Page 22 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

Two airborne, dragon-shaped shadows were growing larger and larger as they approached the mouth of the cave in the dark of the night. They shifted as they landed on their feet, turning into their human forms: one male and one female. Quickly wrapping themselves in the robes placed immediately inside the mouth of the cave, they turned to face him.

“You were right, Carnelian,” the man said. “Smoky Quartz has found his soul mate. But he refuses to acknowledge it.”

The dragon shifter known as the Carnelian stood up to his impressive height of over six feet, and placing his hands on his hips, cracked his back. Then he stretched his arms over his head and gave a big yawn.

“Well, that’s good then, isn’t it?” he said in a mild voice.

“But we must stop them at all cost!” he suddenly shouted. The female shifter, a teenager, shrank back against the wall with her eyes wide in terror.

Poor dear, he thought. She was so young. No wonder she was scared.

“Get a grip,” her male companion murmured through clenched teeth when she whimpered.

“What do we do next, Carnelian? Is it time for action?” the man asked.

The Carnelian paced the length of the cave with his head hanging down and his hands clasped behind him, humming under his breath.

“Keep an eye on the pair,” he said after long moments.

The girl yelped when he abruptly dropped down on the ground and sat cross-legged in the lotus pose with his eyes closed. He could hear them talking amongst themselves in whispers, and although he hadn’t given them permission to leave, they left nonetheless.

They left him. He had nobody. Everybody always left him. Tears streamed down his dirt-covered cheeks into his long beard. Curling himself into a ball in one corner on the cold and damp floor, he sobbed in earnest.

He would be alone forever.

Chapter 9 - Lex

I am yawning as I sit at my desk, going through my emails. It has been a long day and I cannot wait for it to end. It had been one of those days where there was one thing to deal with after another. In a way, I am thankful that the day was so busy. I hardly had time to brood over Nic. I’ve been feeling terribly out of sorts after my date with Nic yesterday. I keep telling myself that it is the lack of sleep and the sexual frustration that is making me feel this way, but I know that is something more. The kiss we shared shook me to the very core. I felt so powerful, so humbled, holding her in my arms. My dragon was beside himself with joy after the kiss. When she refused to come home with me, I don’t know if I was more disappointed or my dragon.

I was so damn sure that she’d agree to go back to my place after that kiss. Everything had gone according to plan, right down to our kiss on TOTR. I had set out to charm and seduce her, but had not expected being thoroughly enchanted by her. It was pure pleasure watching Nic’s face light up like a child opening its Christmas presents every time she came across something new. I saw my city through her eyes, and I must admit it was thoroughly refreshing. By the end of the day, I couldn’t fool myself any longer that I was merely physically attracted to her.

The ride back to her place was weird and awkward. The easy banter we had shared throughout the day had vanished.

I still don’t understand why she said no. She clearly doesn’t want a relationship, and neither do I. There’s so much chemistry between us that the air practically sizzles when we are in the same room. Isn’t she even the least bit curious to find out if the sex is going to be as amazing as we both have been imagining?

But the kiss and her refusal to sleep with me aren’t the only reasons I am feeling out of sorts. Something changed after our kiss, and not just between Nic and I. I have been feeling as if some serious peril is lurking just out of view. There is something out there with malicious intent towards me or mine. Not knowing what the danger is, it’s only adding to my worry. All my senses have gone into overdrive, making me edgy.

As the most powerful amongst shifters, we have a keenly developed sixth sense of sorts for sniffing out danger. But this sense doesn’t really tell us what the danger is or how to take measures to prevent it from harming us.

If that’s the case, I wonder if the guys are also getting the sense that danger is looming overhead. I need to talk to them. I quickly shoot a group email asking the guys to come over to my place. What I have to discuss can’t be done in the office or The Sitting Duck.

I soon receive replies from all them agreeing to come over. The thing about having friends who are more like brothers is that you don’t have to explain what you’re feeling, which is good most of the times, but they also see and feel a lot more than you want them to.

I’m not certain of my feelings towards Nic, not after the kiss. My dragon keeps insisting that she’s my soul mate, and that scares me.

Nic is not my soul mate. She can’t be. I don’t want a soul mate.

After replying to all the emails that need my personal attention, I am done for the day.

I am going to go ahead to my place and wait for the guys.

Chapter 10 - Nic

I’m glad the day was very, very busy. Stopped me from thinking about my date with Lex yesterday. Up until he reiterated that he didn’t want a real relationship, I was actually considering sleeping with him. But despite how badly I wanted to, I simply couldn’t risk a repeat performance of what happened with Manuel. The scariest part? I already feel a deeper connection with Lex than I ever did with Manuel, even after three years of being in a relationship.

I left when Lex was still working so he wouldn’t offer to drop me home like he did on Saturday. I know I have been avoiding him, and I know it is not a sustainable strategy in the long term, but I can’t think of anything else at the moment. If I spend too much time with him, I will end up agreeing to sleep with him. I just know it.

I am at the subway station, waiting for the train. I want a long hot soak in the tub, a glass of wine, and solitude. The train comes to a halt in front of me and just as I am about to get inside, I have the strangest feeling that somebody is watching me. My heart beats just a little faster when I look over my shoulder. I don’t know what I hope to find, but there’s nothing out of the ordinary. People jostle me and I realize that I am blocking the entrance. I quickly get into the train, pulling my coat tighter around me. I suddenly feel cold. I quickly look around me as I lean against a pole and clutch the strap of my handbag. Just the usual bored faces.

---