Page 23 of Burned By Love

“I wanted you to know.I wanted to say yes when you asked me on that date, but I don’t know if I can.I understand that you’re not Sal and that you’re nothing like him, but part of me still freaks out at the thought of dating another dragon shifter.”

“You don’t have to explain, Jonathan.I get it.I won’t hold it against you.I wouldn’t have even if you hadn’t told me about your ex.”

Jonathan looked relieved.It was as if a weight had lifted off his shoulders, and West was glad he’d been able to help.Jonathan was braver than a lot of people West knew, and West was sure that eventually, Jonathan would deal with his fear.Maybe if West was lucky, they’d still be friends when he did.

“Anyway, I wanted you to be aware of the situation,” Jonathan said.“So that if I ever freak out again, you’ll know why.”

“I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” West promised.He would have even without all of this.He cared about Jonathan, which hadn’t changed because Jonathan rejected him.

Jonathan sucked in a breath.“I hope you mean that because I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me.”

West stared.That was the last thing he’d expected.He wanted to say yes, but was it the right thing to do?

Jonathan knew himself better than anyone.He definitely knew himself better than West, who had only just met him.No matter how much they’d texted, West still couldn’t say what Jonathan was or wasn’t ready for.Jonathan was the only one who could, and apparently, he’d decided he was ready for a date even though he’d said no a few days ago.

“I’d love to,” West told him.

Jonathan blinked as if he hadn’t expected it to be so easy.“Really?”

“Really.I wouldn’t have asked you out if I didn’t want to go on a date with you.”

“But things are different now.”

“They are.Now, I know why you might react in certain ways and that I’ll have to be careful.It doesn’t mean I don’t want to go out with you.”

“I’m a mess.”

West smiled and stepped closer.It was a risk, but he relaxed when Jonathan didn’t move away.“Everyone is a mess.Look at Austin.”

Jonathan snickered.“I’m pretty sure he heard that.He’s a dragon shifter, too, isn’t he?”

“Do I look like I care?”

“Not particularly.”

West turned serious again.“I can’t promise you that everything will be okay, but Icanpromise that I’ll never hurt you if I can avoid it.I would never raise a hand to you, and I won’t control you.I’m not Sal.”

“I know.”

It might not be enough for things between them to work, but it was a starting point, and West was nothing if not stubborn.

Chapter Eight

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WEST WAS NOT GOINGto change another time.Jonathan wouldn’t care how he was dressed.He’d seen him in his uniform and sweaty and dirty after the grocery store fire.He wouldn’t care what kind of shade West’s shirt was.

But West felt the need to make the date as perfect as possible.He still had a hard time believing that Jonathan had asked him out, especially after he’d said no when West had tried.Knowing what he did now, West understood that this was a massive step for Jonathan, and he wanted the evening to be good.

They weren’t doing anything outlandish.They would get dinner, then maybe go see a movie, but West was ridiculously excited because of Jonathan.If West was going out with anyone else, he probably wouldn’t care so much, but Jonathan had managed to wriggle his way under West’s skin, and West was ready to cling to him if given the opportunity.

He snorted as he smoothed down his shirt and looked at his reflection.He couldn’t believe he’d gone from being happily single and not looking for anything to being smitten with a man he barely knew.What he knew of Jonathan made him think that he was right to feel this way, though.Jonathan was strong and capable.He was brave.He was creative and had many friends, and it seemed like all these friends loved him.West might not have been looking for a relationship, but he knew how precious what he’d found was, and he would cherish it for as long as Jonathan let him.

West’s phone vibrated on the dresser.He snatched it up, smiling when he saw Jonathan’s name on the screen.Jonathan had texted to tell him that he was outside the building.West was out of time.He couldn’t change again, which was a relief because it would be useless.

West quickly answered the text, then picked up everything he needed to take with him.He hesitated, wondering if he should bring a jacket.As a dragon shifter, he wasn’t usually cold, but Jonathan might be.

West grabbed the jacket on his way out.He didn’t wait for the elevator, instead bounding down the stairs.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so excited.Was a date with a pretty man really enough to make him feel this way?Apparently.

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