Chapter Fourteen
Roman
Icouldn’t help the smile that formed on my face when Oakley’s head landed on my shoulder.
I glanced around to make sure no one was looking at us.
No one was paying us any attention, so I leaned my head against theirs, nuzzling for just a moment before I lifted my head back up, not wanting to get caught.
When I’d suggested napping right here, I’d been joking, but I honestly didn’t mind being Oak’s pillow for a little while. They were exhausted, and we’d been out on the roof for over four hours already.
I loved our friends and family, and I was happy to see everyone—really happy—and to see how much care and affection Oak received.
But we’d flown for hours today after not being able to fly much for the past two months.
So… maybe seeing Oak passed out on the couch would be a good sign for everyone else to leave.
Or maybe I could scoop Oakley up, take them downstairs, and tuck them into bed.
My bed, preferably.
But that wouldn’t happen.
They needed sleep, though, so tucking them into their own bed would have to do.
Should I take them down now? Or wait a little bit and see if everyone left or if Oak woke back up?
Garrick came over a few minutes later while I was debating things in my head. He huffed as he sat in the chair closest to me, nodding at Oakley. “I can’t believe they fell asleep.”
“It’s been a long few days.” A few months, really, but I didn’t want to worry him.
“Have they been getting enough sleep on your missions?”
“Yes, Gar, of course they have. But yesterday was a lot with taking down the auction house, and then we flew here for hours after not being able to shift or fly much the past two months. I’m ready to fall asleep myself.”
He nodded. “Why don’t you two go to bed? This lot’ll be here all night.”
“You sure?”
He nodded again. “I can carry Oakley to their room—”
“No.” I said it too quickly and forcefully, but I didn’t want Garrick to point that out, so I kept talking. “I’m going down anyway, so I’ll take them.”
He eyed me for a few seconds before he nodded, stood, squeezed my shoulder, and whispered, “Thank you for watching over my child, Roman. I know they’re an adult, I know they’re capable of taking care of themself, and I know they want to help.
I was hesitant to let them work on this case, but knowing you were with them helped. ”
Before I could respond, he walked away.
A strange feeling of guilt nestled right beside my heart. He had no idea what Oak was to me, and I didn’t like it. But I was also terrified of telling him.
He was going to kill me when he found out.
I stared after him for a few seconds before sighing and gently nudging Oakley.
“Mmm?”
“Let’s go to bed.”
“‘M already ‘sleep.”
That made me grin. “Yes, and I can carry you down to your condo if you want, or you can wake up and walk down yourself.”
“Mmm… that’s tempting, but…” They peeled one eye open and looked right at me. “I guess I’ll walk.” They sighed dramatically and sat up, rubbing their face before looking at me fully. “You have to help me stand, though.”
I chuckled and stood, then grabbed both their hands. “I can do that.” I yanked them up and, without thinking much about it, I wrapped an arm around their waist to balance them.
They probably didn’t need it, being a dragon and all, but… I didn’t want to let go so I kept my arm there, kept them close to my side.
I guided and walked with them, happy as a clam to be so close to my viramore. After two steps, Oakley wrapped an arm around my shoulders and leaned heavily into me. I chuckled when the sudden weight made me stumble, making them laugh too.
A few of our friends waved their goodbyes as we passed them, but no one tried to stop us. They all knew we were tired and needed sleep, so I was happy no one was angry we were leaving our own party early.
We made it to the personal elevator for the royal family—which included me and everyone at the party. Once inside, I hit the button for Oakley’s floor.
“Not going to yours, huh?”
I blinked in confusion. “What?” Why would I take them to mine?
They waved me off. “Never mind.”
I had no idea what they were talking about. Did they really think I was going to walk to my own condo and just send them on their way when they were acting like they couldn’t stand up straight?
“You’re not drunk, are you?” I asked before the elevator dinged, telling us we arrived at their floor.
Oak rolled their eyes. “Nope. Did they even have dwarf beer there? I didn’t see any.”
“I didn’t either.” I frowned. If they weren’t drunk, why were they leaning on me so much? They weren’t hurt, were they? “Are you injured?”
They snorted. “What? When would I have been injured?”
“I don’t know.”
With a sigh, I helped them down the hallway to their door and waited while they fumbled with their keys. Finally, they got their door open, and I debated for half a second whether I should leave them here or go inside and tuck them in, but they kind of pulled me in, making the decision for me.
Once inside, Oak toed off their shoes without letting go of me, then tugged me down their hallway to their bedroom.
I deposited them on their bed so they were sitting on the edge, and they grinned up at me before quickly whipping off their shirt, making me suck in a breath.
“Oak?”
They were still smiling up at me. “Rome?”
“I…” Shaking my head, I stepped back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? We’re gonna meet with your dad, have a chat with a few of the victims, and then go from there, okay?”
Their head tilted to the side. “Okaaaaay.” They elongated the word, like they were unsure. “Why are we talking about work right now?” They unbuttoned their pants, and I knew I needed to get out of there before I offered to undress them myself.
But first, I… I needed to…
Licking my lips, I stepped closer to them.
Gently, I ran my hand down their arm, feeling their soft skin and watching goosebumps pop up along their flesh.
They sucked in a breath, their gorgeous green eyes staring up at me with something that looked like want and hope.
But I… didn’t know what to do with that.
Not right now. Not when I didn’t know if they actually felt the viramore pull the way I did.
So carefully, I leaned in and brushed a kiss across their forehead and whispered, “I’ll see you in the morning… don’t cook. I’ll bring you something.”
Then I stepped back and got the hell out of there before I made a huge mistake that could cost me everything.
I wanted Oakley. More than I’d ever wanted anyone in my life.
But I needed to do this the right way. We needed to talk first. I needed to make sure we were on the same page.
And then… and then I could take them to bed the way I dreamed of… often.