“She can sleep in my room tonight,” Sienna says, still stroking her as the kitty laps up the milk in the saucer.
Drake chuckles, serving up a heap of pasta. “We’ll pick up some toys and a bed for her tomorrow.”
I rest my fork down, smiling. “I have a litter tray and a few bits in the car. Thought ahead.”
“Are you better now, Miss Sparks?” Sienna says.
Drake’s eyes flick to mine, with the same quizzical look as his daughter.
“I’m back at school tomorrow. I just… needed a couple of days off to think.”
Drake’s fork pauses mid-air as he swallows a mouthful of pasta. “And have you thought?”
My throat thickens, but I nod. “Yes.” I glance at Sienna, then back at him. “I want it all, Drake. Just like you said. And a house full of pets.”
Sienna claps her hands. “A house full of pets? Can we have a house full of pets, Daddy?”
Drake barks out a laugh, rubbing a hand over his face. “Looks like I don’t have much say, huh?” He lifts his glass in a mock toast, but his eyes stay locked on me, saying everything we both feel.
I let out the breath I’ve been holding since I got here. He still wants me. After everything I put us through, he still wants to fight for us and give me another chance. This man is every bit Drogon… loyal to his Daenerys, unyielding and fierce. Mine.
After dinner,Sienna skips off to her room, kitten in tow. Drake and I stand shoulder to shoulder at the sink, hishands cleaning, mine drying. It’s too domestic, too perfect, and it makes my chest swell.
“You missed a spot,” I tease, flicking a bit of suds onto his arm.
“Oh, you’re asking for trouble now.” His grin flashes just before he flicks water back at me.
I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me like I haven’t laughed in days. And I realise, I haven’t.
Soap clings to my sleeve, suds dripping onto the floor, and suddenly his hand is on mine, stilling me.
The laughter fades, replaced by a silence that hums with everything unspoken.
His thumb brushes the back of my hand, slow and deliberate. “Ember,” he says, voice low, almost a plea.
I tilt my chin up, breath catching, and then his lips brush against mine, barely a whisper, as if testing the water.
To make sure he knows exactly how I feel, I wrap my wet hands around his neck, reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him back, tentative at first, my tongue parting the seam of his mouth, licking up every unspoken word. His soapy hands cup my cheeks, tilting my head to the angle he requires as he deepens the kiss.
I’m swept away, drunk on him as he claims my mouth. His palms roam over my curves until they’re on my waist and holding me flush against his body, like a wall of muscle. Tingles course through my limbs, reaching my toes, as I remember what it was like to be intimate with this man.
We both break the kiss, needing air. His forehead rests against mine. “Stay the night with me,” he whispers.
I smile with panting breaths. “All right. Seraphina has a key, so I’ll get her to check on the cats.”
My voice drops to a breathy whisper. “I love you,Drake.” The words tumble free before I can stop them, but they feel right, like they’ve been sitting on my tongue all along.
His eyes burn into mine like molten metal. “I love you too, pumpkin. More than I thought I’d ever be able to love again.” He peppers kisses across my face until he reaches my neck, sending waves of heat through me as he kisses the spot below my ear.
“What time does Sienna usually go to bed?” I whisper.
He smirks, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Usually she tucks me in,” his lips ghost against mine again, “but tonight?” Another kiss to my jaw. “Tonight, she’s having an early bedtime. This dragon needs his slice of pumpkin pie.”
“You’d better bring it tonight, dragon boy, because you ruined me for all other dragons. I haven’t been able to get into any of my books since you.”
A laugh rumbles from deep in his chest. “Don’t you worry, you won’t be needing those dragon shifter books now you have the real thing.”
His words vibrate through me, hot and full of promise. And when he claims my mouth again, I finally believe it.
