Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
EMBER
Fidget wriggles in my arms as I climb Drake’s front steps, my stomach fluttering with nerves and hope in equal measure.
When the door to his modest house on a quiet street swings open, Sienna’s eyes go wide. “Miss Sparks?”
I smile, wrangling the kitten in my arms. “Is your dad around?”
Drake walks down the hall of his home in casual grey sweats and a t-shirt, making my pulse race.
“What’s Fidget doing here, Miss Sparks?” Sienna reaches up on her tiptoes and strokes the kitten’s head where it pokes out of my cardigan.
I clear my throat. “I thought you’d like a kitten to take care of.”
Her hands fly to her mouth. “A kitten? For me?” She leans closer, peering at Fidget. “But… she’s yours. Won’t you miss her?”
Drake stands behind Sienna, a small smile on his lips.
My throat tightens, but I shake my head. “I can still see her when I stay over. If that’s okay.” My gaze flicks up to Drake, his broad shoulders filling the doorway, his eyes unreadable and yet so achingly familiar. “If you want me to stay over, that is.”
For a heartbeat, the world stops spinning. Then Sienna squeals, wrapping her arms around me so tightly the kitten mews in protest.
“Daddy, can we keep her?” Sienna bounces on the spot. “Please, Daddy.”
Drake’s smile widens as he stares at me. “Yeah, let’s keep her.” And I can’t tell if he’s talking about the kitten or me.
Sienna gently takes Fidget from my arms and runs down the hall with her.
Drake opens his door, welcoming me inside. His hand brushes mine, and the simple touch feels like forgiveness. Like home.
The warmth indoors wraps around me, the smell of home-cooked food, and it feels cosy despite the bare walls, clean lines. A few moving boxes stand stacked in the corner of the hall.
Drake clears his throat. “Have you eaten?”
I shake my head, unbuttoning my coat. “Not since this morning.”
“Good,” he says, already moving into the kitchen. “I have pasta.”
We sit at the table, the smell of herbs and tomatoes fills the air, and my chest aches with the normalcy of it. Sienna insists on setting a place for Fidget too, lining up a tiny saucer of milk.
“No cats at the table.” Drake places the saucer on the floor and sits down at the table with us.
“She can sleep in my room tonight,” Sienna says, still stroking her as the kitty laps up the milk in the saucer.
Drake chuckles, serving up a heap of pasta. “We’ll pick up some toys and a bed for her tomorrow.”
I rest my fork down, smiling. “I have a litter tray and a few bits in the car. Thought ahead.”
“Are you better now, Miss Sparks?” Sienna says.
Drake’s eyes flick to mine, with the same quizzical look as his daughter.
“I’m back at school tomorrow. I just… needed a couple of days off to think.”
Drake’s fork pauses mid-air as he swallows a mouthful of pasta. “And have you thought?”
My throat thickens, but I nod. “Yes.” I glance at Sienna, then back at him. “I want it all, Drake. Just like you said. And a house full of pets.”
Sienna claps her hands. “A house full of pets? Can we have a house full of pets, Daddy?”
Drake barks out a laugh, rubbing a hand over his face. “Looks like I don’t have much say, huh?” He lifts his glass in a mock toast, but his eyes stay locked on me, saying everything we both feel.
I let out the breath I’ve been holding since I got here. He still wants me. After everything I put us through, he still wants to fight for us and give me another chance. This man is every bit Drogon… loyal to his Daenerys, unyielding and fierce. Mine.
After dinner, Sienna skips off to her room, kitten in tow. Drake and I stand shoulder to shoulder at the sink, his hands cleaning, mine drying. It’s too domestic, too perfect, and it makes my chest swell.
“You missed a spot,” I tease, flicking a bit of suds onto his arm.
“Oh, you’re asking for trouble now.” His grin flashes just before he flicks water back at me.
I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me like I haven’t laughed in days. And I realise, I haven’t.
Soap clings to my sleeve, suds dripping onto the floor, and suddenly his hand is on mine, stilling me.
The laughter fades, replaced by a silence that hums with everything unspoken.
His thumb brushes the back of my hand, slow and deliberate. “Ember,” he says, voice low, almost a plea.
I tilt my chin up, breath catching, and then his lips brush against mine, barely a whisper, as if testing the water.
