Page 19

19

Elle

I was floating. Every nerve ending was alive and singing and spasming with pleasure. I tweaked my nipple, and fire sparked up my spine. Az groaned, and desire drenched the air. His cocks thrust in and out of me, and I arched and twitched and came.

I didn’t know anything could feel so good . Ridges dragged and pressed on every nerve ending inside me. His tapered cockhead hit spots I never knew I had. My entire awareness narrowed down to my body and the things he was doing to it.

His hand grazed my sensitive thigh, pushing it up. That changed how he felt inside me. He was so deep and so much and I was so full , and then he moved again and I came in a burst of pleasure.

“You like this, don’t you? Of course you do. Look how much you’re coming.” Az’s voice sounded both a million miles away and right next to my ear. He could have asked me for anything in that low growl, and I would have given it to him.

Every tiny movement inside me, every brush of my hands and his on my body, set off more sparks until one orgasm rolled into the next and I was a moaning mass of sensation and pleasure who couldn’t tell my touch apart from Az’s.

“I want to make you come until you pass out. ”

I swallowed. Nodded. Couldn’t answer beyond that. He’d probably get his wish.

Large hands gripped my thighs, raising my legs for deeper penetration. A deep thrust brought me enough clarity to recognize that Az was close to his own orgasm. Another one tore away the rest of my brain function.

His body covered mine. I wrapped my arms and legs around him and nuzzled into his neck, and when he went deep, I screamed, and my vision went black.

“Elle!” He clutched me to him, and I could feel both of his cocks jerking inside me, tipping me into mindless pleasure again.

Long moments later, my consciousness floated back to my body, and I caught my breath. I think I did pass out, or close enough to it. “We should have done that days ago.”

“You would have killed me; I’d never have let you out of bed. I still might not.” But he was already hefting himself off of me.

He left and came back with a warm washcloth. “You’re alright?” He cleaned me up with gentle strokes to sore, swollen flesh.

“More than alright.” I closed my heavy eyelids, already half-asleep.

Moments later, the bed dipped next to me, then Az’s warm body curved around mine.

The rest of the week flew by. I patched things up with Mama. Dwayne didn’t like Az and Az didn’t like Dwayne, but Mama and I had plenty of experience in not letting men’s egos interfere with our relationship.

I rolled into work fifteen minutes before my start time on Thursday, pumped because tomorrow I was supposed to meet Az’s parents.

I still couldn’t quite believe this was my life.

He’d just been so…wonderful. And generous. He’d taken every single one of my concerns seriously and tried to work through them with me. And every time he called me Arum , my knees turned to jelly. A dragon thought I was on par with gold .

Jen wasn’t on the schedule today, and my shoulders dropped a notch. Deja, our manager, was on hostess duty. She gave me a tepid smile. She hadn’t said anything about my new relationship, but she’d always played her cards close to the vest.

Maya was the only other person scheduled for the lunch shift. She gave me her best stink-eye. She was very practiced at it.

Whatever. I had work to do.

“Hi, welcome to Norma’s Kitchen. My name’s Elle, and I’ll be taking care of you today.” I greeted the two middle-aged women at my first table.

They exchanged a look, then the darker-haired one gave me a confused smile. “Oh, um. The other server—I think her name started with an M? She already took our order.”

I glanced over and caught Maya’s eye. She smirked.

“Oh, there must have been a mix-up. I’ll get that straightened out, and we’ll get your food out to you soon.” I didn’t know what the fuck Maya was playing at, but I wasn’t about to let on in front of a customer.

Following a hunch, I checked with the second table in my section. They said the same thing.

Teeth grinding, I tracked Maya down in the back of the restaurant, near some empty tables. “What the hell? Should I go grab tables out of your section?”

Maya crossed her arms. “I’m just making sure our customers get taken care of without drama.”

“Drama?” I’d never once caused a scene at work .

“Oh, that wasn’t you I heard complaining about how everyone stares at you? Not you I saw all over social media having dinner with a city council member?”

