Page 7 of Dragon Prince of New York

“Better. She’s living in a cute little place in Brooklyn.”

“Brooklyn?” Jess’s concern swings from my best friend to me. “You need people closer.”

“Stop being such a worrywart. I can take care of myself.”

“But you—”

“Enough.” Midas puts a hand on Jess’s back. “Time for you to sit down.”

“No.” My sister glares at her husband. I’m not sure if she’s just worked up over our tiny spat, but I suspect there’s more to it than that. Maybe she’s getting a taste of her own overprotectiveness.

There's a low rumbling sound, almost like a growl, coming from somewhere. I turn in a circle, looking for the source of the noise. When I face my sister again, she and her husband are in a standoff.

He breaks first. He always does. The man is immovable and intimidating as hell, but Jess has had him wrapped around her little finger since the first day they met. I have no idea how she did it. Sometimes I think she hypnotized him. Other times I wonder if she just has a magic pussy. Wish I had one of those. Maybe then Tim wouldn’t have left me.

Not that I really care anymore.

He was a crappy boyfriend. I followed him halfway around the world, and he didn’t even want to live together. One second, he would be passionate and all in, the next, he’d be ignoring my calls. He strung me along. I can see that now.

“You have twenty minutes,” Midas says to Jess. “Then I’mkicking everyone out and taking you to bed.”

“You do that, and I’ll never get any rest.” Jess smiles back at her husband, and his eyes shine in a weird way I’ve gotten used to over the years. Pretty sure it’s some kind of birth defect that makes his eyes look like there’s a spark inside them when the light hits them just right. I’ve never asked him about it, though.

“Isn’t the fire supposed to die down after you’ve been married a few years?”

“Never,” Midas says, cupping my sister’s face in his palm.

She blushes and whispers, “Maybe I’m ready to rest now, after all.”

“Ugh, you two are disgusting.”

Jess smirks at me. “You’re just jealous.”

“Damn right I am.” I cross my arms over my chest, trying not to think about how long it’s been since I’ve had sex. “This is the longest dry spell I’ve ever had. I’m about ready to hump your couch to get myself off.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t be so crass,” Jess whispers. “But I did have an idea for how to make it up to you that we’re gonna be gone over your birthday.”

“What did you do?”

“You’ll see.” She grins from ear to ear, and Midas shakes his head, an amused smile playing at his lips. “It’s a surprise.”

“I hate surprises.”

“Even if it involves hot eligible men?”

“Depends on what they're doing.”

“Doting on you, of course.”

“Jess, please tell me you didn’t really plan something for my birthday. I don’t want to entertain people—even hot men. I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

“You’re turning twenty-three. It’s a big deal.”

“Um, no. It’s not.”

“In my culture,” Midas says slowly. “Your twenty-third year is when you become an adult.”

I grab another meatball and stick the whole thing in my mouth at once before answering. “Aren’t you from New York?”

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