Page 8 of Claimed By His Omega Dragon's Fire
Okay, time to tone down that thought before my scent gets all lusty and aggressive. I don’t want to scare him away or make him uncomfortable.
“Are you from around here?”
Brock startles at my question. His hands pause from where they’re tearing open the plastic of the muffin, his gray eyes turning towards me.
“No. I’m just passing through, technically. I hit up different fairs and events in my truck, never stopping in one place for very long.”
“Oh,” I say, not really knowing how to respond. How do you explain to someone you’ve only just met that the idea of them living on the road all alone makes your heart break? How could I possibly explain the way my chest aches for him to settle down in the same town that I live in? “That sounds lonely.”
“Eh, it can be at times. I like meeting new people. I like traveling all over. I like meeting handsome men and talking them into trying new coffee creations,” he adds with a grin, popping a piece of muffin into his mouth.
“It sounds like your truck certainly has some perks.”
“How about you?”
“I live a couple towns over,” I tell him, taking a sip of my drink. It’s just as sweet as yesterday. I love it so much and the idea of not having this in the future because Brock has moved on leaves bile collecting at the back of my throat, souring the taste on my tongue.
I really need to stop thinking like this.
“Oh yeah?”
I lower my voice, making sure there’s no one else around. “Can I speak frankly? I can tell you're a shifter, right?”
Brock gives me a soft smile, nodding his head. “Yeah. Dragon. You?”
“Wolf,” I tell him. “I’m the pack alpha where I live. They all pitched together to get me this little vacation. Apparently they were worried I was overworking and not properly taking care of myself.”
Brock hums. “Doesn’t sound like you. It’s not like I had to practically beg you to indulge in a sweet drink,” he says with a warm chuckle that has my entire chest swooping with fondness.
I roll my eyes. “I know how to indulge. I just don’t think Ishould.”
“And why not? You’re allowed to do things for yourself. You’re allowed to let yourself rest. All work and no play sounds like the perfect recipe to burn yourself out.”
“Not you too,” I say with a playful groan.
“I’m just speaking as a totally innocent third party bystander who has no horses in this race,” he says, holding up his hands in surrender. “Let yourself have fun while you’re here. It sounds like you deserve it.”
“You can’t possibly know that. You don’t even know me.”
“Maybe not, but maybe I’d like to,” he says softly. My stomach swoops almost violently. “If that’s not too forward. I’m intrigued by you. I’d love to hear your story, get to know you, see if there’s a spark between us? Because I gotta admit, I spent the entire night with you on my mind, Aiden.”
“Really?” I sputter out, my cheeks flaming. “I did the same. I mean, I thought about you last night.”
“Oh yeah? Anything fun in that head of yours?” My cheeks heat impossibly further. “Oh my gods, by that blush I’d say it wasincrediblyfun and maybe even naked,” he says with a laugh.
“Oh my gods, don’t tease me. I might actually die from the blood running to my cheeks so quickly.”
We both laugh, enjoying our muffins and apples. There are sparks and butterflies inside my belly, but beyond that there’s a contentedness that runs through me. Being in Brock’s presence is making me feel things I’ve never felt before. I barely know him but being here makes me happy.
“Would you like to join me on a walk this afternoon?”
Brock taps his chin a few times before nodding. “I’d like that. It’s a date.”
I stand up, brushing my pants off. I give him a shy smile. “It’s a date.”
4
Brock
