So it felt natural to say, “I love you, Holly.”
Without hesitation, his female snuggled into his chest and answered, “I love you, too, Fraser.”
He chuckled. “So you dropped the ‘I think’ part of it, aye?”
She lightly slapped his back. “Some might say that kind of ruined the moment.”
Fraser leaned back to meet her eye. “And what do you think?”
She grinned. “I think it suits it perfectly. Don’t ever change who you are, Fraser, because that’s the man I fell in love with.”
“Good answer, honey. Good answer.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “So does that mean you’ll be my mate?”
She frowned. “Didn’t I answer that already?”
He brushed a piece of damp hair from her face. “You never actually gave me an answer. As much as I appreciate hearing you love me, I need a yes or no.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up. “So you’re the kind of dragonman who needs everything spelled out to the letter?”
“In this, yes. Because I don’t dare hope or start planning the future until I hear a clear ‘Yes, I’ll be your mate, Fraser’ from you.”
“Hey, I don’t sound like that.”
He bopped her nose. “You do, but despite that, I still love you.”
“You’re exhausting sometimes, Fraser MacKenzie.”
He grinned. “That’s what my family keeps telling me.”
Holly looped her arms behind his neck and tilted her head. “I will mate you.”
Joy swelled his heart. He’d been fairly certain she’d say yes, but hearing the words made him the happiest he’d been in his life.
Fraser leaned down to kiss her, but she shook her head. He frowned. “Why are you shaking your head when you just said yes?”
“Because you didn’t let me finish. I will mate you, but only on one condition.”
He growled out, “What’s the bloody condition?”
“I need to meet with your family and make sure everything is okay with them.”
“Of course everything is—”
She cut him off. “They’re an important part of who you are. In order for you to be happy, you need them. Let’s have lunch with them tomorrow and you can meet with my dad at the same time. If everything feels right, then I’ll claim you as mine in front of them all.”
“I can’t see you scooping me up and carrying me away.”
She sighed. “Not all of us need to go caveman-like to claim someone.”
He lightly tapped her backside. “I’m not sure why you’re complaining. I know you like it.”
“I’m afraid to confirm or deny that. Your ego is pretty big today already.”
Leaning down, he nipped the side of her neck. “Then maybe I need to find other ways of making you answer my question.”
There was a warning in her tone. “Fraser.”
He chuckled. “Not right now. I’ll do it when you least expect. For the moment, I need to feed you. Your stomach keeps rumbling and my dragon doesn’t like it.”