Page 28 of A Savior for the Arrogant Dragon

***SIMON***

Simon grabbed Kira’s hand and, with a wave called his thanks out to Hector, “Do you know the way to the bus stop?” he asked as they pushed their way through the door onto the side walk. “I hate to admit it, but I’m a little turned around.”

“It’s this way,” she said, pointing to the left. “I’ve always been good with directions. When I was a kid, my dad would always get us lost, and I’d be the one to get us straightened out.”

He looked over at her, picturing her as a child, wondering if she had freckles and if she’d liked to climb trees or ride her bike. “What were you like as a child?” he asked. “What did you do for fun?”

Kira looked over at him, studied him for a second, then shrugged her shoulders, “All the things normal kids do, played with my friends, went to the park, hated school,” she said. “It was a fairly normal childhood. I always thought I was lucky. I mean, my parents are great, they’ve always been there for me.”

“That’s nice,” he said, a bit jealous. “And it explains why you have your life so together.”

Kira surprised him by snorting, “I’d hardly say that, my life is far from perfect. In fact, the last couple of years haven’t been easy,” she said. “That’s why I came to the island, to rest and recuperate. I’m kind of starting over when I get home, a new house, a new job, a new life, I guess you could say.”

He studied her for a second, hoping that she’d say more, “The old one must have been bad if you left it behind,” he finally said, then realized that’s what he was doing. “I guess we’re not that different after all. I’m leaving the old me behind, and so are you.”

She looked over at him and smiled, “Well, how about that,” she said, shaking her head. “I think that’s the first thing we have in common.”

“Well, maybe not the first thing,” he said, smiling back at her and squeezing her hand. “There’s that little spark between us.”

“That spark is dangerous,” she said, but she didn’t look away. “It scares me, Simon, and I’ve been scared enough for a while.”

“I don’t mean to scare you, Kira,” he said. “That’s the last thing I want, I just……well, I’ve never met a woman like you before. You’re so different than the women I’m usually with. It’s like a breath of fresh air after being closed in a dark room for a long time.”

“You are one smooth talker, Simon Nelson,” she said, shaking her head. “How many times have you used that line?”

He was hurt for a second, then forced himself to look at it from her point of view, “I understand why you might ask that, but just for the record, I’ve never used that line as you called it on anyone,” he said. “I mean what I just said, I’ve had more fun with you today than I’ve had with a woman in along time, I don’t want to just go to bed with you, Kira. I want to get to know you.”

She let out a little gasp, then sucked in a deep breath, “So, you admit it?” she asked. “All of this was just to get me into bed.”

“That’s not what I said and don’t forget this was your idea,” he reminded her. “I never made it a secret that I wanted to sleep with you, I knew it the second that I saw you. A lot has changed since then, but that hasn’t. The only difference is I want you for more than just your body. I have fun when I’m with you, Kira. You treat me like a regular person, and even if it does annoy me sometimes, you don’t let me get away with being a stuck-up snob.”

“And that’s a full-time job, let me tell you,” she said, her eyes softening. “Maybe if we’d met somewhere else, maybe if the circumstances were different……. I don’t know, it might have worked.”

“Well, in case you missed it, my circumstances are a little fluid at the moment,” he said. “So, I’m not going to give up yet, sweetheart. My path could lead me anywhere including to right where you are.”

“Oh, Simon, that’s……” but the sound of a band breaking into a song interrupted them.

He looked around, realizing that they’d stopped in front of a park full of people. There were tables full of food and best of all, a live band with a temporary dance floor set up in front of it. Looking down at Kira, seeing the way her eyes softened when she looked at him and the spark of desire in them, he knew that this was the moment to sweep her off her feet.

“Dance with me, Kira?” he asked, taking her hand again. “Just one dance, that’s all I ask.”

“But the bus, we have to get back to the marina,” she protested. “We don’t want to keepthe boat waiting.”

“It will only take five minutes,” he said. “They’ll wait that long for us. Please, Kira, it’s just a dance.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” she said, letting him lead her through the crowd. “It’s not going to work.”

“Then it will just be a dance, and there won’t be any harm done,” he said, grinning at her over his shoulder. “Unless you’re scared to dance with me.”

“I’m not scared of dancing with you, that’s silly,” Kira said, lifting her chin in the air. “One dance, and that’s it. We have a bus to catch.”

“Yes, sweetheart,” he said, then swung her into his arms. “Anything you say.”

***Kira***

Kira knew that she’d made a mistake the moment Simon’s arms encircled her and a wave of comfort washed over her, quickly followed by thrills as she slowly became aware of his body pressed against hers. Her breath came a little faster. She looked up at him, then wished she hadn’t when she saw the desire in his eyes, and quickly looked away, but the damage had been done. Desire flooded her system, her knees went a little weak, and she was forced to cling to him or go tumbling to the ground.

If Simon noticed her response, he didn’t show it. He expertly led her around the dance floor, spinning her at the right times, then folding her into his arms again. She slowly began to relax, and was soon enjoying herself as the passion gradually growing between them began to build. When the music finally came to an end, she couldn’t stop herself from looking up at him, and this time didn’t look away when his eyes met hers.

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