11. Chapter Eleven

"I'm scared."

Sasha stared at me from over the top of her milkshake. "What are you afraid of? That you'll fall madly in love with The Dragon Prince, and get to move out of your step-monster's house? I'm not seeing the problem here, Amara."

I braced my elbow against the table and held my face with my palm. "I think she's getting suspicious. She was standing outside of my door. If she finds him in there ..."

"She'll what?" she asked. "Kick Dorran out. Yeah," she snorted. "Right."

"I'm not afraid she'll be mean to him. I'm afraid she'll be mean to me." I snagged a fry from her plate and took a bite. "Dorran stole my father's will."

Sasha's eyes widened. "No flipping way. Way to go, Dorran."

"No," I hissed. "What if she notices? She'll instantly blame me—,"

"Why don't you just knock her in her boob, maybe it'll deflate," she said with a shrug. "What does Dorran want with the will?"

I glanced over my shoulder to check on my tables. "He wants to see if his lawyer can find a way for me to get out of the will."

"Any luck?"

"That was last night. I guess I'll hear from him."

"Can't you text him?"

I nibbled on my bottom lip. I went from innocent, never being touched by a boy, to having one on top of me in bed, and I didn't even have his phone number.

"I don't have it," I whispered.

Sasha laughed over her food. "I like this Amara."

I tossed a fry at her face. "Don't get used to it. I still think I'm going to wake up from this dream and realize it was in fact, just a dream."

Sasha leaned across the table and thumped my forehead. "Nope, you're awake."

When I got home from my shift at the restaurant I walked into a full house. It was the worst feeling to have all three of them at home at once.

The smell of the food I put into the crock pot wafted toward me, making my stomach growl. Zella glanced up from her phone and quirked an eyebrow at me. "Look who it is," she mumbled. "Prince Dorran's favorite waitress."

I did the best I could to keep the smile off my face.

Stasa snorted. "Yeah right. He just needed his check."

I felt my stepmother's eyes on the side of my face as I opened the crock pot lid and began to shred the chicken.

I turned to grab a plate when I noticed a Doberman sitting at the corner of the kitchen island. I shrieked and jumped back as he growled at me.

"When did we get a dog?"

My stepmother walked around, patted him on the head, and grabbed a plate from the cabinet. "Today. I've been feeling like the house is being watched lately. I thought I heard someone in your room again last night—,"

Zella laughed. "Mom, seriously? Do you think someone would sneak in to see Amara? Even I think you're hearing things."

She turned her gaze from Zella to me, and the look sent shivers down my spine. "I noticed the nails. How would someone be in my room?"

She shoved me out of the way of the crock pot.

"Maybe it"s The Dragon Prince," Stasa said while scrolling through her phone.

I hid my face while getting the plates and utensils down. "I just need to heat the tortillas and everything will be ready," I said.

They changed the subject as I finished dinner, grabbed my plate, and made my way upstairs. The pressure of my step-monster's gaze lingered well after I shut the door behind me.

My nerves were all over the place.

She bought a damn dog.

I didn't even know she liked animals.

I always assumed she killed them as a child.

The afternoon went by slowly as I cleaned the kitchen, and sorted through our laundry. After my shower, and thirty minutes of work for my college class, I found myself anticipating his arrival.

I tried not to get myself worked up, because I had no guarantee that he would come. Closing my eyes, I leaned back against my pillow and imagined what it would be like at the ball on Friday.

To dance with Dorran?

Would it be the dream that I thought it would be?

Or would my step-monster attempt to ruin that for me too?

I knew not to take any liquid from either of my stepsisters again.

Fingertips danced against my window, and my excitement soared. Dorran gestured his head down the hallway, but I leaped up and walked toward the glass. "She bought a dog," I whispered. "She heard us last night."

Dorran lifted an eyebrow, but it never seemed to stop him. He disappeared from the window, and I listened for a sign of him.

Moments later my door opened and Dorran walked inside.

My breath hitched as he offered me his hand. The muscles in his coiled forearm flexed and he wiggled his fingers. "You coming, Little Mouse?"

I swung my feet to the floor. "Where is the dog?"

"Asleep. I have a way with dogs."

I quirked a brow and went to grab some pants, but Dorran swept me into his arms. The breath in my lungs hitched, his scent heavy in the air, drowning me in a deep desire.

Dorran carried me to the open window in the bathroom.

"Wait," I hissed. "I can't go out there. What if she comes to check—,"

Dorran's green eyes sparkled. There always seemed to be some kind of mischief lingering on his face. "I have it taken care of."

Fingers curled around the windowsill from the outside, and a dragon guard formed in the window. "Toby here is going to go lay in your bed and cover up. If she comes, she'll see you sleeping."

Reluctantly, I nodded and stepped back so he could crawl inside. It was odd how graceful such a huge person could be.

The guard had white blond hair, deep black eyes, and a similar mischievous smile. Maybe it was a dragon thing? Or maybe he found one guard that loved a little bit of trouble.

"Right across the hallway, Toby. We won't be long."

"Don't rush on my account. I'll knock her out if she comes in too far," he said with a wink.

Dorran climbed out of the window, held onto the side, and opened his other arm for me. "Come on now. You've been sneaking onto this roof and breaking the law for years. Don't stop now because you're scared to be alone with me?"

A fevered blush brushed against my skin.

