Page 34 of Secondhand Garagyre

Pullingmy face down to hers, she kisses me in an achingly tender caress as she pushes her emotions down the bond towards me, proving her point with more than just words.

Hope.

Pride.

Gratitude.

Warmth.

Affection.

And…maybe, just maybe, the first hint of…

Love.

Chapter Thirty-Five

LAITHOG

Wakingwith my mate in my arms is somethingInever thoughtIwould experience again.Decadencedoesn’t even begin to cover how sublime the feel of her in my arms is, andIcan feel my smile grow as the image of a fierce purple dragon stares at me from the material hanging in her window.Shetruly was meant to be mine.

Ihad no intention of being forward and asking to sleep in the same room as her, but when we arrived back at her dwelling after the confrontation withRulzik, she asked me tocuddleher after she finished her nighttime ablutions.

WhowasIto deny so simple a request?

So,Ihad gently climbed into her bed, barely settling in before she practically draped herself over me, sighing as her body relaxed.Ourpositions must have shifted overnight, resulting in her plush bottom pressed against my pelvis and my arms around her like a vise.Oneof my wings is draped over us while the other is extended across the bed behind me.

Inhalingher scent makes my eyes practically roll back into my head.Vanillawith hints of cinnamon is now synonymous with my mate.

Shesmells like home.

Becausethat’s what she is.

Myhome.

SuddenlyIrealize thatIcan feel the sensation of weight on my feet, andIfrown in confusion.Ido not remember anything being on my feet when we went to bed last night.Easingmy head off thepillow, whatIsee makes my lip curl in a silent snarl.Bothof my mates’dogsare asleep at the foot of the bed, upside down, with all four feet up in the air.TheweightIfeel is half ofMerry’sbody lying across my feet.Glancingover,Isee thatPippinhas assumed the same position onPaisley’sfeet.

Reluctantto wake my mate,Isuffer in silence for an extended period of time as the sun slowly rises untilIfeelPaisleytake a deep breath, her ample chest expanding as she slowly emerges from the depths of sleep.

Hazygolden-brown eyes peek up at me as she turns her head towards me. “Goodmorning,” she mumbles, turning over until her front is pressed to mine as she burrows deeper into my embrace.

“Goodrising, to you as well,”Irumble, my voice rough with sleep.

Neitherof us move, in no hurry to get up.

Unfortunately, we are not the only beings within the confines of this bed.Thesound ofPaisley’svoice rouses the dastardly duo at the foot of the bed.Gods, they make so much noise between theear flopping and the metal bits on their collars jangling as they shake their heads.

Raisingmy wing up,Iuse it as a shield to prevent the horrid little beast from pouncing all over us, growling under my breath in irritation.

Asoft snicker pulls my attention down to the sumptuous female in my arms. “Theyjust want to be included in the snuggly cuddles,Laithog,” she says beseechingly and does nothing but laugh harder at my answering snarl.

Reluctantly,Irelease her from my embrace and watch as her heavy breast sway as she gets out of bed. “Merry,Pippin, you wanna go outside?”

Thedreadful sounds herdogsmake in answer to her question cause my ears to flick backwards and pin against the side of my head, their sensitivity assaulted by the cacophony of noise.Flingingan arm over my eyes,Isettle myself back into the comforting support of my mate’s bed and doze asIwait for her to return.Ican hear her moving through the house as she lets both vexations out to do their morning business, and then back into her kitchen to turn on thecoffee pot.

Ilisten as she moves back through the bedroom and into herbathroom, chuckling quietly asIhear her turn on the water in the basin.Afterthe things we’ve done, she is still shy about her bodily functions.Afew moments laterIhear a whooshing sound, followed by the swish of her teeth cleaning brush moving across her teeth.

Ihear thebathroomdoor creak open and then flick an ear in her direction whenIhear her steps slow.

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