Page 69 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
The silence that settled between us seemed to stretch for miles. I didn’t know what to say. All I wanted to do was bury my face between Willow’s legs and drink until she screamed my name. To know I was doing something for the woman who gave so much to me in return.
But she’d wanted me to be vulnerable, so I’d tried. I only wished I could give her something better than what I truly was.
She deserved more.
“Speaking of days,” Willow suddenly changed the subject and the pressure on my chest eased. “I spent my day showing Amanda, the bear shifter, around the house. And I felt awful because I had ‘The Bare Necessities’ stuck in my head the whole time.”
“Is there a necessity you require?” I asked, confused.
“Never mind.” She blushed. “It’s just a Disney song. But Harper got along well with her boys.”
“Boys?” I’d known Amanda had children, but I hadn’t thought to ask the gender.
Not sure I like that.
“Twins.” Willow nodded as she continued, “And apparently you thought I needed help around the house.”
“I hope that’s all right.” I lay down beside her and propped myself on my elbow so I could stare at Willow’s pretty face. “Now that I’m able to withstand more absorptions, things should be stable for a while at least. I figured we should start planning for the future.”
“I’m glad you think that’s a good idea.” Her mischievous grin made me frown. “Because we’re going to need to hire some more help soon.”
“Whatever you need…”
“Oh, it’s not what I need. You’re the one who’s been receiving requests for dinner in the mail like some lord of an estate.” Willow blinked her long lashes. “And I am not cooking for all your supernatural friends.”
“No.” I groaned as I buried my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. I’d thought we had longer before we’d need to answer to the world.
“Yes.” Willow patted the top of my head reassuringly. “It’s a good thing you’re a type A control freak, because I don’t know how to plan a supernatural party.”
25
Willow
Monster Mash
Malachy made me figure out how to plan a supernatural party.
Well, he didn’t make me, make me.
But there were puppy dog eyes and a valid complaint of needing to rest and I just felt so damn guilty that he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I couldn’t tell him no.
This was getting dangerous. Too deep. I’d wanted him to open up to me and now that he was, my heart physically ached for the man and his dragon side.
I could see his torment, feel it as if it were my own. He beat himself up for not being enough despite everything he’d done for everyone else.
If I looked hard enough, I could see the irony of us being fated, but I would never compare myself to someone like Malachy.
Getting to know him was like peeling back layers one painful inch at a time. It was strange to realize the cold and aloof male I’d first met was the same silly man who snuggled against my chest at night and held me like he couldn’t let go.
In some ways, he reminded me of Sam by keeping his secrets and doing what he thought was the right thing to please everyone else.
I don’t know where in human history we decided that was the best way to show up, sacrificing ourselves to prove our love, but I was starting to realize it was bullshit.
My first marriage was a lie built on eggshells of kindness. Sam went with the motions, never being his true self, and he suffered his entire short life for it.
I wasn’t innocent either.
