The man on my doorstep was looking up because he was much shorter than me, and the breeze was ruffling his hair.
Claim him.
Absolutely not.
I shoved my dragon down so hard, I got heartburn.
I couldn’t mark the human without his permission, and I’d been mated and had a mark. Vince hadn’t been my fate. We’d been brought together by a matchmaker. Neither of us had sensed we had a fated mate, not all shifters did, and we fell in love, had kids, and were happy until he died in a car accident.
The universe understood that my current mark was part of me, just as my history, memory, and my late mate and our children were. But this human was my future. I couldn’t think of all the complications that came with that, not when I’d just met him.
I managed to say the guy’s name and introduced myself. We shook hands. His skin was warm, though not like mine, and us being skin to skin sent a jolt up my arm. My dragon was clawing inside my chest, and smoke gathered at the base of my throat. I swallowed it and hid a small cough behind my hand.
Don’t forget to breathe.My beast’s voice was muffled because I’d pushed him down so deep.
Ledger stepped past me, and I caught another wave of his scent. I’d have to give my dragon his scales this evening so we could burn off our frustration at having our mate here and not being able to act on it.
Give me my claws and I’ll place our mark on his skin,my dragon growled.
No.
Ledger reacted to the heat and tugged at his collar, but Meara had warned him it was hotter than what he was used to.
“Sorry about the heat. It’s an old furnace and it’s temperamental.”
Why had I said that? I lied, and he would know that because the NDA included details about our preferences.
“It's fine.”
He was looking around the foyer, taking in the high ceilings, the staircase, and the family photos on the wall. His gaze lingered on the scorch marks on the baseboard near the stairs, but he didn't say anything.
He’s observant.
The kids started arguing in the playroom. I closed my eyes because it was Ledger’s first test. Fraser mumbled, and I caught what he said because my hearing was sharper than a human's. My son was talking about when he was older and would take his scales. But my kids were already hiding part of themselves, and I refused to tell them to tone down the volume.
When I opened my eyes, Ledger was grinning. He hadn’t fled because he considered my children unruly.
He’s going to stay,my dragon told me.
I didn't let myself believe that, but gods, I wanted to.
THREE
LEDGER
I moved in three days after my meeting with Theron.
My landlord was kind enough to let me out of my lease, but I suspected he was going to raise the rent for the next tenant, so he was pleased I was leaving.
Theron helped me carry my stuff in. He needn’t have bothered because I only had two suitcases and a box of books. Other than what remained in my childhood home, my belongings fit into the trunk of my car.
“Dinner’s at six,” he said from the doorway. “The kids eat early.” He paused. “And Ledger? If you need a fan, there's one in the hall closet.”
Meara had already told me I wasn’t required to cook the evening meal. Breakfast, snacks, and weekend sandwiches? Yes, those were my responsibility.
I tried to concentrate on the box I was holding, but I had an urge to keep glancing at my new boss. My breathing sped up, catching sight of those dark eyes, fringed with even darker lashes. I shivered despite the cloying heat, but the spiky goosebumps prancing over my skin were trying to keep me warm.
I don’t need that, you guys. I need a bucket of ice water.
