Without thinking, she blurted out, “I love you, Tristan MacLeod.”
His finger stilled on his cheek and she wondered if she had made a mistake. But Tristan rose up to kiss her and say, “Good. Then you’re staying.”
It wasn’t exactly the romantic words you’d find in a movie, but considering her dragon-shifter, she didn’t really expect it. However, she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit to feeling a little vulnerable and exposed by her admission and his lack of response.
But she had faith that maybe one day he’d come to love her too.
For now, she at least knew she would be able to stay with him and get to experience this nicer, teasing version of Tristan. Considering the uncertainty of her future, she would relish whatever she could take from life. She would make the next seven or eight months count.
Rather than think of dying, she just wanted to lie in the warmth and safety of her dragonman’s arms.
Mel lay down, careful not to touch the opposite shoulder with his injury, and nuzzled into his chest. “Yes, I’m staying and we can talk about that more later. Right now, I’m exhausted and would love nothing more than for you to hold me close and sleep with me.”
His voice rumbled under her ear. “That I can do.”
He wrapped his arms around her and Mel let out a sigh. This was where she belonged, with Tristan MacLeod and his clan. She looked forward to him being hale and hearty so that he could give her some great “let’s celebrate life” sex.
But as she breathed in the spicy male scent that was Tristan, she felt her eyelids growing heavy. There was a hell of a lot to think about and plan for, but without realizing it, she fell into a deep sleep next to the man she loved.
Chapter Six
Melanie tried to sit down on the couch in the living room, but after about thirty seconds, she stood up and started pacing again. Tristan should be home from the hospital any time now, and she was a little nervous.
She wasn’t worried about him acting differently now that he was healthy. Nor was she concerned about them trying to feel each other out as they tried to establish a daily, somewhat normal life. She’d spent most of the last week and a half in his company, and she was more in love with him than ever. Sure, he could still be alpha and broody, and he never gave up an argument without a fight, but that was just part of who he was. Besides, life would be pretty boring if he suddenly started “yes, dear”-ing everything she suggested.
But in between her visits to Tristan, Samira, Cait and even Arabella, she’d been working on a surprise for her dragonman. Bram had even helped her without hesitation to gather what she needed to pull it off.
Now all she had to do was wait for Tristan to get his ass home.
Her stomach flipped and she took a second to breathe in and out. She was not going to get sick. Not right now, not today. Behave, dragon baby. Daddy’s coming home. Let’s make it a sick-free day. Yes?
She didn’t expect the tiny bean inside her uterus to listen to her, but it made her feel better all the same.
A few crackers and some water later, and she went back to pacing.
When the front door finally opened, she moved to stand a few feet from it. Tristan’s tall, dark-haired self appeared in the doorway and she smiled up at him. “Hi.”
Without a word, he moved inside the cottage, shut the door, and pulled her up against him. “As much as I love hearing your strange American-slash-slightly-British accent, I want more than that as a greeting.”
She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What in the world could you possibly want?”
He growled. “This.”
And he kissed her.
She opened and welcomed him into her mouth. As she twirled and stroked against his hot, warm tongue, she leaned even more against him. But when his hands snaked under her silky tank top and stroked her skin, she pulled away.
Tristan growled. “The doctor cleared me. Wild sex in the forest will have to wait, but I’ve spent all week thinking of the many different ways I want to fuck you. I’m tired of only having you in my fantasies.” Then his expression relaxed and took on a hint of worry. “Unless the baby is giving you trouble? Do you need to sit down? A drink of water? Some tea?”
She smiled at his concern. “The baby is behaving. For now, at least.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
She cupped his cheek. “Nothing is wrong, but before we have hot, earth-shattering sex, I have a surprise for you.”
His eyes flickered to slits and back. “A surprise?”
She laughed. “I knew that would get your dragon’s attention. Samira told me how dragons love surprises.”
He grunted and she found it endearing.