Page 110 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

Still gasping for air, I grabbed his face to reclaim his attention and ran a thumb over his bottom lip.

“I need you to be nice to her. Even when she interrupts us.”

He flashed his teeth at me in a silent, grumpy snarl, and I slowly smiled in return, understanding that he would give me what I wanted. What I needed. Always.

“Thank you, Vedar.”

“He didn’t agree to anything. Why are you thanking him?” Zoe asked.

“I don’t need him to say he’ll be nice. He’ll do it because you’re important to me, and he knows it.” I eased my legs from around his waist, and he continued to make a grumpy face.

“Let’s have breakfast together,” I said to him. “Then you and I can go for a swim. Okay?”

Mollified, he released me and walked toward Zoe, plucking the spatula from her grasp.

“No testicle whipping. Ever.”

“Fine. I like my eggs over-easy.” She smirked at him.

He didn’t snarl at her, but I could see he wanted to.

“Zoe, there are some things we need to talk about.”

“Like what?” she asked, sitting next to me.

“That whole glow-show that happened yesterday was me getting married to Vedar.”

Her mouth dropped open for a moment, and her gaze shifted to him, slowly narrowing.

“And I’m not upset about it,” I said before she could say anything. “I’m still my own person and have all my own thoughts. This isn’t a thrall situation like Ashlyn wrote about.”

“Okay. But, how are you not upset about getting tricked into marrying someone you don’t even know?”

“I was upset. That was part of the cry fest.”

Vedar glanced back at me, his expression sad, and I gave him a little smile.

“Since then, I’ve realized there are more important things than knowing Vedar’s favorite foods or colors.”

“I like the color of your hair, your eyes, and your skin,” Vedar said, his golden eyes glinting.

I itched to go to him and kiss him again for saying such sweet things.

“Okay, that’s kind of creepy,” Zoe said, breaking the spell. Vedar snapped his teeth at her in annoyance before he returned to cooking her eggs.

“Be nice, Zoe. I thought it was sweet.”

“What if he snores when he sleeps or has some freaky dragon fetishes?”

I snorted. “We’ll work it out. I mean, he’s wearing clothes now. I think we can safely say he’s accommodating with his fetishes.

“Zoe, I don’t regret the choice I made. By accepting a piece of Vedar’s heart, I protected Chloe, you, and myself. And I feel safe for the first time in a long time.”

Vedar turned with a plate of eggs for Zoe. No toast or any sides, but the eggs were made the way she liked them.

“But even though I’m bound to Vedar, you aren’t. You don’t have to live here. You can move back to the house next door if you want. But I hope you’ll stay here. I want you to stay.”

Zoe wrapped her arms around me in a breath defying hug.

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