Get walking before this turns awkward. That was my first thought upon waking and finding myself wrapped in the arms of a giant of a man who could also turn his impressive physique into a majestic, awe-inspiring dragon. Blaise growled in his sleep behind me, his body moving against mine with each deep breath he took in. His somehow still erect shaft was pressed firmly against my ass cheek, and I felt the moisture of his seed still inside of me. I needed to get to a bathroom, get cleaned up, and then get the hell out of there. It may have been my first time, but I did know one rule about one-night stands. You didn’t stick around.

Yet…I wanted to. I wanted to stay wrapped in his arms. They were so comforting and strong. There was ink decorating the one draped over me. Lines and curves made up a detailed tribal artwork that I could’ve stared at for hours. I wanted to remain safely ensconced in his arms, staring at that tattoo for hours. Then, I wanted to wake him up and have a replay of the night before. I was sore between my thighs, but I was also horny again. Big time.

I had to get out, though. I wasn’t about to look like an unbalanced, stage five clinger in front of one of Cezar’s friends. That would be mortifying. My mission had been accomplished. I’d lost my virginity, as planned, and I could walk away feeling like I had reached and surpassed a milestone. All was well. I was well.

I forced myself to slip under the arm the size of a tree trunk and slide out of bed so I could creep around looking for my clothes. It was then that I noticed for the first time that the room was a wreck. It looked like the debris a hurricane left in its wake. There were stacks of brand new clothes waist high. T-shirts, jeans, socks. They still had the tags on them, but the rest of the room was a mess. Piles of dirty laundry, black plastic trash bags half full of clothes, and a layer of dust that had to be half an inch thick. As I made my way around the room, weaving through the maze of dirty dishes, kicking aside pizza boxes, and walking on a bed of laundry—dude, hire a cleaning service—amazingly, I was able to recover all my clothes and both my shoes.

On the other side of the bed, I could see Blaise’s strong back still bore the hint of the scratches that I’d put there several hours ago. I was sure they had been much deeper. He healed mighty fast. At that point, they just looked like dull memories. I had the unexplainable urge to refresh them. I was nuts.

I tiptoed out of the room with my clothes in my arms so as not to risk waking him. I figured I’d dress in the hall. Imagine my surprise when I found the rest of Blaise’s home in a similar state of chaos and filth. Hello, Hurricane Katrina. By the time I finished dressing as quietly as I could, I’d stepped outside and gotten Cherry on my cell.

“Well, hello, you shameless slut.”

I snorted. “Not now. I’m in no mood for jokes. I need a ride. I need to get out of here, but I’m not sure where I am exactly.”

She was quiet for a few moments. “Chyna, is everything okay? Did Blaise hurt you?”

Not in any ways that I hadn’t thoroughly enjoyed. “No. I just don’t want to still be here when he wakes up. I’d like to avoid the awkwardness of the morning after, if you know what I mean.”

“Are you sure? I can’t imagine he would’ve brought you to his castle if he didn’t plan on spending the morning with you. Every morning.”

“Come on, Cherry. Can’t you send your flying dragon to Uber me?”

“No way. You’re not riding on the back of my dragon. Get your own dragon. Matter of fact, go back inside and use your Uber dragon.”

“You’re adopted.”

“We’re twins.”

“Whatever. Just come and get me, Cherry. Please. And hurry.” I was running scared and I knew it. Something about the night before had gotten under my skin like nothing else ever had. It was as though I could feel Blaise’s imprint forming on me. I didn’t do those kinds of attachments, though. And the whole thing was highly uncomfortable. Highly.

“We’ll come get you in his boat. He has a really big boat.”

I had a feeling she was looking at Cezar while talking to me and playing the double-entendre game with him. I fake gagged. “Just hurry, okay?”

“Fine,” she sighed. “You owe me, though.”

I hung up and ran my hands over my face. Crusted mascara flaked into my eyes, and I blinked rapidly to try to save myself from blindness.

The view from Blaise’s dock was spectacular. Cypress trees dotted the marsh, and dead, decaying branches poked through the surface of the algae-covered water. Although the water was as still as a sheet of light green glass, I knew that underneath wild creatures went about their secret lives.

