Page 27 of Thrilled By Her Protector

Please don’t let it be too late.

ChapterTen

Sitting next to Jenn during a six hour GOT marathon seemed like a good idea at the time. But not being able to touch her for the duration had wreaked havoc on Zircon’s nerves. He was only too glad when Jasper announced show time was over and carried his pregnant mate to their suite of rooms.

Everyone had left then, but Zircon stayed to clean up. Oh, sure, his father had people come in to do deep cleaning, but he hated leaving messes that were unnecessary and they were all fucking adults, anyway.

“Here, I’ll take that,” Jennifer said, surprising him.

“I thought you went to bed,” he replied, handing her the empty snack bag.

“Thought I would stay and help tidy up.”

“Oh, you don’t have to. I can do that?—”

“I know you can. In fact, you always do, don’t you?” she asked, canting her head to the side, reminding him of her Owl.

He didn’t respond. Hell, he wasn’t sure what he could possibly say. Zircon was the youngest, and therefore, he’d been the one tasked with most of the menial duties around the estate. Ever since he was a kid, his brothers had left their messes for him to deal with.

He didn’t mind. Not really. His Wyvern was a stickler for cleanliness, and he preferred things to be neat and tidy. In his opinion, if you lived in a place, ate there, slept there, shit there, then you could damn well do your part to keep it clean and looking good.

Silently, he worked side by side with Jennifer. They continued to collect trash and cleaned off the seats and trays in the theater room with pre-soaked disinfectant wipes. She’d grabbed the small trash can from the corner, and when they were all done, he took the filled one with them to toss in with the kitchen garbage.

“Um, thanks,” he murmured, unsure of what to do next.

Well. That wasn’t true. Zircon knew exactly what he wanted to do. She looked so damn pretty and innocent with her hair down, wearing casual clothes. Though there was nothing wrong with her work gear. Hell, he loved her in a pencil skirt and her pert, buttoned-up blouses. Fact was, he loved her anyway she came. He just loved her. Period.

“So,” she began, sucking in a deep breath.

“So,” he mimicked.

The lights were all off except for the dim blue glow of a couple of nightlights under the wall cabinets. His father prided himself on the ventilation system in the house, and no traces of popcorn or snack food lingered in the air. All he could smell was her. Mountain air, honey, and berries.

The heady fragrance teased his senses, intoxicating him when he noted traces of arousal. Her brown eyes were so dark, like molten caramel, as she continued to watch him. Zircon’s pulse raced. She was so close he could hear her own heart thumping along inside her chest, his gaze flicked to her neck and he knew her pulse was going crazy just like his.

His Wyvern scratched against his skin. The animal didn’t want to wait anymore. Having her so close was making him wild with need. She was only a few inches away. All he had to do was reach out, and he’d be touching her.

Everyone was in bed now, and even if they weren’t, he would be able to hear it if someone approached. They were all alone. Just the two of them. Together. In the dark. And he wanted her more than ever.

“You look really pretty in that outfit, Jenn.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. You never wear casual clothes like that. I mean, I’ve seen you in silly pjs, but not regular clothes.”

“I was trying something new. And I think you mean badass axolotl pjs,” she replied with a smirk.

“Yep. That’s exactly what I meant. Of course, I like you in your fancy work gear, and in badass axolotl pjs, and I like you in those soft clothes you have on now. Of course, I like you better without clothes, Jenn,” he said, and meant every word.

“You do?” she asked.

Zircon nodded, waiting for a sign. Anything. His cock throbbed behind his suddenly too tight denim. Fuck. He really didn’t want to have to take care of himself tonight like he’d done a million times since he met her. Tonight, he wanted to feel her. Soft. Warm. Willing.

Please, please, please, Jennifer.

“It’s late,” he said, raising an eyebrow, offering her this one last out.

“Yes, it is.”

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