Page 130 of The Dragon 2
“And the guests?”
“There are none.”
I raised a brow. “So, it’s just her? My Tiger. . .rented this place out? How?”
Reo didn’t answer. He just held the door for me with the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.
Goddamn it. Tora, you’ve compromised my Roar!
I frowned and headed forward, yet this nervous excitement spilled over me.
What will happen next?
Chapter twenty-five
Where Kings are Uncrowned
Kenji
As soon as I stepped through the black door, it shut behind me with a hush that felt final.
I stood in a small room, no bigger than a prison cell, painted in the same matte black as the exterior. Black walls. Black floor. Black ceiling with a red-light bulb, casting a sensual glow.
I exhaled slowly, adjusting my grip on the gift box.
The scent hit me next—rich, smoky, and slow, like something coaxed into flavor over hours, not minutes.
Mmm. What is cooking?
The smell didn’t match any menu I knew. Not French. Not Japanese. Not Italian. No hints of miso, no delicate citrus, no truffle or foie gras. This was heavier. Earthier.
My brow furrowed as I inhaled again.
Whatever is cooking. . .I want to eat it.
My stomach growled in anticipation.
She definitely cooked for me.
My heart ached.
I tried not to get my hopes up—but it was too late. I’d already turned into a spoiled kid in a toy store. If she cooked for me. .God, I would lose it.
The only woman who ever had was my mother.
And I didn’t realize how much I missed that until now—the simple grace of someone making something warm just for me.
Not a chef.
Not a servant.
Not a paid-for performance.
Just her.
Just butter, heat, and care.
That kind of gift?
