He knew he shouldn’t have done this, that it was going to cost him. But despite himself, he couldn’t stop the urge to cradleher to his chest, wrapping his wings around them both in a protective cocoon.
For the first time since he was a child, he drifted off peacefully to sleep.
Chapter Five
Delaney
Somethingwaswrong.
Delaney woke to the sound of a low, pained noise rumbling from Maelic’s chest. His arms had tightened around her—not gently, but desperately, like he was trying to hold onto something slipping away.
“No.” His voice was rough, broken. “Mamir—no, don’t—”
She blinked groggily, her brain struggling to catch up. He was still asleep, she realized. His eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw clenched so tight she could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin.
“Run,” he choked out. “Please—just run—”
His whole body jerked, wings flaring slightly behind him. The sound he made next wasn’t words. It was grief. Raw and so fucking heartbreaking she felt it in her bones.
“Hey.” She shifted in his grip, pressing her palm against his chest. His heart was racing beneath her hand, hammering like it was trying to break free. “Maelic. Hey, it’s okay.”
He didn’t respond. Just kept making those awful sounds.
“Maelic.” She said it firmer this time, rubbing her thumb in small circles over his sternum. “Wake up. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
His eyes snapped open.
For a second, he just stared at her. Disoriented. Lost. Those red eyes were wild, searching her face like he didn’t recognize where he was.
Then something in him cracked.
He pulled her closer—so close she could barely breathe—and buried his face in her hair. His whole body was trembling.
“Del,” he whispered. Just her name. Like it was the only thing tethering him to reality.
“I’m here.” She wrapped her arms around him as much as she could, which wasn’t much given how massive he was. “You’re okay. It was just a dream.”
He didn’t say anything. Just held her.
She didn’t ask what the nightmare was about. Didn’t push.
She just stayed, rubbing soothing circles on his chest.
The steady inhale and exhale of his breathing finally slowed to an even rhythm.
Eventually, his grip loosened. The rigid set of his body eased. And when she glanced up, his eyes had drifted closed again—this time peaceful.
Delaney had been awake for twenty minutes now, cuddled up with her new friend.
Friend.
Her face went hot. What they did last night didn’t exactly qualify as platonic. She flushed deeper just thinking about it.
It was absurdly warm in his grip. His soft skin molded against her, that gentle vibration of his purr rumbling through her back. Her thoughts kept looping, stuck on the night before.
How had she gone from being terrified of this male to letting him eat her pussy within an inch of her life?
It had been a while since she’d done that with anyone. Usually she’d put on a show to make her hookup feel good, then move on to what she considered the main event. Oral had never been a favorite of hers.
