He grunted, looked away, and started walking.
Too tired for small talk or to pretend Cam’s actions meant nothing to her, she merely rested her head against his chest and enjoyed the warm, solid dragonman against her.
For a few minutes, she could pretend. Pretend they were potential mates, pretend he actually cared about her well-being, and pretend she was a priority in someone’s life for the first time in more than a decade.
It was dangerous, and yet she snuggled closer, wanting to make a memory she could recall later, when she was old and still alone in a lab, being brilliant but lonely.
It’d takeneverything Cam had not to storm into the clinic and demand Emily come home. But her research was important, and she wasn’t really his potential mate, so instead he’d waited for hours outside the building for her.
His dragon had suggested sending a text message or merely checking in with her. However, Cam had resisted to make a point: he didn’t want a mate, and he wouldn’t start treating her like she was his.
By the time Emily finally walked through the surgery’s doors, he’d been about to say they needed to go home when she stumbled. Instinct took over, and he pulled her against his chest.As soon as her soft body was pressed against his, heat shot through him.
His dragon spoke up.Hold her closer.
No.
At least carry her. She’s exhausted and clearly not stable on her feet.
He thought about fighting his dragon, but the longer Emily leaned against him, the more he wondered just how tired she was.
Finally, he decided it would be easier to carry her and swung her into his arms. She protested, but he explained his reasons. Then her stomach growled, and his dragon did the same.She isn’t eating enough. We need to make sure she gets meals. If nothing else, Mum will have our head if she learns we aren’t taking care of Emily.
His beast was right, of course.Only to keep Mum off our backs.
Except when Emily finally asked about what his dragon was saying, he blurted about her being his to take care of.
His dragon hummed at the words, and soon he started walking. As Emily laid her head against his chest, he instinctively held her tighter.
While people often relied on him for protection or help, be it dragon or human, this felt different somehow. Almost as if she needed him more than anyone had in the past.
Only because of the bounty on her head, he told himself.
Aye, that’s right. He was her personal bodyguard. That was it.
His beast snorted.You’ll figure it out eventually.
What’s that supposed to mean? Is she our true mate?
I still don’t know. Because of the dragon’s blood in her veins, I might never figure it out until we kiss her.
Then we won’t kiss her.
Hmph. We’ll see.
Don’t meddle, dragon.
His beast fell silent just as they reached home. For a few beats, he held Emily against him, not wanting to put her down.
Which was bloody ridiculous. So he forced himself to slide her down his body, expecting her to scurry away as soon as her feet touched the ground.
However, she instead leaned her back against his front, almost as if she would fall over without him, and it took every bit of control he had not to react to her soft arse pressing against his groin.
Focus, Cameron.And so he unlocked the door, took Emily by the shoulders, and guided her into the cottage. Once he closed the door, neither of them moved. She was still facing away from him, but he could hear her breathing and racing heart.
Then she blurted, “Goodnight. I’ll text you tomorrow about dinner at your parents’ house.”
“No. You haven’t eaten yet.”
