Page 13 of Omega Captive of the Golden Dragon (Alpha Dragons #3)

VARIK

I was the last person to know what to do with an upset omega.

Caylen didn’t say he was upset. He said he couldn’t sleep because of a nightmare. Same thing.

The funny thing was he’d found me awake and reading on the couch because I also couldn’t sleep.

Nightmares were part of it, but it was also plain anxiety.

My thoughts were my worst enemy. I had great security but that didn’t keep me from mentally checking off the list of all the locks on the doors and gates and windows every day and night.

I stayed up late to make sure I was good and exhausted before finally falling into bed.

“Is it really okay if I sleep by the fire?”

“Suit yourself.”

Minutes later, he returned with blankets and pillows and arranged them neatly on the rug before the hearth.

I pretended to read, but I couldn’t stop watching him.

He took off his slippers and robe, folding the robe neatly, and lay down, plumping up the pillows.

Even though there was a rug, the floor had to be hard.

Silently, I got up. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Caylen watching me. I went to a closet, searched about for a minute, then brought out what I was looking for.

Back in the living room, Caylen had turned toward the fire all bundled up in his blankets. He rolled over and looked up at me.

“What’s that?”

I held out a rolled-up mat. “It has memory foam inside and would be a lot more comfortable than the hard floor.”

“Really? For me?”

“I only see one person getting ready to sleep on the floor.”

He sat up, covers falling, and took it from my hand. “Thank you.”

I went back to the couch and picked up my book. Caylen rolled out the mat and rearranged his bedding. I sighed in relief. Everything looked so much better now.

You’re cute. You were worried about him.

Was not! I sent the thought hard at Varikan.

You’re cute when you’re in denial, too.

Humph.

Face it. We’re both cute.

I refused to have this mental conversation.

I opened my book to get back to reading but had lost my focus. My attention drew back to Caylen. He lay on the mattress on his side, facing the fire. I could only see the lump of blankets and the back of his head. Something inside me turned over. It felt like caring, but that couldn’t be possible.

My retreat from everything and everyone left me only Val. He was the only person I allowed myself to love.

No, I told myself. Just… no. I’d agreed to put Caylen up. That was it.

I set my book aside, deciding it was time to go upstairs and get in a few hours of sleep.

The next thing I knew, I woke to the sound of something stirring nearby. I opened my eyes only to realize I had fallen asleep on the couch. The fire had gone out. Caylen was gone but the bedding had been tidily folded, the mattress rolled and fastened.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. A blanket fell from my chest to my waist. When had that gotten there? This wouldn’t do. This wouldn’t do at all.

I listened for a moment but heard nothing. Good. It was safe to move and pretend this hadn’t happened, pretend I didn’t have a good few hours of sleep dream-free with Caylen sleeping only eight feet from me.

I took the stairs two at a time and rushed into the shower. There, warm water relaxed my nerves. Falling asleep with another person in the same room had never happened to me before. Val and I always had separate rooms.

Body clean, and with a new change of clothes, my stomach began to growl. I quickly checked the time. It was nearly noon.

I went down to the kitchen.

Caylen sat at the dining room table, head bowed over his computer. That reminded me. I needed to get him a proper desk.

He glanced up at my approach. “I—I wanted to thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I had no idea what he was talking about.

“For last night. I finally slept in peace. The fire. You being there.”

I had slept peacefully, too. But I kept that to myself.

Coward.

I had no idea what to say. I went into the kitchen to properly distract myself. As I was making a sandwich, Varikan spoke.

Well, you’ve got all the food out. A nice person would ask if the guest wants a sandwich, too.

I mumbled softly. “Oh, is that how it goes?”

How would I know? I’m just a dragon. But for some unknown reason, I seem to know more than you about how to treat others.

A twinge of pain sparked behind my ribs. Varikan had been more alone than either of us. He rarely got to shift and never to fly. It made sense that he was hungrier than I was for company.

I walked to the end of the kitchen. “I’m making a sandwich. Would you like one?”

Caylen looked up, eyes rounded in shock. A lock of brown hair bisected his forehead. “Uh, yes? That would be good. All I had was orange juice. I forgot to eat.”

I went back into the kitchen, finished making the sandwiches, and brought out two plates. I sat down across from him and began to eat.

Caylen shoved his computer aside and tore into the sandwich.

Mouth full, he said, “This is really good.”

“Hmm.” My mouth was full, too.

After we finished, I brought out fruit, drinks and a box of my favorite cookies.

Over time, we seemed to orbit each other a little closer.

I still spent most of my time in my studio, but there were more casual, shared meals.

Caylen had taken to sleeping in front of the fire every night.

I always had a book to read and often napped on the couch.

It seemed our silent presence together meant for better sleep, because every day I woke more refreshed than I could remember.

The quiet times like that were comforting. Plus, Varikan was happy to have someone other than me to focus on.