Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(26)

Sid’s housekeeper had gone home, so he and Skye made up the bed for Rowan. In the room right next to Skye’s. Sid grinned. Rowan was in over his head, but he wasn’t about to ruin the poor kid’s dream. Skye seemed completely clueless though, so maybe Rowan had a chance.

Skye sat down on the bed and frowned at Sid. “If their parents are sending them here, they must be pretty worried.”

“Yeah, I expect most humans are. Any ideas who it could be?”

“No. That’s the worst part, right? We have no plan to solve this.”

Sid sat next to her, and she leaned into him.

“Did I do the right thing with Marcellus? We all assumed he was the one doing it, but he tried to tell me it wasn’t him, and I didn’t listen. I shouldn’t have killed him.”

Skye put her hand on his knee. “He still deserved to die. What he did to Aspen is unforgivable. It was the right thing to do.”

“I acted rashly and emotionally. I shouldn’t have.” Sid had been second-guessing himself a lot lately.

“You can’t question your decision. You acted like the king. Not all the decisions you make will be the right ones, but you have to have confidence in your abilities, or no one else will.”

“Skye, I think you will be my closest advisor should I make it out of this alive.”

“I’d be offended if I wasn’t. Wisdom is one of my best qualities.”

Sid laughed. “That it is. Though I imagine Rowan has other ideas of what your best qualities are.”

She grimaced. “First Aspen and now you. Do you really think he likes me that much?”

“I’d be surprised if there isn’t a mark around his ankle.”

“That’s silly. He’s just infatuated. He’ll get over it.”

They heard the front door open, and Sid raced down to welcome them. He grabbed Aspen’s bag and motioned for Rowan to follow him. Skye waited at the top of the stairs.

“Can you show Rowan to his room? It’s late. Aspen and I are going to bed.”

Skye nodded. As soon as the door clicked shut, Sid dropped Aspen’s bag and pulled her close and kissed her. He doubted he’d ever get tired of kissing her. It was the best part of being human.

She pulled away. “So this is new, huh?” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“You mean that I get to spend the entire night with you in my arms, yeah. I don’t know if I’ll let you go back to your parents after this.”

Aspen shrugged, and he checked her feelings. She was excited but scared.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” She ran her fingers through her hair.

“I can read your feelings. You’re scared.”

She glared at him. “That’s not fair. But yeah, I’m nervous. We’ve never slept together before.”

“We’ve fallen asleep plenty of times.”

“Those weren’t on purpose. We’re about to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow morning in the same bed.”

“I know. We’re going to get used to this. Go change.”

She went into the bathroom, and Sid stripped down to a t-shirt and his boxers. He couldn’t stand to sleep in anything else. He slid underneath the covers and tried to figure out why she was so nervous. There was no reason for her to be. This wasn’t that much different than anything they’d done before.

She stepped out of the bathroom wearing a tank top and short athletic shorts. Sid’s breath caught. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so quick to judge her anxiety. Suddenly, he felt self-conscious.

She slipped into bed with him and looked up with those gorgeous green eyes of hers. He kissed her so he didn’t have to think about what it meant to have her here with him. She returned the kiss and leaned into him, laying her hand on his bare stomach. She dug her fingers into his abs, and he pulled her tight against him. He couldn’t get enough of her. He flipped her over and relished the feel of her whole body underneath him. His fingers gripped her hair and held her head close to his, never letting her lips leave his.

He opened his eyes and gazed into hers. She smiled, and he felt her anxiety spike.

“There are condoms in my bag.”

“What do we need those for?” Sid asked, confused.

Her fingers trailed up his back, and he forgot for a moment his question.

“You know I love you, but I’m not having unprotected sex with you.”

Sid stopped and rolled off her. “I’m sorry if I led you on, but we aren’t having sex.”

Aspen creased her eyebrows. “I don’t understand.”

He chuckled and pulled her close to him again. “Dragons mate for life.”

Her uneasiness disappeared. “I thought you’d never be able to be with anyone else anyway.”

“That may be so, but mating only happens after we are bonded.”

“How is that any different than being sealed?”

“It’s how we become two halves of a whole. A bonding connects two dragons so they are literally the same soul. I don’t know how else to describe it. However unlikely it will be, someday, I hope we can be bonded.”

“But you’re a dragon, and I’m a human.”

“Stranger things have happened. Have hope, Aspen. I do.”