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“Give me a minute, baby,” I rasp. “You fucked me brainless.”

She kisses my chest, and the sweetness of it gets to me more than the sex did. “Did you enjoy yourself?” I ask. “I was practically useless.”

“My wolf is very satisfied, yes.” She pats my stomach.

“I didn’t ask about your wolf.” I find her hand and cover it with mine. “I asked about you.”

Her scent cools with worry. “Don’t tell me I’m bad in bed,” I groan.

“No, Ezra, it’s not that.” She hooks her fingers under mine. “I hope I didn’t disappoint you.”

I squeeze her hand, weak as I am. “Why would you think that?”

“I pushed for you to switch positions,” she admits.

All I’ve got left is a tired laugh. “We’ll do it my way later. Right now it’s about you, Aya.” I roll onto my side toward her. “How do you feel? I claimed you tonight.”

She hides her face in the crook of my neck instead of answering. I wait her out as long as I can stand it. “Aya.”

She sighs and gives in. “I’m ready to build my nursery and settle into my cabin in Ash Clan.”

After all that running she did, she just handed me our whole future. I’d start on it tonight if my legs worked. Then she sits bolt upright with her eyes gone wide. With her dark hair wild and her skin still slick, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. My poor dragon never stood a chance.

I rub her thigh. “What is it, baby?”

“I’m gonna be a luna.” She cringes with her canines showing in the dim light.

I tug her wrist. “Lie down. I’ll get up in a minute to draw you a bath.”

She lies back. “Will you get in with me?”

My heart stumbles at that. “Yes, baby.”

I pull her in closer. “I’m hoping you let us stay in bed tomorrow.”

“Nope.” She’s already shaking her head. “I’ve got a lot of planning to do.”

I’m too tired to argue with her. Her breathing slows against my side. Within minutes we drift off together in damp sheets that smell like us.

My eyes fly open with Aaron’s scent in my nose. My dragon wakes up grumbling about company at our cabin. I reach for Aya, but she’s gone and her spot is cold.

Sitting up hurts in places I didn’t know I had. Across the room, Aya’s already in her panties and wriggling into her dress.

“Aya, stop,” I call from the bed.

She whips around and glares at me with a ferocity that would be intimidating if she didn’t look like she’d been thoroughly fucked. Her hair is a disaster. She’s got pillow creases on her cheek and a claim mark on her neck that’s red and swollen from my teeth. Sore as I am, I harden at the sight of it.

“Hell no,” she snaps. Her scent spikes sour with panic. She smooths down the front of her dress and swipes the back of her hand over her forehead. “Aaron’s here. He’s like a big brother to me. I am not letting him see me like this.”

My thighs burn and my lower back pops when I climb out of bed to pull her into my arms. She pushes at me, but there’s no real force behind it.

“Why does he need to show up now?” she hisses, then narrows her eyes. “I told you Aaron doesn’t play about his mother.”

I brush some of the sweat from her face. “First, sit down, baby. I’ll put some clothes on and deal with him.” I hold her gaze. “You just mated and you are full of my seed. You aren’t walking anywhere until after I take care of you.”

“But…” she protests.

I kiss her quiet. She sags against me with a little moan. Her mouth tastes like sleep and me. Everywhere we’re pressed together, the new mate bond prickles hot and tugs me closer. Now that she’s claimed, she responds to my touch different and gives me what I want with less of a battle.