The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons 7)

He grinned slowly, contentment flashing in his eyes. "Better. I'll never tire of your taste, love. Never."

Maybe some females would brush the comment off as hyperbole. But something about Chase's tone rang with truth.

She'd never wanted a male inside her so much in her life.

And in that moment, Layla decided to share a secret that doctors held dear, one that they couldn't usually share without facing some sort of penalty from the clan leaders.

However, Chase was going to be her mate one day—yes, he'd more than proven he could handle staying out of the way when she needed to help someone in the surgery. And while she didn't have time for the mate-claim frenzy anytime soon, there was another way to share more of herself. A way that may encourage him to keep courting her instead of brushing her off with frustration if another attack, or epidemic, or other such event occurred, which would delay any sort of frenzy yet again.

Gently taking one of her hands from his, she brushed his hair, his brow, and then his lips. "I want more than your mouth, Chase."

He frowned. "Whilst most would call me an idiot for even mentioning this, didn't you say that you wanted to wait for the frenzy? As much as I'd love to kiss you and claim you right here and now, I think it's just the orgasm talking. You'll regret it instantly, love."

She snorted. "You're so confident of your abilities, to the point they'd make me lose all rational thought with just one orgasm?"

He growled, the vibration of his throat against her lower abdomen sending a fresh wave of heat through her body. She barely caught his next words. "Do I need to prove my skills to you again and again, until you are nothing but a pile of jelly on this bed?"

Her dragon spoke up. Now that sounds like a perfect way to handle the morning.

Not if we're to work later in the day.

Layla motioned for him to come up to her, and he did, not hesitating to place a protective hand on the swell of her hip. As he strummed his rough thumb against her bare skin, she wanted to roll him onto his back and take him right then and there.

He raised an eyebrow, reminding her that she wanted to tell him something. After cupping his cheek, she said, "There are a number of things dragon doctors and clan leaders know that others don't. Most secrets are kept for protection, or to prevent hasty decisions that could lead to a lifetime of misery."

He searched her gaze. "Aye, I'm sure there are. But why are you telling me this?"

She continued to stroke his face, loving his early morning stubble against her fingers. "Because I want to share one of them with you. Can you promise to keep it a secret?"

His hand rubbed her hip. "Of course."

She bit her lip for a second. She would tell him, aye, she would.

But a tiny part of her was afraid. He could say no and then know there was always a way out for him, to realize she was too much to take on as a mate.

And that frightened her. In a short amount of time, Chase had wormed his way into her life, showing her how lonely she'd been, and making her want him more than she'd wanted anything in a long time.

Her dragon growled. He's waited two bloody years for us and has gone out of his way to prove he can support us as a doctor's mate. He won't tire of us.

Chase leaned over to kiss her cheek, her jaw, her earlobe. "Tell me, love."

Taking a deep breath, the words spilled from her lips. "Potential true mates can have sex without triggering the frenzy as long as neither one kisses the other on the lips."

Chase's head shot back, his eyes wide as they met hers. "Say what?"

She smiled. "It's true. The risk of pregnancy is still there, which is part of the reason we never tell anyone, or rather strongly allow everyone to believe sex can start a frenzy, just like a kiss."

He frowned a little. "But wouldn't it be better for both parties to try it out beforehand?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe, maybe not. For the most part, keeping the secret gives a pair of true mates the chance to know each other without merely wanting the physical. Not to mention most people aren't restrained enough to remember not to kiss during sex." She searched his gaze. "Would you be able to?"

Chase didn't hesitate. "Aye, if I took you from behind. But is this what you want, lass? I can wait until things settle down a bit. Not because I don't want you, but because I want to prove to you that I want you as my mate, not merely as someone for a few tumbles in bed."

She moved her fingers to trace his jaw. "I know you could wait. You've shown that many times—last night, over the last few days, and even for the two years when I had no clue about us being potential true mates. But…"

Chase cupped her cheek and murmured, "But?"

She smiled shyly. "I don't want to wait. Aye, the frenzy can wait, and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for that." She moved her hand down to his chest, stroking lower. "But I want you, Chase McFarland. Desperately."