Chapter Four
Mia had barely slept. She went into her café Friday morning with a lighter step. She crossed everything that this would be the day Argo came in for his free coffee. Then she was going to invite him back to her place. There was no way she was letting him walk away without exploring that toned, hot body fully a second time. There was so much her mind kept thinking of doing to him to give him pleasure. She’d subtly checked in with Jen to make sure she was going out tonight. Fortunately, she was, so the apartment was hers, and Argo’s.
But after six hours of working in the café there was no sign of him. It was past three in the afternoon, and unusually quiet. Mandy had wanted to leave early to get some assignment done before going out, leaving Mia alone in the café, constantly looking at the clock on the wall. It was as if the second hand was stuck, and time wasn’t moving forward.
What does it matter if he doesn’t show up? Her pelvic floor muscles contracted with need. God, I hope he does.
It had been a week since their first encounter, and her body ached to feel him on hers, and to share the pleasure that was burning through her. She could only assume he felt the same. Though now as the clock showed three-thirty she wasn’t so sure. The only customer in the café packed up their laptop and left, leaving her all alone. With her thoughts of Argo, which were slowly driving her nuts and leaving her so hot with desire she wasn’t sure what the hell she’d do if he didn’t show up today. There’s no guarantee.
With everything cleaned and no customers, she decided to get a head start on the books. It was a cold distraction and better than her staring at the clock until five, which was closing time. Maybe I’ll shut early?
At four, she decided he wasn’t going to come, and with disappointment and want heavy in her body, she began to shut down the coffee machine, and go through the afternoon pack-up routine. It kept her mind busy, and off of Argo and how much she wanted to take him for pleasure.
She was setting the last chair on the table when the door opened, ringing the metal bell.
“Sorry, machine’s off.” She turned to greet the customer. It was Argo. “Oh, it’s you.” The sight of him standing there in a dark blue Armani suit sent her heart beating as if in coffee overload.
“That wasn’t the response I was hoping for.” He smiled at her, his eyes glowing a deep golden color that caused her breath to catch.
“I was expecting you sooner, what can I say?” She gave him a little attitude with her expression. I might want him right here and now, but I don’t have to make it easy for him.
“That’s a little presumptuous of you.” He moved towards her, stepping around the tables.
“Bit like you coming here now and expecting a coffee so late on a Friday. Don’t tell me you have to work late again today.”
Argo shook his head. “Not this time.”
Mia’s expectations rose. It wasn’t going to be a quickie. Moisture pooled between her legs, dampening her panties. She couldn’t help it. She knew what it was like with him when it was quick, and knowing that it was going to be longer caused her expectations to rise.
“Good. I like to be satisfied.” She teased him, tilting her chin to the side, keeping her eyes locked with his as he slowly moved towards her. She sensed she might be his prey, but she felt empowered. His scent filled the room, and she breathed in his spicy musk, which made her heady. Her legs weakened, her senses overloading. His hands cupped her face. She savored the feeling of his touch, waiting for his lips to find hers. It was so much better when his mouth met hers. She gave way to him once more, feeling strong, safe, and completely turned on.
He pulled away, biting playfully on her bottom lip. “Not here.”
“My place.” Her words came breathy. Her eyes flickered open to see him looking at her with desire. She didn’t want to go anywhere, she didn’t want to delay the pleasure he was offering any longer. A week had already been too much to wait.
“No, I have somewhere better in mind.”
“Close by?” She didn’t care how desperate she might sound. Not now. Not with him here with her. She moved her hands on top his waist, as if to hold him there and not let him go.
“Hmm, not too far away.”
“Where?” It sounded exactly that, too far away.
“I’ve hired a hut in the Blue Mountains.” He rubbed his nose gently on hers, nibbling at her lips, teasing her gently.
“Too far.”
“It will be worth it.”
“No.” She kissed him, taking control, eliciting pleasure from him.
He let her, then broke the kiss gently. “Frightened?”
“No.” A shiver went down her back. It wasn’t fear. It was anticipation. She didn’t want to wait.
He moved his hands down the side of her neck, casually pushing down the scarf she’d worn all week. She could feel the tension sharpen in him.
“I did that to you?” Ever so gently he brushed his thumb over the fading burn.
Mia nodded. “How?”
He sighed heavily. “Come with me, it’s better to show you.”
She could feel the heaviness grow within him. What could it be that would cause him to change like this? She wanted to know. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but she just had to find out. “Tell me.”