To make sure he knows exactly how I feel, I wrap my wet hands around his neck, reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him back, tentative at first, my tongue parting the seam of his mouth, licking up every unspoken word.
His soapy hands cup my cheeks, tilting my head to the angle he requires as he deepens the kiss.
I’m swept away, drunk on him as he claims my mouth. His palms roam over my curves until they’re on my waist and holding me flush against his body, like a wall of muscle. Tingles course through my limbs, reaching my toes, as I remember what it was like to be intimate with this man.
We both break the kiss, needing air. His forehead rests against mine. “Stay the night with me,” he whispers.
I smile with panting breaths. “All right. Seraphina has a key, so I’ll get her to check on the cats.”
My voice drops to a breathy whisper. “I love you, Drake.” The words tumble free before I can stop them, but they feel right, like they’ve been sitting on my tongue all along.
His eyes burn into mine like molten metal. “I love you too, pumpkin. More than I thought I’d ever be able to love again.” He peppers kisses across my face until he reaches my neck, sending waves of heat through me as he kisses the spot below my ear.
“What time does Sienna usually go to bed?” I whisper.
He smirks, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Usually she tucks me in,” his lips ghost against mine again, “but tonight?” Another kiss to my jaw. “Tonight, she’s having an early bedtime. This dragon needs his slice of pumpkin pie.”
“You’d better bring it tonight, dragon boy, because you ruined me for all other dragons. I haven’t been able to get into any of my books since you.”
A laugh rumbles from deep in his chest. “Don’t you worry, you won’t be needing those dragon shifter books now you have the real thing.”
His words vibrate through me, hot and full of promise. And when he claims my mouth again, I finally believe it.
“Daddy, I can’t find my pyjamas,” Sienna shouts from the top of the stairs.
Drake presses his lips to my nose. “I’ll just go and tuck her in. Won’t be long.”
“Of course. I’ll just wait here.” I wander over to the sofa and pull out my phone, bees bussing in my stomach and heat curling in my centre.
Operation Fidget Delivery worked a treat.
Raine McJoy: You really went there. Using a kitten as a peace offering?
Nikita McSpicy: Men are weak for pussy. It’s science.
Nikki McQueen: I can’t decide if that’s genius or concerning.
It was either that or I smother myself in catnip and hope for the best.
Raine McJoy: You’d definitely have his attention. Probably the cat’s too.
BTW I’ve officially renamed you all in my phone. Nikki McQueen, Nikita McSpicy, and Raine McJoy
Nikki McQueen: You mean you don’t have our full names anymore?
Raine McJoy: It’s an improvement. We’ll take it.
Nikki McQueen: So what happened? Spill the tea.
Well, I’m in his home. Staying the night. He’s just gone to put his daughter to bed.
Nikita McSpicy: You minx!
Raine McJoy: Please tell me you’re wearing matching underwear.
I was going to until Cupid decided my bra strap was a toy.
Nikita McSpicy: Nothing says romance like stray cat hair on your undergarments.
Raine McJoy: Is this a sleepover or a sleep over him situation?
You lot are feral.
Nikki McQueen: I have to get my kicks somewhere. The in-laws are still here. If they don’t go by the end of the week, I’m moving in with you and your cats.
Raine McJoy: You could move in now. Ember’s not there.
Nikita McSpicy: Can’t you have sex with the in-laws in the next room?
Nikki McQueen: Are you kidding? In this house? These walls are paper thin.
Nikita McSpicy: Can’t he just gag you?
Raine McJoy: Ember, make sure you’re quiet. You don’t want the kid running in while you're mid-orgasm asking what all the screaming’s about.
Nikita McSpicy: Been there.
He just came back downstairs. Gotta go. Wish me luck.
Raine McJoy: Go get your dragon, girl.
Nikita McSpicy: Does he have a monster cock?
Nikki McQueen: May your night be filled with sparks and zero feline interruptions.
Raine McJoy: And maybe tell him to gag you.
Nikita McSpicy: We expect a full debrief tomorrow. With photos if possible.
Raine McJoy: You want pictures of his monster cock?
Nikita McSpicy: Ew no. Just his chest will do.
Raine McJoy: (Astonished face emoji).
Nikita McSpicy: I’m curious about his ink. That’s all.
