Page 18 of Rescued By The Dragon

It’d taken a few hours after the step-monster left before I was able to go to sleep, and even though it’d been hours since I threw up, the smell of food still knotted my stomach.

Frankie wiped his brow and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “The rush seems to be over.”

I tied the top of the trash bag and hauled it over my shoulder. “I’m gonna take my fifteen. I need a break from all the smells.”

I pushed open the backdoor and dragged the trash out into the alley. Hauling the trash over the side of the metal dumpster, I walked over to the small bucket I used as a chair and sat down.

Resting my head against the brick, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“Resting on the job, Little Mouse?”

I shrieked and knocked my head against the brick.

Dorran stood over me, shadowing me from the sun, a wicked smile splayed across his face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I came to enjoy some food and caught your scent. You seem to feel better.”

Using the brick wall as a crutch, I stood up and glared up at him. “You’ve never eaten here before. I’ve worked here for years.”

Dorran shoved his hands into his pockets. “Maybe I came on your day off.”

“I don’t have a day off.”

Something traveled over his face. “You mean you’re being forced to work every day?”

I folded my arms over my chest. “I only have a few minutes before I have to go back inside.” I didn’t like his persistence in me admitting my personal life to him.

Dorran tilted his head to the side, and his dark gaze traveled down my work outfit. A white T-shirt and short black shorts. “Well, why don’t I come inside and eat then?”

Before I could stop myself, I chuckled. “The Dragon Prince wants to eat at our establishment?”

The corner of his mouth turned up into a smile. “You think I’m too good to eat here?”

Shrugging, I walked toward the back door when I heard my stepmother’s voice from inside. “... where is she?"

I halted in my tracks. My stepmother rarely came to the diner unless to check on me. Dorran stopped behind me, his scent heavy in the air. “Oh no ...”

The back door opened, strong hands gripped my waist, and I was pressed against the wall within seconds.

Dorran’s body covered mine; his wings spread wide and formed a barrier around us. Time stopped.

I stared at his broad chest covered in a white t-shirt that looked molded for his body. His dark wings shadowed us, but the sunshine leaking through gave me enough light to see his face.

His strong jaw.

The angle of his brow drew shadows over his mossy-colored eyes.

My stepmother stopped on the other side of the dumpster and scoffed. She mumbled something under her breath, but I couldn’t focus, his body was too close to mine.

Dorran lifted one hand that rested beside my head and ran the pad of his thumb along my jawbone softly. “I want to know about you.”

The back door slammed when my stepmother walked back inside.

“I’m nothing to write home about.”

Dorran slowly pulled my lower lip down with his thumb and groaned deeply. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

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