“You won’t believe me.” He stroked the exposed skin on her neck. His touch was soothing. Trusting. Caring. She shivered, her body betraying the feelings she was trying to hold back.
“I will.”
“I hope so. But come with me. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want. It will make more sense this way.”
Mia pursed her lips together. They tingled from his touch, and tasted manly like him.
A bubble of fear rose inside of her, and she had to ask. “Is this just a fling?” She had to know more of what she was getting herself into. Last week it hadn’t mattered, and there were no expectations. But now, with surprise she realized she did have expectations. She didn’t know him, but she wanted more. To actually get to know him, and not just sexually.
“I don’t know.”
His honesty burst through the bubble.
“There’s so much you need to know about me first, so you might change your mind. I don’t want to fill you with expectation.” He spoke softly.
“It’s too late.” The expectations had consumed her for the last week. What is it that he’s hiding? What is his secret? She had to know, but then did she want to take such a big step?
“I dare you.”
His words fired up the tenacity within her.
“I dare you to show me what you’re hiding first.”
“When we get there.”
“Deal.” She gazed into his eyes. They were fully golden. And she felt him physically shiver. This time she wasn’t so sure it was pleasure and couldn’t help think that whatever he had to reveal to her scared the hell out of him.
****
The two-hour journey to the Blue Mountains was the longest time in Argo’s life. He drove his Mercedes convertible and kept two hands on the steering wheel, his knuckles white from the grip. He had to in order to stop himself from reaching over and running his hands up her leg. Mia sat patiently in the passenger seat, still in her work clothes. He refused her time to change but agreed to stop at her place so she could get an overnight bag. Argo didn’t care what she wore, and he hoped to have her naked soon enough. Besides, she was the kind of woman who looked sexy in any sort of clothing. She sat quietly, the silence a sort of peace in the car as they drove away from the city lights in to the darkness of the countryside.
It took all of his self-control not to speed along the highway. He was torn. He wanted to get to the hut quickly, but then there was the dare Mia had given him. And he knew she wouldn’t let anything else happen until he told her his secret.
It was already dark when they left Sydney. Argo figured that when he transformed perhaps that would be better than in daylight. Between Saphir and Kallin, he knew there was no option. They had been at him all day, to the point where he nearly burst a breath of flames at them both. He didn’t need them to remind him of the predicament he was in. He had imprinted on Mia, and if there was any chance of a future together he had to be honest. Mating with a dragon shifter was something Mia needed to know sooner rather than later.
Because he had chosen her as his mate, he felt the need to protect her, but also to be honest, and he knew the best chance of a future with Mia was to tell her now. Then she could decide. Argo hated not being in control, and it wasn’t at all like him to let a woman decide his future. But he’d been the one to imprint on her. Though it was likely she’d also imprinted on him to complete the process, he couldn’t be sure. Right now, he needed to take responsibility for once. Besides, he’d spent a sleepless night mulling over his options, and all arrows pointed him down this path.
Argo pulled up his Mercedes in a squeal of brakes, kicking up loose stones. The hut was a darker shadow in the night. It had been Kallin’s idea to come here. Argo needed space to transform, and while it could be done in the city, he felt more at ease here. He was already in a turmoil of emotions and conflict and didn’t need any other restrictions.
“This is it?” asked Mia.
He liked how her voice remained calm. There was no other woman, not even a dragon shifter, who had the guts to match him with his dares. Nor put ones equally as challenging on himself.
“Yes. It’s a bit basic, sorry.” Argo much preferred a five-star accommodation than out here in a rustic hut. But this was what was needed to show Mia his true self. He got out of the car.
“I don’t mind.” Mia got out of the car and walked around to where Argo was standing. “So, what’s this you need to show me?”
Any other woman who demanded he respond like this would have ignited his anger. But it was different with Mia. I don’t want to tell her. I don’t want to show her. Argo knew that he had to. It was now or never.
“You’re not going to like it.” He couldn’t find the right words to explain what was about to happen.
“You’re not selling this to me very well.” Mia reached out and ran her hand down his arm.
He shivered from her touch, his desire stirring. She was making this difficult for him without meaning to. He wanted her right now. Here, outside under the rising moon in the night sky. But he knew it would be wrong. First, he had to show her his dragon self.
“Plus, it’s dark so I won’t see much.”
That was what he was going for. Secretly. All part of his plan. He hoped the transformation wouldn’t scare her so much if she couldn’t really see it.
