Chapter Thirteen

Ashrac

SHE’S BEEN HIDING from me. Now that I’ve seen her eyes I know there’s more. Taking her to the lake to bathe is the only way I can think to see her naked body and decide for myself if she’s worthy of mating a red dragon. I catch sight of myself in the lake as we fly over; Flora is riding in the saddle. Maybe the green will wash off.

She’s right about bathing, though. I do smell. I would say it’s not a normal condition, but when I’m engrossed in a project, I forget about everything, including food and especially bathing. My mother still smacks me upside the head when she visits and I’m filthy. She also feeds me.

Flora has no fear of being on my back. She’s an eagle and I’m still flummoxed that I didn’t know she was a shifter. I sensed her magic from the beginning but there are so many kinds. From precognition to witchcraft to vampires and weres it just never occurred to me that she could shift. Our children would be double shifters and could choose which form to take. Not that they would want anything but dragon because, after all, dragons are superior to all other paranormal creatures.

When Flora reveals her body, I will know if she’s worthy.

I circle the lake looking for a sandy beach spot to land. Flora takes it out of my hands and dives off my back. She didn’t bring her glasses and I wonder if her vision is so good she can see beneath the surface of the water. I can’t and I wouldn’t make that dive this close to shore because I can’t judge the depth. She comes up from the water laughing.

“Come on in, stinky dragon.” She holds up the bathing kit I gave her while she treads water. “I’ll wash your back.”

Now that’s an opportunity I won’t pass up. I barrel down toward her and enjoy the look of panic that washes over her face as I shift to human ten feet from the surface and dive in beside her. Terrifying her could become my favorite pastime. I surface and she’s laughing. I like the sound. I cup my hand in the water and splash her in the face to see what she does. Her laugh goes instantly to coughing and then she’s laughing again. I really enjoy the sound. Now I just need to get her out of those clothes to see if her body matches the laugh. She splashes me back before I decide how to do it.

She splashed me.

It’s on.

“Stop, stop,” she yells a few minutes later and turns away. She’s trying to breathe while laughing. I’ve never had this much fun with a woman.

I stop trying to drown her in splashes and just tread water. She slowly paddles back around and I’m hit over the head with an ax. Strands of her wet hair are stuck to her face. Her eyelashes drip water. They’re long fans that swoop over her incredible eyes when she blinks. Her skin is flawless and the bone structure of her face exquisite—high cheekbones, narrow jaw, and a perfect small nose combine to pack a wallop.

Why hadn’t I noticed? I also realize I’m not thinking about my experiments or the lab. I know I asked for three days but I also knew it would be very difficult to stay away from my projects that long. Now, all I want is to see her body so I know she’s the one.

“Why are you staring at me?” she asks.

The question brings me back to the now. “You’re like… almost beautiful,” I reply.

“What?” she snaps.

“Could we go to shore and you remove your clothes so I can see if the body matches your face?” It’s an honest question so I don’t understand why her eyes grow larger and go even darker as her lips twist. She starts swimming to shore and it occurs to me that I’ve made her angry. I just don’t know why. She’s seen all of me, so she knows what she’s getting. I deserve the same.

She wades to the shore when she’s close enough. Her wet clothes stick to her skin, giving me a partial look at the woman who could be my mate. When we’re both completely out of the water, she turns on me.

“You are the most egotistical ass I’ve ever met. Has it ever occurred to you that there is more to a woman than a pretty face or nice body? Did it occur to you that it doesn’t matter if I’m thin now? After having children I could be fat for the rest of my life. And let me ask you this: Why would I want to mate with you? Muscle and a gorgeous face don’t turn me on.” She puts a finger to her head. “This does. I want to mate a man who appreciates me for more than my looks. We don’t need three days, dragonbreath. This is over and I want to go home.” She folds her arms and stomps her foot for emphasis.

I can actually feel her shifter magic against my skin now that she’s angry. It does the strangest thing and blends with mine. Damn it feels good. No, good isn’t the correct word. It feels right. With just a small thrust I give it back.

The breath she’s drawing in stops. Her eyes go dreamy as the anger melts beneath our combined power. “What did you do?” Her voice is as enticing as her eyes.

I step closer. “I’m not exactly sure. This has never happened before.” I step so close our lips are almost touching.

“What has never happened?” Her breath wisps against my lips and her scent fills me.

“My dragon magic blends with yours.”

“I’m not a dragon,” she replies.

No she isn’t, but if we mate, she would become a glorious dragon.

She interrupts my thoughts when she says, “Just so you know, dragonbreath, I won’t sleep with you. Brittlemortis is a sexually transmitted disease.” She rears back, turns, and walks away.

I stand in stupefaction and almost shout that she’s making that up. I clamp my jaws shut and shout, “You plan on walking home?”

She doesn’t even turn around. “I’ll manage.”

I scratch my chest, grab the soap bag off the sand, and go back into the water. I desperately need a bath to see if I can get this green shit off me.