“Aye, in the old days. If you refuse me, I’ll still protect you with my life. But”—he brushed her cheek again—“I want more. I want to hold you close and wake up with you in my arms.” He moved his free hand to her pregnant belly. “I want to watch your son grow into a strong male.” He lifted his hand to trace the curve of her breast. “And I want to devour every inch of your skin and make you come harder than you ever have in your life.” He removed both hands from her. “The bigger question is, what do you want, Gina?”
Recklessness had cost Gina her degree, her freedom, her friends, and even her family. Every sensible iota of her being screamed to order Fergus away and close off her heart from being hurt again.
On the other hand, Fergus’s mere presence eased her stress. Also, her son loved to dance in the dragonman’s presence and Fergus had even volunteered to protect her with his life. True, he could be using pretty words to get into her pants, but her gut said Fergus MacKenzie was different.
The only question was whether she took a chance and listened to her instinct or if she played it safe.
As she debated the reasons to go one way or the other, her son kicked. Gina smiled when he did it again. Without thinking, she reached for Fergus’s hand and placed it on her stomach. As her son continued to kick and move around, Fergus’s deep voice filled the room. “I think maybe we should listen to the lad. He seems to like me and you don’t want to disappoint the bairn before he’s even born.”
She snorted. “So you’re using my baby against me?”
He grinned. “Aye. It’s best to get him on my side early on. With his help, I might be able to convince you to be my mate.”
She drew in a breath. “Mate?”
Rubbing her stomach in slow circles, his grin faded. “Not now, of course. I will take as long as it takes to win you over, Gina Louise. Even if it takes me years, you’ll be worth the wait.”
She barely acknowledged the fact Fergus already knew her middle name. “But you just met me.”
“I’ve been thinking of you every day since I first walked out of the lake in dragon form and tried not to laugh as you threatened me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Hey, it wasn’t an idle threat.”
“That may be, lass, but from that second, I loved your spirit. Whenever it fades, I can tell it’s because of the male that hurt you.” He paused, and then asked, “Maybe if you tell me about him, we can think of a way to purge your memories of his bastard self.”
“You’re just saying that to eventually get me naked.”
Fergus tilted his head. “If all I wanted was you naked, then you’d be naked already.”
Gina tsked. “Someone’s cocky.”
He laid a possessive hand on her thigh. “I want you to feel safe, Gina. But without knowing about your past, I can’t help you, let alone try to protect you and your son.” He squeezed her leg. “Tell me and the information will go with me to my grave.”
She paused before asking, “What if it endangers your clan?”
“Then I’ll persuade you to talk to Finn. But I won’t be the one to tell him.”
As Fergus stared at her, Gina tried to decide what to do. If Fergus knew the extent of how much BroadBay wanted her child, he might run to his clan leader. She’d be on her ass outside Lochguard’s gate before Gina could do more than blink.
Glancing down at Fergus’s large hand on her thigh, she attempted to think of a reason to keep her secrets.
Fergus spoke up again, his accent thick when he said, “If you won’t tell me because you don’t want to burden me, then think of your son. I can’t protect him, either, without knowing all the facts.”
She looked up at that. “So you’re guilt-tripping me into telling you the past?”
He winked. “If this is guilt-tripping, then you wouldn’t stand a chance against my mum. She’s the queen of making someone feel guilty.”
Smiling, she laid a hand over his. “Then I’ll have to ask Aunt Lorna for lessons the next time I see her.”
“Aye, I’m sure she’ll give them to you, too.”
Fergus fell
silent. He was giving her time to make a decision.
Tears pricked her eyes. Even in this moment, when Fergus could easily overpower her and demand answers, he was patient. Kindness and something else she couldn’t name filled his eyes.
Truth be told, it was easy to imagine a life where she woke up to her dragonman’s blue-eyed gaze.