Page 50 of The Dragon's Mate Proposal

“Two milk, one sugar,” he said, ignoring my awkwardness.

A warm tingle ran down my spine. “You know my order?”

“We’ve woken up and had breakfast together for the past week. I just observed.”

“Thank you,” I said, keeping the blankets clutched to me as I sat up and took a deep sniff, already feeling more energized.

“You’re welcome.”

He stepped back out of my space to take a sip of his own.

I followed suit, groaning in delight as the first sips hit my tongue and burned going down.

“How are you feeling?” Cade asked.

“Like shit.” I sighed. It was time to rip the bandage off. “I was drunker than I thought last night, wasn’t I?”

“Yes,” he said simply, pulling out two bagels from the bag, along with little containers of butter and what appeared to be cream cheese.

“You might’ve been right,” I admitted. “Though I didn’t feel it.”

“You were having fun.” he pointed out, then immediately went bug-eyed. “I mean, before we got to the room. Uh.”

I shook my head, feeling vindicated I wasn’t the only one acting awkward. “Yeah.”

“That’s why I stopped,” he said, having recovered. “I know it’s awkward, but I want you to understand that. I think you got the wrong impression from that.”

“Maybe,” I admitted sheepishly, though I still couldn’t entirely shake the memory of standing in front of the mirror …

“I want to,” he said in that deeper, confident voice. “Very much so.”

“I also might remember that a little. Well, not a little.” I said, blushing red and immediately looking down at the bed, horrified at what I’d just uttered.

Cade chuckled and came closer. His fingers cupped my chin, tilting my head up, past his very “not little” and all the way to his face.

“I want you,” he growled, stating his desires bluntly. “And when the time is right, I intend to take you. To make you mine.”

“Okay,” I said breathlessly, my eyes locked on his, seeing the flames burning in the orbs, turning them a bright yellow-orange like his dragon eyes.

“But that will be when and if you’re ready. When your mind is fully your own. Because your body won’t be. Do you understand?”

My voice box no longer worked, frozen stiff by the sheer intensity of his claim, so I simply nodded.

“Good.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Cade

The sounds of Sam stirring in her room above me intensified, hurrying me along as my time grew near and dear.

The knife slid easily through the container, scooping out the contents. I slathered them on the surprise and began to spread. I needed to get it done, fast. The whole point was a surprise. If I was still in the act when she came out—

“Fuck!” I snapped as the surprise came apart in my hands, pulled apart by my aggressive swiping actions. “Well, shit.”

I dropped the knife and stepped back, shaking my head.

“Everything okay down there?” a voice called from the top of the stairs as she emerged from her room.

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