If he were a betting male, he'd say they'd all left them after his mum had walked in and rushed right back out.
However, in the next second, Layla opened her dark brown eyes, and he forgot about everything else but the female in front of him.
As he tried to gauge her guarded expression, Layla cleared her throat. "So ever since you hit maturity, your dragon has been telling you to go after me. You never had a chance to grow and discover what kind of lass you truly want for yourself."
Chase had been cautious for years. No more. He growled and leaned closer. "I fought him at first, because I was young and wanted to dally with a few more lasses before settling down. However, it didn't take long for me to notice how clever, kind, and beautiful you are. As time went on, I stopped fighting my dragon. And not because of instinct, but because I wanted you for myself."
Time stilled as she stared into his eyes, her pupils flashing between round and slitted. Odds were that her dragon was on his side. Not every true mate pairing worked or even had dragons on both sides wanting it, but it did more often than not.
And yet, if Layla's human half wasn't on board, too, then nothing would happen. In a worst-case scenario, one of them would be sent to another clan—most likely him—until enough time passed and the true mate pull faded. As long as they didn't kiss each other on the lips and start the need for a mate-claim frenzy, the true mate pull would fade within a few years.
But he didn't want to go away and forget Layla. Over the years, he'd learned how much she needed someone in her life, someone to help share burdens or to bring some laughter into her life. Chase wanted to be that male. He couldn't—or wouldn't—force her, but he wasn't going to give up easily, either.
So he finally asked the question he didn't know the answer to before he decided his next tactic. "What do you want, Layla? Tell me truthfully."
If she tried to step away again, he'd have let her go. Every breath he took made his heart pound harder.
However, she didn't walk away but instead, gingerly placed a hand on his chest. Even through his shirt, the searing heat of her touch made him draw in a breath.
She never broke her gaze as she murmured, "I-I don't know. Rationally, I should laugh and say it'd never work."
He risked raising a hand to lightly trace her jaw, loving how she leaned a little into his caress. "But?"
Her eyes flashed faster as he continued to stroke her soft skin. She replied, "It might be worth a try."
Fuck, what he wouldn't give to kiss her and start trying.
However, he couldn't or he'd start the mate-claim frenzy. So Chase remained where he was, keeping up the steady pace against her jaw. "Then it means you'll let me court you, aye?"
She smiled. "Court is such an old-fashioned term. And yet, it almost fits considering how you can't even kiss me until we decide what to do."
He liked that she used the term "we." Leaning a fraction closer, Chase said, "What are your ground rules? And before you protest, aye, of course you'd have some."
She raised her brows. "Well, of course there needs to be some. After all, I can't just kiss you and let the mate-claim frenzy take over. I have responsibilities, ones that if I don't think about, people could die. Not to mention the result of a frenzy could hurt the clan in the long run, too."
Doing his best to keep his mind free of Layla naked and at his mercy for a sex marathon, as well as her eventually round with their child, he focused on his response. "A child would disrupt your life."
"That's part of it. But there's also the current problem I have at the surgery, which, if left unresolved, could hurt the clan further."
Right, the stolen medical supplies. "I'll help you with that, lass. And I promise—no kissing on the mouth until you want it."
Moving his head even closer, Chase only stopped about an inch from her skin. Her scent was stronger where her neck met her jaw, and if that wasn't already enough to make both man and beast hum, he could also smell her arousal.
His dragon growled. Then at least kiss her neck, jaw, somewhere.
He whispered, "Let me kiss your skin, Layla. It might help persuade you to give this more of a chance."
Chase expected her to decline for some rational reason or other, but she tilted her head a fraction. Taking that as a yes, he closed the distance to press his lips to her warm, soft jaw. When she moaned, he lightly traced her jaw with his tongue, down her neck, until he could lightly bite where her neck met her shoulder.
Her hand went to his hair, her nails digging in, making his cock instantly hard.
His dragon roared. More, taste more of her skin. That small sample isn't nearly enough.
Chase didn't wait another second to pull Layla's body flush against his, loving how her breasts pressed into his chest, her nipples already hard and straining. Fuck, he wanted to taste one, torture it slowly until his female was about to come. Only because at any moment his family could walk back into the room did he not attempt it.
When Layla's free arm wrapped around his shoulders, he moved back up to her face to kiss her cheek, her nose, her brow. "It's better than I've imagined. So much better." He moved his head to look into her eyes again. The heat there only made him harder. "Tell me how you feel, Layla. Not what you think, but how you feel right here, right now, in my arms."
She murmured, "Warm, wanted, fragile, and so many other things all at once."
Threading his fingers into the back of her hair, he asked, "Tell me why you're fragile, Layla. I hope not because of me. I'd rather cut off my own dick than hurt one hair on your body."
Her lips twitched. "I don't think your dragon would sit back and allow you to cut off your penis."
While he appreciated humor as much as the next person, he wasn't going to allow her to dodge his question. "Aye, I doubt it. But let's get back to the bit about why you feel fragile."
