Peggy
“You have a great house,” I murmur, carefully stepping into the living room. It’s nothing like the wolf’s lonely cabin in the woods. Dragons are much too fancy for something like that. No, Cameron’s place is quaint, but it’s homey and it’s well-decorated. If I had to guess, I’d say he has two or three bedrooms at least, and it’s all his.
“Thank you.”
“Have you always lived alone?”
“Are you asking if I’m married?” He seems amused, but I blush.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I hurry to explain, but he chuckles and motions for me to calm down.
“I live alone. Always have. My sister and David offered to let me stay with them, but I would never impose in that way. Besides, I have plenty of money and building this place was fun.”
“You built it yourself?”
“With my own two hands.”
“Do most dragon shifters build their own homes?”
“The smart ones do,” he says with a chuckle.
“Why’s that?”
“Because dragons love treasure, love.”
“Oh.” Does he have a secret lair in his house? Is that why he built his home on his own? Maybe there are secret passageways, I realize. Maybe there are hidden places beneath the floorboards. Only, Cameron seems to notice the look on my face because his eyes narrow’.
“Don’t you think about exploring while you’re here.”
“Oh, no, of course not. I wouldn’t…you know…I wouldn’t be nosy or anything like that.”
Not on purpose, anyway. I don’t think I can really promise that I wouldn’t, you know, peek around if the opportunity presented itself. Who would really be able to resist an opportunity like that? I might be hard working and a little bit brave, but I’m no saint.
“Let’s get you to your room,” he says.
“Do you want to eat first?”I ask.
“Peggy, are you hungry?”
I hesitate, embarrassed. I am hungry. I’m fucking starving. I don’t want to be rude and presumptuous and assume that Cameron wants to take care of me, but I also don’t have any money or anything I can use to barter here in Dragon World. No, the only thing I have is myself and the hope that keeps pushing me forward that somehow, all of this is going to be okay.
“Peggy?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m hungry.”
Cameron moves across the room to me and wraps his arms around me.
“Hey,” he tells me. “You don’t have to be embarrassed, okay?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not used to asking people for help.”
“I like you a lot, Peggy. I’m not a mind-reader, though. If you need something, no matter what it is, just ask. Then I’ll be able to help you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Cameron takes my hand, leads me into his enormous, full-size, completely-stocked kitchen and somehow, in a matter of minutes, he whips up a couple of steaks, vegetables, and bread. He sets everything in front of me on a plate and sits across from me while I pick up my silverware.
“Are you going to watch me eat?” I ask nervously. He didn’t make anything for himself.
“I’m going to keep you company while you eat,” he clarifies. “But seeing you smile with pleasure while you enjoy your meal will also bring me joy,” he adds. His eyes twinkle a little bit when he says that, and I know Cameron is teasing me.
He’s a playful one, and I kind of like that. I’ve never really dated before, but the men I’ve known have all been quite serious all of the time. They rarely laugh or express themselves, so finding someone who isn’t afraid to joke around is really nice. I feel comfortable with myself and with Cameron as I start to eat.
He’s right, though.
It’s fucking amazing.
A moan escapes my lips before I can stop it. My eyes reach Cameron’s and I know what he’s thinking. Sex noises. It sounds like I’m making sex noises. I’m not, though. My noises are completely innocent. It’s this food that’s fucking dirty. It’s so damn delicious that eating it should be some sort of sin. Seriously.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, blushing.
“I’m not.”
“It’s just that this food is really…perfect.”
“Just like you.”
I look up at Cameron, waiting for the punch line to his joke, but he looks serious. He’s not joking. He’s not messing around.
“Why did you say that?”
“Because it’s true.”
He seems surprised that I would even question his words. Is this because he’s a dragon? I suppose I never really considered that if a dragon and human were lovers, they might have cultural differences they have to work through. To me, I’ve always thought that love could conquer anything. If you found it, anyway. I guess I didn’t really think about the fact that there would be little things you had to get used to.
You aren’t lovers.
We aren’t.
Cameron and I are not lovers.
We don’t have any cultural differences to work through because we are not a couple. We are not a pair. We are nothing.
So why is it that I push myself out from the table?
Why is it that I stand up and walk over to him?
Why is it that when he turns to me, I cup his face, and I bring my lips to his?
Why is it that kissing Cameron feels like my heart is filled with silver and gold?
Why is it that I feel like I’m on fire?
He lets me lead the kiss: sweet and passionate, but slow and tender. My hands are on his cheeks, and I feel the little bit of scruff that’s starting to come through. It’s rough against my skin, but I don’t care because I’m kissing Cameron.
I’m kissing the dragon.
“What are we doing, Peggy?” He asks gently, pulling away. “Are you kissing me because I said you’re pretty?” He places his hands on my sides and pulls me a little closer. I look down at him, to his position in the chair.
“No, it’s not that.”
“Because you’re very beautiful, Peggy, but I don’t expect anything in return for that observation. You don’t owe me anything. You don’t owe anyone anything.”
“I feel a connection to you,” I blurt out. Then I bite my bottom lip and look away because I can’t meet his eyes right now.
“Look at me,” he commands, and slowly, hesitantly, I turn back to him. His eyes search mine for a long time. “Tell me what you feel.”
“Like I’ve known you forever,” I say simply. “That’s the only way I can describe it. Cameron, we just met. I know this is insanity. It’s crazy for me to tell you that I feel this deep connection to you. Isn’t that the kind of thing that usually scares guys away?” I look away for a second, take a deep breath, and then turn back. “I don’t want you to think I’m clingy.”
“I’m not a human, Peggy.”
“I know.”
“You know in your head,” he taps my forehead. “But not in your heart.” He presses his hand to my chest. “I’m not human, and I don’t have the same expectations that human men do.”
“But…”
“No,” he shakes his head. “No ‘buts,’ honey. Come here.” He pushes his chair back and stands up. Then, before I can protest, he lifts me easily into his arms.
“What are you doing, Cameron?”
He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he carries me through the house and to the back porch. He walks down the steps and to the yard, and then he turns and points to the moon.
“What do you see?”
“The moon.”
“What else do you see?”
“The stars?”
“And?”
“Um…I don’t know. Darkness.”
“The sky is dark, but the moon shines bright, Peggy. You are my moon. My heart is dark, but you fill me with light, joy, and happiness. This is because dragons don’t fall in love the way humans do.”
“You don’t?”
“Dragons have soul mates, Peggy, and I believe that you’re mine.”
I should jump down and runaway.
I should flee.
I should escape while there’s still time because this has to be the wildest thing I’ve ever heard and this guy can’t be for real.
Only, he is.
He’s definitely for real.
The craziest thing?
I believe him.
“I know,” I whisper, and I kiss him, too.