19. Adrian

NINETEEN

Adrian was informed that his beloved had been shown the queen's quarters once his meetings finally concluded.

This filled the dragon king with elation. The idea of his mate, his woman, his everything, finally settling into the castle, truly nurtured his fiery soul.

He traveled up the multitude of steps through the vast hallways, arrived at the chambers, and knocked on the door with restraint.

"Come in."

Adrian's heart galloped at the sight of Chloe snuggled up by the window with a book in her lap. Her long, silky hair draped over her shoulder, dusk spilling inward in a vivid silhouette over her frame.

She looked up at him when he entered, her sublime eyes sparkling.

He went to her and motioned toward the book sitting in her lap.

"So I forgot to tell you about the royal library," he said, taking a seat next to her on the cushion adoring the sill.

"I was going to ask if you had one of those, actually," Chloe said. "I'm sure it's not more impressive than Callum's, though."

Adrian chortled. "I could fit ten of Callum's libraries inside mine," he said, noting the surprise on Chloe's face. "No. I have a feeling you're going to lose yourself inside of it."

Chloe closed the book and placed it aside, shuffling toward him with a salacious gaze.

"You barely know what a librarian is, yet you have a library ten times as big as Callum's?"

"In my defense, I don't use it very often," Adrian said, trailing off.

Adrian reached his hand out and caressed the smooth marble of her skin, his fingers roaming around the flawless curve of her face.

Her lips pulsed a succulent radiant red as his thumb wandered along the ridges of her mouth. She flashed him a sly grin as he pulled her in close, their mouths colliding and igniting a firestorm of desire.

While Adrian was completely ready to devour her, he managed to summon the controlled part of him and pull back from the magnetic kiss.

He was beyond content to see the way Chloe's eyes had dilated, and her breathing was jagged with arousal. He loved the way her breasts rose and fell, the wash of flushed, rosy pink disappearing between the delicious divide in her bosom.

The dragon king stroked her cheeks while she stared at him with a tinge of impatience.

"I have a date planned for us tonight," he whispered, his voice velvet soft. "Come with me, won't you? I will feast on you later."

She adjusted her glasses, which were slightly fogged from their brief bout of lustful indulgence. Adrian knew when she was feeling self-conscious. The sex kitten part of her evaporated, replaced by a hand-wringing, jittering mess.

It bewildered him to no end.

"Does this look okay, though?" She smoothed out her clothing, hands rising to tangle in the ruins of her hair. "Maybe I should change …"

He caught her by the wrists, then brought his mouth to the front of her exposed chest. He fluttered delicate kisses over the blushing skin. "You are perfect, Chloe," he whispered. "Just as you are."

She bit her lip at him, her breathing rate increasing to arousal levels once more.

"At least let me freshen up a bit," she insisted, moving to the bathroom.

He longed for her to see the immaculate goddess that he saw.

When Chloe was finished, he guided her through the great hallways, led her down to the lobby, and then sauntered out into the dying light. There was a helicopter waiting for them, ready to whisk them off to one of the most extravagant restaurants in the nearest large city.

"Holy shit," Chloe muttered.

They soared through the dusty twilight, with Chloe gripping the king's hand through the entire flight. Lights from below dazzled with a vivid, neon shine as the helicopter landed on the top of the tallest and most affluent buildings in the entire region, eclipsing the smaller, medieval buildings of the dragon town they had left behind.

It was exclusive to those with astronomical wealth, which Adrian had. He could tell by her face that it was unlike anything Chloe had ever seen. The entire skyscraper was a 118-story building with smooth and aesthetically pleasing heat-strengthened glass, whose tone shifted in shades and shimmered in a technicolor dreamscape. There was a rooftop restaurant, an observation deck, an indoor and outdoor pool, and an exceptional amount of office space.

The entire look had a modern, majestic feel inspired by Malaysian art. Adrian had known the architect and contributed his own finances to aid in its construction some fifty years before.

Chloe was rendered speechless as they made their way to the rooftop restaurant, where their private lounge area was sectioned off. They were given the best view of the city glittering below while they observed quietly.

"This is … captivating," she said as they sat.

"Isn't it?" Adrian replied, feeling pleased by his decision. "Come now, let's celebrate."

Adrian ordered the finest champagne and then helped Chloe select from the luxurious menu.

She appeared to be enjoying herself while still reluctantly embracing the glamor of the evening. It was instilled in her, and he had to accept some of that. She was human, after all. He had more than a century to smooth out a lot of his own shortcomings.

"How do you feel about all of this?" he asked her.

She held an empty shell of a pricey oyster and tilted it in the light. It winked back and forth, and she shrugged her shoulders as she responded.

"I'm not used to it. I am used to struggling paycheck to paycheck and having small rewards like ordering pizza on a Friday. I am not sure how to adjust to all of this."

That response gave Adrian pause, yet she went on with a wide and pleasing smile.

"But I am more than willing to go along on the ride. I mean, who is going to complain about being flown out on a helicopter and spoiled like this?"

They chuckled together. She was gorgeous in the fading light, those red lips calling to him with a sultry whimper.

The dragon king beamed. "I am exhilarated to hear that," he said, sipping at his champagne.

As they finished their meals, talking of subjects pertaining to shifter royalty, Chloe once again surprised him. It was one of the many features of her character that he found riveting.

"Can you tell me about your parents?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest and leaning against the table. "I'm curious about where you come from, though I know it's different for you …"

Adrian felt his expression tighten. She instantly reached out for his hand and squeezed it with a concerned reverence.

"I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said that …"

"No, it's completely fine," he responded, cupping his free hand with hers. "I sorely miss my parents, and I enjoy talking about them. It keeps their memory alive."

She smiled at him. Her cheeks were like plump, fresh apples.

"Only if you feel comfortable," she whispered sweetly.

Could she be any more perfect?

"They were wonderful parents," he went on, settling back into his seat, their hands still glued together on the table. "I had an extraordinary childhood. But they both were taken from me entirely too early. Especially for dragon standards."

Chloe ran her fingers over his knuckles as he went on, the touch a remedy for his eternal wound.

"My mother contracted an incredibly rare virus. Her death was sudden and shook our entire world. Then, my father died from heartache, which often happens with shifters. It terrified me to see him wither away like that. That created the part of me that was closed off to finding anything similar."

She nodded, sympathy causing her beautiful blues to glass over. He leaned forward, thoughtfully losing himself in her gaze.

"But, Chloe, everything has changed since meeting you. You pried the armor off my heart. And despite my fears, I am stripped of those shields. I am madly in love with you, and I want nothing more than to enjoy life with you by my side."

Adrian felt for a moment that he had crossed a line. His words had poured off him like a torrent, unruly and raging. But she did not turn from him. Chloe leaned forward even more and gave him a soft smile.

"I would feel beyond blessed to have that kind of life with you, Adrian."

He let out a sigh that lifted a thousand-pound weight off his shoulders. Then his hand roamed below the table, found her bare thighs, and began to wander north.

"Chloe."

"Yes?" she breathed.

"I want you," he hissed.

They finished the rest of their meal in record time before flying back to the castle, where they spent a full day entangled in each other.