Chapter 11
It was late at night—orearly in the morning—when we finally got back to the cabin. I was still grinning when we stumbled into bed, and fell asleep with that stupid smile on my face.
The sun was shining through the windows way too brightly when I finally woke up.
My face felt glued to August’s bare chest with sweat, and his hand was gliding over my back slowly. Though I was still wearing his big t-shirt, he’d slipped his hand underneath it, so his skin was on mine.
“You can unbuckle my bra if you want,” I mumbled against his chest.
He rumbled lightly against me, and undid it without a moment’s pause.
My body heated further as he dragged his hand over my skin again.
“Good morning, Fireball.”
“Good morning.” My voice was soft, my face even warmer than the rest of me.
“How are you feeling?”
“Hot.”
He chuckled. “You are hot.”
I got the feeling he wasn’t talking about my temperature. “So are you.”
“There is fire burning in my veins.”
“Pretty sure it’s burning in mine for now.”
“Most of it.” The tips of his short fingernails dragged over my back, and a soft groan escaped me at the blissfulness of it.
His erection throbbed below my hip.
My stomach growled loudly, and he chuckled again. “Guess I need to feed you.”
“Guess so.” I was a little disappointed at the interruption.
Mostly because I’d been hoping we would have a repeat of our experience in the shower.
But if August was to be believed, there would be plenty of that in the coming weeks.
…Pun still not intended.
So, eating was only a temporary interruption.
He brushed a kiss to my forehead before slipping out from beneath me to use the bathroom. The heat that washed over me at his absence was more intense than it had been the day before, and the soreness was worse too.
I wasn’t sure what to think of that.
Or whether to worry about how much worse that soreness was going to get.
August’s hands brushed my shoulder as he passed me on the way to the kitchen, giving me a moment of relief.
I made my way into the bathroom, snorting when I saw my hair.
It was an utter trainwreck.
Dry and knotted, with tangles I worried might rip right out of my hair if I didn’t soak them in conditioner first. Between the shitty four-in-one soap and the hours of flying, it had seen much better days.
My hair was finicky. When it got bad, it took ages to get it back to normal.
So, I needed to call my mom and ask about that unscented shampoo ASAP.
But that phone call was going to lead to her panicking and questioning my sanity.
There wasn’t a good alternative, though.
I’d do it after breakfast, I decided.
I helpedAugust make bacon and eggs, then cleaned up with him. Something hit our door as we finished, and August grumbled about his brother on his way to answer it.
When he tugged it open, Eli called out, “Daily sanity check.”
August looked back at me.
I waved him out the door. “I’m fine. Go chat with him. I have to call my mom anyway.”
“I’ll make it quick.”
He stepped outside, leaving the door open as he headed out.
I slipped into my assigned bedroom, even though I had yet to really sleep in it.
I ignored heat’s side effects as I shut myself inside. The door stayed unlocked, in case the pain got too bad and I needed August.
Hitting the button to video call my mother, I braced myself for her discomfort.
She answered immediately. “Hey, Elodie!”
Before I could echo her greeting, her face crinkled. There was suspicion in her gaze that grew deeper as she took me in.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“It’s a long story.”
She waited.
I sighed.
“Elodie.”
“Alright, fine. I met a dragon shifter.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“I guess we’re soulmates.” I tried to remember all of the BS August had spewed to my friends when he gave them the closest explanation to the truth that he could manage. “Maybe. Potentially soulmates. We’re stuck together for the next few weeks as we wait for the bond to either break or become permanent.”
Her eyebrows shot higher. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
“I think I know better than to kid about supernaturals at this point, mom.”
Her shock slowly faded to a pinched, uncertain worry. “What exactly does this consist of?”
“He took me flying yesterday. On his back, in the sky. It was incredible,” I admitted. “The wind in my hair, the mountains below us… I’ve never done anything like it.”
“That’s great, but you know it isn’t what I’m talking about.”
