Page 59 of Fire Dragon
Chapter Seven
Over the next week, Emma was sure the bubble would burst. She half-expected Liam to remember the loss of his wife and to disappear again. But he didn’t.
Which meant she worked hard not to throw anymore grenades.
She spent every off-hour with him, taking turns at their respective homes. Though given how vocal they both were, she was happiest at Dragonslip Gorge. They didn’t have neighbors to worry about.
Jane had asked her, “What’s it like?”
“A dream.” There it was again, a sense that her time with Liam was unreal and wouldn’t last. “I’m scared.” The words had come out on a whisper.
But Jane had hugged her. “You deserve this man, Emma. You deserve to be this happy. Try to relax, live in the present moment and enjoy.”
Easier said than done, but Jane’s words had helped.
She had also thought that given how close she and Liam had become something would have emerged to help thwart the Magi. Though their skill levels continued to sharpen, Emma didn’t see that she was offering anything unique to their current battle skill set.
The Magi were her greatest concern. Her instincts told her Arranfar would soon be under siege. She and Liam needed to be ready, yet an additional weapon in their arsenal eluded them.
~ ~ ~
Liam sat in Logan’s favorite club, The Spiked Tail, listening to a band. He sipped a bottle of amber ale, a nice Earth import. Logan had asked him to toss back a few shots, but he’d refused. Logan, despite his occasional prank, was a good friend and one of the finest dragon warriors Liam had ever known.
A band played a combination of jazz, country and dragon folk-rock. It was nice. Liam knew the bass player. Before Emma, he’d often paired with Charlotte in battle. She was an exceptional dragon-rider. She was also Logan’s ex. Liam wondered if Logan knew just how high he carried his torch for the woman. Logan had never shared the details of their break-up, but Liam suspected his fellow warrior had played a guilt-worthy role.
Then there was Emma. He wished like hell he was with her right now. How long had it been since they’d made love at Dragonslip Gorge for the first time? A week? Ten days. Time had passed, but he wasn’t sure how. The days had become a blur of lovemaking and the occasional bout of hot unexpected sex like in the bushes when he’d been on a run with her.
How willing Emma was on all fronts. She was a dedicated warrior just like him. Completely professional. And she was athletic in bed.
He always knew when she wanted him which was often while they were battle training. Her desire, full of her lilac scent, tended to spike his. And at least half the time, he did something about it.
Everyone knew what was going on with them. He blamed himself. He hadn’t exactly been a model of discretion. Yet, somehow, he didn’t care.
“So, what do you think?”
Liam put the cold bottle to his lips and swigged. Shit. He hadn’t been listening. He swallowed and shrugged. “About what?”
Logan laughed and threw back yet another of several shots of whisky he had lined up. He had an oversized mug filled with cheap tap beer as well and alternated. Liam was pretty sure this was a second mug and he was waiting for an announcement Logan was off to the head.
“About the bet,” Logan said. “I want to win this one. I’ve got ten thousand on an autumn wedding.”
Liam frowned. “Whose wedding?”
“Yours and Emma’s.”
Liam felt thin tendrils of smoke curl from his nostrils.
But Logan slapped his leg and laughed out loud. “Damn, you’re easy.”
“There is no bet.”
“Nah. Just yanking your chain.” Logan then sighed and again his gaze drifted to the auburn-haired beauty executing a run on her electric bass guitar. He tossed off another shot.
Logan added, “But you are making one fine ass of yourself.”
Liam chuckled. “Don’t I know it.”
“So, what’s it like having a girlfriend after all these years?”
