Page 59 of Claimed By the Sinful Dragon
I do not think the male—
Not that present,I ground out, fury heating every cell in my body at the mere thought of him near my mate. No. Notthatpresent. That one was for later.
I swept Kaylee into my arms, delighting in the yelp of giddy surprise that tumbled from her mouth, and the way she clung to me as I carried her into the house. In her scent, and the arousal that layered it. In the eyes that stared up at me with excitement…and trust. In every single thing about my perfectDhoca.
I wasted no time, striding straight for the library, glad that I knew the way through muscle memory alone so I didn’t have totake my eyes from her for a single heartbeat. But I couldn’t stop myself hesitating as we reached the door.
“Rook?” she asked, sensing the shift in my mood.
“I—” I swallowed. Fuck, what wasthisshit?
Emotions,my dragon said dryly.
Fuck off, I don’t do emotions.
His silence was all the answer I needed. Dickhead. My mate looked up at me quizzically, a hint of uncertainty—not quite worry, but not quitenot—in her eyes that settled it for me. I cleared my throat irritably, willing my heart to calm the fuck down and act like a heart, not a fucking drum.
I forced my eyes to meet hers, despite my instinct to do the opposite. “If you don’t like it, that’s okay.”
“You’re worried that…” She stared at me in wonder—of all things—and stretched one hand up to my cheek. I thrummed low in my throat as I leaned into the gentle heat. Her gaze flicked from my eyes to my lips and back. “Rook, it meanssomuch to me that you thought to bring me anything at all. I promise you, whatever it is, I already love it. I already loveyou.”
“I don’t deserve you,” I said simply, and then carried her into the library.
The gasp of delight that burst from her lips made my chest swell. She twisted in my arms, trying to take it all in, and I set her carefully down. Her eyes darted everywhere at once as she turned in a circle, taking in the library that had doubled in size.
“Rook…it’s beautiful.”
“No,you’rebeautiful,” I told her. “This is adequate.”
She scoffed, then reached up to place her hand on my chest, her lids lowering. “You weren’t joking aboutbigger.”
“This isn’t the present,” I said, wrapping my hand around hers. I squeezed it lightly and lowered our joined hands to our sides.
“It’s not?”
I shook my head, a smirk settling on my lips. “It’s not.”
I led her forward, pausing as we reached the reading area, where my comfortable chair sat in front of the fireplace, or it had. Now, it sat slightly off to one side, and a large, cushioned couch took center place. A second armchair had joined mine, too, though I didn’t imagine either of us would be using those again. Not with the couch being big enough for the two of us.
Her lips pressed together and she blinked hard. I felt my face fall, and my heart plummet.
“Do you not like it?” I searched her eyes, trying to read her. “I can redecorate, of course. More chairs…or less. Rugs, cushions, simply name it and—”
“Shh.”
I stared at her, my eyes narrowing. “Did you just shush me?”
She nodded, her cheeks turning pink.
“Whydid you just shush me?” I asked, leaning over her, my pants growing tighter as her eyes widened and her pupils dilated at my touch.
“You worry too much,” she whispered. “How could I not like this? It’s perfect.”
The pressure in my chest eased, and the pressure in my pants increased. If I didn’t fuck her soon, I was going to cum in my pants. This woman undid me.
My lips curved.
“Still not your present.”
