Page 9 of Dragon Unleashed
I suppress a shudder. “Got it. You can count on me.”
He looks unconvinced, especially considering he’s just agreed to this. “I mean, seriously. I may adore you, but Iwillmake you pay if you get me into trouble.”
“I promise.” I press a hand to my heart. “Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a scout,” he replies. “That’s a human thing.”
“Heard it in a book once.” I grin, and to my delight, Mag returns an annoyed smile. “One thing though,” I say as he raises his wrist to conjure his own portal.
“What?”
My grin spreads. “I want a coffee. Strong, delicious, from somewhere other than my drip machine.”
Mag groans. “You women never do anything out of the goodness of your hearts. Fine. Be back in a blink.” Raising his wrist, he uses his tattoo to call the portal then disappears through it.
Envy is a taste on my tongue as I watch him go. My cozy apartment upstairs isn’t bad, but the idea of being able to leave this place every night—to experience other worlds—is the only thing driving me to become a keeper.
That and instant access to the best lattes the worlds have to offer. Seriously, that could very much be the best job perk of them all.
* * *
Just over an hour later,my pace is slow and slightly wandering as I patrol the stacks with earbuds blaring. In one hand, I cup the pumpkin spice latte I negotiated from Mag. The other hand is free, prepared to deal with any mishapsshouldthey happen.
They won’t, though.It’s been my silent mantra. The power of positive thinking and all that. Tonight is going to go down without a hitch, and tomorrow, I will be able to prove to Hoc that I do belong here.
That I can be the keeper he wants me to be.
As I walk, I sip.Mmm. Still warm. And so freaking good. So far, the evening is proving quiet, and I’m already feeling the victory of a successful keeper shift under my belt—albeit a short one. Hopefully, Hoc will chill out and I’ll be back on track to graduate from my internship. Hell, maybe they’ll elevate me straight past novice if I play my cards right.
After the first hour passes with no books attacking me, I decide it’s safe to pass the remaining time listening to an audiobook. The story of a slow-burn romance between a mafia crime boss and his female love interest, who is secretly his enemy’s daughter, plays in one of my ears while I keep one earbud free. It’s a forbidden love sort of thing. Human romance. But, damn, the heat level is off the charts.
“Please—” I beg.
“Please, what, Dee?” He stares down at me through hooded eyes while my own gaze travels down over his ripped abdomen and the massive bulge in his jeans.
“Please. I swear, I'm not spying on you.”
“You see why it’s difficult for me to believe you,” Michael growls as he takes the tip of his finger and runs it along my cheek.
“What do I have to do to show you that I’m innocent? That my interest in you is purely my own?” I keep my chin strong, my tone level, because I want this man to see me as more than the daughter of his enemy.
I want him to see me as a woman.
He growls. “I can’t say I dislike the sight of you on your knees. Pouty mouth ready for me.” Michael’s hand goes to my chin, and he runs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “Will you show me that you’re not wearing a wire?” He sticks the tip of his blade into the top of my shirt.
He cuts the fabric, and I suck in a breath as my shirt opens just enough to bare the swell of my breasts—and to show I’m not wearing anything but this low-cut lace bra. “Much better.”
“Do you believe me now? Do you believe that I’m here because I can’t stop thinking of you?”
He likes the power, and I have no problem giving it to him.
“That depends,” he says softly.
“On what? I’ll do anything.”
He grins. “Then answer this.” He sets the blade aside. “Are you ready for me, Dee? Ready for what I can give you?”
“Yes,” I reply, breathless. “I’ve been ready since the moment we met.”
