Page 27 of Shifting the Flame
Asher turned to her, stunned that she'd incorporated such a personal touch. Without caring who might be watching, he pulled her against his chest, one hand tangling in her hair as he tilted her face up to his.
"You are extraordinary," he growled, his voice lowering to a register that rumbled from deep in his chest. "I couldn't have done any of this without you."
She blinked up at him, genuine surprise crossing her features. "Really?"
"Really." He ran his thumb along her jawline. "This festival would have been a disaster without you. Your vision—your creativity—made it exceptional."
Around them, the last of the volunteers were finishing up, many shooting approving glances their way. Even Elder Markov, notorious for his skepticism of outsiders, gave Asher a grudging nod of respect as he passed.
"Everyone seems pleased," Danica observed, leaning into his touch. "Even your council members."
"They are." Asher's thumb traced the curve of her lower lip, delighting in the small catch in her breath. "And tomorrow morning, the whole town will see what we've created together."
Asher stepped back reluctantly, his dragon instincts craving more contact with his mate. The black dress shirt he wore felt suddenly restrictive across his shoulders, and he undid another button at his throat. The cooling evening air felt good against his heated skin as he watched Danica smooth down her light blue sundress.
"Ready to head out?" he asked, offering his arm in a possessive gesture that felt completely natural. Her delicate hand slid into place, and a primal sense of rightness settled in him.
They walked through the town square toward his red Porsche parked on Main Street, Asher hyperaware of every admiring glance Danica received from passersby. His dragon rumbled with satisfaction—let them look, let them see. She belonged with him.
"The Black Kettle has the best jambalaya in town," he suggested as he opened the passenger door for her, unable to resist brushing his hand against her back. "Or we could grab something from Rosie's if you're in the mood for something lighter."
"Jambalaya sounds perfect," Danica replied, her brown eyes sparkling up at him.
Asher slid behind the wheel, enjoying the purr of the engine as it roared to life. "Your wish is my command."
As they drove through the winding streets of Ectorius, Asher stole glances at Danica's profile. Her hair danced in the breeze from the rolled down windows. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this light and this eager for what came next.
"You know," he said, navigating a turn with practiced ease, "I should probably ask if you'd prefer to go to the hotel tonight instead of crashing at my place again."
The words contradicted everything his dragon demanded—to keep her close, protected, and in his territory—but he forced himself to offer the choice. His knuckles whitened slightly on the steering wheel as he awaited her answer.
Danica turned to face him fully, her expression unreadable. "Is that what you want?"
Asher let out a low laugh. "What I want involves you sleeping in a different bed than last night." He paused at a stop sign, holding her gaze. "But it doesn't involve you leaving my place."
The blush that swept across her face was worth the momentary vulnerability. He pulled up to the Black Kettle, pleased to see her smile hadn't diminished.
Ten minutes later, they pulled into his driveway with aromatic containers of food. Instead of heading to the dining room, Asher grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"Follow me," he instructed, leading her through the mansion to the back door. "I have something to show you tonight."
His stone patio looked especially inviting. He'd had the foresight to leave a few hurricane lanterns scattered around earlier that morning, and now he quickly lit them, their golden glow casting dancing shadows across the flagstones. The night air carried the scent of jasmine and magnolia from his gardens.
"Give me two minutes," he said, disappearing into a storage cabinet and emerging with a handful of pillar candles. He arranged them on the wrought iron patio table, their flames steady in the still evening air.
Danica's eyes widened as she took in the transformed space. "This is beautiful."
Asher pulled out her chair, pleased by her reaction. As Alpha, he was accustomed to commanding respect, but her genuine appreciation kindled something deeper in him. He wanted—needed—to provide for her and to show her that being his mate meant being cherished.
As they ate, Danica gazed upward at the blanket of stars. "I never see skies like this in the city. It's so much brighter and clearer here in Ectorius."
Asher followed her gaze to the constellation-filled expanse above them. "One of the benefits of living away from light pollution," he agreed. "Though I've never appreciated it quite as much as I do tonight."
His dragon preened at the soft smile that curved her lips. He'd put that there. He'd brought her pleasure. It was a primal satisfaction that ran deeper than reason.
Asher watched with satisfaction as Danica took her final bite of jambalaya, her eyes closing briefly in appreciation. The candlelight gilded her skin, turning it to liquid gold that made his dragon rumble with possessive pleasure. As Alpha, he was accustomed to commanding rooms full of powerful shifters, but this petite human woman had ignited something primal in him that no amount of power or position had ever touched.
"Would you like to take a walk through the gardens?" He rose from his chair, extending his hand toward her. "The night jasmine only blooms after sunset. The scent is... intoxicating."
