I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.
https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon
_________________________________________
Chapter 40: Calm After the Storm
The next day passed in a blur — quieter, calmer. The kind of day you appreciate more after narrowly avoiding disaster.
No football practice today. Coach said we "earned a break" after all the hard work the team has been putting in on the field.
Fine by me.
Back home, I was stretched out on my bed, tossing a little foam ball for Ghost, who pounced with the grace of a tiny, fluffy assassin. His orange tail twitched like he was calculating the trajectory of a planet — or at least the foam ball.
Sam sat cross-legged on my desk chair, watching us with that small smile of hers — equal parts amusement and affection.
"So..." she said, drawing out the word, "I leave you alone for one day... and you almost get yourself expelled?"
I smirked. "Yeah, pretty much. The principal saw I didn't have my beautiful guardian with me and went full supervillain."
Sam raised a brow, clearly delighted. "Did he cackle? Twirl his mustache?"
"Worse," I said, deadly serious. "He adjusted his tie menacingly."
She gasped mockingly. "Monstrous."
I tossed the ball again. Ghost vaulted off the bed like he was shot out of a cannon.
Sam leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "Good thing your beautiful and terrifying guardian is back."
I grinned. "Thank God. I was defenseless out there."
Sam stood and fished something out of the small shopping bag by the door. "Speaking of defending yourself..."
She held up a cat toy — one of those feather wands that looks ridiculous until you see it in action.
Ghost spotted it immediately. His eyes went wide — predator mode engaged.
Sam wiggled the feather wand and Ghost sprang after it like a rocket.
I just sat there, watching them — Sam laughing softly as Ghost twisted and pounced like a little orange blur of chaos.
I leaned back on my elbows, letting myself fully relax for the first time in days.
Yeah... this was home.
Jon wasn't sure how long they'd been playing with Ghost, but the tiny orange fluffball had finally tired himself out. With one last lazy swat at the feather toy Sam held, Ghost let out a soft mewl before hopping off the bed and padding toward the door. His tail flicked once — as if declaring victory — before he disappeared out of the room looking for adventure somewhere else.
Jon chuckled. "Guess he's done with us."
Sam smiled faintly but didn't move from her spot beside Jon. Instead, she stood up slowly, walked over to the door, and without a word, turned the lock with a soft click.
Jon's heart skipped a beat.
When she turned back to him, her playful smirk was gone — replaced by something else entirely. Her gaze roamed over him, warm and hungry. Jon had seen Sam in a lot of moods — sharp, witty, protective — but this was different. This was raw.
"You know…" Sam said, voice low as she walked back toward him, "…it's dangerous when I'm not around to save you adorable ass. Looks like I have to keep a much closer eye on you."
Jon's lips curved into a grin. "Yeah? Maybe I'm the one who should be watching you."
Whatever snarky reply she had vanished as Jon pulled her down onto the bed, their mouths crashing together in a kiss that burned through whatever teasing distance had been between them.
Hands roamed. Breath caught. The world outside blurred and shrank away.
Jon's touch was sure, patient but daring — every movement making Sam arch into him, her soft gasps spurring him on like fuel to a flame. It wasn't rushed — Jon wasn't reckless — but every stolen moment between them built like a storm held barely in check.
Sam broke away for a second, her forehead pressed to his, breathless and dazed. "God, Jon…"
The way she whispered his name — like it was both a prayer and a curse — nearly unraveled him.
Jon wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was about to happen between them. The thought of finally closing that distance, of giving in completely — it thrilled them both.
But fate, as always, had other plans.
Ring. Ring.
The shrill noise of Jon's phone cut through the haze like a bucket of ice water.
Both of them froze. Jon groaned softly, burying his face in the crook of Sam's neck. "You've got to be kidding me…"
Sam let out a frustrated laugh, her cheeks flushed, hair wild. "You better answer that before I throw it out the window."
Reluctantly, Jon fumbled for his phone. The screen lit up with Mitchell calling.
Jon sighed and answered. "Hey, Mitchell… what's up?"
Mitchell's voice came through, frazzled. "Jon — hey, sorry to call out of the blue — Cam and I are supposed to go to this event tonight, but our babysitter just cancelled last minute. Haley's grounded, Alex is at judo… we really need someone to watch Lily. Any chance you could help us out?"
Jon glanced at Sam, who was already sitting up, adjusting her hair with a small, knowing smirk.
Jon smiled — part exasperated, part amused — before replying. "Yeah… Sam and I will be there soon."
As the call ended, Jon tossed the phone onto his bed and looked at Sam.
"Looks like the universe is messing with us," he muttered.
Sam just shook her head, laughing softly as she grabbed her jacket. "Story of our lives, dork. Come on — let's go save the day."
And together, they left the room — leaving behind heat, heartbeats, and everything unfinished… for now.