Page 6 of Dragon's Code

Whatever is in my hands feels like it’s moving around.

“Okay.”

My eyes flutter open, sleep still making me feel a little out of it. I look down to find a piece of beautiful jewelry. It’s a silver locket.

“It doesn’t open or anything. It’s an antique. But I thought you would like it.”

“It’s beautiful.” I hand it back to him. “Put it on me.”

He does, his warm fingers at the back of my neck, his breath on my shoulder. I shiver as his touch leaves me.

Before he leaves, he says softly, “Even when I’m not with you, I’m with you.”

ChapterOne

ATHENA

My favorite coffee shop, The Love Seat Cafe, is buzzing with the normal Monday morning rush. I find the routine of it all soothing as I order my favorite drink, a vanilla latte with an extra shot and whip cream, and look around for a spot to set up.

After a few seconds, I manage to slip into my favorite seat in the whole place, a table that is perfectly placed in a corner so that my back is to the wall. I have a window right next to me, and I can see the front door, the bathrooms, and the employee door to the back without having to turn my head much. Plus, the entire cafe is visible. No one could sneak up on me here, without me seeing them coming.

I usually work from home where it’s the safest, but every now and again I crave my favorite coffee from my favorite cafe. I know I’m blessed to be able to do my job from home or really anywhere with WiFi access. This lets me keep my schedule and my location as random and chaotic as possible. And even though most of the baristas know me here, no one pays me much attention.

I like it that way.

I’m an hour into my work day, working on a security issue for a client, when I decide it’s time for another latte.

I lock my computer, tuck it up under my arm, leaving an empty bag to hold my place, and head up to the counter. By the time I've paid for my second drink, I feel a set of eyes on me.

I’m used to feeling a little paranoid, certain someone is watching me. I’ve been that way for years, but recently it’s gotten worse.

I glance around and don’t notice anyone right away.

Once I have my coffee in hand, I sit back down and open my computer back up, ready to get back to work. I look up, glancing around one more time, and freeze when I see a familiar pair of vibrantly bright blue eyes fixated on me.

Sitting across the coffee shop, he’s not looking at his open laptop or the phone in his hand. His eerily big eyes are fixated, like they so often are, on me. I don’t even know if he’s blinking. His lips are stretched thin into a straight line. He doesn’t seem to be at all unnerved by the fact that I’m staring right back at him. In fact, his mouth curves a little, like he’s glad he’s getting under my skin.

Fuck that. I make myself look away. My ex-boyfriend is not going to get to me just because he showed up at my favorite place to obviously make me uncomfortable.

This isn’t even the first time he’s magically appeared wherever I am.

I try to turn my focus back to my computer screen and my work. When that doesn’t work, I pick up my phone, willing anything or anyone to distract me.

Kashton’s text message is exactly what I need, and my lips curve into a smile, just reading his words.

KASH: I need a vacation.

ATHENA: Where would you go?

KASH: A beach would be nice.

ATHENA: Aren’t you in Miami, Florida?

KASH: I feel like you’re trying to make a point.

ATHENA: You mean a beach far away from your family and responsibilities.

KASH: Now that sounds like a great beach. Where is that?

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