Chapter 9
It waslate in the afternoon when August finally released my feet again and told me he needed to make dinner. My brain felt a little mushy, so I closed my laptop and left it on the swing, following him into the kitchen.
He cooked by memory, so I followed his instructions, working with him so we could stay together. Though the main purpose was to avoid the pain and sweatiness that would accompany heat, I liked cooking with him.
It was kind of relaxing.
And for a few minutes, I let myself believe that the way he constantly sought me out, touching my hips, arms, and face every chance he had, was just because he liked doing so.
I knew it wasn’t true, but it made me feel nice to believe it anyway.
And I was still wearing his shirt, so it wasn’t like I looked really hot or seductive.
When we sat down to eat together, his bare feet brushed mine. It was to keep the heat at bay—but I liked it.
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before I asked, “Are you going to let me see you in your dragon form?”
He studied me before he answered. “What will you give me in exchange?”
“What do you want?”
There was another moment of silence before he said, “A kiss.”
“How much of a kiss?”
His chest rumbled. “As much as you’ll give me.”
“Have you ever kissed anyone before?”
“Not the way you’re referring to.”
He’d probably kissed his baby sister on the cheek before or something.
And he’d technically kissed me. Just not on the lips.
My face reddened at the reminder.
It wasn’t like making out was any more intimate than what we’d already done. And since we had four weeks to enjoy ourselves… well, we might as well have fun.
“Deal.”
His gaze grew hungry as he watched me eat, apparently no longer caring about his food.
When I was finished, I abandoned my plate, stepping over to where he sat at the table.
August started to stand—but I put my hand to the center of his chest and pushed him back down.
His hands found my hips as I lowered myself onto his lap, his erection hard against my center. That warmed me too, but in a way I liked.
“Anything I should know first?” he asked, his gaze on my mouth.
“Just follow your instincts and have fun.” I slipped my hands into his hair, tipping his head as I leaned in and pressed my lips to his.
He was stiff at first, his mouth not moving at all.
But when I found the seam of his lips, he parted without hesitation.
His growl rumbled against my chest at the first brush of my tongue on his.
His hands tightened on my hips with the second.
And with the third, he finally kissed me back.
He was tentative at first.
Slow.
Sweet.
Sensual.
But he adapted quickly, and the kiss went from simmering to burning in what felt like a heartbeat.
His hands found my ass, and pulled me down over his erection a little harder.
Mine moved over his neck and to his arms, gripping his thick biceps like anchors.
We kissed, and kissed, and kissed until I finally pulled away.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, but I released one of his arms. “If you want more, you have to take me flying.”
His eyes blazed. “You drive me mad, Fireball.”
I smiled.
August carried me out of the house without another word.
Eli and Gordonwere still outside, kicking back in their chairs, but August ignored them.
I waved, not wanting them to be offended.
Eli waved back, but Gordon just glared.
“Gordon seems like a jerk sometimes,” I whispered to August.
He snorted. “He is one. And he’s going to follow us the whole time we’re in the sky, to make sure I don’t run away.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” I wasn’t sure why I felt so confident about it, but I did.
“Nope.” He let go of my hand, and peeled his shirt over his head.
I bit my lip as he unbuttoned his jeans, stepping out of them smoothly. His boxer-briefs followed.
“Step back, Fireball.” The command was smooth, not even slightly harsh.
I moved away, giving him more space.
August took a deep breath in, and his golden skin shimmered as he let it out. With his second inhale, his body changed. And with his second exhale, he stretched his scaled neck to the sky, loosing a small stream of fire.
Though I’d known dragon shifters existed, and seen pictures of them before, I couldn’t help but be awestruck by the sight of him.
He was massive.
Strong.
Elegant.
Powerful.
His deep silver scales glittered in the setting sun, the strong lines of his elegant body sharpened by the light filtering around them.
He was stunning.
August took a step toward me, lowering his head until we were eye-to-eye.
I sucked in a breath when he leaned forward.
And let it out with a laugh when he licked my cheek.
He lowered his belly to the ground, then set his head down right in front of me. I crouched, reaching for his nose with a questioning look.
August closed his eyes, giving me permission, and I closed the rest of the distance. My palm landed on his warm, smooth scales. There was something about them that felt sort of soft. Not like fur, or hair, but something else. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but they were comfortable.
He licked the underside of my arm, and a laugh escaped me.
His chest rumbled, the sound happy.
