Sassy Ever After: Dragon Sass (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Selena Kitt Read Free Book Online Page A

with horses all day.”
    “I’m more of a steak, potato and beer guy,” Kai told her. “But I thought you’d like to see a sample of what money can buy.”
    “It was really lovely,” she said as Sebastian took their dessert plates. “I’m so full, I think I need a nap.”
    “They say exercise after a meal aids digestion.” Kai stood, holding a hand out to her.
    “Are we going to do yoga?” She laughed, taking his hand and standing.
    “Do I look like a yoga kind of guy?” He snorted, not letting go of her hand as he led her out of the dining room, telling Sebastian to bring them coffee in the sitting room.
    The sun was a half-circle above the tree line as he opened a record player, turning it on.
    “I haven’t seen one of those in years,” Jules said, looking over his shoulder as he put on a forty-five and set the automatic arm. “My parents had one. I think it’s in the attic.”
    “Dance with me?” Kai turned to look at her and Jules hesitated for just a moment.
    Then the music was playing with the fine, faint scratch of vinyl. There was something innately nostalgic about it. Jules let him put his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. In the light of the setting sun, her hair’s auburn highlights burned like embers and they moved together as one.
    “Oh you didn’t.” Her voice and laugh were soft when she recognized the song and he smiled, keeping her tight in the circle of his arms.
    But of course, he had. Roberta Flack’s song filled the room and in his arms, Jules hummed along. Kai closed his eyes, entranced, taken back to the first time he’d heard her sing. Even her hum transfixed him, the vibration of it full and warm against his chest. She fit perfectly in his arms, just like he’d hoped she would. Some part of him had known all along.
    “You should’ve been a singer,” he murmured, daring to stroke her hair, like he was taming a wild animal. “You’re wasting an amazing gift.”
    “You haven’t seen me ride a horse,” she countered and he chuckled.
    “I’m sure you’re a gifted rider, too.” His fingers tangled in her hair. He wanted to tilt her head back and kiss her, but he knew better. They were both under the spell of the music, and he was content, for now, to have her in his arms. The song ended, but the automatic arm moved and reset the needle to the beginning.
    “You’re going to play this all night?” She turned her face up to his, her arms around his neck now.
    “As long as you’ll dance with me.”
    She searched his face, looking for something—he didn’t know what—and then put her head back on his shoulder. They swayed together like that for another go-round or two of the forty-five he’d picked up at the vintage store downtown. He lost track of how many times the song re-played.
    Kai’s hand moved to her lower back, pressing her closer, feeling the sweet heat of her breath against his neck. He wanted more—much, much more—but part of him could have stayed this way with her forever.
    Then, Jules screamed.
    She tore herself from his arms and bolted to the wall of glass overlooking the forest, her eyes wide with terror. Kai followed her, already scanning the woods for the thing that had scared her so much she turned to tremble, breathless, in his arms.
    “What did you see?” he insisted, already reaching in his trouser pocket for his cell phone. “Jules, tell me. What did you see?”
    “My… I… there were… people.” Her voice choked, barely a whisper. “Two… two people. Standing right there. I swear to God, Kai… I swear… I saw them. I saw them !”
    “Okay.” One hand held her close while he dialed with the other. He didn’t see anyone, but he didn’t doubt she’d seen something. Maybe just a reflection of the two of them? He wasn’t sure, and wouldn’t be until…
    “This is Cap.”
    “South side of the house,” Kai said to Cap—the head of his security. “Did you see anything?”
    “No.” Cap sounded