I didn’t do much.” And he’d liked it. He’d enjoyed having Birch take charge.

“You are,” Birch insisted.

Aaron swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Birch didn’t look as though he was lying. He truly thought that Aaron was amazing.

“Thank you.” Aaron looked up at Birch. It would take him time to fully believe that, but he knew he would eventually. Birch would make sure of that.

Chapter Fourteen

AARON DIDN’T EXPECT the attack when it happened. Maybe he should have since it wasn’t the first time someone tried to intimidate him, but in his defense, he’d been distracted since he and Birch had gotten together—actually, he’d been distracted since he’d met Birch.

How could he not be distracted? Aaron had a bright future that he hadn’t expected he’d find when he’d moved in with the clan. He had Birch, and he didn’t mind waiting for him in the evening or not seeing him nearly enough because he had to protect the king. It might be different if Killian were just the king, but he was one of Birch’s closest friends. Aaron would never berate Birch for wanting to protect his family.

Killian was probably the reason Aaron was stuck in a corner of the palace between two cool stone walls, staring at a dragon shifter who looked like they wanted to pound him into the floor.

This dragon wasn’t burnt orange like the first one who’d attacked Aaron, but they were orange. Were they related to the first attacker? Was hurting Aaron a family business? Aaron didn’t know, and frankly, he didn’t care.

He was pissed.

The dragon leaned forward, probably to intimidate Aaron. It worked. The dragon was much taller than him, and they had fangs and claws. They could hurt him even without shifting into their dragon form.

“You better leave the palace as soon as this conversation is over,” the dragon said with a growl.

Aaron was pretty sure they were a male, but he wasn’t about to ask. He didn’t think the dragon would answer, anyway.

“If I see you around the palace again, you won’t be breathing when you leave it,” the dragon added. “You don’t have a place with the clan, human. You don’t belong, and we don’t want you here.”

Normally, Aaron would be cowering in a corner. He kind of was, actually. He was terrified, and he knew how badly this dragon could hurt him without even trying. He was done taking this, though. He was a clan member, and even though he was human, he had as much right as this dragon to be here. He wouldn’t allow anyone to push him away from the clan and from Birch. He didn’t care why they wanted him to leave. He wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how many times this or any other dragon growled in his face.

“No,” he said, pushing forward.

The dragon cocked their head. “What?”

“I said no. I’m not leaving.”

The dragon growled. “I don’t think you understand how serious this is.”

“I do understand.” Aaron pressed his hands against the dragon’s chest and pushed him away. “You’re not the first dragon to attack me. Hell, at least you did it to my face and talked to me before trying to toss me out a window. I don’t care what you or whoever you work for wants, though. I’m not going anywhere. I’m a clan member, and this is my home as much as it is yours.”

Aaron was about to get his ass handed to him, wasn’t he? This dragon was going to eat him, or maybe beat him up. Hell, maybe they’d do both.

Aaron’s only chance to get out of this mess was for someone to notice it was happening. Luckily for him, the dragon hadn’t chosen a deserted hallway or an empty room to threaten him. They were in a hallway just off the dining room, and Aaron could hear people talking not far away.

The dragon appeared puzzled, as if they hadn’t expected Aaron to stand up to them. If Aaron had to guess, they’d thought that he would agree and run because he was afraid for his life. He was afraid for his life. He just wasn’t willing not to fight for everything he’d found with the clan and Birch.

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