Page 33 of Retrograde

“I’m not tempted by the greed CEOs are,” I told her. “The gods blessed my family so we can keep dragons safe and that ismy priority always.” I thanked them all for coming and headed out.

“You might think that a line, but I’ve never met anyone who takes protecting people—even people she dislikes—as seriously as your queen does,” Davian told June. “That’s not a slight against my king because we sense more as wolves.

“You would sense if the others were uncomfortable and it would make you uncomfortable. Dragons don’t sense things that way, so your queen is a bigger shield. It’s truly impressive and has changed the hearts and minds of many of our people. Simply hearing she changed protocols for our heir—amazing.”

That was the last of what I heard, but it made me smile. It meant a lot to me because I knew Davian was telling the truth.

I honestly didn’t think the man had it in him to lie. He didn’t believe in it.

I had some time before dinner and the meeting after it and headed to my suite. I did a double take when Onyx was sitting there on the sofa. “Hi?”

He chuckled. “You gave permission for me to be here today after we had fun at lunch. I’m flying out in the morning back to Protesia, so I just wanted to get all the time with you that I could.”

I flushed fire dragon hot and felt even my ears burning, that was so sweet. I went over to him and kicked off my heels before curling up next to him. “What are you doing?”

“Saving ideas for your suite actually,” he answered, shrugging when I blinked at him. “I have decorated places and apartments before.”

“Do we know each other well enough that you’d know my style?” I worried.

He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss. “They’re just ideas. Make them yours or ignore them. I won’t be offended or hurt.”

Yeah, he so wasn’t anything like Kole, and I hated that I still worried about that—even thought it.

“Want to see the lamp I ordered for my nightstand?” I smiled when he nodded and pulled out my phone.

Onyx loved it and said he was going to look into the artist because he was a fan of blending tech cool with pretty like that.

We looked over things for a while, but I wasn’t surprised when our phones were down and we were focused on each other. I was half naked as he carried me to the bedroom.

“You do need better sheets,” he grumbled as he laid me down, nodding when I frowned. “My gorgeous queen needs much finer things.” He leaned in and kissed me. “Is this the color you like? I’ll handle it and—”

“Onyx, talk about my bedding later,” I chuffed, wound up and needing.

Heat flashed in his eyes. “Say it again.”

I licked my lips and shook my head, turned on that he liked hearing me say his name so much.

“Playing with fire, baby girl,” he warned but then snorted.

Yeah, fire dragon. All the puns there.

He had me off the bed, smacked my ass in “punishment,” and then I was fully naked before I tracked it all. It was unreal, and he had definitely been with a lot of women to be that smooth.

Best not to think about that.

Though it was hard not to say something… Until he took off his pants. Then I didn’t give a shit about anything else.

“I’m glad we’re taking things slower no matter how desperate I am to have you,” he said before kneeling on the bed in only his boxer briefs. He chuckled when I didn’t respond, completely focused on his body. “Fuck, that’s the boost I needed that you’re into me too.”

I cleared my throat and moved into the middle of the bed. “You know how attractive you are.”

He gave a half shrug and moved with me. “A million people can say something, but it only matters what I think and the person I want to be with thinks.”

Oh, that was advice hidden for me in something sweet. I liked it and licked my lips. “You were saying?”

“My dragon needs something and I’m struggling to keep him from being more… Aggressive with you.”

“Why?” I asked, truly curious.