The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons 7)

Her dragon spoke up. We'll be better for it. Between all the crying and orgasms, we wouldn't have been able to string more than a few thoughts together.

We weren't that tired.

Aye, we were. And stop feeling guilty for everything. Yasmin and her mate slept nearly the whole time, too. And given the news we'll have to give them after talking with Finn, they'll need their strength.

Chase squeezed her hand and she glanced at him. His day-old whiskers made him only sexier. Damn males and their ability to roll out of bed and look better than ever before.

He raised his brows. "I spot the wee furrow between your brows, lass. What's wrong?"

"Just thinking how unfair it is that you're so sexy."

He snorted. "You are far lovelier than me, Layla-love. I would think after last night, you'd have learned how much I treasure each and every inch of your body."

Willing her cheeks not to flush, she whispered, "Not here. We're nearly at Finn's place."

"I doubt he has time to set up listening devices, just to catch whatever sort of chatting goes on nearby." He leaned over. "Shall we test it out?"

She battled a smile. "Most definitely not. I know you're just trying to distract me and make me forget what's about to happen, but it won't work this time." Challenge glinted in his eyes, and she chuckled. "Stop it, Chase. I mean it. I can't keep putting this off."

He quickly kissed her nose before pulling away again. "I know, but you have to admit it's fun trying, aye?"

"I suppose. I'd say more, but I don't need to inflate your ego this early in the day."

Chase grinned. "After last night, my ego should be fine for a wee while. What was it you said?" He lowered his voice and made it a higher pitch. "You're so hard and thick, Chase. Yes, harder, faster. Damn, it's never been this good."

Her cheeks flushed. Aware Chase could distract her for quite a while, she cleared her throat and tugged his hand. "If you ever want me to say those things again, you'll behave yourself."

Chase winked, which always made her belly flip. "For now. But when we're alone, never."

Which was just the way she wanted it, of course. It was becoming harder and harder to imagine her life before Chase had finally pushed his way into it.

They reached Finn's door, raised her brows and gave Chase a look as if to say, "I mean it. Behave." Then she knocked before he could say anything else.

Her dragon snorted. But he's so much fun. I like him. He might finally get you to relax more.

The door opened, revealing Arabella holding one of her sons. Since he was asleep on her shoulder, Layla couldn't make out which of the identical twins it was.

Arabella motioned with her head and said, "Come in. And don't worry about this one. He sleeps through anything, literally. His sister knocked over a cabinet full of dishes, and he didn't even stir."

Layla entered. Normally she'd ask after the triplets' health, but at the moment, she couldn't think of anything but what her parents had decided. She asked, "Is Finn in his office?"

"No, he's in the kitchen. He's been on 'distract Freya duty' until you arrived. Come on."

As Layla followed the dragonwoman and watched her murmur something to her son, Layla silently hoped she didn't have triplets, too. One bairn was a handful. How Arabella managed three at the same time—and remained sane—Layla had no idea.

They entered the kitchen, and Layla spotted Finn with Freya in her blonde-haired human baby form. He bounced her as he sang some sort of children's song. He spotted her and Chase, motioned with his head for them to sit at the table, and finished up the song.

Once he finished, he tried to hand Freya over to Arabella, but the wee lass held tight. Her fingers even turned into talons, no doubt putting holes in Finn's shirt.

Arabella frowned. "I'd try to say your daddy needs to work, but we both know that doesn't matter. She'll have to stay with you, Finn. At least until your aunt comes over to help."

Finn smiled down at his daughter. "Aye, wee Freya loves her Auntie Lorna, doesn't she?"

Freya waved her free hand and made some sort of baby gurgle.

The sight made Layla smile, too. Finn and Arabella were proof that some parents loved their children more than anything. And Layla was determined to be one of them, too, once she had a bairn of her own.

Aye, well, if she ever had the chance to go through the mate-claim frenzy with Chase, that is.