Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Juni
“Hellloooo,” a strange voice called out. “Are you in there?”
“Of course I’m in here.” Stupid question.
Slowly, I opened my eyes to find a very large, gorgeous, scowly man standing there.
“Who are you? What are you doing in my cabin.” I scrambled up the back of the bed.
“How did I get into bed? What did you do to me?” Still fully clothed removed the fear that I’d been roofied, but only just.
He held his hands out in front of him. “You’re okay. You passed out.”
“Who. Are. You?” I enunciated as clearly as I could given that he’d bypassed answering that question already. I got the impression he wasn’t the brightest bulb.
“I’m Kyson. And you are?”
“About to call the police if you don’t leave. Where’s my phone?”
“Here,” he handed it to me. “Won’t do you any good. I called the front desk and found out they doubled booked this cabin. Actually, they double booked all the cabins.”
“What?” Was this guy for real. “You have got to get out of my cabin.”
“Our cabin.”
“No, I distinctly remember ordering a cabin for one.”
“Ditto.” He glared and defiantly crossed his arms over his massive chest. I wonder if there was a vast forest of hair across it that matched his long locks. Focus, Juni.
“No. Nope. Absofuckinglutely not. No. I’m here escaping…
Never you mind why I’m here, just know I have to be alone.
” He had to go, like all seven feet of him.
Damn, this guy was tall, dark and, do not go there, Juni.
It never ends well for you and the reason you’re here is even more reason to ignore every living, breathing male no matter their hotness level.
You can’t risk it. “You need to leave. Now.” I rose far too fast, stumbled, and once again found myself in his arms. “I don’t need your help. ”
“Really? It appears you need more help than you’re willing to admit to.” Wait, did he just growl?
“Is that…” my hand raised, pointing at his face. “Did smoke just come out of your nostrils?”
“Maybe.”
“Who? What? Who?” I must’ve hit my head hard and fell into one of my beloved books. “What are you?”
A single brow rose as he contemplated his answer. “Dragon.”
“Real funny. Did you go through my stuff or something?” He must’ve and seen the books I had brought. This guy was seriously fucking with me. Wasn’t he? “Did you kidnap me? Am I being held against my will?”
“Kidnap you? Hell no. You’re free to leave whenever you want. Preferably sooner rather than later. After all, I was here first.”
“Then you should leave first.”
“Not a chance. What part of double booked do you not under-fucking-stand?”
“Well, I’m not leaving.”
“Neither am I.” Again, with the smoke. How was he doing that? He must be vaping or something like that and I just keep missing it. Maybe my brain was still wonky. But damnit, that growl was doing it for me and that was not good. Not in the state I was about to be in.
Shit, that was his stuff I packed and sat by the door. I should’ve called the office to pick it up before I started cooking. Fucking freshman mistake. Now what do I do?
“I’m taking the bed.” Petulant? Yes. Did that help this situation? Not in the least, but being this close to him was triggering my heat. He snorted, shook his head and finally left the room. I ran to the door, slammed it shut and locked it, then slid to the floor. “I am so screwed.”
This whole entire trip was to hide away and wait out my heat and the ever-growing list of suitors my mother had lined up.
All of which would stuff her pockets with cash.
Yeah, I was the trophy omega, of her own creation, of course.
Groomed like some prize-winning pig. I was so over this shit.
All I wanted was to live my life in peace and in my own way.
Maybe I’d find my mate and maybe I wouldn’t, but the point was that I would be the one to choose, not her.
A cold shower.
Yes, that will shock my system and slow it down for a bit so I could deal with him long enough to get some food into me, grab my messenger bag, and lock myself in the room again. At least I’d had the forethought to bring my suitcase in and put my clothes away first.
Beneath the cool spray, I finally felt human again. No longer able to smell him aided in staving it off. But only just, and only temporarily. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe this would end well because I never had it hit me like it just had.
“Okay,” I drew in a deep, cleansing breath and dressed in the thickest pajamas I’d packed, going for the more is better reasoning in this scenario. Would a mask help? Never mind, I hadn’t thought to pack one.
Slowly, I opened the door and peeked out, and when I didn’t see him, I sprinted into the kitchen.
Huh, still no sight of what’s his name, good sign, and got back to work on my half-cooked Ramen, chopping the vegetables to add to it.
