Chapter Two
chapter two
DANTE
A songwriter in my bar. With a number one hit song on the charts right now. It’s almost surreal. He may not be well known, but his words are. I want to pick his brain, learn his inspiration.
After I take and deliver the ladies’ drink orders—a few numbers pushed my way—I make my way back over to August. “Where were we?” I ask, hoping he hears the flirtation in my tone.
He blushes and I grin. I’m not sure he knows, but he’s been blushing since he sat down. Hopefully, that’s a good sign for what could happen in the future … maybe tonight.
He has the classically handsome vibe that I love. His green eyes seem to dance when he looks at me, his brown hair is pushed back from his face, though a few strands keep flopping over his forehead. His cute dimples and clean-shaven face gives me an unobstructed view of all of August’s handsomeness. The dad bod he’s rocking? Yeah, I’m all in.
“Umm …” He slides the napkin over to me and smiles .
Turning it around, I read the lyrics and feel my face and body heat.
A man shouldn’t have me feeling like this
But I can’t help what happens when we kiss
His body on mine, grinding on me
Stars won’t be the only thing I see
I want there to be
More than one night
I don’t want him to leave until the sun shines bright.
“Wow,” I say, a little stunned.
“Yeah,” he mutters, grabbing the napkin back, scratching some things out. “I don’t know, it’s very rough. Of course, I’ll iron out some stuff and?—”
“It’s really good. Is that what you do? Sit in bars, flirt with bartenders and get inspiration?”
August splutters. “What? I was … no … I just …”
I crack up laughing. “I’m just messing with you.” He looks relieved, sinking against the bar with red splotches high on his cheeks. “Seriously, what’s your process?”
He shrugs. “Sometimes stuff just pops in my head. I try to write it down, get the raw idea, then tweak it later. This,” he waves to the napkin, “will be much different by the time I finish with it.”
A few more people enter the bar and I excuse myself from the fantastic company of August to people loudly discussing what they would do if they spotted the creature in the water. I have to grind my teeth to keep my mouth shut.
Not one person said they just wanted to observe what was in the depths of the waters. Everyone wants to sell pictures of it to the highest bidder. Pictures of me to the highest bidder.
I still beat myself up for being seen. I didn’t see the boat that had crept up on me until it was too late. With my fin being as large as it is, it’s hard to stay hidden. Which is why I only go out late at night when the beaches are empty and I don’t surface until I’m so far in the ocean, no one in their right mind would be spotted there at that time of night.
Unfortunately for me, the boat that was out in the middle of the ocean was out for an early deep sea fishing trip and I’d lost track of time. But it had been so long since I let my Spinosaurus out, I was loathe to leave the water.
What sucked worse than being seen? Being forced to shift back two miles from shore and swimming back. If I didn’t have my Spinosaurus strength, I would have struggled. But I couldn’t risk being seen again.
The patrons that just walked in are no different. They want to expose my dino, get money and have no worry about the havoc they can cause because of it. There are many places I can move that are suitable for my dino, but I like the ocean. I like how large and vast it is. I can swim and hunt and enjoy my shift for as long as I’d like.
Maybe I’ll have to look for a new place to live so I can enjoy that once more.
The whole time I’m mixing drinks for the six newcomers, August is nursing his drink, scribbling on the napkin and shooting me shy smiles. I’m definitely going back to his room tonight, even if it’s just to talk.
There’s something about August that intrigues me. Mainly because he’s the only person that doesn’t want to take pictures of my shifted form. The way his eyes lit up when he said he wanted to see what else was out there made me believe he was genuine. If he saw my other form, he wouldn’t sell my secret.
But I’ve never shown anyone my dino. I’ve been too afraid that the person who saw it would be afraid of me after I shifted back and want nothing to do with me, on top of telling anyone who would listen that I’m a fucking dinosaur. Well, a dinosaur shifter, but semantics.
With that thought heavy on my mind, I make my way back to August who perks up when I get within a few feet of him. “Getting busy now.” He almost sounds sad.
“Yeah, it will be for about an hour or so, then I’m off.” I can’t wait. I don’t think I can stomach more of people planning on how they’ll spend the money they’ll get from my exposure. I might take the next few days off. The influx of people and their greed isn’t helpful.
“Oh.” August drops his eyes, fiddling with a napkin. I see that while I was gone, he’d pulled a few more from the dispenser and they all have his beautiful scroll on them. “I was wondering if …”
His cheeks pink adorably, and I lean against the bar, grinning. “If I would come back to your room?”
August’s shoulders tense. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you get hit on all the time. And it’s not … I just want to talk to you uninterrupted.”
Smiling, I nod and make him another drink. “Yeah, okay. I have an hour left of my shift. You can wait or I can meet you at your room.”
“I’ll wait.”
We talk in between me making drinks for other patrons and through their terrible flirting. I always give them a grin so I don’t fuck up my tips, but I don’t take the bait.