I smiled.
“Fly with me, Fireball.”His voice was in my mind, catching me off-guard. He had mentioned mental communication while he was in his dragon form, but I hadn’t really considered what it would sound or feel like.
“Are you sure?” I asked my question aloud, not certain if I could speak into his mind too.
And not sure he’d want me to, even if I could.
“I’m always sure.”
“Okay. Don’t let me fall, though.”
He narrowed his beastly eyes at me. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.”
I huffed out a laugh.
He was a pain in the ass, but I liked it for some reason.
I stood up and walked around to his side, eyeing the distance between the ground and the back of his neck. It was at least four feet high. “I think I need a stepstool.”
He snorted.
“Need a lift, El?” Eli called from across the yard.
August growled.
“Nah,” I yelled back. “Don’t want to smell like you. Thanks though.”
“You’ve got it.”
I didn’t know if I did, but it was time to find out.
Stepping up to his side, I ran my hand down the smooth length of his scales.
Wow, I loved how he felt.
He hummed at my touch, so he must’ve enjoyed it.
Finally, I set my hands on the back of his neck and went up on my tiptoes. In one motion, I pulled up and threw my leg over him.
My knee smashed into his side before I crashed back to the ground, landing on my ass.
August made a coughing sound, and I laughed hard.
Yeah, that was a fail.
Eli and Gordon were both choking back laughter when I looked over at them, still on my butt.
“Dad used his tail to lift mom up,” Eli hollered. “Try that.”
“Hmm.”August’s voice was considerate. “I do remember that.”
“You just wanted to see me land on my butt,” I teased, brushing off my backside as I stood up.
He laughed into my mind. “I prefer staring at your ass when it’s not covered in dirt, actually.”
“Probably true.” I stepped up to his side again, and his thick tail curved around my side.
“Definitely true. Drape your arms over the top of my tail.”
I lifted my arms over the spiky, scaled appendage. In a slow, smooth motion, he lifted me off my feet and up to the place where his neck met his shoulders.
I leaned up against his neck, and he made a satisfied noise as he pulled his tail away from me. “There we go. Comfortable?”
“I guess.”
He chuckled into my mind. “Arms around me.”
“You swear you’re not going to let me fall?”
“I swear. Even if you did fall, I would catch you.”
“What?!”
“Just hold on, Fireball.”
With that, he took off.
We shot into the sky. My arms and legs clamped down on his scales as wind whipped against me, terror holding me tightly.
“Breathe,”August commanded.
Breathing was necessary.
I just couldn’t manage to make it happen.
“We’ll level out in a second. I’m not letting you pass out, El. Breathe, now.”His order was so authoritative, I found myself taking in a deep breath.
The air was colder, and fresher.
My hold on August didn’t loosen, but I did keep breathing.
We finished ascending, and as he’d promised, began gliding.
My eyes widened as I took in the mountains not above us, but around us.
Below us.
My breath caught in my throat for an entirely different reason.
It was stunning.
Gorgeous, untouched land.
The wind rushing against us.
The world silent around me.
“Wow,” I whispered.
The word never met my ears, lost in the wild around me.
That was the only name for it.
Wilderness.
Pure, undisturbed wilderness.
And flying on August’s back, I felt like I was a part of it.
I never would’ve expected to like it, but I did.
I loved it.
“Still breathing?”August asked me. Since he’d noticed when I stopped, I was pretty sure he already knew the answer. So, he just wanted to talk.
I couldn’t yell over the sound of rushing wind. Instead, I focused on the way it felt when he spoke into my mind, then spoke back. “Now that we’re not ascending, yes.”
“What do you think?”
“Of flying? It’s incredible.”My voice was soft, but genuine. “Terrifying at first, though.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“You plan on taking me flying often, Auggie?”
He chuckled. “Yes.”
We only had four weeks. We’d have to be in the sky every other or third day to really fly often before the bond broke, unless he was referring to us flying together after he got out of prison.
And I knew he wasn’t doing that.
So, I changed the subject.
“Bet this is how you woo all your women.” My voice was playful.
“Of course. Might as well use my best asset.”
“I don’t know, you have some pretty good assets…”
He laughed into my mind.
The sound was light and free. Peaceful. Content.
My smile lingered as I leaned against his neck a little more, my grip loosening slightly.
Maybe heat wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
Maybe I could enjoy it in even more ways than I’d thought.