Her dragon flicked her wings in the equivalent of a shrug. You'll find out when he kisses you.
On the slim chance he was her true mate, she'd have to put off kissing the human until they arrived at the house provided by ADDA for them to, er, get busy. Because when a true mate kicked off a mate-claim frenzy with a kiss, her dragon wouldn't stop demanding sex until they were pregnant.
Which could scare a human all too easily, especially one who had no idea what they were in for.
And yet as she glanced from the corner of her eyes, taking in Ryan's dark stubble, strong jaw, and lips, she wanted him to kiss every inch of her body.
She resisted blinking. At this rate, Gaby wondered if she could keep her lips away from his until they arrived at the ADDA house. Because she wasn't entirely sure she could.
It was as if she were some horny teenager, ready to dive into their first make-out session.
If she were watching this play out to someone else, it'd be almost funny—the virgin finally wanting to jump someone and having to wait or risk giving some ADDA employee a free show.
And while Gaby didn't want flowers and champagne, it wasn't too much for a girl to ask for some privacy for her first time having sex.
Ashley opened a door and motioned them inside a room.
Once inside, Gaby expected Ryan to release her, but he kept her arm firmly in his.
Oh no. Was he yet another alpha male, ready to dictate what she could and couldn't do, just like the dragonmen back on her clan?
Had she made the wrong choice?
Once Ashley joined them in the room, she pointed to two chairs, facing each other across a table. "Sit, go over the paperwork, and let me know when you're done." She handed a cell phone to Ryan. "My number is in there. Call me if you need anything, and I mean it. Don't be that silent, suffering man, the one trying to be brave when he shouldn't. I call those kinds of men dumbasses."
Gaby bit her lip. Yes, she loved the human female more and more.
Ryan took the phone. "I'll try not to be a dumbass, but I think we all are one at some point in our lives, so I can't promise it 100 percent."
Ashley snorted. "You may stand a chance with the dragon-shifters after all."
Gaby's dragon hummed. Yes, he just might.
As her beast blasted thoughts of licking his neck, down his chest, and finally down the goody hair trail below his navel, Gaby's cheeks heated. Stop it.
Ashley nodded at her and then left them alone, the door clicking closed echoing inside the room.
Ryan finally released her arm, only to pull out the chair and motion for her to sit.
Wanting to set boundaries—he could merely be trying to be polite, but Gaby had no idea this early on—she went to the other side and sat in the other chair.
With a shake of his head, Ryan sat down. "You'd have my mama frowning, for sure, if she were still alive."
Then Gaby felt a split-second of regret. It hadn't been a power play, but merely manners.
Pushing the feeling aside, she asked, "I'm sorry for your loss."
He smiled wistfully. "Oh, my mama passed some time ago, and my dad not long after. Everyone said he died of a broken heart."
Humans didn't have true mates, but Gaby knew some of them were lucky enough to find the equivalent.
Would she find hers, too, in this male? Wanting to learn more about him, she asked, "And what would she think of you being here with me right now?"
He put his hands out to his side, palms up. "Honestly? I don't know. I suspect as long as you didn't also leave me for my brother, she'd welcome you with open arms."
While she was aware the time was ticking for them to sign and finish the paperwork, Gaby burned to know what had turned this male somewhat bitter. "Tell me what happened. And before you protest, you keep hinting at it. I don't want your past lingering when we're together and naked."
Leaning back his chair, Ryan crossed his arms over his chest. Considering he wasn't a dragon-shifter his broad chest and toned arms called to her. Would he have a tan line? Or, did he often go out without his shirt, leaving only his ass and dick pale?