Page 82 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

I stuffed another item into my suitcase as if I could stuff all my worries away just as neatly. I hadn’t told Az I’d quit my job yet. I’d meant to last night but couldn’t find the words. He’d be happy, I was sure. But I’d made such a big deal out of it, and I felt like an idiot to have quit in a fit of rage. So stupid.

I had to tell him today. I glanced at the clock for the dozenth time in ten minutes. Az wanted to get an early start. He hadn’t told me what to expect this weekend, so I was bringing everything from jeans and a tee to a formal evening gown. I didn’t want to feel out of place.

Part of me still worried about what-if. What if I committed and he became controlling? What if he decided he could talk me into or out of doing whatever he liked with the right “incentive”? But he’d never attempted to tell me what to do with any of his gifts.

I had just stuffed the last item into my suitcase when Az’zael knocked before opening the door to my apartment.

Teaching him to do a courtesy knock instead of barging in had been a trip.Why should I knock when you gave me the code, Elle?he’d asked, wings twitching.

Because it lets me know it’s you and not some stranger wandering in off the street, I’d said. To which he’d responded with a rundown of building security. But when he’d realized it made me anxious, he agreed to knock before entering. Another reason I was close to giving him everything.

When Az saw me, he drank me in with a long look. “Arum.” His enormous hands planted on my hips, and he pulled me in for a deep kiss that I returned with equal fervor.

When we broke it, both breathing heavily, he said, “I could take you to bed instead.”

Sweat broke out on my palms. “Don’t you want me to meet your parents?” I hoped I wasn’t a puddle of fear-sweat by then.

His scales darkened. “Of course I want you to meet them.” But he wouldn’t meet my eyes. He’d been strangely reticent about this trip.

“Are you worried they won’t approve of me?” I knew how much dragons valued wealth, and I still couldn’t figure out why he’d gone after a struggling server when there were scores of dragons he could choose from. Or an heiress, if he wanted a human.

“No.” His eyes jerked to mine. “Of course they’ll approve of you. My siblings have already told them all about you.”

My stomach flip-flopped. I wouldn’t have called my interactions with either Tika or Udar an unmitigated success. Tika was petulant and spoiled, while I’d had to slam my door in Udar’s face to get him to leave my old apartment.

And he’d texted me every day since. Since he was obviously more interested in one-upping Az than anything else, I’d ignored all of them.

And since he hadn’t done more than send a text, I’d kept it to myself. No sense making this weekendmoreawkward when I already planned to stick to Az like glue.

Az nodded at my suitcase. “Is this all?”

“Yeah.” It was a full-sized suitcase. Way larger than I would normally bring on an overnight trip.

Az frowned at it. “You’ll have enough options? Tika travels with much more.”

“For an overnight trip?” I doubted that the glamorous dragon had ever heard of “packing light,” but I had six changes of clothes, three pairs of shoes, and a bathing suit, just in case, plus makeup and toiletries all crammed inside.

Az eyed my suitcase one last time, then hefted it.

“We’re driving, right?” Az had mentioned he often preferred to travel long distances in his “four-legged” form.

He shot me a startled look. “Yes. Juggling you and all your luggage for a few hours isn’t ideal. Although you have less than I expected, so I could—”

“Nope, driving is fine.” I shot him a nervous smile. The short flights we’d shared had been wonderful, but I wasn’t sure I could handle a longer one just yet. Holding onto Az while he was in the air was a workout for my arms and thighs, and I hadn’t yet worked up the courage to ask if dragon saddles existed.

I followed him out to the car. Once I’d settled next to him in the back seat, he anchored me to his side with one massive arm.

I took a deep breath, ready to tell him I’d quit my job.

My phone’s ringing pierced the air. “Mama?” She knew I was leaving town today.

Heavy breathing from her end, then, “You okay, baby? You left yet?”

“Mama, are you crying? What’s wrong?”

Az shifted, his attention focusing on my face.

“I’m okay. Can I stay at your place while you’re gone? I’ll be out by the time you get back.”

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