Page 11 of Alpha Dragon's Mating Contract
The alpha shot him a proud smile. “Custom-spelled. Neat, huh?”
“That’s... Why do you have that?” Walren clutched Zebbie closer to himself. “Are you planning to steal my baby?”
Raptor’s mouth curved. “About that. I wanted to speak with you.”
“Why does this sound so ominous?”
“I promise it’s nothing dangerous. Or nefarious.” Raptor gestured at the playpen. “You can leave Zebbie in there while we talk. He’ll be safe.”
Because Raptor had saved them from their kidnappersandflown them to a hospital, Walren gave him the benefit of the doubt. “Let me get him to sleep. Then we can talk.”
“Sure. Would you like some food?”
Walren’s stomachgrowled.He clutched it and groaned in embarrassment. “Are you really offering?”
“Are you familiar with the Nood’s Good menu? I can whip up something from there, if you’d like.”
This time, a whimper slipped out of Walren’s mouth. “The noodles looked so good. And the fried bread. And the stewed mushrooms. I wanted noodles but it was closed.”
“Noodles, mushrooms, bread. Got it. What protein?”
“Anything but meat. I—I eat plants. But eggs and milk are okay.”
Raptor eyed him for a moment. “Gazelle, right?”
Suddenly it felt as though they were in a tiny, intimate bubble, Raptor watching Walren as though Walren was about to say the most important thing in the world.
No one had made him feel that way before.
“How did you know?” Walren whispered, feeling so self-conscious.
“Pinks provided information on all of you when he asked us to rescue you. After you threw up on me, I went back to look at your file.” Raptor grinned.
Walren lifted Zebbie into the air and hid his face in Zebbie’s stomach. “I’mnevergoing to look cool to anybody.”
Raptor snorted. “Who needs to look cool? That’s overrated. I’m not cool.”
Walren lowered Zebbie and scrunched his eyebrows. “You’re not? But—But you go around rescuing people! You’re a dragon! You breathe fire!”
“And in my daily life, I cook ramen for people.” Raptor gave him a lopsided smile.
Walren had been to Ace’s mansion, when Ivo invited his friends over. So he knew that Raptor owned the mansion next door. “Wh-why would you be a cook when you could do literally anything else?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Raptor grinned. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that. I need to keepsomemystery about my fun self.”
Walren pouted. Raptor’s eyes darkened.
“Now, I’d suggest not sticking your lips out like that in front of me,” the alpha murmured. “My imagination is... easily tempted.”
“What could you possibly imagine from this?” Walren asked, aghast.
“Your... other mouth... looking just as puffy as this one.”
Walren stared. And his mouth fell open at the sheer daring of this man.
“Don’t leave your mouth open, either.” Raptor smirked. “You never know what might slide in.”
“Holy gods,” Walren spluttered. He grew hotter between his thighs.
