“I was still starving.The humans kept adding platters of food, and I was in the way.Ernesto offered dessert and coffee.The men in white stared at me and became animated.”
Nyree pictured the scene and laughed.She would’ve loved to witness their reactions as they’d watched food rise to an invisible mouth.
“The man dropped his trays and containers ofkaion the floor.It was a waste of deliciouskai.The food—Nyree, it was tasty.”
“I’m sure it was, but I wonder if it was the food or the shift that made you visible.I could see you—an outline, at least.But right now, you look like a naked man.Normal, apart from the tattoos on your face.So, what happened with Ernesto?”
“Ernesto came to talk with me.I made him nervous, but he asked if I would like dessert and coffee.He said he would get it for me.I thanked him and finished eating.He was very polite when he suggested I left before the passengers returned.I told him that was fine.You may be right.The food seemed to help me become visible.”
“All right.Ernesto seemed quite calm for a human.It’s a wonder he didn’t scream a warning about monsters.”
“He knows I’m a dragon,” Tawera said.“He showed me the way to the forward deck.Ships differ from when I first saw them in the harbor at home.”
“Yes, you’ve probably noticed many things have changed.”
“I shifted on deck, took the bag Ernesto held up for me and flew back here to sleep on the beach.I have missed the sun and the breeze on my bare skin,” Tawera added.“Are you hungry?”
“Not right now.I might go for a flight.Would you like to come with me?We can take off from here and land where you left your clothes.”
“That is a fine idea.”Tawera beamed.“We can eat after we shift back to human.Have one of those picnic things thepakehamen are so fond of having when they are working outdoors.”
“Ah, I knew I brought those chocolate bars for a reason,” Nyree said.“They can be a celebration.At least you’ve broken the curse and regained your previous abilities.”She reached out her hand and squeezed a bulky biceps.“I can see and hear you.Your skin radiates heat.”
“Is the beat of my heart audible?”Tawera asked.
Nyree placed her palm on Tawera’s bare chest.The warmth from his skin raced up her fingers and down her arm.She became even more aware of him as a man.His strength.The differences between them.Her skin tingled, and she hurriedly lowered her lashes to screen her thoughts.
Tawera noticed, however, attuned to her responses.“What’s wrong?”
“I…” Her mind raced while she struggled to find an answer.There wasn’t one.After Ari, she should want to run in the opposite direction, but something about Tawera called to her.He was kind and considered others, despite his warrior background.If Ari had been on the ship, he would’ve delighted in terrorizing the staff and passengers.Tawera hadn’t done that—not on purpose, at any rate.
“You make my skin buzz.”
Nyree lifted her head to meet his gaze.“It’s only because no one has touched you for so long.”
“Or it might be moonlust,” Tawera conceded.
“You too?”Nyree whispered.“I was trying to ignore my taniwha.”
“We don’t have to do anything,” Tawera assured her.“We can fly in our taniwha forms, and that should suffice.”
Nyree swallowed hard and decided she didn’t want to hide her feelings from Tawera.So far, she’d found him honest—refreshingly so—and she wanted to do the same for him.“I want to kiss you.”
Tawera stared at her for a long, extended moment, and his gaze dropped to her mouth.Then he shook himself.“We will go for a flight together and have our picnic.There is a beautiful spot near where I left my belongings.”
Nyree’s belly pulled tight, and it was in a good way rather than the fear she’d always experienced with Ari.He might not have been a taniwha, but he’d had a wide streak of meanness that had her treading carefully around him.With Tawera, she didn’t guard her words or try to gauge his mood before she spoke.Did he want to kiss her?Did he even know about kissing?Had they discussed this subject?Right now, her mind was a clean slate, and all she could think of was him and sex.
Fast and furious sex.Slow and tender.A shudder worked through Nyree.
Good grief.The tug of the moon was worse some months, more intense and full-on, but the way her nerves jumped and sparked right now, this time might be on another level.Luckily, he hadn’t kissed her because she feared her control might snap at the first physical contact.
“I’d love to fly with you,” she said, and this was an understatement.
Never had she flown with a male taniwha unrelated to her.“We need to take care, though.We must try to escape attention.Visibility is excellent today.”
“You shift.I have something to collect before I take off.”Tawera strode toward a shady area before he’d even finished speaking.
Her gaze went straight to the tattoos winding down the right side of his torso, over his buttock and down his thigh.She imagined licking the lines with her tongue, and heat shot through her, leaving her breathless with need.She released a tiny moan and forced herself to glance away.
