Roman
Icouldn’t help the smile that formed on my face when Oakley’s head landed on my shoulder. I glanced around to make sure no one was looking at us. No one was paying us any attention, so I leaned my head against theirs, nuzzling for just a moment before I lifted my head back up, not wanting to get caught.
When I’d suggested napping right here, I’d been joking, but I honestly didn’t mind being Oak’s pillow for a little while. They were exhausted, and we’d been out on the roof for over four hours already.
I loved our friends and family, and I was happy to see everyone—really happy—and to see how much care and affection Oak received. But we’d flown for hours today after not being able to fly much for the past two months. So… maybe seeing Oak passed out on the couch would be a good sign for everyone else to leave.
Or maybe I could scoop Oakley up, take them downstairs, and tuck them into bed.
My bed, preferably.
But that wouldn’t happen.
They needed sleep, though, so tucking them into their own bed would have to do.
Should I take them down now? Or wait a little bit and see if everyone left or if Oak woke back up?
Garrick came over a few minutes later while I was debating things in my head. He huffed as he sat in the chair closest to me, nodding at Oakley. “I can’t believe they fell asleep.”
“It’s been a long few days.” A few months, really, but I didn’t want to worry him.
“Have they been getting enough sleep on your missions?”
“Yes, Gar, of course they have. But yesterday was a lot with taking down the auction house, and then we flew here for hours after not being able to shift or fly much the past two months. I’m ready to fall asleep myself.”
He nodded. “Why don’t you two go to bed? This lot’ll be here all night.”
“You sure?”
He nodded again. “I can carry Oakley to their room—”
“No.” I said it too quickly and forcefully, but I didn’t want Garrick to point that out, so I kept talking. “I’m going down anyway, so I’ll take them.”
He eyed me for a few seconds before he nodded, stood, squeezed my shoulder, and whispered, “Thank you for watching over my child, Roman. I know they’re an adult, I know they’re capable of taking care of themself, and I know they want to help. I was hesitant to let them work on this case, but knowing you were with them helped.”
Before I could respond, he walked away.
A strange feeling of guilt nestled right beside my heart. He had no idea what Oak was to me, and I didn’t like it. But I was also terrified of telling him.
He was going to kill me when he found out.
I stared after him for a few seconds before sighing and gently nudging Oakley.
“Mmm?”
“Let’s go to bed.”
“‘M already ‘sleep.”
That made me grin. “Yes, and I can carry you down to your condo if you want, or you can wake up and walk down yourself.”
“Mmm… that’s tempting, but…” They peeled one eye open and looked right at me. “I guess I’ll walk.” They sighed dramatically and sat up, rubbing their face before looking at me fully. “You have to help me stand, though.”
I chuckled and stood, then grabbed both their hands. “I can do that.” I yanked them up and, without thinking much about it, I wrapped an arm around their waist to balance them.
They probably didn’t need it, being a dragon and all, but… I didn’t want to let go so I kept my arm there, kept them close to my side.
I guided and walked with them, happy as a clam to be so close to my viramore. After two steps, Oakley wrapped an arm aroundmy shoulders and leaned heavily into me. I chuckled when the sudden weight made me stumble, making them laugh too.
