“Any day now, huh?” Matteo suddenly sat up and opened his laptop. “Oh, that reminds me. I’ve talked to Vani and Keaux since they sent me that letter.”
Curious about his screen, I leaned over, but Matteo turned it away. I frowned like a grump.
“Patience,” Matteo chided.
“I hate patience,” I mumbled.
“I’m aware.”
I dutifully kept my eyes averted from the screen. “I’m glad you guys reconnected, but what does the day have anything to do with them?”
He tapped away on the keyboards. “Back during our TalonStorm days, we’d give each other deadlines. You know, shared responsibility type of thing. It was easier to keep each other in check than have the label breathing down our necks.”
“Still not following,” I said.
“V and K are hounding me, since today’s my deadline for...something.”
I pursed my lips like I’d sucked a lemon. “I hate patienceandsecrets.”
Matteo sighed. He purposely pulled away from the laptop and smiled as he put his hand on top of mine. “There’s no secrets between us. Think of it more as a surprise. But if you really want me to tell you, I will.”
My curiosity smothered my impatience. “A surprise? For who?” I asked.
“Foryou. Who else?” Matteo said, like it was obvious.
I blushed, embarrassed I’d made such a big deal about it. “Oh. I can wait.”
He looked pleased as he returned to his laptop. “Great. It’ll be worth it. I hope.”
“Well, are you done whatever it is?” I asked, still moping. I selfishly wanted Matteo’s undivided attention, which I couldn’t get if he was chatting with his friends.
His hands flew over the keys, then he hit a button with gusto, blowing out a loud exhale. “There. Done.” He shut the laptop and turned to me with a grin. “Now, I’m all yours.”
I angled my mouth against his and gently nipped his lower lip. “You’realwaysall mine,” I reminded him.
He made a soft pleasured sound. “Mm. About that foreplay you mentioned...”
I licked my lips, instantly aroused. I put my hands on his shoulders, ready to push him to the ground and straddle him when I heard a smallcrack.
“What was that?” Matteo asked.
When I glanced down at the egg, my eyes went wide as plates. A tiny hole appeared at the top of the shell.
“It’s hatching,” I blurted out. “Holy shit, Matteo, our egg is hatching!”
He grabbed my arm, digging his fingers into my skin hard with excitement. He went quiet as his instincts took hold of him. His sole focus was on our egg, making sure it hatched properly.
The egg wriggled, then lurched sideways. If it wasn’t safely nestled in Matteo’s lap, it would’ve rolled across the rooftop. A second later, a second hole pipped in the shell. It was followed by a distinctive dragonet squeak. The sound of it made my heart soar. Our baby fought hard to escape its eggy prison, and knowing its parents, it was stubborn as hell.
There was a second of silence before a huge chunk went flying out of the nest. It left a big hole behind, accompanied by a baby dragon foot. It was literally kicking its way out of the egg.
“It’s coming,” Matteo breathed, still grasping my arm for dear life.
I nodded. “Any second now...”
Another big crack. The remaining shell walls crumpled as the baby dragon’s head jutted out of its egg, letting out a triumphant squeak of freedom.
The dragonet had pale purple scales, like lilac blossoms in spring, and they had Matteo’s gorgeous deep brown eyes. Their short limbs were chubby and adorable.
