Page 21 of Carler

“Sounds like you're lucky to have him.”

The waitress brought the drinks and the appetizers. They got quiet as they concentrated on their appetizers. She loved the pot stickers and the mini egg rolls. Viv was careful not to eat too many of them because Carler was larger than her and had a bigger appetite. The appetizers were still very good, and the sauces that came with them were also good. She couldn't even say which one she liked the best.

“I'm glad to see that you like them. They have so many good appetizers that I wasn't sure what to order, but if we come again, maybe we can try some different ones.”

“I really enjoyed these, but I want to try the different ones. Maybe they're better," Viv admitted.

While waiting for their food to arrive, they talked about the list Viv had already made and thought she was working on.

“It's hard to believe they did such a terrible job of vetting the employees," Carler said.

“They had nothing to lose. The only reason they were here was to mess things up, and a bad employee can mess things up as much as one who is trying to cause mischief.”

“I suppose you're right. In my former job, I never worked with people who purposely did not do their jobs or were trying to cause trouble. It's hard to believe that anyone would do that. I'm afraid I'm learning about all kinds of bad things.”

“Where are you from?” She asked.

“Draconis, of course. Life was much simpler before, and we didn't have to deal with many people coming in from outside.”

The waitress brought their food, and the conversation stalled. Viv didn't seem very happy with his answer, and Carler didn't think she believed him. She had no choice but to accept what he told her because there was no way she would find out the truth—at least she wouldn't be finding out the truth any time soon. Once they mated, then she would know everything.

“What is your meal?” Viv asked.

“This is beef with snow peas. Would you like to try some?”

Viv seemed to have a spoon from somewhere. She used it to get a good-sized portion of his meal.

“Would you like some of mine? It is egg fried rice with chicken.”

He helped himself to a small portion of it. After trying it, he thought that it was actually quite good. They continued to eat without speaking, but it was not an awkward silence but a companionable one. His meal was wonderful, and judging by how his companion ate, she seemed to think the same about her meal. One of the things that he liked about this planet was their wide selection of foods. Many foods were regional but could be found at restaurants in other areas. That was not true of his planet, where most foods were only available in their specific region.

Restaurants were not readily available anywhere, and many spices were not used there. Food was used mainly to satisfy hunger and not as an enjoyable repast. That had changed since the humans had arrived. Many of them could cook and make fabulous meals. It had shown his kind how food could be more than just a necessity. Being here on Earth had shown him and the others what a large variety of incredibly tasty foods were available.

Many brides were available here, but most were being sent to their planet. The fact that he had found a match, and his rank helped him attempt to claim her. They finished their meal, and he tried to tempt her into a dessert, but this time she wouldn't. Viv said she'd been eating too much. He looked at her closely but couldn't see she'd gained a pound. Since she didn't want dessert, he took her arm to escort her to the elevator. Hopefully, tonight will be quiet and peaceful.

When they arrived at her room, he wanted a passionate kiss again. Maybe he was moving forward since she didn't seem to be trying to avoid it or fight against him. The kiss was so amazing that he knew he would not be able to just give her a kiss next time. What would she do if he pushed for more? Carler didn't know, but he would find out next time. A male could only stand so much before he had to push for more.

At least he could tell that she felt something, too. Was it enough for her to take a chance on him? She'd been so wrapped up in her old mate Doug that he wasn't sure if he could unwrap her. It was understandable because they had meant so much to each other. Still, life was for the living, and she had to let go at some point. He needed to find out whether she was at that point. A sign that they were close to catching Old Joe might help push her into his arms. Trying to move forward might also chase her away.

After he reached his room, he found it hard to calm himself. All he could think about was Viv and their marvelous kiss. It had been so long since he had been with a female, but he knew he would not be able to be with anyone but her. The need thrumming through him could not be denied. There was only one action to take to relieve the sexual need that was taking him over. To do nothing might leave him vulnerable to his dragon taking over.

Stripping off his clothes, Carler headed to his shower. The bathroom had a relaxing spa-like feel with its earth-tone tiles, large shower, separate bath, and closeted toilet. There were mirrors where he could see himself as he walked by. Would his mate appreciate his body? Most females seemed to like tall males with hard muscles, and he fit the bill. His brown hair, which tended to curl if he let it get too long, was as common as mud, and his deep blue eyes, while not as common, still were nothing special.

He stepped into the shower and set the temperature at dragon hot, and his mind went to Viv. His hand pressed the dispenser to get a handful of soap, and he went straight to the job. Carler’s cock was rock hard, and he needed relief. Soaping it up, he squeezed hard with his hand as he moved it up and down from root to tip. A moan broke loose as he imagined his mate smiling up at him as she moved her hand up and down.

"Yes, my sweet, Viv."

He couldn't see the drop of dew on the end with the soap covering it, but he knew it was there. He was so close in no time at all. His hand moved faster as he dreamed of his mate giving him relief. Faster and faster until a creamy white substance shot out of him and slapped against the shower wall.

By the gods, he’d needed that. Carler still felt weak in the knees, but he soaped his hair and his whole body down before rinsing off. He stood under the hot spray, trying to relax, and it felt good. His dragon wanted out, but they made a deal: as long as he moved forward trying to mate Viv, the dragon would stay calm and quiet. It understood she knew little of dragons and would be frightened if she saw him before they mated.

Carler relaxed so much that he almost fell asleep standing up in the shower. It was time to shut the water off and step out. After he dried off, he went to bed naked and fell into a deep sleep for the first time in a long time. All his dreams were of catching his mate. He woke up and could not deny feeling a little better. That was needed and had allowed him to relax just a little bit. It was morning now, and he intended to see about breakfast and then get to work on the list. At this point, the list was a priority, as I was going through the list and seeing if anyone was questionable.

Viv could not get that done on time, working on her own. Even giving her a few assistants would not be good enough because while they could do some drudge work, none of them were trained to interview people and make those decisions. It was all right because it would give him a reason to work closely with her, and maybe she would start to respond to his wooing. That was what he needed more than anything. If he couldn't get more from her, he thought he might go crazy. It was a shame that so much was hitting him at once.

It was time to call her to see if she had already had breakfast or if she would be willing to go to breakfast with him. She answered immediately and agreed to go with him. He told her he would come by the office and get her because he knew the perfect place to go for breakfast today. She was waiting when he arrived.

“Where is this wonderful breakfast place?” Viv teased.

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