At least he had turned off the stove. I’d just finished my masterpiece when a loud thud outside sent the snow on the roof careening over the edge.
“Who’s there?” I asked, peeking out the sliding door. “I-I, I have a weapon.”
And then it appeared as if through a foggy haze, a giant dragon head. And a giant dragon body. And…And…
Smoke and flames and scales. Oh my.
“Is this normal for you?”
“I saw…You were…How? Maybe I should go to the hospital after all.” Why did this keep happening to me? I’d never passed out in my life, now twice in the same day. Last thing I remember was mixing the veggies into my ramen, then nothing.
“I take it you’ve never seen a shifter before.”
“Shifter? There’s no such thing. I just have a concussion, that’s it. If you’re real and not a figment of my imagination, could you please drive me to the ER?”
“You’re fine. Overly dramatic, but fine. You haven’t hit your head. I caught you both times.” He rolled his eyes, and a plume of smoke released.
“There!” I pointed. “It happened again. Steam came from your nostrils. What the hell?”
“Smoke.”
“What?”
“A plume of smoke came from my nostrils.”
“Smoking is bad for your health.”
“No, smoking is bad for your health. My smoke is natural, not man made.”
“Wait, what?” This was too much. Attempting to communicate with him was a fucking mind game.
“Well, since you’re already laying down.” Various shades of blue scales replaced the flesh on his arms and face, his eyes turned a luminescent red and the hand on the quilt beside me shifted into a claw. “Dragon shifter.”
“Dragon. Shifter. Like as in shifted. Just now.” Each word came out louder and louder as did my heartrate. “Right in front of me. You’re not human. What the fuck are you?”
“Jesus. Where is your off button? This is the third time I’ve told you. I’m a human who is a dragon who can shift back and forth. Is there another language you’d like me to try?”
“That’s. Not. Possible.”
“It is and you just witnessed it with your own two eyes. How is it you’ve lived this long without meeting another shifter?
They’re all around you, especially here.
” How was he so calm about this? Was I dreaming?
When I woke would I have had vivid enough images to write my own story?
Many books begin that way, as an author’s dream.
Maybe, maybe I just had to go back to sleep for a while and when I woke up it would all be over and he’d be gone.
“Yes, yes. Sleep.” I rolled over and curled up with the fluffy pillow only to be stopped by the same apparition I’d hoped to rid myself of.
“I think you need to eat first. You’ve tried and failed to get your meal prepped twice now. Here,” he reached over to the bedside table and grabbed a bowl. How had I missed the ramen sitting there? “Sit up.”
“Okay, so not a dream.”
The sour puss actually grinned. “No, not a dream. I’m probably closer to your worst nightmare.”
“Nightmare. That makes more sense.” It sure as hell felt like I was in one now.
He left me alone with the soup. I hated that he called to me on levels I couldn’t fathom. What I despised even more than that was having my vacation ruined.
You know what, fuck this. I’m going to the office myself. There has to be something they can do. Maybe they can find a doghouse or shed they can stuff him in. He’s an animal, they like the outdoors. Right?
I threw an outfit on, tussled my hair, though the freshly fucked look I’d achieved wasn’t what I wanted, it would have to do. Not as put together as I normally left the house, but I was on a mission and time was of the essence.
“Have you seen my keys?” Kyson was kicked back lounging on the couch reading. Wait. “Is that one of my books?” Turning the cover over, he shrugged and took a bite of apple. “And my apples?” In a brazen move, I snagged it from his hand and took a bite myself.
“Dear Goddess, he’s activated again. How do I turn him off?”
“I’ll turn you off. Now where are my keys?”
“Going somewhere, Princess?”
“Yes, if you must know. I’m going to the office to get this mess sorted out. No way are we sharing a cabin for two long weeks.”
“Don’t believe me, huh?” He sat up and tied his boots on. “Please, allow me to be your chauffer this evening.”
Kyson spun his keyring around his finger, far too full of himself as he opened the door and ushered me out and into his truck. He whistled along with whatever nonsense was playing on the radio, so I turned it off.
“What is this infernal racket you listen to? Sounds like injured dogs howling.” How could anyone stand that crap. Kyson growled and resumed whistling the same damn song, which was equally as annoying as the actual music had been.
I was out of the truck and stepping into the office before he had turned the engine off.
