He shook his head but sent me another one of his hesitant smiles. “Thanks.”
My insides fluttered. He was so gorgeous and, if possible, his mopey side made him all the more attractive. My alpha came out in full-blown caretaking mode, even though he wasn’t an omega.
We talked more after that almost nonstop. About everything. About how he was feeling, about my delayed trip, about bears and dragons and family, both the good and the bad.
As the hours went on, I got more and more hyped up. Restless. And gods, how I wanted him. If only to hold him and tell him everything would be all right. I wanted to feel him in my arms, all those strong muscles. He had a short, cropped beard, and I longed for the tickle of it against my bare skin. I’d be satisfied with just that, though of course I wanted more. But it didn’t have to be more if he didn’t want it. And I’d insist on buying him breakfast in the morning.
My beast kept inwardly sighing. He wanted him, too. It was obvious. But he also wanted to fly.
“I’ve been told there’s a place to shift outside. My dragon needs to stretch his wings. Join me?”
We’d already gotten a bit tipsy and comfortable with each other. More smiles from Griffith came at me like rays of light. “Sure. I’ll show you.”
Outside, the night air held a sweetness I’d never known. It was Griffith beside me, I decided, his alluring scent like a hint of melting marshmallow over a campfire. When he stripped, I couldn’t look away. Muscles. Lots of them. Ruggedly tan skin. Flat stomach and a nicely curved backside area.
I tore off my clothes before he could catch me being so rude and shifted fast. His huge, black bear took off running. My dragon cantered and swooped upward, flying at last. Happy. We made low dips back and forth over the bear. A rising moon tothe east hung pink on the horizon, and a low, soft wind soughed through the trees and beneath my wings. Perfection.
We stayed out for at least half an hour. When we came back to the bench, shifted, and grabbed our clothes, I turned to Griffith.
“Honestly, and take this as you wish—it won’t hurt my feelings—but I don’t want this night to end. I love it here. And talking to you makes me feel like I’ve known you before.”
That wonderful smile pushed at his smooth cheeks. For the first time, I saw it in his eyes as they crinkled. “I feel the same.”
“Um, well…” I cleared my throat. “It doesn’t have to end.”
He frowned. It wasn’t a dark frown, but more of a contemplative look, as if he wanted to believe me.
“I have a suite at a hotel nearby,” I offered.
“Really.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yep. You’re welcome. If it’s companionship you want, like a movie and room service, that’s all it has to be. Or…whatever.”
“Whatever?” His mouth scrunched up and looked extremely inviting.
I shrugged innocently.
He held up his hand. “Come here.”
I took a step forward. “What?”
Griffith’s hand reached out to the side of my head and brushed at my hair. “You have a leaf in your curls.”
“Oh, um, thanks.”
Then he leaned forward and put his lips on mine. Kissed me with a gentle warmth that had me spinning. My body heated up inside and out. Lost and found at the same time.
Shifting then running and flying around the woods for the last thirty minutes had Griffith sober enough, once we were dressed, to drive us straight back to my hotel.
We were kissing and fondling before the room’s heavy door closed behind us. To touch him felt like home. I ran my handsunderneath his shirt, trying to get as much skin contact as possible as we tore off our shirts, shucked our shoes, and fell into my king-sized bed.
We kissed and rubbed against each other for a long time. Finally, we got our pants off. Our hands and mouths went everywhere.
Marshmallows and campfires. Security and love. Home. He felt like home. I kept repeating that to myself. How could I feel all this so quickly with a stranger? What did it mean?
I leaned back, moaning, as his mouth closed over my length. I warned him. “I can’t hold back.”
He didn’t seem to care. My pleasure zoomed through me, igniting every cell in my body. He swallowed everything I had to give. I felt displaced. Somehow changed. But I didn’t have time to think.
