Everything stilled.
Then he ruined it by laughing softly. "Sorry I didn't ask about condoms the first time. Or the second. I mean, shit, that's not very responsible."
I barked a laugh. "I think we covered that already. It worked out in the end." There were regrets, sure, but I wanted to look forward, not backward.
He squeezed me tighter, burying his face in my hair. "Yeah," he said. "It really did."
The room fell quiet. Just the sound of us breathing, and the echo of what we'd made together.
I closed my eyes and let the warmth soak in. I cared a lot for Chance. I might've even loved him, but I wasn't quite ready to make that much of a leap. Not quite yet. This was enough for now, for me. If it wasn't enough for him, that would be my answer.
He snuggled close. "Say it back when you're ready," he whispered. "I just wanted you to know."
Well. Okay, then. It was enough.
Damn, he was hot.
Chance
The sheets were twistedaround my waist. Tash was sprawled next to me, one leg tossed across my thigh, her beautiful brown hair spread out everywhere.
Her breathing was slow. She was finally settling after the wild ride we'd just had. Shit, I couldn't blame her. We'd hit every base. Left nothing on the field.
But I couldn't let it go. Not with Caden pacing like a caged tiger since the second I'd touched her.
Tell her!
Wanting a woman so bad it hurt, this hunger with sharp, glassy edges to it, had never happened to me before. I guessed it was time to fucking face it.
Finally.
I propped myself on one elbow and caught the drowsy edge of her gaze.
"Can we talk?" I sounded normal, but it took effort.
She blinked. "That's never a good opener."
I reached for her fingers, but she shifted position and fidgeted with the pillow instead. "Okay. Hit me."
Fuck it, then. I dropped the bomb.
"I think you might be my mate. Not just the ‘I want you' kind. Real thing. It's…" I shook my head. "Caden's been losing his mind since you walked in the bakery and we saw you again."
The words fell between us like live wires.
"Mate?" she managed, voice mouse-small.
"Yeah. It's rare." I locked eyes with her, refusing to blink. "But it's not like in the romance novels. It's not a fated thing. Once a dragon picks a mate, it's nearly impossible for them to move on to anyone else, but it's not a complete loss of free will or anything. Caden's picked you. So have I."
Yes.
She went quiet. Her thumb flicked the edge of the pillow, like she was thinking hard.
I gave her space. "If it's too much, say so. I can shut up. But I think you deserve the truth."
She shook her head, soft dark hair brushing mychest. "No, keep going. I need to know. I want to know."
"Okay."
