Page 10 of Cruel Daddy Dragon

Rufus grins widely. He steps closer to me, and I get hit with his scent. It’s a deep, rich, spicy musk. I can’t put my finger on what exactly it is—it’s a little cedarwood, a little allspice, a little this, a little that. Smoky and spicy. Verydragon.

My stomach gives a little flip. A tingle of arousal shudders through me; suddenly, I want to lean my head right into his shoulder and breathe it in as deeply as my lungs will allow. Feel that warm skin on mine…

What is happening to me?

My skin prickles, and suddenly, I’m staring into his jade-green eyes, his ginger hair flowing around his handsome face. I don’t know if he’s stepped closer or if I’ve just realized how close he already was.

“Well,” he purrs, “I know you were, but I think some of those things you were saying might have been true anyway.”

My heart starts pounding even harder in my chest.

Oh, god… what secrets did I blurt out while I was under the influence?!

“Like what?!” I demand.

“You were excited to be married for one thing,” he says, “You kept saying you’d never been in a relationship like that and giggling away. You said you were excited.”

He smirks at me.

“You were actingadorable, and I think what you said then might have been true,” he teases, “Even if you won’t admit it now.”

Heat crawls up into my face, but I try to draw in a deep breath to keep my red face under control. I don’t think it works; his green eyes flicker down to my face, and he laughs.

“It’s true, isn’t it?” Rufus asks.

“No!” I bark back, “I—I’m sure I was just talking nonsense! I wouldn’t have even been excited foranythingif I hadn’t been drugged up!”

Rufus gives me a knowing smile.

“Right.”He draws out the syllable, “And what about you never having been in a relationship like this before?”

Another wave of heat moves up into my face. Rufus starts laughing harder.

“That’s none of your goddamn business!” I answer back.

“I thought so!” He laughs knowingly, “You’ve got a different side to you, Sheriff!”

Another curl of rage in me blossoms. I jab a finger into his chest.

“Yeah?” I demand, “And what about you? What kind of state isyourlove life in that you’d be willing to participate in this bullshit?”

Suddenly, he stops laughing. The smile drops from his face, and he just stares for a moment as I catch him on the back foot. A smile cracks my expression.

“That’s whatIthought,” I answer back, “You’re obviously not doing too hot in that department if you’d do this!”

“Hey, I married you to protect you!” he protests.

“Yeah, andImarriedyoubecause I was drugged up!” I answer back, “Out of the two of us, I think your case is the sadder one here! Either youwantedto marry me, and you’re lying about all of this, or this reallyisa fake marriage to protect me, and you were just single enough to make it work—either way, I think your case is sadder.”

Rufus pauses for another moment. I start laughing when I see how stuck he is for words. After a moment, he starts chuckling a little bit.

“Touché, I guess,” he mutters.

I grin in the admitted defeat. I’m surprised by how hard my heart is beating after the small discussion. I almost wish he had something to say so that we can keep it going—as erratic and nonsensical as that seems—there’s something exciting about all this.

More exciting than it used to be…

“So,” Rufus says, “what do you want to do about this? The marriage is to protect you, but if you really want to get out of it...”

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