Amber Dragon Trilogy: Book One

Chapter Five: Split View

Chumara's POV

I jump out of bed, overjoyed remembering last night, I start singing at the top of my lungs; Halo by Beyoncé, as I gather my clothes to get ready for the day. The shower became my personal sound studio with me trying to hit every note just like the Queen. I finish showering, deciding a fresh face was perfect with a little mascara. After blowing myself a kiss in the mirror, I head downstairs for breakfast wondering how everything can be this spectacular. As I burst into the kitchen getting ready to hit another verse I notice Storm, who was reading a text and frowning, jumped startled by the kitchen door swinging open. She spilled her orange juice nearly getting the liquid onto her laptop we looked eyes for a moment as it trickled to the floor. Getting the mop and some paper towels to dry her hands and clean up the mess, she groans in annoyance, “Damn it Mara,” I just giggle as I grab her for a hug. " Wow! That was the most romantic amazing first date ever! No one should be that perfect" I squeal in her ear squeezing her tight. Storm irritated with the lost of her train of thought wiggles out of the hug groaning even harder, I just know it was about having to hear about the date, yet again. “Okay!!! Mara, I get it, he is amazing, but I still can’t get over the fact that he called you an amber goddess at the end of your date. Do you think he knows you are an Amber Dragon? Ambrose is old I need to know if he saw through the fog I placed on us”. I know Storm was slightly worried about our secret but I knew it was just a precaution begin that with him as my mate I would eventually have to tell him.“Storm look I don’t know but I think he was referring to my red hair honestly, so please do not do anything rash just yet, and at least now we know he is the legendary white dragon." I jokingly rub that fact in purring slightly,“My white dragon,” Storm looks back at me chuckling “Go fudge off Mara, don’t you have a dragon to serve,” she says giving a mock bow. I gasp saying “why I never,” in a comical way. “I will be careful till I know more storm” I reassure my sister in a more serious tone as I help her finish cleaning up and grab a quick bite and my coffee mug. The drive to the bakery was bliss as I blared the radio trying to think of a way to ask Rose out for a second date, when Blaze agreed with the idea as I rounded the corner of the bakery. Pulling around back and parking in my usual spot I get out feeling like a new woman, humming as I go to unlock the door of the bakery. I flip on the lights heading to the front of the store to open up and flip around my antique now open sign, I just love the nostalgia of my little bakery. Blaze keeps playing visions in my head of his silver eyes eliminating brighter than the stars last night. The heat began to warm my cheeks I could feel the blush making itself present that morning, “Oh I want that man!” I say aloud thanking God I was still alone. I go to place my pocketbook and keys in my office thinking over everything that has happened between me and Rose, I never thought a mate bond would be this intense, I shake my head trying to rid my thoughts of the juicy man so that I can get to work. Some time after opening I was behind the counter placing bake goods in the case, when I hear the door chime and in walks that sexy man who has been plagueing my every thought. Fighting the urge to gawk like a teenager at the well dressed statues of a man I quickly cleared my throat trying to save face. “Good morning my sexy Rose,” I greet him, “Good morning, my beautiful amber delight,” he replies, “can I get one of your scrumptious banana nut muffin and coffee please?” Ambrose asks with a sexy devilish smile. I smile back going for a flirty demeanor, “Of course Good-looking! Anything else this morning?” I twirl the end of a stray curel that fell from my bun. Ambrose pauses for a moment watching my fingers play with the strain before he says “I want to take you in my arms and kiss those gorgeous plump lips of yours again, but I don’t want to rush you or be to forward, so for now I will just take my usual.” I gravel in is voice reminding of every touch we shared last night. I was stunned for a moment in place gazing at Ambrose, I wanted more than anything to go to him, to run my fingers through his silky black hair, pulling him closer, but I know I have no choice but to be patient mating rituals are nothing to play with and I do want to curse our bond. The s****l tension in the room was becoming almost unbearable. After last night’s sensations and physical encounters of him rubbing on me, it’s all Blaze keeps flashing in my head making my arousal soar to new heights. Ambrose stares at me with lust in his eyes, his nostrils flared looking like a man who has been starved, then finds a juicy steak he isn’t supposed to eat. I can visibly see his restraint as his jawline ticked I know my scent in his nose at this point, and I sure if there was not a counter in between us; there would be nothing in-between us not even clothing. Neither of us act for a moment, the silence only added to the tension. I needed to break it before I took him ending both our longing, right there in the bakery. So finally, I just smile and ask him trying to cause a much needed distraction, “Do you have your suits tailored special for you, because boy they sure do fit perfectly?” Ambrose stumbles over his words thrown off by my question, “no, but from the sound of your question, you are enjoying the view”, he whispers just a hair as he leans in and tucks the loose curel behind my ear. I wave him off spinning around to get his things so he doesn't see the fresh blush he just caused to come back. I hear him chuckle under his breath as if he had won something while I get his coffee sealed. Turning to the warmer I choose the muffin with the best fluff thinking to myself how I'll probably make him fat in the future. The simple thought brought a deep smile to my face, breathing deeply I steal my nerves as I turn to him again this time I place the muffin box and coffee on the counter close to me. Rose looks at his breakfast items and back at me with a question, before he could say anything I began to talk. "Rose there is know question that I want you but there is a time a place for such things", I brace myself for him to be insulted by the turn of atmosphere. But I was the one who was insulted as he laughed grabbed his things and quickly placed a kiss on my forehead. Shaking his head he looks at me in the eyes and whispers just perfect to himself before turning to leave and calling out over his shoulder as he opened the bakery door to exit; that he will call me later once he got the chance, then proceeds to walk out the door.

