Free Taming the Dragon (Loved by the Dragon, #3) by Vivienne Savage Page B

alone. “We dragons often take time to consider matters of extreme importance without realizing the world continues to move around us.”
    “See, if you had said so from the beginning I would have at least had some warning.” His touch barely blunted her wariness, and through sheer will, Marcy kept her shields raised.
    “I understand.”
    She stared and waited, expecting some dismissive or haughty words to follow. When none came she cleared her throat and reached for a glass of water with her spare hand.
    “Do you plan to tell me what took so much of your concentration that you couldn’t open your mouth to talk to me?” she ventured after the waitress delivered her meal.
    “Yes. I pondered many things, including our existence together and whether you would allow me to pursue you. I asked myself if I wanted a human, and if I should invite you to stay with me,” Teo said.
    “Stay with you where?” Marcy withdrew her hand. She spread a linen napkin over her lap then took a bite of her food.
    “My home.”
    “You want me to come to your private residence?” Mercy folded her arms and leveled her eyes at him in disbelief.
    “Should that come as a surprise for you?” Teo’s bright green eyes mesmerized her, too brilliant a hue against his deeply tanned skin.
    She bit her lip and considered her options. With Chloe planning to return home to her husband, Marcy had no reason to remain on the island. She folded her arms against her chest and gazed into the sunlit afternoon.
    Temptation and the memory of his lips warred against the common sense telling Marcy to leave. A smarter woman would run away screaming and never return to the billionaire’s retreat. Or maybe, a smarter woman would investigate the matter to make an educated decision. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m ready to return to work. I’ve had a great two weeks here with Chloe.”
    Teo raised both brows. “What matter of importance awaits you greater than my offer of hospitality?”
    Marcy shook her head and rose from her seat. Her bouncy skirt shifted around her mid-thigh level, shorter than anything she’d ever worn besides a swimsuit. Chloe had talked her into the impulse buy from one of the resort’s shops, but the hope of Teo seeing her in it had prompted her to wear the sexy garment. Deep down, she’d hoped he would see her off.
    “No, thanks. Your island is gorgeous, but I need to get back to my life at home. Goodbye, Teo. It’s been nice, and I’m glad I helped you out with your business matters.”
    The dragon abruptly rose from his seat. “Please.”
    Marcy paused mid-turn and glanced over her shoulder to him.
    “Please, Marcy,” he said again. “Come back, enjoy your meal, and then stay with me.”
    Something about his earnest expression gave her reason to stop, but most of all, he’d said the one word she had never heard from his lips. A word she doubted he spoke often at all to anyone.
    “All right.”
    ***
    “I ’m not going back with you to California.”
    “You want Mahasti to drop you off at your apartment?” A line creased Chloe’s brow.
    “No, I mean... I’m staying here for another week.”
    “Oh! I’ll have VIP Services charge us for another week.”
    Marcy nibbled her lower lip. Anxiety fluttered in her belly until she considered calling the entire thing off. For as long as she and Chloe had been best friends, they had shared everything with each other from first kisses to losing their virginity.
    “I don’t need the room for a week. I’ll be at Teo’s house.”
    “Why the hell would you want to stay at Teo’s place?”
    Marcy cleared her throat and glanced back at the bed. Astrid lay sleeping with a peaceful expression on her youthful face. Her blonde curls fanned over the pillow and a couple tickled the darling child’s rosy cheeks.
    “It’s a long story.”
    “So summarize it and make it a short one,” Chloe encouraged her.
    “I kind of had sex with him.”
    Chloe took one look at her friend,