Page 77 of Dragon Keeper

He hummed and cradled Tyr close. “And we have a baby.” That was what he needed to remember. “I love you so. And I can’t wait to meet our kid.”

“No. Me either. She’s going to be an amazing dragon. Our own dear one.”

“She…” Sloan blinked. “You know it now?” Goddess. A daughter. He loved little Fredda so much, and the kids up at the mountain had the sweetest girls… He was ecstatic.

“She. Our own little girl.” Tyr begged another kiss, and he gave it with his whole soul.

God, he was happy. Even with the threat of danger, he was so full of love.

Tyr placed his hand on that rounded belly, letting him feel the baby—their daughter—kick. The thump bump against his hand was strong and right, and he felt his heart swell.

Hello, little one. I love you.

Her answer was a spate of giggles. They were like… not so much bubbles as little sparks of lightning.

“Did you hear that, mate?” Tyr asked him, and all he could do was nod.

He held Tyr tight, moving to a place cut into the rock that made an underwater bench. That way they no longer had to try to float.

“I love you, Sloan. I’m so worried about the babies. Do you think… are we going to be okay?”

“I think we are. Forewarned is forearmed. We’ll stop whatever is going on and keep our children safe.” He would see it so.

“All right. I supposed I can accept that for now…” Tyr snuggled a little bit closer, and Sloan wrapped around him, holding him tight.

“I’ll protect us, love. Please don’t worry.” He hated that Tyr was frightened.

“I know…” There was a long, weirdly pregnant pause, with Tyr wiggling against him and blinking hard. Maybe something was in his eye. That would be awful. He opened his mouth to ask, when Tyr continued, “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in possibly… I don’t know, getting to know me a little better?”

Sloan tilted his head, confusion filling him. “I know you fairly well, don’t you think?”

Tyr’s eyes went wide and the scent of burnt honey hit his nose.

Uh-oh.

“I was beingseductive. That’s how it works in the stories that come from the human world.” Those beautiful golden eyes filled with tears. “Did I not do it right? I asked Cullen how to get your attention.”

Oh. Oh, no. He held on when Tyr would have pulled away. “Oh, mate. Love. Yes. I would love to get know you better.”

Tyr glanced at him. “Yes? Because I would like to be with you. I wanted to let you know how much I needed you, but I think I did it wrong.”

“No, love, that is perfectly right.” He started to chuckle, but he stopped himself, because he didn’t want Tyr’s feelings to be hurt. That was dear.

And adorable.

“This is exactly how it works.” He settled Tyr on his lap a little more firmly, telling himself that part of protecting his home and his clutch, his world, was keeping his mate satisfied and happy.

And that didn’t seem like a difficult thing to promise.

Tyr’s eyes lit up, and Sloan began to move his beautiful dragon against him, allowing himself to relax, to trust in his own words.

This was their home, and they would be safe.

He leaned back, letting his mate drive them. “So, this is how this works? This thing you read of?”

Tyr beamed at him. “Yes, I seduce you and touch you and love you, and you’re very excited.”

Now he could allow his lips to curl. “I cannot imagine a time when you were on my lap like this, love, that I’m not excited.”