Chapter 19

After grabbing a piece of hot bread slathered in freshly made butter and a glass of milk for breakfast, Ciel headed for the library. She sat in Argenis's large leather chair and rubbed her hands over the polished desk top, fighting the urge to stretch out on it. Glancing around, she took in the grandeur of the room, with all the gleaming wood panels and bookshelves.

Her eyes widened. There, in a patch of sun near a large window, sat a desk that hadn't been there before. She jumped to her feet and hurried over. A smaller version of his desk, the newest addition, held an old-fashioned typewriter. Ciel pressed a key tentatively. The smack of the key against the roller made her jump. Who needed one of those fancy clicky-clack keyboards?

Taking a seat in the smaller leather chair, she opened the drawers and found a supply of pens and pencils in the middle drawer and paper in one on the side. There was a leather wrapped journal that was so soft to her touch. It would be a perfect diary.

Why hadn't she thought of logging all the events when the change had occurred? Probably because she was too occupied with getting home and then adjusting to being a dragon's mate. She opened it and hesitated.

She could use it to gather her thoughts for the book Argenis had suggested she write. She knew Aurora loved the same books she did. If it didn't suck too bad, she bet her friend would enjoy reading a spicy age play story. If, Ciel was brave enough to share it.

Grabbing a pen from the drawer, she pressed the notebook flat and started brainstorming. She didn't want to write about dragon Daddies that was too close. Aurora would suspect that every sex scene she wrote was about her and Argenis's activities.

Could she write a sex scene? Of course she could. She had the best inspiration.

Maybe she'd just start with regular people with normal qualities. Well, larger than normal measurements for some things. Giggling, she decided to set the story back in the time that technology worked. At the beginning, everyone expected the breakdown to be short-lived. Now weeks later, if the lights suddenly went on, it would spark a big celebration because it was so unexpected. Everyone seemed to have accepted that this was their new reality.

Pushing the negative thoughts from her mind, she sketched out a rough plot idea. Her pen flying over the paper as she tried to capture all the tidbits that jumped into her mind. When she sat back in her chair, she looked at all the notes she'd taken. It sounded great. She wanted to read that story.

Ciel glanced at the typewriter next to her. That would be the next challenge. How did she even put the paper in that thing? Paper did fit somewhere inside, right?

"Want me to show you?" her mate's deep voice made her look over at his desk.

How long had he been there?

"Argenis?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.

He stood and walked toward her. "You've been at it for a few hours. I was just about to stop you for a lunch break."

Her stomach growled at the thought of food. Ciel slapped a hand over her stomach to muffle the sound.

"Second thought. Lunch first. Typewriter conquest later." He held a hand out for hers and pulled her from the chair. "Did you enjoy your morning?"

"It was so much fun. I had no idea so much time had flown past. How was your morning?"

"Very good. I made a quick stop." He set a small bottle of correction fluid next to the typewriter.

"What's that?"

"it's like fingernail polish but for whiting out mistakes on paper."

"Oh, crap. There's no autocorrect either, is there?"

"There's a dictionary in the bottom drawer," Argenis said with laughter in his beautiful eyes.

"I don't suppose you're a spelling champion, are you?"

"Dragon."

As he ushered her to the door, she peeked up at him. "Does that mean yes?"

"It means superior species."

"How do you spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?"

"Dragons don't bother with made-up words."

"You don't know, do you?"

"Not a clue," he admitted easily, making her laugh.

When they sat in the dining room munching on sandwiches and drinking tart lemonade, she invited, "So, tell me what's going on in the world of dragons."

"The town's people have announced a cotillion will be held every year to help the dragons find their mates. They are mandating all single people over the age of eighteen to attend."

"How about a ninety-year-old widow? Does she have to go?"

"She is invited. Everyone in Wyvern is."

"A cotillion? Isn't that a fancy dress dance?"

"I know what you are thinking. Shopping is very limited now. No one will be turned away. In addition, several women's groups have offered to make dresses for anyone who needs something to wear."

"That's nice of them." Her mind immediately went to her wardrobe. She had a couple of nice dresses. She even had a bridesmaid dress that could stand in for a long, fancy party dress. Maybe. It was pretty ugly.

"Abby is already working on something for you. Feel free to talk to her."

"That's so sweet of her. Thanks."

"No gloves," he mandated.

"No gloves?" she repeated in confusion.

His hand reached for hers. Sweeping his fingers over the dragon figure on her skin, he sent a cascade of sensations through her.

"Oh."

"Everyone needs to know that you belong to me."

"I won't look at anyone else."

"You will not," he admitted. "The mate bond is only breakable by death. You are mine."

She couldn't help the corners of her mouth from twitching upward. His prehistorical cave dragon claiming was so cute. "You'll have to dance with me then. I love to dance."

"Definitely, you will only dance with me. We will practice after lunch before you dive back into your sexy story."

"What will we do for music?"

"I've got that covered, too."

"Your valuable collector's items?" she teased.

"Exactly. Drink your lemonade. You'll need the sugar boost."