Chapter 15
Ashton
The taste of Erin’s lips lingered, a sweet, electric hum that resonated deep in my bones.
Every instinct screamed to return to her, pull her close, deepen the kiss, and feel the warmth of her skin against mine.
But I held back, reminding myself to go slow and steady.
My offer to bring her supper was more than generosity.
It was a way to extend our time, to nurture the growing connection between us.
I moved with focused efficiency, making my way quickly down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, I spotted a container of soup Erin had already prepared.
I poured it into a pot and set it on the stove to warm through.
While it heated, I grabbed bowls and spoons, then sliced some fresh, crusty bread.
From the vase on the table, I plucked a single daisy, placed it in a small glass, and added it to the tray, a small, unspoken gesture.
Balancing the tray, I climbed the stairs and knocked softly on her door. When she opened it, her unique energy wrapped around me as I stepped inside. She smiled when she saw the daisy.
We settled into the armchairs, a small table between us. I laid out the simple meal. "I hope you don’t mind soup," I began, gesturing to the bowls. "I assumed it was meant for dinner."
"No, it’s fine," she replied, her smile soft. "This is lovely. Thank you, Ashton."
As we ate, the conversation flowed, untethered and easy.
We talked about the trivial things—the Inn’s quirky guests, the absurd prices of certain produce at the grocery, the fiery sunsets over Stock Creek.
With each shared word, each shared glance across the small table, the connection between us deepened.
By the time the bowls were cleared, the feeling was undeniable.
She fit. She was profoundly, irrevocably right.
I tidied the bowls, wiping away imaginary spills, anything to make our time together longer. I didn’t want to leave, not yet.
Finally, tray in hand, I rose. "I'll speak to you in the morning," I said, my voice soft. "You had a scare today, so make sure and rest."
Then, with a reluctance I fought to conceal, I rose and left her room.
I carried the tray with the dishes downstairs to the kitchen. The soft click of her door closing behind me was the only sound in the quiet Inn. I moved straight to the sink, running water over the bowls. The simple chore became a way to channel the restless energy still thrumming beneath my skin.
I pictured her across from me at the small table, her eyes bright as she’d shared snippets of her life, her smile soft as she’d listened to mine.
Then, the memory would shift, hot and urgent, back to the earlier searing kiss, the surprised gasp she’d uttered, the way her body had subtly leaned into mine.
My heart thundered against my chest, erratic as the thoughts tumbling through my head.
Erin’s lips, soft yet demanding, had ignited something within me, a blaze I couldn’t contain.
I paced the kitchen, then back to my room, every nerve ending still sizzling.
"Think, Ashton," I said, raking a hand through my hair. The image of her, eyes closed, leaning into me, was all I could see no matter how many times I blinked. Her scent lingered on my skin. Wildflowers and something uniquely Erin that made it impossible to focus.
I flopped onto the bed, the mattress barely creaking under my weight, but restlessness shoved me right back to my feet.
Back and forth, I paced, the dragon inside me stirring, pushing at the confines of my human form.
He wanted out, wanted to claim her, but that was not how things were done.
Not with Erin, not with someone so purely human.
My dragon roared within, insistent, reminding me of the truth I carried in my veins—we were mates. Dropping a bombshell about dragons and destiny wouldn't win her heart. She needed gentleness, patience, the slow unfurling of trust.
"Start slow," I whispered, conviction settling in my bones. A date. I could do that—I had to.
Before I knew it, my feet moved with purpose, carrying me across the hall to Erin's door. I raised my hand, knocked twice, and held my breath.
This time when I stepped into her domain, she was a vision in the late afternoon sun spilling through her window, her movements graceful as she tidied her space.
She was supposed to have been resting, but like me, she seemed unable to find stillness; the air around her charged with the same current that buzzed under my skin.
"Erin," I said haltingly, "I couldn't wait to ask you tomorrow. I want to know if you'll go on a date with me." My words hung between us, an offering laid bare in the quiet of her room.
Erin's hand froze mid-air, a delicate scarf clutched mid-fold between her fingers. For a terrifying second, I thought she might say no. Then her eyes met mine, wide and gleaming with something that made my dragon thrilled.
