Page 24 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

“I think he’s not being honest with himself. I think he feels exactly what you feel, but he’s scared. I’ve seen how he looks at you, and it’s not just lust.”

I sit up straight, eyes wide open.

“Do you really think so?” I say. The possibility hadn’t occurred to me. He did sound kind of strange when he forcefully said that he wants only a casual fling.

“So you think if I gave it a chance, it might evolve into something more?”

“I don’t know, Nic. But neither will you if you never take that chance,” she says, squeezing my hand.

“Thanks,” I say, squeezing her hand back. “And thanks for not letting me spiral. I know you purposely downplayed the stalker bit. I was this close to fainting,” I say, holding up my thumb and forefinger, separated by a millimeter.

“There’s no way I would’ve been able to carry you up all those stairs,” she says with feeling, exhaling noisily. “But now that you have some wine inside you, tell me, did you see who was following you?”

“No. But I was so sure, you know? I could feel that person’s eyes on my back. Do you think I should go to the police?”

She chews on her lip and traces a finger on the stem of her wine glass.

“I don’t know, sweetie. Maybe wait till we have something more concrete?”

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.”

“But carry a can of pepper spray on you at all times,” she says, looking at me with concern.

“Yeah. I will. I’m so glad you’re here,” I tell her, hugging her tightly.

Somehow, I am not feeling all that worried anymore—not about Lex, nor about the potential stalker.

Chapter 11 - Lex

“What’s this about, Lex?” Damon demands the moment he walks in, going straight to the point as always. He is the last to arrive. The others are sitting on the terrace attached to the living room, drinking beer.

“I’d rather talk to all of you together,” I say, gesturing with my head to where the others are sitting. “Go on,” I say to him as I went to fetch more beer.

All eyes are on me when I go out.

“I see that there’s going to be no small talk,” I say, passing the beers.

“What’s this about, Lex?” Damon repeats.

“Alright then. Are you guys feeling it?” I say, looking intently at their faces.

“So this is not about Nic then?” TJ asks, cocking an eyebrow. But he is not smiling as he would be, if he hadn’t been feeling it.

“What? No! Why did you guys simply assume that?” I say, glaring at all of them.

“Alright, alright,” Liam says, holding up both his hands up in a gesture meant to pacify. It only irritates me. But I bite down on my irritation and take a few deep breaths. I need to do something about the sleep deprivation.

“Look guys, this is serious. Just tell me if you have been feeling it?”

“Yeah,” Damon is the first to speak up. His serious brown eyes are even more serious than usual.

“Yeah, I’ve felt it too,” says TJ.

Liam and Pat also nod.

“I’m feeling this for the first time since… you know…” Damon leaves the sentence unfinished. Pat, who is sitting the closest to him, squeezes his shoulder. Damon hardly ever refers to his past, but if he has felt the need to bring this up, it is serious.

“I knew it was bad,” I say, rubbing my face. If we are all feeling the presence of a threat in our gut, it is damn serious.

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