Chapter Three
Falkan
As I watched my Lexus hoisted up on the tow truck’s crane, I let out a heartfelt groan.
Over the phone, my cousin Hugo tried to be sympathetic amid the shouts and chatter of his kids in the background.
“Dude, you’re coming from New Mexico. Why didn’t you go around San Diego and through LA?”
“I was taking my time. I wanted to sightsee. San Diego’s beautiful.”
“I didn’t know you’d be here, or I would have made different plans. I’m sorry I can’t come get you. I’ve got the kids today, and it’s mayhem here. Plus, they have appointments and stuff all afternoon.”
“No worries. I’ve got an Uber on the way. Arriving in seven minutes.”
“Did the tow truck guy have any idea how long it would take to repair?”
“It’s serious. A few days, at least.”
“Do you need a place to stay?”
“Nope. I already made reservations. Nice place. Has a pool. This is my vacation. I’m not in any hurry to get to Portland to see Jin.”
Jin was my other cousin on my mom’s side.
He had a lovely estate in Oregon with huge property surrounded by protected forests.
Perfect for dragons to shift and fly away from public view.
He’d invited me to stay for a couple of weeks because I’d complained my beast was restless and wanted a change of scenery for his shifts.
“I told you, Falkan. You should have taken a plane. You’d be there already.”
“You know I hate to fly. Except shifted.”
“Yeah. But you could close your eyes, have a few drinks, and it’d be over.”
“Right. No can do.”
“Hey, maybe we can do dinner one night. Not tonight, though. Are you sure you’re okay? Sorry I’m so busy.”
“I’m fine. But my dragon is restless. Wants to stretch his wings now. Any suggestions?” I asked.
“If you’re not too tired from driving, there’s a shifter nightclub called Animals SD.”
“I’ve heard of Animals in the Arizona Superstitions. I didn’t know there was one in San Diego.”
“It’s great. You can shift out on the back acreage. They have good food, music, dancing…everything.” The shouting in the background grew louder. I heard something crash.
“Thanks, Hugo. Sorry to catch you at such a busy time.”
“Yeah, I gotta run. I hate to abandon you. You’re family. But today is just one of those days. I’ll get back to you, okay?”
“Sure thing.”
I stood on the sidewalk, suitcase at my feet, watching the traffic move up and down the two-lane road. At least I didn’t break down anywhere dangerous. I’d pulled off to get gas and immediately my car quit.
Finally, the Uber showed up. I shoved my suitcase in the trunk and headed off to my hotel.
***
By the time my second ride for the day dropped me off at the nightclub, my stomach was complaining from hunger. So was my beast.
I’d left all my snacks in my broken car. As for my dragon, he kept mumbling the same phrase over and over. Mate time. Mate time.
Internally, it felt like he was wagging his giant spiked tail.
“I don’t get it,” I murmured aloud. “I don’t feel it.”
I wasn’t necessarily horny. I didn’t have any rut symptoms.
I need to fly. I’ll find him if I fly.
He’d been like this for weeks. If I took him out after work to fly, nothing happened. He just happily soared until we both got hungry and tired.
Well, at least he could fly tonight.
The club looked busy for a weekday. Dusk was approaching, and the line to get in was long. I quickly joined the end, expecting an extensive wait time, but soon it was moving. In less than ten minutes, I was inside looking around at the club’s vast interior.
Check out the shifting place outside!
“I’m starved. Food first, then shifting.”
Silence. He wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t going to complain about eating, either.
I went to the bar and ordered a giant burger with everything, something called “famous fries,” and a beer.
As I waited for my food, I immediately noticed a bear two stools over.
My heart went into my throat. He was one of the best-looking men I’d ever seen.
His head was lowered over a plate of onion rings and a half-finished sandwich.
His vibe had me bowled over with empathy, even though he was a stranger.
Could a person be attracted that hard at first sight?
“Okay, beast,” I said under my breath.
Mate time?
“We’ll see.”
I leaned closer to him, trying to look inconspicuous, then said, “Hey there. It’s my first time here. I’m Falkan.”
The bear glanced up, blinking. A small smile appeared then disappeared. “I’m Griffith. Nice to meet you.”
I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you too.”
He looked at my hand as if deciding something then reached out in return to shake it. When our palms touched, an electric zing went through my body. Wow. I hadn’t felt that with anyone. Ever.
Suddenly, I wanted to tell him everything. That I was from New Mexico, how my car broke down, how my beast was restless. He seemed like just the sort of person who would listen, understand, have my back.
And he did listen, nodding at the appropriate moments. Then, when I realized I was talking up a storm like I always did, something people had told me could be annoying, I stopped. “What about you?”
“Uh.” He waved his hand through the air. “I just lost my job.”
My jaw dropped. My woes seemed so small compared to his. “I’m super sorry. How?”
“The company is closing.”
“Damn.” I let out a long breath. “Dinner’s on me, then. Drinks, too.”
