by Lia Davis
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so confused. I need time to think. So much has happened in the last couple of days, I don’t even know where to begin to try to start figuring it out.”
He dropped his hand to hers and squeezed. “I know it’s a lot, Nadia. I can’t imagine what you’re going through with the kidnapping and the whole dragon I-am-your-mate speech. I just want you to know that I’m here, and I want to be with you. I’m patient. I won’t force anything that you don’t want. Ever.”
She nodded and stared out the window. If only he could read her mind. What did she think of him? At least she wasn’t running away or telling him to get lost. That was a good thing, right?
Sage let out a snore, and Owen and Nadia both laughed. At least that diffused the situation a little, but how could he make his mate truly feel better? What could he do to put her at ease? Humans didn’t always know when they’d met their mates, or so he understood.
“I need to think,” she repeated. “I’m so tired. So stressed. So relieved.”
“Okay. Can we still see each other? I have some time off. In fact, I had orders to take a vacation after the Huff case was closed.” He swiped the tears from her cheek. “We can date. Just, please, give me a chance to win your heart.”
“Date?”
“Yeah. I’ll rent an apartment close to you. Call you every day and night. Bring you flowers when I pick you up for our weekend getaways. I’ll get you a cat. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Just let me stay in your life.”
A smile lifted her lips. “Who said I want a cat? Or that I’d go off for the weekend with you?”
His heart sank. The dragon chose that moment to lift his head and let out a whimper. “Will you?” He swallowed hard. “Please?”
“I’ll think about it.” She leaned in and kissed him. “But no cat just yet.”
“That’s all I ask.” His lips tingled, and he remembered the night on her screened porch when things had heated up before the call about Sage’s disappearance. “I can promise you more of what we had on the couch, only better.”
“Well, that certainly sweetens things. I could be persuaded with more action.”
He grinned. “Oh, you can count on it!”
“Owen?” Her face turned serious.
He looked into her eyes. “Yes?”
“Thank you for saving Sage. You don’t know what that means to me.”
“I think I do. Jo was my sister. I remember how it felt. And you’re welcome. I told you I’d bring her back to you. I keep my promises.” He wondered how much it sounded like he was begging. Did he sound desperate? Did he care?
“I don’t want to be shut out of your life. I want to know all your secrets. And maybe one day, meet your dragon.”
He tugged her from her chair to sit in his lap. “Deal. Anything you want. Just as long as I have you.”
“Get a room,” Sage mumbled from the hospital bed.
Owen and Nadia laughed, and the burdens he’d carried so long seemed a little lighter.
Epilogue
One month later
Nadia pulled into her driveway and shut the car off. She sat there a moment, closed her eyes, and tried to relax. Friday night. The workweek had been rough. With a bunch of new clients trying to onboard security at the same time, she had been pulled into helping the engineers instead of doing her own work. Some weeks, she wondered if she was in the right career.
She tugged the key from the ignition.
Why were the lights on in her house? She grabbed her purse and computer bag and headed to the door, clicking the lock on her car. No one was parked nearby, so Owen must have stopped by.
She smiled. She hadn’t seen him in a week, though they talked every night on the phone. She walked up the steps to her porch, shivering at the chill in the air. Fall had arrived, and with Sage away at school, Nadia had to admit, she was a little lonely.
She picked up the small package the mail service had left on the porch. Thank goodness for Owen. Even though he’d been pretty busy on a case, he’d made sure to come by and see her as often as he could. He’d taken off the mandated time, but she hadn’t been surprised he went back to work so soon. He’d told her that Snow had gone to his cabin in Alaska to recover. Courtney was still at work, as were the others.
She checked the door—unlocked—and opened it. The smells of Italian food wafted from the kitchen. She dropped her things on the foyer table and closed the door.
“Owen?” She headed for the kitchen.
“I’m in here.” He popped out from the doorway and took her in his arms. “Thought you might like a nice meal of lasagna and salad tonight.”
“It smells delicious.” She reached for him, and he hugged her tight.
“It won’t be ready for about an hour. I stuck it in the oven not too long ago.”
“That’s sounds great. Gives me time to unwind a little.”
“You’ve been working too hard.” He ran his hand along her back. “I could tell last night that you weren’t getting enough rest. You were dozing off on the phone.”
She met his gaze. “I’m sorry. Yeah, work has been rough.”
He kissed her lightly. “Tonight will be all about relaxing. I’ll take care of you. How’s that?”
“Sounds wonderful. I need to go change.” She pulled out of his arms.
“Wait.” He tugged her toward the living room. “I have something to show you.”
“What is it?” She stopped in front of the coffee table. “Dinner and a movie?”
“Nope, though that isn’t a bad idea.” He grabbed his jacket off the couch and dug through the pockets.
“A new cat?”
“Very funny. Nope.” He palmed something, and she tried to see what it was, but he hid it behind his back.
“I give up. Tell me what it is.”
“I will.” His face took on a serious expression, and the dragon behind his eyes flashed.
“Is something wrong?” Fear punched her in the gut.
“No, no.” He smiled. “In fact, everything feels so right.”
“Then what is it?”
He cleared his throat. “You know how important you are to me. Ever since that day at the lake when I first saw you and Sage unpacking, I knew you were special.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.”
“Hold on. That isn’t all. I love you, and I can’t bear us living apart. My dragon can’t, either. Come live with me. Be my wife. My mate forever. I want to build a life with you.”
Owen dropped to one knee and held out a ring.
Nadia covered her mouth. “Are you serious? I mean—you know I love you, too, but this is a bit quick, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think it is. I’m very serious. I hate living apart. I want to wake up to sunshine and you and cuddle you when the moon rises over the mountains. Will you marry me?”
“Of course I will!” She took his hands. “You make me feel so complete, and I never thought I could be happy again…not after losing my parents.”
He slid the ring onto her finger. “You have no idea how happy you make me. You tame my beast.”
“Oh, what about Sage? I need to talk to her. What if she doesn’t think it’s a good idea or we’re moving too fast or—”
He held her hands to his chest, and she felt his heart thumping. “I’ve already talked to Sage—got her blessing, if you will. She’s thrilled.”
“I can’t believe she didn’t tell me.” Nadia hugged him, and he picked her up, his arms under her legs, carrying her like precious cargo.
“I asked her not to.”
“You two conspired against me! No fair.”
“I want to seal the deal.” His voice was low, and a slight growl tinged it. “You know how good at it we dragons are.”
She squealed.
He headed toward the bedroom, swinging her feet to miss the doorway.
“What about the lasagna?” She grinned.
He looked down at her, his dragon peering into her. “H
oney, we’ve got at least forty-five minutes before it’s done.”
THE END
Stay tuned for the next book in the Dark Scales Division series, Snowed Undercover, by Kerry Adrienne and Lia Davis…coming in 2018!
About Kerry Adrienne
Repped by Marisa Corvisiero, Kerry writes in many genres including science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, m/m, erotic romance, and more. In her spare time, she homeschools, is a part-time college instructor, editor, and dabbler in most things creative. You can usually find her posting cat pictures on Facebook and Twitter when she’s not working
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About Lia Davis
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
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