Page 61 of Dragon's Honor

“Holy Miami. Do not sneak up on me like that.”

He chuckled. “I was enjoying the show.”

Her cheeks pinkened and he found he enjoyed making her blush. “I woke up feeling pretty good and hungry. I hope you don’t mind…”

“I don’t mind.” In fact, he was spending too much time thinking about how he would like to see her there every day. Not just in the kitchen, but in his bed, in his house, in his life.

“Are you hungry?”

His eyes zeroed in on her hot body. “I am famished.”

Her cheeks grew pinker, but she turned back to whatever she was cooking. She brought him an omelet with toast and a cup of coffee.

He’d been bummed to wake up alone in his bed but seeing her more comfortable and at ease with him, in his house, made up for it.

“I want to take you out.”

She looked up from her plate. “Take me out?” Her lips curved a little. “Aren’t you on some big revenge gig right now?”

The fact that he hadn’t thought about Tristian much in the last couple of days hadn’t escaped him, but he didn’t care. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to be a normal guy who could show her a good time, take her on dates, and kiss her under the stars. He didn’t want to be a dragon prince trying to save what was left of his clan.

Could he be like Gavin? Turn his back on the clan, let one of his siblings take over the crown, and just be happy with Finley?

“I could probably use a break from my vendetta.”

She cocked an eyebrow up. “Can you just take a break from being a prince?”

Ash didn’t like the answer to her question. Of course, the answer was no, but he was going to do it anyway.

“Where do you want to take me out?”

He didn’t want to be in the middle of a crowd of humans or even dragons. He wanted to carry her far away where he could really have time alone with her. More than anything he wanted to show her a different side of him. One he didn’t really even think about, but now that his mate was in sight, it was like the softer, romantic side of him had always been there.

“There is this great place off the beach. It’s a little fancy though. Do you feel like dressing up?”

Finley bit her lip. “My sister will never believe the words about to come out of my mouth, but I think I would like to dress up.”

He smiled and his dragon eased just a little more. She wanted to be with him, even if it was just for dinner.

“I’ll need to go home,” she said. “I don’t think I have a fancy dress amongst my stuff that got brought over. In fact, aside from the one I was in when we met, I don’t have a dress at all. Olivia is always dressing me up in hers, because she knows I never wear dresses.”

“Wear the green dress,” he demanded almost in a snarl.

She blinked at him. “I…can do that.” She cleared her throat and finished off her eggs.

* * *

The restof the day was a blur of activities. They headed to her apartment. Only after Ash had thoroughly checked it out, did he let her in. They grabbed her stuff and then headed out to do some shopping. Ash hadn’t been able to give her his heartstone in a proper manner. He wanted to do something to signify that she was more.

How much more, he didn’t know. He had no idea how she was feeling. She seemed to like what happened between them in the bedroom. He wanted more of that, but he was concerned about having sex with her. The need to claim her was already strong and in the middle of sex was when the need was the strongest. He wouldn’t claim her without her permission.

He wanted her to want him and to want to be with him forever. If she was going to have his heartstone and his life in her hands, then he wanted her with him all the way.

The moment he opened the door to wanting her, he seemed to be fully on board with wanting to make her his mate. He clung to the idea of her being in his bed all the time. Of being able to protect her. Of being able to laugh with her, to hold her when she was sad or scared.

There was so much to figure out.

Finley seemed enamored by all the shiny things in the jewelry store, her eyes lingering over gemstones of every color.

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