Fuck. I’d complained to Jen about a couple who’d snapped a picture of me at work last week without asking me first, and, yeah, I’d gone to a work dinner with Az on Tuesday.

“I can still do my job just fine, thanks. If Deja has a problem with it, she can tell me.”

“Deja’s not going to say shit. She’s more interested in how you working here increases business ’cause everyone thinks you’re the most interesting thing to happen since sliced bread.”

Instinctively, I glanced over at Deja, who was ignoring us. My blood heated. She wasn’t going to say shit.

“She doesn’t care that you’ve gotten lazy now that some lizard is paying all your bills.”

I flinched back. “I’ve never slacked off on the job.” If anything, I’d been extra diligent about my work. Having Cal and Maya’s constant disapproval aimed at me put me on edge.

“ Sure you haven’t. I don’t even know why you bother showing up anymore.”

I gaped at her. “You know what? You’re right, I don’t need this shit.” I’d never needed Maya’s approval before, so why should I care about it now? “Fuck this job, and fuck you.”

I pulled off my apron and slapped it on the nearest table.

Halfway to the door, Deja called out, “Where are you going? You can’t quit in the middle of a shift!”

I snorted to myself. “Take it up with Maya.”

When I closed myself into my car, I slumped over the steering wheel.

What the fuck had I just done ?

A small voice in the back of my head reminded me I’d planned to quit anyway if dinner with Az’s parents went well. It seemed pretty stupid to work if I married a dragon, and despite the short timeline, I was closer and closer to agreeing to mate him.

Hysterical laughter bubbled up in the back of my throat.

I started my car and pointed it toward home, though with the ringing in my ears and the knot in my stomach, I could barely concentrate on driving.

I’d made such a big deal out of keeping my job. How was I supposed to tell Az I’d up and quit because my coworker pissed me off? That was a sign to find a new job, not walk out in the middle of a shift.

I stuffed another item into my suitcase as if I could stuff all my worries away just as neatly. I hadn’t told Az I’d quit my job yet. I’d meant to last night but couldn’t find the words. He’d be happy, I was sure. But I’d made such a big deal out of it, and I felt like an idiot to have quit in a fit of rage. So stupid.

I had to tell him today. I glanced at the clock for the dozenth time in ten minutes. Az wanted to get an early start. He hadn’t told me what to expect this weekend, so I was bringing everything from jeans and a tee to a formal evening gown. I didn’t want to feel out of place.

Part of me still worried about what-if. What if I committed and he became controlling? What if he decided he could talk me into or out of doing whatever he liked with the right “incentive”? But he’d never attempted to tell me what to do with any of his gifts.

I had just stuffed the last item into my suitcase when Az’zael knocked before opening the door to my apartment .

Teaching him to do a courtesy knock instead of barging in had been a trip. Why should I knock when you gave me the code, Elle? he’d asked, wings twitching.

Because it lets me know it’s you and not some stranger wandering in off the street , I’d said. To which he’d responded with a rundown of building security. But when he’d realized it made me anxious, he agreed to knock before entering. Another reason I was close to giving him everything.

When Az saw me, he drank me in with a long look. “ Arum. ” His enormous hands planted on my hips, and he pulled me in for a deep kiss that I returned with equal fervor.

When we broke it, both breathing heavily, he said, “I could take you to bed instead.”

Sweat broke out on my palms. “Don’t you want me to meet your parents?” I hoped I wasn’t a puddle of fear-sweat by then.

His scales darkened. “Of course I want you to meet them.” But he wouldn’t meet my eyes. He’d been strangely reticent about this trip.

“Are you worried they won’t approve of me?” I knew how much dragons valued wealth, and I still couldn’t figure out why he’d gone after a struggling server when there were scores of dragons he could choose from. Or an heiress, if he wanted a human.

“No.” His eyes jerked to mine. “Of course they’ll approve of you. My siblings have already told them all about you.”

My stomach flip-flopped. I wouldn’t have called my interactions with either Tika or Udar an unmitigated success. Tika was petulant and spoiled, while I’d had to slam my door in Udar’s face to get him to leave my old apartment.

