Page 84 of Charming the Dragon
Chapter Twenty-Five
Two weeks later, Hayley still had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Not because she was exhausted or had developed early morning sickness—which apparently was common among humans who conceived dragon-shifter babies—but because she loved waking up in Nathan’s arms and listening to his slow, even breathing.
Everything still felt like a dream to her. Nathan had already become her best friend, the best lover of her life, and kept asking what he could do to help her with both the database project and moving her practice to Stonefire.
He didn’t dismiss her suggestions or pretend to listen to her plans before lecturing her about how they were wrong. All things she’d experienced in the past.
She should simply be grateful. And yet, she kept thinking something had to go wrong, eventually.
Nathan’s sleep-tinged voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “Hayley? Why are you frowning, love?”
She met his gaze. “It’s nothing.”
“As in really nothing? Or is this the case when you say nothing, but it’s really something?”
“Nothing really important. I just sometimes think this is all a dream and I’ll wake up to find myself stuck back in the bunker.”
Luckily, her nightmares hadn’t come back since returning to the surface.
Nathan traced her cheek with his finger. “I could take you to my secret spot nearby and we could have an outdoor picnic. One where we eat the cake you made before I eat you.”
He waggled his eyebrows, and she laughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t suggest icing me and licking me clean.”
His pupils flashed rapidly. “That could be arranged.”
She kissed him. “I have to go into town to sign some DDA documents for my new practice. Whilst there, I also plan on doing some last-minute shopping for our mating ceremony in two days. I won’t have a chance tomorrow since my sister will finally arrive.”
Carla and her family had been given leave to stay on Stonefire for an entire week. Not for the first time, Hayley was glad she’d gone through the frenzy first because now after her mating ceremony, she could spend time with her sister.
Nathan frowned. “I wish I could go with you.”
“I know, but the DDA switched my appointment last minute, and you didn’t have time to get permission to visit Manchester.”
“Can’t you send the other humans into town for you? Once we’re mated, you can go as often as you want. But I don’t want someone to woo you away from me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be fine. Plus, the sooner I sign the documents, the sooner I can get to work for both Stonefire and the other dragon clans. It’s not something I can do virtually, and who knows the next time they’ll have an open appointment.”
Apparently, many things related to dragon clans were still done in hard copy. Something else Hayley intended to change sooner rather than later.
When Nathan’s frown deepened, she added, “Besides, Dawn and Sarah roped in Rafe Hartley to accompany us. He said he has some other contacts who will also watch over us in town. If anything, it’s like I have a security team for the day.”
He caressed her cheek. “Just come back to me safe, Hayley. You know what I found online about your former stalker.”
The man had been released and was free again. But he spent most of his time ranting about how dragon-shifters received special treatment and that humans had it so much harder now.
If nothing else, his obsession had moved away from her.
She nodded. “I’ll be careful. Plus, I’m addicted to your dragon-shifter magic by now, so just let someone try to keep me away. Because once you go dragon, you never go back.”
He snorted. “You sound like the other human females on Stonefire.”
“Enough about other humans. I think it’s time you gave me more of your dragon-shifter magic, to remind me of just how good it is.”
Nathan’s pupils flashed rapidly, and he didn’t hesitate to give it to her.
Hours later,Hayley walked out of a DDA conference room in Manchester Town Hall—one of many the DDA used for Stonefire-related activities—and stretched her arms over her head. The meeting had taken nearly two hours, but in the end, she’d been granted permission to establish a practice on Stonefire and to handle both human and dragon business.
It was a small win since Hayley was the first human who could represent both on a permanent basis. However, as muchas she wanted to do a little dance and celebrate, all she could think about was finding a snack and heading home.
