Chapter Ten

 

 

Could life get any better?

Riding down the road with his arm around his mate was just about as good as Gage had ever imagined his life could be. When his brother J.D. had found his mate in a Fire Horse Shifter named Dax, the oldest of the MacAllen brothers might have given the couple a hard time.

But things had changed in a huge, wonderful way and her name was Elle Burntwing. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, he’d known. However, that hadn’t stopped him from trying to deny it. He’d even gone so far as to track down Junior and wrangle an invite out of him just to prove to himself, his Wolf, and his Dragon that he was ‘more evolved’ and had the strength to deny the pull of his one and only mate.

Put another in the win column for the Universe, Fate, and the great Creator.

Walking into the restaurant, he’d been sure it was a done deal. He could resist whatever feminine wiles that Rain Bird had up her sleeve. Plans were to get a cold beer, a big steak that was cooked to perfection, and a piece of praline cheesecake the size of his head.

But Destiny had another plan.

One look into her brown eyes, one whiff of fresh roses, the warm, lush scent of sage, and the sweet aroma of fresh creosote and Gage was a goner with no hope of ever coming off Cloud Nine. Hanging on her every word, losing his mind from the simple touch of her hand, he immediately knew why J.D.’d had stars in his eyes – there was simply nothin’ better in the whole wide world than finding the one you were meant to spend eternity with – absolutely nothing.

Kissing her had been like coming alive. Feeling her excitement rise with his was bliss. Hearing their hearts beat in perfect synchronicity had been miraculous, but when she pulled him closer, refused to let go, then groaned at the loss when he’d pulled away, Gage could have died a happy man.

But he’d made a promise to himself long ago. He’d sat atop his mare, in the middle of the desert, as the sun was going down and God had perfectly painted yet another horizon, and vowed that if and when he ever met his mate, that he would take his time and get to know her.

He would be different than all the stories he’d heard. There would be no rush, no hurry, no ripping off clothes, and jumping in bed.

He would let her know from the get-go that he respected her as a person. That he wanted to know more than just her sensual curves and erotic moves. It was important to him that she know how very important she was to him.

And so, he’d summoned every ounce of strength in his body, ignored his Dragon and his Wolf, and had leaned away from their kiss. Flipping over in his chest, his heart skipped beats, beat double-time, and damn near beat out of his chest when Elle tried to pull his lips back to hers. Dammit all to hell, if she wasn’t hotter than homemade sunshine and more tempting than chocolate-covered pecans.

But, a promise was a promise, even if he’d made it just to himself. He’d explain it to his lovely Rain Bird just as soon as they got to his house. Passing the Valentine city limits, Gage pushed on the accelerator and eased down into his seat, smiling like the cat who ate the canary when Elle cuddled closer.

Letting the long strands of hair that had escaped from her ponytail slide through his fingers as he drew lazy circles on her upper arms, he asked, “So, you’ve known Junior for a long time?”

“Mmhmm,” she hummed, turning her entire body more towards his and laying her hand on his chest. As her fingers slid under the buttons of his shirt, she added, “He’s been like a big brother to me for as long as I can remember.”

Clearing his throat, trying with all his might to push out the words, it took the Guardsman several tries before he finally ground out, “Yeah, Junior’s a good guy.”

“He sure is,” Elle purred, her fingers causing Gage’s temperature – as well as a very important body part – to rise with each caress.

Trying to change the subject as he came to a stop at the fork in the road, the Dragon was outmaneuvered before he even began. Quicker than a heartbeat, Elle was up on her knees, kissing his neck, teasing his heated skin with gentle puffs of air while letting enticing images of what she wanted them to do flow from her mind to his. Gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles were white and the tell-tale sound of plastic cracking under his palms had him turning the opposite direction from home and pushing the accelerator damn near to the floor.

Driving as fast as he could, Gage took the corners like the truck was on rails. Flying over the hills as if his truck had wings, he raced down dirt roads most didn’t even know existed until he reached the base of Unktena Agilohisdi or Dragon Mount. Maneuvering the narrow, winding trail to the top of the mesa, he stopped abruptly threw the truck into park, and with the engine still running pulled Elle into his lap.

Slamming his lips to hers, he held her so close it felt as if their bodies were one – her soft to his hard, her light to his dark. Groaning low in his throat when she opened completely to him without the slightest pause, Gage lifted his hips at the same time that Elle pushed her down. The sensually explosive contact was nothing short of mind-blowing.

Over and over in perfect rhythm, Gage met Elle’s thrusts, cursing the clothing separating their bodies. Beautifully torturous, their erotic dance continued until he could take no more. Sliding his hands down her curvaceous torso, he gently grabbed hold of her hips and held them in place.

Reluctantly pulling his lips from hers, he leaned his head back as far as the headrest of his seat allowed and shook his head, “No. Wait.”

Pushing against his grip, her hands fisted in the front of his shirt, flames burst to life in Elle’s deep brown eyes as she growled, “And if I don’t want to wait.”

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Gage lifted his ass from the seat, did a quick figure eight with hips and as his demanding Rain Bird moaning with excitement, challenged, “Then I’ll just have to give you a damn good reason to see things my way.”

Still holding her hips above his lap, Gage put his butt back on the seat at the same time that Elle gasped, “Why you…”

“Sexy Dragon, right? That’s what you were gonna say, isn’t it?”

