“Yes!” I had to get away because my dragon saw this as the perfect time to mark our mate.
“Yes!” Ledger leaped up at the same time.
“Sit, this is your day off.” I couldn’t shove the guy back onto the couch. He wasn’t my property. I wouldn’t do that to my own children unless we were playing.
Ledger lowered himself onto the couch, and I dashed into the kitchen. I needed a shower, but I couldn’t have one now. I was supposed to be making popcorn, so I did what I called the Ledger sniff, lifting my arms and smelling my pits.
“Please don’t burn the popcorn like the last time, Daddy,” Skye called.
“Yeah, tell your beast to lower the temperature.”
Oh shoot. The kids were used to my dragon popping the corn, but I tore into the pantry, looking for the popcorn maker we’d won in a school raffle. It was a joke because no dragon shifter ever used one. I dragged it out of the box, read the instructions, and made what I hoped was edible popcorn.
“You took so long.” Fraser was pouting as I returned to the cinema room.
“This tastes different.” Rory took a handful of popcorn and tossed it in his mouth.
Ledger nibbled his popcorn, and he side-eyed me as I shoveled the snack between my lips.
“You named your popcorn maker the beast?” He sniggered, and corn kernels flew out of his mouth.
“Mmmm.” I continued chewing so I didn’t have to say anything else, and I stared at the TV, concentrating on the movie that kept the kids enthralled.
Ledger laughed at something on screen at the same moment I did, and we caught each other's eye. He looked away first.
You're staring.
I am aware.
Skye burrowed deeper into Ledger's side, and he tucked his arm around her. Her eyes drooped, and within five minutes, she was asleep. She hadn't fallen asleep on anyone since she used to do it on Vince's chest while he watched TV, but she'd never done it with any of the mannies.
Ledger reached behind him for the throw that was on the back of the couch and tucked it around my daughter. I had to look away and stare at the TV as I blinked away tears. My sons would ask what was wrong if they saw me because adult dragon shifters didn’t cry easily.
Fraser also fell asleep before the movie finished, and Ledger covered him with the throw. Rory was still awake, and the three of us watched until the end, but as the credits rolled and the rain pelted down outside, my eldest dozed off. Ledger and I sat in the cinema room, lit only by a small lamp in the corner.
I wished we could stay here, not saying anything and with no expectations, even though I had plenty of those, but we’d have to move eventually. It was so rare that it was just the two of us, and the coffee incident in the dining room didn’t count.
Ledger's head was tilted back against the couch, and his eyes were half closed. From this angle, I could see the pulse beating under his jaw, and my dragon stirred.
No, don’t even think about it.
But it’s the perfect time.
I’ll tell you when it’s right.
“I can't remember the last time I just sat,” Ledger said.
“You work too hard.”
“Says the man who’s often in his office late at night.” He swivelled his head to face me. “And I’m reliably informed that you sleep there too.”
I sighed. My children must have spilled.
“I do it so I don’t disturb anyone when I come in late.” And it was easier than lying in bed, wondering if he was asleep or thinking about me or staring at the ceiling, knowing he was on the floor above.
Ledger raised a brow. “I wouldn’t hear you on the third floor, and the kids are sound sleepers.” He narrowed his eyes, and I told him it was just me out there and I never had any visitors late at night. I didn’t want him to think I was having sex with someone.
“Okay.” He glanced away, but he was trying to stifle a grin. “Thanks for filling me in.”
