“Because you suffer clothes during the day when you’re certain most dragons and humans would prefer to study your sexy dragon form,”Sasha finished. She’d listened to the argument so many times she could repeat it verbatim.
In the interest of peace—because she was truly exhausted—she shed her T-shirt and slid under the covers.
She pushed away her fears of becoming trapped on this side of the barrier forever and fell asleep almost immediately.
It was still dark when she awoke. She found herself pressed up against a male chest.
“Mmm, nice,”her dragon said drowsily.“I like Max trespassing on our side of the bed.”
Sasha focused.“Ah, newsflash. We seem to have gravitated toward Max, not the other way around.”
“Well, you could never call us stupid,”her dragon said with satisfaction.“It’s a pity our parents didn’t give us the benefit of the doubt and let us choose our partner. We found Max, and he’s exceptional.”
“He’s not a dragon.”
“Doesn’t matter. We could still have children with Max if we wanted and live in either world. We’ve proved we’re adaptable and clever enough to blend in here.”
“Max mightn’t want children.”
“Pffff! He loves Noel and has given up a lot to raise him. Max didn’t have to fight for his brother. He could’ve let his grandparents take care of Noel. Even though he had an important job in that London place, he gave it up. He changed his life and walked away from his fiancée.”
“True.”Sasha yawned, hoping her dragon had ended her lecture.
“You have to act positive and reach for what you want in this life.”
Sasha bit back a groan. Evidently not.
“So far, we’ve escaped Bruceous, whom we do not want as a husband. Max is an acceptable husband,”her dragon persisted.
“What if we can go home? What then? If Max came with us, what if our parents force him to leave and refuse to let us stay together because he’s a human?”
Her dragon didn’t reply for a beat, and some of the building tension slipped from Sasha. Her dragon didn’t have an argument for that. It wasn’t as if crossing between their worlds was possible. Her presence on this side of the barrier was unusual. She’d never heard of another dragon leaving the Dragon Isles.
“We could seduce him and get pregnant with his young,”her dragon said.“He’d never leave us then. He’s too honorable.”
“No!” Sasha blurted, shocked to her core by the suggestion. “I’d never try to trap a mate in that way. It’s wrong and no better than our parents trying to foist Bruceous on us.”
“Who are you talking to?” Max grumbled. His warm breath feathering against her collarbone, making her shiver.
“Um, sorry. I didn’t realize I spoke aloud. My dragon and I are having a difference of opinion about the way to discover a mate.”
“What did your dragon suggest?” Max asked, sounding more alert now.
“You don’t want to know.”
“Actually, I do.” His hand slid across her collarbone and lower before freezing in position. “I thought you were sleeping in clothes this time.”
“My dragon’s idea.” Guilt forged through her because she hadn’t precisely argued much. For the sake of peace, she’d taken off her T-shirt.
“Do you do everything your dragon tells you?” Max’s thumb worked back and forth over the skin just below her shoulder.
Sasha’s breath caught, and everything in her tightened with sensual tension.
“Sasha?”
“My dragon wants me to seduce you and hopefully become pregnant, so you’ll keep us with you all the time,” Sasha blurted. This wasn’t possible because she’d started taking a contraceptive potion when she broke her fast each morning. She still wasn’t certain what had made her do this, and she’d fibbed to her dragon, telling her the potion was part of a new health regime.
The thumb ceased stroking for an instant before it resumed, increasing the crazing-inducing stupor in Sasha.
