Page 113 of The Dragon 2

Smooth and slow like it belonged in a jazz lounge at midnight. . .or in my ear while I touched myself.

For a second, I forgot he was Kenji’s Roar and not some voice actor for premium-grade erotica.

Be loyal to the Dragon, Nyomi. You can’t be out here melting over his Roar’s voice.

I cleared my throat and forced myself to focus. “Yes. I am prepared.”

I held the phone tighter, grounding myself with breath.

“Good. I need to get the location’s address to handle security and transportation. Truthfully, I would have preferred having this information yesterday.”

I smiled politely even though he couldn’t see it. “I understand.”

“I’m glad you do, Ms. Palmer.”

“However. . . I won’t be sending the location until one hour before the date.”

A pause followed, then Reo spoke but his tone was sharp. “I understand but if I may be frank, this is. . .outside of protocol. I will need that location.”

“Understood. I know how unusual it is. But I really need this to stay a surprise. And if I give you the address this morning, IassumeKenji will have it by lunch. Am I wrong?”

Another pause came from his side of the line.

Longer this time.

Then the truth dropped, casual but heavy. “You’re not wrong, Ms. Palmer. Kenji would ask. And I would tell him.”

I cocked my head, teasing. “Do you think there’s any chance you could keep it from him? Maybe, you’re just like. . .I’m not going to tell you, Kenji because it is a surprise. Could you do that?”

“There’s no chance. If Kenji asks me, I will answer.”

“Well. . .do you think maybe. . . he won’t ask?”

A quiet, tired sigh slipped through the line. “Kenji will ask the moment he knows I’ve finished this call with you. He is rather. . .eager to know about your plans for this date.”

I laughed. “So Kenji is really nosy.”

Reo didn’t laugh back.

I cleared my throat and softened. “I like your honesty.”

“And I would still like the location.”

“I get that. But I really want this to be special. Just let me have this one thing. . .please.”

“Ms. Palmer, I have to tell you—you’re planning a date for the Dragon while our current security situation is. . .tense to say the least.”

“Oh. Should we not have the date, then?”

“You should. The Dragon would not allow your canceling tonight but. . .I would prefer theproperpreparation time.”

“We could have that. If Kenji wasn’t so damn nosy. This is technicallyhisfault, not mine.”

Another long pause.

I could hear Reo recalculating—measuring risk against reward, protocol against romance.

“Again,” Reo said slower now, his voice dipping with practiced patience. “When it comes to the Dragon, I don’t typically allow unknown variables. It’s not just about surprise. It’s about safety. For him. For you.”