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As the seconds ticked by, she debated leaving or not.
Just as she turned away, the door opened and a voice gravelly with sleep said, “It’s early.”
She looked over her shoulder. The sight of Aaron’s hair sleep-mussed brought a smile to her face. “If you look this disheveled on your own, what would you look like if you had someone else in bed with you?”
Rubbing a hand down his face, Aaron replied, “If you think I’m going to be witty this early, you’ll be waiting a long time.”
He yawned, and she took advantage of his action to trail her gaze lower. His bare chest called to her, and his semi-erect cock punching against his boxers turned her mouth dry.
She wondered if he’d been dreaming of her.
Her dragon sighed. Dreams don’t matter when he’s standing right in front of us.
She ignored her beast. Keeping the want from her voice, she met his gaze and raised her brows. “Good morning to you, too. If I’m that much of a bother, I can just leave. I don’t need you witty first thing, but a little welcoming would nice.”
She took a step away, but Aaron’s strong hand gripped hers and yanked her inside. She barely had the chance to squeak before he pulled her close and kissed her gently. “You know what I’m like without coffee in the morning. Not grunting every word is about my limit. Welcoming requires a little motivation.”
She looped her arms around his neck. “I don’t want to start a bad habit. I like to save my seductions for special occasions.”
He brushed the hair from one of her cheeks and over her shoulder. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you here?”
As she stared into his lovely brown eyes, full of nothing but curiosity, she decided to be honest. “I’ve been ordered to rest, but when I came to the fork in the path, I was pulled here.” She laid her head on his chest. “You help me forget about the world outside, and I need that right now.”
Aaron merely stood there, rubbing her back in silence. Doubt yet again reared its ugly head. She had no right to put him in such a spot. After all, he’d stated their relationship was purely physical from the start.
Then he stepped back and released her. The hug was him just being nice.
She cleared her throat. “Don’t worry, I’ll go and leave you in peace. I shouldn’t have come here.”
Before she could bat an eyelash, Aaron scooped her up and lifted her against his chest. He grunted. “You’re not going anywhere. You need to rest.”
If anyone else had tried to pick her up in public, she would’ve slashed their arms and wrestled them to the ground.
Yet as Aaron carried her in his arms and walked toward his bedroom, she snuggled against his warm chest. His heat and steady beating heart lulled her to sleep.
Her beast spoke up. He will watch over us. Sleep.
Why do you trust him so much?
He is meant for us. He will stand by our side.
Aaron laid her down on the bed and climbed behind her. As he wrapped his arms around her middle, he kissed her ear. “Sleep, love.”
With Aaron’s heat at her back, Teagan closed her eyes, and the world went blissfully black.
~~~
Aaron listened to Teagan’s even breaths and hugged her closer to his body.
He was in trouble.
When she’d shown up at his front door, barely able to stand upright with shadows under her eyes, anger had coursed through his body, followed by concern.
She was working too bloody hard.
He’d done his part to feed her, but since she wasn’t his mate or even his girlfriend, he had no claim to force her to do anything else. He understood clan leaders had duties, but even Bram back home would take a break every once in a while, more so after he mated Evie Marshall.
His dragon spoke up. If you would pull your head out of your arse, then you’d see she should be ours. No one else takes care of her. We should be able to. Just imagine how much stronger she’d be with someone always at her back.
