“I have,” he says as he nuzzles my neck. “It’s most informative.”
“I’m not the most beautiful woman in the realms.”
“You are to me,” he says.
It’s been months of his affection but still…no sex. It’s hard to believe him when we can’t even cross the last barrier to intimacy. How much time does a dragon need to prepare for sex?
“Caitlin,” he growls against my neck. “You are.”
I huff and lean back into him. “It’s hard to feel like I am when we haven’t…you know. Renee has asked and I’ve had to just shrug!”
“You won’t have to shrug for long. I’m almost finished,” he says, then plants a long, open-mouthed kiss on my neck.
A shiver runs down my spine, and I dig my nails into his arm. “Is that so?”
“It is,” he says. “I was hoping to invite you on a date after tonight’s festival.”
My stomach explodes with sparks. “Well, I’m not sure if I’ll be available…”
“You will be,” he says. “I will make certain of it.”
He disappears from under my hands and reappears on the main level at the hall. His tail swishes side to side as he walks away and I cover my mouth as I giggle.
Oscar gives me a purring meow as he jumps up on the railing. He’s in his natural form, a large, hulking black cat with piercing redeyes. I start at the sight of him, since he doesn’t wander around in his cat-sith form often, but then offer my hand. He bumps up into it with vigor.
“You okay to be here alone all day?” I ask.
“Bddrr,” he purrs through his nose.
It’s a deep, rumbling thing that strikes chords in my gut and makes me shiver. If I weren’t absolutely certain he loved me, I’d be a little afraid.
“Your fish is in the fridge on the second shelf. Pleaseclose itthis time,” I say.
He looks up at me and pushes his whiskers forward as he mewls.
“I know it was you.”
“Meh meh maaah.”
He turns around and gives me his butt. I scratch the spot above his tail and he drops his upper body with another gravely purr.
“Seriously. Close the fridge.”
“Mah meeeh,” he meows in a way that feels like a teen wailing “I know.”
I walk down the ramp and grab my purse off the desk in the office.
“Be good!” I yell at Oscar, wherever he is.
A meow bounces off the walls before I close the door to the back. I lock it up tight, check the handle, then the protection spells. He’s safe there. Even if someone did break in,hewould be the scariest thing in the shop.
“You ready?” Renee asks as she throws double horns and a screaming face.
“Never been more ready in my life!” I reply in a deep growl like her heavy metal music.
Drew laughs as he closes the tailgate to their truck. Thank goodness for them; we’re able to have a great big display at the fair instead of just a little table.
The drive to the tri-county fair is like a high-definition technicolor show. Orange, red, and gold explode on either side of the single-lane highway. As we wind deeper into the hills, the trees only get taller and more vibrant.
