Not wanting her cheeks to burn in front of the Scottish leader, she merely nodded her parting. Once the pair was gone, she turned to Asher. "We did it. The truth's still setting in, but we did it."
He patted the bed, and she sat next to him. Taking her hand, he kissed the back of it. "Yes, we did. And while I'm prepared to spend almost every waking hour getting Skyhunter back on track, right now I need to kiss you, Ria. Come here."
Since moving his torso could still be painful and trigger a spasm in his back, Honoria leaned over until her lips were a hairbreadth from his. Staring into his eyes, the heat and triumph there making her skin burn in a good way, it hit her. Asher would be her partner to lead the clan, but she wanted more than that.
Honoria wanted him as her best friend, her lover, her partner in all things.
The urge to let him know bubbled up inside her. Her beast hummed. Tell him. Now. While we have the chance. He is ours, and he should know it.
Before she could stop herself, she murmured, "I love you, Asher King."
With a growl, Asher closed the distance and kissed her.
~~~
Asher wished he was whole and hearty for many reasons. The clan—correction, his and Honoria's clan—needed a lot of work and care before they could rein it in and make it thrive again. Not to mention they would need to start forming temporary alliances with various leaders as soon as possible, no matter how annoying they may be.
However, right after Honoria said she loved him, Asher wanted to be healthy so he could claim his female and tell her he felt the same way.
He wanted her, needed her, was starting to have trouble imagining a future without her.
Since he couldn't claim her yet without possibly making his injuries worse, Asher risked the slight twinges to close the distance between their lips and kiss her.
She opened immediately, and he took his time stroking, tasting, and exploring her mouth. Each lick sent heat rushing through his body, straight to his cock.
His dragon hummed. She could ride us. That wouldn't hurt us or worsen our condition.
We can't. Not until the clan is settled.
Yes, we can. Later. Everyone needs a break sometimes.
Wanting to treasure his female as much as possible, Asher ignored his dragon and pulled Honoria closer. Even though it'd been less than a week since he'd had her naked in his arms, it seemed like years.
Fuck, he wanted her more than anything. Maybe even the leadership.
But as her fingers brushed the K-shaped scar on his chest, memories of everything that had happened under his uncle's reign came rushing back.
The pain, the manipulation, the fear. Families being torn apart, lives taken for petty reasons, and so much more.
He couldn't let that happen ever again.
As he pulled back, Honoria searched his gaze. "What's wrong?"
"I want you to know that I love you, Ria. And I wish I could claim you right here and now, forgetting the outside world, and creating our own bubble of happiness. But we can't. The scar on my chest is a reminder of what happened, and I never want that to repeat. Ever. So forgive me, love. I need to not kiss and cherish you for a bit, until we get things a little more settled."
Honoria smiled, the sight warming his heart. "That was a rather long-winded way to tell me you love me."
He frowned. "That's what you got from that? Did you miss the part when I said I'll probably have to neglect and ignore you for a while, until things are more under control and we're not teetering on the precipice of disbandment?"
She stroked the hair at his forehead, the warmth of her fingers soothing away his negative emotions. "We knew what we were getting into. And I agree, the clan will have to come first for a bit." She leaned down until her hot breath tickled his ear. "But we have to take care of ourselves, too, Ash. Tell me again how you love me."
His voice was husky to his own ears as he said, "I love you, Honoria Wakeham. Far more than any teenage boy ever could have. And as soon as I can, I'll prove it to you every way I know how."
Her smile widened. "That's all that matters, and I can wait for as long as needed." She kissed him slowly, and he let her take control for a few seconds. Pulling back, she added, "And maybe it's good we can't go at it full force for a bit. I'm not sure I can hold my dragon back, and the last thing we need is for you to be injured again."
He snorted. "Broken by dragon lust probably wouldn't go over well with the doctor."
"Probably not." She kissed him again. "But just know that I'm thinking of every way I can take you as soon as we have time and you're healthy. Some of my dragon's ideas may even make your beast blush."