Page 151 of Rescued By The Dragon

I pulled him in for a hug. I always took a compliment from a child to heart. They weren't scared to hurt your feelings. “Thank you, Buddy. You’re pretty handsome yourself.”

Trent puffed his chest in an act of dominance that I realized came with the male ego. It was embedded into their DNA.

“You trying to take my woman?” Dorran’s shadow enveloped me from behind. That deep octave in his voice still sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was in one of my favorite gray sweaters that suited him in the chilly autumn air.

Trent balled up his fists and braced himself. "You're asking for it."

“Oh,” Dorran asked, raising an eyebrow at Trent, he stepped around me. “You want to fight, huh? I’m not scared of you.”

Trent went swinging wildly, while Dorran dodged his punches and went into a fake boxing match with him around the room. Seeing him so carelessly play with Trent made my heart swell.

I continued picking up our play area. Watching Trent while Toby and Sasha worked had made my slow days go by quickly. He’d grown so much, and the time was flying.

There was nothing I wouldn’t do for that little boy.

On the days I was too busy her mother pitched in to help, but I loved my time with him.

“Knock. Knock,” Sasha said from the doorway.

Trent stopped his fake boxing with Dorran and ran into his mother’s arms. Having a baby had been a huge adjustment for Sasha and Toby. They’d moved into the castle together since Toby was in charge while Dorran was away.

Having a child in the castle made the place feel more like home.

Sasha kissed Trent’s head and tossed me a grease-stained bag from the restaurant. She’d gladly taken over as manager after Dorran got the place up and running. It was our favorite lunch spot. “That’s for dealing with this dude today.”

“You know I don’t mind,” I said, opening the bag to a juicy burger. “But thank you. I was beginning to get hungry.”

Dorran walked over to me, lifted my chin, and I stared into his emerald-colored eyes. “Have you not eaten today?”

“This morning,” I mumbled. “I’ve just been busy. Your mother wants to have a baby shower for Glendora’s granddaughter. I listened to her for an hour on proper baby shower etiquette."

It’d been a tough six years dealing with Dorran’s mother. She’d finally apologized for treating me like a leper. Dorran still kicked them out of the castle and banned them from certain events.

He’d given them a cabin in the forest, and strict rules on when they could visit. I often ask her advice. She had been the Queen for many years.

Dorran rolled his eyes, while Sasha attempted to put on Trent’s shoes. “Figures,” Sasha said. “I’m taking him to the new park on Grand. It's all he wants to do. It’s amazing by the way, Dorran. The fake rock to practice flying was genius."

“I’ve been called that once or twice.”

Sasha tossed me a finger wave, leaving me alone in the playroom with Dorran. My body hummed the moment he stepped close to me. “Long day?” he asked, sliding his fingertip against my bottom lip.

I smiled into his touch. “Another day in paradise.”

Dorran snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. “You mean that?” he whispered.

“I do.”

“How did I get so lucky?”

“Good question,” I whispered, patting my palms against his chest. “Your father called. He wants you to come out and look at some debris he thinks needs to be moved.”

Dorran rolled his eyes again. It seemed to be a common occurrence when his parents were mentioned. “That’s a lame excuse to get me to visit.”

“Maybe you should visit more often.”

“Hmm, that would take away time from you. We can't have that,” Dorran said, turning to grab the bag of food. “You need to eat. I don’t like you going all day without eating. It’s late, Little Mouse.”

I opened the wrapper and took a big un-lady-like bite out of it. “Happy?”

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