"Look, it's snowing. That's so beautiful," I say.
Brando kisses my temple and whispers, "You're so beautiful."
Grinning, I look up at him and snuggle into his chest. He strokes my damp hair and says, "Joss, I realize we just started this up, but I feel like I'm being dishonest if I don't tell you this."
Turning to him, worry pools in my gut.
He takes my face in his firm hands and says, "I'm in love with you, Joss Gallagher."
Gasping, it takes me a moment to process his words.
"And it's okay if you're not. I just felt weird not telling you. After everything that's happened," he says, his cheeks turning red.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I realize he said exactly what I wanted to hear from him.
"Brando, I'm in love with you too," I whisper.
The smile he gives me shoots thrills through my body. He pulls me in for a kiss, and we remain in bed until we finally have to get up to check out of the lodge.
Lugging our suitcases out into the parking lot as the snow continues to fall, we bump into my cousin Susie and her husband Dave. He definitely looks like he is recovering from a doozy of a hangover.
"Hey, mate. How about showing off your dragon self here at least?" Dave calls over to Brando with a playful grin.
My boyfriend looks at me, and I giggle, shrugging.
"Go for it. You'll make his day."
With a wicked grin, Brando throws our suitcases into the car and walks a few steps toward Dave, whose eyes widen in anticipation. As we watch, he transforms into a purple-scaled dragon and rises into the air. His powerful wings flap above my cousin's husband, causing Dave's hair to blow into his eyes.Brando swoops around him before releasing a stream of fire above us, the heat warming my shoulders. When he lands, he transforms back into his human self.
Dave stares at him speechless before Susie grabs his wrist and drags him to the car. I run up to my sexy dragon shifter boyfriend and throw my arms around his neck.
"Have I mentioned how hot I think you are?" I say, grinning up at him.
Brando leans down and captures my mouth with his.
9
Brando
I watch Joss through the kitchen window as she stands on the back deck, her arms wrapped around herself against the late March chill. She's still wearing her work clothes from the supply store, but she's let her hair down from its usual ponytail, and the setting sun catches the silver threads that run through the gray. After the long day we've had dealing with a delayed shipment and three difficult customers, seeing her out there looking peaceful makes something warm settle in my chest.
I finish steeping the chamomile tea and grab two mugs, adding a touch of honey to hers the way she likes it. The past several weeks since we returned from her cousin's wedding have been a blur of adjusting to this new reality between us. We're still figuring out the boundaries of being boss and employee during the day and lovers at night, but somehow it's working. Maybe because we've always had a chill rhythm together, even before we crossed that line.
The back door creaks as I push it open with my shoulder, and Joss turns at the sound, her face lighting up when she sees meapproaching with the steaming mugs. On her back deck, I hand her the tea and settle in next to her on the outdoor porch swing.
She takes an appreciative sip of her chamomile tea and interlaces her fingers through mine as we quietly, gently swing in the chilly March air. The back of her house overlooks Ravenhart Mountain, and we watch the sun slowly dip beneath the peaks. Resting her head against my shoulder, Joss looks up at me with her dark eyes, and a contented sigh escapes her full lips.
"Happy?" I ask.
"Very," she says.
We sit in silence, watching the sky turn darker shades of orange and pink. Ever since we returned from her cousin's wedding, we fell into a natural rhythm of working together while dating. Well, if you can call this dating. Immediately, the relationship was serious, and we both acknowledged that we were in it for the long haul.
A chill runs down my spine, and my girlfriend pulls me closer, resting her legs across my lap.
"Getting cold?" Joss asks.
"A little, but I like this," I say.
