Even a month ago, Zain would've huffed and said that wasn't his job. Being a fake mate meant protecting her but nothing else.
However, his feet had a mind of their own and he went to the kitchen. And the instant he saw Ivy pouring hot water into a teapot, longing crashed over him.
While the simple act of having tea with a female may not seem that momentous to other people, to Zain, it signaled something greater. He could have someone to come home to every day, someone to talk and laugh with, and someone to tease or verbally spar with for fun.
In other words, his life could become so much more than merely his duties as a Protector.
All it would take was him truly accepting Ivy as she was now, forgiving her past, and making his feelings known.
Could he do it? He could easily face off against a group of dragon hunters with laser weapons, but he hesitated to face a short human female. He'd laugh if it wasn't his own life.
Ivy turned with a smile, although Zain didn't miss the shadows under her eyes. She said, "I don't envy your sister one bit. Those two boys are a handful."
He smiled back at her. Zain went to Ivy's side and helped with the tea. "They were a little easier when they were younger. But being fifteen isn't easy for any dragon-shifter—hormones are surging, your dragon starts thinking about sex, and you have to eat a small mountain of food every day to keep up with both your growth and all of the flight training. As for Freddie, well, it's mostly Daisy's fault. Freddie wasn't as adventurous before meeting her. And now that Daisy lives on Stonefire, I'm waiting to see if the human girl will test even his limits of patience or not."
Ivy tilted her head, a few stray strands of hair falling over her shoulders. Zain itched to wrap the probably silky hair around his fingers but somehow managed to focus on her words instead. She replied, "I think it's good they're so close because it means Daisy will always have an ally. It also helps Daisy adjust to all the changes given Dawn's surprise mate-claim frenzy with Blake and her decision to move to Stonefire permanently."
He shrugged. "Everyone already loves Daisy, so she'll be fine." He searched Ivy's eyes and finally touched a few fingers to her cheek.
"I'm more concerned about you."
Zain stroked her cheek a few times, and thanks to his supersensitive hearing, he heard Ivy's breathing speed up to match her thumping heart. When she finally spoke, her voice was slightly husky. "Why are you more concerned about me?"
He leaned closer, reveling in her sweet scent. "Even knowing that you'll have a long road ahead if you stay here, you still want to, right?" She bobbed her head, and he continued, "Then I'll always worry about you, Ivy. Because anyone could turn into an enemy if we're not careful. Even the most rational can turn wild with hatred in extreme circumstances. One attack on Stonefire could trigger that sort of situation. That would put you at risk."
She searched his gaze. "But you're going to protect me, right, Zain?"
"Of course I am. But it may not be enough."
As if in slow-motion, Ivy raised her hand and placed it on his cheek. Both man and beast sucked in a breath at her soft, warm touch. Her voice was like a caress as she said, "I can't think of anyone else I'd want to protect me. I know you won't let me down."
"How are you so certain?" he breathed.
She tilted her head upward, and Zain couldn't resist looking at her full bottom lip. A mouth he couldn't taste or tease because of her condition, although he desperately wanted to. She murmured, "You're my mate. And yes, it started as a duty. But I think it's become more. Or, at least it has to me. What about you, Zain? Am I right about it being more than a duty now?"
As his hearted thundered inside his chest, Zain lost himself in the blue of Ivy's eyes and debated how to answer her.
Ivy didn't know where her boldness had come from, but she was glad she'd touched Zain's cheek and asked her question.
She'd been watching him all day, and while she knew he was softer inside than he let on, the way he played and teased the children had made her belly flip in a good way.
Her attraction had lasted outside her hospital room. And if she was going to live with the dragonman, she needed to be honest with him.
And so she waited for his response, fascinated by his flashing pupils. Not to mention the second his gaze moved to her lips, she couldn't help but lick them.
Rationally, she knew she couldn't kiss him, even if he asked for it because of her unknown condition. And yet, her lips throbbed, wanting to feel his firm ones against hers.
Zain growled. "You know I can't kiss you right now, Ivy, and you're making it bloody hard not to."
She tamped down her joy at his mention of kissing her and replied, "That still didn't answer my question. Am I merely a duty to you, or more, Zain? This is our first night in our new home, and I think we should start off honestly from the get-go."
His pupils finally remained round right before he spoke again. "The truth will make things difficult, Ivy, and you know it."
Since she'd put everything out there already, Ivy wasn't going to back down. "I don't care. Tell me the truth, Zain. Either do it right here, right now, or I'm going to ask to stay with Nikki or your sister."
He growled, and while she may have flinched in the beginning of their acquaintance, she merely raised an eyebrow in the present. Zain sighed. "The truth?" He moved until he caged her against the counter with his body and arms. The feel of his hard muscles pressed against her body made her knees weak, and not because of her recent awakening from a coma, either.
His hot breath danced against her cheek as he said, "When you first woke up from your coma, I hated you. You represented so much pain for my clan, my friends, and my family. I had planned to interrogate you, find out your secrets, and then allow the DDA to take you away for good."