Quick footsteps were followed by the curtain being yanked aside. I stood face-to-face with a shocked Taylor. He gawked at me, dazed, like he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not.
"Crimson?"
"Good evening."
He blinked rapidly, then hissed under his breath, "What the hell are you doing here?"
I pouted. "I thought you'd be happier to see me."
Taylor's bristling softened. He sighed. "I... I'm notunhappyto see you."
That brightened my spirits. "Really?"
"Yes. I'm just surprised." Taylor crossed his arms, but he didn't look displeased. "You're not supposed to be here, are you?"
"Not at all," I said brightly.
Taylor snorted. "Figures. Alpha dragons can do whatever they want, right?"
There was no malice in his voice. He teased me in his usual stoic way.
"Funny you say that," I remarked. "Originally I was going to simply come inside, but I figured it was polite to knock."
"Oh, good. He has manners."
Despite the barbed sarcasm, I heard a hint of gentle amusement. He liked that I was here.
I sauntered closer. As I ate up the distance between us, Taylor didn't back away. He held his ground, eyes locking with mine. The sharp glint in his gaze reminded me that he was no pushover, either. He was a ferocious tiger—an apex predator just like me.
"Did you come here just to bother me?" Taylor asked. Again, no malice. It felt like he was being playful.
"Maybe," I teased. "Is that all right?"
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Sure you do. Tell me to leave, and I'm gone."
Taylor hesitated. Eventually he sighed like I was some big bother, but he said, "Fine. Stay. Not like I'm doing anything important."
As he said that, he glanced at the bed. I noticed a sheet of blue fabric on top of the hotel covers, along with a notebook scrawled with measurements.
"What's that?" I asked.
Taylor bristled. I felt his walls come back up, but I didn't understand why.
"I genuinely want to know, Taylor," I encouraged.
"Just my quilting," he mumbled.
My brows rose. "You quilt?"
"Yeah. It's not a big deal."
I scoffed. "Not a big deal?"
Scowling, Taylor glared at me. "Want to make something of it?"
I realized where his sudden anger had come from.
