Page 1 of Draco Family Duet

Melt Me, Draco Family Duet: Book One

1

Blaise

“Time to get ready, sir,”Fredo urged as he struggled to rouse me from mybed.

I slowly opened one eye, then the other, just so I could glare at him. “Do you like working for me,Alfredo?”

His brows rose, then the older, white-haired man swallowed hard and took a step back. “My family has served yours for centuries, sir. I think we’re too deep into the contract to change things now, don’tyou?”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” I grumbled as I struggled to sit up from under the sheet. As usual, I’d pushed all the rest of the bedding off me during the night. I kicked my legs around and slowly stood on the heirloom rug. Like most everything in the room, it had been in our familyforever.

“Sir, I do enjoy working here. It’s never dull, and you’re kind to my family.” His eyes widened. Then he frowned. “And as I recall, we had a similar conversation last month. You always get pissy before a fullmoon.”

“Yes, well, you would too, if the moon meant curtailing your favorite pastime.” I huffed as I stalked over to him and slid my arms into the robe Fredo held out tome.

“I’m sure I would, sir, but one would think by now you’d be used to it.” My back might be to him, but I was certain the man had rolled his eyes at me. I secured my robe around my waist before turning to meet hisgaze.

“You know, you could’ve gone with Mishal. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” I remindedhim.

“Yes, I can see that, sir,” Fredo murmured as he bent down to pick up the clothes I’d carelessly tossed on the floor in my haste to escape last night. His brow arched. “Now, I’ll go downstairs to prepare yourbreakfast.”

I knew I was being a dick and I could see the irony of the situation, but at the moment, I didn’t care. With a sigh, I turned away and stared longingly through the open balcony doors. The ocean was slapping so loudly against the shore, I could hear it even atop the cliffs, and the breeze made me yearn to soar through the sky once more. It had become my haven while the world weighed down on me. “Only six eggs today, Fredo.” I called out as he’d already exited theroom.

He strolled through the door again, his brows peaked. “The usual amount of toast,sir?”

“Nah. I’m not hungry.” I shrugged and trudged toward thebathroom.

“But, Mr. Blaise, you burned a lot of calories last night. You don’t want to grow weak…” His voice trailed off and I knew he was thinking of my father, who had wasted away after losing mymother.

“I’m not dying of heartsickness, Fredo,” I grumbled. “I don’t have amate.”

“That may be why you’re suffering,” he murmured on his way out of my bedroom for the second time. Before I could think of a response, he had closed the door behind him, and I had accepted he might just beright.

I stood gripping the edge of the vanity, wondering if my sorrow showed. My skin still appeared to be the same perma-bronze shade as always, my eyes were a brilliant blue, and my hair was black as night. Thanks to my nightly excursions, I had plenty of exercise despite spending much of my day seated behind a computer. What I didn’t have much of was sleep…or patience. I’d only been in bed for a little more than two hours when Fredo woke me. No wonder I’d been somiserable.

Taking a few steps, I moved to the shower and turned on the water as cold as I could stand it; given how hot I felt right now, I’d probably turn it into a steam shower, which wouldn’t be so bad. I took my time, thoroughly massaging my aching muscles. Almost every inch of my body hurt this morning. I’d flown most of the length of the California coast beforereturning.

By the time I’d dressed in my business casual attire and seated myself in the breakfast room, Fredo had the table set for me, my carafe of coffee to my right, and the paper to my left. Seconds after I’d poured my first mug, he’d arrived with my meal. I pursed my lips as I studied myplate.

“Sir, before you complain, yes, this is more than six eggs. And, naturally, you already told me you weren’t hungry, but sometimes you start eating and realize you were hungrier than you thought.” Fredo sighed. The man had known me for a good fifty years and it obviously pained him to see me likethis.

In an effort to keep the peace this morning, I decided a quick change of subject would help. “What’s on my schedule today?” Then I began to pick at my meal to make himhappy.

“You have the SV Expo. It begins at ten this morning and runs until six this evening.” He held the day planner away from his face and peered at it through his bifocals. “And you asked me to leave the rest of your day free unless you needed to woo some startups so you could acquire their tech.” Fredo snapped the planner closed and stood stiffly to myleft.

“That will be all.” I glanced at my watch. “Looks like I’ll need to leave in about half an hour. Could you pack me a coffee togo?”

“I’m on it, sir.” My butler disappeared into thekitchen.

Reaching for my mug, I quickly brought it to my lips. At least I could take comfort in being able to ingest some incredible coffee this morning. Setting it back on the table, I opened the paper and frowned. Ever since Ira Gunther had taken over Sterling Girard’s gubernatorial campaign, his face appeared everywhere. We’d run into each other over the last ten years more than once, since we ran in many of the same social circles. No amount of press would change my opinion of him. The guy was a world-class asshole. In frustration, I folded the Times, set it on the table and pushed it away from me with onefinger.

When Fredo rounded the corner from the kitchen, he must’ve seen my face. “Something wrong with your meal?” As usual, his brow furrowed when I seemed unhappy, making his big, bushy eyebrows come together like one giant silvercaterpillar.

“The meal was great. It’s the world that’s wrong.” I picked up a piece of toast to appease him. “Lots of butter,” I commented, “just how I like it,Fredo.”

Immediately, he relaxed. “You’re welcome, Mr. Blaise. Would you like me to pack some of this for theroad?”

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