Should I just tell him? I mean, he’ll probably figure it out anyway when Ty comes to pick me up later tonight.
There is a knock on my door and my heart races.
It’s probably Damon.
It could be Victoria, but she doesn’t really come unless she wants to tell me what to wear to a certain event or something.
When I open the door, Damon is on the other side, and he smiles when he sees me.
His gaze traverses over me. “You look amazing.”
I open the door wider so he can come in. “Thanks.”
I didn’t know what to wear, so I just put on a sundress with a nice pair of sandals. It’s too warm to wear jeans to a concert. Since it’s my first date, I also wanted to feel cute.
“Ty asked me out tonight,” I tell Damon, once he’s inside my room. I bite my lip, waiting for his reaction.
“That’s cool,” he says, sitting down on my bed. He kicks his feet up, relaxing. “What are you guys doing?”
That…
Wasn’t the reaction I was expecting.
Did I read Damon wrong? Is he not into me? I figured he would be jealous, but he’s not. Not at all.
“We’re going to get dinner and then go to some concert.”
I don’t even know the name of the band we’re going to see. I guess I should’ve asked. I really hope he’s not into country music or something weird like that.
“Ty really likes indie bands,” Damon says. “You’re probably just going to see a local band or something.”
I sigh in relief. “Thank God. I was hoping he didn’t like country music or gangster rap or something awful like that.”
He laughs. “Only you could find a way to use gangster rap and country music in the same sentence.”
“I’m just saying… I probably should’ve made sure it was a good band before I agreed.”
“Ty loves music, so it will be a good band.”
“Really?” I ask. “Does he play music or anything?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking him?” Damon raises his brow at me. “I mean, tonight is your first date. It’ll give you something to ask him.”
“Oh, gosh. I’m nervous,” I say, thinking about the fact that tonight is my first date. “What if I say something stupid? Or what if he tries to kiss me? I don’t know how to kiss. This was a bad idea.”
“It’ll be fine.” He waves away my concern. “I think you’ll be a good kisser. It’ll come naturally.”
“You think?”
“We could practice before your date if you really want.”
My heart races at his words.
I want to kiss Damon.
But…
“I can’t kiss you before I go on a date with him,” I say after a long pause. “That’s too weird.”
He shrugs. “Tomorrow, then.”
He says it so casually, like he actually plans on kissing me tomorrow, but I know he’s joking.
He is joking, right?
“Is this dress too much?” I spin around. “Like, too dressy?”
His eyes scan my body again. “That dress is perfect.”
The way my heart races as he slowly looks at me… it makes me wonder if I really should be going on a date with Ty when I have such strong feelings for another guy too. Maybe I should figure out who I like more.
“What’s wrong?” Damon asks.
“I just… what if I have feelings for more than just Ty?”
“Who else do you have feelings for?” A smirk tilts his lips as he prompts me to reveal everything to him.
He knows. I mean, it’s probably pretty clear. I’ve never liked a guy before, so I’ve never been able to ‘play it cool.’ Still, I’m too scared to say the words out loud. Once they’re out there, I can’t take them back.
“I don’t want to make things difficult for you,” I say. “Like, you’ve become my friend, and I don’t want things to be weird, so maybe it’s best if I didn’t say it.”
He gets up off the bed and walks over to me. “Reign, let me make this perfectly clear, the way you feel about me is the same I feel about you.”
Looking into his dark brown eyes is too intense, but I can’t bring myself to look away. “How do you feel about me?”
“Too much,” he says.
With those two words, I know exactly what he means. He really does feel the same as me.
“But you’re not jealous that I’m going out with Ty.” I bit my lip as I look up at him.
“Why would I be jealous? Ty has been my best friend since before I can remember.” He grabs my hand and squeezes it. “We grew up together.”
“But you both like me.”
He shrugs. “I don’t mind sharing. Kade, Ty, and I have always known that someday we would have to share.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll find out soon,” he says. “Just knows that I’m not jealous of you and Ty, just as Ty isn’t jealous of you and me.”
I nod, but I don’t fully understand what he’s saying or what he even means.
“You are beautiful,” he murmurs, gently caressing his hand down my cheek. “But tonight, you are Ty’s.” He takes a step back. “You guys are going to have fun. I’m only jealous that he asked you first. But tomorrow… you’re mine tomorrow.”
I nod. “Okay.”
I like the idea of hanging out with Damon tomorrow. Especially now that I know how he feels about me.
“Ty is here,” he announces.
My heart, which was already racing, starts beating even faster.
“I’m nervous.” I blow out a breath.
“Don’t be,” Damon’s encouragement is sweet and soft. “He already likes you. You have nothing to worry about.”
Three ‘ones’?
Damon walks downstairs with me to meet Ty. I don’t know if it is comforting to have him there, or if it makes me more nervous. But the fact that he’s checking out my butt as we walk down the stairs is…
Well, maybe a little awkward, but it makes me feel desirable.
“Wow, Reign.” Ty gives a slow whistle, meeting me at the last step. “You look so beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I cast my gaze downward.
