Page 24 of Destiny of the Dragons

She should have just kissed Jace in the park. Then she wouldn’t be overthinking things now.

They got to her street, and her palms went clammy. Jace asked her something, and the car went quiet.

“Sorry, what?”

Jace grinned. “Distracted? I wanted to know if you were free for lunch tomorrow.”

Mia shook her head. “Not lunch. Dinner.”

“Even better.” His voice was like velvet. He pulled into the parking space. “If we walk you to your door, will you be annoyed that we don’t think you can handle yourself?”

“No.” Mia shook her head. She wanted to come up with something witty, but witty thoughts had abandoned her. Instead, magic curled through her, winding around her limbs. She started up the stairs, leaving them to follow.

“I didn’t show you my collection,” she said. There was a good excuse to get them inside that didn’t sound like a blatant come on.

“Ooo, of what?” Jace rubbed his hands. “You know us dragons and our collections.”

Mia smiled. They actually might appreciate her ‘little junk shelves,’ as her mother called them.

She let them inside the apartment. In the corner, where a sunroom with plants would normally be, she had her shelves of stuff. None of it was valuable, but she liked each piece.

Jace picked up one of her favorite globes. “This is beautiful. Where did you get it?”

Mia told them about the estate sale, about the old lady whose daughter collected snow globes. Smoke asked about a hand carved knife, and before she knew it, they had been standing there for a half hour talking about her things. They were just as excited about them as she was, and the thought brought warmth bubbling up inside her.

She looked at Jace’s mouth again. She wanted to run her hands up his chest, and pull him down into a searing kiss, something that would ensure he would never forget about this night.

She certainly wouldn’t.

“You’re thinking hard again, Mia.” Jace paused. “What’s wrong? Remember we talked about communication.”

Smoke closed the distance between them.

“I was…wondering.”

Jace arched an eyebrow. “Yes?”

Mia took in a breath. “How does…kissing work?”

Jace looked flustered for a moment and then recovered. “You’ve never kissed anyone before? That’s okay—“

Mia laughed. “No, I mean. I have. I just mean…” Mia gestured vaguely around them.

Jace looked at her and then Smoke. And then he grinned and Mia could swear her panties caught fire. “Oh. That.”

Jace slid closer to her. “I told you, Mia. We know how to share.”

Her mouth was dry, and she couldn’t think clearly. Smoke stood behind her, but not close enough. She would have expected to feel boxed in, but instead it was a safe place.

Jace closed the distance between them until he was a heartbeat away. Mia’s mouth went dry and she looked up at him. His eyes were like molten chocolate and his mouth looked like pure sin. She flicked her gaze over her shoulder at Smoke, who was still half a foot away, which might as well have been Siberia.

“I don’t think she wants us to take turns, Smoke.” Jace watched her face.

Mia shook her head no. Smoke stepped behind her, carefully, like she would spook. Her heart beat heavily in her chest, and she reached behind her to put Smoke’s hand on her waist. She ran her other hand up Jace’s chest.

Jace shuddered, and leaned over her. He closed the last bit of distance between them, until he pushed her back into Smoke.

Pressed between them, her body went up in flames. Heat throbbed through her. Jace tilted her head back and closed his mouth over hers. Mia moaned and wrapped her hands around his neck.

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