Page 70 of Claimed By The Dragon Daddy

She nodded, her honey blonde hair catching the sunlight. “Yeah, I received the information yesterday. With everything going on, I didn't want to bother you with it, so I talked to Abi about what I might need when it comes to help with Sofia.”

“Bother me?” I was shocked that she thought it’d be a bother, and I couldn’t deny the twinge of hurt that she hadn't come to me first. “Mariah, things might be crazy right now, but I still want to help and support you any way I can.”

My dragon rumbled inside me, making it clear that he wanted to be just as involved in Mariah's life. She was our mate, after all, and we should be the ones she turned to for support.

“I know,” she said softly, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Honestly, it just slipped my mind. I figured since Abi and I had some free time today, we could talk about her watching Sofia while I'm in class."

“Of course, Abi is more than capable of looking after Sofia.” But what I said came out tight, strained, and I couldn’t ignore the jealousy simmering beneath the surface. “Just don't forget, I'm here for both of you, too, no matter how crazy things get.”

Mariah glanced at Abi.

Abi's wary stare settled on me. She must have picked up on my irrational jealousy. “You two really need to have a talk about that problem you're having,” she said, giving me a knowing look before turning her attention back to Sofia.

Mariah seemed confused, but Abi didn't offer any further explanation as she lifted Sofia from the stroller, cradling my daughter against her chest and carrying her inside.

"Problem?" Mariah said, her eyes searching mine for answers. “What did Abi mean?”

I hesitated. We’d talked about this once before when Sebastian brought it up in the kitchen, but I knew I needed to address things more concretely.

“I’ll explain it all over dinner.” I offered a small smile so she didn’t see my internal struggle. “We haven't had any alone time together lately. I want to take you out.”

Mariah stepped closer, reaching up and wrapping her arms around my neck as she smiled. “That sounds perfect.”

“Perfect,” I said, lowering my head and pressing my mouth to hers, taking my time as I kissed her thoroughly.

“By the way,” she said when we finally broke the kiss and made our way back inside. “I’m sorry if I upset you by not telling you about my class schedule sooner. I didn't mean to keep you out of the loop.”

“Don't worry about it.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I just want you to know I'm here for you, Mariah. I want to be the one you turn to.”

Her smile widened, and she looked up with love in her eyes. “I know, Evan. And I appreciate it more than you could possibly imagine.”

Once we were inside, I went to find Abi, asking her to watch Sofia tonight, then I spent the rest of the afternoon playing with my little girl, with Mariah right there beside us. The day had started a little rough, but it’d turned around. My dragon was soothed and settled by the time we got dressed and were ready to leave.

I was about to speak, but the moment Mariah stepped out of the bathroom, the words died in my throat. She was stunning, clad in a simple yet elegant black dress that hugged her curves. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the sight transported me back to our time in Miami, when everything felt so simple.

“You look incredible,” I managed to say, approaching her and offering her my arm.

“Thank you.” She blushed as she took it, and I loved that I could still do that to her. I hoped I was always able to bring that lovely pink color to her cheeks.

We walked out to the waiting car, the night sky clear above us, stars twinkling like diamonds, and I vowed to just enjoy this time together away from everything else. The air was still warm from the hot day, but a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of pine. It was a perfect evening for a romantic dinner, and a chance for us to reconnect amidst the chaos consuming our lives.

We drove with the windows down, music playing as the wind whipped through our hair, and when we arrived at the restaurant, I felt like a new man. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d needed this, and I made a mental reminder to take my mate out more often. As we sat at our candlelit table, our hands entwined, I couldn't tear my gaze from Mariah. Her eyes sparkled in the flickering light. Soft laughter filled the air, a sound that further soothed my soul and eased some of the tension that’d set up residence inside me. We talked and joked, and for a while I was able to forget everything else.

But eventually, Mariah returned to my reaction earlier in the day.

“Evan,” she said. “What did Abi mean earlier? She said we needed to talk about your problem.”

I hesitated, unsure how best to approach the subject. My dragon's possessive nature was surfacing so much more often lately, making it difficult to maintain control at times, but I knew Mariah deserved the truth and that we needed to address this.

“It’s about my dragon,” I said, my grip on her hand tightening. “You remember what Sebastian said a couple weeks back?”

Her cheeks flushed. “You mean when he caught us in the kitchen?”

I laughed. “Yeah, then. Well, it seems to be getting worse. I’ve been feeling even more possessive lately. My dragon feels threatened when others get close to you, even though he knows they're not a danger to you or to our relationship."

Her eyes widened in surprise, then her lips curved into a smile. “What exactly are you planning on doing about it, then?”

I nearly growled, then had to close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I’m keeping him, and myself, in check, but it’s not easy. I just want you to know that I'm aware of our behavior and I'm working on it.”

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