The Sapphire Dragon Read Free Page A

whisper came to her in a loud hiss. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
    “Of course not.” She scowled down at him. “Do you want me to come down there or not?” She paused halfway down. “Because I don’t have a problem climbing right back up there. April hates it when we parade around in pants while her guests are here. I come down this way or I don’t come down.”
    “Oh.” He grinned up at her, his blue eyes twinkling in the light of the moon.
    She frowned for a moment. “Why does it look as though your eyes are glowing?”
    “It must just be the way the light from your room is hitting them,” he answered with a shrug. “I’ve been told before that they look like they glow. It used to bother one of my dates when I was younger. She always said it freaked her out.”
    “I can see why.” She jumped the last three feet to the ground, turned and looked up at him. “They’re beautiful, though.” She frowned. “Guys shouldn’t have such gorgeous eyes.”
    “You think my eyes are gorgeous?”
    “Is there something wrong with that?”
    “Nothing.” Smiling, Jarrod shook his head. That lock of hair fell over his eyes again and he reached up to push it back with a grin. “There’s nothing wrong with that at all.”
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    Jarrod held out his arm and waited for Daisy to take it. He wondered if she would or if he’d have to lead her into the garden with his hands in his pockets. He hoped not. His fingers practically itched to touch her.
    He’d never felt this way about a female in his life. There was no doubt that she was his mate. Still, how would he manage to get her to fall in love with him without lying to her at every turn?
    The last thing he wanted to do was lie to her. He abhorred liars and that was exactly what he’d become to trick Daisy Flowers into spending time with him.
    “I think I could convince your sister to let you skip out on tomorrow night’s festivities. I have been out of the country for quite some time and I’ve known Drake forever.”
    “Forever?” Daisy shook her head with a smile. “Forever is a long time and you don’t look that old.”
    She didn’t mention that she knew Drake was a dragon and that forever could mean a thousand or more years.
    Jarrod didn’t mention it either. That was something better left unsaid for at least a while longer. If he admitted that he knew what Drake was, she would know that Jarrod was also a dragon. He couldn’t afford that snag yet.
    As much as he hated the deception, Jarrod knew he must continue on his present course. She had to come to care for him first or she would run when she found out. The last thing she wanted was a relationship with a dragon. Drake had told him that much.
    “I’m old enough,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ve been neighbors since I was a boy.” It relieved Jarrod that he could be honest with her about that. As April said, he wasn’t really lying, but he wasn’t telling her the whole truth either.
    “I’d love to get out of this house if you think you can manage it.” She stopped walking and looked down at the ground. “Do you think he would let us go without body guards?”
    “I’m sure he would.” Jarrod took the opportunity to look up at the sky. “He knows I’m well-versed in martial arts if it’s your protection he’s worried about.”
    “It is.” She ran the tip of her tongue along her lips. “He’s certain that someone is trying to harm us.” She shook her head with a laugh. “Personally, I think if they wanted to hurt us, they would have done so instead of taking those damning pictures.”
    Her eyes widened for a moment and she pressed her lips together as though she realized she’d said more than she intended. “Maybe we should go inside and ask him.”
    “What about your attire?” He swept his hand in front of them indicating her state of dress, or undress as her sister might call it.
    “I’ll climb back up to my room, change and meet you in the