Page 26 of Delivered to My Dragons

“Then just tell me what to do to help.”

They piled dark-green romaine, a head of pale, tender butter lettuce, a fat red tomato, and a few scallions in front of me. “You can be the salad chef.” Nix turned back toward the stove.

I’ll need a knife and cutting board, a bowl, and the ingredients for my secret salad dressing. Do you mind if I make myself at home and find everything? I did pretty well when I was making breakfast.”

“This is your home. Go for it, Iris.” Keir was busy opening cans of San Marzano tomatoes. “Would you mind chopping some garlic for the sauce while you’re at it?”

Of course I didn’t mind. It was so pleasant cooking together, another thing that had never happened in my prior life. I had worked then come home to do all the cooking. With the skimpy budget Killian allowed, I struggled to make edible meals, and if you’d asked me if I liked cooking at the time, I’d have said no. It was just one more miserable thing to do. And generally he hated my food, even threw it against the wall once because he wanted steak but had only given me a hot-dog budget.

My dressing was my mother’s recipe, something I’d never made for Killian but wanted to for these guys. It was only a simple vinaigrette, but I hoped they would like it. When it was all done, we took seats and dug in.

“Is it weird that since I have been pregnant my appetite is so much larger? I mean, I know the eating-for-two thing, but I think I’ve tripled my former portions. I’m going to be as big as a house!”

Keir set down his fork and fixed me with a stern stare. “You are beautiful no matter what size, but consider that it’s not just a human baby you are carrying, but one of the largest varieties of shifter. That cub already has an appetite, and you are feeding your baby just as you should. I don’t see any signs of you being unhealthily overweight. But the healer will be able to give you all that information to set your mind at ease.”

“Also, we don’t like anyone disparaging our female,” Nix added.

I giggled. “Okay, okay. More spaghetti please. I can’t have a hungry cub growling in there.”

After we finished eating, the guys took me around and showed me how to operate the security system with all its defensive features. Next week, they were having a gate installed that would drop from the ceiling at the top of the stairs. I started to ask if it was necessary but then laid a hand on my belly and recognized that it was. With Killian around, there were no measures too strong.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nix

Iris insisted on helping us clean up after dinner, but it went quickly with three of us. I hung the last dish towel on the rack to dry and turned to face our mate. “So, what shall we do? Another movie night? Maybe take a walk around the neighborhood?”

“Would that be safe?” she looked worried, and my dragon did not like that one bit. Which was fine because neither did I.

“Yes, with us, it is. Should that bear or any of his people show up, we will flame him and end all our problems.”

Keir smirked. “We can flame from two-legged form. It leaves blisters in our mouths, but it can be worth it.”

“Well, I don’t want to have you blistered because I actually had something else in mind, if it’s okay with the two of you?” She lifted her gaze to meet mine then looked over at Keir.

“Anything, mate,” he said.

I nodded. “What would you like to do?”

“Just your asking me is enough to make me believe in you.” Her eyes were soft, shiny. “I would like to umm…close the deal with the two of you?” Cheeks flushing, she said, “In case you don’t know what I mean because I said that weird, I would like to accept your offer to stay forever. To make love with you and wear your marks.”

She had no mark from her ex, which had pleased me when I’d looked for it. I didn’t know why, but through some kindness of Fate, only ours would grace her soft skin. As it should be. I scooped her up and carried her out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and to her bed, Keir on my heels. Iris wanted us not only in her bed and not only to be with her physically, but she wanted us forever. As our mate, she’d live longer, as well and be immune to many human health problems and diseases, so we wouldn’t have to worry about having many years without her.

I closed the door behind us then laughed at myself. Who was going to peek in? But somehow I wanted privacy for this most sacred night. We undressed her tenderly then ourselves and all lay on the bed, Iris between us. Caressing her, kissing her, we shared with her what it would mean to be mated to a dragon.

I began, “You are asking for our mark, so you need to know what it means. We’ve told you some, but dragons are more intense than many other shifters. You will be granted a lot of our immunity to disease and likely to live a much longer life. We ask for your loyalty and love and offer you the same.”

“We will protect you from danger and your enemies are our enemies,” I continued. “You come before us, before anything including our hoard, which, if you haven’t guessed, is our business and also some special items in the safe in our office.”

“You have special items?” Iris asked. “As your mate, can I know what they are?”

“Nothing that special,” I told her. “Silver and gold. We’re not the most creative dragons, but we do like the shiny stuff.”

“You will become a co-owner of all that’s ours, tonight.” I dusted my hands. “Not that we think that’s the real prize.”

“Wow.” She rubbed her belly in gentle circles. “That’s a lot of security for the baby.”

“Oh, and of course”—I laid my hand on top of hers—“the baby will be our child.”

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