“We should study the area for clues to getting home,”her dragon said.
“Probably,”Sasha said.“But I’m not ready to return yet.”
“Our parents will worry.”
Sasha bit her bottom lip.“While that’s true, we will never get another opportunity like this to experience freedom. I want to read more of the kissing book. So far, it’s fascinating. And we must learn more about Max. We enjoyed his kisses, and he doesn’t pinch bottoms like Bruceous.”
“I agree,”her dragon said.“But while we should take advantage of the freedom, we should also watch for a way to return home. Options are never bad.”
“We can’t leave Noel alone,”Sasha said.
“Never,”her dragon agreed.“We cannot let the arrogant woman snatch Noel. She is the overprotective sort, and Noel would suffer. We understand what that is like.”
“Shasha!” Noel flapped a pair of bright red shorts in front of her.
“Sorry.” Sasha helped him to change into his shorts and a T-shirt. She rubbed lotion on his arms, legs, and face before plopping on his hat. “I’ve packed a bag with towels, snacks, and drinks in case we get hungry. Shoes?”
“They’re in the tiny room by the kitchen door,”her dragon said.
“Right,” Sasha said. “Let’s do this.”
The walk to the beach was much quicker when they traveled in a direct line. On this sunny afternoon, a few people walked on the beach and farther along the sand, a family of two adults and two children played in the shallow water with a bright yellow ball.
“Where should we sit?” Sasha asked Noel. “Would you like to choose?”
He started running toward the water in his limping gait.
“Remember, we need our towels and clothes to stay dry. Why don’t I pick today, and you can choose a spot tomorrow?”
Noel lurched to a halt and turned to her, his blue eyes bright. “We come tomorrow?”
“If it’s not raining,” Sasha said and walked farther away from other people. “We’ll sit here. Now, I need you to listen. We have to follow the rules. Stay near me, and all the time, we watch the waves to make sure an extra big one isn’t coming. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“He would say that,”her dragon observed.“We said that, and we still misbehaved.”
A chortle escaped Sasha. It was all true.“We’ll hold one of his hands the entire time,”she said.“One little human kid won’t get the better of a fierce dragon. Besides, two of us are watching him.”
Noel pulled off his T-shirt, and Sasha rubbed lotion on his pale chest.
“Leave on your hat. If it gets wet, it will dry in this sun.”
Sasha stripped to her black underwear and her breast support. Since both were black and constructed of sturdy fabric, they resembled the swimsuits Mr. Google had shown her earlier.
“We’re ready,” Sasha said and led Noel to the water. He shrieked as the foam from a wave ran over his toes. It was difficult not to smile at such innocent pleasure.
“I might like a child,”her dragon said.
Sasha snorted.“Not if they’re as naughty as we were. Mother says we turned her hair gray.”
“Untrue,”her dragon said.“Our mother is still young.”
“But she didn’t have more children after us.”
“Now that’s true. I can sense the barrier, but it’s a long way from here.”
“Yes.”Sasha pushed away the unease that shot through her.“I still don’t understand how we arrived here. The air turned heavy and thick. Seconds later, it felt normal again.”