“Argo.” The sound of his name from her lips pushed at him.
He turned away from her. He needed a moment. He needed a lifetime. All he really had was a few minutes. Then he reckoned her patience would have reached its limit and she’d demand to be taken back to Sydney. Argo didn’t want that.
Beyond the yard, native eucalyptus trees surrounded them. The fresh, sharp smell heightened his senses. It was private, just what he needed to change. Reluctantly, he allowed his dragon self to begin to surface. One step at a time. He’d mastered controlling the change from a young age, and he was better than most. This time was more difficult with Mia standing close by. Waiting. Wondering. He could smell her. Estrogen mixed with coffee and sugar. It reminded him of the bond he’d formed with her.
A fire pit was in the middle of the yard. An idea formed in his head. It would be a start. They needed light and heat. He walked over and placed a few pieces of wood into the pit.
Argo glanced over his shoulder. Mia had come closer but stood a meter or so away from him. He could tell she wasn’t sure what was going on. He detected a hint of fear from her. I’m doing this badly.
He squatted closer to the pit and took a deep dragon breath, then exhaled on the wood. It burst into flames. The heat a comfort on his skin, he paused, not wanting to see Mia’s reaction to something like this. She’ll be frightened of me for sure now.
A hand rested on his shoulder. He froze at her touch. He couldn’t smell her fear. His pulse increased giving a moment of hope.
“That explains the burn on my neck I guess.” Her voice, a whisper, was clear and strong to his dragon ears.
He nodded. Reaching around, he put his hand on hers. The feel of her skin sent his desire burning. Not yet. He was still aware that this might end between them.
“What are you?”
Argo sighed heavily. He squeezed her hand, keeping it in his. Turning around, he rested his knees on the dry, dusty ground. He looked up at her. Her eyes were big, clear, and full of wonderment. Mia radiated a peace, a confidence that sent his heart pounding with desire to have her and keep her. He could see now why he imprinted on her without meaning to. There weren’t many human women who could witness what he’d just done and not run away screaming.
“I’m a dragon.”
“I can see you, you’re as human as me.”
“I’m a dragon shifter. I change forms. I can become a dragon or human. There are hundreds of us, and we live peaceful human lives. Very few of us choose to live in our dragon form these days because that means a lifetime of isolation and starvation as there’s not always enough food.”
Her forehead wrinkled. He could tell she was thinking. “Okay, I’m not sure that I believe you and if you’re going to eat me. Surely that fire lighting was some magic trick?”
I wish it was magic. He stood up, still holding her hand. He was glad she hadn’t moved away. It took all his self-control not to pull her towards him and kiss her on the lips.
“Something from the fantasy books, right?”
Mia nodded, her facial expression full of questions.
“I’ll show you. It’s not pretty, you know, changing forms, but you need to know who I really am before we go any further.” He let go of her hand, and it felt like it took his heart with him. He stepped back. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
Argo moved further away. He kept his eyes locked with hers. With a deep breath, he released the block he’d been holding onto inside of him that kept his dragon form bound. Pain ripped through his body, and he clenched his jaw closed tight, not wanting to show weakness as his bones broke and reformed and his muscles stretched and grew. He lost his vision of her, as his head moved from side to side, changing the shape of his skull from human to reptilian. He didn’t like not being able to see her, to know if she was there for the few final minutes it took to complete the change.
It was done.
He lifted his head, tired from the transformation. Mia stood there, white-faced, eyes wide, reeking with fear.
In a show of who he really was, he pushed off from the ground. Wings flapped, effortlessly lifting him into the sky above the tree line.
I might have lost her. He could see her looking up at him. She hadn’t moved. She held her breath, and he could hear her heart pounding in fear, the rhythm so different from the other week when he had taken her.
He looped around a few times, enjoying the feel of the cool air over his scales. It was one of his enjoyments in this form, though it felt far from that tonight. Instead of feeling glad that he’d done it, he’d shown Mia who he really was, and dread gripped at his heart. The choice of what happened next was up to her. He hated not being in control.
It was time to face her.
Argo returned to the ground and braced himself for the reverse transformation back to human form. It was just as painful and ugly. He didn’t look at her until the change was complete.
Argo stood naked by the fire pit, arms loose by his side. He could see the fear in her blue eyes, and his heart squeezed with pain.
She finally spoke. “I don’t ever want to see that again.”