Chapter Eight
The edge of the lake stretched ahead of him, as Niko sat staring across the cold, clean water. The moon was waning three quarters, and it was lower in the sky, not shining nearly as much light down as it had been the week before.
It was getting cold and his human side was not interested in sliding into the water at all. At the same time his human side hoped and prayed the gorgeous woman was on the other side of the lake waiting for him.
He’d spent the past week thinking about her, thinking about the amazing sex on a rock in the middle of a forest at night. And every time he did, he was as hard as that rock.
This time, he wasn’t going to let her get away. He wanted her name. He wanted her.
Dracen’s warning that she might be someone’s girlfriend or wife rang through his head. He didn’t think she was. He just didn’t want to believe it. And if it was one of the new townies, who fucked and fled, he was double fucked if they opened their mouth.
He still wasn’t convinced that was the case. She had seemed too intrigued by him. She hadn’t fled when he appeared, or when he shifted.
Or when he’d had sex on a rock in the middle of a forest at night with her.
Really, that was the deciding factor.
His human brain was still worried that going back and having sex with her again was stalkerish. She was his first, and he thought he did a pretty good job on making sure all parties were satisfied.
His dick jumped at the thought. Again. Everyone thought he couldn’t control the dragon, and while they were right to a great degree, his dick seemed far more difficult to handle of late.
He heard a car crunch in the far parking lot, and this late in the year, the cabins were now mostly empty and locked up for the winter, so it wasn’t a guest.
Staring at the water, he felt like he was staring at a best friend. One of the best things about being a water dragon was the amazing ability he had to swim. And it wasn’t a Michael Phelps, outpace everyone in the lap pool ability. Water was his second skin, and he could do things in it people only dreamed. He loved being in the water, defying the gravity that would not let his dragon take wing.
He was so familiar and so comfortable, he usually life guarded at Cedar Creek Recreation area on weekends in the summer. Cedar Creek Pond was twice as long as Darkwater, but only half as deep. Which wasn’t shabby, really, considering Darkwater was one of the deepest lakes in Minnesota.
Cedar Creek Pond, a total misnomer, was a mile across and four long, and at the far end from the town was the rec area. It had a beach and a small cliff to dive off. That cliff was where Niko learned what he was really able to do underwater, before his dragon had come.
Swollen with heavy thunderstorm rain from the day before, the river-fed lake was murky, even at the end opposite Cedar Creek entry. The waterfalls that let the lake trip back into a laughing creek were just a few hundred feet from the cliffs and beach. Except they had been a raging torrent that day, and the beach should have been closed.
But at the height of the tourist season it wasn’t smart to close their little town’s one attraction. Niko, Dracen, and a group of friends were all there, taking turns jumping off the cliff. What none of them realized was with each jump and climb back to the top of the rocks, they dragged the mud with the water and started coding the surface they jumped from.
It was only a matter of minutes, just a few jumps before the top of the Rock was dangerously slippery with mud. And only a few minutes more before Deacon Lorber took what could have been a fatal slip off the rocks.
They all watched in horror as he ran for the edge, lost his footing, and smashed his head on the Rock. He’d been running so fast there was no stopping him from falling off the cliff.
All of the boys ran forward in time to see Deacon smash head at least twice on the way down and land in the water face first upside down.
Niko didn’t think he reacted. Without a glance at anyone else there, he dove straight off the cliff and into the murky muddy water.
It was as though the water was crystal clear, swirling around, comforting him, assuring him that Deacon would be fine. The current swayed and flowed around him, directing him straight to where Deacon was quickly sinking to the bottom.
There was a rip current at the bottom that normally wasn’t there. Deacon’s arms were caught just as Niko grabbed his leg. The powerful current yanked both Deacon and Niko toward the raging waterfall. With a yank, Niko grabbed Deacon by the waist and gave into the power of the current.
The water around them began speaking to him. There were gentle directions in each tug and pull of water. It took Niko a moment to realize the element of his life was trying to save his life. Forcing himself to calm down, Niko listened to the whispers of the water. They understood the urgency of an injured human who couldn’t live within its confines.
