Chapter 11
Beck
Isense Eleanor as I make my way up Starry Hill, her fragrant lavender and sparkling water scent beckoning me closer to The Dancing Daisy. My dragon sniffs the air with me and scales shimmer down my spine as he urges me forward with extra enthusiasm.
Since I finally admitted to my friends, and myself, how much I like Eleanor, and acknowledged how much I want to be more than just her friend, it’s like some type of barrier has been unlocked between my dragon and me.
This week we’ve been more in tune with each other than usual, both of us now very keen on showing Eleanor how much we care for her, and ready to cautiously court her in the hopes that she’ll accept our affection.
Cocking my head to the side, I pick up the conversation in the bookshop, my elevated hearing helping me get a picture of Eleanor and Lucille as I turn onto Third Street. I don’t mean to blatantly eavesdrop, but I also don’t make any effort to hasten my steps.
“Are you ready to host your first book club meeting next week?” Lucille asks Eleanor, the question sounding warm and encouraging, just as one might expect from Lucille.
Slowing down even further, I listen to Eleanor’s response, enjoying the way I can hear her smile as she talks.
“Yeah, I think we’re all set. Marisol said she’ll leave the door unlocked so I can get those extra chairs from The Singing Seahorse next door bright and early.
I know we have only five confirmations, but I’ll put out a couple more chairs just in case any latecomers want to join too.
” I frown at that. Eleanor has put so much effort into choosing a book, creating flyers that she personally delivered to each shop, coming up with discussion questions…
Having only five creatures confirm their attendance is unfair to her.
I don’t want Eleanor to be discouraged by a lackluster response.
Before I can figure out how I can fix this, Eleanor continues, “Maisie is delivering our themed cupcakes around nine, which reminds me that I need to ask Beck if he’d be willing to pick me up a little earlier so I can get everything set up.”
“Eleanor, I think Beck is willing to do pretty much anything for you,” Lucille says wisely, understanding my feelings for Eleanor better than I thought she did.
“I doubt that, but even if he were, I’d never want to take advantage of him,” Eleanor protests.
Take advantage. Please, I want to say. Instead, I keep my lips pressed together as I mentally reschedule next week’s supply run and ferry times while stomping on the cobbled street so the women can hear me approaching.
Seeing Eleanor’s face brighten, her smile wide and eyes sparkling the moment she spots me in the doorway, sends scales fluttering across my cheeks and down my chest, before they dissipate somewhere above my cocks.
It’s the same expression she has when I show up in Cape Easton every Saturday, and it never fails to call forth my own smile, to make my stomach feel swoopy, and to get my dragon’s attention.
Eleanor walks toward me, but stops short an arm’s length away, her expression flitting between happy and… concerned? “Hi. Is everything okay?”
My first instinct is to say no, because how could it be when she’s standing so close when I’m aching to wrap my arms around her but can’t? And today especially, when she looks extra beautiful in an aquamarine dress that makes her hair look even brighter, more stunning.
“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?” I ask, pretending I’m not salivating for her.
Eleanor quickly scans my body before her gaze settles on my eyes.
“I always meet you at your mill after I’m finished.
Did something happen? Or am I late?” Eleanor’s pillowy lips that are normally turned up at the corners, are pulled down with worry.
Everything within me begs to lean forward, place the gentlest of kisses to each corner of her mouth before pressing my lips to hers, parting them with my tongue, and finally finding out what she tastes like.
I try to redirect my attention from her lips and actually focus on the words she’s saying, but my brain feels slow to respond now that I’ve given myself free rein to truly appreciate all of Eleanor’s alluring qualities.
“Oh, no. Everything’s fine. I—” I didn’t foresee Eleanor misunderstanding why I showed up here instead of waiting for her at home, like I usually do.
Coming to the bookshop is supposed to be part of my courting tactics, but what if I’m bothering her?
My throat constricts and an uncomfortable warmth climbs up my neck and burns the tips of my ears. “I was done early with all my duties so I thought I’d walk back with you. When you’re done, of course,” I add hastily. “No need to rush. Or maybe there’s something here I can help with?”
