Page 58 of A Dragon's Curse

Though, it wasn’t long before the steady thrum of my mate’s heartbeat and her soft breathing lulled me to sleep right next to her.

A short time later, the sun peeked through her sheer curtains, and I was the first one awake. I took a moment to take in her room with more light and noticed the wolf paintings on the wall, all of the same wolf that looked just like Dawsyn’s. There was no signature on them, but they were stunning, and I wondered if she’d painted them herself.

She stirred next to me, and I leaned over, pulling her closer to my chest. “Good morning.”

The smile she offered me nearly stopped my heart. “Morning.”

I leaned down and kissed her softly. “Feel better sleeping in a real bed?”

I hated that I couldn’t properly provide for her yet, but that would change. Just as soon as I ripped Knox’s heart from his chest.

She shrugged. “I’d have felt better with your arms around me.”

If only she knew how much I agreed with her.

Dawsyn slid out of the bed, wearing boy-short underwear and a white tank top. She stretched her arms toward the ceiling with her back to me and then…bent over.

I threw myself back onto the bed, stole her pillow to cover my face, and groaned loudly. “You’re not nice.”

“You started this. I’m just finishing it.”

I’d done no such thing. All I’d tried to do was be a gentleman in her parents’ home.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she said, but I didn’t take the pillow from my head until I heard the click of a door shutting.

Even then, I only pulled it back slowly.

I knew if I saw her naked body, I would cave. I’d carry her to the shower myself and have my face buried between her tits in a matter of seconds. Fuck. I wanted that so damn badly, but I also knew our situation was littered with tension. I wasn’t going to make it worse.

I’d be taking a shower long after she was dressed and done with her room. In the meantime, I had to piss and needed to find another bathroom.

The mattress groaned beneath my weight as I stood up and headed toward the door. Just as soon as I opened it, Roman was there with his fist in the air as if he was about to knock.

We openly stared at each other. Though, he was no longer wearing his emotions on his face and I had no clue what he was thinking.

“Dawsyn just got in the shower,” I said, assuming he was looking for his daughter.

He glanced toward the bathroom door, then grinned as I heard Dawsyn yell, “Don’t go with him!”

Before I could figure out what she meant, Roman grabbed my shoulder. “Let’s go have a chat.”

I should have seen that coming. He seemed rather attached to his daughter. Though, I didn’t blame him. I hoped one day Dawsyn and I would have a little girl just like her. If I were a lucky enough bastard for that to happen, I knew I’d be the same way Roman was currently being.

Even though I knew Dawsyn wasn’t happy about her father coming to get me, I went with him. She had to know there was no avoiding this.

He let go of my shoulder once I exited the bedroom and led me to another set of stairs at the end of the hallway. These went straight up and into an office.

“Have a seat.” He pointed to one of the chairs in front of his desk as he walked around to take his own seat.

I sat with my back straight but shoulders relaxed. Did I want to get along with my mate’s family? Of course, but I wasn’t going to cower to anyone, either.

Dawsyn was mine, and there wasn’t anything anyone could say or do to change that. Well, except Dawsyn.

I just hoped Roman could understand that.

He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers over his lap, looking me right in the eyes. I felt his alpha power, but it didn’t seem as if he was trying to challenge me, so I kept his stare.

“I was lucky when I found my Cait,” he began. “She didn’t have any family and her best friend already belonged to my pack. There were still some obstacles, but this was where she was always meant to be. Right here in East Texas with me and the pack.”