She bit her lower lip a few beats before finally saying, "Not many people push boundaries with me. That is both good and bad, I think." He growled as a reminder of his question, and she added, "Fine. The reason is that while this feels good right now, it doesn't mean it'll last. I work long hours, my schedule is unpredictable, and some days I give so much of myself that I don't have anything left to give someone else at the end of the day. It's not what I'd call a perfect future, and I'm well aware it's one any male would grow tired of eventually. And since I'm not the type of female to date casually and freely give my emotions, it'd break me in the end when a male decided it was too much to handle. It's why I never really tried dating anyone since I first began my medical training, to protect myself."
He hated how she felt the need to distance herself from everyone, to guard her heart. He gently caressed her cheek. "You say that as if I don't already know all of that about you. And as long as you allow me to take care of you on those days when you're too exhausted to do more than eat and sleep, then it'd be enough for me." He searched her eyes before adding, "I wouldn't leave you, Layla."
Chase knew what it was like to have someone who should love you just leave one day and never come back.
Her brows came together. "Saying the words is one thing, but it's much harder in real life, Chase. Usually only other doctors or nurses understand how draining this profession can be, and they know how to handle the demands of it."
If Layla believed actions more than words, Chase would do just that. "Then give me a trial period. I can secretly stay with you most days and nights, help you solve the mystery of the surgery, and prove I can be the mate of a dragon doctor."
While living in the same cottage as Layla for even a short amount of time without kissing her would be difficult, Chase had survived two fucking years of not having her. He could wait a little longer.
She finally said, "People will talk, aye? And this being Lochguard, everyone will try to meddle, which will only make things harder than they're going to be already."
He shook his head. "They won't find out if I can help it. I'll be careful. I wasn't what you'd call the most we
ll-behaved teenager. Not to mention when I was doing my initial electrician's training in Inverness, I became a master of leaving the boarding house after curfew to explore the surrounding areas and always made it back unnoticed." He winked. "I never even received a warning."
"The doctor in me wants to scold that behavior."
"But?"
Her lips curled upward. "But if it's true, it may be helpful to our situation."
Chase loved how the situation had become theirs so quickly.
Maybe he did have a chance with Layla after all. After two years of holding back, it was almost too much to hope for.
His dragon spoke up. Of course we have a chance with her. Now, focus on making her say yes so we can kiss her skin again.
I'm not sure I could make her do anything.
His beast growled. Try harder.
"Chase? What does your dragon say?" Layla asked.
He snorted. "He's excited, is all. As you well know, inner dragons aren't the most patient lot. And for you to even consider giving us a chance is a massive deal to him." He moved a finger to trace the outer edge of her ear. "So, will you give us a chance? Even if it's only a couple of weeks or a month, I'll treat every day as if it were our last, and give it my everything."
Lifting her hand from his chest, she lightly brushed her fingers against his cheek. The light touch sent another rush of heat through his body.
And she'd only touched his face. He'd explode when her fingers finally wrapped around his cock and squeezed.
Fuck, he'd promise her anything to make that a reality.
She murmured, "There are a million reasons why I should say no."
"But?" he prodded gently.
She searched his gaze and brushed a stray lock of hair off his forehead. "But I can't bring myself to say anything but yes."
His heart rate kicked up. "When can we start?" he croaked.
He swore she leaned more against him as she replied, "Tomorrow, after I finish work? That'll give me time to tidy up a bit. There are a few things I'd rather you not see lying about my house."
He tightened his arm around her waist. "Och, lass, now all I'll be doing is thinking of what those forbidden items are."
She grinned, her eyes crinkling at the corners and only making her even more beautiful to him. "Then maybe that can be your incentive to stick around."
Moving his face closer, he stopped a few inches from her lips. "All the incentive I need is standing right here in front of me."
Her breath hitched, and it took every iota of restraint he possessed not to close the distance and kiss her.
He wondered if older dragonmen could better restrain themselves around their true mates.
His dragon snorted. I doubt it.
It was then he heard the front door open and close, followed by Faye's voice. "I'm hungry and tired of waiting. And you know that once I smell something as delicious as a roast and potatoes, I can't even imagine eating anything else."
Layla stepped away and he let her go. She whispered, "This is our secret, aye? Promise me."
As much as he wanted to scream to the world that Layla was allowing him to court her, he nodded. "I promise."
She quickly added, an eager gleam in her eye, "I can't wait until tomorrow evening."
Before he could reply, Faye burst through the door, carrying the roast on a plate. "Sorry for the delay. I just needed a wee bit of fresh air."
Since he didn't want to arouse any suspicion—although he suspected his mum and possibly Faye and Grant already knew the truth—Chase replied, "And you took the others with you?"
"Of course. I'm in a delicate condition, aye? I needed at least two people around in case I fainted."
Grant entered the room, snorting. "You're about as delicate as a brick wall."
Faye narrowed her eyes. "The knives are right there, Grant. Tempt me to reach for one of them."
Grant smiled. "You wouldn't hurt me, love."
"No, but it would most definitely boost morale with the Protectors if I tried hitting things off your head with a knife as a limited run show."
