“No, I don’t need a doctor. But I’m afraid to say anything until I know how my dragon behaves. To be honest, I’m tempted to ask you to tie me up.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t pass up that opportunity. But I will just this once since sorting out your future is more important.”
Sid leaned against his shoulder. “A future is something I dare not hope for. At least, not yet.”
Gregor growled as he pulled Cassidy onto his chest. “You will have one, Cassidy Jackson. And you’d better start believing it or I will tie you to this bed until you do.”
“And that’s supposed to accomplish what? Besides call into question your heritage? Maybe you have some Viking blood in your veins.”
“Don’t deflect, woman. Anything you say won’t push me away. I’m in it for the long haul, no matter what happens.”
She met his gaze. “Why? We haven’t known each other long.?
??
“I know enough. I haven’t felt this at ease with a female for a long time, and not just because you’re my true mate. We can discuss medicine one moment and you can tease me about naked statues the next. I’m not sure I can go back to a life where all I do is work and carve alone in my cottage. I want you in my life, Cassidy. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can start fighting for our shared future.” When she hesitated, he added, “Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, not second thoughts. It’s just that after thinking for decades I would be alone my whole life, I still can’t believe I might have someone to share it with.”
He rolled them over until he could trap Cassidy with his body. “There’s no ‘might,’ lass. I’m here and we’ll work through this together.”
As his doctor blinked back tears, Gregor wondered what the hell he’d done wrong.
~~~
Sid’s exhaustion was doing strange things to her. She usually wasn’t emotional and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried. Yet as Gregor vowed to stay by her side and help her win her fight, she wanted to sob in relief.
She hadn’t lied about her dragon sleeping, which meant Sid still had no idea what her future held. But knowing Gregor would be there made her want to fight harder for it.
Not just for herself, but their unborn child as well.
Still, as Sid pushed Gregor until he was on his back and held him tight, she knew she’d have to be strong for him, too, when the time came. He would need reassurances that she wouldn’t die at the faintest sign of a sneeze or nausea up until she gave birth.
“I’m fine,” she murmured.
Gregor stroked her back slowly. “You looked about ready to cry, love. And believe me, if there’s one way to put a male on his guard, it’s to cry right after the frenzy.”
Old Sid would’ve brushed everything aside and kept her thoughts to herself. However, new Sid trusted the male under her cheek. If it was to work with them, she needed to be honest. “It’s a combination of exhaustion and happiness.” She propped her chin on Gregor’s chest. “I’m so close to having a happy future I can taste it, yet it could still be ripped away from me at any second.”
He cupped her cheek. “How about we clean up and find Dr. Lewis? He’s had plenty of time to work on that compound. It might be partially to blame for your dragon’s behavior. If he has a way to neutralize it, we might be one step closer to our happy ending.”
“Ours?”
“Of course, woman. A future without you wouldn’t be happy.”
“Gregor—”
“I’m not being ridiculous or charming. I’m merely speaking the truth.”
“If you’d let me finish, I was going to say I’m glad.”
He grinned as his eyes lit up. “You’ve just made me a very happy dragonman.”
“Well, while you’re in good spirits, let’s hurry up. Maybe you won’t bite off Trahern’s head when we talk with him.”
Gregor leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “You carry my scent and my bairn. You’re mine. Every male will know it, which means I can be civil.”
He kissed her slowly and Sid melted against him. While a frenzy was special, she preferred quiet moments like this, when she could make a memory and cling to it without the taint of her dragon’s mental state.