Page 42 of Charming the Dragon
Unlike a few days ago, Nathan didn’t argue. No, as he watched Hayley’s sleeping face, tenderness rushed through him. She looked so damn vulnerable.
Yes, she was a strong female who’d accomplished much. But if she became a part of his world, became his mate, she would have even more enemies. Ones that he’d have to work hard to take down.
And he would. Nathan was starting to think he’d do anything for Hayley, she’d only have to ask.
Which scared the crap out of him.
Holding her close, he closed his eyes and breathed in her scent. At some point he fell asleep, dreaming of Hayley naked and under him as he claimed her, making new memories to replace the old.
Hayley was warm,far warmer than when she usually started waking up. So much so, she sighed and refused to open her eyes.
Soon she snuggled into the warmth and recognized Nathan’s now-familiar scent. What she’d thought was a pillow was also hot and hard.
After blinking her eyes open, she came face-to-face with Nathan’s dark brown gaze. Since she was nearsighted, she could see the flecks of gold in his eyes. His pupils also changed shape, and this close, it was fascinating to see it shift from human to dragon.
His expression, though, was unreadable.
Maybe she should be worried about finding a half-naked dragonman in her bed—he lay atop the covers and had trousers on—but she vaguely recalled a nightmare and a soothing voice coaxing her to sleep. Which she’d only done after asking him to stay with her.
Oh, dear.Had she really asked Nathan to spend the night with her?
He grunted. “Good morning.”
“Um, morning. Did I have a nightmare?”
His eyes softened. “Yes.” He brushed some hair from her face. “You were dreaming about being locked in the trunk.”
“Oh.” She looked away. It’d been years since she’d done that. Yet again, she was doing something embarrassing in front of Nathan Woodhouse.
“Hey, look at me.” At his gentle tone, she obeyed, and he continued, “Why are you embarrassed? And don’t say you aren’t, because the more time I spend around you, the easier you become to read.”
She had nothing to lose by being honest at this point. “Well, I’m in my late thirties and I shouldn’t be having nightmares. Especially not of something that happened decades ago.”
“We can’t control our dreams, as much as we might want to. I’m older than you and I still have nightmares about finding my pet dog cold and unmoving when I was five or six years old.”
“Oh, Nathan, I’m so sorry.”
He cupped her cheek. “It was before my dragon started talking to me. In fact, it was only a few days later he came out to comfort me. And even with my inner dragon always being there, I still sometimes dream about finding my dog gone, and I’m there grieving by myself.”
How had she ever thought Nathan stoic and grumpy and rude before? There were so many layers to this man. And eachtime he revealed a little more, she became greedier, wanting to know everything about him.
Stop it, Hayley.
But as he stroked her cheek with his thumb, his gaze burning into hers, she forgot all about the reason they needed to keep their distance. She traced his jaw with her forefinger, and Nathan closed his eyes and groaned.
He murmured, “You need to stop doing that, Hayley.”
She stilled her finger. “Why?”
“Because if you keep touching me like that, I might kiss you.”
Heat flared through her body and settled between her thighs. Her eyes darted to his firm lips, and she licked her own. “Is that so?”
His eyelids fluttered open, his pupils flashing rapidly as he said, “Yes, and you really don’t want that to happen.”
She traced his jaw again, loving the feel of his morning stubble, and wondered what it’d feel like against her neck, her breasts, her inner thigh.
More heat coursed through her body and her nipples tightened. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could resist her attraction to this dragonman.
