Page 14 of The Monster at the End of This Molt

"Galen's a dragon, not a kobold, and they never divorced."

"Right." His tone was thick with sarcasm. "They split for a hundred years. Like we've got that kind of time."

I sighed. When he was like this, I saw no point in arguing with him. I turned in his arms instead, daring him to kiss me with my mouth mere inches from his.

"I'm sorry the horrible rock bit you," he said, "but it's time to sleep now."

"Don't I get a goodnight kiss?"

"Get in bed, and I'll tuck you in."

"Like my parents would? Ew. No."

He laughed. "You're insufferable."

"Stop suffering!" He brought it all on himself, and we both knew it. I was his in every way imaginable. "You know you want me."

"I do." He rested his forehead against mine. "But you gave me a week to fix this fucking tractor, and I'm not done yet."

I huffed out an exasperated breath. Arguing wouldn't help. He had his heart set on fixing the tractor, and I wouldn’t deny him the right to do it on his own.

He slid his hands behind my neck and cupped the back of my head, holding me in place while he stared into my eyes. "I'm so glad you're here." His voice was rough with emotion.

He kissed me, and the rest of the world melted away. I closed my eyes and dropped my hands to his waist for an anchor. I opened for him, and his tongue slid between my lips. The intensity of it popped my ears like I was under water. I'd never experienced anything like it, and I never wanted it to end.

This was a real kiss, not a goodnight peck after a date or a sloppy make-out session. Making out with humans in college had inevitably led to more, most ending with boring blow jobs or lackluster sex.

Weld had no intention of fucking me tonight, but his kiss left me breathless and satisfied, even while my cock pulsed with my heartbeat and my magical underwear worked overtime to regulate my body's slick. The bond between us had been there since I could remember, but tonight, it changed. Weld wasn't ready to claim me, but the kiss settled the bond. I couldn't hear his thoughts in my head, but I could sense what he was feeling when we were physically close.

Through our bond, I felt his conflicting emotions. He loved me, but he was afraid. Over the next few days, I would make it my mission to allay his fears.

ChapterSix

Weld

Despite Robin's protests,I tucked him into bed.

"That's not as gross as I expected," he mumbled when I kissed his forehead.

"You made it weird," I said. "Or maybe I did."

I'd fantasized about this moment, the first time I would bring Robin to my bed, for years. Tucking him in like a child was fucking weird, now that he mentioned it.

"I'll never do it again, I promise."

He patted the bed beside him. "Shut up and get in here. You were right. It's cold."

Instead of obeying him, I hurried to the living room for the blankets and pillows he'd used on the couch. I didn't mind snuggling together under the blankets, but the temperature would drop overnight. I worried my body heat and skimpy comforter wouldn't keep him warm.

Finally, with all the blankets piled high, I turned off the lights and slid into bed. Before I was finished smoothing the blankets over us, Robin had rolled onto his side and backed up against me.

"I'm cold." Instead of shivers, he ground his ass against my cock. My semi-erection flared to full hardness at the touch.

My desire still came with an unhealthy level of self-loathing. I'd known him when he was a child. I'd taken his class on field trips to see Galen, and I'd worked closely with his alpha father in our high school classroom.

Then, Robin had been a sweet kid, always wanting cuddles. Now, he wanted more.

"Robin …"

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