Page 20 of Dragon, Actually
Chapter 16
Myrran
The moment hangs heavy between us. Jewel crouches briefly to let Mr. Whiskers out of his crate, and then sets up his litter and food in the bathroom, humming to herself. I can’t tell if my confession is overwhelming her or if she’s simply digesting it. My heart thuds, waiting for a sign.
Finally, she straightens, brushing her hands against her skirt. “So…this alokoi situation,” she begins, her tone careful. “You’re saying we’re meant to be? Is a spiritual thing or a biological thing?”
“Biology. It means we’re genetically compatible. Dragons can only reproduce with their alokoi. But we can take it at your pace. I’m in no rush. We can have the kid discussion down the line.” I hesitate, then add, “There’s just one little complication. I, uh, can’t be too far away from you. So…you might notice me lurking around sometimes.”
Her eyes narrow slightly. “Is that what you were doing at Hoardstrom’s? Fake-buying gifts every day as an excuse to lurk?”
Busted. I rub the back of my neck, a guilty smile creeping onto my face. “Well…yes. But the gifts are real. They’re all for you.”
“For me?” she echoes.
“They’re part of my hoard, which is technically also your hoard.” I cross the room to pull open my hoard-room door.
A cascade of wrapped-and-ribboned boxes tumble out, the top ones instantly recognizable as her handiwork. But beneath them, there are dozens more, all shapes and sizes. Mr. Whiskers takes a running leap into the pile, batting at bows with delight.
Jewel stares, wide-eyed, at the pile. “Wow,” she murmurs, and my satisfaction swells. My mate is impressed, which feeds my pride.
“Not as wow as you are.”
She glances over her shoulder and makes a face at my cheesy line, and we both laugh. Jewel looks happy, not weirded out. Relief floods through me, breaking some of the tension. Mr. Whiskers sharpens his claws on a package, then starts gnawing on one end.
“Oh, don’t eat that,” Jewel exclaims, trying to wrestle it away from him. He growls, hugging it close to his furry chest.
“I think that one’s for him, anyway,” I say, noting the size and shape. She rips the paper a little more, revealing the cat toy I bought for him. “He must have smelled the catnip.”
I crouch to unwrap it for him, then start gathering the fallen gifts. “Part of our mating ritual is finding or making the perfect gift for our alokoi. It’s a way of proving our devotion. I’ve been searching nonstop. You don’t have to accept one until I get it exactly right, though.”
Her fingers brush mine when we both reach for a wrapped box as she helps me clean up. “How did you do all this in the last couple of weeks?”
I freeze, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. “I didn’t,” I admit softly. “I’ve been watching you for…longer.”
Her eyebrows raise, her hand stilling. I have to tell her everything.
“I scented you at City Zoo,” I say, meeting her gaze. “In the penguin exhibit.”
Her jaw drops. “I went there in October!”
I nod. “I didn’t know who you were at first, but I couldn’t stay away. I’ve been following you since then—to learn about you, to protect you, to wait for the right opening…” I sigh. “It’s a strong compulsion. I’m sorry if it seems intrusive and creepy. I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just—”
Her expression softens. “You just what?”
“I just needed to be near you.”
She exhales, her lips twitching into a small, wry smile. “Sorry I work at one of the most expensive stores in the city. You must have spent a fortune.”
“Pretty much my whole hoard,” I chuckle. “It was worth it, though. Now I have the prettiest Jewel to treasure.”
Her laugh is quiet but genuine, and my heart soars.
“You’re lucky I don’t scare easily.” She steps closer, putting her palm flat in the center of my chest.
I put my hand on top of it. “I’d say I’m lucky in a lot of ways. Most of all because I get to love you.”
Chapter 17