After lunch my phone starts ringing, I pick up saying “hello,” an immediate smile graces my face when the sexy voice on the other end says, “hello gorgeous.” I can’t help but wonder why he is calling but at the same time I really don’t care I am just happy to hear from him. “What can I help you with Rose?” I can hear the grin in Ambrose voice as he says, “I love hearing your voice it reminds me of angels singing,” “Will you have dinner with me tonight, my place, seven o’clock.” I am shocked but excited as I say, “Yes, should I wear anything specific?” Ambrose groans on the other end of the phone before he hums, “hmmmm” then whispers, “Black Victoria. Not skipping a beat and preventing me from asking him to repeat himself, he replies, “something comfortable.” “Oh alright, I will see you then you handsome devil” I finish saying, just as I was about to hang up he states, “you know I loved you in those new heels last night. I smile to myself over how honest he was with his wants before saying, “oh really, I'd hope so you bought them for me. but really I do love them, Thank you.” Just then, Lili comes walking in through the front door sending the bell ringing, she stops just in front of the counter and motioned with her lips if I was on the phone with Rose I shook my head quickly yes. Her eyes lit up with mischief as she loudly makes a joke about the smile on my face, “Someone is looking awfully happy today, did you serve Mr. Tall dark and sexy this morning,” I respond, “Yes, I did, so what?” Ambrose starts laughing on the other end of the phone and I playfully tell him to “hush and I will see him later.” Laughing I hang up putting my phone away as Lilli then asks, “Did you serve him more than just coffee and a muffin.” Trilla could really act her age when she wanted to. She giggles with a dirty look on her face as she gets her apron on and prepares to start working. If she only knew the thoughts that have been running through my mind all morning because of that man, she would be shocked. We set around talking about last night’s events most of the afternoon in-between fill orders and helping customers, we even managed to come up with a few new recipes to add to the menu. A little after the last customer leaves Lilli let's out a big sigh before shouting out how she hopes her mate will be just as romantic and loving when they actually meet up in person. I look at her with sisterly hope and try my best to reassure her Nik had to be a gentleman cause Ambrose was his mentor. Storm has only allowed phone conversations since finding out that Nikolai; Ambrose’s investment partner was Trilla’s mate. I could tell Storm has been freaking out even though she won't show it, all the old chest scattered across the house shows it. Trilla looks to me a gives a mock puppy dog face as she wipes down the counter before asking gleefully can we close up early cause she planned on a first face time with Nik later I playfully mocked back sure cause I have a date.

