In a daze, she meandered in through the office door and nearly melted under Damon’s greeting smile. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal his muscular, sexy, burn-scarred forearms, and his top button was undone at his throat. And there were those dimples she adored.
“There she is,” he rumbled as he set his pen down and leaned back in his leather office chair, hands linked behind his head.
“I brought you lunch,” she said unnecessarily, as if he couldn’t see the sandwiches stacked to her chin.
“Good, I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving.”
“I have a big machine to feed.”
“Yeah, about that. I heard from the Gray Backs you’ve eaten their enemies.”
Damon’s smile lingered as he shrugged unapologetically. “No one messes with my mountains.”
“And the crews are a part of these mountains now, aren’t they?”
The smile dipped from his lips. “They feel like a part of me.”
“Cold dragon,” she murmured, lifting her chin high. “Warmed to the core by a bunch of rowdy lumberjack werebears. Out of curiosity,” she asked, setting one of the giant sandwiches onto the space he was clearing on his desk. “Does it bother you that Rowan and Harper are being raised in trailer parks?”
“Not at all. Their lives are richer for their living situations. They have crews that have linked up like bonded families. They live at the center of the most lethal predator shifters in the world, who would die protecting them, and they are being raised by crews who love them unconditionally. I’m proud of Diem and of Creed for building a life like that for their children. I’d rather them live in the Asheland Mobile Park and the Grayland Mobile Park than here. I raised Diem here, and her life lacked…warmth. It’s something I regret.”
Pride filled her that Damon wasn’t just some rich billionaire dragon pulling the strings of his family like they were his puppets. This man wanted full lives for the people he loved. She respected him more for his answer.
“I met Diem and Harper in the kitchen.”
“I knew they weren’t cutting out early on payroll day without a reason. I figured they were off to track you down. Diem was very curious about you.”
“I like them indescribably much. Diem got my number.” She lifted her shoulders to her ears happily. “I’m making friends.”
Damon looked genuinely happy as he gestured her to him. She sidled around the desk and sank into his lap. A giggle escaped her lips as he nipped at her neck, just under her ear.
“I knew you would fit in here. You have a warm personality. You weren’t meant to be alone, Clara.”
“I don’t feel alone anymore.”
“Mmm,” he said, more rumble than word. “Stay with me.” His words came out rushed, and when she tried to ease away from his affection to look him in the eyes, he held her tighter in a hug against him. “Stay with me,” he repeated slower and lower.
“Of course, I will. We’re trying for a baby, remember?”
“No, I mean after that. I had this awful thought yesterday in the shower. I know it’s wrong, but for a split second, I thought, I hope it takes us a long time to get pregnant.”
“Damon, don’t put that into the universe.”
“I know. I know it’s bad. But I know you’ll move to Saratoga with the baby, and I don’t want you to go. I know this is fast, but I don’t want you to leave me. I want to co-parent with you here.”
“Wait, are you asking me to move in?” she asked, shocked to her bones.
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I haven’t done this before. I just get this…” Another rattling growl vibrated against her skin, and he crushed her to him harder. “I just get this awful feeling when I think about you living in Saratoga away from me.”
“Who is possessive now?” she teased.
“Me.”
With a frown, she whispered, “Hey.” Cupping his cheeks, she lifted his gaze to hers as she eased back. His eyes were silver where they’d been dark just moments ago. “I’m okay. Nothing’s going to hurt me or take me away. It’s not like with Feyadine, okay?”
Damon searched her eyes, and after a few seconds, the worry that had pooled in his began to fade. He huffed a laugh and rested his forehead against her cheek. “Sorry.”
“Well, don’t apologize, Dangerous Damon. I like my man a little growly and possessive. And if the offer still stands…”
“If it still stands, what?” he asked, his deep timbre hopeful.
“Then yes,” she whispered through a smile. Your mountains already feel like home somehow, anyway. I still don’t want your money, though,” she said, trying her best to look severe and likely failing. “I don’t want to be some kept woman.”