Page 13 of Under the Dragon's Spell

"Adrian. Such a pleasure to talk to you again." I recognized that deep dark voice and a shudder went down my spine even before my brain could fully process who I was talking to.

"Tyrel," I breathed.

He was calling! I'd thought that if I heard at all, it'd be from some secretary, letting me know that they'd given the job to someone else.

He laughed into the phone, and even that sound was somehow threatening.

Why did I have such a hard-on for this guy?

"You sound surprised," he said.

"I am. I didn't think I'd hear from you again after…"

"After?"

"After I stormed off like that last time. It really wasn't much of an interview."

"But you've left quite the impression."

I felt a blush creep into my cheeks. God, had he told stories about me? Why was he calling now? To see if I'd do more funny things?

"I imagine you're wondering why I'm calling," he said, as if he could read my mind. "You're one of the lucky people I'd like to invite to our house here in the city."

He wanted to invite me! That meant I hadn't failed yet. I was moving a step up on the ladder—the ladder to having this dragon's baby.

Butterflies danced in my stomach as if they wanted to make room for a future inhabitant.

But what did he mean with 'one of the lucky people'….?

Slow down and listen, Adrian.

"How many others are you inviting?"

He made an amused noise and I pictured a grin on his face. "My mother hasn't quite decided yet whom of you I should like best."

"Have you decided?" I surprised myself by asking. I wasn't usually this bold.

"Maybe I have," he said in a teasing tone of voice. "But I'm not telling."

"Well. Why should I come to your house when I don't know if you even like me?"

"Silly Adrian. The same reason all of you applied. I'm dirty rich and you're after my family's money."

I looked out the kitchen window, watching the falling leaves as I listened to him. Was that really what he thought? "No," I said after a moment. "That's not why I applied."

"Really?" A hint of disbelief. A lot of curiosity. "Pray tell, why did you apply then?"

I smiled into the phone. "I'm not telling."

He laughed again, but this time, the sound had nothing threatening. "Is that how you want to play it?"

"It is."

"In that case, I'll give you another reason why you want to come to my house."

"Oh?"

"Because you want to kiss me." He said it like a simple, irrefutable fact, and for some reason, that made me shiver.