Page 6 of Her Dragon

I tilted my head to the side. “Is there something wrong with your vehicle?”

“Didn’t drive here.”

Being as he was two towns over, his vague answer made me curious. “Did someone drop you off?”

“Something like that.” His smile widened, distracting me. “I’ll treat you to dinner, if sweetening the deal helps get you to agree.”

I didn’t need an added incentive to drive Artemis back to his cabin. Spending extra time with him was more than enough of a reason. But I wasn’t going to pass down sharing a meal with him. “Sure, I can give you a ride.”

“Thanks.”

Jerking my chin toward the parking lot to my left, I said, “My car is over there.”

“Need to grab anything before we go?” he asked.

“Nope, I’m good,” I assured him, patting my now mostly empty backpack. “I have my wallet and keys in here.”

“Then let’s go.” He placed his warm palm against my lower back to guide me down the stairs, and it felt as though the heat of his skin burned me through my shirt.

When we reached my car, I used my key fob to unlock the doors. Artemis circled to the passenger side and opened it with an expectant look. “When you asked me to give you a ride home, did you mean that you actually wanted to drive me in my own car to your place?”

“Sorry.” He flashed me a sheepish look. “I’m used to being behind the wheel instead of the passenger seat.”

After considering it for a moment, I handed him the key fob and climbed into the car. “If you want to drive, you can.”

“Thanks, baby.”

I stared at Artemis as he rounded the front of my car before getting into the driver’s side. I needed that time to settle the nerves that took flight just from his nearness. Being enclosed in such tight quarters with him for the drive was a heady thing. Even with his attention split between the road and me, I felt the weight of his focus. I was a mess of nerves and desire when we reached our destination.

If I hadn’t met Leyton and Evette at the gas station yesterday, I would’ve been worried when we pulled up in front of the secluded set of cabins on the edge of the wilderness I’d explored. The log homes were gorgeous and way more impressive than I would’ve expected, with them being out in the middle of nowhere.

The forest lined the backyards, and it was quiet when we stepped out of my car. The cabin Artemis had parked in front of was the farthest from the winding road we’d taken partway up the mountain. It had a big front porch and simple landscaping with small shrubs lining the front.

I could too easily picture myself living in a place like this…with a man like Artemis. Although I doubted I’d find anyone who came close to the big guy who had captured my attention.

“This place is amazing.” And the man who owned it was even better.

6

ARTEMIS

My appreciation for my cabin grew as I took in Marielle’s pleased reaction. Her pretty hazel eyes were wide as she took in the home that I barely spent any time in. “Glad you like it.”

“From what I can see out here, there isn’t anything not to like,” she murmured, flashing me a quick smile before turning to stare up at the cabin again.

I guided her up the steps. “The inside is even better.”

My cabin had never quite felt like home. Not until my fated mate stepped through the doors, completely unaware of who she was to me. But now that she was finally where she belonged, I had the privacy I needed to explain everything to her. I just needed to figure out where to start.

“You were right.”

Shutting the door behind us, I glanced down at her. “Hmm?”

She swept her hand in front of us. “I’m a nature girl, but I have to agree that it’s more gorgeous in here than out there.”

Fate certainly knew what it was doing when we were paired together since I loved the outdoors too. With how much she liked this place, I couldn’t wait until she saw what I’d done with the part of the cave that she hadn’t seen on Saturday. If she was impressed by the timber that made up the cabin walls, her mind would be blown by the striations of the rock wall in the living room there. They were more beautiful than any artwork made by man but paled in comparison to the woman standing next to me.

“There isn’t much more to see, but would you like a quick tour?”

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