Lorna had been arguing with her dragon when Ross finally kissed her.
She half-expected for guilt and betrayal to course through her body, but as her human’s lips touched hers, a yearning long buried rushed forth.
It was desire.
Ross was gentle at first, but the instant she leaned against him and threaded her fingers through his hair, he grew bolder and slid his tongue into her mouth.
Each hot, firm stroke stirred both woman and beast. It’d been far too long since she’d been kissed by a male.
Her dragon growled. Then start kissing him back.
Lorna wasn’t sure if she remembered how to kiss a male properly, but decided what the hell, and met Ross’s tongue stroke for stroke. As he groaned into her mouth and pressed her closer against his body, she couldn’t miss his erection pressing against her belly.
Her dragon hummed. Yes, yes. After all this time, we can have sex again.
Her dragon’s words sent a thread of shyness through her body. Lorna MacKenzie might be brash and able to handle her unruly brood, but she was most definitely not a sexual goddess.
Ross must’ve sensed her thoughts because he broke the kiss and murmured, “What’s wrong, Lorna?”
Since her hand remained threaded through Ross’s hair, she gently stroked his scalp. The motion helped her to focus her thoughts. She decided to tell him the truth. “It’s been a long time, Ross. And I’m not as young as I once was. Even for a dragon-shifter, birthing and raising three children takes a toll on a female.”
He snorted. “You really don’t know how lovely you are, do you?” He traced the lines around her mouth and eyes. “Each one of these represents a story and at least a dozen memories. I much prefer my women with personality and a history over fake beauty any day.”
She studied him. “I can’t tell if you’re sweet-talking me or being serious.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not exactly the sweet-talking type of man when it comes to you, Lorna. After all these months together, I thought you’d realize that by now.”
Lightly slapping his chest, she replied, “It all came on a bit suddenly, you devil. After all these months, why now?”
Searching her eyes, Ross answered, “Until my cancer was gone, my hands were tied. I didn’t want you to grow close to someone only to have them ripped from your side again, lass.”
“Like Jamie.”
“Aye, like your mate Jamie.” He paused a second to take her chin in hand. “Tell me about him.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. “And don’t dismiss it. It’s clear as day you still think of him often, as you should. But not talking about him means you can’t share your love with the world.”
She looked at him askance. “Since when did you become so wise?”
“I have my moments,” he said with a wink.
Lorna chuckled. “You must’ve been quite the charmer with the lasses when you were younger.”
“Aye, I was, and I’d like to think I still am. But it was a quiet woman who eventually caught my eye. However, we’re not talking about Anne until you tell me about Jamie.”
Jamie. Just remembering his final smile as he’d rubbed her pregnant belly twisted her heart. “He was a fool.”
“Pardon?”
She looked up again. “It’s true. I loved him more than life itself, but rather than wait out a lightning storm, he charged home the second he heard I was in labor.
“He said he’d seen his first two children born and wouldn’t deprive the youngest of his presence, or he’d never hear the end of it whilst the girl was growing up.”
Ross smiled. “Knowing Faye as I do, she probably would’ve brought it up all the time.”
“Aye, she would have.” Her throat closed up, and her voice cracked. “But if he’d waited for an hour or two, the storm would’ve passed, and he still would’ve made it home in time. The idiot.”
Her dragon rumbled, No one can change the past. You know that.
It still doesn’t mean I can’t wish for it to be different.