Her fork paused halfway to her mouth and she met his gaze.
His human had felt it too.
His beast hummed. Yes, of course she did. Do it again.
Not wanting to encourage his beast, he cleared his throat and said, "We'll have a little time to talk alone once you've finished eating. However, full-on talks of solutions will have to wait because you have an appointment to train with Ryan and one of the Protectors later this morning."
Ryan Ford was a human who had
mated Gaby Santos, a dragonwoman on PineRock. After being dropped from a great height and barely caught before reaching the ground—which had caused damage to his spine—the recovery had been a long one for the male. However, Ryan was training again and would have some good pointers for Ashley about how the hell a human could defend themselves against a dragon-shifter, which should mostly work against stronger opponents in general.
And since Ryan was mated, in love, and about to become a father, Wes's dragon didn't mind Ashley spending time alone with him.
Ashley replied, "I've always wondered about his and Tori's training sessions. I guess it can't hurt, although I hope it'll be effective against humans as well since I don't think I have any dragon-shifter enemies."
He sat up a little taller and stated, "PineRock is safe for humans now." It’d taken months to clean out those who had tried to hurt the humans, Tori and Ryan, but he'd done it. "But yes, it'll be good against any opponent stronger than you. I'd train you myself, but I have some clan duties I have to deal with first."
She tilted her head. "Ones I can't watch? I've always wondered about what you do all day. Okay, I wonder about all dragon leaders, but maybe a little more about you."
The fact Ashley was interested in his work was yet another sign of how right she was for him. Especially since she knew it wasn't all glory and adulation—it involved a shit-ton of paperwork.
Even though he wanted to share everything with her, he shook his head. "No, you can't shadow me this morning. I trust you, but not everyone does yet, and your presence could make some people hold back when they really shouldn't. Just give it some time, okay?" Even though he should avoid touching her until they were alone, Wes took her free hand and squeezed it gently. "Soon enough they'll see what I see."
For a few beats, they merely stared at one another. Damn, his human was so beautiful with her blue eyes and dark hair.
Throw in the fact she was smart as hell and full of fire, and the urge to carry her off to his house and kiss her surged.
No. He couldn't allow the clan to be unprotected or unprepared. When, not if Wes had his mate-claim frenzy, he'd know his clan was ready for his absence for a few weeks.
His dragon spoke up. Then start working on that today, too. Because the second she signals she wants us and we can claim her without putting people in danger, I'm going to do it.
Ashley gripped his hand a little tighter, bringing him back to their conversation. "Shadowing you will be the first thing I add to my list of things you'll show me later."
He raised his brows. "Now I have a list?"
She smiled, and he stopped breathing a second. How he'd resisted her for so long, he had no idea.
Somehow he caught her reply, "It seemed only fair since you have a list for me." She leaned an inch closer, her scent even stronger. "Although I'll make sure you carry out each item on my list. I'm hoping you won't go to extreme lengths to irritate me, though."
"Ah, but you see, it's fun to see your cheeks flush and eyes fill with fire. So I'm not sure you'll be successful with changing my mind there."
She whispered, "We'll see about that."
If not for his mother in the same room, he might've tried inching his free hand between her legs. He could smell her arousal and didn't think she'd say no.
However, his mother was there. What had been a smart idea to keep them acting like adults without their hormones getting in the way had turned into a nuisance.
Ashley was too tempting by half.
His dragon spoke up. Then let her eat so we can talk with her in private. Maybe then she'll let you kiss her skin, or maybe even more.
No mate-claim frenzies yet, dragon.
There's a lot you can do without starting one.
Not only was that true, but Wes was one of a handful who knew that dragon-shifters could have sex with their true mates and not kick off the mate-claim frenzy. Provided, of course, they could avoid kissing on the lips.
Not that Wes would claim his mate fully until he could kiss her, too.