As if on cue, a hissing sound echoed from somewhere nearby, prompting me to take a few steps back toward the house, or castle, as my sister said the dragons called their domiciles. I knew plenty about Louisiana wildlife—enough to know better than to welcome a problem.

I leaned against the side of Blaise’s castle, next to a section that was clearly under construction, and waited for Cherry and Cezar to show up. I had to fight the urge to go back inside and curl up to Blaise, an urge that increased with every passing second.

The night before had been so much more than I expected it could be. No wonder the entire world was so into sex. I finally understood the pull. I guess I just need to find the right person. Dragon. Whatever. A huge part of me wanted to spend the morning waking up next to Blaise. Warm feelings stirred in my chest at the thought. Ugh, that huge part of me was dumb. She couldn’t be trusted.

By the time I saw the boat cutting through the still water, heading toward the dock at the edge of the property, the huge dumb part of me had halfway convinced the reluctant running-away part that I should just head back in and see what would happen if I did stick around. That thought sent red flags flying in all directions, and I sprinted down the dock just as Cherry and Cezar got closer. They’d barely pulled up to it in their bateau when I jumped into the boat. It rocked dangerously but settled quickly.

“What’s the rush?” Cezar looked toward the house and frowned. “Did Blaise do something not to your liking?”

My face blushed. I’d liked what he’d done very much. “Um…”

“Oh, wow. I recognize that look. She’s been screwed stupid.” Cherry smiled at Cezar. “I’ve worn it myself a few times.”

Cezar’s brow furrowed. “Only a few?”

“Would you two stop?!” I smacked Cherry and shook my head. “Blaise was great. I just need to get home. I have…work.”

Cezar glanced at my neck, and his eyebrows went up. “Are you certain you wish to leave?”

When I ran my hand over the spot he was staring at, I remembered Blaise biting me. “What? What is it?”

He looked at Cherry and nodded to my neck. Cherry looked and screamed. “Oh, my god! He claimed you!”

I wanted to strangle her. “If you keep screaming, you’re going to wake him up and I won’t be able to sneak away. So, hush. Let’s just get on with my boat ride of shame. No more talking. Please.”

They allowed that rule to stand for less than two minutes.

“If he marked you, why are you leaving?”

I glared at my sister. “Just because a guy gives you a hickey doesn’t mean you have to stay with him all day, Cherry.”

“Hickey?” Cezar looked confused.

Cherry smiled sweetly at her mate. “It’s a sucking mark. Vaguely resembling a bite mark, well, more like a strong kiss. Not a claiming mark.”

“What are you two talking about?” I glanced back the way we’d come. I could still see the outline of Blaise’s huge home. Why did that make my chest ache? “You know what? Forget I asked. We’re dropping this right now. Not another word!”

“I’m going to catch flames from Blaise for this.” Cezar sighed.

“He claimed you, Chyna. That means you’re his mate. Like his wife, only more. Lifelong, live for centuries together, connected telepathically, mate. Like me and Cezar.”

That huge dummy in me that wanted to stay and curl back up to Blaise grew brighter with hope, but I squashed her down. “No. Way.”

“Yes.” Cherry moved closer to me, rocking the boat. “I was so worried, Chyna. I was scared that I would lose you in a few decades and have to live for another thousand years without you. I even had nightmares of being young and healthy and having to watch you grow old and die.”

“An optimist, always.”

“I’m serious. Mates of dragons live as long as the dragon they’re mated to. These dragons are hundreds of years old, Chyna. Hundreds of years. I didn’t want to live that long without you.” When Cezar huffed, she smiled at him and batted her eyes. “Of course, I’d have you to comfort me, mate.”

“Whoa. Hold your horses, sis. Blaise is not my mate.”

“Blaise most definitely is your mate. That mark on your neck proves it.” Cezar nodded to my neck again. “And from the way your neck is gnawed on, he may have lost control a bit. His dragon did a number on you.”

“No.”

“Yes.” Cherry clapped her hands and then leaned back on her end of the boat. She smiled a pleased and satisfied smile. “I wonder what the world will be like a hundred years from now. Hopefully, the internet connection at our castle will be faster.”

I shuddered. I had tried to get my stagnant life flowing again by dipping my toe in a moving current, but instead I’d freaking fallen head first into an undertow. And, despite me flailing to get myself back to dry land, I was being pulled farther under. Drowning.