Chapter Three
Mia’s stomach clenched with the memory of Friday night every time she stood at the counter and served a customer. She’d somehow gotten through Monday, and Tuesday, but now Wednesday was proving the most difficult day so far. She wanted him again. Daring herself to find him wasn’t helping either. She was in conflict with herself over the matter, which was driving her nuts.
This wasn’t the agreement. It wasn’t the first time she’d had that thought. Stupid agreement. Why couldn’t I have called out? At least said to him to come in another day. How fucking hard would’ve that been? She berated herself between customers.
There was half an hour to knock off. She wasn’t sure what she’d do, or how she’d find the man she’d sex with, but this afternoon she was sure as hell going to try. He has to work around here. If she left the shop with Mandy, just for, say, fifteen minutes then maybe she could hang around outside, walk the street and perhaps bump into this mysterious man? She shook her head. I’m losing it over a man. The one thing she’d promised herself was never worth doing again.
“I said I’d like a cappuccino.”
“Sorry.” Mia snapped her attention back to reality. That had been the other problem the last few days. She wasn’t helping her business by allowing her mind to daydream about finding this man. The burn mark was healing quickly, now hidden under a strategically arranged cotton scarf, so she’d managed to keep Jen or the people she worked with from seeing it. She didn’t need questions. She had enough of those herself.
Mia quickly served the customer. “Free upgrade.” She smiled at the woman as she punched through the order on the computer screen. She tried to think if she’d been in here before. This is why I need to concentrate. Mia knew damn well that she had to be on her game, and that learning customer names would help them to return. “What’s your name for the order?”
“Saphir.”
“What a beautiful name.” Mia made a note to remember it. The woman looked somehow familiar. Something about her features.
“Thanks. I like the perfume you’re wearing. It’s rather strong, in a good way. What is it?”
With horror Mia remembered she actually had rushed out her apartment this morning without putting anything on. “Can’t remember, I like the natural scent of it.” She nearly choked on her words. How her life had changed running her own business. Her parents hadn’t thought she’d enough life experience at twenty-five, but she was going to prove them wrong.
“Hmm. It suits you.” Saphir smiled and moved to the other end of the counter to wait for her coffee.
Mia felt her stomach muscles tighten. She was glad she didn’t smell of sweat, or coffee, which seemed to be the new smell she had these days, according to Jen and other friends. But there was something strange about that encounter. Something familiar as well. Those gold eyes, dark hair…
“Two cappuccinos, extra-large.” The next customer ordered, breaking Mia’s thoughts. She dealt with the order.
Then she realized. Saphir looked like her mysterious man, sort of. A relation perhaps? She looked up from the ordering screen, forgetting about the customer, but it was too late. Saphir was nowhere in sight.
****
“I know what you’ve done.” Saphir sat down next to her brother on the couch.
“I’ve done nothing except work hard this last week.” Argo figured throwing himself into the accounts would be a good distraction from thinking about the café woman. It hadn’t really been working. Though he was relaxing now that he’d found just over two hundred thousand dollars and Kallin was looking into starting a new business in the spring in a few months, which, like usual, was going to put everyone under enormous stress. Argo had to admit, he did enjoy the adrenaline rush that came with it all. He could get a new kitchen with his bonus, maybe even go overseas for a five-star holiday for a month, too.
“Have too.” His sister looked smugly at him. He didn’t like it when she did. Usually things didn’t end so well for him.
“Really?” He turned his attention from the football mid-week show. It was how he liked to unwind from numbers, that and sex.
“I met her today.”
A cool shiver went down his spine. He knew exactly who she was referring to. And he didn’t like it.
“So. It was just a fling like all the others.” He took a sip of his beer, the bitter liquid soothing as he swallowed.
“Like bloody hell it was.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Between her and Kallin he was likely to become paranoid. Kallin seemed to think there was something going on, too.
“Are you telling me you don’t know?” Her eyes widened.
“You’re making shit up.”
Saphir laughed. “Oh, this is gold. My little bro doesn’t realize what he’s done.”
“You’ve had plenty of one-night stands, so don’t you lecture me.”
“But this is so much more.”
“It can’t be.” He took a big gulp of beer. He’d been uneasy the last few days, well, since the encounter with her. He wished he could say her name, but he’d not even bothered to ask. It wasn’t what it was about. He’d seen her bent over the counter, and even though the sign on the door said closed he couldn’t resist. The stress and tension radiating out from her begged for him to do something about it. But there was more. He might have only glimpsed her from behind, but he was drawn to her immediately, and he was a man, and a dragon, who acted on impulse.
