Page 19 of Blazing Joysticks

Surprise flickered across Cat’s face. “You don’t have to do that. I’m sure you need to get back to your place...”

Keir shook his head, offering a reassuring smile. “I’d like to cook for you, if you’ll let me. Besides, I think we should talk.”

Cat bit her lip, clearly torn, but finally nodded. “Okay. That would be nice. Thank you.”

As Keir made his way to Cat’s kitchen, familiarizing himself with the layout and contents of her cupboards, he steeled himself for the conversation ahead. He knew he had to tell her the truth about his nature, about what she meant to him. It was a risk, but after last night, he couldn’t bear the thought of any secrets between them.

The aroma of coffee and sizzling eggs soon filled the apartment. Keir heard Cat moving about in her bedroom, likely getting dressed. He took a deep breath, centering himself. Whatever happened next would shape their future, and he was determined to face it head-on.

When Cat emerged, dressed in comfortable loungewear, her hair pulled back in a messy bun, Keir’s breath caught in his throat. Even like this - or perhaps especially like this - she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“That smells amazing,” Cat said, offering a shy smile as she took a seat at her small kitchen island.

Keir placed a plate in front of her, then settled across from her with his own. “I hope you like it. It’s my special recipe - handed down through generations of Sharpes.”

As they ate, Keir could sense Cat’s nervousness. She kept darting glances at him as if trying to gauge his mood. He knew he had to put her at ease before he could broach the subject of his true nature.

“Cat,” he began, setting down his fork. “About last night...”

“It’s okay,” she interrupted quickly. “I understand if it was just... you know, a one-time thing. We don’t have to make it weird at work or anything.”

Keir’s heart clenched at the resignation in her voice. “That’s not what I was going to say at all,” he said firmly. “Last night meant a great deal to me, Cat. More than I can express. In fact, there’s something I need to tell you - something that might help explain why I feel so strongly about you.”

Cat’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Keir took a deep breath. It was now or never. “Cat, what I’m about to tell you might sound impossible, even crazy. But I need you to hear me out. Can you do that?”

She nodded slowly, her eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

“I’m not... entirely human,” Keir began, his voice low and intense. “I’m a dragon shifter. I’ve lived for over four hundred years, and in all that time, I’ve never felt the way I do about you.”

Cat’s fork clattered to her plate. “You’re... what?”

Keir pressed on, determined to lay all his cards on the table. “In dragon culture, we have something called mates - one person we’re destined to be with. I never believed in it, never thought I’d experience it. But Cat, from the moment I met you, I knew you were different. Special. You’re my mate.”

He watched as a myriad of emotions flashed across Cat’s face - disbelief, confusion, wonder, and finally, a flicker of something that looked like hope.

“Why are you telling me this?” she whispered.

Keir reached across the island, taking her hand in his. To his relief, she didn’t pull away. “Because I want there to be no secrets between us. I know you’ve been hurt before, Cat. I know trusting someone new is hard for you. But I need you to understand - what I feel for you isn’t fleeting. It’s not going to go away. You’re it for me.”

Cat’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Keir, I... this is a lot to take in. A dragon? Mates? It sounds like something out of one of my animes.”

Despite the gravity of the moment, Keir couldn’t help but chuckle. “I suppose it does. But I swear to you, it’s the truth. I’m not expecting you to accept everything right away. I know you need time. But I want you to know where I stand. I’m in this, Cat. Completely.”

Cat nodded slowly, her thumb absently stroking the back of his hand. “I believe you,” she said softly, surprising them both. “I don’t know why, but I do. It’s just... I’m scared, Keir. My last relationship...”

“Tell me,” Keir encouraged gently.

Cat took a deep breath, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee mug as she gathered her thoughts. Keir waited patiently, giving her the space to open up at her own pace.

“It was my third year of grad school,” she began, her voice soft but steady. “I was working on two degrees simultaneously, barely sleeping, living on coffee and determination. His name was Richard. He was charming, attentive... at first.”

Keir listened intently, his jaw clenching as he anticipated where this story was heading.

“I thought I’d found someone who understood me, you know? Who appreciated my drive and my passion for technology. But as time went on, he started making little comments. About how I was always working, always distracted. How I never had time for him.”

Cat’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I tried to make more time, I really did. But my studies were important to me. I thought he understood that.”