Chapter 13 #2
“Would you be more comfortable in the bed? I will lay with you.”
That earned me a huge grin, and I helped my mate to his feet.
He was still wearing the clothing that Da had given to him.
It didn’t bother me, beyond the fact that I had not been able to get to the trade city to get him the things he needed.
Clothing and boots were on the list, as well as a few other necessities, but I wanted to know what I could get him that was something extra.
Something that was an indulgence. He more than deserved them.
I helped Konrad into our bed, and after I threw another log on the fire and moved the trunk back to its normal position, I pulled my shirt off and placed it there. I dropped my trousers as well because they were wet from walking through the knee-deep snow on the mountain.
When I slid in behind Konrad, I wrapped one arm around his waist and the other under his neck, pulling him back against my chest. Konrad sighed, and an immediate sense of relief came from him.
“Were you worried?”
“Not overly, no. Egon said you often went out for wood for burning. It has to come from somewhere. Without it, we would struggle to cook.”
I chuckled. That was true.
“Then tell me what you are feeling. I worry about you and the baby.”
I placed my hand on Konrad’s stomach. His stomach had thickened just a bit, but you could not yet tell he was with child.
“I always worry a bit when we are apart. I do not yet know the mountain all that well. Yes, I’ve been here with you for a bit, but we’ve not explored.
This is my home now, and when I hear Egon talking about where the two of you are, I cannot relate as I’ve not been able to experience it.
It is truly nothing though. I am not complaining, just failing at explaining what I am feeling. ”
I kissed Konrad’s shoulder before I laid my head back on the pillow behind him.
“Well, as soon as you are ready to brave the snow, I will take you anywhere on the mountain we can safely go. The bears are sleeping this time of year, not that they really have ever bothered us. Even they seemed to realize we were the larger predators.”
Konrad snorted. He moved out of my embrace, and I was about to argue when he rolled over and faced me. His hand landed on my chest, and like always when my mate touched me and we were in bed, my body reacted. I ignored it though, instead focusing on my mate.
“There are other predators on the mountain though. Ones that do not sleep in the winter. Egon has warned me of them because I cannot shift to protect myself.”
I nodded slowly. “I will protect you with my life.”
“And I you, Aleric.” Konrad leaned in and kissed my collarbone before he snuggled closer. He sighed again, and I felt a calmness overcome my mate. He was obviously tired as Da had said because only moments later, I felt him drift off into sleep.
It wasn’t uncommon for him to fall asleep while in my arms. I wasn’t sure if it was because he needed more sleep, his body was still recovering from the time he’d spent held captive, or if it was the pregnancy. Perhaps it was all three. Or none. I did not have any way of knowing for certain.
I lay there, holding my mate and recalling the short time I’d had him in my life.
It was a very near thing that I could have lost him.
I still felt guilty for not insisting on leaving after my first dream about Konrad.
If I’d left then, I could have found him and the others all the sooner, and they would have suffered less.
I could not change what had transpired in the past. I could only attempt to make up for it the best I could.
The man in my arms deserved to have all that his heart desired.
I knew that included his fathers and brothers.
I knew I could never give them back to him, but I could offer him all of the love I had for him.
I would protect him fiercely, as well as our children.
I would give him a home of his own and had already started looking for areas that would work best for a house for him.
Never one to take many naps before, I had found myself continually dozing off now that I was mated.
My mate was a temptation I could not resist, and when he laid down, I would join him.
Feeling his warmth in my arms, scenting his unique scent, did things to my dragon, and he was more at peace than he ever had been.
I lay there while Konrad slept, feeling myself grow drowsy, and wondered why I was bothering to fight it.
There was nothing wrong with holding my mate while he rested.
It wasn’t as if my fathers could not take care of their selves while out flying around on the mountain.
They’d spent plenty of time alone when I’d gone on the many trips to trade our furs and again when I set out across the sea in search of my mate.
I sighed and closed my eyes. The rhythmic breathing coming from Konrad was like a soothing lullaby, and I let it pull me under.
The wood would be there waiting when we woke.
But I could never get this time, this exact moment, back with my mate.
If nothing else, I learned that every moment was to be treasured because we had no way of knowing if we would get more. Every moment counted.