Page 30 of Winter at Stonefire

His lips twitched. "You would too."

She winked and then went into the bathroom. Kai quickly changed into his traditional dragon-shifter outfit. It was like a type of kilt, with fabric gathered around the waist and a sash thrown across his chest and over his shoulder. The cold didn't bother him, so he didn't don the crisp white shirt that some would wear during the winter months.

He'd just finished getting ready when Jane exited the bathroom, and he took in her attire. She had on the female version of the traditional dress, which was loose and pinned across one shoulder. Her arms were covered with a shawl of iridescent black, which made the deep red of her dress stand out even more.

He growled, "Even if I know I can't, I still want to rip that dress from your body and fuck you against the wall. Now."

She raised a dark eyebrow. "The last time you did that you promised not to destroy any more of my traditional dresses. They're bloody expensive, and it's a bit embarrassing asking for another one."

Kai itched to undo the pin at her shoulder anyway, but his dragon spoke up.Remember what the doctor said.

Fuck. It's going to be a long few weeks.

Dr. Sid had said no sex for at least three weeks, as a precaution. Until Jane's levels were all normal again, the doctor didn't want to take any risks.

His dragon grunted.Maybe. But Jane wants the baby, and we'd do anything to ensure her wish comes true.

Jane walked up to him and took one of his hands in hers. "Time will go fast enough. Besides, once the doctor gives the okay, I might even fulfill one of your fantasies to thank you."

He shook his head. "I don't need a reward to wait, Janey. Just having you in my arms will be enough."

"Kai."

He kissed her gently and then pulled away. "Now, let's go and celebrate with everyone else."

"Nearly everyone else. I feel bad that Nikki and Rafe won't be able to attend."

"They have an early Winter Solstice present of their own. I'm sure I'll have to look at like five hundred bloody photos tomorrow, anyway."

Jane laughed. "Be nice. Because I'm sure you'll be the exact same way when we have a child."

She moved toward the door, but he pulled her back to him. "No matter what happens, I think we should take in one of the orphans."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "That way I can train the older sibling to protect the younger one."

She grinned at him. "You would think that way." Her expression softened. "But it'd be nice. Despite how much Rafe can be a pain, I love my brother and couldn't imagine life without him." She placed a hand over her lower belly. "I'd like this little one to have that same sort of relationship."

Kai placed his hand over hers. "Then I'll make sure to be the first to apply, once the applications are open."

She tilted her head up, and he kissed her. Slowly, taking his time to explore her mouth, before he pulled away and Jane said, "I can't wait until you have more than one person to give you dragon cuddles. It's going to be a daily thing."

He grunted, and she laughed.

But Kai pulled his mate against his body, kissed her hair, and reveled in her heat and scent. "Only for you, Janey. Only for you."

Once Jane sat in the wheelchair, the pair left and went to join in the mixture of Christmas and Winter Solstice with the other dragon clan leaders, clan members, and everyone on Stonefire.

The great hall was decorated in a mixture of winter decorations—such as snowflakes, icicles, and some winter plants—and some human Christmas ones, including a large Christmas tree in one corner.

Strange to think that less than a decade ago, the event would've been only those of Stonefire, and almost no human attendees. Now humans were everywhere, not to mention all the visitors from the other dragon clans. Things had changed so much in such a short time.

As if sensing Kai's thoughts, Jane raised a hand to touch one of his arms just behind her, on the handlebars of the wheelchair, garnering his attention. She said, "Did you ever think things would end up like this?"

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "No. But whilst the changes in our clans and the others are important, the best thing I ever did was agree to work with a stubborn reporter who didn't think much of putting herself in danger."

She gave a half-hearted glare. "I knew what I was doing." He raised his brows and she huffed. "Mostly."