“And what? People have bad dreams all of the time.”
“Maybe, but not when I’m lying right next to them. I’d rather not have you sweating all over me every night if I can help it.”
He paused and echoed, “Every night?”
“Don’t change the subject. Just be honest. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”
He didn’t answer and hurt flashed in her eyes. She leaned to swing off the bed, but Aaron placed his hands on her hips to keep her in place. “Telling you will change things between us, Teagan. Are you sure you want that?”
She retracted her talon and brushed his cheek with a finger. “Considering I came here instead of my own cottage already means things have changed between us.”
His dragon huffed. Don’t push her away, too.
As he stared up into her beautiful green eyes, her black hair dancing around her face, he took a chance and leaped. “I’m sure you’ve read my file and know I spent some time in Italy.” She nodded and he continued, “It was for my mother. Most of her family lives in Italy and she missed them. I didn’t know if she was going to stay long-term or not, but regardless, I went with her to help her settle in. I was only going to stay a few months, but then I met a female named Nerina.”
Teagan’s jaw tightened, but she grunted and he continued, “She was pretty, loved to laugh, and always knew how to find a good time. After spending most of my childhood in isolation and controlled by my father, I thought a carefree and social female was what I wanted. In my mind, I thought Nerina was the key to that kind of future.”
Teagan’s eyes turned curious. “What happened?”
While Aaron didn’t blink at facing a challenge on the battlefield, he glanced to the side to avoid seeing Teagan’s pity. “She pretended to want me and only used me to stir jealousy in the male she truly wanted to catch.” He paused and growled. “When I tried to remind her of the good times, she laughed in my face and said no Italian dragon-shifter in their right mind would want the trouble of having an English dragon as a mate. Besides, English dragon-shifters were cold and unfeeling. She would never saddle herself with that.”
“Aaron,” Teagan whispered.
Determined to finish, he kept his gaze averted. “If it had only been me, I would’ve given Nerina the finger and returned home with purpose. But my failure cost my mother, too. She defended me and called out some of the higher-ups in the Italian clan. As a result, we were kicked out and forced to return to Stonefire.”
He paused. Telling her about his dream could ruin his chances with Teagan. She wouldn’t want a weak male.
And yet, if he didn’t carry on, he would most assuredly push her away forever.
That’s not what either of us wants, his dragon growled.
Aaron was tired of lying to both his beast and himself. No.
No matter how much he wanted to reach out and take Teagan’s hand, he instead clenched his fingers into a fist and continued, “As for my dream, in it, Nerina was a friend of yours, and you agreed English mates aren’t worth the trouble. I was also just a plaything, to make the male you truly wanted jealous and eager to be by your side.” He finally looked back to Teagan, relieved not to see pity but anger there. He could handle that. “Let’s just say I have trust issues. You already have a full plate. Are you sure I’m worth the extra trouble? I might even cost you your position, Teagan. Maybe I should go home early and only return to help with guarding the judges.”
He waited for Teagan’s reply, which would quite possibly determine his future as well.
~~~
As Aaron told Teagan about his time in Italy, it took everything she had not to bolt from the room, shift, and fly straight to the Italian clan’s gates to kick Nerina’s arse.
No doubt the female had preyed on the lingering effects of Aaron’s childhood and his desire for acceptance. If his father wasn’t already dead, Teagan would’ve had to fly to America to kick his arse, too.
She could only imagine the strength it took to survive the British Army and be a bloody good Protector without ever revealing his true self and fears.
He may not be a clan leader, but Aaron probably understood her nearly as well as if he had been. Both of them essentially lived double lives—strong in public, but vulnerable and lonely in private.
Maybe he was meant to be the male who stood at her side to challenge tradition after all.
Pushing aside that thought, she focused back on Aaron. She spat out, “Nerina is a bitch.”
Aaron’s brows drew together. “What?”
“You heard me. If your mother had family there, then Nerina probably heard about what your father did to you both. Verbal abuse leaves scars like any other type of abuse, even if they aren’t visible. Nerina used that knowledge to her advantage, not caring if it destroyed families, let alone lives or happiness.”
He searched her gaze. “Considering you’ve never met the female, you’re doing a lot of assuming.”
Teagan waved a hand. “She’s not worth my time. She used you, and that’s enough to cement my opinion of her. If I ever meet her, she’ll learn a lesson or two.” She leaned down until she could lay her forehead against his. “And if you try to leave now, I will catch you and tie you to this bed. I need you, Aaron, and not just for a bit of fun.” She hesitated, but decided he deserved truth as well. “Apart from my family, you’re the only one I can relax and be myself around. Not only that, you respect my position.” The corner of her mouth ticked up. “Well, at least in public.”