Letting out a sigh, she drew support and strength from Chase's lean, hard body. He really was fitter than she'd realized. She wondered if he did a lot of flying in his spare time.
A chuckle reverberated under her ear against his chest. She must've asked her question out loud.
Chase replied, "I do like to fly. But not just because my dragon asks for it, either. Sometime I'll show you some bonny sights nearby, ones not many humans or dragons visit. Then we can listen to the wind whisper through the heather and hills as they make a calming sort of melody."
Opening her eyes, she traced a shape on the shirt covering his chest. "I'd like that. I don't get to fly enough."
Her dragon grunted. Exactly.
Chase stroked her back as he laid his cheek against the top of her head. "Then it's a date. The next time we have some free time, we'll go flying. I can show you some of the bonniest places in Scotland, too. I've found most of them over the last few years. Of course, they'll be even bonnier if you're with me."
She tried to muster a scolding as she pulled up to look at his face, but couldn't. "Your charm is going to get me into trouble eventually, isn't it?"
He winked. "Without a doubt." He searched her gaze again. "So you'll go with me then? Once we have some free time?"
Layla of even a week ago would've protested at scheduling a date with anyone. And now, a part of her hungered to have more of this, the two of them alone, acting as merely a male and female. No work, no clan, no major responsibilities.
Not that she completely forgot about what was happening upstairs with Logan, but it wasn't as all-consuming as it had been ten minutes ago.
She nodded, and Chase pulled her back against his chest. They stood like that, silent and holding each other, for a long time. She wondered if she could do this often, whenever she felt like it.
Her dragon murmured, If you accept him as our mate, then aye.
It's too soon.
Her beast fell silent, and Layla merely enjoyed the male in her arms for as long as she could. Even without words, the moments were some of the best in recent memory.
Only when the door to the kitchen opened did Layla raise her head and step away from Chase. Faye stood nearby, looking between them. "Once this is sorted, we're going to talk about you two. But for now, Logan wants to see you, Layla."
Chase moved to follow her, but Faye shook her head. "You stay here with me, little brother. Layla will be fine on her own for a few minutes."
Layla noticed Chase's pupils flash, but he eventually nodded. "Aye, of course she can. But if you need me, Layla, just ask."
She had no idea how she deserved such a caring, determined male. But now wasn't the time to think about it. "I will." Wanting to lighten the mood a bit. "Just make sure to watch the knives whilst you're with Faye."
Faye growled, but Layla turned before the younger female could say anything.
It was time to find out what was going on with Logan.
Chapter Eight
Chase had never seen someone who clearly craved affection as much as Layla did and resist it so bloody much. Almost as if being held was a weakness.
As he'd held her against his chest for several minutes, a sense of protectiveness and tenderness had bloomed. He'd never been more certain that waiting for Layla had been worth it. Not all true mate pairings were the best for both parties, but he liked to believe it was in their case. Because if anyone could find a way to sneak off and show Layla a good time without attracting much notice, Chase was it.
As time had ticked by, with Layla's softer form heavy against him, he'd imagined seeing her every day, both in and out of bed, and smiled. If he'd thought he'd wanted her before, he'd been naïve. He wanted to be the one to protect her, comfort her, and simply make her laugh.
Layla MacFie would be his, end of story.
All too soon, their private moment ended and Faye had barged in. The fact Layla hadn't tried to instantly push him away spoke volumes about how she
was warming up to him.
Once Layla left to talk to Logan, Faye searched his gaze and asked, "Are you sure you can handle what's to come, Chase?"
Seeing as Faye had been his brother's mate for more than half a year, her attempts at dominance didn't faze him. "If you mean the life of a doctor's mate, then aye, I can handle it."
Faye shook her head, her brown curls bouncing. "Not just that. I want Layla to be as happy as anyone else, but it's unheard of for a younger dragon-shifter male to take an older female as a mate. Everyone will tease you both, as well as try to pressure you to take a younger female, if only to help our race survive."