Placing my foot against the wall, I lifted myself onto the windowsill, and Dorran did the rest. One moment I was inside, and then next I was in his arms, being flown to the roof of our house.

The cool September air bit at my skin, and formed goosebumps on my flesh. Dorran gently landed, keeping me tucked into his wing.

"I should have put on pants," I whispered, my teeth chattering. "This t-shirt isn't long enough."

Dorran chuckled. "On the contrary, Amara. It's too long in my opinion. But don't worry, just because my mother is an overbearing Dragon Queen, doesn't mean I wasn't raised with some etiquette. I brought a blanket for you, and I'll gladly warm you up in any way possible."

As my eyes adjusted to the night, I noticed the promised blanket, and basket a few feet away. Sitting down, I brought the blanket over me and relaxed in the warmth.

Dorran sat down beside me, his wing wrapped around my back, keeping the wind from hitting my face. "So, what brought on this impromptu roof meeting?"

"Meeting? I mean, I thought you knew me better than that, I have tasted you—,"

"Stop," I hissed, trying to stop the humiliation.

Dorran's dark chuckle slid over me. He opened the basket and offered me a chocolate-covered strawberry. "Glendora makes these for me every night. As I began to eat one in my room, I wondered what you would look like eating one of these. How your mouth would move, and then my dragon became restless."

Eyeing the strawberry, I plucked it from his fingertips and took a generous bite. I closed my eyes at the sweet taste of the chocolate as it slid down my throat.

When the silence greeted me, I looked up at Dorran and his eyes were flaming red. I nearly jumped back from him, both hands on the roof, my chest heaving with steady breaths.

Dorran chuckled. "I told you he likes you, Amara."

Leaning forward, he swept his tongue across my bottom lip and tasted me. Dorran suddenly sat up and cracked his neck. "Sorry. I wanted to tell you that my lawyer is looking over the will and should get back to me in a couple of days."

"That's good. I've been on pins and needles waiting. I want out so bad."

"What happened to your dad?"

"Plane crash."

Dorran grabbed another strawberry and held it to my lips. "Your mother?"

"She died when I was small due to an illness."

I trapped the strawberry with my teeth and swallowed a bite. "Aren't you going to have any?"

He shook his head, the same smile in place. "My prize is watching you eat them, Little Mouse."

"Will there be these at the ball?"

"I can make sure there are for you. I'm friends with the cook."

Nodding, I took another bite and curled into myself. "Do you do this with other girls?"

I hated myself as soon as I said it.

I knew enough about the dos and don'ts not to say that, and yet, there I was, looking like an insecure teenager.

His emerald eyes twinkled in the moonlight. "You want to know if I sneak into other women's houses, Amara? No, I don't. Do I go out and try to openly date? Hell no. The girls out there are savages."

"You just follow women home that break the law?" I asked.

"Only when my dragon tells me to, and they look like you." I glanced down at the strawberry wedged between my fingertips.

The confidence I wanted to have had been emotionally sucked out of me over the years. As a girl, I was a spitfire. Ready with a witty comeback, and full of pride.

I could be her again. Couldn"t I?"What else does your dragon tell you to do?"

Dorran eyed me suspiciously, his gaze lowered to my mouth as I took another bite, and swallowed.

"You're a tease, aren't you Little Mouse?"

I smirked.

In one second Dorran had me on my back, the stars and moon above me, and Dorran between my legs. My entire body froze. His mouth lingered against the skin of my neck. "My mark would look damn good on your skin, Amara. But until then, how about a bite? Or a suck. A lick?"

Dorran nipped a path down my neck to the top of my shirt. He mumbled something under his breath and lowered his mouth to my breast, the fabric between us.

The warmth from his mouth heated my skin.

Lust pooled in between my legs.

My fingers tightened around his deltoids, and I moaned shamelessly loud. Dorran's wings fluttered outward for protection, and he sucked my nipple through the fabric of my shirt.

"Oh ..." I mumbled.

Dorran sucked harder, lifting his thigh, he placed it against the throbbing ache between my legs. My back arched. It was freedom. It was fan-freaking-tastic.

Dorran palmed my hip, and slowly slid his palm up my stomach to the other nipple, capturing it between his rough fingertips. A heavy pressure built in my stomach, and a wave of molten lava crashed over me.

I released.

Right there on the roof.

In front of The Dragon King. Because of The Dragon King.

I halted, embarrassment stinging me like bees.

Dorran's chest vibrated, and a deep growl escaped from him. When he pulled up, his eyes were red, and his dragon was in control. I couldn't speak. I watched his muscles flex, and the sheer desire on his face.

Curling his finger around the side of my panties, he began to lower them, licking his lips as he planned to taste me when he stalled as if something caught his attention that I didn't notice

"Boss."

Crap.

Dorran sat back on his knees and shook his head, tossing the blanket back over me. "What?" he hissed.

"The dog is waking," he whispered from the side of the house.

Dorran stood up swiftly, gathered me into his arms, and jumped in the air. The scream caught in my throat, and in two seconds, I was inside the bathroom with Dorran leaning over me.

The counter pressed into my back, and he laced his fingers around the back of my neck, and his gaze lowered to my peeked nipples. "I'll see you tomorrow, Little Mouse. Hopefully with news on how to get you out of here so I can do exactly what I want to do with you."

I swallowed. "If you're lucky."

Dorran smiled. "Something tells me that I am."