Chase reached out a hand as if to touch her jaw, but then curled his fingers into a fist and pulled back. He grunted. "I wish you'd talk to me, Layla. You shoulder so much and need someone at your side. Not because you're weak, but because you deserve to have someone to lean on and help take on responsibilities. Or, at the very least, be there to listen to a rant or help you relax after a rough day."
Her dragon spoke up. He's right, you know. You may appear surrounded by clan all the time, but we're actually quite isolated. Chase could change all that and make life brighter. And most definitely help us relax. Many times a day, in fact. He may even let me mark his back with my talons.
Careful not to encourage her beast when it came to sex with Chase, she replied, We can't afford the distraction, and you know it.
Would it be a distraction, though? You always counsel others to speak their minds and the truth. Why are we different?
Because lives could be at stake.
Chase's voice prevented Layla from replying to her beast. "Sit down."
She blinked at the dominance in his voice. "What?"
"Sit down, lass. Just for a few moments."
The urge to obey his command coursed through her body, but she resisted. "We need to get to my cottage and finish the job."
"Sit."
She studied his face a second before saying, "You're not going to stop saying that, are you?"
He grinned. "Sit."
Rolling her eyes, Layla sat. "See? I'm sitting. How long do I need to be here? Sixty seconds? Ninety? Tell me so I can start counting."
"As long as it takes for me to help you relax."
Before she could do more than meet his gaze again, he moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Despite the layers of clothing, she felt the delicious heat of his fingers and couldn't hold back a gasp.
She expected him to tease her, but he remained silent as he massaged her shoulders, pressing his thumbs firmly into the knotted tension of her muscles.
Her dragon hummed as he continued to work, and Layla's head fell forward with each movement of Chase's fingers.
Layla eventually moaned as he reached a particularly tense area and Chase said, "Nearly there, lass."
So content, Layla took a second to recognize what he was talking about—giving up when she was finally relaxed.
Her dragon spoke up. I could get used to this.
Normally, she'd protest and give a list of reasons why they never could. However, as Chase's fingers pressed into her neck and shoulders, she couldn't think of why she couldn't have this every day.
And then Chase's touch was gone and she nearly whimpered. Layla couldn't remember the last time a male's touch had been so firm yet gentle, not to mention able to turn her brain to a nearly useless pile of jelly.
He moved to stand at her side again and offered his hand. "Come, Layla. I can carry you if you like, but I thought I'd ask first. You know, to prevent any possible injury that you'd have to take care of after the fact."
She smiled without thinking, amused at him throwing her words back at her. "How kind of you."
Chase winked, the action making her belly flip. The male was too handsome for his own good.
He murmured, "I wouldn't say I can be fully trained, but I'm always open to learning, lass. Especially when it concerns you."
The second the words left Chase's lips, he knew he'd fucked up.
His entire plan had been to prove his worth to Layla before hinting she was his true mate. And clever lass that she was, Layla may now know the truth. Or very soon would figure it out.
His dragon spoke up. Good. She's extremely intelligent, and I hope she'll ask questions and figure it out. I'm tired of hiding it.
Layla's question came out slowly. "Why me? There are both dragon-shifter females and human females who've all but thrown themselves at you. So why me especially?"