Page 88 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
“Theo!”
But Aiden only looked amused at being threatened by a child.
Theo frowned. “I’m being serious.”
“Please stop embarrassing me, oh mygod.” She turned to Aiden. “I’m sorry. Ignore him.”
Aiden’s expression turned serious. “I would never hurt her,” he said, his voice deadly earnest. He met Theo’s gaze head on, and Theo stared for a few moments, not reacting.
Until he broke into a grin. “Okay, great!”
Saphira shook her head, shoving Theo away. He went, looking over his shoulder to make sure Saphira was following.
“I’m coming.” She turned back to Aiden. “I should get in,” she said, apologetic.
“Of course,” he replied.
“And I’m sorry about Theo,” she said, wincing.
“Don’t be. I meant it—I really, really like you.”
She was pleased by that. “Well, good. Because I really, really like you, too.”
She giggled. Being with him made her lose her mind with desire, but also just made her really giddy.
Saphira rose to her tiptoes and pulled him in for another kiss, a fizzy feeling in her chest.
He walked her back until she was against the garden fence. Deepening the kiss, he lifted her hands above her head, pinning her wrists there.
The movement set her blood on fire as devastating pleasure overcame her in a white-hot blaze. She clung to him, aching to get closer.
“Saphira!” Theo called.
Aiden pulled away, breathing ragged.
They pressed their foreheads together as Saphira caught her breath.
“I’m coming!” she yelled.
Chapter 23
While moments with Saphira were absolute heaven, Aiden could not say that everything in his life was equally blissful.
His father had called before the vet appointment to ask how the trip to Mount Echo had gone. Aiden had replied that it had gone well, and then promptly hung up before his father could say too much more, but Aiden knew that a conversation was inevitable.
One evening after he and Saphira had gotten dinner together, they walked around Main Street as the sun set. The clouds were a blazing orange and pink; it was that time of the year when there was a stunning sunset nearly every day, and Aiden was amazed by the beauty of the world, of this life.
It was a warm evening at the end of June, and spring was almost over. Soon it would be summer, and while ordinarily the changing of the seasons was something he dreaded, now he was looking forward to it: to see Saphira in a new season, to experience it with her. Every day was a new exploration, a new wonder, and he was equally torn between wanting to stayin this perfect moment forever and wanting to experience what might come next.
Aiden had his arm around Saphira’s shoulder, their fingers entwined. Her hand was in his back pocket, and as they walked, they kept bumping into one another. He loved being this close to her, perpetually connected, as if he was simply an extension of her, and she an extension of him.
He pulled her into him, and she nestled against his chest. He inhaled the scent of roses in her hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Aiden was content, but he was also a bit stressed. His gaze strayed to Sparky, who was flying a little ahead of them. The baby dragon was always flying now; he loved it.
“I’m worried,” Aiden said, and Saphira looked up at him. “Now that Sparky has had his first flight, he’s only going to become a stronger flier. What if my parents want him to race?”
“Your parents love you,” Saphira reminded him. “I don’t think they’ll pressure you. Why not just talk to them?”
