Page 51 of The Dragon's Mate

He continued to hesitate, and she glared athim. “I said I wouldn’t fuck you tonight, Bren. Do you not trust your mate?”

“I trust you,” he said automatically beforerealizing he actually meant it.

He stripped down to his boxer briefs, tryingto ignore the way Kaida’s gaze narrowed in on his dick. He climbed in besideher and laid on his back. Kaida pulled the sheet and quilt up and threw oneleg over his legs before resting her head on his chest. She played with thehair on his chest before kissing his sternum. “Do you like your job?”

“I do,” he said.

“How many times have you been shot at?”

“More times than I’d like.”

She snuggled closer, and he couldn’t resiststroking her long dark hair. He shut the bedside light off, plunging the roominto darkness. She took his hand, linking their fingers together. “Do you fearyour father like Tyler does?”

“Tyler isn’t afraid of him.”

“He is,” she said. “I can smell it on himwhen he speaks of him.”

His stomach clenched, and Kaida raised her headand pressed a kiss against his mouth. “I’m sorry, my mate. I didn’t mean toupset you.”

“I’m not upset,” he said.

“You are, I can smell it. Are you afraid ofyour father?”

“No,” he said.

“His position as senator makes him powerful,”she replied.

“How do you know who my father is?” Bren’sbody stiffened and Kaida made a weird, but oddly soothing purring sound.

Bears can purr?

“Shh, my mate, do not worry,” she said.

“How do you know who he is?” he repeated.

“Javee looked up information about you. Itwas for the clan’s safety, and the only way they would allow you and your brotherto be in our home,” she replied.

He relaxed against the bed as that rough not-quite-a-purr-but-almost-a-purrvibrated out of her throat.

This isn’t normal, Bren. Bears don’tpurr.

“You’re a bear shifter, right?” he asked.

“Why do you ask, my mate?”

“You’re purring, sort of. Bears don’t purr.Are you a tiger or a lion?”

The not-quite-purring cut out, and she liftedher head again to press another kiss against his jawline. “Have you slept withmany shifters, Bren? Or did your father’s beliefs keep you from them?”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t feel the sameway about shifters as my father does.”

“I know that,” she said. “It’s more thanobvious. But sometimes a parent’s beliefs affect us in a way we don’t realize.Have you slept with a shifter before?”

“Yes,” he said. “In my early twenties, I prettymuch only slept with shifters. Maybe it was my way of rebelling against myfather.”

“What type of shifters have you slept with?”

“Uh, a couple of rabbit shifters, a deershifter…”

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