AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mazie shot me a look I couldn’t define. Did fear flash in her eyes? If her husband was harming her . . . Well, I’d already shown what I would do to those who hurt me. I’d do the same for anyone I cared for.
“No, I’m not married,” she finally said. She waved, urging me to walk with her through the deep grass on the edge of town, skirting around the outside. A few lights shone from houses, but they were far enough away, I doubted anyone peering out would see more than two shadowy people walking. A dog barked, but someone opened the door and called the pet inside. The shuffle of our feet through the grass was the only sound.
“You mentioned a son,” I said.
Her posture loosened, and she flashed me a smile. “Asher. He’s four and the best boy in the world. He’s at my mom’s place overnight. She watches him when I work, and he adores her. I’ll pick him up tomorrow about noon.”
“I see.”
“I live right ahead,” she said, pointing to a small house with an outside light on. “I’ll reach out to your brother tomorrow. He and his new wife, Zara, are on their honeymoon, and while I don’t like disturbing them, they’ll want to know I’ve found you.” Concern filled her face. “They’ve been worried about you. Kuunik thought you were dead.”
I might as well have been.
We climbed stairs and walked across a small deck overlooking her tidy backyard, and she unlocked the door.
A sound behind me made me turn, but though I scanned her back lawn and the open field beyond, I didn’t see movement there. Perhaps it was just a wild creature scurrying through the grass.
“I have two bedrooms,” she said. “You can take my bed, and I’ll sleep in Asher’s tonight.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“I want to help you. Asher won’t mind if I sleep in his bed while he’s away. We’ll figure out tomorrow night’s sleeping arrangements in the morning.” Laughter bubbled in her voice. “His bed’s small. One of those toddler things. You’d never fit. I have to replace it soon, because Asher’s already off the charts in height. He’s incredibly smart too. A lot of fun to be around. You can probably tell I adore my son.”
“He sounds wonderful.”
Her eyes skated away from mine. “You’ll meet him tomorrow. We’ll tell him you’re . . . down on your luck and needed a place to stay for a bit. He’s kindhearted and he’ll make you feel as welcome as me. Truly, it’s no imposition.” When she placed her hand on my arm, my skin twitched, but the reaction didn’t come from pain or fear. I was responding to her, my mate. “I’m sure Kuunik will want you to live with him and Zara when they return.”
I felt at a loss. Having nothing to my name—not even clothing—made me feel vulnerable. I needed to reclaim my life and put the past five years behind me.
Being with Mazie and taking this time to get to show her who I was inside was just what I needed.
“Come on in,” she said. “I know I already said it, but I promise, everything’s going to be all right.”
As long as I stayed with her, it would be. I felt that all the way to my bones.
Even my dragon nodded.
She closed and locked the door and turned on a light above her stove, pivoting to lean against the counter.
I stood on her wooden kitchen floor, completely naked.
“I’ll find you something you can wear,” she said, her cheeks turning red. She had expressive eyes, and I could tell the color in her face didn’t come from embarrassment.
No, she kept gliding her gaze down my body.
My cock twitched, and I felt desire for the first time in forever. It was only natural with my mate, but the last thing I wanted to do was scare her.
I turned away from her, pretending to study the room.
“Could you tell me one thing?” I asked.
“Sure.” Her voice came out husky.
“Who’s Asher’s father?”
Chapter 5
Mazie
