Page 10 of Never Feed a Dragon

Shit, I wanted him too.

He wedged his hand a little deeper between my thighs. “Guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.”

“Guess so.”

His fingers pressed lightly to the front of me, my dress still in the way. My hips arched, and he lingered for a moment before he said, “Ready to go inside?”

“Yeah.” I shut the car off and forced myself to release the sexy heat of his erection. He slid his palm free of my dress.

We opened our doors together, and he captured my hand as soon as we met at the front of my car. He laced his fingers with mine, letting me lead the way to my apartment since he’d never been there before. I’d moved after Randa sealed her bond with Jasper, not needing the three-bedroom place and not wanting to pay for it alone.

I led him to the first-floor apartment, number 11.

“This isn’t as nice as your last place,” he said, his forehead creased with what must’ve been concern. “Are you safe here?”

“I’m fine.” I wasn’t talking about the state of my finances with an after-wedding hookup. Especially when he was my twin’s husband’s brother.

Which made me feel kind of weird about the whole hookup thing, but I’d known Eli long before Randa and Jasper got together. So, it was fine.

Or fineish, at least.

I was too horny to care.

Unlocking the door only took a second, and I led Eli inside. He maintained his hold on my hand, following me in. His expression was curious as he looked around the space.

“Well?” I asked, waiting for his criticism.

“It’s very… pink,” he said, as he took it in.

I’d painted everything a dusty shade of rose pink that I loved. My new landlord didn’t care if I changed the place. It had been in bad shape, and I’d been sad, so I went to the hardware store and picked my favorite color out of all the samples.

“I wouldn’t have taken you for a pink girl, Spaghetti.”

“It makes me happy,” I said, trying to tug my hand free from his.

He didn’t let go.

Instead, he towed me into the kitchen. “I’ve never seen the ceilings and baseboards painted the same color as the walls.”

“It’s a trendy thing. The blog I read called it color drenching. I would’ve left the ceilings white if I could, but they reeked of smoke, and were yellowed.”

Eli grimaced.

“It turned out gorgeous, too. I’m totally painting my next ceiling the same color as my walls,” I added.

He found the stack of Tupperware full of cupcakes on my countertop, and pulled the lid off the top one, still without releasing my hand.

Just make yourself at home,” I drawled.

He flashed me a grin and lifted me smoothly onto the countertop. Our gazes were finally level, and he stepped up between my thighs. “I will. Thanks.”

I rolled my eyes.

He plucked a cupcake out and peeled the wrapper off, biting into it. His eyes closed, and he nodded. “Damn, woman.”

My cheeks warmed a little.

I wasn’t used to being recognized for making good food. At my old job, I was in the back of the house, cooking and managing the kitchen. At my new job, I just altered recipes for cakes, cupcakes, and bread. All my extras went to a halfway house down the street from my apartment every two or three days.

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