Page 103 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

Mav shrugged. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you’re an asshole like me! And you’ve been in my penthouse a few times. I would steal it.” Telos turned and frowned at the dragon over his shoulder. “Did you?”

Another shrug. “If you move in with me, you’ll get the chance to see if I’ve hidden it somewhere.”

“That’s as good as an admission.” Telos elbowed him hard. Mav grunted. “I spent hours searching for it everywhere! Under all the couches! And the fridge! And you made me search under themtwice!”

“I know,” Mav rumbled. “You had your ass up in the air several times.”

“Fucking—” Telos elbowed him again, flattered. “I’m going to sleep. Asshole.”

“Goodnight, asshole,” Mav said, nuzzling him.

Telos shook his head, but his smile was helplessly fond.

The carts came closer, wheeling around them. Telos was about to doze off when Mav rubbed his paw over his chest.

“Will you bond with me?” Mav whispered, almost too quietly for anyone to hear.

Telos’ heart stopped. “Usually people declare how much they care about each other, before discussing a lifetime commitment.”

Mav paused his stroking. “Do you want me to wait?”

And now Telos’ heart was racing. He wriggled on Mav’s cock. “Let me off.”

Mav shifted quickly; one moment he was a man without a knot, slipping out of Telos. The next moment, he’d turned back into a dragon, peering into Telos’ eyes.

Telos shifted into his favorite pterodactyl species—the green one, with the largest wingspan. They were roughly the same size now; he was just a few inches shorter than Mav. “Ask me again. Now that I look like this, the dinosaur our friends keep teasing me about.”

Mav wrapped his tail around Telos, reaching out to touch Telos’ side with his paw. “You’re nothing to sneeze at, you know. Your abilities are incredibly useful. You can turn into just about anycreature you want, and you can hear better than most other people. What you choose to do with your body is your own business.”

Telos puffed out his chest.

“I’ll bite them if they tease you again,” Mav said.

Telos’ heart warmed. “Aww, Mavvie Chicken. I could prank them, you know. I just haven’t set my brothers on them yet. Becauseall of uscan turn into dinosaurs. Just because you haven’t seen a horde of dinosaurs with pickup lines, doesn’t mean it can’t exist.”

Mav snorted, flames flickering from his snout. “Is that going to happen?”

“You bet your ass it is.” Telos slumped forward, leaning against Mav’s strong chest. “Are you going to ask me?”

Mav sucked in a slow breath. “Telos. Professor and Knower of All Things Dinosaur. I’m sorry it took me this long to see you as you are. But now that I have, I can’t unsee it. You’re snarky and clever and strong. You love Estie and our baby with all your heart. You’re an amazing and protective dad. You’re—You’re the most perfect mate an alpha could ask for.”

Telos listened to the truth in Mav’s heartbeat. He returned Mav’s intent stare, Mav’s touch sending electricity through his body.

“How do you feel about me?” Telos whispered, his heart pounding.

“I want to keep you close,” Mav admitted, bowing his head. “I want to hear you singing along to the car radio, watch you play with Estie, and give our carts terrible names. I want to walk around corners to see you as a dinosaur trying to surprise me,and I want you to try and make me cringe with terrible pickup lines. I want to spend lazy Sundays in bed with you, talking about everything and nothing. I want you to be my mate for the rest of my life.”

Telos’ throat tightened. For so long, he’d wanted to hear all that from Mav. And now that he had, it almost seemed like a dream, except he’d spent several weeks in Mav’s bed, letting Mav hold him and kiss him. “Is that all?”

Mav swallowed. “I love you.”

Maybe Telos cried a little. He sniffled and leaned into Mav, folding his wings around Mav’s beautiful scaly body. “Well, okay.”

“Just ‘okay’?”

“I’ll be your mate.”

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