It took Niko just seconds to reorient himself once he stopped fighting the water. He broke the surface with Deacon in tow moments later. They had been washed to the very edge of the raging waterfall, and Niko had to use the water again to shove them toward the shore.
Deacon had been unconscious, clearly having swallowed a few lungfuls of water. Niko tipped him up on his side and with two whacks on his back, watched as he vomited up two lungs full of water and dump more from his stomach.
In the next second, Deacon took a hard, deep breath, shuddered, and passed out. The lifeguards were running up to them by this point and took over. Niko stepped back and let them. He couldn’t do any more, and the lifeguards were trained for this.
He had stood there until the EMTs had him strapped down and loaded into the ambulance, just watching. Waiting for everyone to go away so he could go back in the water and experiment with what he could really do.
Before he could, his father appeared next to him near the lake shore.
God, he missed his father.
With little coaxing, Stephanos had talked him into the car and driven them to Darkwater Pond—another misnomer. The body of water was so much deeper, and clearer, than Cedar Creek.
That night, for the first time, he swam with his father. His father had shifted in and out of his dragon form several times and showed Niko what he could really do in the water. Niko loved it. He loved going out with his father and swimming in the cold, cold water.
But once his dragon appeared, it became nearly impossible to continue their ritual. He had no control of the creature. His father was, honestly, fine with it, and said the day would come when he could control it. Niko felt like he had lost a level of connection with his father after that. Not one that would affect them too terribly, but his father was always so sad, so preoccupied with work. He lost that little extra connection.
Staring out at the water, he sighed. If it wasn’t for the fact that Cedar Creek stayed just a little bit warmer than Darkwater, he wouldn’t leave this lake. But even he knew when the water was too cold. And since Darkwater was fed by cold springs, it was way, way too cold in the middle of Minnesota winter.
It wasn’t winter, yet. And even though he had swum just a week before, the water called to him.
She called to him. She was near.
Niko slipped out of his clothes into the freezing air, tucking all of the clothes into a bag he stowed in the usual spot. The cold air worked well to convince his stirring manhood now was not the time. In fact, it really pulled back to go hide from the chill.
He knew he could call the heat of the dragon up and stay warm, but he still didn’t trust himself to control that yet. Instead, he walked into the water, down the beach, slowly into the depths. As soon as the water was to his shoulders, he dove forward into the lake, sliding in soundlessly.
As the water was washed over him, he expected the dragon would take over and shift.
But for some reason, it wasn’t surfacing. It didn’t immediately take over and force him to shift. He swam through the cold water, diving deeper and deeper, with the dragon barely stirring. For the first time in eighteen years, he had to summon the dragon to change.
The dragon finally rippled through him and changed his skin from its soft smooth contours to a scaly, thick sheathing and his form from the six foot two inches he stood on land, into the thirty-five foot monster of a dragon who reveled in the water.
He rolled and dove and trailed just under the surface, watching the moon in the liquid distance.
Until that moment, again.
The water hummed with her.
On the edge of the water, where she had been waiting before, the energy of the woman blasted through him. The last time it had been a trickle, a suggestion. This time, it was a beacon, a thrumming beat that called to all of him. Not just the dragon, but the human side as well.
Threading his way through the cold dark, he teased the top of the water with his back, knowing the scales glimmered in the dim light. He felt her there, just there ahead of him. Slowing, Niko found her hand in the water and swam under it, gently placing it on his giant snout and rising up, seeking her eyes.
Those great pools of warm brown chocolate found his immediately, and the smile there was not one of someone who was there just for the physicality of a good fuck.
She wanted to be there, with him.
She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and blinked at him. “You are a gorgeous creature.” She ran her hand over the small, fine scales of his nose.
Niko studied his little human, both massive foreclaws on the rock next to her. She was wearing a long, dark coat, and her hair was bound up off her neck. Her lithe body sang to him, and he let the shift take hold again, sliding him back into human form.
Naked. And quite erect.
She slipped the coat off, and she was naked in that moment as well. They stood just inches from each other and Niko could feel the heat from her skin intoxicating him.
