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“Harley,” I groaned. My release was building inside me, faster than ever. I pressed my face into her neck.

My dragon was loud, but I was in control. I wouldn’t claim her yet, not before she was ready. I pressed the flats of my fangs to her skin. The contact buzzed through me like lightning. From the way Harley gasped and tugged me impossibly closer, I wondered if she felt it, too.

The pleasure built and built and then broke, and I came with a long, low groan. Through the haze, I felt Harley come with me, her whole body twitching and shaking with it as I rode out the end of my orgasm.

As we caught our breath, I moved to roll off Harley, not wanting to crush her under my weight, but she huffed and hugged me closer. “Stay.”

I kissed her neck again. “Of course I’ll stay. Whatever you want.”

This was my home. This was where I belonged. Being with Harley was everything I’d ever wanted. Even if my dragon was still restless inside me, I’d wait to claim her until she was ready. I didn’t care how long it took.

36

HARLEY

Iwoke up feeling warm all over, and honestly, a little sore—the good kind of sore, the kind of sore I’d missed desperately.

I was on my back, and Steph’s face was pressed into the curve of my neck. His arm was a warm, comforting weight over my waist, and his chest was pressed to my body like he couldn’t get close enough. I raked my fingers through his hair, and he responded with a low, pleased rumble. Dragons were a lot like cats in that way—they loved to be petted. I smiled to myself. Definitely weren’t telling him that any time soon.

“Morning,” he murmured against my skin, his rough voice sending a shiver of desire down my spine.

“Good morning to you,” I said. “Sleep all right?”

“Better than ever.” Steph raised his head and pressed a kiss to my lips.

I melted back against the sheets and let my hands drift over his shoulders and the strong plane of his back.

His kiss traveled from my lips to my jaw, then down the curve of my neck. He nuzzled me there, then sighed. “My dragon didn’t sleep too well, though.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, though I was pretty sure I knew the answer.

“He wants to claim you. We both do. Badly.”

Another shiver rolled through me. I’d felt it last night when his kisses and bites kept returning to my neck and shoulder. It was as if I could feel his dragon right under the surface, desperate to be even closer to me. I couldn’t deny that I wanted it on some level. Wanted to give in to him, let him possess me, claim me, make me entirely his.

“I know. I’m not against it. I’m just… I’m not ready.” There was too much danger surrounding us. Too many unknowns. I couldn’t give my whole life to Steph like that, not until I knew my son and I would be safe. “I’m not going anywhere, Steph. I just need time.”

“I’ll give you all the time you need,” Steph said immediately. “I can control my dragon. He’s just a bit of a bastard when he really wants something.”

I laughed, then shoved him onto his back. I climbed on top of him, then leaned down for another searing kiss. His hands slid up my thighs, and he rumbled into the kiss.

We lost ourselves in each other for a few long moments, then Steph squeezed my thighs with a warm laugh. “I could stay here all morning, but I think I hear a hungry nine-year-old waking up.”

“Oh, God. Ever since his first shift, I can barely keep up with his appetite.”

“I better start making the eggs, then,” Steph said with a grin. He gave me another kiss, then we both got dressed and headed downstairs.

I made the coffee while Steph scrambled enough eggs to feed an army, and Cassidy made Dylan’s favorite cinnamon toast in the oven. The four of us sat at the table and ate, while Striker stuck with coffee and started on the dishes. Honestly, I wasgetting used to having the extra enforcers around—they helped out with the chores a hell of a lot.

“I spoke to Blakely yesterday,” Steph said.

Cassidy and I snapped our gazes to Steph. “You did?” I asked.

“Text only,” he said. “She agreed to meet this morning at the café downtown. It should be public enough that she doesn’t try anything insane.”

“What do you mean, insane?” Cassidy asked, glancing between us. “Just how bonkers is this woman?”

“Pretty bonkers,” I said.