Page 44 of Dragon Me Through Space

“I think I’d like to eat dessert on the ship,” I admitted, feeling my face flush.

He smiled and nodded as if he had known that would be my choice. “Okay. It’s about time for us to return anyways. I’m sure the others are still nervous about the possibility of you getting into trouble.”

Sighing, I shook my head. “I don’t always get into trouble.”

The bartender returned, set our drinks before us, took Gage’s payment, and then set something on the bar next to my drink.

Picking up the napkin, I turned it over to find one word: Merc.

Gage had seen it as well and as casually as he could, looked around the room. His expression darkened, but he turned to me with a smile and held his beer mug up. “Cheers.”

I returned his smile, clinked my mug against his, and returned the saying, “Cheers.”

As we both drank our beers, I felt eyes on me. Eyes that burned with murderous intent.

“Scout,” I whispered, “scan room.”

Scout slipped out discreetly from behind my ear and after a second, whispered through the comms device, “Mercenary Targus, eight o’clock, hand on pistol on left hip.”

“Return,” I whispered and leaned my shoulder towards Gage, like I wanted him to hug me.

He seemed to pick up on it, throwing an arm around my shoulders and dropping his head down so he could hear me.

“One of my enemies is sitting at eight o’clock with a hand on his weapon,” I advised.

With a slight chuckle, he said, “See? Trouble magnet.” He reached up like he was caressing my cheek between us, but discreetly hit the button on his ear comms. “Enemy on us. We’re going to try to head back without engaging, but⁠—”

“We’re on our way,” Zeke said, his deep voice coming through loud enough for me to hear.

“It’s just one mercenary,” I whispered with a frown. “I can handle him alone.”

Gage pressed a quick kiss to the side of my head, eliciting a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. “You aren’t alone, though, Princess. That’s important for you to understand and accept.”

“Zeke isn’t going to let me hear the end of it,” I grumbled, which made Gage laugh and I found myself smiling at the delightful sound.

“Come on, let’s head on out and see if he engages or not.” He finished his beer, as I finished mine, then he held out his hand for me to take.

I set my hand in his warm one and wondered why holding his hand felt more intimate than the kiss he’d pressed to my head.

We exited the bar, hands swinging gaily between us as we smiled happily, and continued to look at each other to be able to see behind us.

As expected, Targus followed us out, keeping some distance, but I could tell he had his pistol drawn now.

Gage rubbed his thumb over my knuckles and smiled down at me. “Easy, Princess. Let’s see what happens.” He pulled me down an alley immediately to our right and caged me against the wall, a hand on either side of my head.

“Wh-What are you doing?” I asked, feeling more nervous about him caging me in than Targus following us.

Dipping his head down, he kissed me lightly on the lips. “Couldn’t resist any longer,” he whispered. The next kiss was full of longing and as I gasped, he used the opening to deepen the kiss, his tongue stroking mine and making me moan in delight.

He purred at the sound and his right hand wrapped around my lower back, pulling me flush against his body, where I could feel his erection pressed against my stomach.

When he pulled back, we were both panting and I was certain I was blushing.

“Step away from the traitor,” Targus snarled.

Gage placed a kiss to the tip of my nose before stepping back to face Targus. “How can I help you?”

Targus aimed his gun at me. “Stand aside, sir. I have unfinished business with Diamond.”