Except with August.
In the five years I’ve been a bartender here, I’ve never agreed to go to someone’s room. I’m not sure what it is about August that makes me want to now, but I’m going with it.
Finally, my shift ends and I clean up, tagging in the next bartender. The bar is open for another three hours and as August and I leave, about twenty people flood in. I’m sad about missing those tips, but when I look over at August, I think I’m getting the better end of the deal.
August’s room is nice. I’m pleased to see it’s a suite, with a sitting room separating the bedroom. Before he can make his way to the couch, I grab his hand and pull him in. Before I can chicken out, I lean in and press my lips to his. Almost immediately, August opens for me, stroking his tongue against mine. His hand goes around my back and he pulls me closer as I walk him back to the door, pressing him against it. One of my hands spears into his hair and the other goes to his ass.
Snatching his mouth from mine, August looks at me, eyes glazed, breathing heavily. “I really …” he swallows roughly, looking down at my lips. “I really wanted to talk.”
I step back. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for that ,” he chuckles. “I just didn’t want you to think I just wanted sex from you.”
“But you do want sex?” I waggle my eyebrows and August shakes his head with a grin.
“Of course, I do.”
His adorable blush makes me bold. “So, what are we waiting for?” Not waiting for his answer, I crush my lips to his, delving inside so I can taste him. August puts his hands on my ass, pulling me in so my hard cock brushes against his.
I slide my hands under his shirt, feeling his soft belly and reaching up to tweak his nipples. The rumble of his groan drifts through me and I press him harder against the door.
I can’t keep my hands off him. It doesn’t hurt that he’s just my type. My height, but chubby, his round belly and dad bod driving me insane. His ample ass is more than a handful, plump and inviting. I love how his brown hair falls into both our faces as I kiss him, giving me a reason to run my fingers through it.
Without warning, I’m spun around, my back hitting the door and August takes the lead. Fuck yes. I love being in charge, but it’s always fun to give up the reins sometimes.
His shaky hands go for my buttons, undoing them as quickly as he can without taking his lips from mine. When it’s open, his warm hands land on my chest and I groan, loving how his hands feel on me.
Pulling away, August looks down at my body, his eyes raking over me as he bites his lip. “I had a feeling you would look like this.”
After I shuck my dress shirt, I reach out and pull his shirt over his head. Damn, he’s fucking hot. Along with his round belly, he has a path of hair leading down to the prize in his pants.
When I look in his eyes, he has this self-assured air that he didn’t have earlier, making me grin. “You know you’re hot, don’t you?” I ask, grabbing his pants to undo the buttons.
“I’ve been told a time or two,” he mutters, undoing my pants as well. “Got nothing on you though.”
Biting his lip, I hear him groan and I swallow the noise with a deep kiss. “Agree to disagree.”
Grabbing my hand, August leads me to the bedroom and pushes me on the bed. He wastes no time straddling me, reaching inside my pants to palm my dick. “Fuck,” he mutters after he snatches his lips from mine. “Your dick is fucking huge. ”
Barking a laugh that turns to a moan as he jerks my cock, I stroke his back, squeezing his ample flesh. “What do you want to do with it?”
August climbs from my lap, kneeling in front of me as he drags my pants down. “I’d like to taste it.” He runs his hands up and down my thighs, watching as I palm my shaft, stroking it slowly.
“Only if I can taste you too.”
With that, August pulls my pants all the way off, then shucks his own before climbing on the bed. I slide closer to the head of the bed, giving him space to come face to face with my dick as I do his so we can sixty-nine.
I don’t waste time. As soon as he’s comfortable in front of me, I open wide and take him into my mouth. My dick may be longer than August’s but he has enough girth to stretch my mouth wide.
“Hmm, fuck,” August groans before he takes my cock into his mouth, enveloping me in its warm depths. He takes as much of me into his mouth as he can before gagging—hot as fuck.
It’s hard trying to blow him like I want when his mouth feels so fucking good, but I give it my best shot. Bobbing my head up and down, I suck him in, tasting his precome leaking into my waiting mouth. I feel his cock straining on my tongue, making me suck him harder, hoping to get his sweet come down my throat.
With one hand, I keep hold of his cock, stroking him from base to tip, and with the other, I slide my hand between his legs, pushing my thumb against his hole.
August curses around my cock, grabbing my ass to pull me in further. He starts sucking me fast, spit leaking down my length as he sucks me hard. Pulling my mouth from his cock, I toss my head back, moaning. “Yes, August. Suck me. Damn, you’re so good.” I push my thumb into his entrance, breeching him. August moans, deep throating my cock more. “Like that? Want my cock in your tiny hole?” He nods, bobbing his head faster. The pleasure is unreal, sparks of want tingling up my spine.
