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He rolls us as he collapses, so that I’m on top, hitting the alarm as he moves. I notice he doesn’t turn it off, but just snoozes it again. His eyes close and he groans. “You’re perfect.”
My body is loose and exhausted, but my attention snags on the clock. “Why is your alarm going off in the middle of the night? Do you want me to leave?”
His grip tightens around me. “Never.”
I press up so I can see him, needing to read his expression. I can’t tell if it’s a lie or not. It’s difficult to believe he’s so certain about being with me.
A cloud passes over his face as he pulls me into a soft kiss.
“There are decisions to make. I wish I could give you more time.” He drapes his arm over his face, but I pull it off so he can’t hide from me. His lips turn down. “I wish I didn’t have to ask this of you. I don’t want you to think I…”
“It’s okay, Midas.” I sit up a little and softly caress his cheek, unsure what he’s talking about, but wanting to comfort him. “Just tell me. What is it?”
“If we had met sooner, you could have had more time. We could have taken this slower. But—”
“I don’t think I’d ever have been able to take things slow with you.” I smirk, trying to lighten the mood.
For a moment, that cloud of worry lifts, but then his brows pinch again. I run my hand over the lines on his forehead, up into his hair, combing it with my fingers.
“Nothing about this is conventional, Midas. You’re a fucking dragon!” I laugh, covering my mouth with my palm at my rare curse. It really is amazing, though. A dragon. I shake my head. “I… I’d like to see where this goes. That is…. if you do.”
“Oh, I do, my crown. I’ve wanted you for a very long time. Since long before I met you, and more now that I have you in my arms.” He pulls me against his chest, hiding his face, but surrounding me with his warmth.
“But there are things you don’t know about me, about my world.” His hand smooths over my hair as he talks, keeping me tucked into his chest as if it’s easier for him to share without me looking at him. “The dragons are ruled by a king. But a king can’t support his throne without a queen. If a Dragon King goes more than two hundred years without finding his mate, he must forfeit his crown. If I hadn’t met you yesterday…”
Everything about Jethro’s party comes back to me with new understanding. I pull away and roll off of him, drawing my knees into my chest.
“You’re the King,” I whisper.
He nods, watching me with a careful gaze.
“And… were you supposed to give up your throne last night?”
His chin dips in answer. “But it doesn’t matter because I found you. The fates rewarded my wait.”
I drop my head to my knees. “Or you’re making everyone—including me—think I’m your mate because you’re out of time and don’t have another option.”
“I had another option. I told you I canceled a date.”
“So you would have pretended she was your mate? Why switch to me?”
“You are my mate, Jeslyn.” He cups my cheeks, lifting my face. His eyes aren’t shining with flames, they’re a soft golden color, his expression almost broken. “Please, believe me.” He kisses me, and I feel the pull towards him stronger than ever. Is he right? Am I his mate? Could this really be like the romances I read? Fairytales. And princes. And fated mates. I move my head from side to side, unable to take it all in.
“I was planning to give up my crown. Faking a mate wouldn’t have been worth it. A dragon can only procreate with their true mate. If I hadn’t produced an heir in a timely manner, they would have known my deception, and my crown wouldn’t be the only thing I’d lose.”
The way he says it makes me gasp, “They’d kill you for that?”
His expression tells me the answer without needing to speak. He sits back against the headboard next to me, and I suck in a breath. “How do you know I’m your mate? What if I’m not? What if…”
Tugging me onto his lap, he says simply, “You are.” His hand runs slowly over my head in a calming motion. “We dragons know. There’s no doubt in me. You are mine. I know you feel it too, Jeslyn.”
I swallow, unable to confirm or deny his words. What I feel for him is definitely different from anything I’ve ever experienced before. Different from attraction or lust. Even though both those things are present. But there’s also something more. A comfort level. A familiarity that I can’t explain. It doesn’t make logical sense.
“So, you’re asking me to what…?”
“Marry me. Be my Queen.” His hand stops rubbing my back and drops to his side. “And become a dragon.”
“What?!” I jump off his lap and kneel in front of him so I can see him better. He can’t be serious! But there’s no lie or humor in his gaze. “That’s possible?”