“Good evening, welcome to…”
“Cut the crap, Branson, and fix this double-booked cabin nonsense.” The man he’d been helping growled at me. I squealed and jumped, grabbing the nearest arm, which just so happened to be Kyson’s.
“No need to worry, Princess. Him’s just a pretty little kitty, isn’t he,” Kyson baby talked the angry man.
“A lion if I’m not mistaken.” The man, lion, whatever the fuck he was, growled again.
“He’s smart enough to know that dragons are at the top of the food chain.
Run along, little kitty and chase something shiny. ”
“I’m sorry, Mister?” Branson asked and Kyson and I answered at the same time.
“Winters.”
“Cinders.”
“Really?” I chuckled. “A dragon with the last name of Cinders? Life can be so cruel, can’t it?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Winters, but like I told Mr. Cinders on the phone when he called earlier, we are completely booked.”
“Double-booked,” Kyson snarled.
“Calm your tits, dragon,” I waved a dismissive hand in his face.
“Calm my what? I’ll eat you like a snack, Princess.” Branson eeped at Kyson’s empty threat.
“You’ll do no such thing. Now go wait over there and let the big boys talk.” He stared blankly at me as though my words were Greek. “Go ahead, right on over there to that bench. That’s a good dragon.” Smoke came from his nostrils again.
As soon as he was out of earshot I turned to Branson, hoping for a quiet omega to omega conversation.
“Look, Branson. I’m not here for fun and games, I’m here to be alone during my…
heat.” I whispered it but the entire room fell silent.
I swear to fuck, you even mention that word and every able male within a fifty-mile radius is on it like a gold fucking bar.
“None of you are getting any,” I waved my hand like a magic wand down the front of me, “of this.”
“Yes, your heat. Understood, but I have nowhere else to put you.” The poor kid’s face paled and was seconds away from pulling the crap I’d already been through by passing out.
“Then I want a refund.”
“In order to refund you, Mr. Winters, you’ll have to check out. Are you prepared to do that?”
Fuck…Me.
“It’s time to go, Juni,” Kyson gripped my arm and when I turned to tell him off, the vultures had begun to circle like I was their last meal.
“Great, just fucking great.” With no other choice, we left and just as we reached the door the kitty, err, man, Kyson had words with spoke loud enough for all to hear.
“Great, just what the world needs. More dragons. Lucky fucking dragon, though.”
What the hell does that mean?
Neither of us spoke until we were back inside the cabin. I was fuming and didn’t expect Kyson’s snarled words to throw me as much as they had. Was he growling at those men to protect me or was that a claiming growl. Fuck.
“Juni, in case you weren’t aware, anger and strong emotions kick your heat into high.”
Blink. Blink.
Then it hit me.
“Ah, I see the puzzle pieces are clicking. Now, do you understand why we had to leave as abruptly as we did?” His pupils dilated, his eyes darkened and the iris turned into an elongated slit.
“We can all smell you.” The deep timbre of his voice as he rumbled those words, sent shivers down my spine.
“The sweet, honeyed scent of your heat,” he drew in a deep breath and I panicked.
Now it was my turn to eep and run before I did something I’d regret forever.
I think.
Wouldn’t I?
Yes, yes, of course you would, Juni. Don’t be an idiot. Children are not part of your life plan.
True, but what was?
I could feel him, bone deep and he hadn’t even touched me.
Do dragons even have live births?
Goddess, our offspring would be gorgeous though.
Smoke came from his nostrils and a small flame slid from between his lips.
“Dragon, keep the fire under control. Don’t make me call 911 because there’s a fire in cabin 27.” Though if I didn’t get as far away from him as fast as I could, the fire in cabin 27 would be between the sheets.
Considering before today I hadn’t a clue that shifters even existed, it really sent my world spiraling. Well, the fact that I had these thoughts even for a nanosecond tells me I have got to get some sleep and maintain distance between me and Kyson.
Right after I get rid of this painful erection.
If that’s even possible.
There’s no way I’m going to survive this vacation unscathed.
Not with Mr. tall, dark, and growly on the other side of this door.
Envisioning the feel of him dragging a single talon along my spine, over my crack before it slid inside me.
How quickly I’d gone from terrified to hoping to find out just how far his gifts extended.
Maybe there were some magical…elements…hidden behind that brusque exterior.
I’m so unbelievably fucked, and not in a good walk of shame kind of way.