“After,” I said, and opened my door before my dragon came roaring out and burst the car’s metal seams.
On the grassy riverbank, the sheer breadth of the river took me by surprise. It looked to be running high, though I couldn’t tell if that was from the recent rain or if the tide came up this far. It might be a better substitute for the sea than I’d anticipated.
Another time, I’d have taken the opportunity to look at Nate as we undressed, but right now, my dragon needed to be free. We were spoiled in Cornwall by miles of dark countryside in which to shift, and I wasn’t used to going so long without it.
He’d already taken off by the time I shifted.I’m going to swim. Let me know when you’re finished, I thought to him as I launched myself into the water. It wasn’t the rough and tumble of the Celtic Sea, the treacherous currents that over the centuries had sentso many ships to their deaths on jagged rocks, but it wasn’t precisely tame, either. The river was far deeper than I’d expected, the current strong enough to make things interesting. I closed my nostrils, slid my transparent third eyelids across to protect my eyes from the diesel tainting the water, and dived under the surface.
Perhaps, for me, swimming is what flying’s like for other dragons. It was silent down there except for my heartbeat, my only companions some startled fish. Worries over what the Fortescues wanted with my family faded until there was only me and the water.
I surfaced occasionally to check where I was and to take another lungful of air. On one of those occasions, I looked up and saw a huge winged shape crossing the face of the moon. Nate was stunning as a dragon. My dragon wanted him because he was beautiful and precious.Iwanted him because he was Nate.
Somehow, out here, when I was fully in tune with my dragon, the fact he was a banker became irrelevant. That waswhathe was, notwhohe was. He’d been sweet to Ella, indulging her like a caring big brother, genuinely respectful to all the Teagues he’d met, and behind his manners, he had a swift sense of humour. He was also fucking gorgeous, and I wanted him in my bed more than I’d wanted anything in a long time.
I dived back under the surface once he disappeared behind a cloud. Now, I was marking time, waiting for him to return to earth. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to kiss him without any reason other than us wanting to kiss one another. I needed to feel him, to taste him, to learnthe essence of Nate Mortimer.
If it meant I fell in love with him, well, I was already halfway there. I’d deal with my broken heart later. I always did.
NATE
Flying had always been my escape. There was no thrill like twisting and turning in the vastness of the sky, using my massive wings to plummet and climb at will, or riding the thermals in long, lazy circles.
I was glad we’d found this place. Farmland covered the countryside, with just a few houses dotted around. The fields were beautiful and ghostly in the moonlight, and the river shone like a large silver snake. It was very different from Salisbury Plain, where Charlie and I used to fly. For one thing, there was no risk of the military launching flares or shells if they were engaged in night exercises. The thrill of danger had been half the fun. Now, I found myself marvelling that we’d survived as long as we had. Young and dumb just about covered it.
Calm and centred once more, with all thoughts of the Fortescues banished, I landed on the riverbank and slapped the water with my tail. The vibrations should get Alex’s attention. I’d been surprised he’d chosen to swim rather than fly, but Rufus sometimes did the same. There must be an enjoyment in swimming that eluded me.
Moments later, he climbed out, water streaming from his wings and his hide. There was something about him… Something I’d never felt from any other dragon. He looked the same as any of us, but there was a—I must be losing it. I wanted to duck my head before him. To swear fealty? Where thefuckhad that come from?
Shaken, I shifted. With my dragon’s monochromatic vision replaced by colour, I saw he was a beautiful grey, so dark that he was almost black, his wet scales shimmering in the moonlight. Whatever wild instinct had possessed me was almost gone nowI was in human form, though my brain was working overtime. Surely my dragon didn’t believe the whole King Arthur thing.
He shook himself, showering me in cold river water.
“Thank youverymuch.” I tried to make it sound peevish, but honestly, I was rueful. My fault for standing and staring rather than moving out of range.
He shifted and grinned at me, so normal, soAlex,that all thoughts of legendary kings fled. Apart from the fact I’d go to my knees for him in an instant.
“You shouldn’t have been standing there like a stunned mullet, then,” he informed me. “But sorry. I forgot how big I am.”
He bit his lip firmly. It took me an instant to realise where his mind had gone. God, I’d been slow on the uptake, but not any longer. Dragons don’t sexualise nakedness. That would swiftly become embarrassing given the number of times we shift around others. But Alex…
Using willpower I didn’t know I had, I tore my gaze away from him. Away from his broad chest, the abs that swimming as a dragon kept tight and firm andglorious,and his muscled thighs. From what was between his thighs. It didn’t appear to matter that I wasn’t looking at him—my cock was reacting to his naked proximity.
IknewI should turn away and get dressed. I knew this was the worst idea I’d ever had. But God help me, I was only human, and Alex wasright there.
Right there and interested, unless I’d completely misread his flirting before.
I looked back at him, and his tongue darted out to lick his lips. Taking that as evidence that he was just as tempted, I stopped resisting the pull I felt towards him. My eyes ranged over him,drinking in his muscled body and the play of moonlight on his skin. “I’d like to find out for myself how big you are,” I said.
I couldn’t see the expression in his eyes, shadowed as he moved forward. Slowly, achingly slowly, we leaned in, and then he slanted his mouth over mine, hot and slick. I groaned as our tongues slid together. The way he kissed was everythingI’d remembered and more.
I pressed against him, my hands roaming over his wet skin. He was so hot I didn’t feel the chill of the autumn night. Dragons run warm, even in human form, and Alex ran hotter than the average dragon.
I eventually tore my mouth from his. “Want to taste you,” I said, my voice thick, as I nipped at the hinge of his jaw, the precursor to working my way down his body and sucking his hot, hard cock.
His hand was in my hair suddenly, pulling me away. “Don’t,” he said sharply. “I’ve just got out of that river and God only knows what bacteria are in the water. Safest to stick to hands only. We shouldn’t even have kissed.” He closed his eyes and his head dropped forward. “Fuck.And now I’ve got water all over you, so I can’t blow you either.”
Honestly, that was one hell of a disappointment, but his frustration with himself caused a laugh to well up inside me. “Let me get the tarp from the car, so at least we’re not lying on wet grass.”
The tarp was cold and grubby, though once we were lying together, I stopped noticing. He was on top of me, and his weight and warmth holding me there were everything I wanted.Almosteverything I wanted. His cock was hard, and I was pushing up against it and moaning at the satin heat sliding against mine.