And he’d texted me every day since. Since he was obviously more interested in one-upping Az than anything else, I’d ignored all of them .

And since he hadn’t done more than send a text, I’d kept it to myself. No sense making this weekend more awkward when I already planned to stick to Az like glue.

Az nodded at my suitcase. “Is this all?”

“Yeah.” It was a full-sized suitcase. Way larger than I would normally bring on an overnight trip.

Az frowned at it. “You’ll have enough options? Tika travels with much more.”

“For an overnight trip?” I doubted that the glamorous dragon had ever heard of “packing light,” but I had six changes of clothes, three pairs of shoes, and a bathing suit, just in case, plus makeup and toiletries all crammed inside.

Az eyed my suitcase one last time, then hefted it.

“We’re driving, right?” Az had mentioned he often preferred to travel long distances in his “four-legged” form.

He shot me a startled look. “Yes. Juggling you and all your luggage for a few hours isn’t ideal. Although you have less than I expected, so I could—”

“Nope, driving is fine.” I shot him a nervous smile. The short flights we’d shared had been wonderful, but I wasn’t sure I could handle a longer one just yet. Holding onto Az while he was in the air was a workout for my arms and thighs, and I hadn’t yet worked up the courage to ask if dragon saddles existed.

I followed him out to the car. Once I’d settled next to him in the back seat, he anchored me to his side with one massive arm.

I took a deep breath, ready to tell him I’d quit my job.

My phone’s ringing pierced the air. “Mama?” She knew I was leaving town today.

Heavy breathing from her end, then, “You okay, baby? You left yet? ”

“Mama, are you crying? What’s wrong?”

Az shifted, his attention focusing on my face.

“I’m okay. Can I stay at your place while you’re gone? I’ll be out by the time you get back.”

“Are you at home? I’m going to come pick you up.” I motioned to Az, who gave the driver the address.

“No, don’t interrupt your trip for me. Just leave your key under the mat.”

My new place was a lot safer than my old place, but I couldn’t leave a key under the mat and call it good. Plus, I needed to know why my mom was calling me in tears.

“It’s fine, I’ll come get you.” I hung up before she could keep arguing with me. She’d just deny she was crying. We’d be at her place in a few minutes, and she wouldn’t be able to evade my questions as easily in person.

The town car had barely slowed to a stop in the parking lot before I jumped out and careened toward the front door of Mama’s apartment. A muffled sound told me Az was on my heels.

I opened it to shuffling coming from the bedroom and Mama screaming, “ Stole? You think you stole that asshole? Bitch, you can have him.”

In the bedroom, Mama was throwing stuff in her suitcase, phone pressed to her ear. “Fuck both y’all.” She tossed her phone on the bed.

Fuck. I didn’t need a calculator to do this math. “Oh, Mama.”

Mama whirled around, cheekbones flushed, eyes flashing. As soon as she caught sight of me, her shoulders hunched.

“Baby, no. Go on your trip. I’ll be fine.”

I grabbed the nearest pile of clothes and started folding. “Tell me. ”

“I found messages on Dwayne’s phone.” She threw her makeup bag into the suitcase. “Some hussy he met at a bar. Seems he wasn’t getting as much overtime as he said.”

“Your boyfriend was unfaithful?” Az’s voice rumbled from outside the bedroom door, disgust dripping from every word.

Mama gasped. “Shit. Sorry. You were leaving. Please, go have fun. I’ll manage.”

“I’m not going to leave you like this.” I stuffed the clothes into her suitcase.

“I don’t want to mess up your weekend. Just give me your key and go on.” Her country accent was as thick as I’d ever heard it.

I glanced at Az, who hovered awkwardly in the doorway.

“Elle can’t ‘go have fun’ when you’re upset.” Az stepped into the room.

“Right. I’m not just going to disappear when you’re upset. Also, um, I’ll need to clear you with the doorman.” She hadn’t visited me at my new apartment yet. She claimed she was busy, but I think the fact that I had an apartment so fancy it had a doorman made her nervous.

