Their Mating Rituals [Paranormal Protection Unit 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Honor James Page B

everything, but if you need clarification of any sort you let me know.”
    “Don’t worry, if I need help I will either call or you will hear me screaming. In China,” she teased. “Thank you, Allister, for everything.” She then looked back down at Aiden and whispered, “And you are both very sure that this is what’s needed to make sure that you heal?” She knew she was questioning everything, but she couldn’t help herself.
    “Very sure,” Allister told her honestly. “Our healing abilities work so much faster in this true form.” Rubbing her back, he got up. “Screech if you need me,” he said and then headed for the door to leave them alone.
    She waited until they were alone to ask Aiden, “How long should you be like this, Aiden?” She murmured and stroked a hand down his scaled head, moving one direction only for fear of being cut if she went against the scale pattern. “And are you warm enough? There aren’t a ton of blankets but I could strip the bed and cover you as best as possible.” He was huge. Son of a biscuit, he was huge.
    Chuckling softly, he closed his eyes. It will be about a week, maybe a couple days more, but no longer than two weeks. There is no wound we can’t heal by the two-week mark. I’m plenty warm, sugar, he teased with a grin. I put out major heat, darling, even in human form, but in Dragon I’m a bloody furnace. Plus with the scales I don’t feel any temperature alterations at all.
    “As long as you are sure.” She lay down on the bed so that she could watch him. “Are you comfortable with your head on the bed as it is? If you need, I can pull the mattress off so that I can lie down on the floor with you, honey. I really don’t care where I am, I just worry about you.”
    I’m perfect just as I am. It hurts less if I lay with my head up like this. Don’t worry about me, sweetheart, but are you all right? I know you’ve had nothing but shock after shock since being drug into my world against your will. It can’t be easy, he said quietly to her.
    “No, it’s not easy. I swear I will likely lose my mind before this is over, but right now I’m good. Right now this is what I need, you. I know that you are in your Dragon form and all that, but I really and truly need to be able to have you here with me, at my side,” she whispered. “Just need you.” She swallowed. “I think for now though we should maybe take a nap?”
    I think that might be best, little love. You are looking a bit peaked. Sleep for now, he told her softly, wishing he could stroke her hair. Snuggle in closer to me, tuck yourself under a bunch of blankets, and get some rest.
    “That sounds like a very good idea to me.” Grabbing the blankets, she wrapped herself into them and curled in as close to him as she could get. “Good night, Aiden,” she whispered softly. “Rest well, darling. We will soon, very soon, talk more, but right now we both need sleep.”
    Shifting his head in closer to her, Aiden closed his eyes. I love you, Talina, he whispered quietly. Sleep well, my little angel. He nuzzled at her hair with great care. Relaxing, he let out a shuddering breath before slipping into sleep.

Chapter Six
     
    “Are you certain that you feel up to shifting out of that form?” Lina had spent the last week with Aiden, locked in the warehouse room and thankfully, somehow, Talon hadn’t come to hunt his warrior down. So far. “I don’t want you to do it if you aren’t sure that you are ready to shift, if you aren’t healed, that is.”
    Growling at her, Aiden flicked his tail and snorted a puff of smoke her way. Reaching for the human side, he shifted and, thankfully for Changers everywhere, they shifted back into whatever they last wore. In his case it had been a pair of scrub pants. Shaking his head, he moved toward her. “I’m fine, love,” he told her quietly.
    Lina reached out and touched him. Her fingers caressed his now-healed cheek and she shook her head. “Amazing,” she