Page 15 of Dragon's Code

I don’t feel safe. I still feel Raphael’s eyes on me. It’s ridiculous, I know it is, but I don’t care. The feelings are overwhelming. I’m all about cutting off the source of my emotions when I’m getting too squirrely.

I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling for a while as I listen to The Great British Bake-Off. It’s working like ASMR for me, keeping me as calm as I can manage to be.

Knock. Knock.

I spin on the bed so fast, I end up rolling right off and land on the floor with a loud thud.

“Fuck,” I grumble.

I get up, rubbing my now sore ass.

The knock came from the adjoining door, not my room door. I open it, and there he is, standing on the other side. He looks just like I remember him. More tired. A little scruffy like he didn’t bother to shave today. His hair is longer than usual. But it’s Kashton, no doubt about it.

It’s his giant grin, dark forest green eyes alight with joy, all at seeing my face, that give him away.

I lunge into his arms.

He wraps his arms around me and hauls me up so he’s supporting all of my weight. He’s never struggled to hold me up. The dude is stupid strong. He hugs me for a long time, like he’s missed me as much as I’ve missed him.

I squeeze him so hard I’m sure I’m crushing him. He tightens his hold on me. It’s when I feel the first burn of tears in my eyes.

He sets me down and immediately I wish he would pick me back up and cradle me in his arms for the rest of the night.

“It’s a little crazy you’re here, but I’m so glad for it.” He cups my face and his thumb gently caresses my cheek, making sure that my eyes are on his. “But why are you here?”

He does this anytime he wants to make sure I’m telling the truth, because he knows I’ll lie. Not because I want to lie, but because it’s hard for me to tell the truth, when the truth is that I need something from him.

“Honestly, I feel silly about the whole thing. I sort of panicked. My ex-boyfriend, I feel like he’s been stalking me. And then he just showed up in my apartment. I don’t know how he got in.”

Kash’s expression flickers with a look I’m not familiar with. I know rage, and it’s always in his eyes when he’s furious. That’s definitely the only thing I recognize. Furious. Full of rage. Ready to take someone’s head off. But there’s something more.

Instantly I know I made the right decision. Safety curls around me just like his ungodly manly scent that smells amazing.

He slides one hand down and takes my hand in his and pulls me to the couch. We drop down onto the cushy furniture, his hand still holding mine. “Tell me everything.”

I shake my head. “Kashton, it’s not a big deal. I’m here. Raphael’s not. I just wanted to see you.”

“It is a big deal. As much as you say you’re paranoid, I know you don’t make shit up. If you feel like he’s stalking you, then I’m sure he is. And you don’t forget to lock your door or windows. After what you’ve been through, you’re not capable of it. Who is this guy? I didn’t even know you were seeing someone. Why didn’t I know that?”

His outrage is a little surprising. “Seriously? Kashton, we never talk about our boyfriends or girlfriends.”

He gives me that look again, and I don’t know what it means. “I don’t date. I didn’t know you did much.”

I scoff. “I date. Why wouldn’t I date?”

Kashton frowns, and it changes his face dramatically. He’s so handsome and usually so full of joy, it’s almost hard for him not to be smiling, but right now, he looks like he wants to murder someone. Hopefully, Raphael didn’t come here, or Kashton might actually kill him. I don’t want to have to visit Kashton in prison.

“I’m not saying you wouldn’t date. You just have never told me you were dating.”

“Are you saying that you haven’t dated anyone? Then you just what…hook up?”

Kashton shakes his head. “I don’t date. I don’t hook up. I don’t do any of that.”

That really doesn’t make any sense. He’s popular. Gorgeous. Strong. So easy to love. “Why not?”

“It’s not important. I promise, it’s very dull. Let’s get back to your loser ex-boyfriend. Tell me what happened.”

I stare at my hands folded together in my lap. “We met at my favorite coffee shop. He was charming and funny. We had similar capabilities in hacking and computer sciences. We bonded over that kind of stuff. He never quite seemed right to me though. I always felt like he had some agenda with me, but I couldn’t tell you what it was or why I thought that. It’s just how I always felt. It got worse and worse, and I finally broke up with him. Then he just was everywhere I was all the time.”

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