Page 4 of Dragon Heir

It’s been three long months since I’ve seen Pax, but this guy is definitely not him. Unless my best friend grew six inches, dyed his hair dark and grew it long enough to pull up in a topknot, and aged ten years this summer, that is. Pax is unquestionably a hottie, but this guy is something else. I take a second to drink in the tall glass of water standing before me, from the palest blue eyes I’ve ever seen to his tawny brown man-bun to his tall, toned, muscular body. One thing’s for sure. This is no first-year student. He’s a full-grown man-man. And fuck if my lady bits aren’t igniting at the sight of him.

Am I dreaming? Is this some sort of joke from my family, paying a male escort to arrive at my house because I made the stupid mistake of telling Sadie I wanted to lose my chastity? I wouldn’t put it past them to come up with such a ridiculous plan, but there’s no way they could afford it.

“I think you might have the wrong house,” I blurt. “Also, how did you get in here? I locked that.”

The front door slams, and I almost jump into man-bun’s invitingly massive arms. They just look so strong, I know they could protect me. That’s totally the reason.

“We’re here, Nessie,” Pax’s familiar voice calls out, and to my surprise, my eyes suddenly go damp. Before now, I’ve never spent more than a couple weeks away from Pax in my life, and yeah, I missed the fuck out of him this summer, but I didn’t expect to actually cry when he came home. I’d never live it down if he saw, so I quickly brush the tears away.

“Pax, you piece of demonling dung,” I yell, jumping up and slipping past the huge hottie. I thunder into the hallway and throw my arms and legs around my childhood best friend, squeezing him like a koala-monkey hugs a tree. He smells faintly of coconut and sunshine, like he’s brought the beach back with him from summer training.

“Down, Nessie,” he says, his voice strained and a tad uncomfortable. It’s the same way I’ve greeted him for years, but Pax avoids meeting my eyes this time.

I pull back, climb down, and look up at him. “Sorry! I’m just so excited to see you.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “It’s fine. You too.”

He’s either grown up some over the summer, or the time apart has made me notice things I didn’t when I saw him on the daily. For one thing, he’s bigger—not as big as man-bun, but Pax has definitely been bulking up. His wavy golden hair has grown out, and he’s sporting a golden beach tan which makes his sea-green eyes stand out all the more. Those eyes melted the panties of even the most stoic chick in our village school.

The thought makes my gut clench with what might be jealousy, but I push it away. Yes, I’ve had a thing for Pax at times periodically over the years, but our friendship is more important. Plus, I know how quickly the boy moves through partners. I have no interest in being his next ex-lover. The pity-screw idea is definitely a no-go. My chastity will have to go to a hot stranger for sure.

“You look…” Pax trails off, studying me in a way that makes my heart flutter.

“Like a hot mess?” I say with a forced laugh, touching my hair self-consciously. “I was unpacking all night. I passed out on the sofa waiting for you.”

“Yep. Hot mess. Exactly what I was going to say,” he says, chuckling.

“Thanks, jerk.”

He shakes his head and looks like he might banter with me some more, but instead he glances over my shoulder at man-bun, and I remember that Pax brought a friend.

We’ve known each other so long that sometimes we know what the other one will do before they know—at least, that’s what I thought. But I could have never predicted Pax showing up with a random stranger out of the blue, and suddenly, I feel like there’s something off between us, a distance I don’t know how to deal with. But Pax and I moved far from home to study at this academy, and I don’t know a single soul at DLSA but him, so I’ll have to figure it out. I cannot fuck this up.

“Who’s your new friend?” I ask as we step into the dingy sitting room.

“This is True,” Pax says, touching the back of my arm as he gestures to the gorgeous guy who walked in to find me sprawled on the sofa, probably snoring or something equally embarrassing, like drooling on myself.

“What’s true?” I ask.

“I’m True,” man-bun says, his face overly serious.

“Wait,” I say, laughing and shaking a finger at him. “I think I get it. It’s true, your name is True.”

“Why don’t you just show us our rooms,” True says instead of humoring my attempt at a lame joke.

Okay then. Not so friendly.

“Your…rooms?” I ask, glancing back and forth between him and Pax. “There’s only two bedrooms, Pax.”

“Great,” True mutters, casting a frown Pax’s way. “We’re sharing a room?”

Pax shrugs, his gaze bouncing around the unit.

“I had no idea Pax was bringing home a guest,” I say, a little pissed that he’s acting like I was supposed to know he was coming. I’m not running a boarding house. This may be a rundown hovel, but it’s my rundown hovel. I already feel a little defensive over it.

“Not a guest,” Pax says. “He’s our third roommate. He’s going to live here.”

“For good?” I stammer, stepping back. Heat rises in my face, and I can’t help but be annoyed at Pax for putting me in this position. Yes, his family is paying the bulk of the rent, and if he wants to move someone else in, I’d probably be okay with it. But he could have talked to me before he made the decision—and not in front of the guy.