Ashley couldn't help it, she laughed. However, she quickly sobered as a realization hit her, and she said out loud, "The dragons I've visited over the years have really been holding back their true selves, haven't they?"
Wes sat next to her. "Don't take it personally. It's hard enough to be told what you can and can't do on a constant basis. I think some are afraid that if you know how much we treasure our clan and family, ADDA will find a way to break it apart to control us further."
She shook her head. "Not all of us are like that."
"But enough of you are."
Ashley couldn't argue with him. For the first seven of her ten years working with ADDA, all her superiors had been hell-bent on reminding the dragon-shifters that they were second-class citizens.
It was only with the promotion of Steven Greenwood to the Southwestern ADDA office, and his belief that trust and understanding was more effective long-term than fear, had Ashley been allowed to do more than bark orders and cite regulations.
To be honest, she had nearly reached a place where she'd wanted to quit ADDA. But Greenwood's attitude had inspired her to try harder, to the point she'd been put in charge of the dragon lotteries in the area.
Wes touched her shoulder. "Hey, you're not that bad. True, sometimes you try to order me around and remind me that you're my superior, but it's mostly done when I'm being a stubborn ass myself."
Some of the time, but not all. However, she didn't want to bring down the mood, so she replied, "I'm just glad you started telling me to back off sometimes. It most definitely made my job more fun."
He lowered his voice dramatically. "Don't tell anyone, but it made it fun for me, too. To the point I made a list of new ways to irritate you on purpose."
She leaned her face on her hand. "Now I'm curious about this list of yours."
Wes ate a few grapes before replying, "Let's deal with the League first, and then we'll see if you earn enough points to see my list."
She raised her brows. "Earn enough points? What am I, some sort of student or reality show contestant now?"
Cynthia jumped in. "Let her eat, Wes. You two can have your verbal sparring session later."
She half-expected for Wes to tell his mother to mind her own business. However, he chuckled and moved to help her finish cooking the remaining pancakes. He said over his shoulder, "I'll do a little supervising and taste testing over here. Otherwise my mother will try to feed you twenty pancakes, like you're a dragon-shifter."
As Wes and his mother traded a few barbs with love, she smiled. Ashley had lost her mother a number of years ago and missed her dearly. Maybe if, and that was a big if, she could stay and be Wes's mate and still do her ADDA work, Cynthia could help fill the emptiness in her heart.
Not that she should be making any sort of long-term plans like that. Focus on the League, Swift. And with that thought, she ate her pancakes and tried to think of solutions to discuss with Wes. Talks of the future—any future—would need to wait a little while longer.
Chapter Seven
Wes usually enjoyed his mother's teasing and penchant for talking. However, as his mother regaled some tale about how her younger brother was sneaking off the clan's land to meet a human—something he'd have to check into later—he couldn't stop stealing glances at Ashley.
Watching the female eat in her borrowed nightshirt and barely tamed morning hair did something to both man and beast.
His dragon spoke up. Because she should look that way in our bed, not in our mom's kitchen. Except when she's there, she'll be naked.
We discussed this at length last night. Give me a little time before trying to convince her to be naked in our bed.
Fine, but don't wait too long, or I may try to take control for a while.
The threat was mostly just talk since his beast would never try to harm or coerce their fated female. However, it wasn't as if Wes wanted to hold back around Ashley for longer than possible, either.
He'd decided last night that he would give in to his desires and fight for her. And once he made up his mind regarding something so important, it wasn't easily swayed.
Even if he had to move mountains or force a change in ADDA policy so she could be happy, Ashley Swift would be his mate.
His mother poked his side and whispered so softly that a human wouldn't be able to hear her. "I'll be having a daughter-in-law soon, won't I?"
It didn't surprise him that his mother would've picked up on his interest. He answered in the same hushed tones, "If it's at all possible, yes. But don't meddle in this, Mom. I can handle it."
"We'll see, Wes. We'll see." She held out a plate stacked with pancakes. "Now, go eat with her so you two can talk."
Since reminding his mother that he could make his own decisions was pointless most of the time—and only wasted energy—he slid into the seat next to Ashley. When his leg brushed hers, electricity raced up his thigh and straight to his cock.