“No names.” Her voice was sad.
He shook his head. “No. I want your name.” He trailed his hand up her arm. “I want this to be a real thing.”
The small gasp said volumes about her, and she hesitated. “I shouldn’t give names.”
“Everything happening right now should not be.” Niko took her hand in his. “I want your name. I want you. I want to scream your name when I come and breathe it when I wake. I felt you walk by the other day. I knew it was you.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “I felt you too.”
“What is your name, agapi̱té éna?” His fingers danced across her breast. “What is it I should call you?”
* * *
This time, she didn’t hesitate. “My name is Erzabet Tillman, but most people call me Betsy.”
Her dragon man tried the name once, twice and smiled. “Betsy. It’s a sweet name.” His fingers on her skin stoked the fires in her belly. She watched as he trailed them across her.
“And you?” She forced the words out against the desire he stirred. “Who are you?
His eyes still glowed blue. “Nikomedes Tavoularis. Friends call me Niko. I am a water dragon shifter.”
“How does a water dragon have fire?”
He smirked at her. “All dragons have fire.”
Betsy swallowed and touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “Why am I so pulled toward you?”
Niko’s hand slipped around her waist. “I don’t know. I haven’t been able to think of anything but you all week. The taste of you, the feel of your velvet skin, your satin heat.”
Her knees went weak and she pressed into him. “Shit, please. My whole body craves you.”
The coat was laid down on the rock, and her dragon man—Niko—laid her down slowly, as though she were going to break. His blue eyes burned into her, and Betsy was lost to him. He seemed to pull her soul into his with his heated gaze. His lips lowered to her breast and he devoured her, greedily sucking on her nipples.
The burning of his lips traced a trail down her body to her pussy, and a roaring desire ripped through her. She ran her fingers into his black, silky locks and tightened her fingers in his hair. And that was even before his mouth found her clit and Niko’s tongue stirred around her. Her blood instantly ran hot, forcing gasps and moans from her lips.
“Need to make you come,” he growled against her. The vibration of his voice tickled and teased her. All Betsy could do was nod even though she knew he couldn’t see her. His hands, remarkably large with an incredibly light touch, pushed her legs farther apart and thumbed open her lips, exposing her to the chill air.
Niko ran his tongue expertly up her hot entrance, trailing her silk to her throbbing clit. She could barely breathe for the consuming desire he fired in her. Her hands flew to her own breasts, pinching each hard, beaded nipple in a staccato rhythm to match his tongue.
He was a master at this. Her whole body rocketed to the precipice of climax, shaking and shivering in time with his tongue. How could he know her body so well so quickly?
“Oh, shit, shit.” Betsy gasped and tried not to scream her orgasm as his thumbs stroked her folds and his teeth finished her off. Her body thrashed uncontrollably as Niko twirled his tongue around her bundled nerves, coaxing her climax longer than she’d ever had before.
It was a long, wonderful moment later that she started to calm, her breath sawing in her chest. Her finger sought his hair again, running her finger through its softness.
Niko’s fire-hot body crawled up hers, covering her with his heat. She felt his desire—not only in the rock-hard erection he pressed against her flesh, but in waves of temptation rolling off him, enveloping her, begging her body to accept him, to become one with him, to pleasure him.
“You want to fuck me.” Her words danced on his skin, the air cooler from her than around them.
“Yes.” Niko nodded and took her mouth in a blistering kiss.
“Then do it.” Betsy grabbed his ass, digging her nails in.
He hissed, not in pain but in delight, and settled his cock at her core. She pulled her legs even wider and felt him fitted against her. Just as wonderfully big and hard as she remembered. And then suddenly, he was completely inside her, a rough joining that made her cry out from the ecstasy it inflicted on her. Niko held himself there for a moment—then started to move inside her. Slowly at first, it quickly became apparent that neither of them wanted this to be gentle. Betsy wanted to feel him there. She wanted to feel his cock driving her.
“Fast.” She moaned her words. “Niko, fast.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She stared into those electric blue eyes. “I want you to. Make me feel it.”
