Treasured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #10) - Jessie Donovan Page 0,22

awkward silences since Blake would focus on the food, and then they could talk about it afterward.

It also gave her a chance to study Blake for a bit.

With his eyes covered by the dark material, his face looked a little more rugged. And not just because of the stubble on his cheeks.

It took her a second to figure out what it was, and then it hit her—his eyes were almost always wary, as if someone was going to ask him something uncomfortable.

Probably something to do with his dragon.

Gah, Dawn wanted to see him shift so badly, knowing full well it might scare her a little at first. And yet she knew that couldn't happen until after the frenzy since Sasha had explained that a dragon-shifter needed to embrace their inner beast to change forms. And that was impossible with a dragon roaring to claim their true mate.

As Blake lifted the first spoonful of a dark purple concoction to his mouth, she pushed all other thoughts away and focused on the piece of cutlery at his lips.

Lips that were firm and yet soft, she remembered. Their accidental kiss seemed a million years ago already.

He finally swallowed the food and thankfully didn't blanch. Sasha had helped her make everything, but there was still always the chance she'd put in too much salt or cooked it too long. "Well?"

He tilted his head, the light highlighting his short hair. Not too short—she could still run her fingers through it—but not overly long, either.

She was a bit of a fool, really, studying a blasted man's hair. That must be what happened to a woman who hadn't gone on more than a few dates in over a decade.

Blake finally spoke. "I want to say tomato soup, but a sort of spicy variety."

She smiled. "Ding-ding, you're correct! I've never made it from scratch before, and it's a little lumpy, but you're still right. I can't wait for you to see what color I made it."

He raised his eyebrows. "Can I take this blindfold off now?"

"Try at least one more, and then we'll see. It's kind of fun watching you fumble about."

He muttered, "So much for my bloody PhD."

And for a second, Dawn wondered if she'd planned this all wrong. She'd never gone to university because she'd married young and had spent so many years trying to conceive a child. Did someone like Blake need higher-minded activities?

However, before doubt could set in, he smiled and added, "Just know that turnabout is fair play. Your turn with the blindfold will come one day, Dawn. So wait for it."

Her doubts faded at Blake's smile. She was definitely worrying too much. "Noted. Now, stop stalling. The food is getting cold, and if any of it is only so-so now, it'll be even worse cold."

Snorting, he felt around to the next container. "Even us dragon-shifters have these fancy things called microwaves."

Even though he couldn't see it, she stuck her tongue out. "Just hurry up and eat, dragonman. I want some, too."

He scooped a black-colored sauce—Dawn's experiment to get blue had failed—and watch him eat again. When he nodded afterward, her heart sung a little.

Blake said, "This one is great, some kind of pasta sauce. Although adding pasta itself to the mix would make it better."

She eyed the last container, which contained green spaghetti noodles. "I did bring some pasta, too. Take off your blindfold, and let's eat because I think the noodles might be congealing."

He chuckled, the sound echoing in the small room. Blake tore off the blindfold and zeroed in on the dishes in front of him. He prodded said noodles with his spoon. "These might be inedible."

Her stomach rumbled. "At this point, I don't care."

Blake met her gaze, and she forgot all about her hunger. Or, at least the kind related to her stomach.

The dragonman was too handsome for his own good.

The usual wariness in his eyes was gone, replaced with concern. He stated, "Then come and eat. No female of mine should ever be hungry."

While she wasn't technically his yet, Dawn didn't feel the need to correct him.

No, after her silly second-date antics and Blake putting up with them in good fun, she knew more than ever she wanted a chance with him.

Maybe if she were more methodical, Dawn would've pondered that thought some more, let it sit, and merely enjoy the rest of the evening without any heaviness or complications.

Or, she would’ve talked to Blake about what so many people had told her, that frenzies always worked between