That same doorman could keep Dwayne out.

“The doorman.” Her eyebrows drew together. “Right.”

“Consider it done.” Az pulled out his phone and tapped a few buttons. “I’ll have someone come over to help you pack your things and carry them over.”

I shot him a grateful look.

Mama continued to protest that we should leave her in tear-stained distress, but we helped her pack until a few of Az’zael’s “people” showed up. The packing went a lot faster after that. When we had Mama bundled into a car, I leaned in to whisper, “Take a few days to yourself, and we’ll figure something out when I get back. ”

Mama had been insistent that I not skip my trip. She didn’t want me to make a bad impression on Az’zael’s parents, although, since we were already showing up late, that seemed like a given.

“Okay, baby.” Mama glanced at Az. “He really is a good man.”

I nodded.

With Mama taken care of, Az and I settled back into the town car.

“Thank you,” I said, snuggling close to him.

He wrapped an arm around me. “Whatever you need.”

I spent the two-hour drive texting with my mom and making sure she got herself situated in the apartment. Sutton was north of Kilinis and much more established, thanks to Az’s parents. I probably looked like a total idiot as we drove past beautiful architecture, public art, and a thriving downtown. Would Kilinis look like this in a few years?

The town car pulled up in front of a gated estate on the outskirts of the city, and my palms began to sweat. As the car navigated a long driveway to a massive house, I tried not to hyperventilate. Az tugged me closer. He liked me, and that was all that mattered, right?

When we got out of the car, a servant in an honest-to-god uniform showed us to our rooms. I wondered if Az’s parents were as generous with their staff as Az was, but I didn’t get the chance to wonder for long. The room they showed us to struck me stupid. Not room, rooms. A sitting room, a bedroom complete with massive bed, and a luxurious bathroom.

I hadn’t expected anything as mundane as a pull-out couch, but I’d never stayed anywhere as nice as this. Not even Az’s penthouse was so ostentatious.

“Are you alright?” Az’s voice broke into my shock.

“Sure.” I approached the bed. Yep. It was as massive as it had looked from a distance. Big enough for two dragons to fit comfortably.

“It’s one of the best guest suites in the house.” A tentative note entered his voice, one I recognized from early in our relationship, from whenever I’d tried to refuse an extravagant gift.

“It’s beautiful,” I assured him. “I’m just a little overwhelmed.”

Az’zael stepped toward me, and I cuddled into his chest. His wings came up to wrap around us.

A loud knock sounded at the door. He didn’t move.

“Should we get that?”

“It’s probably my sister.”

I shifted my weight. “So shouldn’t we answer?” It seemed rude to leave her hanging.

“If you want.” He heaved a sigh and released me.

When he opened the door, Tikalass swept inside, wearing an elegant dress of shimmering gold silk and holding two wrapped packages. She took me in with a critical sweep of her catlike eyes, lingering on the curve of my neck. Then she sent Az a pointed look.

Az winced.

I cringed. I didn’t know what Tika expected, but clearly the jeans and blouse I’d worn for traveling wasn’t it. At least I knew how formally to dress for dinner.

“What do you want?” Az asked Tika.

“Mom and Dad want us to come down for drinks.”

Az bared his teeth. “We just got here. Elle needs time to get ready.”

Tika shrugged. “You know how they are.”

“Yeah. I do.” Something unspoken seemed to pass between the two siblings.

“It’s fine. It won’t take me long to get ready.” I gave them a tight smile .

Tika looked aghast. “Not long? But your hair? Your makeup?”

I blinked. “I’m not that high maintenance.”

“You should be,” Tika said. “How else will they take you seriously?”

I blinked. “Right. Okay.” Was being late a good thing? For the thousandth time, I wished there was a dragon etiquette handbook. Though I’d asked Az many questions, they were mostly about himself.

I should have asked about his parents again, but that first time hadn’t gone well. I’d always gotten the sense that he was looking forward to having someone by his side when he dealt with them. I just wish I knew what to expect.

“Go, get ready. Take as much time as you need,” Az said.