His breath hitched, and his next thrust was hard, almost painful. Betsy wanted that. She need to feel him. He drove harder and harder as his head dipped down to her throat. Each time his cock filled her, she couldn’t help but arch her back, press her aching breasts into his chest, throw her head back, exposing her throat. And his teeth nipped and nibbled there, bouncing amazing sensations all over her body.
Breath searing her skin, Niko gasped. “I’m coming. I don’t want to stop it.”
“Oh, God, don’t stop it.” Betsy’s words were a cry.
One hard thrust, another and his cum bathed her walls, hot and welcome—and the key to her second orgasm on the rocks that night. She could barely hold in her scream of delight again, choosing to bite down on his shoulder to keep the passionate gasps and moans from echoing across the lake. He slowed, gentling them both down from the consuming height, riding out the incredible sensations.
Niko leaned his head against hers and she just enjoyed his weight above her. He kept her warm in the cold air.
Betsy jerked. “Oh shit.”
His electric gaze snapped to hers. “What?”
“Condom. I even brought one!”
His laugh was throaty, smoky. “Agapité éna, I cannot get you pregnant. There’s a specific ritual we would have to engage in for you to become pregnant.”
Betsy let out part of her fear. “What about...”
“Disease? A lot of shifters are immune to disease. But if you want to put your mind to ease even more...” He hesitated.
Betsy ran a finger over his eyebrow. “Please, reassure me.”
“You’re my first.”
She gasped. “What? With that tongue?”
He laughed. “No, no. I’ve had experience with women, but you’re the first I’ve gone all the way with.”
“How is that possible?” She drew Niko down, to lie on the rock with her, facing each other.
“Just, never felt the pull.” Niko traced a finger down her nose. “Until last week.”
“You’ve had girlfriends.”
“Like you said, with my tongue? Of course.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help herself. “So, no diseases. No babies.”
He nodded. “Where did you come from? I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I’m a drifter.” It was the usual answer. “I wander around looking for places to live and work and move on when I get bored.” She hated lying so casually.
His smile fell a bit. “Oh. Did you just get here?”
“About a week ago. I’m still looking for a place to work. I was going to try the grocery store.”
“Go to Krieg’s market. They are always looking for people to help. You might get stuck at the deli, but it’s not that bad. Mostly the people from old town shop there.” He smiled. “I do.” She looked away for a moment and his finger brought her chin back to look at him. “What are you hiding? Are you married?”
Emphatically, she shook her head. “No, no. I’m not married. I travel with someone, but he had to take care of something in Chicago.” That was only a partial lie, at least. “I’m just... so taken with you. I want to know more about you.”
He sat up and studied her. Betsy took the chance to study him as well. He was sculpted, with a wonderful set of pecs and the infamous ‘V’ that pointed right down to his resting dick. Impressive even flaccid. His legs were toned, his arms were toned. His hair was tousled and gleamed black in the moonlight. His eyes were still luminescent blue.
“You want to know more?” His voice was deep and sonorous, tickling her in places that were a little sore yet. “I have a proposal for you.”
Betsy’s heart leapt a little, then realized there was no way he meant marriage. Just a challenge. “All right, go for it.”
“Go out with me. Let me show you around town. Let me see if I can convince you there is better reason to stay here than to go.”
Sitting up, she considered him. This was someone she wanted to know. It was the damned weirdest beginning to anything she had ever dreamed up—sex on the rocks twice, and then he asked her out. His simple goal was talk her into staying, but she didn’t need much convincing, really. She was getting tired of being a nomad, and even if she and this dragon man didn’t work, maybe staying in one place would help her. “All right. You have your chance. Convince me.”
Niko leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. It was a hot kiss. Her lips tingled at his touch.
Betsy placed a finger over his lips and pushed him back. “Hold on. I have one condition.” He drooped a little. “Well, I have no intention of continuing to have sex with you on a rock, so my condition is, we find somewhere else to fuck each other’s brains out.”
He laughed and it was a wonderful sound. “That is a condition I can live with.”