Page 57 of Alpha Dragon's Mating Contract
“Zebbie hurt me accidentally,” Walren mumbled.
Raptor looked incredulously at the gazelle calf. “Zebs, kiddo, we don’t hurt our dads like that.”
“Like I said, it was accidental.” Walren shrugged and wriggled his fingers in the water. “I’m feeling better.”
“Well, good.” Raptor was still frowning, though. He stepped over the creek and crouched to face Walren, dipping his hands into the water to carefully turn Walren’s hand around. “It’s looking better.”
“Thanks.”
Raptor didn’t release his hand. He kept holding it, stroking his thumbs across the pink patches until a different sort of tingle raced up Walren’s arm.
Walren blushed. Raptor glanced up right at that second, his dark gaze catching on Walren’s cheeks.
“Oh?” Raptor murmured. He pressed his thumb along Walren’s fate line, following it all the way to his wrist.
He paused at Walren’s pulse point. Walren knew Raptor could feel every thump of his heart.
“It’s beating faster,” Raptor whispered, his face just inches away.
“Y-yeah?”
“Is that because of me?”
“You’re very close,” Walren blurted. “So maybe there’s less air for me to breathe.”
Raptor grinned and bumped their foreheads together. “What about now?”
Walren’s eyes were probably crossed; Raptor’s had gone blurry, and his breath was warm on Walren’s lips.
Is he going to kiss me?Walren’s heart thundered.
Except Raptor pulled away, his gaze dropping to Walren’s chest—because he had heard Walren’s heart.
“Um, I don’t know what’s going on,” Walren squeaked.
A smile curved Raptor’s full lips. “Oh, you are precious.”
“I’m not!”
“Are too.” Raptor dropped a kiss on the tip of Walren’s nose, before pulling away.
Walren felt oddly disappointed, even though it was too soon for anything to happen between them.
The alpha hadn’t looked away from him, though. “You’ll come with me to Nood’s Good,” he murmured. “I can’t ditch it completely to build your nest, but if you’re at the restaurant with me, I can make you any food you want. We have some special teas there, too. You seemed to like the green tea.”
“It tastes like grass,” Walren admitted. “I like grassy things.”
Raptor was about to reply when he paused, cocking his head. His gaze darted to the mansion and back to Walren. “Hassel says you like flowery things, too.”
Walren blushed a deep red. “Oh gods.”
“Why does he know that and I don’t?” Raptor growled.
“Is—Is he telling you?”
“No!” Raptor said in outrage.
“It’s embarrassing!” Walren whined.
