I bend my arm to encourage her hand to stay on me, and Eleanor obliges, slipping her hand into my crook like it’s the most natural thing to do. I try to breathe normally, but havingher skin against mine makes it hard to simply remember what day of the week it is.
Realizing the guys and I didn’t think of a believable excuse for canceling game night so I can court Eleanor, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “Tilly is angry at Bodin, so he wants to do something nice for her. A date. We thought it best to postpone tonight’s session, for the sake of their marriage.”
“Really? I’m sorry to hear that. Tilly didn’t seem upset when I saw her at the shop this morning, quite the opposite actually. She was practically glowing. But maybe she was masking. So many of us do that. I hope they’ll be okay. They’re such a lovely couple.”
“They will be. Bodin is a good guy,” I state, knowing that’s the truth, even if they’re not really fighting.
“I know he is,” Eleanor agrees, grazing her thumb across my forearm, my dragon practically purring in my chest at all the contact. “But it’s also good that he’s prioritizing his wife.”
Meeting Eleanor’s honey-brown eyes, I lay my hand on top of hers as her heart goes into a gallop. “Yes. Putting your partner first is the epitome of a good relationship.”
Our hands remain like that for the rest of the walk home. Being with Eleanor is easy and exhilarating at the same time, making my nerves compete with excitement for the rest of our first unofficial date.
“It smells great in here. What flavors did you use?” Eleanor asks as I open the mill’s front door for her.
Inhaling deeply as she steps past me, I close my eyes and let her scent wash through me, savoring the way it blends so seamlessly with the other familiar smells in my home. When I open my eyesagain, I give myself a moment to enjoy the sight of Eleanor in my space. I’ve always appreciated how beautiful she is, but being more in touch with my actual feelings now, I can acknowledge that I’ve wanted her since the first second I saw her again. It was just too scary to allow myself to hope for anything more, so I suppressed my attraction, much to my dragon’s dislike too.
But now, watching Eleanor stand in the center of my kitchen with the sunlight beaming down on her like a personal spotlight, highlighting every one of her curves like the goddess she is, makes me believe fate has brought her back to me for a reason.
I lick my lips, imagining undoing the thin little bows on her shoulders and slipping off that pretty aquamarine dress until it pools at her feet. I want to fall down on my knees and kiss every inch of her silky skin, working my way up, then bury my face in her sweet cunt. Because Eleanor is a woman meant to be worshipped.
“Beck?” Eleanor asks in a way that makes me think it might not be the first time she’s tried to get my attention.
I ignore the scales now flickering all over my body, most of them congregating around my cocks, and shake my head to clear the wanton thoughts, knowing it’s not the time for that yet. Courting first. “Sorry, my mind was somewhere else. What was the question?”
Eleanor purses her lips together, but her smile still manages to sneak through. “The flavors? I was wondering what bread it is. I think I’m getting hints of cinnamon?”
Suddenly feeling awkward and not knowing what to do with my limbs, I brush my hair back before putting both hands inmy pockets. “The first time you brought me bread, you said you couldn’t choose your favorite, so you got me both. Well, I combined them into one sourdough loaf—cranberry, orange, walnut, and cinnamon. I’ve been practicing different ratios and combinations all week, but I think I’ve finally found a good balance that you’ll like.”
Eleanor’s mouth opens slowly, her eyes flitting in a triangle across my face as her heart speeds up. It’s not beating the same as it does when she gets on the boat, and I can’t smell her nerves, but I understand it’s still inappropriate to ask her what this emotion is.
With one hand on her chest, Eleanor walks toward me, her heart beating faster and faster. “That’s… wow. So much effort, and planning, and— You’re really thoughtful, Beck. Clever, and kind.” Her arms wrap around my waist as she hugs me. “Thank you.”
Feeling Eleanor’s body pressed to mine for the first time is better than I could have dreamed, and I never want it to stop. Soft curves mold to my harder lines, as her head settles against my solar plexus. Stunned, I realize almost too late that my hands are still in my pockets, so I quickly take them out and fold my arms around her before she can retreat without my returned affection. We stay wrapped together for a couple of seconds, my breathing shallow as I try to keep myself from tracing a hand up to her nape, tilting her head back, and kissing her the way I want to so badly.
Eventually, I make the smarter choice to step back, even if I’m unable to fully let go of her. Keeping a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder, I whisper, “You’re very welcome.” My eyes dip to hermouth for a prolonged moment before I’m able to snap my lustful intentions away. Letting my hand skim down Eleanor’s arm, I enjoy the sight of goose bumps appearing in the wake of my touch, then I take her hand and lead her to the table where there’s a variety of spreads around the covered bread.
Feeling unsure of what to do next, I flounder with the assortment of toppings Maisie suggested when she sat in on the courting meeting at her and Ren’s cottage.
So far, this date is going pretty smoothly, much better than I expected, but I’m scared I might be moving too fast and getting ahead of myself. What if Eleanor isn’t ready for my advances? I need to slow down before I say or do something she’s not ready for.
“Can I help?” Eleanor asks.
“No. Thank you. You’re my guest. Just sit back and relax,” I say while wrestling the lid off a jar of orange marmalade.
“I hope I’m more than a guest by now.” The words are hesitant, yet there’s a hint of playfulness woven into them, and I don’t know how to interpret that.
Pausing with a container of hummus in my hand, I study Eleanor’s face. “Yeah?”
“Uhm, I mean, I’m here every Saturday afternoon. It’s about time I make myself more useful,” Eleanor explains, putting things in a little more perspective for me. For a moment I thought she meant it in a romantic way. Glad I asked her to clarify before my heart jumped to conclusions.
“Oh.” I take the seat next to Eleanor and place a plate in front of her. “You can help by fixing yourself a plate. You must be really hungry by now and that’s never good for anyone.”
Eleanor smiles to herself as she studies the assortment, lifting jars to read their labels. “Thank you for going through all the trouble of putting this together. For baking the bread, and preparing everything. Just look at all these spreads. There is quite literally nowhere else in the world I’d rather be today than right here, with you.” The last two words are barely a breath, but my dragon hears them, sending a cascade of scales raining down my body while he stretches out on his back with a smirk of contentment.
“Me too,” I whisper back, feeling like the luckiest creature in the world.
