Page 19 of The Baby Dragon Cafe (The Baby Dragon #1)

Chapter 19

“D o you want to go to the springs?” Aiden asked Saphira, and she watched as he shuffled on his feet. “You can go alone if you want. I can leave you.”

Saphira had been upset a moment ago, but now she was conflicted. There were too many emotions running through her mind, but the one thing she did know was that she didn’t want him to go.

“No, you come, too,” she said, voice soft. “It’s important for both of us to be relaxed. Mireya said so.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

“Besides,” she added. “I don’t know where they are.”

His lips twitched. “Come on.”

She followed him to the hot springs, which were on a lower level, both of them quiet. When they arrived, the springs were completely empty, and she saw that they consisted of various little pools between stones, clouds of steam hovering above the surface.

The fog was so thick, she could hardly see, which comforted her. Neither of them had brought their bathing suits, and she was not about to skinny-dip, but her underwear would suffice. On one side, there was a pile of folded robes and towels.

“Turn around,” Saphira ordered. Wordlessly, he did, and she tied her hair up into a knot, then stripped down to her underwear, her hands shaking. She glanced over to Aiden’s back, which was perfectly straight, perfectly still.

Shivering, Saphira made quick work of getting into the spring. The water wasn’t deep, and there were stones set like seats, so she sat down, the spring coming up to her collar. The water was a balm after their snowball fight, warm and comforting.

“The water is really warm,” she told him, her voice high. He grunted a response, and then she heard the rustle of his clothes as he took them off. Her chest felt tight.

She sneaked a glance over her shoulder and saw the muscles of his back moving. Heat shot through her, and she quickly turned back around, fanning her face.

A moment later, she heard him approach, and then enter the water to sit across from her. The spring had seemed adequately sized before, but now it felt tiny, hardly big enough for the both of them.

Saphira swallowed, biting her lower lip. Aiden’s face was unreadable, as if he wore a mask of stone. They both looked at each other, neither speaking, eyes drinking the other in.

The space shrank, even more intimate somehow, and she was glad for all the steam. She felt she could hide behind it. His eyes were scorching, and she was afraid she would simply melt into the waters.

He ran a hand over his face, wetting his lashes, then rested his arms up. Saphira stared, mesmerized by the muscles in his shoulders and arms, his glistening skin.

Her heart raced, and she touched a hand to the base of her throat, pressing in, willing her heart rate to steady. As she did, his eyes followed the movement, lids lowered. His throat moved as he swallowed.

With some difficulty he dragged his eyes up her throat to meet her gaze, and she felt heat spread through her as though everywhere his eyes went, so did his hands.

She could almost feel the phantom touch, could almost imagine what it would be like.

Her body ached with desire. She unknowingly moved closer in the water until their knees bumped. Steam warmed her skin, and she felt tendrils of hair curling around her face and neck.

He reached a hand out, and she held her breath, yearning for him to touch her, anticipation making her blood run wild. His jaw clenched.

His hand hovered in the space between them, gently drawing closer until he traced a finger along a curl of hair by her cheek, his eyes dark. Slowly, he wrapped the tendril of hair around his finger, then pulled slightly. She felt that tiny tug until he released the curl, and it bounced back into place. Her whole body felt taut, the air between them charged with tension.

His breathing hitched. Blood roared in her ears.

Then, under the water, she felt his hands, fingers skimming against her legs. She pushed into the touch, and his hands slid against her thighs, pulling her closer, onto him. She straddled his lap, as she had out in the snow, though this time, there was hardly any fabric between their skin, and she could feel all of him.

Her hands landed on his chest, then moved up, out of the water, to settle on his neck, the ends of her fingers sinking into his hair. Both of them were deadly silent, as if speaking would break the moment.

His eyes burned into hers. Then, with gentle precision, he inched his head closer until he pressed his mouth to her neck.

The contact sent flames sweeping through her. He kissed her throat, teeth scraping against her skin, and she tossed her head back, body humming with desire.

She pressed closer, and a cry rose in his throat, his fingers digging into her hips with desperation.

Saphira wanted him, all of him. She brought her gaze down to meet his, and he looked at her as if he’d had an epiphany—as if, maybe, the epiphany was her.

And suddenly, fear rippled through her.

She hesitated. Aiden was still, his breathing heavy, but he waited. He held himself back, even though she could feel how much he wanted her.

She felt as if she was on the very edge of a cliff, about to fall, and there was a distant feeling that there would be someone there to catch her when she did, but even so, she couldn’t find the courage to take the leap.

She swallowed, pulling away from him. His gaze shuttered, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He eased his grip on her, and she moved away.

He looked disappointed to see her retreat but didn’t push her, which she was thankful for.

“We should get back,” she whispered, even as her body cried out in protest.

He nodded. Neither of them moved, catching their breath. Saphira willed her heartbeat to steady, and he was doing the same.

Eventually, she got out of the steamy waters and into the cold, shivering. She dried off, then put the robe on, and Aiden did the same, neither looking at the other. She had already felt his body under hers, and that was torture enough.

A gust of wind blew, and they hurried inside, a novice directing them to where they would be staying.

They walked over, then stopped in the doorway as a realization struck them.

Pretending to be married meant they would be sharing a room. Which meant sharing a bed.

