Page 47 of Dragon Eye (Rise of the Dragon Master)

“If you can feel this thing, this insane connection that makes your heart race and stop beating all at the same time, then let’s just beusright now. No obligations. Just you and me.” His shoulders rose and fell slowly. “We can go back to being what others expect of us tomorrow.”

My gaze fell to his outstretched hands, expecting for me to take them.

“Let’s just have one afternoon that’s ours.”

As I looked up at him, it became impossible to listen to reason. Hope sparkled in his eyes, silently begging me to say yes, and I could see the ache that lay just behind it. One that said he carried a heavy weight on his shoulders too.

I didn’t know his past, but it was so easy to realize that his actions came from a place of kindness and consideration. He didn’t seem like the kind of man to judge, to take advantage of a situation, or the people in his life.

Somehow, I knew in my core that Braxton was a guardian. A shield. The one who cared too much about everyone around him, often when he shouldn’t. Likely to protect others, even at his own expense.

Going against everything I knew I should do, I slowly placed my hands in his, feeling my insides tremble. Trusting him. The smile that captured his face with the action reflected on mine as I stood, and sweet relief travelled through me at the feeling of him.

Intertwining our fingers again, Braxton pulled me with him to the stairs that led to the beach below. When we took the last step, my heart stopped.

“How do you know this place?” I asked, shocked. My urgent gaze searched the extent of the cove surrounding us. That beach was the entry of the portal to my world.

Blinking in confusion, Braxton stopped before me, calling my eyes back to him. “Gray Whale Cove? My parents used to bring me here every weekend when I was child. Have you been here before?”

“No,” I lied, regaining my composure. It should make sense that the Harbinger of Justice would bring him here after making this world his home, but I couldn’t understand why he would be nostalgic after he was the one who decided to leave us. “It’s just so beautiful here, I was taken aback by it.”

The smile returned to Braxton’s eyes. “It is gorgeous here, isn’t it? This place holds the happiest memories I have of my parents.”

His voice ached with an all too familiar strength that awoke my own. “Are both your parents dead?”

Sighing, he shook his head. “No. My mom is still alive, but she isn’t well. After my father died… She just isn’t herself anymore.”

I wanted to ask what happened, but the pain exuding from him stopped me. A million questions awoke in my mind. If the Harbinger’s wife was still alive, why hadn’t she returned to our world? Why didn’t she tell her son about us? Was it because he was sick?

“It’s okay,” I whispered, cradling his cheek. “Now what, Braxton?” I asked, reminding him of whatever plans he had.

Grinning, he took my hand from his face and kissed it, glancing behind me. “Come with me.”

Walking to the cliff wall several steps away, he pulled a clear sac from behind a large rock and removed a blanket from it, laying it on the sand. Once his shoes were off, he sat down, waiting for me to join him. I did as he had, kicking off my boots and taking my place before him. Laying on my side, I held myself up on my forearm, watching him open the food box. He took one of the sandwiches, carefully wrapping the bottom with a napkin and handed it to me.

Yes. Braxton’s nature was definitely taking care of others.

You can take care of yourself…my pride reminded me, but I ignored it, taking the first bite.

“Mmm,” the moan escaped my mouth before I could stop it, but also, I didn’t care. I was starving and this food tasted so good.

Braxton chuckled, eyes sparkling, like he enjoyed seeing me like that. “I know. Our paninis are the best.”

I had no idea what a panini was, but I wholeheartedly agreed.

A comfortable silence settled between us while we ate, among long looks and small smiles. It was almost… peaceful.

His gaze instinctively swept over me as I lay on the sand, lingering on the curves of my legs and thighs—fully visible with the short pants I wore. That was, until he realized I saw him, and he cleared his throat. Wide eyes caught my gaze again. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have checked you out like that. Man habit.” He cringed.

Both amusement and curiosity unfurled in me, making my lips twitch. “Why? You were just looking at my body. I don’t mind.”

His gaze narrowed, as though he thought I was tricking him. “You don’t?”

“They are just legs,” I answered nonchalantly, but then I remembered this world was not like my own, and I sat up straight. My cheeks flamed. “Should I mind? Should I be covered?”

Gods! Were women not supposed to show their legs here?

When I got these clothes from a box markedlost and foundon the stairs of the beach, I never stopped to think that maybe they were inappropriate. I was just concerned with dressing myself in what was custom in the Mirror World. Honestly, the temperature today was too hot to wear anything else. This world had the weirdest weather.

---