Time to shift.Right.
Nyree yanked off her clothes, despite the air of self-consciousness that swept her.She folded her clothes and crouched to place them inside her daypack.Once she’d secured her boots to the outside of her pack, and she was confident she wouldn’t drop or lose them en route, she rose and stepped back, ready to shift.A prickle at her back told her Tawera was watching her as closely as she’d studied him.She didn’t make the mistake of sneaking a glance in his direction.This situation was complicated enough already.
“Ready?”Tawera asked.
“Yes.”Nyree proved it by backing up farther and shifting to her taniwha.Her transformation was fast and pain-free.She snatched up her pack in her right talon and rose upward.Once airborne, she hovered to wait for Tawera.His shift was sluggish, and he grunted, which told her the morph from human to a dragon was still uncomfortable.She must ask him if the change had always proved difficult.Long moments later, Tawera rose, the flap of his wings slower than her own.It was noticeable he was still experiencing difficulties after escaping the stone curse.
Nyree let Tawera set the pace.She followed, scrutinizing him closely and a little curious about the blue bag he carried.His breathing soon became labored, and worry pulsed to life in her.He hadn’t flown for hundreds of years and should approach this new lease of life with caution.Nyree scanned their surroundings and spotted the cruise ship leaving the bay.
She released a quick burst of flame to attract Tawera’s attention.
“What is it?”
Tawera’s voice flowed through her mind, startling her so much she forgot to flap her wings.Normally, she could only communicate with family and those of related blood.She plummeted before she self-corrected.“The ship is leaving.We must hurry in case they spot us.Fly lower to skim the peaks and stay away from those with snow.We are more visible against the white mountainside.”
“The place where I took off from is over the mountain ahead of us.”
Nyree kept pace with him, relieved when they flew into a valley and out of sight of anyone at sea.Tawera flew deep into the valley and landed near a rushing mountain stream.There were no trees, but moss and lichen covered the rocks and other mystery herbaceous plants.It was a beautiful spot, and it probably wasn’t a well-thought-out idea on her part to be alone here with an enticing man such as Tawera.
Nyree shifted, and Tawera followed suit.Once again, her transformation was much faster than his.A grunt escaped him, and he pressed his hands to his knees, panting.
Nyree stepped closer.“Can I help?”
Tawera gasped and sucked in a huge breath as he straightened.He grinned at her.“The shifts are becoming easier each time.Eating seems to help.”
“I have a chocolate bar,” Nyree said, turning away.
“Ernesto gave me food,” Tawera said.
“What?”Nyree turned back to Tawera and caught him checking out her arse.His gaze lifted to her breasts, and she had to fight to stop raising her hands to cover them.
“Don’t hide.I enjoy looking at you.In clothes and without,” he added, and then he closed his eyes in an attempted and exaggerated wink.
The familiar heat roared through her, and it was her turn to suck in a steadying breath.She couldn’t even blame the approach of the full moon for the lust that roared through her.It was Tawera.He wasn’t only pleasant to look at, but she genuinely liked him.His personality.How on earth was she going to keep her hands to herself?
9
Mountain Picnic
Taweradraggedinair,fighting to remain upright while focusing on the womanly fragrance riding the air.His muscles cried out, screaming abuse with the fractured signals shooting upward to his shoulders, his neck to the back of his head.It was Nyree’s clean, green scent that shredded his concentration and helped to push away the pain.He smiled even though it hurt.Everything throbbed, but he didn’t care.The soreness meant he was alive and no longer in hibernation or whatever the curse had done to him.
He stared at Nyree, taking in her slender beauty.Muscles rippled under her skin, yet she was feminine.
“It would please me to kiss you,” he whispered.“I want that very much, but first, we should eat.”
He picked up the bag Ernesto had given him and pulled out the box.“Let’s sit over there on the flat rock.It’s out of the wind and should be pleasant in the sun.When I get cold, the aching in my bones is worse.”
“That’s interesting.You can have a hot shower when we get back.”She pulled on a pair of leggings and a shirt before picking her way across the uneven ground strewn with rocks.A pebble skittered away when she kicked it with her toe.
“I prefer you without clothes,” Tawera said, setting the box on the rock.“And I’m looking forward to the kiss you offered me.”
Nyree’s mouth opened and closed, reminding him of an eel fished from the river.
He grinned as he retrieved his cloak and other garments, his pain receding and allowing him to function better.“Sit here,” he said, patting the rock.After donning hispiupiusince his naked state bothered Nyree, he opened the food box, and the powerful aroma of aged cheddar reached him.Ernesto had done him proud with tasty cheese, biscuits, and fruit.Tawera unpacked the items on the small bendy trays Ernesto had included.They were like plates but appeared constructed of tough paper.
“What are these?”He held up several round things, hispiupiuswishing around his legs as he moved.
Nyree leaned closer and sniffed.“Mmm.Chocolate truffles.They’re delicious and usually eaten with a cup of strong coffee to counteract the sweetness.”