I’m deleting this chat.
Nikki McQueen: Good idea.
Nikki McQueen: Night.
Nikita McSpicy: Night. Don’t get burned.
Too late. Already melting.
Raine McJoy: Night, you filthy animals.
Nikita McSpicy: Lights off, legs up.
Nikki McQueen: And remember to stay hydrated.
Muting you all before I combust.
Nikita McSpicy: Sleep tight, don’t let the DILF bite.
I hate you all. (But also love you.)
Raine McJoy: Go play with your new… pet.
I’m 100% deleting this chat in the morning.
I lock my phone screen and smile up at Drake, heat burning my cheeks as if he just caught me red-handed. “Everything okay?” I bat my lashes, trying to look innocent and not like a woman who was in a girls’ chat talking about his monster cock.
“She wants you to read her a story.” He leans against the doorjamb, his t-shirt riding up to reveal his abs, and those delicious grey sweats leaving little to the imagination.
“She said she wants the one you told in class about a dragon who turned into a Prince Charming but he didn’t want to marry the princess, he wanted the scullery maid who lived in the basement of the tower with her cats. ”
“Oh.” A small laugh bursts out of me.
His smile reaches his eyes. “I don’t suppose the dragon was called Drake, was he?”
“Drogon.” I rise from the sofa and pad over to him, reaching on my toes to kiss his lips. “Sometimes, the average girl gets her prince.”
“Oh yeah?” He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me flush with his chest.
“Yes.”
“There’s nothing average about you, Em.” His calloused fingers brush my cheek.
My breath catches as I rest my palm over his hand. “You really think so?”
He leans closer, his voice dropping low. “I know so.”
A soft voice calls from upstairs, “Miss Sparks, are you coming?”
I glance at him, smiling. “Duty calls.”
He nods towards the stairs. “Go on, pumpkin. She’s waiting for you.”
I climb the stairs. Sienna’s room glows with a soft night-light shaped like a cloud. She’s already tucked in, kitten curled on her pillow.
“Did Daddy tell you about the dragon?” she asks sleepily.
“He did,” I whisper, sitting on the edge of her bed. “But I left out the best part when I told this story before.”
Her eyes blink open, curious. “What’s that?”
“That sometimes, dragons don’t just find treasure—they guard it. And they spend the rest of their lives keeping it safe.”
She smiles, stroking the kitten. “Does the dragon get to keep the scullery maid?”
I smooth the blanket up under her chin. “He does. Because she helps him take care of his treasure.” I’m not sure she realises that she’s the treasure I’m talking about.
Her little fingers squeeze mine, and my heart swells. “You’re really nice, Miss Sparks. I think Mummy would’ve liked you.”
Tears sting my eyes, but I manage a wobbly smile. “I’d like to think so too, sweetheart.”
Drake appears in the doorway, watching us with a warm smile.
I press a kiss to Sienna’s forehead and whisper, “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, bug,” Drake says as he turns off her night-light. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Daddy. Love you, Miss Sparks,” she says sleepily, hugging the kitten.
My heart stutters. “Love you too, sweetheart.”
As I walk out of the room, I realise how wrong I’ve been. I don’t need to give him a family. He already has one. And maybe I’ve been part of it all along.
Drake closes Sienna’s door and reaches for my hand in the hallway. “You’re good with her.”
“She’s easy to love.” My voice trembles. “You both are.”
We stand there, fingers intertwined, the world shrinking to just this quiet moment. “I don’t ever want to replace her mom,” I whisper, “but maybe I can be here for her. For you. To love what she loved most.”
His thumb traces circles on my palm, his gaze steady. “You already do, pumpkin.”
He bends to kiss me, slow and deep, and I feel at peace, the warmth, the fire. Everything I was so afraid I’d lost.
When he finally pulls back, he grins. “Now come on. Storytime’s over. My turn.”
I laugh, the sound low and breathless. “What kind of story?”
“The kind where the dragon finally gets his happy ending.”
He peppers kisses across my cheeks, my jaw, my neck. Then drags me down the hall.
For once, I’m not running from the fire.
I’m walking straight into it, letting it burn through the fear, the doubt, and everything I thought I couldn’t have.
Because with Drake and Sienna, we’re not broken pieces anymore. Together, we’re whole.
A family.