In a Dragon’s Dream by Riley Storm Page 0,23

stronger than this.

Though he tried hard to convince himself of that for the rest of the time Laura was on the phone, the truth was, Rakell wasn’t entirely sure that he was stronger. She’d had complete control of him during their kiss. Anything she’d wanted, he would have done. All she’d had to do was ask.

“So,” Laura said, coming out of her office, looking anywhere except right at him. “Lunch?”

The prospect of food immediately helped distract him from his internal tumbling thoughts. Reaching for it like a lifeline, Rakell nodded quickly.

“Lunch would be…good,” he agreed, hoping she hadn’t caught the hitch in his voice when he tried to speak. What would Laura think of a dragon shifter who lost his composure over a kiss? Not much, most likely.

She can’t know you’re actually a shifter. Don’t forget that.

He hadn’t. Rakell was going to put out some feelers soon, try and pick up what he could about who had told Laura their secret. He needed to close that security loophole.

“Okay, great,” Laura said. “I know this great little restaurant pub place. You’ve probably never heard of it though,” she added.

Rakell frowned. “What do you mean by that? It’s Five Peaks, there aren’t exactly a plethora of places to go. Where is it?”

“New place, only been open a month or so,” she added. “Just off Main Street. It’s called the Dragon’s Eye Pub, if you recognize it.”

She looked at him square on.

“Sounds vaguely familiar,” he said with a shrug, rolling his eyes. “Though I don’t know why you’re acting all weird about it.”

He very carefully did not grin as Laura spluttered. “I am not acting weird,” she retorted.

“Time to go?” he asked, getting back on track.

He waited while Laura put on her white coat. It wasn’t a winter parka, but it looked thick and comfortable nonetheless. Rakell, meanwhile, was perfectly fine in the form-fitting dress shirt he wore and plain black slacks. It wasn’t typical dragon attire but, after the fight in the cave, he’d felt the need to look sharp for Laura.

While she got ready, he went to the back door, pushing it open and holding it. Laura smiled, inclining her head in thanks and brushed by him on the way out. Rakell stiffened slightly as he got a whiff of her perfume, sweet and light, not too strong. A hint of something that tantalized, but didn’t overwhelm.

It was addictive, as far as he was concerned, and Rakell wanted more. More of it, more of her.

“Do you mind if we walk?” she asked when he caught up to her, falling in at her side, making sure to keep just enough space in between them to be proper.

“Not at all,” he said as they slipped around her car, shuddering at the memory of being cooped up inside like a lab rat. “Not. At. All.”

Laura caught his meaning and laughed. “Oh, right. Sorry about that.”

Rakell shrugged. What more was there to say? For her, he’d get in an even smaller vehicle. Reluctantly, but he would do it.

“Thank you for concentrating on being my bodyguard,” Laura said after they’d gone half a block, interrupting the peaceful silence that had come over them. “It’s a relief knowing you’re focused on your job, and not anything else.

Rakell schooled his features into a neutral mask at that very loaded comment. Was she being truthful there? Or perhaps rebuking him politely for kissing her, saying that she did not want anything more? Maybe she was testing the waters, seeing if it had just been a fluke on his end, or if he wanted more from her.

A smile threatened to bloom on his face as he thought of the perfect retort, something he’d been considering bringing up anyway. Now he had to, because it would just be far too much fun if he didn’t.

“Well, I have been thinking,” he said, keeping his head straight, emotions under control as best he could. “There is something else you could help me with.”

It was impossible not to notice Laura stiffen next to him at that. He could only see her out of the corners of his eyes, but she too was keeping her gaze straight ahead. More so, after his equally cryptic reply.

“Oh?” she asked, trying to sound innocent and oblivious. “What’s that?”

Nice try. I know you leaned into that kiss as much as I did. I’m not falling for that.

“Only if you wanted to,” he said, giving her an out—though she would have to forgo knowing what it was he wanted if