Chapter 16
Wes
Shit. I’d thought my dick was hard before, in the shower at Anthony’s, but that was nothing compared to now. Hearing her get herself off without joining her and sliding my pulsing cock inside her, biting her slender, pale neck. That was real torture.
But that time would come. For now, I just needed her to be comfortable and safe. And she had to tell me when she was ready for more. I wouldn’t push it on her. I had the feeling she wasn’t very experienced. I wouldn’t pressure her, no matter how blue my balls turned.
Besides, things had moved at warp speed over the last two to three days. I needed to slow things down. We were under too much pressure to let this keep me from getting to know Livvie better and doing this whole thing the right way.
By the time I had some eggs scrambled and bacon fried, Livvie came out of the bedroom in tiny shorts and a tee with her face blazing red.
“Here.” I put a plate in front of her. “Eat.”
After joining her and pouring us both some orange juice, I changed the subject, as if what had happened in the bathroom hadn’t ever occurred. “Besides cooking, tell me about some of your hobbies.”
She cleared her throat. “I like being outside. I love gardening.”
I raised my eyebrows. “That’s handy. I also love being outside. I haven’t ever gardened, but I love working with my hands, so I’d say I’d enjoy it.”
She chuckled and nibbled on her bacon as her cheeks reddened. “Working with your hands?” she asked.
I arched one eyebrow and smiled. “You’ll see soon enough. More than just with my handiwork on the bed and breakfast.” Her blushed deepened, so I took pity on her. “I also like making pottery. I haven’t had much time for it lately, but it’s one of my favorite hobbies.”
She brightened up and the redness in her cheeks faded. “I’d like to learn how to make pottery. That sounds fun.”
“I’ve got a wheel back home.” Suddenly, I wasn’t sure if I’d move here, or she’d move out to California.
But that was a stupid thing to wonder. She was gearing up to take over the business.
She wouldn’t want to move. And my parents, my adoptive parents, were settling things to move out here to be near Toby.
Why wouldn’t I come here? I had no real ties back in Cali, not anymore.
“I can play four instruments,” Livvie said.
I raised my eyebrows and opened my mouth to tell her how amazing that was, but she held up her fork and waved it.
“No, no.” After swallowing her bite and laughing, she continued. “No, don’t tell me it’s impressive. I can’t play them well, not at all. But I can technically play them.”
I chuckled. “Which instruments?”
“Piano, guitar, drums, and trumpet.” She rolled her eyes. “But really, none well at all. And my trumpet phase was extremely short-lived, to my nana’s relief.” Her face darkened a little at the mention of her grandmother.
“You know, I’m adopted, in a way,” I said.
“What?” she gasped. “I didn’t know.”
I nodded and moved my eggs around on my plate. “My parents died when I was a baby, so Toby’s mom and dad raised me. I consider them my parents.” I chuckled. “They wanted Toby and me to play an instrument, but we would only agree to drums. They vetoed that very fast and put us in art classes.”
She grinned. “Thus, the pottery?”
“Yeah. I loved the art classes, but Toby hated them. I guess it all worked out in the end.”
Her eyes softened as she looked at me. “I always wanted siblings. I’m glad you had Toby, even if he wasn’t your actual brother.”
“He might as well have been.” The pain from losing my parents had long since faded to a dull ache. “I hate that they died, but I still had a happy childhood. I don’t regret my time with Toby and his parents, I just wish my parents could’ve been there, too.”
She made a little gargling sound. “I understand exactly what you mean. I love my time with Nana, real family or not. I just wish we could’ve plugged my parents into the equation with us.”
“Do you want a big family?” I asked. I hoped that wasn’t too personal, but we’d been talking about some pretty deep shit, so I risked it.
She grinned. “I do. I want six kids and a bunch of dogs. And cats inside and I always wanted a miniature pig.”
Her face was so earnest, so serious, I couldn’t stop myself from bursting out laughing. “That sounds like a loud house.”
She nodded. “I want loud. I’m so tired of quiet.”
“Well, the animals are a problem,” I said. “I’m sorry, but animals don’t like being around shifters.”
Her face reddened again. “I guess that’s okay,” she whispered. “I can sacrifice having a dog in exchange for fate’s perfect mate, I guess.”
Livvie thought of me as a mate. A perfect mate. Her words meant she’d essentially accepted the whole fated thing and was ready to come to terms with it. Such a small sentence to mean such big things.
“So, do you want boys, girls? An even mix?” I bit into my eggs and waited to see what her perfect life consisted of.
“I want a house full of girls,” she declared. “I wouldn’t know what to do with a boy.”
I snorted. “You’ll need at least one boy in the mix. Shake things up a bit.”
She sighed. “Fine. If you insist. One boy.” But then, her expression faded, and she pursed her lips.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Will we even be able to have children?” she asked.
I shrugged. “There’s been no such thing as witches and dragons together. But I suspect we can. Humans and witches have babies, and dragons and humans have babies. There’s no reason to think we can’t have children.”
“But will they be witch or dragon?” she asked.
I countered. “Or both?”
That brought a grin to her face. “Both would be cool.”
“I agree.” I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I guess we’ll find out. And if we can’t, then we’ll do like the people who raised us, and we’ll adopt. Lots of babies and children out there need good homes.”
Her eyes filled with tears that didn’t spill over. “I love that idea.”
The rest of our early breakfast passed easily and comfortably. It was so easy to talk to Livvie. Seeing her smile or laugh made my chest ache with happiness, and my dragon was ridiculously pleased. After all the stress, having a few hours to just be Wes and Livvie was exactly what we’d needed.
After we washed the dishes, I confirmed she wanted me to stay. “You’re sure you don’t mind me staying over?” I asked. “I trust Sammy to do the wards, but I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
“Of course,” she said. “I don’t want you to leave, safe or otherwise. Please, stay.”
I nodded and headed into the living room, but Livvie caught up with me and grabbed my hand. “Come on,” she said. “You’re way too big for the couch.”
She led me to the bed and pulled back the covers. She climbed in and scooted toward the wall. “I assume you’ll want to sleep on the outside, for protection?” she asked as she lay back against her pillow.
I grinned and pulled off my tee before sliding in beside her. She curled into me and scooted close. “Your body seems less hot,” she whispered.
Laughing, I squeezed her. “I’m losing my touch already.”
She went quiet for a bit before turning her head to look at me over her shoulder. “Do you think we’re going to be okay?”
I pressed a kiss to the side of her head, near her ear. “We’re going to be fine. I’m going to make damn sure we are.”
She nodded and rolled over, tucking herself close to my body before pressing her lips to my chest, right above my heart. “Sleep well,” she whispered.
And she cemented herself in my heart if she wasn’t in there for life already. I’d do anything to keep this woman safe. I’d never had to kill anyone before. But for Livvie, I’d take out anyone who threatened her.
I was going to end Leonard Mason.