He makes it impossible for me to go back to sucking him off. I can’t do anything but groan and babble while fucking him with my thumb. Opening wider, August takes me all the way in to the back of his throat, gagging and sputtering. His throat contracting around my cock sends me over the edge.
I start fucking August’s mouth, listening to him gag around me, his spit soaking me. “Fuck. If you don’t want to swallow, move,” I say in warning, trying to hold off my release so he can make a decision. When he just clamps his lips around me, I can’t hold back and unload down his throat. My body shudders as I climax from the best blowjob of my life. August swallows quickly, catching my cum before it leaves his mouth.
Feeling wrung out, I roll onto my back, breathing heavily. Tapping his leg, I gesture for him to mount me. He does, angling his cock to my mouth. I open, wanting him to take his pleasure and use me.
August shoves his cock into my mouth, making me gag and he chuckles darkly. “Love how you sound choking on my cock.”
He pulls out and I lick at his cockhead, gazing up at him. “Do it again,” I challenge, opening my mouth wide, sticking out my tongue for him.
Growling, August grips the sides of my head, thrusting back into my mouth. He fucks my throat, moving my head up and down to meet his thrusts. I relax my throat and take it, getting more turned on my how he’s using me. I reach around and slide a finger back into him, pressing past the ring of muscle .
Cursing, Augusts shoves into my mouth three more times before he stills and my mouth is flooded with his come. I swallow, loving his salty taste.
Slowly, August slides his dick from between my lips and I chase it, wanting more of him.
Dropping beside me, he faces me and kisses me soundly, his warm hands framing my face. When we’re had our fill, we separate and stare at each other.
And burst into laughter.
He speaks first when he catches his breath. “I really did just want to talk. I feel like I haven’t met anyone interesting in years.”
“We can talk now. I’m sorry. I wanted you when you sat at the bar. I’m just glad we were on the same page.”
He blushes and I love the contrast of how he is when he’s not fucking my throat.
August breaks the short silence, running a thumb over his bottom lip. “I’ve never done this before.”
“I’ve never done this before either.”
“Really?” he asks, voice going high pitched. “But you’re so … and I saw so many … flirting … I figured one person would have caught your eye.”
I breathe a laugh. “Yeah. You.”
That coloring his of cheeks deepens and he drops his head. “Wow. Okay. That’s probably the best compliment I’ve gotten in years.”
Sliding up on the bed, I put my back to the headboard after I adjust the pillows. I tap the spot beside me and August slides up as well. We face each other. “So, you’re a songwriter that likes to write on napkins. Tell me more about you.”
“Well, I’m August.” I give him a deadpan look and he snickers. “I’m thirty-two. I’ve been traveling the world since I got my first royalty check about eight years ago, so I don’t have a home. I have a few childhood friends, but no one close. No family, since I’m pretty much married to my work.”
“Why no home?” I ask.
August stretches his legs out, resting his hands over his sexy belly. “I’ve not wanted to stay in one place for too long. I get wanderlust. I might need to slow down soon, since I feel like there’s something telling me to put down roots. Just don’t know where, ya know?”
I nod. I do know. Like him, I have no family either. Dino shifters are rare and we don’t tend to stick together after we reach maturity. My parents are somewhere close to Canada I think, but we don’t speak often. Twice a year if I remember to call for their birthdays. It’s not abnormal for our kind, but it does get lonely.
“I’ve been here for about five years,” I tell him. “It’s a really nice place to live. Low crime rate, good places to eat, good company,” I say with a wink. “It’s not usually this busy. It’s …” I don’t want to keep thinking about people wanting to take pictures of me. It makes my heart race and my hands clammy.
In all the years of dino shifters, we’ve never been caught on camera. As the only species of water dinos, I should have been safer than land shifters but here we are. Land shifters are more likely to be seen, as they don’t all live in rural areas where they can shift with ease and without prying eyes around.
August shakes his head. “Yeah, it’s crazy here. It seems like a quaint area with a nice vibe. Those people wanting to take that photo for profit are … that’s insane. Good tips for you, though, right?”
I give a forced chuckle. There’s no way he could know he’s talking to the person that is the creature in that video.
“Tell me more,” August prompts .
“Okay, well, I’m twenty-nine. Been bartending for a few years. I’m from a nearby town but moved here when I wanted something different from my accounting job.”
“You’re an accountant?” August’s eyes are wide.
Laughing, I nudge his arm with my elbow. “Don’t look so shocked. I was an accountant, yes, but I got bored with it. Not enough interacting with other people. I can talk to people all day as a bartender. It’s a good time.”
We talk throughout the night, laughing and joking. After a while, we drift further down the bed, no longer sitting against the headboard, but lying down, facing each other. We talk for hours, conversing like old friends. August is a very interesting man. There’s something about him—his calm demeanor, his thirst for knowledge, and his open curiosity—that draws me to him, making me want to know more.
Eventually, the lull between our answers get further and further apart.
I don’t even notice when we fall asleep.