Chapter 35 The Dragon Tamed
Lawrence presses a tender kiss to my lips that makes me smile.
"That was beautiful," I say, sitting up slowly.
He rolls onto his back, folding his arms behind his head, and staring up at me with bedroom eyes.
"Yeah," he croaks, his voice still rough from everything we just did. "We should do it more often."
I giggle, then lean down to kiss his forehead. He closes his eyes at the contact.
"I like this look," I say softly, pulling back to study him.
"What look?"
"This." I gesture to his face—mussed hair falling over his forehead, eyes free of glasses, expression soft and vulnerable. Nothing like the Ice Dragon CEO who used to make me dread walking into the office.
He looks normal. Human. Adorably undone.
"You look sooo…" I reach out and squeeze his cheeks together gently. "…cute."
His lips twitch. "I wonder if you thought that about me a few minutes ago."
Heat rushes to my face as I slide off the bed to pick up his discarded shirt from the floor. "Oh, shut up."
Lawrence sits up, leaning against the headboard, watching me with lazy amusement as I slip the shirt on.
I love how huge it is on me. It makes my stomach flutter.
"We need to do something about my clothes situation," I say with a short laugh. "I have nothing to wear."
"We can get you clothes." He glances around for his phone. "I'll order some dresses in."
"Or…" I button the shirt halfway, the sleeves hanging past my hands. "I can tell Beverly to bring some of my stuff over after work. Or better yet, I can go pick them up myself."
Lawrence swings his legs over the side of the bed and stands, completely naked.
My eyes trail down his body as he bends to pull on his snug black briefs.
The man is built like a Greek statue. I have to look away before I forget how to speak.
"The former, please," he says smoothly, stepping closer and sliding his hands around my waist. "I like having you here with me."
I fix him with a look. "You're sure?"
He shrugs, "She already knows about us."
"How do you know that?"
He raises a brow. "It doesn't take much to figure out. I catch the way she glares at me when I pass her station. She thinks it's not obvious."
I giggle.
"Besides, I know she's your closest friend. Wouldn't have taken much for you to spill all the details to her."
"Well, you can't blame me," I say, poking his chest. "You were an ass, particularly to me."
"I know," he says, his voice softening with genuine regret. "And I promise to make it up to you."
"It better be good," I tease.
"Mmm." His eyes drop to where his shirt ends on my thighs. "I like seeing you in my shirt."
I blush again, swatting his arm lightly.
Lawrence chuckles, pressing one more kiss to my temple before stepping back.
"Text Beverly," he says, pulling on his slacks, then heading towards the door. "Tell her to bring what you need. I'll be in my office, working"
"Okay," I whisper, watching him go before falling back to bed and staring at the ceiling.
I'm smiling like an idiot because I did it.
I screwed my boss.
I don't know what this is yet. But it doesn't feel like a mistake.
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Later that afternoon, Beverly steps out of the private elevator, carrying two large duffel bags of my clothes, toiletries, and a few other things I'd asked for.
"Scar, oh my god," she whispers, dropping the bags and pulling me into a long, tight hug the second she sees me. "I hope you're okay."
She pulls back, her eyes scanning my face first, then the penthouse around us.
"Oh, my god."
Her brown eyes go wide as she turns the same way I did this morning.
Then she looks back at me and whispers, "Where's the dragon?"
I laugh softly. "Cooped up in his home office. Come on, it's just us here."
I take one of the bags from her. "Thanks for these."
We walk to the living room and sink onto the sectional.
"This place is ridiculous," she says, still staring.
"I know, right?" I reply, looking into the bag. "How's the office?" I ask.
"Going on just fine. Lawrence sent a message about your grandmother being sick. I know it's a lie because the only grandmother you have doesn't give two shits about your existence."
My maternal grandparents are dead, and my paternal ones cut my father off when he married my mother, who's part Asian. Good riddance to those racist fucks anyway.
"Yeah, he had to come up with something," I mutter.
"Susan's filling in for you, and she keeps wondering how you've been surviving all these years."
I tip an imaginary hat.
"Lawrence said in the message you'll be absent for a few weeks."
"A few weeks?" I say, surprised. "He didn't even talk to me about it yet. In a few days, I'll be back at the office."
She touches my arm. "Tell me what happened. I was so worried when I heard about Kieran's fall from Haven Hotels, and I knew you were out on a date with him that day." She shakes her head. "I can't believe that bastard was the one who tried to steal our encryption keys. The news is everywhere."
Her face falls into her palms as she groans. "And I pushed you to date him. I'm so sorry."
"Beverly, stop blaming yourself. You only wanted the best for me." I say softly.
I tell her everything that happened yesterday, including how Kieran admitted I was a pawn and how he almost killed me.
Beverly's face pales. "Jeez, are you sure you're fine?"
"I am," I squeak. "If not for Lawrence, Bev… I would've… I would've been a means to an end. I would've been used to destroy Law & Moore."
She squeezes my arm. "I'm so sorry, babe."
I smile weakly, changing the topic. "Can I get you something to eat or drink?" I get up, walking to the kitchen. Beverly follows.
"We have ice cream. A lot." I say, pulling open the fridge. "Lawrence kinda bought more than expected."
Beverly picks out butter pecan and stares at me with a knowing look. "There's a way you say his name now," she says, glancing down at my borrowed shirt. "Like you're together. And that's a nice shirt, by the way."
I shrug. "We're kinda together now. Lawrence is taking care of me."
"I can see that. You're glowing."
We walk back to the living room, Beverly eating her ice cream.
"But be careful. Are you sure you want to be with him now? I mean, you literally almost died yesterday."
"I'm fine, Bev."
She still watches me worriedly. "You know you can always come stay with me. I mean, sure, I don't have a 100-inch TV or stuff like this, but you're welcome anytime."
I smile warmly. "I know, Bev. Thank you."
She pauses again. "Have you slept with him yet?"
I blush. "My goodness, Beverly, there's no way I'm…"
"Oh. My. God, you have…" She chuckles, then pauses. "Oh my god, it wasn't too long ago, was it? That's why you told me to bring over your…"
She sets her ice cream down and picks up a throw pillow, hitting me with it. "You slut!"