“Asshole,” she finished, pushing her fists against his chest and wiggling her butt as she tried to get away. “Let me go, you arrogant piece of Gecko shit! Put me down now.”

Ignoring Elle’s continued threats while moving as fast as the enhanced speed of his Dragon would allow, he shifted his ranting and raving mate over his right thigh, wrapped his right arm tight around her waist, and opened the truck door. Sliding out at the same time that he lifted her into his arms, Gage’s feet landed on the sage grass, he kicked the door shut with the heel of his boot, and in one fluid motion, threw Elle over his shoulder.

“I swear to all that’s holy, I’m gonna descale you, cut off your balls, and hang you up for the buzzards to eat.” Kicking her feet dangerously close to his crotch at the same time that she pummeled his backside with her fists, his feisty mate kept right on screaming as he carried her just a few yards to the highest peak of the plateau.

Setting her feet on the ground, he laid his hands on her shoulders, spun her until her back was at his front then once again pulled her body tight to his. Leaning down, he laid his lips on the outside of her ear as he pointed to a group of brilliant stars in the sky.

“Do you see that tightly grouped set of stars just above that finger-shaped mesa?”

“Yes,” she harrumphed, although he could hear her heartbeat slowing and feel her body relaxing into his.

Motioning across the sky, he inquired, “And that set there? The larger group that are farther apart?”

“You know I do,” she grumbled, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Wanting to laugh at how hard his Elle was trying to stay mad, Gage instead worked hard to hold his laughter in knowing full well that his sassy mate would only kick him in the balls for his troubles. Inhaling her intoxicating scent as he went on, the Guardsman murmured, “The ancient Cherokee believed the stars were the light from the campfires of our ancestors who’d gone before us, but it was the first Ghigau, or Beloved Woman, who sat around the campfire and told the Council of Elders and their families a much different tale.”

Knowing he had Elle’s full attention, Gage walked them backward until he felt the grill of his truck at his back as he continued, “Nan’yehi told them of a great warrior, a man who not only fought atop his horse, but also from the skies above. She told them that in the blink of an eye, he would change from man to Dragon, thrust his mighty wings and take flight.”

“Because of his miraculous gift given to him by the Great Creator, this warrior, her husband and the father of her children, was given the honor of being first into battle. It was the highest privilege ever bestowed on any member of any Tribe anywhere. So, when the day came that their lands were threatened, Nan’yehi’s husband kissed her farewell, hugged each of their children, and before he’d reached the fence behind their home had transformed into a mighty Bronze Dragon.”

“Days went by with no word from the battlefield. The more time that passed, the more the women in Nan’yehi’s Tribe gave up hope that their men would ever return.”

“Then on the thirtieth day, the sound of thundering hooves filled the air. All the women, the children, and the elderly ran out to meet the returning Braves. Watching as one-by-one families were reunited, Nan’yehi knew in the bottom of her heart and soul that her husband was not coming home.”

“And she was okay with that? She just accepted it?” Elle asked, her voice little more than a whisper on the wind.

“I wouldn’t say Nan’yehi accepted it, but she did go on. Like the Cherokee woman before her, she picked up her husband’s tomahawk and gun, and waited for the time when she would be called to battle.”

“See, that’s what I call a real woman,” Elle nodded, making Gage smile as she snuggled even closer into his chest as he went on.

“She really was something else,” he chuckled. “Year after year she waited as she raised her children to be warriors, chiefs, and elders in their own right, never giving up, always knowing the day would come when she would be called to defend her people.” Raising his head, Gage cleared his throat before going on, “Sure enough, one night in the heat of the summer, a rival Tribe attacked, setting their fields, barns, and homes on fire.”

“Running into the fire-lit night, Nan’yehi heard the voice of the Great Creator as he instructed, ‘Run, brave daughter. Run as fast as you can and when you feel the power of my magic, let go, spread your wings wide, take flight, and call the rain’.”

“Doing as she was told, never once doubting or questioning what she’d heard, Nan’yehi raced through her burning village. Shouting to the Heavens with joy as the enchantment the Great Creator had promised filled every fiber of her being, she thrust her magnificent blue, purple, and golden wings and lifted off the ground.”

“Soaring over the flames, her song filled the skies, and the rain began to fall. The wind whispered, ‘Fire to destroy. Water to cleanse. Love to create. The Blessing to sustain’ as buckets and buckets of wonderful rainwater poured from the sky and doused the fire devouring her Tribal lands. The attacking Tribe quickly retreated, their fearful screams ringing out over the countryside as they professed that Nan’yehi’s Clan was truly blessed by the Great Creator.”

“Floating on the airstream, she once again heard the voice of the Great Creator but this time her heart was filled with joy, for He proclaimed, ‘Today you shall be reunited with your mate and never shall you two be separated again.” Motioning between the two groups of stars, he added, “So, you see, the smaller stars are Nan’yehi in her Rain Bird form and the other – her husband, her mighty Dragon. Together, these two great heroes guard our skies forever and always.”

Slowly turning Elle to face him, Gage smiled as he looked down at the one woman in all the world who had held his heart in her hands from the first moment he laid eyes on her and finished with, “And that is what I want for us. To spend our lives on Earth and in the Heavens together.”

Moving closer as Elle laid her hand upon his cheek, he added, “Will you, Elle Burntwing spend tonight under the stars with me so that we may start our forever right here and now?”

“Oh yeah, Dragon Man, I would love nothing better.”