But now that the encounter was over, he was still drawn to her. It was like her soul called for him to find her. This never happened after his previous encounters with women.
“It is.” Saphir grinned broadly. “I can smell you on her, and how many days has it been?”
He nearly choked on his drink. “Impossible.” He counted the days. Five. There was no way his scent would be on her now, not after that many days. Unless…
“Fuck.”
“Well, I figured that action will catch up with you one day.” She paused. “Congratulations, my bachelor brother, you have scored yourself a mate for life. I wonder how you will cope with just committing to one woman, forever.”
Argo picked up the nearest pillow and threw it hard at his sister. It hit her square in the face but didn’t stop her from laughing at him. So much for bachelor life.
Her question echoed in his mind. Argo groaned as if in pain and dragged his hand through his thick hair. There was no way the soul connection of imprinting could be undone, though it was eased through death, and he had no intention of dying anytime soon or causing the end of her life. He buried his hands in his hands. It was done, and he had to face the consequences. He had no idea how he was going to cope being imprinted on a woman, let alone a human woman.
****
Today was the day she was going to see the mysterious man again. Mia just knew it. She could feel it in her stomach. The only problem was when she turned up to work one of the waitresses called in sick, which meant that there was no way in hell she was going to get out and scout the area for this mystery man that she couldn’t get out of her head.
He was even in her dreams. Bloody hell, they were good dreams, but she could do with the real thing again. Even though it was a bit on the greedy and hedonistic side, she could do with getting to know his body that little bit more. And she could feel the tension of her business taking hold once more and weighing downing on her shoulders. Plus, she wanted to work out how his breath could burn her, and why his skin was a little scaly, though she suspected that would just have to be a bad case of eczema, which she really didn’t want to think about. More than that she wanted to run her hands over his body, feel all of him, take it slow, not quick like the other day. Taste him and smell him and let it all take her mind to a state of sexual bliss.
“You all right?” asked Mandy, one of the waitresses she employed, as she pushed past to grab another carton of milk out from the fridge behind them.
“Of course.” Mia felt her cheeks redden. That was the other thing. Adding the dirty thoughts of this mysterious man on top of the stress of managing her café, and she was beginning to think she was losing her mind.
Mia took a deep breath. This might well be the day that she would see him again, but she had to pull it together.
****
“You need a break.” Saphir burst into Argo’s shared office at 4 PM on the dot. He knew immediately that something was up with his sister.
“It’s got nothing to do with need. I have to get the business plan done.” He glanced up at her over the top of his laptop. She was wearing a tight, dark blue dress that emphasized her curvy, muscled body, and black stilettoes. Her dark hair was straightened to perfection and hung well past her shoulders.
Saphir shook her head. “Break now.”
“What, are you on a coffee run or something?” He knew his words would hurt his sister. It was low of him, but she could take it. She was a dragon shifter like him. She worked at the reception desk for Kallin, even though she was capable of so much more. She was twenty-one, young, and refused to commit to a career. Apparently, she wanted to see the world. So far, she was doing just that, saving her money then skipping off overseas for a month at a time. At least Kallin tolerated her absence, something most employers wouldn’t do.
Saphir sighed grumpily and put her hands on her hips. “I need someone to help carry all the coffees, and Kallin suggested you.”
“He wouldn’t.” Argo narrowed his eyes at his sister. There was something going on for sure. So what if he had imprinted on this café woman? If it got too much he’d just find a willing woman to ease the tension. He could keep living his bachelor life. After all, he’d only really just started it and wasn’t about to give it up. Something inside of him might have chosen this woman as a mate, but he was determined to ignore it. He’d heard of other dragons going crazy from ignoring who they had imprinted on. I’m stronger in mind. He knew it wouldn’t happen to him.
“I did. Now get up and go stretch your legs and help your sister.” Kallin stepped into the cubical that could barely be counted as an office.
Argo opened his mouth to protest, but immediately shut it. There was a curious look that Kallin and Saphir had between them. This was a battle not worth fighting. Besides he could get his sister back later. His boss, well, he sort of had to do what he was told or find another job. Even though this was completely beneath him, going to help get coffees, he stood up, slamming his laptop closed in a grumpy protest.
Kallin smiled. “Got an important meeting in half an hour so bring some pastries or muffins back, too.”
“Got it.” Saphir started walking out, leaving Argo the only option to follow. He glared at his boss. He might be doing what he was told, but he didn’t have to like it, or be happy about it.
“Remember to be professional,” called out Kallin after them.
