In a quick movement, he lifted her up, and she wrappedher legs around his waist. She bit his lower lip, and he held her closer against him.
He walked them back until she was pressed against the wall. Her vision sparked. She clutched his hair tighter, their tongues clashing as they both lost themselves in a haze of desire.
Time slipped away—it could have been minutes, it could have been hours. She had no sense of anything except for him.
Until her phone rang.
Slowly, they broke apart, both of them breathing hard. He met her gaze, and at the same time, they both grinned, exuberant from the taste and feel of one another.
He let her down, and her phone continued to ring. She let it, instead looking up at him. She touched his cheek, her heart filled with such emotion that she felt at a loss for words. He held her hand, turning his cheek to kiss her palm. The phone began ringing again.
“You should get that,” he said.
“I should.”
But she couldn’t tear herself away from him. He smiled as if he knew. With gentle hands, he tugged her dress down from where it had gathered over her hips. His hands lingered, and she went on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck.
She felt the way she had after her first dragon ride: exhilarated, and as if things would never be the same again. It was the beginning of something new and life-changing, and she couldn’t wait to see all that would unfold.
Her phone rang again, and she disentangled herself for long enough to grab it, but by then, it had stopped ringing. She saw it had been Millie.
“She probably just wants to wish me a happy birthday,” she said, texting Millie that she would call her soon. Millie sent a thumbs-up. Emmeline released a long breath, turning to Luke crooked over her shoulder as he hugged her from behind. “I should probably get back.”
“Okay,” he replied, but he turned her around, pulling her in for another kiss. She smiled against his mouth, kissing him back, little sparks of pleasure spreading through her and making her feel buoyant.
“I had a really great time,” she said, pulling away. “Thank you, for everything.”
“’Course,” he replied easily, as if he hadn’t done anything at all. But he had, and it meant so much to her.Hemeant so much to her, a fact that was impossible to ignore now, when her lips were still warm from the heat of his.
As he walked her to the door, she already wanted to see him again. Saphira had called earlier to invite her for brunch at the Baby Dragon Cafe to celebrate her birthday, and before Emmeline could think about it too much, she found herself inviting Luke to join her.
His face brightened. “I’d love that,” he said. “I’ll be there.”
After a final kiss goodbye, Emmeline called Torch and headed home. Even after dismounting, she felt like she was flying, gliding through the air. She bounced through her house, heading for her bedroom, where she fell back on her bed with a sigh.
She couldn’t believe that had happened, but at the same time, it had felt inevitable, and now, she was only relieved. Touching a finger to her lips, she smiled.
Then, she grabbed her phone, calling her sister.
“Happy birthday!” Millie said, picking up immediately. While her room was dark, her face lit up from the phone screen. Emmeline saw Eve feeding in Millie’s lap.
She laughed. “You haven’t wished me at midnight for years.”
“Because my bedtime is ten p.m.,” she said. “I’m awake because of Eve, otherwise I’d be passed out.” She was cut off by a loud snore in the background, and her eyes twitched. “I’m two seconds away from smothering him in his sleep.”
“Why don’t we refrain from the murderous impulses today?” she said. “I’ve got news.”
Millie gasped. “I saw you two days ago! You’re hardly an hour into being thirty and you already have news? Tell me.”
Emmeline gave a quick account of her date, ending with the kiss. Millie let out a squeal—well, more like a shriek. The snoring in the background promptly stopped.
“What-what is it?” Liam asked, panicked. Half of him came into view as he looked Millie over, searching for signs of injury.
“Emmy and Luke finally kissed!” she told him. He let out a long breath.
“That’s great, sweetie,” he said, relaxing. “Let’s go back to sleep.”
Millie gave him a dirty look. “Why don’t you breastfeed your daughter andI’llgo back to sleep?” There was no response from Liam. “That’s what I thought. Now sh.”