“No need.”
“I insist. I’ve got a good job. I’m not hurting in that department.
” That was the truth. I worked for an investment firm owned by my uncle.
I had a fantastic salary, retirement plan, and savings.
Plus, a trust from my mee-maw. I was a dragon, after all.
Hoarding was what we did, and most of us did it with money.
I ordered us more beers and threw my card on the bartop. “I’m paying for his food, too,” I said to the bartender. I turned to Griffith. “Do you want dessert?”
He shook his head but sent me another one of his hesitant smiles. “Thanks.”
My insides fluttered. He was so gorgeous and, if possible, his mopey side made him all the more attractive. My alpha came out in full-blown caretaking mode, even though he wasn’t an omega.
We talked more after that almost nonstop. About everything. About how he was feeling, about my delayed trip, about bears and dragons and family, both the good and the bad.
As the hours went on, I got more and more hyped up.
Restless. And gods, how I wanted him. If only to hold him and tell him everything would be all right.
I wanted to feel him in my arms, all those strong muscles.
He had a short, cropped beard, and I longed for the tickle of it against my bare skin.
I’d be satisfied with just that, though of course I wanted more.
But it didn’t have to be more if he didn’t want it.
And I’d insist on buying him breakfast in the morning.
My beast kept inwardly sighing. He wanted him, too. It was obvious. But he also wanted to fly.
“I’ve been told there’s a place to shift outside. My dragon needs to stretch his wings. Join me?”
We’d already gotten a bit tipsy and comfortable with each other. More smiles from Griffith came at me like rays of light. “Sure. I’ll show you.”
Outside, the night air held a sweetness I’d never known. It was Griffith beside me, I decided, his alluring scent like a hint of melting marshmallow over a campfire. When he stripped, I couldn’t look away. Muscles. Lots of them. Ruggedly tan skin. Flat stomach and a nicely curved backside area.
I tore off my clothes before he could catch me being so rude and shifted fast. His huge, black bear took off running.
My dragon cantered and swooped upward, flying at last. Happy.
We made low dips back and forth over the bear.
A rising moon to the east hung pink on the horizon, and a low, soft wind soughed through the trees and beneath my wings. Perfection.
We stayed out for at least half an hour. When we came back to the bench, shifted, and grabbed our clothes, I turned to Griffith.
“Honestly, and take this as you wish—it won’t hurt my feelings—but I don’t want this night to end. I love it here. And talking to you makes me feel like I’ve known you before.”
That wonderful smile pushed at his smooth cheeks. For the first time, I saw it in his eyes as they crinkled. “I feel the same.”
“Um, well…” I cleared my throat. “It doesn’t have to end.”
He frowned. It wasn’t a dark frown, but more of a contemplative look, as if he wanted to believe me.
“I have a suite at a hotel nearby,” I offered.
“Really.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yep. You’re welcome. If it’s companionship you want, like a movie and room service, that’s all it has to be. Or…whatever.”
“Whatever?” His mouth scrunched up and looked extremely inviting.
I shrugged innocently.
He held up his hand. “Come here.”
I took a step forward. “What?”
Griffith’s hand reached out to the side of my head and brushed at my hair. “You have a leaf in your curls.”
“Oh, um, thanks.”
Then he leaned forward and put his lips on mine. Kissed me with a gentle warmth that had me spinning. My body heated up inside and out. Lost and found at the same time.
Shifting then running and flying around the woods for the last thirty minutes had Griffith sober enough, once we were dressed, to drive us straight back to my hotel.
We were kissing and fondling before the room’s heavy door closed behind us. To touch him felt like home. I ran my hands underneath his shirt, trying to get as much skin contact as possible as we tore off our shirts, shucked our shoes, and fell into my king-sized bed.
We kissed and rubbed against each other for a long time. Finally, we got our pants off. Our hands and mouths went everywhere.
Marshmallows and campfires. Security and love. Home. He felt like home. I kept repeating that to myself. How could I feel all this so quickly with a stranger? What did it mean?
I leaned back, moaning, as his mouth closed over my length. I warned him. “I can’t hold back.”
He didn’t seem to care. My pleasure zoomed through me, igniting every cell in my body. He swallowed everything I had to give. I felt displaced. Somehow changed. But I didn’t have time to think.
I sat up and pushed him down, taking him into my mouth and returning the favor.
Later, we slept in each other’s arms. Did that mean something to him? It did to me. But Griffith said nothing, and the next morning, I didn’t know what to say. I ordered room service, and we ate in companionable silence, but I needed more.
I was afraid. Afraid to lose him when I’d just found him. Afraid he’d think that me just passing through the city meant this was a one-time thing.
When he was showering, I quickly wrote on the hotel notepad and popped it into his pocket. On it, I put my phone number and a quick request.
I don’t want this to end. Please meet me tonight at Animals. If you’re there, I’ll know it was meant to be. Yours if you wish it, Falkan.