The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons 7)

der and murmured, "I will never tell a soul, I promise. Although since we know, maybe we can exploit the information a few more times?"

His suggestion could be taken as serious or flippant—he left it up to her.

Then she squeezed her inner muscles around his semihard dick, and blood rushed south again. "Only if I can ride you this time. I'll face away, but I want to feel you even deeper inside me."

With a groan, he maneuvered so they sat, Layla still on his now steel-hardened cock. "This is one of my fantasies, lass. For you to ride me, try to break me, and all the while I drive you crazy until you're the one falling apart in my arms."

She wiggled a wee bit. "Then I suppose I should get started."

And as Layla tortured him far worse than he did her, he had to bite her shoulder as he came to keep from turning her face and letting her know how much he already loved her with his mouth.

Chapter Twelve

Awhile later, as Layla lay with her head on Chase's chest, his heartbeat under her ear, she lightly played with the patch of dark blond hair on his chest and selfishly wished she could stay like this all day.

Aye, she wouldn't deny she craved more sex with him. But it was more than that. Layla was an intensely private person, mostly out of necessity because of her profession. And to be encircled in the arms of a male she trusted, one whom she could confide anything and was coming to care for, was almost unthinkable.

So much so that she feared it was a dream. One she'd wake from and wonder how she could easily forget it and return to her old way of doing things, where she attempted to do everything herself and forgot about anything she wanted.

For so many years, she'd lived without truly living. Layla didn't want to go back to that.

Her dragon spoke up in a sleepy voice. Stop worrying. The slight soreness between our thighs is proof Chase and everything that goes with him is real. Stop pretending we can't have nice things and a happy future like so many others.

Others had fought for the right to that kind of future, like her sister had done.

Guilt instantly filled her body. Here she was, in a post-orgasmic haze, and her sister was stuck in a hospital room. She'd spent more than half an hour for herself. Layla should've dressed and tried to find out more about Yasmin's condition already.

Her dragon growled. Dr. Sid is watching her, and she told Chase that Yasmin was doing better. Besides, we still have a few hours before we're even allowed back inside the building. Enjoy the moment now to help recharge us for later.

Chase's voice rumbled inside his chest. "What are you thinking of, love?"

As his hand stroked her back in warming circles, she snuggled more against his side. "That this all still seems like a dream." She paused, and added, "And how I feel a wee bit guilty lying here in your arms when I should be doing something else, something useful."

He took the hand on his chest and brought it to his lips. After he kissed her palm, he replied, "This is bloody useful, lass. Everyone needs some downtime to relax, even a super doctor such as yourself. Besides, you trust Dr. Sid, aye?"

"Of course."

"Then know she'd tell you if anything was wrong."

As he continued to stroke her back, her guilt faded a fraction. Not completely, but deep down, she knew he was right.

Her dragon huffed. Aye, he is. Any sane dragon-shifter knows that regular sex keeps us inner beasts happy, which means you'll be happier, too.

She smiled and placed her chin on his chest, so she could meet his gaze. "My dragon seems to agree with you."

He grinned. "Then that's three against one. I like those numbers."

She lightly smacked his chest. "For now. Don't expect my dragon to always be on your side."

Chase released her hand and moved his to her face, tracing her cheek with his forefinger. "I know, but just remember that you have all of us on your side going forward, for whatever challenges you face."

His words brought some of reality crashing back, specifically one certain aspect considering her parents. "Aye, there are things I can't put off much longer."

"You mean your parents?"

She blinked in surprise. "Yes, but how did you guess that?"

He took her hand and kissed her palm again, except this time he flicked his tongue against her skin before saying, "They never came to the surgery yesterday, and you never left it. It's possible you could've talked to them on the phone, but I don't think you would, not for something this important."