Page 47 of Nine-Tenths

"Colin, you remember what I said about serving."

Itiskinky.

Also, turns out,nota turn off.

"I remember. It's just... I don't want you to serve me."

He flinches, neck scrunching unattractively and I wonder what that little fat roll tastes like. Salt and brimstone? I could push him under one of the trees lining the sidewalk, get my tongue under his ear and if the shadows are thick enough, flick open his fly and—

Down boy.

"Not like that," I add, when the hurt look flashes in his eyes again. "Not like… ugh. I don't want you to think youhaveto serve to be around me."

"I like it, though," Dav says. "Draconic instincts dictate—"

"No, I get it." I pull us to a stop now, at the bottom of the crooked cement porch that leads up to my rental. I take one step up. It makes him have to tilt his chin up, and I like this angle. It's intimate, as if I was sitting on his lap.

I want to invite him in. I don't know if I should, though. I like him too much to want to have sex with him on the first date.

Does that make sense?

I'm going to decide that it makes sense.

"I don't think you do."

"I want you to like spending time with me. Not because your draconic instincts tell you that you're supposed to provide for me. But becauseyouwant to be here."

Dav's free hand brushes my arm where the punctures were, lingering. Then he cups the side of my face, the tip of his thumb tracing the outline of my bottom lip. His eyes are on my mouth, but he's notdoinganything.

He'slistening.

He's giving me space to finish my thoughts.

Fuck, that's sexy.

"I don't want youbecauseyou're a dragon," I whisper in the quiet evening darkness. I set my palms on his hips, under his jacket. "I don't want the pile of gold, or the perks of being on your arm." I wish I was feeling bold enough to slip my fingers up under his waistcoat, feel the warmth of him through the thin material of his shirt. "I just want Dav."

"Good Lord," Dav whuffs out, as if I've punched him in the gut.

I don't have time to ask him what he means, because then his mouth is on mine.

Finally.

His lips are soft, and he slides both of his hands across my cheeks to cup the back of my head, to direct the kiss, and I let him because it's sogood. I don't know how long I've wanted this but it must have been longer than I thought. Since before the hospital waiting room and his posh voice reading me a love story, since before the ambulance and giggling while a paramedic glared at us, since before burned metal and fire and blood, since before rude words at a door.

Maybe even since before I ever met him.

Because this feelsright, and his tongue is wet and soft when he licks my bottom lip carefully, once. I open up to him, invite him inside, but then the absolutebastardlets go and takes a step back. I try to cling to his belt but he's too quick, and my fingers are kiss-stupid.

"Whuh?" I manage to say, ever so intelligently, cranking my eyes open.

Dav is rumpled. His mouth is wet and red. I lean in to keep going, to give at least as good as I got, but he ducks his head and chuckles.

"Good night, Colin. See you tomorrow."

"You could see me more right now," I whine. I have completely changed my mind about not wanting to have sex with him tonight—now I like him too much to let him go.

"No," he says gently. He takes my hand andkisses the back of it, and then he's off down the street, strolling towards where I assume he parked his car.

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