Page 78 of The Dragon's Captured Heart
“Up here,” I said, putting my hand in between my breasts and pointing at my face. “Eyes, mister. Eyes.”
“It’s your fault for delivering this surprise in a bra,” he grumped, but his eyes came up. Slowly.
“Such a whiner. I’ll go put a sweatshirt on,” I threatened.
“You wouldn’t make it two steps before I took you,” he growled possessively.
My throat went dry. “Easy,” I said. “I worked hard on this for you. I want your focus, Cal. Please?”
He straightened instantly, catching on to my seriousness. “Okay. What is it? Are you …”
His eyes dropped below my breasts.
“I don’t know yet,” I said. “Too early. But if you promise not to lose your composure, I’ll let you know that we’re going to continue trying.”
He grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
“Now, come on. I put it in your study,” I said, taking his hand and leading the way.
Curiosity poured through our bond as we went down the hall.
“I’m not telling,” I teased, sensing the incoming question before he could ask it. “You have to open it.”
The surprise was a box less than a foot long in all dimensions. Hinges indicated it could be opened halfway, and the top flipped upward on a diagonal from low at the front to high at the back.
“I’m so confused,” Cal said as he slid past me to stand in front of the box. “What could you have made for me?”
“Open it and find out,” I said.
“Right now?”
I nodded, smiling.
“All right,” he said, reaching for the lid. “What on earth could it possibly—”
His voice died as he uncovered the inside of the box.
“Maddie,” he whispered, his voice on the edge of cracking. “What is this?”
“It's for you. To never forget.”
Callum looked at me, then back into the box. Staring back at him was a plaque with a solid emerald-green scale affixed to it. Underneath it was a little inscription, including Noa’s name.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
I nodded. “She was a part of your life, Cal. She was taken from you against your will. That’s not the same as a breakup or anything. She wasn’t your ex that you couldn’t get over, not in the traditional sense. I never want to replace her or make you forget her. Now, you won’t. So, we’re going to keep that, which was once a piece of her and once a piece of you as well.”
“Maddie,” he said, placing a hand on the scale, eyes half-closing.
The wave of sadness that I expected never came. There was a pang of pain, a grieving for the future that was taken away. But that was it.
“It’s beautiful,” he said, facing me once more. “Thank you, my love. You truly are a wonderful person.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said, doing my best to gather him in a big hug.
He lifted me from the floor and held me to him, taking several deep breaths in. “I’m floored. This is really something.”
“Anything for you,” I said, kissing his cheek before he set me down. “My love.”
