When Dante had found a human mate, Adrien had been confused about how that worked, and he figured Dante might be able to enlighten him on a few topics of interest.
“Yes, I kissed her. So what now?”
Dante folded his arms, golden eyes narrowing. “What do you mean what now?”
“She’s a human. I’m a dragon. She has no idea who I am, and I can’t show her my form until I’m mated.”
“Well, that’s not exactly true,” Dante said. “I was able to get the ring off by simply demonstrating my intention to mate. I had to in order to save my mate.”
“Exactly,” Adrien said. “Not to mention you harassed the emerald dragon until he’d do anything to get you off his doorstep.”
“Grump that he is,” Dante muttered.
The door to the club opened, and Citrine appeared at the doorway. “You two ready for the staff meeting in a half an hour?”
“Yes, boss.” His tone was more than a little sarcastic. He turned back to Dante, ignoring Citrine, who walked forward. “So what now?”
“What do you mean what now?” Dante asked.
“How do I get from here to mated?” Adrien asked. “I don’t have the first idea how to court a human woman.”
“Back when Citrine was teaching us, didn’t you pay any attention?”
“Not really,” Adrien said, drawing a shocked gasp from Citrine, who swatted him on the back of the head. “Hey…”
Citrine sat on a chair across from them, his big body slumping. “I’ll be so glad when you are out of my hair.”
“I guess it’s good I found the one person who doesn’t think I’m an annoyance,” Adrien muttered, rubbing his head.
“Yes, it is good,” Citrine said.
“How do you know she doesn’t think you’re an annoyance?” Dante asked curiously.
“She kissed me,” Adrien said. “That has to mean something, doesn’t it?”
“Every woman wants to kiss you,” Citrine said. “You have an almost mythical ability to make them want you.”
“This one is different,” Adrien said. “She didn’t want another woman to kiss me.”
“Or she just hates seeing anyone taken advantage of,” Citrine said.
Did he have any other purpose than to annoy Adrien?
“Has anyone seen Robbie around?” Adrien asked.
Citrine colored slightly. “She’s shopping with Kelsey.”
“Oh yeah? Did she tell you that before she left?” Adrien asked, folding his arms, enjoying switching the attention to Citrine.
Citrine frowned. “Of course. Why wouldn’t she? We work closely together.”
“Is that all you do ‘closely’ together?” Adrien asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
Citrine’s handsome features tightened. His dark brows lowered over his warm, yellow-orange eyes. “Watch it, Adrien.”
“Ooh, getting protective,” Adrien said, pointing. “Maybe I’m not the only one who has found his mate.”
Citrine stood abruptly. “Shut up. I’m not going to listen to this.”
“Good, go,” Adrien said, wondering at the other man’s ability to stay in denial.
Dante just watched curiously, but Adrien had seen Robbie and Citrine together much more than Dante had. The chemistry between them, though they both furiously refused to acknowledge it, was obvious to everyone who took notice.
And Adrien often did. What else did he have to do before now?
Citrine muttered something under his breath as he left the room, and Dante narrowed his eyes at Adrien.
“Did you have to upset him?” Dante asked.
Adrien shrugged. “I didn’t have to, no. Just like I don’t have to drink this scotch, but I do because it’s tasty.”
“I’ll never understand you,” Dante said, rubbing the back of his head.
“You’ve known me forever,” Adrien said. “If you don’t, then I assume you won’t ever.”
They’d met up when they were young, both sons of illustrious families, both lonely due to having busy, traveling parents. Both taught that their place in society was at the top, far above others.
But Dante had changed since meeting Ella. Now his eyes got soft when he looked at his mate, and he no longer talked about riches or his clothing or peasants.
He just seemed happy.
Adrien wanted something like that, and he needed to swallow his pride and truly ask for help in achieving it.
“I’m serious,” he told Dante, crossing one leg over the other. “I want to win her over. I want her to agree to mate me. And I have no idea how to get to that point. I almost screwed things up just kissing her. I have no idea how to proceed without spoiling things, let alone how to get to the point where I can tell her I’m a dragon.”