Page 39 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

Marissa sniffed. “If you say so, but I’d be careful if I were you.” In a louder voice, she said, “We can get the green dress tailored in time for tomorrow night if you let us know where to drop it off.”

I’d explained about the event when I’d tracked her down earlier. She’d looked me up and down, then promptly brought me a dozen gowns in my exact size, all while giving me severe side-eye.

I wrote down my address, my face hot. How many times in twenty-four hours could my apartment embarrass me? I’d panicked when Az had offered to pick me up, knowing that he’d see it. Then he’doffered to move me to a new one, like he knew without being told that my apartment was a dump. Now whoever dropped off that magnificent dress would know, too. Marissa would probably tell them I was Az’s side-piece. Or, worse, that I was too dumb to realize I was his side-piece.

Just an idiot mistress Az picked up, so out of place the shopgirl thought I wasstealing. I shouldn’t have jumped at the chance to see Az’zael early. I should have known shopping would be a minefield, but I’d wanted to spend a little extra time with him.

“Let’s go,Arum.” Az’zael wrapped one hand around my waist. The tips of his claws pressed into my skin, tiny pinpricks anchoring me as he led me out of the uncomfortably fancy store.

By the time we were in the parking lot and next to Az’zael’s town car, some of my embarrassment had dissipated under the force of his open delight. He hummed as he handed me into the car. I settled into his side, my limbs still tense.

I should have been equally delighted that I’d pleased him, but my stomach tightened. I’d blown a dragon in a dressing room because I was turned on and wanted to. I’dforgottenI was being paid. But Marissa had made damn sure I remembered, even if she’d thought she was doing me a solid by warning me that he was with someone else.

I had to figure out how to keep my feet on the ground around Az. I’d thought it would be so easy to have an emotionless arrangement, but he was somuch. So openly into me, so willing to be vulnerable about his feelings, so willing to reciprocate the energy I put in.

Oblivious, Az tucked me against him, running his hands over my arms, around my waist. Always touching me, while wearing his most delighted smile. How was I supposed to resist that?

When we entered his building, instead of taking me up to his penthouse apartment, we stopped one floor below.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“I got you something.” Nothing but sunshine and rainbows in his voice.

“Somethingelse?” I rubbed my forehead.

“Of course.” Az squeezed me against his chest, one wing wrapping securely around me.

I let him lead me to one of the handful of apartment doors on this floor. He keyed in a code and opened it, revealing a clean, bright apartment, easily four times the size of mine.

“I’ll have one of my staff move in your things tonight,” he said, ushering me inside.

“What?” I took in the minimal, modern furniture and bare walls. “Move in my things?” The driver was already bringing in my bags.

“This is your new apartment,” Az’zael said, like that explained fucking anything.

“No. Sorry, but no. This is too much.” I stepped away from him. Panic screeched through me. Shopping was fine. Shopping wasfun. New clothes, shoes, purses. What we’d done in the dressing room. My face grew warm all over again.

His forehead wrinkled. “I thought you’d like it. You agreed to go to my party on your off day.”

“What does that have to do with giving me an apartment?” But my stomach sank, and I feared I already knew.

“I don’t know why you didn’t negotiate, but I’d planned to offer you this apartment in exchange anyway, so here it is.” He frowned, head cocked to one side. “I told you, I’d never disrespect your time.”

I flinched at his blunt words. I was so goddamn stupid, agreeing to see him because I wanted to when he saw me as nothing more than an employee.

Knees trembling, I grasped the nearest sturdy surface. The kitchen island. With the lease agreement on top. I couldn’t stop myself from looking at it.

Four months. At zero rent. I crumpled the paper in one hand and tried to draw in a full breath.

Four months.Nice to know my expiration date. It was longer than I’d expected this “relationship” to last, so why did my stomach feel like it was dropping out of my body?

I grabbed my purse. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Wait!” he called, but I was already halfway to the elevator.

The whole way back to my shitty apartment, my phone buzzed. The rideshare driver pretended not to hear it while we made awkward small talk, all while I tried to process the stunned look on Az’zael’s face when I’d bolted.

When I made it back to my apartment, I unlocked the door and glanced around, seeing all the disrepair, the outdated appliances, the chipped paint and water stains.

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