“Professional my arse.” Argo grumbled under his breath as they walked out of the office. He was so riled up about having to follow his sister down the street and to carry coffees back that he didn’t know where she was leading them until he’d stepped into the café.
He froze. He’d broken his promise. And his senses immediately filled with her estrogen scent, sending his head spinning with desire. It wasn’t going to be easy to ignore the imprinting. The realization hit him hard in the guts.
“Don’t be a baby,” his sister hissed at him and grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the counter. The counter where he’d taken the woman the other day. The same woman who was this time standing on the other side of the counter.
Fuck. He was going to have a big discussion with his sister about interfering, and while he was at it, boss or not, he was going to give Kallin a serve, too.
He dared himself to look at her. The exact same feelings he’d felt the other night flooded back. But they were now stronger. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back and low, a few stands escaping, and her blue eyes were like the sky, fresh and inviting, somewhere he’d like to fly to in his dragon form. His gaze moved over her body, the body he wanted to explore and get to know more, especially after the little taste he’d already sampled. She was strong physically, and he just knew she could match his dragon strength that pulsed through him even in his human form. Her black Lycra t-shirt stretched over her breasts, enhancing their form, perky and full, heightening the desire within him. Her flat stomach and strong legs couldn’t be seen, but he knew they were there behind the counter. She had curves. She had muscle that he could hold on to and feel and enjoy. And he wanted to do just that.
Argo moved his eyes back up her body, soaking it all in, wishing he could touch her once more. I made a promise. Then he caught her blue eyes with his. They were inviting, hinted with curiosity, and need. He held his breath. There was no anger that he was here, that he’d broken his promise.
“Hello, Saphir, good to see you again.” Her voice was confident. She wasn’t missing a beat. If she was unsettled about seeing him, she hid it well.
“Hi, your coffee is the best, what can I say?” Saphir ordered the coffees and muffins, leaving Argo in the perfect position to watch her, cool and calm, working as if his being there wasn’t causing her any distress.
She was all the things he wanted in a woman, confident, cool, powerful, sexy as hell. There behind the counter, if only he dared to reach out for her, and ask.
****
Mia kept repeating the order over in her head. It was the only way to keep herself collected in front of him. What is he doing here? She didn’t care. Not really, it was enough that he was here once more in her café and now was her chance. Except she had eight coffees to make, and a dozen muffins and pastries to put together. Don’t mess this up. The order, and her second chance of seeing her mysterious man again.
She slid open the glass cabinet to her left and with tongs took out the muffins, selecting the range Saphir had requested. She placed them on a cardboard tray, expertly arranging them so they all fitted perfectly. Mandy made the coffees, dividing them up between two trays. It was a team effort for an order like this.
Every time Mia glanced at the man standing behind Saphir she felt her body respond. Her cheeks reddened, and her abdominal muscles clenched, wanting to feel him inside of her again. It didn’t help that she could smell him, and his scent of musky spice caused a pleasant spin in her head. Each time she caught his eyes, dark with a hint of gold that was getting more pronounced. There was expectation in his eyes, just as she was sure there was in her own. She needed everyone out of her café so they could be alone.
Mia set the tray of muffins and pastries on the counter and held her breath. There was no way she could look at this counter in the same way again. And definitely not with him standing right there in her café.
“Will you be all right to carry all of this?” Mia asked as Mandy slid the trays of coffees on to the counter. Not that she could afford to help carry them with only one staff member here. It had been another busy, successful day. One more day and then she could have the weekend to herself. She caught him looking at her.
I should ask him to spend it with me. She just knew it would be a weekend full of sexual satisfaction. Heat rose from low between her legs, contracting upwards in needy pulses.
“That’s why I brought along my brother, Argo. Do you know him?” There was a cheeky glint in Saphir’s eyes.
Mia froze. What the hell was she going to say to that? She didn’t know him, but she wanted to. Well, she wanted to know him sexually more, but she had no idea if there was anything more to it, though she suspected there could be based on how much he was in her thoughts, both day and night. Something drew her to him, and she just couldn’t resist. She wanted to find out where this encounter with him could lead. Perhaps more than just adult fun? But she didn’t want to get her hopes up.
Then her mind caught up. His name was Argo. She struggled to keep calm. He was about to leave, and she just wanted to stop him.
“Hi, I’m Mia.” She smiled at Argo. “I do believe I’ve offered you a coffee on the house, so you should come back for it, soon.” Her heart quickened with the invite. It was the best she could do. The café wasn’t full, but there were people sitting talking over coffee, one person busy working on their laptop, and now about three people standing in line to order. And there was still half an hour to go before the afternoon clean up.