“I know.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I’m living with him. In his cabin, in the woods. It’s beautiful here, and he’s very respectful. He didn’t want this any more than I did, but we’re dealing with it as well as we can.”
“His name?”
“August.”
“I want to meet him.”
“Mom,” I protested. “I?—”
The bedroom door opened, and August came striding in. He didn’t remark on my choice of bedroom, but came over to sit down beside me. He put his hand on my thigh to give me relief from heat’s effect, and I reluctantly handed him the phone.
He held it in front of him like he’d done so a hundred times. “Hello, Mrs. Jacobs.”
His voice was respectful, and his expression was a pleasant neutral.
“You’re a dragon?” my mom didn’t beat around the bush.
“I am. I’m sure you can see the fire in my eyes right now. It’s a product of our potential mate bond.”
My mom nodded, though she did so reluctantly.
“The mating process is always chaperoned among dragons, so my brother and another male shifter are outside the house right now. I can show you where they are, if it would comfort you.”
“It would.”
August stood again, squeezing my thigh before he strode away.
He was back a few moments later, said goodbye to my mom, and gave me back my phone.
She looked slightly less worried when she was on the screen again.
“So, not to change the subject, but I need to try some kind of unscented shampoo and conditioner. I guess shifters have sensitive noses.”
Her worry gave way to interest all of the sudden.
She loved talking about hair products.
“I’ve heard that. Marissa has some shifter clients. Give me a few minutes to call around and find out what they’re using, and I’ll get back to you.”
I agreed, and we said quick goodbyes before she hung up.
August came back in the room as soon as I turned it off, taking a seat beside me and draping an arm over my shoulder. I leaned against him, and he squeezed my arm lightly.
“How’s she feeling about it?”
“Seems okay now. She was upset at first, but I think she’s getting over it. The hair thing gives her something else to worry about.”
“Good.” He kissed my forehead lightly. So lightly, I wondered if I’d imagined it. “You’re handling it well.”
“I like to think so.”
“I’m not wondering, Fireball. You’re dealing with it better than I would’ve expected. Better than I am, too.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re cool, calm, and collected all the time.”
He snorted. “I’m a warm, angry mess.”
“You are not.”
“Sure I am. Can’t even get the sight of you in the shower out of my head or mouth.”
“You’re still tasting me?”
“In my dreams. Including daydreams. And those dreams are constant.”
“We can make that a reality.”
“Can we?” His hand dragged over my thigh, lightly.
“Mmhm.”
“How?”
He wanted me to tell him exactly what I needed him to do to me.
My face was flushed. “Start with taking my shorts off.”
I was still wearing the spandex from the night before.
His fingers were slightly rough against my skin as he slipped the tips of them under the waistband, then slowly peeled them down my thighs.
His chest was rumbling in satisfaction when my legs were free, my lower half exposed to the world.
Well, not the world.
Just August.
“You smell so fucking good.”
The words made my toes curl, and he hadn’t even touched me yet.
“My shirt, too,” I breathed.
“My shirt, you mean?”
“No, you made it mine when you forced me to wear it.”
He peeled it over my head. “Excuse me—your shirt.”
A soft laugh escaped me. “Thank you.”
“Any time, Fireball.”
My shirt hit the floor, and his hands found my breasts. I’d left my bra in the bathroom after I used the facilities. He’d already unbuckled it for me, so there hadn’t been a point in refastening it.
“Damn.” His voice was nearly feral. “I love you naked.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” I dragged my fingers lightly down the dips and ridges of his thick, strong abdomen.
He was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.
I didn’t think I could ever get enough of him.
When I found his button, he swore as I undid it.
And cursed again when I pushed the waistband down, freeing his erection.
My hand wrapped around his length, and his lips twisted in a silent snarl.
Before I could have my way with him, he rolled me smoothly to my stomach, lifted me up to my hands and knees, and positioned himself beneath me.
The back of his head was on the bed.
I was sitting on his face.
My moan was automatic when he tongued my clit. My body’s movements were too.
