Page 38 of Never Feed a Dragon

He readjusted my position, lifting me higher on his back.

“You can put me down, E. I have feet.”

“I’m enjoying the feel of your tits on my back too much for that.”

A sharp laugh escaped me, and he tickled the inside of one of my knees, making me kick my leg out. It didn’t hit him, but made him snort.

He pulled the door open without using a key or typing in a code, carrying me inside without pause.

“You don’t lock your door?” I asked, surprised.

His house wasn’t a mansion, but it was a nice place. Who wouldn’t lock that up?

“Nah. I like to live on the edge.”

“If we ever live together, you’ll have to start locking it. My paranoia cannot handle that.”

He sighed dramatically. “Difficult woman.”

“It’s not too late to walk away.”

“Oh, it is.” He carried me through the simple, pretty living room.

I only got a glimpse of the kitchen, but it may have been the most beautiful one I’d ever seen. Sleek black cabinets. Smooth, white marble countertops that stretched up over the backsplash and behind the range hood.

It was a chef’s wet dream.

“How much is your monthly payment here?” I asked him, hoping I could afford half. He’d made it sound like us living together was inevitable, so I might as well consider moving in with him.

An incredible kitchen would be worth a bit of a higher price tag than what I was paying. I couldn’t afford a whole lot more, but I could do a little. And if we were splitting it, it’d be more manageable, obviously.

“No monthly payment. Just utilities and whatnot. Only a few hundred bucks.”

“You paid for it upfront?” My voice raised with the question.

“Mmhm. I’m not young, Spaghetti. And hasn’t Randa told you that dragons are paid well?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t ask for numbers. Talking about money makes her flustered, so I avoid it.”

“Well, money’s not something you and I will have to worry about. Makes life easier that way. We could sell this place and buy something else if you want, or move in to your apartment if you’d rather. Unless you want to live at the mountain mainly, which is also fine.”

“That was a lot of options.” I bit my lip, still on his back. “I don’t know about the mountain, since I’ve never been there, but I would like to live by Randa. I also love this place, though. What I’ve seen of it, at least. I definitely don’t want to stay in my apartment if we’re living together. It’s barely enough space for me on my own.”

“We’ll figure it out after heat’s over.” He finally set me down on the edge of his mattress. The blankets were all over the place, a sure sign that he didn’t bother making his bed.

I usually didn’t either. Though I kept my place mostly clean, it seemed like a waste to spend time making a bed I was just going to sleep in a few hours later.

“Give me this.” He eased my arms out of the backpack, then unzipped it and pulled the cupcake blanket out. He was still naked, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at his ass and erection, depending on which one was facing me.

After he disappeared from the room for a moment, putting it with his dirty laundry, he returned with the bag and stepped into his closet.

My gaze remained fixed on his body, my temperature seeming to rise as he packed himself a few changes of clothes. The hotel we were going to had laundry services, so we wouldn’t need to worry about bringing enough clothes to last the whole trip.

The wetness between my thighs got more intense as I watched him. There was no reason for it to make me so horny… except heat.

Heat was proving to be a real bitch.

Eli finally turned toward me, but he only made it one step out of the closet before he stopped.

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