I follow Eleanor’s gaze as she looks behind her, but Lucille has disappeared into the back room on feet way more silent than I thought was possible for a human.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, Eleanor looks up at me with a smile that seems satisfied with my explanation. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you, Beck.”
Lucille appears from the back, shuffling between the shelves toward us, holding Eleanor’s bag out for her while giving me an approving nod.
“Hi, dear boy. We were just wrapping up.” Patting Eleanor’s hand, Lucille says, “I’ve put a bag of those candies you’ve been wanting to try in your tote.
They’re always more fun when enjoyed with someone else.
Now off you go, and have fun. See you next weekend. ”
Eleanor says a quick goodbye and I incline my head toward Lucille as she winks at me with a secretive grin.
“Have you eaten yet?” I ask Eleanor as we make our way down the hill.
“Not yet,” she admits, sounding a little confused, and still unaware that I planned for this. “Richard usually brings us some of their specials from The Flowering Teapot around lunch time, but I guess they’ve been quite busy today?”
“Good.”
“Good?”
I clear my throat and try not to sound too pleased with myself that everything’s going according to plan so far. “Yeah, because now we can have lunch together. I’ve been experimenting with a new sourdough recipe all week and I finally feel happy with the flavors.”
Eleanor lays a hand on my arm, her touch sending a thrill right through my body, my cocks responding as eagerly as the scales flitting down my abdomen. “That’s really nice of you to offer, but aren’t you saving it for the boys tonight?”
“Uhm, boys’ night got cancelled. Unfortunately.” The words stumble clumsily out of my mouth and a light sense of panic threatens to take root. I’m such a bad liar and I didn’t plan on Eleanor being this concerned.
“Oh no. Is everything okay?” Eleanor asks, her hand lightly squeezing my forearm, anchoring me to her in a way I’d never tire of.
I bend my arm to encourage her hand to stay on me, and Eleanor obliges, slipping her hand into my crook like it’s the most natural thing to do. I try to breathe normally, but having her skin against mine makes it hard to simply remember what day of the week it is.
Realizing the guys and I didn’t think of a believable excuse for canceling game night so I can court Eleanor, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.
“Tilly is angry at Bodin, so he wants to do something nice for her. A date. We thought it best to postpone tonight’s session, for the sake of their marriage. ”
“Really? I’m sorry to hear that. Tilly didn’t seem upset when I saw her at the shop this morning, quite the opposite actually. She was practically glowing. But maybe she was masking. So many of us do that. I hope they’ll be okay. They’re such a lovely couple.”
“They will be. Bodin is a good guy,” I state, knowing that’s the truth, even if they’re not really fighting.
“I know he is,” Eleanor agrees, grazing her thumb across my forearm, my dragon practically purring in my chest at all the contact. “But it’s also good that he’s prioritizing his wife.”
Meeting Eleanor’s honey-brown eyes, I lay my hand on top of hers as her heart goes into a gallop. “Yes. Putting your partner first is the epitome of a good relationship.”
Our hands remain like that for the rest of the walk home. Being with Eleanor is easy and exhilarating at the same time, making my nerves compete with excitement for the rest of our first unofficial date.
“It smells great in here. What flavors did you use?” Eleanor asks as I open the mill’s front door for her.
Inhaling deeply as she steps past me, I close my eyes and let her scent wash through me, savoring the way it blends so seamlessly with the other familiar smells in my home.
When I open my eyes again, I give myself a moment to enjoy the sight of Eleanor in my space.
I’ve always appreciated how beautiful she is, but being more in touch with my actual feelings now, I can acknowledge that I’ve wanted her since the first second I saw her again.
It was just too scary to allow myself to hope for anything more, so I suppressed my attraction, much to my dragon’s dislike too.
But now, watching Eleanor stand in the center of my kitchen with the sunlight beaming down on her like a personal spotlight, highlighting every one of her curves like the goddess she is, makes me believe fate has brought her back to me for a reason.
I lick my lips, imagining undoing the thin little bows on her shoulders and slipping off that pretty aquamarine dress until it pools at her feet.