I rocked.
I bobbed.
I jerked.
And soon enough, I was crying out on his mouth as I unraveled.
His chest rumbled the whole time, the scratch of his stubble on my legs and lady bits as he ate me out. I didn’t mind the burn when I was enjoying myself so much.
My phone rang—and August slowed down.
“I’ll call her back,” I breathed.
“She’ll worry,” he growled against me.
I couldn’t stop my hips from moving again, but his hands clamped down on my thighs.
“Answer the damn call if you want more, Fireball.”
My hand shook a little as I unburied the device from the blankets.
My face in the camera looked a tiny bit flushed, but otherwise normal. It was fine. I’d be fine.
August threw the blankets up over my shoulders without climbing out from under me, so I caught them and tugged them into place. I finished covering myself and hit the button just in time to stop it from going to the voicemail graveyard. I never checked voicemail. Did anyone check voicemail?
“Hey, mom.”
“Hey!” Her eyes were bright. She must’ve had fun researching unscented shampoo and conditioner. “I talked to a handful of the stylists I work with and came up with a list of options. After I compared them all, I realized there were three that have the best chance of working out for you. So, I ordered you a set of each of them. You should be able to pick them up at the nearest beauty store within an hour or so. Just show them your ID when you get there. They technically aren’t supposed to sell to you, but I spoke to them on the phone and convinced them it was fine.”
She would’ve definitely tracked my location to see where I was before calling me, and before ordering for me.
“Perfect. Thanks, mom.” My voice still didn’t sound exactly right, but she didn’t notice, thankfully.
“Of course. Facetime me again after you try each of them so we can compare.”
A soft laugh escaped me. “Alright.”
She smiled. “Love you, honey.”
“Love you too.” I hung up, and August’s tongue dragged over my clit.
A cry escaped me, and my hips jerked hard.
“Turn the volume off on that thing, Fireball. No more interruptions.”
I shut the volume off, and dropped it on the bed.
He sucked my clit between his teeth, and I cried out, hips bucking and hands diving into his hair.
I wanted more.
I needed more.
“Give me your fingers,” I commanded.
He dragged one over my entrance, and I nearly climaxed at the feel of it alone. “You like that?” he spoke against my core, making me crazy.
“I need it inside me.”
The fire in his eyes burned brighter. “You need my cock.”
“Yes. But your fingers will have to be enough.”
He pressed harder against my entrance when he found it again—then slid his finger inside me.
I sucked in a breath as it entered me, my body clenching tightly around it.
It wasn’t big enough.
It wasn’t what I wanted.
But I’d have to deal with that.
“More?” His gaze was hot.
Fierce.
Claiming.
“Always.”
The fire in his eyes grew again, and he added a second finger.
That felt better.
When he added a third, my hips were finally moving the way they wanted to. His tongue was doing what I wanted, too. And his body…
I loved having his body beneath mine.
His face under me.
On me.
Devouring me.
“Come for me, Fireball.” The order was low.
Filthy.
And exactly what I wanted to hear.
I cried out, rocking my hips until his fingers were hooked where I wanted them.
Until I was shattering, finding my pleasure once again on his hands and face.
It was everything.
Everything, and more.
Eventually,we made it out of the room. I’d touched him too, getting him off and giving him the relief he needed while he took me over the edge yet again.
I was still dazed as we climbed in a black SUV that I hadn’t noticed in front of the cabin before. It was August’s, and Eli had driven it over from Brynn’s house for us at some point.
My car sat beside it, though mine was much older, smaller, and less shiny than August’s.
And probably functioned worse, too.
Suffice it to say, when he led me to his vehicle instead of mine, I didn’t argue.
Actually, I flashed him a small smile.
Which he returned.
Then, he kissed my forehead again—I knew I wasn’t imagining that one—and walked around the car to find his seat.
His hand rested on my thigh as we drove away, left bare by the cutoff jean shorts and t-shirt I had on.
It might have been the most peaceful drive of my life.