His mother entered, a bowl of potatoes in her hands. "Aye, aye, you two could entertain the entire clan for years if you wished. But for now, it's supper time. And I will separate you two if you can't behave."
"Now you're sounding like my mum," Faye muttered.
Chase stole a quick glance at Layla, and the amusement in her eyes was clear even from where he was standing.
In all the years he'd been watching her from afar, he hadn't seen much of it there.
Which meant he'd have to rectify that, in addition to proving he could be a dragon doctor's mate.
The next evening couldn't come soon enough.
Chapter Five
The following day, Layla had more trouble than usual concentrating on her work. It wasn't as bad when she talked or visited with patients, but the second she was alone in her office, her mind wandered to Chase and the deal she'd made with him.
Which was why she currently sat at her desk, unfinished paperwork in front of her, and tried her best not to relive him pulling her close and kissing her skin from the night before.
Her dragon huffed. It's nearly time to leave. But we can't do that until you finish the last patient's notes.
Maybe some doctors would put it off to the following day, but the notes in question were about Gina MacDonald-MacKenzie. And since the female was not only human but also pregnant with twins—the MacKenzies seemed to be cursed or blessed with them in abundance—Layla always wanted to ensure the notes were complete in case something happened and she wasn't there to provide crucial facts straightaway.
She replied to her beast, Then don't distract me with memories whilst I work and finish this up.
I haven't distracted you much today. It's been all on your own. I think deep down, you've wanted him for a while, too. And now we're closer to having him, you let yourself dream.
Her dragon may be correct, but Layla wasn't going to admit it right then and there. True, she'd thought about Chase's lips on her skin, the hardness of his chest, the way he held her possessively against him. But she'd also replayed his ease at dinner, the way he teased his brother endlessly, and how he tried his hardest to make his mother laugh.
Most people probably wouldn't have noticed, but Layla had been treating Gillian for years. To see Chase try so hard to make his mum happy only raised her opinion of him.
Of course thinking about his smiles, his wit, and his panty-melting touches wouldn't help her get her work done. So with herculean effort, Layla focused on the patient file and filling in all the details. Since it had been a routine examination, it didn't take long to finish.
As soon as she did, Layla stood, shrugged out of her lab coat, and picked up her bag. However, she paused at the door and took a few deep breaths. Layla never rushed around unless it had to do with a patient or some kind of emergency. If she started dashing from the surgery at quitting time, someone would notice and start asking questions.
Questions she didn't want to answer until she felt more comfortable about what to say.
Although if Chase wasn't able to get in and out of her cottage unnoticed, she would have to start taming clan gossip, which would be even worse.
Her dragon grunted. You worry too much. I have faith in Chase and his ability to sneak into our place unnoticed. After all, if he managed to watch us for two whole years and keep his dragon in check, then he's a lot stronger than most males his age.
You just want to get naked with him sooner rather than later. So of course you'd plead his case.
No, if I didn't think he'd be a strong enough male, I'd say so. Remember, female dragons are usually more leery of a potential true mate than males. He still has to win me over, too.
Aye, I hope you won't accept him straightaway without knowing him better. For me, there's a lot to do and sort through before I can give him any sort of long-term answer.
Her dragon's voice softened. Just don't doom the
relationship before it even begins.
True, Layla had done so before. Anytime a male had wanted to see her more, know her better, and even started to kindle feelings inside her, Layla had found excuses to end it. Mostly it centered around her career—training to be a dragon-shifter doctor wasn't an easy thing—but she'd seen many a bad mating over the years in her role and how it could devastate people.
Her own parents were comfortable in the present with each other but had fallen out of love long ago. Add in her sister's arranged mating and ensuing disappearance, and Layla's was skeptical about true love.
Her dragon chimed in again. You say that but look at the MacKenzies. Not to mention Finn and Arabella. Even Alistair and Kiyana. They've all overcome so much to be together and stay together. Why can't we find the same?
Just because they found it doesn't mean we automatically will get it, too.
Her dragon huffed. You're too rational for your own good.
Someone has to be.
Layla exited her office and made her way toward the side door used for staff. To her relief, she only had to answer one question on the way out before she reached the cool, winter air.
The Scottish Highlands in winter were dark, cold, and wet. But as Layla's feet crunched against the light snow on the ground, she didn't mind. The darkness meant most of the clan retreated to their homes once the sun went down and she could enjoy a sense of peace she rarely found when working.
It wasn't long before she reached the front door of her cottage, unlocked it, and stepped inside. A light glow came from the kitchen, and she moved toward it, wondering if Chase had invited himself in unannounced.
She gasped when she reached the doorway.
Lit candles sat around the tables and counter, a dim glow filling the space. At the center was her small table, crammed with different pizza boxes and several bags of her favorite sweets. If that wasn't good enough, Chase stood behind a chair and motioned for her to come over.
Somehow she made her feet work and said, "No one knows my secret love of pizza. I only make it from scratch, and always eat it alone."
The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 7) Page 5
