"I can see that. What are you?" I asked.
"I'm a qilin," Jian said.
"Qilin," I repeated, trying to match the pronunciation. "Am I saying it right?"
Even though his face looked different now, I could tell he was smiling. "Close enough. I can give you a lesson on my native tongue later."
My heart did a little flip. Okay, hehadto be flirting with me, right?
I didn't have much time to dwell on my suspicion because Jian stood sideways and said, "Get on my back. I'll take you to my home."
I blushed furiously, patting the tummy that overflowed from the top of my jeans. "Are you sure? I'm not exactly light..."
Jian chuckled. "Yes, Kola."
"If you say so..."
He kneeled down and I carefully climbed on his back. I'd ridden a horse once as a kid, which was the closest experience I could think of, but Jian's back was smoother and stronger. It was like sitting on a sleek diamond.
Unlike the horse, Jian obviously wasn't wearing a saddle so I wrapped my arms around his neck. Up close, there was no horsey smell either. He smelled like a mix of Jian and clean forest air.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes. Just make sure I don't go flying."
"I won't."
And then he took off, flying up the mountainside with incredible speed and grace. I let out a whoop of surprise that turned into peals of laughter. It was like riding a roller coaster but better in every way. Every leap was silent, like Jian's hooves were made of clouds. If the wind wasn't whipping in my face hard enough to make my eyes water, I might've still thought I was dreaming.
We raced up the slope together, whizzing past trees, soaked in the scent of nature itself. Even though I was riding a mythical creature who was galloping faster than any horse, I was suddenly relaxed. Was it being among all this natural beauty that calmed me? Or was it Jian's presence exerting this tranquil feeling over me?
Jian slowed to a halt and let me slide off his back. I was woozy for a second, holding a tree for support. Good thing there was no lack of them around here. In the second I wasn't looking at him, Jian had shifted back to human form. He smiled and touched my back to keep me steady.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
I gave him a thumbs up. "Never better."
"Wonderful. Now come. My house is just beyond these trees."
I gasped when I saw it. A log cabin stood in the middle of a clearing, classy and minimal. This was no woodland shack. It was spacious and elegant yet modest. Kind of like Jian.
"Holy crap," I said. "This is gorgeous."
Jian lit up. "Let me show you inside."
He reached for my hand. I took it, feeling my heart flutter.
This was it. After all these years, Jian was finally letting me in.
And you know what? I wasn't going to waste this opportunity. He'd told me his truth. Now it was time to tell him mine.
8
Jian
Except for my parents,nobody had ever been into my home. Watching Nikolas take the first step inside felt like something big, like he was breaking a silent curse on my life.
"Wow," he said, eyes wide as he gazed around. "Jian, youlivehere? This is like—shit, I don't know, a magical forest resort."
