Matching Dragons Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 6 Read Online Free Page B

across the slate board. “If there are no questions, that will be all.” She strode from the room before Kadence had even opened her mouth. Dammit.
    Lok leaned back in his chair, peering around the woman beside her to send Kadence a smirk.
    Yeah, yeah. No tattling to the teacher . She plucked a muffin from the pile on the table and picked at the dried blueberries. As she sank her teeth into the muffin, her wrist yanked backward. “What the hell?”
    “Time to get to work.”
    Glaring at the smug grin on Lok’s face, she snapped, “I’m still eating.”
    “No one else is.”
    A glimpse around the room revealed he was right. “Fine.” She tossed aside her muffin and shot to her feet. Lok made for the door, the chain swinging between them. Good thing he’d apparently studied the blackboard and knew where they were headed, because she hadn’t.
    He led her down the corridor and stopped at a closet. After digging inside, he produced cleaning supplies. “Here ya go.”
    “Uh, no.” She wrinkled her nose at the gloves, cleaner, and toilet bowl brush he offered.
    “What part of penance didn’t you understand?” His raised brow grated on her nerves.
    “I didn’t come here to scrub—” Oh crap. The twinkle in his eye sparkled in victory. He’d gotten her to reveal her true intentions. “We’re not even on the toilet scrubbing list, are we?”
    He lifted and dropped his shoulder, his eyes gleaming triumphantly.
    She folded her arms and glared while he put away the cleaning supplies. “Why do you even care?”
    “Don’t return without your partner . Ring a bell?” He cocked his head at her. “If you don’t return with me, I can’t become a Lotus.”
    “Why would you even want to?” She blew out an exasperated puff of air. “I don’t buy your whole wimpy persona.” Her admiration dipped along those gloriously ripped biceps. No way was he as weak as he portrayed himself to be.
    He stiffened, folding his arms across his broad chest, making his biceps flex even more enticingly. “Why would you say that?”
    She shot him a raised brow that screamed, Honestly?
    “Okay, fine.” Uncrossing his arms, he exhaled a sigh. “Share with me and I’ll share with you.”
    “Sorry. I’m really not that curious.” She twisted, taking one step away. The chain yanked, whirling her back around. “Seriously?” Groaning, she glowered harder at him.
    “Try me. You might find yourself in need of an ally.”
    Hell. She swallowed hard. Did he read minds too? No, if he did, he would’ve seen Mel in her thoughts. He’d know her plans.
    “Not interested, pal.”
    “I disagree.” He inclined his head, scrutinizing her. Studying me for weaknesses?
    “If I wanted a partner, I certainly wouldn’t choose you.” His eyes flickered. Yeah, ouch. If she stung him deeply enough with her words, he might unfasten this blasted chain.
    “If you wouldn’t mind…” She dangled her wrist. “I have somewhere to be.”
    He studied her wrist, then lifted his gaze to hers. “No.”
    She scowled. “Why the hell not?”
    “Because I still need you, and I can’t risk you running off without me. So either let me in, or we can spend the next century scrubbing toilets together.”
    Century… Mel didn’t have that long. Screw him. That was absolutely blackmail.
    And she had no choice but to comply.
    Or at least, to pretend.
    “Fine.” She narrowed her eyes. “I need an audience with Han Xiangzi. That’s why I’m here. Think you can help me by playing lookout?” The last thing she needed was to get caught by the housekeeper.
    “What do you seek with the Immortal?”
    “It’s private.”
    “No.” He jerked on the chain, tumbling her forward against his chest. One hand spanned her back while the fingers of his other curled under her chin, lifting her gaze to his. “I won’t help you unless you let me in.”
    The swirl in his eyes and the warm caress of his breath made his words seem far more intimate. A shiver fluttered