"Yes," she said, the word hanging light as a feather yet heavy with implications. "I would love to."
Relief washed over me, warm and immediate. "Tomorrow, seven p.m.?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.
"It's a date," Erin said, her smile blooming like dawn breaking.
I nodded as a grin stretched across my face and backed out of the room before I could give in to the urge to kiss her again. With each step away from her door, my heart thundered louder, matching the rhythm of a primal drumbeat calling me to the wild.
Once outside, I didn't hesitate. I crossed the street and headed toward the woods. Their shadows embraced me as I shed the constraints of human form. Muscle and sinew twisted and grew, scales erupted, and wings spread out of my back with a powerful snap.
A roar erupted from deep within my chest, shaking the leaves on the trees.
I took to the sky, the wind a lover's caress against my scales.
With every flip, every barrel roll, the thrill of Erin's eyes fueled my fire.
I let loose a stream of flames, painting the night in bursts of gold and crimson, my dragon's heart alight with the promise of tomorrow.
Circling higher, the evening air cooled my heated scales a bit. The exhilaration hadn't dimmed—every beat of my wings was a rhythm set to Erin's 'yes'. That's when I sensed Skye, her own dragon form rocketing through the darkness toward me.
Skye. I called out to her mind, our thoughts mingling as easily as clouds in the sky. Erin said yes. Tomorrow night, she'll be with me. A date.
Hot damn. Her mental voice was a burst of joy that twined with mine. She looped around me in a celebratory dance of flight. Together, we soared, two dragons bound by friendship.
We came upon the manor, its silhouette a familiar comfort against the stars. Below, Aurelia stood like a sentinel, her gaze following our aerial ballet. We couldn't hide anything from her. She knew, she always knew.
For her enjoyment, we twisted and spiraled, a display of serpentine grace and power. Our shadows passed over her, our intricate maneuvers a silent tribute to her support.
With one last pass, we descended into the clearing, the transformation back to human form enveloping us in magic. With practiced ease, clothes wrapped around us, woven by spells as old as our lineage.
"Erin agreed to go on a date with me," I told Aurelia.
"Of course she did," Aurelia said, her eyes twinkling with shared excitement. We went inside the house and sat in the living room.
"Tomorrow night." The words spilled out as though they had a life of their own. My chest swelled with excitement. I'd never felt this way before, not in all my very, very long life.
Aurelia clapped her hands, the sound sharp and bright in the quiet room. Her face lit up with the kind of joy that could only come from a heart that loved deeply.
Skye was beside her, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Then we have to make it unforgettable. Why don't you take her flying?
Imagine sweeping Erin off her feet and showing her the world from above.
You could fly to Paris, or the beaches of Fiji.
.." She meant on an airplane, but for a tick, I thought she meant on my back. It was definitely too early for that.
Aurelia's hand fluttered like a bird coming to land, silencing Skye mid-sentence. "No, no. That's too much. Erin is grounded, connected to the earth and its simpler pleasures. Such extravagance on a first date would overwhelm her."
I nodded with a surge of relief. Aurelia understood Erin in a way that made me grateful. "I want to keep it simple."
"Simple can be magical," Aurelia said. "Why not take her to your spot?"
The suggestion struck a chord, resonating with a truth I hadn't realized until now. "That's perfect," I said.
Skye tilted her head, her expression one of curiosity. "Your spot? What place is this?"
"It's a clearing in the forest where I've gone since our parents passed," I said, my voice low. "It's where I feel closest to them, to our history. Only Aurelia has been there with me."
"Then it's settled." Aurelia's tone allowed no argument. "You'll take a picnic, a soft blanket, maybe a bottle of wine. Sit under the stars and simply... be. Share stories, laugh, connect."
"Perfect." The image of Erin's smile beneath the moonlight filling my thoughts. A simple date, but one rich with meaning. With Aurelia's blessing and Skye's enthusiasm fueling my conviction, I knew this was the right path.
"Let's get together what you'll need." Aurelia stood.
I followed her lead, my heart lighter than it had been in years. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.