Ambrose’s Pov

I laugh hanging up the phone, thinking how cute those two were when they are picking on each other. I turn to my computer to get back to work when Dominic growls, “Tonight.” He flashes a picture in my head. Mara is lying on my fur rug in front of my fireplace with a fire going, she is wearing a matching black lacy Victoria secrets angels set, and I am kissing her calf as I slide her white heel off her foot. Mara moans as I make my way down her leg, I close my eyes enjoying the vision. Fixing to unbuckle my pants to have some man time when the door bursts open, I raise my head and open my eyes to see Sarah’s skinny ass, standing there. I growl, “What is it now?” Sarah’s face turns the brightest shade of red as she stammers, “I am sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you, but Sphinx is out here and wants to speak with you.” I angrily wave her off and she almost hits the door on her way out, Sphinx then steps inside laughing at her expression, flopping on my couch kicking his shoes off, “How’s it hanging? You scared away the little blonde.” I set up at my desk coming to terms with the fact my vision is now over, I ask him what he is doing here going back to my computer screen. I pull up the new zoning permits to print them out for him, as he casually leans back and asks “Do I get back to work or back to my pursuit of Storm?” I raise my brow looking at him but decided to let the big cat be, Storm was his problem. Before I could answer his question he takes a breath, then asks me, “Have you shared dreams with Chumara yet?” I look at him curiously and ask, “What do you mean shared dreams?” Walking over to the printer getting his permits. Grabbing the warm papers, I suddenly remember the warmth of her thigh in the palm of my hand. I close my eyes for a moment, suddenly irritated at Sphinx’s intrusion, I then read the first few lines of the document to distract myself from the naughty thoughts wanting to come back. As I turned to where he sat on the couch I watched as he feigns shock and his mouth drops open, he then sarcastically asks me, “Wait you don’t know about the shared dreams between mates?” I look him up and down lost because in my three hundred years of life I have never heard of this type of connection then again haven't really known to many true mated pairs. Looking at him I simply say, “No Sphinx is it a mating norm?” Sphinx walks over to pour himself a drink, he takes a long swig before saying, “Yes I think it should be, well at least with yall species.” After thinking it over for a sec I walk over and I pour myself a drink I scoff at the thought but quickly felt I was missing out as I set back, at my desk, glass in hand. I start thinking what it would be like to share a dream with Mara I do have the power to manipulate dreams I never thought of using it to dream walk. Plus If they could be anything like the daydreams I have been having, or my new favor fantasies, I could possibly be in big trouble that woman would consume me. Sphinx leans on the bar and turns looking at me with a serious look I've never seen on his face “honestly the only thing I know, is that it is possible because of the dreams I have had with Storm.” I take a sip of my scotch as Sphinx rubs his chest as if he were in pain for confusing that information. He then speaks softly saying, “I really wish she would stop fighting our bond or simply just me.” Just then I get a notification from Nik that flashes across my computer screen draw my eyes from the old cat, I open it while responding to Sphinx “I wish I could help you with that, I really do, I feel for you man, but she is your mate, and if you have had the shared dreams you mentioned shouldn’t it make the mating easier?” Sphinx shakes his head sighing “No it doesn’t because while the connection is there and I can enter her dreams, with her having the ability to see fate lines, I still have no control in her realm, so at this point I feel powerless in our bond. I stop reading over the collective files Nik just sent, with all the evidence that the new shareholder is actually the girls uncle. The idea of that man begin related to my amber made me want to make my move sooner than later. There were even the files on the amber dragon m******e that earned him the name as dragon hunter. The worse thought above all is that he even killed his own family including the girls mother. Fury started to rise at the thought of a young Mara living through a literal g******e when Dom’s curiosity iced the emotion bringing me back to the present as I look over to sphinx. “Wait did you just say fate lines? these girls really are part of a dying breed” Sphinx straightens quickly going back to sit on my couch as he says “Yes, and if I recall from the time we were trapped by those f*****g fire fairies, you have the same ability cause we definitely weren't gonna live to see another day if you had not used it back then.” He finishes his drink placing the empty glass on the coffee table before clearing his throat and asking, “any advice on dealing with your pesky but life saving ability”. Taking another sip of my scotch I suddenly remember a part of the tale saying that dreams will lead you down your path. Thinking it over I decided to start by saying, “look I can’t tell you how to deal with an ability I have never fully understood, I think the only reason she might be fighting the bond is because she wants to focus on protecting her sisters. Her family seems to be everything to her, and I respect her for that.” He simply sighs and closes his eyes in response. Looking between him and my computer screen, I try to think of something to tell him cause it was time I get back to work. “Once I have the uncle dealt with I'm sure she will lighten up so the only thing I can possibly think of to help is maybe don’t fight her while in the dreams. As the puppeteer, she will snap the strings but if you put on a good performance her control will be given to the audience. He gives a chuckle before saying, “how cryptic,” before standing and taking his empty glass to the bar sink. He rinses the glass replacing it back on the shelf with the others, he readied himself to say something when my phone suddenly starts ringing, I look at the caller ID and reads its Nick I quickly answer it, holding up a finger to Sphinx needing a moment. Answering the phone, I couldn't even get a word out as Nick shouts on the other end, “she was f*****g eleven, Ambrose!” I can tell by Sphinx's reaction that he heard Nick on the other end. So instead of wasting any more time I put Nick on speakerphone and finally clued sphinx in on my plans for the girls uncle. Sphinx all but barked his approval on the plan, even volunteered his bear family member as extra muscle if it came to it. After we go over the files together Sphinx made his leave saying he was going to work up a storm. I could tell he was talking about messing with his mate by the wink as the office door shut behind him. Nick said he was gonna reach out to Storm before Sphinx ruined her mood and he lost the opportunity to start seeing Trilla in person before he hung up quickly I'm assuming it was to give Storm a call. I finished out the remainder of my tasks as fast and efficient as I could with my rushed state of mind. As I was putting the papers away on my desk I hit the mouse pad which woke my computer screen and the image of the girls uncle that was attached to Nick’s files plastered itself on the screen which made my blood instantly run hot it was gonna be hard to not ripe the man's throat out at the next board meeting. It took everything I had to control Dominic as I am leaning on my fists on my desk, eye to eye with the photo. I pull my eyes from the photo looking at the time on the screen, Dominic roared, and I whispered I need to get dinner started for Chumara.