Page 47 of Never Feed a Dragon

“You wouldn’t,” I growled, sounding a bit animalistic myself.

“Try me.”

I hadn’t thought he would break the bathroom door down in my apartment, either.

So, I couldn’t try him.

I’d have to tell him when the pain was getting too awful to bear.

“Fine,” I said.

“For once, she doesn’t argue,” he muttered.

I lifted my hand from the bed, middle-finger extended, and he snorted.

My lips curved upward as I turned onto my side, settling on the mattress. I had already started sweating again, so… it was going to be a long night.

Then again, the clock said it was almost 5 AM. So, maybe it would be a long day.

I tossed and turned for about three hours, once again unable to fall asleep.

It still made me feel absolutely insane.

And, after struggling to keep myself quiet for hours, I finally spoke up. “Eli?”

“Mmhm?” he sounded as exhausted as I felt.

I didn’t know how to tell him I was in pain, so I just bit my lip.

“You’re hurting?” His voice was low. Sexy. But soft, too, in a way that made me feel like he really did care whether or not I was in pain.

“Yeah.”

“Can I hold you?”

Though he knew that was why I was speaking up, I still appreciated the request. It made me feel like I still had a little bit of control.

“Sure. That would help,” I said.

He slipped off the couch, padding across the room. All he had on was his boxer-briefs, but I couldn’t say I minded the sight.

Or the feel of him, as he joined me beneath the blankets and spooned me from behind.

My throat swelled and my eyes closed as the pain slowly vanished.

“Is it worse tonight?” he murmured.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I don’t think staying up all night helped anything, though.”

He chuckled lightly, his chest barely rumbling against my back. “Probably not.”

“Thanks for fixing it.”

“Don’t thank me for holding you. I’m already thinking about all the possible ways I could fuck you from right here.” His breath was on my ear, and I couldn’t stop the goosebumps that broke out on my skin.

“So horny,” I teased, though my voice was soft.

“Only for you, Spaghetti.” His lips brushed my temple before he settled on the pillow with me. I knew the words were bullshit, but they still made me feel good. “Good night.”

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