THIRTEEN
Avery felt like a mess. When Jae told her to dress comfortable, she took it literal and put on warm sweater and a pair of corduroy pants. His arrival in a limo did nothing to ease her worries. He jumped out of the back and strode over to her. There was such an intense look in his eyes, she was tempted to take a step toward him, throw herself in his arms and take in his scent.
“You look great,” he said, glancing at her from her beanie hat down to her snow boots.
“Thanks. I didn’t know what to wear. You said casual.”
He held the door open for her to get in the limo and slid right in after her. With all the space in that vehicle, he chose to sit as close to her as possible. It did nothing to calm her nerves.
“This will be casual.”
She raised a brow, a smile tugging at her lips. “We’re in a limo.”
He shrugged. “It’s a matter of convenience. He can drop us off, go to the hotel and wait until we’re ready to be picked up again. Easier than me driving in the city.”
She nodded and took in his features. He might be a great dresser, but he wasn’t classically beautiful. He was too rough for that. His short blond hair and hazel eyes went together perfectly. But that short beard wasn’t his usual clean-shaven look. Not the few times she’d seen him.
His outfit, though casual, was clearly top of the line. The jeans and snow boots looked great on him as did the blue sweater. She wasn’t one to worry about brands, but she wondered if he had a personal shopper picking out his clothes. The man had impeccable style.
His strong bone structure with stubborn jaw and lips that appeared to never smile added to his look. The no-nonsense look. She wanted so badly to do something to see him smile. To see how that simple gesture would transform his face. Then again, he was a dragon. Probably really old. He’d lived and seen things she couldn’t imagine.
“What’s wrong?”
She blinked and stared into his sharp gaze. “Huh?”
“I can tell something’s bothering you. What’s wrong?”
“I was just thinking that you’re old.”
The corner of his lips lifted into a hint of a grin. “Does that worry you? I promise not to die in the middle of…anything,” he said, his voice seducing her as he leaned closer.
What? She couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing at the idea. “That’s the last thing on my mind. I can tell you take very good care of yourself. And have an incredible body under those clothes.”
His eyes widened. “Go on.”
Fuck! “What I mean is that you’re in good shape. That’s all.”
He put an arm over the back of her seat and turned closer to her. “That’s all?”
She gave a jerky nod. “I…look, Jae, I haven’t,” she gulped and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. When she opened them, his eyes had turned a bright gold that stopped her nerves and pulled her in. “Your eyes are glowing.”
“I know. Now what were you saying?”
She cleared her throat, rubbing a hand on her pants. “I haven’t done this in a long time.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dated. I haven’t gone on a date in two years.”
He didn’t seem surprised. “But you wanted to now. With me?”
“Yes.” She glanced down at her hand and then up at him again. “I don’t know what it is about you. You’ve woken up emotions I never felt before. I can’t explain it.”
He cupped her jaw and leaned even closer. “I know how you feel. I can’t understand why I want to be near you at all times. I just know that I do. I want to see your smile, to watch the sun shine off your hair.” He glanced at her lips. “It might sound stupid, but I’ve been dying to know how you taste, but I won’t touch you.” He pulled back and she felt as if her heart were being torn from her chest. “Not until you tell me you’re ready.”
“Really?”
He gave a solemn nod. “When I kiss you, I want you fully in agreement that my hands and mouth can be on your body. I want you to want me to the same extent I want you.”
“How…how’s that?”
He dropped his head next to her ear. “I know one taste of you will never be enough, but when I get that taste, it will be forever stamped in my brain.”
“Jae.”
“Avery, I’ve done nothing but dream of kissing, tasting, biting my way up every one of your curves. I want to watch you come when I fuck you with my tongue. Then, I want to watch you come again when I slide deep inside you.”
Her throat closed up. The image of him doing those very things made her slick between her legs.
A soft grunt sounded from him. The sound gave her goosebumps.
“That sweet scent of your desire is probably going to be my undoing.” He tipped her chin to look right into his flaming gold eyes. “Hurry up and decide, love. So I can show you how fucking perfect you are. From the top of your beautiful hair, down to your little feet. I will make your pleasure my priority.”
She didn’t get a chance to say anything, not that she could. The limo stopped and the driver came around to open her door. They were at Rockefeller Center.
She got out and saw the almost empty sidewalks and shook her head. What the heck were they doing there? He got out of the limo shortly after her and took her hand.
“Jae, everything is closed down here.”
He grinned and for the first time in the time she’d known him, she almost tripped over her own feet. He was gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that could get a woman in trouble, like pregnant after the first night of sex. In fact, the idea of having kids with him suddenly warmed her from the inside. God. She needed to get laid badly.
“Come on, beautiful. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
They took the elevator down to inside of Rock Plaza. A few people passed them by, clearly all on their way home. They went to the ice skating rink area. It clearly said closed. She waited for him to notice the sign but instead, he glanced at his watch. A second later, a man in uniform from The Rink opened the door to let them in.
“Good evening, Mr. Drachen,” the guy said with a smile and turned to her. “Madam.”