Oh no . Aiden clenched his hands into fists at his side, knuckles white.

She pushed open the door to reveal a simple yet cozy room. Because there was no electricity, the room was lit with the candles, the soft glow casting an even more intimate ambience over the already intimate space.

The candles were inherently romantic, and as Aiden closed the door behind them, so was the empty bed. She shivered, overwhelmed by a wave of desire as the possibilities ran through her mind.

Aiden’s question from dinner replayed in her mind: “ Can I touch you? ” It had seemed so innocent then, but now, the prospect of just how he might touch her made her body burn.

Cheeks flaming, Saphira shook her head, trying to focus. She spotted her bag and grabbed it, rushing to the bathroom and promptly shutting the door.

Once alone, she released a long breath, trying to calm down. She turned the shower on, bathing with cold water, which helped to cool the heat pulsing through her body.

She took a deep breath, slapping her cheeks.

“Get it together!” she hissed at herself.

After she had changed into her pajamas, Saphira looked at herself in the mirror. Her pajamas were plain, which was something she might have been self-conscious about, but with Aiden, she didn’t feel the need to be anything other than herself.

This would be fine. They were mature adults. Clearing her throat, Saphira grabbed her things and opened the door, entering the bedroom again. Aiden was purposefully not looking at her, and her heart sank at how awkward things felt. She had made things awkward.

“Bathroom’s free,” she squeaked.

Aiden nodded. Avoiding her gaze, he entered and shut the door behind him.

Saphira let out a huge exhale, then collapsed onto the bed, which was deliciously soft. She sank straight in.

Feeling cold, Saphira got under the covers, blowing out the candle on her side table. Maybe she would fall asleep before Aiden even got out of the bathroom, and it wouldn’t be weird.

She didn’t want things to be weird.

Then, Aiden came out, wearing a T-shirt and pajama pants. She had to look away, she felt so shy.

This was ridiculous. It wasn’t like she hadn’t had boyfriends before, or done any of this, but with Aiden, she just felt completely unhinged.

Wordlessly, Aiden blew out the candles on his side table, enveloping the room in darkness, then got under the covers as well, his back to her.

He was right there. Her heart raced. She was wide awake now, the possibility of sleep impossible.

After a few moments, she gathered up her courage.

“Aiden,” she whispered.

Silence. She didn’t know if he didn’t hear her, or if he was ignoring her, or what. She frowned. Was he asleep already?

Saphira went to nudge his foot, but she overestimated how far away he was and ended up kicking him instead.

“Ow?” he said, surprised and completely awake. It was the first time he had spoken since the hot springs. Her heart hammered.

“Oh, you’re awake,” she said.

“Yeah.” He turned around, facing her. He looked as tense as she felt. “What’s up?”

“Um … nothing?”

His lips twitched. “Why did you kick me, then?” he asked, his eyes glittering with amusement.

“No reason,” she replied, also feeling amused.

The tension between them dissipated as he smiled, and she gently laughed, burying her nose in her pillow. This whole situation was so ridiculous and absurd that it was comical.

He smiled, and she was relieved. They were back to being normal.

“Are you nervous for tomorrow?” she asked. He got comfortable, putting a hand under his pillow.

“Kind of,” he said. “But Sparky did great today, so I’m sure everything will be fine.”

The room was mostly dark, and in the dark, it was easier to be less stressed about sharing a bed with him. She just focused on the sound of his voice.

“Those trials were insane,” she said.

“They really were. I thought I was gonna pass out.”

“No! You were so composed! While I was being a big baby.”

“Don’t worry, I was being a baby on the inside, too.” His voice softened. “It isn’t always easy for me to show what I’m feeling, but that doesn’t mean I’m not feeling it.”

“I never learned how not to show what I’m feeling,” she admitted.

He smiled. “I know. I like that about you.”

It was nice, chatting. “I feel like I’m having a sleepover with my best friend,” she said. “Not that I have ever had sleepovers with a best friend before. But hypothetically.”

He paused, considering something carefully. “Saphira?”

She held her breath. “Yeah?”

“I think you’re my best friend,” he said, voice quiet. Happiness spread through her.

“You’re my best friend, too,” she said. “It’s strange—we haven’t even known each other for that long, but it feels like I’ve known you forever.”

“I feel the same way,” he told her. “Like there’s no version of me that existed before knowing you.”

As they spoke, they inched closer, until they were both on the edges of their respective pillows. She could feel the warmth of his body just beside hers, and her pulse quickened.

Saphira reached for his hand as he was reaching for hers, and the point of contact sent a zing of pleasure through her.

He brought her hand up, brushing his lips against her palm. She spread her fingers over his cheek, his stubble rough against her skin. The moment was sweet, so sweet.

The intimacy of being in bed together like this felt so real, like they’d done it a million times before, and would do it a million times again.

And then she thought of what else they might do while in bed together, and her heart rate spiked. It would be so easy …

She felt as if they were racing toward something inevitable, and resisting was pointless. She wanted to give in. She wanted it so badly.

But Aiden did not move closer. He held onto her hand as he closed his eyes.

“Goodnight, Saphira,” he said, voice soft and gentle as a caress, and that was okay, too. She was glad just to be here, beside him.

“Goodnight,” she replied.