exhibitionist or not.”
Holly glanced over her shoulder and counted about ten dragon-shifters blatantly staring at her. She wouldn’t exactly call herself shy, but the last thing she wanted was to share her reunion with the clan.
Looking back to Fraser, she whispered, “Then take me somewhere private. As much as I love your clan, I want to spend some time alone with my dragonman.”
“Your dragonman, eh? I like the sound of that. Maybe I should tattoo ‘Holly’s dragonman’ on my forehead. That will keep the lasses away.”
She shook her head. “You’re starting to make me question why I came back.”
Fraser’s grin faded and his pupils flashed to slits and back. “Don’t joke about that, Holly. You’re staying with me, end of story.”
Searching his eyes, there was a mixture of fierceness and something else she couldn’t define. Whatever it was, she couldn’t bring herself to tease him. “Provided you don’t turn into an arsehole, I’ll stay.”
“Good answer.”
Fraser stepped back and swooped under Holly’s legs. She squeaked as he held her tight against his chest. “I can walk.”
He jostled her against his chest. “Yes, but then I couldn’t make the most of my point and do this.” He looked past her to the crowd. “Stop gawking. Holly Anderson is my human and I’m not sharing her.”
Some of the clan members cheered whilst others shouted obscene suggestions. Holly waited for a flare of indignation, but it never came.
She rather liked Fraser claiming her.
Looping her hands behind his neck, she murmured, “Enough showboating. Take me somewhere private and give me a proper hello.”
Fraser glanced down to her gaze and heat flared in his eyes. “Are you sure? I can wait if you need time.”
“I had a lot of time to think inside the hospital. A few things kept popping inside my mind. Do you know what one of them was?”
Fraser’s voice was husky as he asked, “What?”
She leaned closer and whispered, “That I wanted to make new memories with you to forget the old. I’m healed now and I want you, Fraser, and I want you now. Trouble seems to follow us and I don’t want to risk something else stealing you from my side.”
~~~
Fraser’s heart beat double-time. A noble dragonman would take his female home after a trying day, pamper her, and hold her close whilst they fell asleep.
Yet he wasn’t a noble dragonman. Bastard that he was, all he wanted was Holly naked and under him.
His beast spoke up. She wants to make new memories. Give her what she wants.
But it’s too soon.
His dragon snorted. You definitely love the lass if you’re willing to forego sex when it’s offered.
At the mention of love, Fraser’s stomach flipped. It can’t be. We haven’t known her very long.
So? Reckless male that you were, you should know that things don’t always happen on a schedule.
Holly’s voice was a little less certain when she whispered, “Fraser, we can wait if you’re not ready. It’s okay.”
Fraser searched her eyes and saw concern.
He started jogging toward their cottage. “I’ll take you home, at least. Then we’ll see what happens from there.”
In response, Holly laid her head on his chest and Fraser wondered if he’d said the wrong thing.
His dragon growled. Tell her we want her and only her. She should never doubt that.