Dirk was dead tired and hungry enough to eat a carcass. He probably stunk like month old laundry and his ass had goosebumps from the chilly air coming in from the sea. He had no idea where they were, or if he had the strength to fly them back to town, but thanks to his dragon’s help during his “missing” days, he knew, deep in his soul, if he let Jon go he’d regret it to his dying day. Now he had to wonder, as the warmth from Jon’s body seeped into his, how could he have been so stupid as to think he could walk away in the first place?
“You’re cold,” Jon said, pulling away and taking off his jacket. “It won’t fit you, but drape it over your shoulders.”
“You do care,” Dirk said as he draped the cloth around his neck. It smelled deliciously of Jon and despite his weakened state, Dirk’s body responded. “Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”
“Oh, Dirk.” Dirk found himself pulled back against Jon’s body and he pressed his nose in Jon’s neck. “You’re rude, insulting, and arrogant. You haven’t said one nice word to me since we’ve met, till now. You ran away from me when you scented me; you insulted me to my friend. You told me to get out of your hotel suite and said you never wanted to see my face again.”
“Does that mean you don’t forgive me?” Dirk wrapped his arms around Jon’s waist and pulled them closer together.
“It means I need a minute to get my head around your complete one eighty. You heard what Raoul said. You father and the lady you were meant to marry are seriously looking for you.”
“And we’ll go back and face them, together, after I’ve claimed you.” Dirk didn’t want to think about what was to come. He was too busy enjoying the here and now. He bent his head, determined to taste those full lips that tortured his dreams and promised to be even more heavenly in person. For a second, Jon hesitated and then tilted his head. Dirk moaned as their lips touched for the first time. He was sure he needed the use of a toothbrush and tried to keep his kissing light but Jon was stronger than anyone he’d kissed before. Dirk’s need to dominate pushed forward and he gripped Jon’s head in both hands, their tongues dueling in his mouth and his mate’s.
His mate! Dirk cursed himself to hell and back. Jon’s scent and taste flooded his body and he pushed forward, seized with a desire he’d never had before. It went beyond a simple rut; the feelings he usually had when he was with someone. He wanted to consume Jon; hold him close enough not even air could pass between them. He wanted them as one, so tightly bound no one could ever come between them.
Hell bent on his goal, Dirk hadn’t realized his teeth had dropped until Jon pushed him back. “I am not,” Jon panted as he rested his hands on his knees. “I am not going to be claimed on a fucking beach. We need to find some place where we can have some privacy.”
Of course. Dirk looked around. Unfortunately, there were a few problems with Jon’s request. His nakedness, for one thing, and the fact he didn’t have a clue where they were. The fact that his cock was fit to burst, didn’t help matters.
“Here,” Jon started taking off his clothes and Dirk’s mouth dropped open. His mate’s powerful build had been hidden under his clothes and although he wasn’t as ripped as Dirk knew his body to be, he was still worth drooling over. There was something about the innocence of Jon’s face compared to his body built for sin that ticked boxes Dirk didn’t know he had.
“Try not to rip the seams as you put this on. Hopefully, you’ll get a few buttons done up. My pants should fit you; they might just be a bit short, but my boots should cover that. We have roughly the same sized feet.”
“What are you going to wear?” Dirk took the shirt, resisting the urge to press it to his nose.
“My fur,” Jon shook his head, a small smile tugging his puffed lips as he undid his pants. “You can’t get us a motel or a taxi naked or in your dragon form. So, you take my clothes, my wallet is in the pants, and I’ll be your service dog until we get somewhere private. There are some benefits to being a domestic canine, you know.”
Dirk blushed, hoping Jon wouldn’t notice in the dark. He struggled with Jon’s shirt; it was about three sizes too small although he managed to get it on without ripping any of the seams and took the pants when they were offered. Blushing for a different reason this time; Jon had a delightful patch of curls around his substantial dick, he slipped them on, keeping an eye on his mate.
Flexing his arms, Jon dropped to all fours on the sand. His body shimmered and the shift was over in a blink. Instead of a sexy man, there was now a gorgeous, definitely larger than usual, German Shepherd. His dark fur blended perfectly with the night sky although his legs were tan and there was a patch of lighter fur on his chest. He stood at least three feet tall, which had to be taller than most, and Dirk estimated he weighed at least a hundred and fifty pounds. Jon’s ears pricked up and he sniffed the air before Dirk found himself flat on his back on the ground, being thoroughly examined by a very wet nose.
“Er…good doggie?” Dirk had never owned a pet and he wasn’t sure what the protocol was. Jon bunted his hand and he stroked down the dog’s long back, amazed at the strength in his form. Keen eyes, the same shade as Jon’s blue, peered at him from a dark, narrow face. Dirk could almost swear the dog was grinning at him.
“I probably should finish getting dressed,” he murmured as Jon’s mouth got perilously close to his groin. “Do you think you can let me up now?”
Jon barked and sprang back, sitting on the sand with his tail wagging and his tongue hanging out. He really was a beautiful animal and Dirk cursed the day he thought someone like Jon could ever be considered inferior. If anything, Jon had the edge over him in that he did blend in when shifted. Struggling up, not helped by the soft sand, Dirk pulled on Jon’s boots which were still warm and patted the pants pockets to make sure Jon’s wallet was safe. Jon didn’t appear to have his phone with him, which Dirk thought was a good thing. Less likely for people to track him that way.
And it was the thought of people looking for him that had Dirk brushing the sand from his clothes and heading towards the berm. There was an urgency in his movements. His gut told him that if he didn’t claim Jon soon, he might never get another chance. His father had always been a fair man but he was a stickler for tradition. No matter what the dragons decided between them he could still cause them both a lot of trouble. But once the claim was done, nothing could break it. Dirk was counting on that to wear his father down.
A bright neon “Motel” sign just a hundred yards down the road was like a gift from the Fates. Striding down the road, his faithful companion at his heels, Dirk just hoped they didn’t have a no dog policy. Jon was too big to hide under his borrowed shirt.