"Okay, lass, we'll leave that to our bairn someday, aye? Because we know I'm not cut out for it."
Pushing aside the doubt they may not ever have one, she replied, "No, you're not."
"You just want me all to yourself, aye?" He leaned closer. "And I'm okay with that, as I'm a bit selfish myself and want more time to spend with you."
Even though part of Layla yearned to know every last detail of what had happened since she fell unconscious, in that moment, she merely ordered, "Kiss me again, Chase."
He lowered his head and took her lips once more, this time coaxing them apart. As his tongue stroked slowly against hers, she moaned at the delicious taste of her male after so long without.
And he continued to kiss her until she felt sleepy. Even then, Chase sat next to her bed and held her hand as she drifted asleep next to the male who had shifted her entire world for the better.
Sometime the next day, Layla found herself sitting upright, eating her meal with gusto when Sid waltzed into the room.
And aye, she waltzed. Sid never seemed to merely walk. That was a trick Layla would need to figure out herself someday.
The dragonwoman sat beside her bed, took off the stethoscope around her neck, and laid it in her lap. She asked without preamble, "Feeling better?"
"Aye, I can probably get out of bed tomorrow."
"That's up to me, of course. But as long as you take your medication every day, you should lead a normal life, for the most part."
For the most part, being the key phrase. Layla's condition made it hard to carry a bairn to term. And it was dangerous to have more than one.
Chase had repeated ad nauseam that she was strong, and one was enough. He'd gladly leave the repopulating of the clan to the MacKenzies.
And if they had none, he didn't care, either. She was all he wanted.
Her dragon growled. Don't dare cry again.
I can't help it. Why that male chose me, I'll never fully understand it.
Because we're brilliant?
Sid's voice prevented Layla from replying. "But I'm not here to give orders or the like. I think it's time we finally have that chat since I suspect Chase will be keeping you all to himself once you're out of here."
For once, Layla managed not to blush at the memories of what Chase had promised her once she was cleared for sex again. Instead, she focused on the older dragonwoman. "If you're going to tell me I need to rely on others, slow down, and not work myself to death, I think almost dying has more than convinced me of that."
Sid tilted her head. "I suspected that already. What I don't understand is why you never reached out to Gregor. I understand not knowing me as well and hesitating a little, but he was your mentor, your teacher, and he cares for you like a little sister. Why didn't you ask him for help?"
She bit her lip but pushed past her years-long hesitation to admit weaknesses and faults. "Because it's harder for a female doctor. I'm sure you understand that. But I didn't want to be seen as weaker, lesser, name your adjective here. I wanted to prove I was as good as him. There's been a lot of change on Lochguard in the last few years, and the clan needed strength and dependability."
"Maybe. And yes, it's harder for females to do anything in dragon-shifter culture, if they don't want to merely mate and have babies. I've experienced it myself. However, if you work yourself to death, what does it accomplish? I probably came even closer to killing myself than you did, honestly. If not for Gregor, I probably would be dead by now. And not just because of my formerly silent dragon and the madness attached to it." Sid leaned forward and searched Layla's gaze. "Just know that if you try to pull the shit you've been doing again, I'll come up here and prescribe bed rest. I may have to anyway, with the baby, but even if he or she is ten years old, I'll do it in a heartbeat. And if you think I'm bluffing, try it." She smiled. "Gregor can tell you how that works out."
Even with the threats, Layla liked Sid Jackson. "I'll be good, I promise. I'm sure Chase will set me straight before you do anyway."
Sid leaned back again and snorted. "If Finn doesn't do it first. I suspect everyone will be watching you closely, going forward. Not because you're weak, but because a lot of people care about you, Layla."
A knock on the door sounded, and Sid shouted, "Come in."
Layla blinked as Gregor walked into the room, a wee bundle in his arms. "Gregor," she murmured.
"Aye, it's m
e, Layla. I've also brought my wee son, Wyatt, to meet you. He's met just about everyone else, except you. And if you hadn't taken over Lochguard for me, I may never have had him or Cassidy to call my own. So he most definitely needs to meet you, lass."
She smiled. Gregor was the only one to dare call Dr. Sid by her full first name. "It was nothing."
"It was bloody more than nothing." Sid cleared her throat, and his frown vanished. "But I didn't come to argue."