“I will.” He winked as he reached over and took the trays of coffee, one in each hand. Then he turned and left with Saphir.
Mia reminded herself to breathe as once more he left. But at least this time she would see Argo again. She just wished she knew when.
****
“I just knew it was her,” said Saphir. “Mia. I think she matches you just nicely.”
“You don’t know anything about her.” They walked back to the office, coffee and food in hand.
“I know she’s not frightened of you. She’s strong and sassy. Just what a dragon shifter needs in a mate.” She lowered her voice as she spoke. “And now you’ve imprinted she’s your mate.”
There was the other problem that Argo had refused to allow himself to think about. She was human. He was a dragon shifter. They could mate, live a life together, but it wasn’t easy for the human to do so. First, they had to get used to the horror of the change of form. And it was going to be difficult to keep that from her.
“Give her more credit than that.”
Argo hated it when his sister guessed what he was thinking. “I could lose her.”
“Or you could win her over by trusting her to see the transformation.”
He shook his head. There was no way she would. It might have worked for Kallin, but it wasn’t the norm. Dragon shifters usually mated with fellow dragon shifters. It was the natural order of things, well, most of the time it was. Somehow, he found himself on the wrong side, like in this instance.
“You’re going to have to do something. You’ve imprinted on her. You’ll go crazy if you suppress this.” Saphir sounded serious. “You know that. Best you go with it and see what happens.”
He also hated when his little sister was right. He’d been kidding himself that he could ignore the feelings. Seeing her, Mia, just then had confirmed that he was well and truly imprinted with her, and she might reject him, but his heart had chosen her.
The stories were true about the dragons who denied the mates they’d imprinted on. They had gone crazy. He had a little taste of that just then when he tried to push his desire and feelings aside. He might be strong of mind, but he was no match for the bond that had formed with Mia.
“You’ll just have to convince her that this is a real attachment, bachelor boy.”
“Like that’s going to happen easily.”
“I know you like a challenge. I suppose that’s why you subconsciously chose Mia. She’s your match.”
Match or no match, there was a lot that had to happen before they could be officially together. “She could say no.” That scared the hell out of him. Then he would slowly go crazy. That wasn’t the future he’d planned for himself.
“She could.” They stepped through the sliding glass doors of the building and walked along the corridor to the offices that over looked the harbor area. “No risk, no gain.”
One of the dragon mottos that Argo was beginning to dislike.
“So, did it work?” Kallin asked as they walked into the meeting room.
“Better than I thought possible,” answered Saphir with huge grin on her face.
“So let me guess, no meeting.” Argo put the trays down on the Jarrah wood table. He had a feeling he’d been completely set up, and he was cross with himself that he’d fallen for it. Though he now knew her name, Mia. And there was an excuse to go and see her again. He couldn’t help thinking that was a very good outcome, and a part of him had to show restraint from going back down there right now.
“There’s a meeting,” replied Kallin. “And you’re just in time before the others come. But first, when are you seeing her again?”
“I’m not,” Argo lied. His mind was already trying to come up with ideas of how he could get her away for the weekend. Even though he reasoned it would be the last time. Having fantastic sex made it hard not to change forms, so it would be very risky to have a weekend with Mia. Once she saw him change, he would be certain she’d not want to see him again.
“He is,” interrupted Saphir. “Starting with a coffee tomorrow.”
“A start.” Kallin looked thoughtful. “Make sure you have a break tomorrow for that coffee. And I expect that you make a date to see her again.”
Argo glared at his boss. “You can’t ask that of me.”
“Don’t care, I have.” Kallin smiled. “Apparently, you don’t really want a bachelor’s life, as otherwise you’d not have imprinted on her.”
“I’m sure that’s flawed logic.” Argo crossed his arms over his chest.
“Maybe, or maybe not. But you’ve got a much more dangerous future if you deny the imprint, which you made.” Kallin’s tone was serious. “You’ll go crazy if you ignore it, and I mean literally.”
Argo knew the consequences he’d be facing. If she rejects me then I’ll have no choice. A part of him was scared. How could’ve I let this happen?
“You have to try.” Kallin took a deep breath. “Now, be off. I have a meeting to get ready for, and Saphir, can you arrange the food, and get some water?”
Dismissed, and now ignored by them both, Argo gratefully left them. He went back to his office, knowing that with Mia on his mind, and the thought of a weekend away with her consuming him, even numbers wouldn’t be enough to distract him.