As they made their way toward her place, she openly watched Wes check every dark corner for enemies, pausing at the slightest sound. Seeing him in his element, unlike back in the casino and bar, made him even more attractive to her. For crying out loud, she couldn't stop staring at his broad shoulders and trim hips like some starstruck teenager.
Get a grip, Ash. She'd never been around him for more than a day before. The next handful of days were going to test her in all sorts of ways. However, she'd have to pass any and all tests because failing would cause too much pain and suffering for the dragon clans in the area.
And after everything she'd worked toward, she wasn't about to let that happen.
As Wes drove the last few miles to PineRock, he kept glancing over to Ashley's sleeping face in the passenger seat.
He could hardly believe his female was going to be staying on PineRock. True, they had a mountain of problems to wade through, but it also gave him hope.
Hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a path where they both kept protecting dragon-shifters while also snagging a small bit of happiness.
Because he was determined to make Ashley happy.
And also himself.
His dragon spoke up. My, my, look who's singing a different tune now.
The human men all but threatening Ashley had made Wes realize a few things about what was important. If there's anyone who can find a way for an ADDA employee and a dragon-shifter to have a chance together while not losing their jobs, it's Ashley.
His beast snorted. That's the only reason you changed your mind, hmm? It has nothing to do with her heated looks or short dress tonight?
He mentally growled. Of course she's fucking beautiful. What do you expect, for me to say she's hideous?
Now, now, calm down. I'm on your side.
Are you sure about that?
Ignoring his beast, Wes made the final turn toward the road that led to PineRock's main entrance. He only paused the car at the keypad checkpoint to enter the security code. Once the gates opened, he drove slowly through the tunnel carved into rock and out into the main area of his clan.
Even in the dark, a sense of peace came over him at the familiar streetlights, the odd house with a light in the window, and the quietness apart from some nocturnal animals brave enough to venture near PineRock.
He was home. He glanced at Ashley and mentally vowed she would never be harmed on his land. PineRock was the one place he possessed complete control, as well as the resources to make that promise a reality.
Wes drove a few minutes longer before he parked in front of a two-story house painted light green with beige trim. Even though he could've repaired it, he still spotted the claw marks in the siding from his early years of shifting into a dragon, when he'd thought to try jumping from the roof before he'd had lessons on how to fly.
He'd ended up at the clinic with a fractured wing.
His mother said those marks would stay until she was no longer around, as a reminder to him that not even Wes was invincible.
A light switched on in a window on the second story—his mother's room. He didn't want to wake her up, but Ashley needed to stay with someone he trusted. Well, someone he trusted and thought would be a little welcoming and not swamped with clan duties.
He said, "Ash, wake up."
His human merely grunted and went back to softly snoring.
It seemed she didn't wake easily. Yet another reason Ashley needed to stay on PineRock, in case someone tried to attack her while she was sleeping.
Time to try another tactic.
Wes risked touching her cheek with his fingers and resisted sucking in a breath at her soft, smooth skin. What he wouldn't give to wake her up with a kiss.
However, he wasn't going to kick off a mate-claim frenzy. So he lightly poked her cheek. "Wake up, sleepyhead."
"Why?" she muttered, her eyes still closed.
He poked a few more times, but she didn't do more than swat him away. So he resorted to some more extreme measures and tickled his fingers against her side.
She jumped and wiggled as she battled a frown with laughter. When he finally stopped, she glared at him. "What the hell, Wes? You could've just asked me to wake up."