I’m so nervous.
Like, so freaking nervous.
I feel Damon’s hand on my arm, calming me down a little. I’m thankful for the small touch. It helps a lot—more than it should considering I’m going on a date with another guy, but I’ll worry about that later.
“You ready?” Ty asks.
I nod.
“Have fun,” Damon says.
I follow Ty out the front door of the house, hating how fast my heart is racing. My palms are sweaty, and my stomach is in knots. I really hope I don’t do or say anything stupid tonight.
When we get to Ty’s car, he stops and turns toward me.
“I’m nervous,” Ty admits, then shakes his head. “I’ve never actually been nervous to go on a date before. But then again, any girl I dated before you, was just out of boredom. Part of me wishes I would’ve waited for you, but I thought I would have to wait a lot longer. It usually doesn’t happen when we’re so young.”
“What do you mean?” I tilt my head to the side and study his face.
Ty reaches his hand out and touches mine. When he does, the entire world fades away and all that remains is us. My heart races, but this time not because I’m nervous. I feel a… completeness that I’ve never felt before.
Mine, I hear in my head.
“You are a treasure, Reign,” he murmurs. “And I fully intend to treat you so. I’m going to take you out on dates and spoil you.”
I grin. “Shouldn’t you wait until after our first date to say those things to me?”
“I couldn’t wait.” He shrugs. “I’ve wanted to tell you that from the moment I saw you—from the moment you said hello to me at my party.”
“Wow,” I breathe.
I truly don’t know what else to say.
He opens the passenger side
door. “We should go before I kiss you right here and right now.”
“Does that mean you’re going to kiss me?” I ask. “Before the night is over, I mean.”
He smirks. “Absolutely.”
Once I’m in, he shuts the door and I’m a big ball of nerves while he walks around the car and gets in the driver’s side.
“What if I’m a bad kisser?” I worry my bottom lip as I stare straight ahead.
“That’s not possible,” Ty says. “Not for you.”
“But some people are bad kissers, right?” I prompt him. “What if I really am bad?”
“Reign, you will not be a bad kisser.” He gives me a soft smile. “But if you are, I will teach you. Or Damon will. Or Kade.”
My mouth falls opens.
Not at the teaching me thing… but that he would be okay with Damon or Kade teaching me. I know Damon said something about sharing earlier, but he was joking… right?
“Don’t look so shocked.” He puts the car in drive and takes off.
How can I not be in shock?
“I think the guys are jealous that I asked you first. Honestly, you’ve almost been here a month. I can’t believe one of them hasn’t asked you yet.” He shakes his head and darts a glance my way. “I would’ve asked you out sooner, but I didn’t want to freak you out by moving too quickly.”
“Your timing was perfect.” I fold my fingers together on my lap. “But I’ve got to admit, I didn’t know it was a date until Gemma, Courtney, and Piper told me it was. I’m not really good at this whole dating thing. It’s so new to me.”
“Don’t get me wrong when I say this, I’m glad you’re new to all this, but it’s shocking to hear it.” He hesitates for a moment, obviously struggling for the right words. “It’s not… usual for a girl like you to not date.”
“I already told Damon this, but I feel like I’ve been waiting for something.” I take a deep breath. “Something big. Maybe it’s silly, but I believe there is one perfect person for me out there.”
“What about three ‘ones’?”
“Three ones?”
“Nothing.” He waves a hand. “So… what kind of food do you like?”
Nervous.
Ty and I ended up getting food at this hole-in-the wall sushi restaurant and it was the best sushi I’ve ever had—not that it took much to beat the sushi I’ve had. Unfortunately, St. Louis isn’t known for its good sushi. Afterward, we went to a concert. I’d never heard of the band before. They were a local band, but the place was packed. They were surprisingly good. Ty has a good ear for music.
Now, we’re going home. I’m not sure that I’m ready to go home yet, but it’s getting late. Victoria never set a ‘curfew’ for me, but I don’t want to get home too late.
I wonder if Damon will be waiting up for me. I push that thought aside for the time being.
While Ty is driving, he holds one hand. He seems like he likes to touch me, and I like that about him. I feel… desirable.
“I had a really good time tonight,” I tell him, as we pull into the long driveway that leads to my house.
“I did too.” He frowns. “I’m sad the night is over. I feel like no matter how much time I spend with you, it’s never enough.”
My heart swells. “Me too.”
“We have to do this again. Very soon.”
I grin. “I’m definitely okay with that.”
A second date.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he offers, putting his car in park.
My heart races at his words.
Him walking me to the door means he’s going to kiss me, right? I’m nervous, but I want to kiss Ty.
I like Ty. I feel like he and I connected right away the night we met. I’ve never met somebody I could literally spend my whole night talking to and never get bored like I did with him.
Ty grabs my hand again and we walk toward the door. My heart is beating so fast and my stomach is full of butterflies.
“You’re so nervous,” Ty says, once we get to the door.
I nod.
“Don’t be.” His tone is gentle, and he squeezes my hand reassuringly. “I really like you, Reign.”
