Page 35 of Flame it Up

PYRUS

Pyrus hadn’t had so much fun in nearly a hundred years as he did helping Mazie at the sanctuary. It didn’t matter what they were doing, as long as they were together. That feeling made his heart radiate like the center of a thousand suns.

Plus, she looked so damn sexy doing it all. He could sense the passion coming from her soul as she sweetly spoke to the animals, giving instructions to other people who looked to her for leadership. It made his soul sing, the dragon inside of him softening to a low purr rather than an intense howl.

He wanted to feel her all over him physically, but he also wanted to respect her boundaries. He knew she was attracted to him by her rich, tangy scent as they made out the last time, which assured him that he wasn’t pushing too hard.

He would wait for her forever if that was the case.

After blurting his question about spending time together, he feared he may have pushed it too far. She had made friends over her time at the sanctuary, and maybe she wanted to spend time with them.

Pyrus wanted to take what Gerri had said seriously. There’s no point in pushing a human woman into what you want. You have to guide her, romance her, and show her how much you care for her to help her feel comfortable.

But Mazie had gazed up at him, her emerald jewels glistening.

“I would love to,” she said, a smile curling at the side of her lips. “I would love to spend some time with friends before heading out somewhere new.”

Pyrus felt his heart drop in his chest a bit but didn’t show it. The wordfriendwas a little hurtful, but he figured it was a way to keep him at arm’s length for the time being. He would be patient, just like Gerri instructed him to be.

He placed the string toy he had been making down and leaned forward on the bench. She flicked her eyes up at him with a provocative look.

“Where would you like to go?” he asked. “We can go anywhere. Anywhere in the world.”

Mazie placed the toy she was making on the table, then leaned on her hand. She looked tired, but Pyrus thought she still looked beyond angelic.

“Hmm,” she said, pursing her lips at him.

Pyrus wanted to leap over the bench and pull her into his arms. He missed her sweet, candy flavor.

“I think I want to know about where you’re from,” she said, smiling. “That would be interesting to me.”

Pyrus felt his heart swell in his chest. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. “You want to come back home with me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course,” she replied. “I want to know where this big tough dragon came from.”

Pyrus was exhilarated, though he tried to keep the feeling slightly diminished. It was like trying to let fireworks go off inside a greenhouse.

“Then we will go back home together,” he said. “Do you want to stay with me in my hotel tonight? It’s not too far from the airport.” Fearing that he may have sounded too desperate, Pyrus corrected himself. “If you want to, of course,” he said, clearing his throat. “No pressure.”

But Mazie was still smiling. Her cheeks were as plump as sweet red apples. “I would love to stay with you,” she said, almost purring.

They finished assembling the toys for the animals, and Pyrus felt excited beyond belief. He couldn’t remember the last time the air had felt so brisk on his skin, the sun so warm and inviting, a refreshing drink of water so satisfying.

Everyone at the corps finished up their work, then headed toward their shared hotels. Mazie said goodbye to her friends, and when Pyrus felt guilty for a single moment, she approached him with a beaming look on her face.

“I might go into the city first before I meet up with you,” she said. “I don’t have anything nice to wear.”

Pyrus’s breath hitched in his throat, the thought of Mazie in a dress or short-cut skirt too appetizing an image to cope with. He blinked a few times, centering himself from the dizzying concept.

“You look great as you are,” he remarked, completely meaning it.

Mazie looked at herself, and when she did, Pyrus caught a brief glimpse of some cleavage.

Mother of God, this woman is magic.

“You’re sweet,” she said. “But I want to try something on that’s a bit more … I don’t know … appropriate.”

Her voice had lowered to nearly sensual, and Pyrus wasn’t going to deny whatever that statement was implying.

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