Page 15 of Under the Dragon's Spell
Luca answered her phone quickly.
"I haven't heard from you all week!" she said before I could even greet her.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't feeling so well. But I got good news."
"What kind of news?" she asked, sounding vaguely hopeful. I know she wanted to ask me if I'd heard from the man I'd been pining after, but at the same time, she was too careful to ask me outright, in case that wasn't what I was about to tell her at all. This was why I loved her so much. No matter how well her own life was going, she never forgot that I had my own things going on, too.
But I was even happier that I could share my happiness with her when there were happy things to be shared.
"I heard from him," I told her. "I guess I didn't mess up quite so badly after all. At least, I mean, he's still interested in me."
"Oh that's great! I was really hoping for you, Adrian."
Her words made me smile. "I know it's not like I got the job yet, but it's like a weight has been lifted from my heart." It was funny. A week ago, I would have told her that I wasn't interested in getting with a stranger. Now it felt like my luck in life depended on it. Probably not a healthy attitude, but not something I wanted to do anything about for the time being. For the first time in a long time, I felthopeful.
"Give me details," she said. "I want to know everything."
"Well, he wants me to come live in his house for a week."
"Oh. Things could happen," she said in a sing-song voice. "You'll have to keep me updated. I want to know everything."
"I will." I laughed, then turned serious again. "But there'll be other people, too."
"Other people?"
"Other applicants."
"So, competition."
"Exactly."
"Do you want this man?"
Did I? I swallowed, turning the question over in my head even when I already knew the answer, when a resounding yes was beating through my body with every heartbeat. I wanted his body on top of mine, his voice in my ear, his tongue on my lips and his seed where it could grow into a baby. "I want him. I do." It was all way too fast, but it was true.
"Mh…" She began to sound thoughtful, then her tone of voice turned devious. "Let me help you pick clothes."
7
ADRIAN
Packing took a long time, and I was sure that I was still forgetting a million things, even though I really didn't own that much. Most of the things in the house belonged to my brother and I didn't need to take much for a week. The only reason everything took so long was because I couldn't settle on what to wear. Luca insisted I needed to take things that would make sure Tyrel's eyes were on me at all times, but I wasn't so sure. I didn't want to seem cheap. In the end, I went half-half for modest versus slutty, deciding that I'd judge what to wear after I met the other guys.
Monday of the following week, I made my way over to Tyrel's house. Luca and my brother had both offered to drop me off, but I wanted to go alone, deciding that I needed a little time to myself before I could face Tyrel again. Just to gather my strength. And really, the house wasn't that far and I didn't have that much to carry.
I met the first of my competition outside the gates of the house—although manor really was the more appropriate word. He was shorter than me, but seemed to have about twice the luggage. In fact, he could barely carry it all.
"That looks heavy." I pointed at the suitcase he was dragging.
He startled, then whirled around to me. "Oh. Uh. Hi." Letting go of his suitcase, he extended a hand to me. "I'm Michael." His soft smile suited his soft features. His cheekswere just the tiniest bit chubby and I wanted to pinch them as I shook his hand.
"Adrian," I introduced myself. "Nice to meet you."Although we're both here for the same thing.
"You're right about the suitcase," he said. "But it's okay. I can carry it."
I nodded. "Okay then."
We were standing outside an iron gate. The property behind it was encased by a high wall, probably so that no one could look into the gardens, but what I could see of the house impressed me. It was three stories tall and could have comfortably fit all the apartments I'd ever lived in. If this was their vacation home…
