Page 27 of The Dragon’s Accidental Manny

Price frowned. “Normal?”

I wanted that word thrown out of the dictionary because it wasn’t a gauge of anything.

“Are you sure?” He got on his knees. “There’s no space. You’re feeling his cheeks, brow, and hands.”

“This is all I have left.” I waved my spare hand. “This one’s for you.”

Price pressed my hand between his but didn’t glance up. He didn’t make a joke about my warmth. He just kept holding my hand as if he’d never seen one previously.

“Do you feel it, Daddy?” Jack kissed the top of my head.

“I do.” His voice had changed. It was croaky, and though I couldn’t see his face, it sounded as though he was choking back tears. Perhaps he was thinking how could he be with someone who had such dry skin?

“And I’m so happy.” He sniffed and turned his face to the side, wiping his tears with his shirt.

Whatever was going on with him, he couldn’t tell me with the kids around or he would have blurted it out.

“Okay, shower, bed, and stories in that order,” I told them.

“What if I want to listen to the story on the floor? That’d be shower, floor, story, and bed.” Isla grinned.

“Or maybe I should practice the violin before my shower,” Bea mused.

Not now, darlings, please. I needed the kids in bed lickety split. But perhaps the girls sensed my mood or it was me glowering at them that got them up and running to their rooms. And I pulled Jack over my head and he thunked onto the sofa.

Price told me to stay where I was and he was doing baths and bedtimes. He and Jack walked out of the room hand in hand while I folded a cushion under my head and closed my eyes.

I must have fallen asleep because I opened them as Price was carrying me into his room and placing me on the bed.

“Sorry.”

“For what?” He nuzzled my neck, and I was pretty sure he sniffed me.

“Dozing.”

“Sleep isn’t illegal in this house. You’re allowed.”

“Good. I’ll do more of it.” I yanked off my pants and crawled under the covers. I’d lie here for five minutes before showering and brushing my teeth.

“Can we talk first?” He’d placed his lips on my ear.

“Mmmm. You talk and I’ll sleep.”

“Cam, it’s important, and if I don’t tell you now, you’ll be annoyed with me tomorrow for keeping it to myself for twelve hours.”

“You finished the blue?”

“I did, but that’s irrelevant.” He lay beside me and placed a hand on my tummy.

“Okay. Keep going. I’m listening, I promise.”

“Your skin’s warm.”

Yeah, I was human and warm-blooded, so of course it was.

“And it’s not because you’ve gotten used to living with us. It’s something much bigger.”

That word “bigger” had me open one eye. “Bigger as in I’m getting a dragon of my own? Does that happen when a human lives with dragon shifters? That’d be so cool.” I sat up and made a list of the things I was going to do when I got my wings.