Chapter Thirteen
Nolan
I was busy managing my hoard, which happened to be stocks and bonds, and my omega was doing his coding. We were both able to work from home, which was lovely, although there were some shenanigans going on from time to time. But what else could be expected from a newly mated couple in the forest. It wasn’t like we were surrounded by movie theaters, golf courses, and bowling alleys, even if we’d wanted to go to those places.
Right now, all I wanted was to be alone with my mate, and anything we were doing was better just because we were together. The days flowed by in laughter and lovemaking, cooking together and eating. And shifting. Our animals loved when we shifted together, even if they did look quite odd together.
One day, Casey found me working on my laptop and waited until I looked up. “I want to fly.”
“What?” My mind was still half on the numbers I’d been working on, so it took me a second to register what he was saying. “You don’t fly. You’re a beagle.”
“Technically, even if I don’t have a lot of memory of it, I already flew with you once. What I’d like to do now is a take two that’s less of a rescue ambulance and more of a romantic flight into the sunset with my beloved mate.”
“I don’t know if that’s safe. Beagles don’t have a good way to hang on, and once I’m a dragon, I couldn’t even fasten you to my back.” I couldn’t picture a way to make a small dog safe on me, and hanging from a talon was anything but romantic.
“I don’t want to fly with you as my beagle. I agree, that wouldn’t work at all. But look.” He held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “Opposable thumbs.”
“Dragons don’t usually take passengers. We don’t have nice flat backs like horses. I would be so worried about your safety.”
He backed away, chin almost on his chest. “It’s all right. I’ll be fine. I understand if you don’t want to take me flying with you. I’m a humble beagle omega, and you are a majestic dragon alpha. No worries.”
“Don’t say that, omega. You know I think your beagle is as wonderful as you are…” I stopped and studied his exaggerated expression. “You’re trying to trick me into taking you.”
A subtle grin transformed his face. “You almost went for it.”
And in the end, he convinced me. Before asking, he’d come up with a whole plan for using leather straps to make sure he couldn’t easily fall off, and I finally said I would take him up only for a few minutes and not high in the sky. No fancy tricks like my dragon liked to use when my omega was safe on the ground. A simple ride around our property and then back to earth. And we’d do it in daylight, when I felt it was safer.
It took a couple of days to get the straps ready, but the very next morning, my mate was up with the dawn and dressed warmly, sitting on the side of the bed and holding the leather harness we’d created together.
I watched him through slitted eyes for a moment before acknowledging I was awake. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
He stood, brows drawn down and a frown on his lips. “I’m still prepared to beg if necessary.”
Pushing up on my elbows, I sighed. “Just so you know, there’s nothing I’d like better than to fly you all across the earth on my back. I just worry about your safety. But you’re determined, and there will be no more argument about it. I just need coffee first.”
My mate thrust a travel mug into my hand. “I know you can’t drink this as your dragon, but you can carry it with you while we get ready.”
Omegas were supposed to be pliant, agreeable—or at least most were. Dragon mates were rarely that, and my beagle omega had all the fierceness of any dragon ever. I pulled on shorts and brushed my teeth then went downstairs, sipping my coffee. My omega made the best coffee. Smooth and rich and he knew exactly the right amount of sugar to put in for me no matter what size or shape of cup I was using. The coffee brought my alertness to a reasonable level, and since we’d decided to have breakfast after our very short flight, it was time to go.
I went over the strap arrangement again with my omega, although he was the one who designed them and had even had me shift to make sure they fit. Stepping out of my shorts, I bit my tongue against asking again if he wanted to fly for sure. He did. He’d been clear. And my dragon was all about it. I’d never seen the beast so excited. Straps secured, he climbed on, hands and feet where we’d agreed, and we lifted off into the sky.
It was only supposed to be about ten minutes, but my dragon wasn’t listening to my half-hearted suggestions that we land, and my omega was so excited I could feel him vibrating on the dragon’s back. We flew all the way down to the river where we’d found him and back again before finally landing in the yard.
Once he was off and had removed the straps, I shifted back and looked over to see him throwing his guts up in the bushes. “I told you this was a bad idea. It made you motion sick.”
“I’m sorry,” he cried, gagging around the words. “I’ve never had motion sickness, not even when I hung from your talon, at least not that I remember.”
Feeling terrible for jumping on him, I went over and stroked his back while he dry heaved.
He will feel better when the young come.
It took a moment for the dragon’s words to sink in. “Omega, are you possibly pregnant?”
“Maybe a little.”
“And you let me fly you around like that?” Now I was angry. “You took a risk?”
“It was no risk because your dragon would never let us fall, but I knew if you knew, you’d say no.”
“Damn right. There will be no more flying with me until the young…wait. You’re pregnant?”
“I think so.” And my dragon knew so.
“This is the best day ever. Or one of three.”
He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and let me ease him up the porch stairs, snagging my shorts on the way. “Three?”
“The day I scented you at the rest stop, the day I found you by the river, and today. Three.”
“You’re happy about the baby, right?”
I scooped him up and carried him into the house. Setting him on his feet, I nodded. “Ecstatic. Joyous. Thrilled. Over the moon.”
“That’s good because I’m very hungry. I’m eating for two.”
“You feel better, then?”
“For now.” He leaned into me. “But just for the record, I’m happy too. I hope the baby is a dragon and looks just like you.”