Page 28 of Purple Scales & Coffee Tales

“I wish I wasn’t a gentleman, and that I didn’t care for your hair and make-up, because right now I want nothing more than to ruin it.”

Oh damn it, Scales!

He leaned in and gently cupped my hot cheek, his scaly thumb trailing over my bottom lip. “I can’t wait to do that later, though. Are you ready to go in with me and woo some more people?”

“More?” I gasped. That man took my breath away so completely that I felt light-headed.

“Like you did me.” He chuckled softly. “You are so vibrant, Maeve, so alive. Your energy was the main reason why I returned time after time. When we go in there, you will light up the room. People will flock around you like pigeons around the hand that feeds them. And I will stand guard and thank the Moon Goddess that I get to be the man by your side.” Taran took my hand in his and pressed a soft kiss on my fingertips.

“You have to stop this,” I whispered, hoping he heard the faint note of amusement in my voice.

“What?” His breath brushed over my skin.

“Saying things that make me want to kiss you.”

“Touche.” Another low chuckle rumbled in his chest. Confident Taran was a beautiful creature.

Damn it, if I woo him, then he sure as hell does the same thing to me.

“Come on.” We both got out of the car, and he plucked my shawl out of my hands to drape it around my shoulders before lacing our fingers.

“Let’s get the official part over with, so you can eat something,” he told me as we approached the entrance. “And then, maybe,Ican eatyou,” Taran added under his breath, squeezing my hand gently.

I spluttered but before I could reply the valet bowed us inside and immediately people gathered around us.

Chapter Eighteen

Maeve

“By the way,” he muttered once we’d shaken off most of the patrons and fought our way over to the buffet, holding out a glass of wine to me, “I love seeing you wear the smile I gave you.”

Goosebumps spread down my spine as his warm breath brushed against the tiny hairs on my neck.

The food they served was as great as the one Tiff, Vaughn, and I had been enjoying all week, but I had to say, I had enjoyed it even more, sharing it just with my best friends and Taran while watchingAsh Soul.

“How did you like the French salad?” Taran asked me between two delicate forkfuls.

“That was one of my favourite dishes of all the ones you got,” I told him honestly.I’d give my firstborn away for it. I amused myself for a moment with the thought of calling a child ‘Waldorf salad’ after the thing I craved most.

With a cheeky grin, he picked up the last bite with his fork and offered it to me, growling quietly when I made an effort to wrap my lips around it as if it was a dick I was dying to suck.

“Two can play the teasing game, Scales.”

“Indeed,” he chuckled and we kept inhaling our dinner like two starving people, though we were really only eager to get out of here soon.

“Oh, I like this song!” I suddenly blurted, partly to break the awkward silence but also because my brain was wired like that.

He contemplated me for a moment, then put his plate down. “I had a private dance teacher who tortured me for over a year. It would be a shame never to use those skills. May I have this dance?”

I took the offered hand and Taran led me out on the dance floor, resting his other palm halfway up my back to establish our position.

I was glad I hadn’t skipped the dancing lessons in high school, and that Taran made it exceptionally easy to follow his lead.

Being so close to him felt wonderful, his powerful body moving gracefully across the dance floor.

We didn’t stay on the dance floor for just one song. Soon, both of us were brimming with energy and our eyes seemed determined to never let the other go.

When a slow song came on, he pulled me closer to his chest and lowered his mouth to my ear.

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