I want to fall down on my knees and kiss every inch of her silky skin, working my way up, then bury my face in her sweet cunt.
Because Eleanor is a woman meant to be worshipped.
“Beck?” Eleanor asks in a way that makes me think it might not be the first time she’s tried to get my attention.
I ignore the scales now flickering all over my body, most of them congregating around my cocks, and shake my head to clear the wanton thoughts, knowing it’s not the time for that yet. Courting first. “Sorry, my mind was somewhere else. What was the question?”
Eleanor purses her lips together, but her smile still manages to sneak through. “The flavors? I was wondering what bread it is. I think I’m getting hints of cinnamon?”
Suddenly feeling awkward and not knowing what to do with my limbs, I brush my hair back before putting both hands in my pockets.
“The first time you brought me bread, you said you couldn’t choose your favorite, so you got me both.
Well, I combined them into one sourdough loaf—cranberry, orange, walnut, and cinnamon.
I’ve been practicing different ratios and combinations all week, but I think I’ve finally found a good balance that you’ll like. ”
Eleanor’s mouth opens slowly, her eyes flitting in a triangle across my face as her heart speeds up. It’s not beating the same as it does when she gets on the boat, and I can’t smell her nerves, but I understand it’s still inappropriate to ask her what this emotion is.
With one hand on her chest, Eleanor walks toward me, her heart beating faster and faster. “That’s… wow. So much effort, and planning, and— You’re really thoughtful, Beck. Clever, and kind.” Her arms wrap around my waist as she hugs me. “Thank you.”
Feeling Eleanor’s body pressed to mine for the first time is better than I could have dreamed, and I never want it to stop.
Soft curves mold to my harder lines, as her head settles against my solar plexus.
Stunned, I realize almost too late that my hands are still in my pockets, so I quickly take them out and fold my arms around her before she can retreat without my returned affection.
We stay wrapped together for a couple of seconds, my breathing shallow as I try to keep myself from tracing a hand up to her nape, tilting her head back, and kissing her the way I want to so badly.
Eventually, I make the smarter choice to step back, even if I’m unable to fully let go of her.
Keeping a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder, I whisper, “You’re very welcome.
” My eyes dip to her mouth for a prolonged moment before I’m able to snap my lustful intentions away.
Letting my hand skim down Eleanor’s arm, I enjoy the sight of goose bumps appearing in the wake of my touch, then I take her hand and lead her to the table where there’s a variety of spreads around the covered bread.
Feeling unsure of what to do next, I flounder with the assortment of toppings Maisie suggested when she sat in on the courting meeting at her and Ren’s cottage.
So far, this date is going pretty smoothly, much better than I expected, but I’m scared I might be moving too fast and getting ahead of myself. What if Eleanor isn’t ready for my advances? I need to slow down before I say or do something she’s not ready for.
“Can I help?” Eleanor asks.
“No. Thank you. You’re my guest. Just sit back and relax,” I say while wrestling the lid off a jar of orange marmalade.
“I hope I’m more than a guest by now.” The words are hesitant, yet there’s a hint of playfulness woven into them, and I don’t know how to interpret that.
Pausing with a container of hummus in my hand, I study Eleanor’s face. “Yeah?”
“Uhm, I mean, I’m here every Saturday afternoon. It’s about time I make myself more useful,” Eleanor explains, putting things in a little more perspective for me. For a moment I thought she meant it in a romantic way. Glad I asked her to clarify before my heart jumped to conclusions.
“Oh.” I take the seat next to Eleanor and place a plate in front of her. “You can help by fixing yourself a plate. You must be really hungry by now and that’s never good for anyone.”
Eleanor smiles to herself as she studies the assortment, lifting jars to read their labels.
“Thank you for going through all the trouble of putting this together. For baking the bread, and preparing everything. Just look at all these spreads. There is quite literally nowhere else in the world I’d rather be today than right here, with you.
” The last two words are barely a breath, but my dragon hears them, sending a cascade of scales raining down my body while he stretches out on his back with a smirk of contentment.
“Me too,” I whisper back, feeling like the luckiest creature in the world.