“What if I’m a really bad kisser?” I huff out a breath.
“I already told you. I’ll teach you how to kiss if you’re bad.” Ty pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I promise you won’t be bad.”
I nod.
“I want to go out again. I don’t know when we’ll have time, but I want you to know that this is something I plan on happening at least once a week.” Ty looks at me so intensely that it nearly takes my breath away. “I want us to always make time for this, even when we’re old.”
I bite my lip. “You say that like we’re going to get married someday.”
“We are.” His words are matter-of-fact.
“You can’t know that.”
“I can. Just trust me on this.”
I like the idea of marrying Ty one day. The problem with thinking of that scenario is that I also like the idea of marrying Damon one day. Or maybe even Kade. I have intense feelings for more than one guy, and I have a feeling I’m going to need a lot more than just one date to figure it out.
Ty knows this though.
Right?
“Ty, I like you a lot,” I begin.
“I like you a lot too.”
“But I also like Damon a lot. And Kade. If I had to choose, I couldn’t. Not yet anyway.”
“I’m not asking you to choose.”
“Yeah, but someday…”
“Don’t worry about someday. What do you feel right now?”
“I feel… like I want to kiss you.” I look at him through my lashes.
He grins. “Good. Cause I don’t think I could handle not kissing you right now.”
Ty doesn’t wait for me to say anything else. He just leans down and puts his lips on mine. The second our lips touch, I forget that it’s my first kiss. I forget that I’m nervous. I just kiss him back, mimicking everything he does.
He was right.
Kissing isn’t hard.
His lips are warm and soft.
Ty puts a hand on my back, pulling me closer against him, and I let him. Not knowing what to do with my hands, I run them through his hair. I’ve been wanting to do this since the moment we met. He groans against my lips, so I’m guessing that’s a good thing.
After a moment, he pulls back. I sigh, not ready for the kiss to end.
“You’re killing me,” he says.
“What?”
“That was the best kiss I’ve ever had in my life.”
I swallow hard. “It was good?”
“Yeah.” He lets out a long breath. “I want nothing more than to continue this, but I should say goodnight now.”
“Thanks for… everything.”
He grins. “I’ll see you soon, Reign.”
I walk inside the house but watch from the door as he gets into his car and drives away. Once he’s gone, I shut the front door, locking it behind me. I take a moment to just breathe. I lean against the front door and put my hand to my chest, feeling how fast my heart is beating. My lips are still tingly, and my legs feel like jello.
I had my first kiss.
And it was a good first kiss.
I try to imprint the memory of how his lips felt on mine.
I hope we do that again soon.
I also find myself wanting to kiss Damon too.
And Kade.
I’m in trouble.
Sunday, August 25
Don’t overthink.
It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for our weekly family brunch at the country club.
During my short time in Vegas with Victoria, I’ve learned that Sunday is the only time we eat together as a family. I think it’s kind of weird that we literally don’t spend any time together outside of brunch.
Mom and I ate dinner together every single night, unless I was working. We always made an effort to sit down together wit
hout phones or other distractions. Even when I worked late, she would wait up for me and we’d have a short talk before bed. She was my best friend. I told her everything.
Was.
My chest hurts, thinking again about how she left with nothing but a note. There was no explanation. I don’t understand why she did what she did.
Someone knocks on my door, and I know it’s either Victoria showing up to approve my outfit, or it’s Damon.
Victoria actually let me choose my own outfit today.
Since that first day at school, I’ve been wearing more dresses to school. Not just because it’s freaking hot in Vegas and dresses are a lot cooler, but just because I enjoy wearing them. It makes Victoria happy when I do. Now, she’s trusting me to not embarrass her.
Part of me wants to rebel against her and show up wearing sweatpants, a messy bun, and an old t-shirt with holes in it, but I won’t do that. She’s the only family I have right now. Plus, I’m starting to like her a little bit, even if I’m not sure she feels the same about me.
When I open the door, I smile when I see Damon standing on the other side.
“Hey. You want to ride with me?” he asks.
“Sure.”
I follow him to the garage.
I don’t know what the deal is with this family, but they all take separate cars, even when going to the same place. Victoria and Esteban’s vehicles are both gone. And in the beginning, Damon and I both took separate cars everywhere. It’s weird. I’m glad that at least Damon and I ride together now.
“How was your date last night?” Damon asks.
I’m surprised he didn’t ask last night. He was awake when I got home and he checked on me, but he didn’t ask anything about the date.
“It was good,” I say, feeling a little awkward about answering the question. Should he really be asking how my date with another guy went? And should I really be answering? Still, I answer because I want him to know where I stand. I don’t want to keep my feelings a secret.
“Just good? That’s all I get?”
“Ty and I went to eat sushi and then we went to a concert.” I fold my fingers together on my lap. “We had a good conversation. I find it very easy to talk to Ty. He’s a good listener. After the concert, he brought me home.”
Dragon Royalty (Dragon Shifter Academy Book 1) Page 7
