Free Mated by the Dragon by Vivienne Savage Page B

I’d come out this ti—”
    Saul plucked the phone from Chloe’s hands. “Mister Ellis, I presume?” Swinging one hand out, she tried to swipe the mobile phone back from Saul. She failed when he pivoted on a foot to avoid her, placed a hand atop her head, and held her away at arm’s length. “It is my deep and profound pleasure to at last make your acquaintance. Chloe and I shall drive to your familial reunion post haste. Expect our arrival by the morrow.”
    “ Saul, ” she gritted out between her teeth.
    “I look forward to introductions as well. Good afternoon, Mister Ellis.”
    “You big jerk! Why did you do that?” Chloe demanded.
    Saul dropped her phone into her open palm, apparently oblivious to her angry words. “A road trip! This is very exciting. Are you not anxious to begin our adventure? I certainly am.” Without another word or even an apology, Saul strode from the room as if they were preparing for an epic quest. She sighed and dropped her brow into one palm.
    Too bad pregnancy meant booze was off the table.
     

Chapter 7
     
    Mahasti packed their bags while Leiv prepared the car. Chloe and Saul arrived in the garage in time to find him standing mournfully beside the spotless vehicle, as if he had been denied his one true joy. Chuckling gently, Chloe slid into the driver’s seat and accepted the keys from the distraught man.
    “Are you certain you do not require a driver?”
    “Chloe is quite capable behind the wheel,” Saul cheerfully replied. “Enjoy your time alone with Mahasti. Please.”
    Chloe adjusted the rearview mirror as she drove away. Mahasti had leaned against the side of her bear shifter lover as if to console him. “Christ. You’d think that we stole his baby from him.”
    “He often feels that he does not do enough for the estate.”
    “What? If he did anything more for you, he’d be sleeping with me at night, too,” Chloe muttered.
    Saul snorted to conceal his amusement. The thought must have crossed his mind at some point. Grinning, Chloe glanced over to appraise her boyfriend. He didn’t know the first thing about selecting human clothing, but she and Mahasti had put him together well. An unbuttoned, maroon shirt revealed a grey t-shirt beneath it, worn over his dark jeans. For the first time since she’d first met him in the cave, he’d pulled his hair back. It suited him, even if she did long to run her fingers through his golden strands.
    Saul made good company during the ride. He teased and sated her curiosity about his earliest attempts to masquerade as a human, and inevitably queried her about the human race in hopes of perfecting his act.
    “You should know everything there is to know about us by now, Saul. Aren’t you over four hundred years old?”
    “The opportunity to learn is ever present, Chloe. Anyone who claims to possess all knowledge proves they are only a fool.”
    “It’s so hot when you look at me that way.” God, she loved his cocky, uneven grin and the way one corner of his mouth raised a little higher than the other.
    While Saul remained awake for most drives and even their flight, he slept hard as a baby most of the drive to Vegas and only awakened when Chloe sped off the main road for a stop at a restaurant her father introduced to her during her most recent visit over the holidays.
    “What? Where are we? Is this Las Vegas?” he asked blearily.
    “Even better. It’s El Rey Burger.”
    The Mexican-influenced diner, a sinful delight that featured deliciously tall hamburgers, held local renown for its special salsa and condiments. She stretched her legs and graciously took the chance to fill her belly.
    I wonder if as many other couples bond over food the way we do? He’d be a thousand pounds if he wasn’t a dragon, Chloe thought while snickering into her drink.
    “Will you not tell your father we have arrived safely?” Saul inquired. He studied the ridiculously tall burger and took a large bite, a pleased expression surfacing