by Alexis Davie
“And you’re not?” Sasha asked. If anything, she would’ve thought Diesel was the leader.
“No, I’m not. Does that change your mind about me?”
“I haven’t even made up my mind about you yet,” she replied, “so how can it change?”
“I’ve made up my mind about you.” Diesel turned off the water in the shower.
Sasha took that as her cue to step out into the bedroom. She sat on the bed, and a few moments later, Diesel came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He was rummaging through his closet when Sasha spoke up.
“Before you get dressed, can I… see it?” A short, awkward pause passed between them.
Diesel looked at her with raised eyebrows and laughed. “That’s awfully forward of you.”
Sasha looked away, immediately embarrassed, though a small chuckle left her lips. “I mean your transformation. I want to see it.”
She had been expecting a slow painful transformation like the ones in horror films, but it wasn’t anything like that. It was relatively quick and seemingly painless. There was two-legged Diesel and then a four-legged one—as simple as that.
The shorthaired tawny wolf sat in front of her calmly. He looked more like an overgrown wild dog than the wolves she’d seen in paintings, but she thought it suited his personality. Sasha got up to pet him. They touched noses and their cheeks brushed against each other. It was more tender than playful; it compelled her to hug him.
Diesel changed back in her arms. His face still very near to her, he whispered, “I want to take you… as my mate.”
It made Sasha lightheaded. She couldn’t make up her mind whether or not to push him away, so she stayed still. Diesel moved first. He took her arms from around him and stood up.
“Maybe it’s too much to think about right now, considering everything that happened,” he said, “but at least consider it. You’re the one that I want.”
Before Sasha could say anything, Diesel smiled at her and then walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Left alone with her thoughts, Sasha didn’t know what to do next. She had a life in another town. A job. A decent apartment.
If she accepted Diesel’s offer, what would that mean for her future? Living in Pine Bend together?
And what about Nolan? Would he keep trying to win her by fighting Diesel again? The easiest thing would be to leave town as soon as her car was ready and forget all of this had happened. There was still time to make the drive home before Christmas, even if she had to drive all night.
Sasha looked at the closed door of the bedroom. She couldn’t deny that she still felt drawn to Diesel—if anything, the bond she had thought they shared before had only seemed to have increased, pulling them closer and closer to each other.
Sasha spent most of the next day sleeping. Being up all night with werewolf shenanigans took a lot more out of her than she had realized.
When she woke up, Diesel was hard at work in his shop. Those same melancholy feelings crept back into Sasha’s mind: cheerless. Joyless. Alone. But they didn’t linger there. Her mind was overrun by the memories of so many brief encounters. Almost kisses. Embraces. Caresses. Times when she was sure they wanted the same thing. Sasha made up her mind. She would stay in Pine Bend to see this through, at least until Christmas.
* * *
Diesel wanted to make sure he didn’t miss what would be his last opportunity to impress Sasha. Convincing her he was serious and that she should stay meant making this holiday perfect. He started with a trip out to a Christmas tree farm. A man and his dog living in a small loft in a mechanic’s shop didn’t exactly decorate for the holiday. In fact, DJ only looked at trees as a way to mark his territory, so Diesel had never bothered to shop for one.
But, for Sasha, he would. He let her know that he was determined to make the Christmas experience they shared the perfect one. It was their first Christmas of what he hoped would be many.
With the tree safely in the truck bed, they had to figure out ornaments. The cheap plastic type from the drug store were the only ones available, but there were lots of options for lights. Diesel also bought a dozen boxes of popcorn to make garland. It was unexpectedly endearing, coming from someone who looked so macho; Sasha couldn’t stop smiling about it.
They set up the tree in the loft. After burning two batches of popcorn, there was enough to finally start the garland-making process. From beginning to end, it took all day to finish the tree. Sasha hadn’t decorated a full-size evergreen since she was a child; it was a bigger task than she remembered, but it was worth it. Diesel seemed happy about it as well. There was a cheerful sparkle in his eye as he looked at the tree that she hadn’t noticed before.
“It’s just a shame we don’t have any presents.” Sasha sat on the floor next to the tree. “I didn’t get any wrapping paper, so we can’t even wrap empty boxes.”
Diesel yawned. “We don’t need them.” He sat back on the bed, then laid down.
Sasha got up from her seat on the floor and laid across the bed next to Diesel. He put his arm around her, pulling her close. Sasha was worried he would be able to feel her heart about to beat out of her chest. If he did, he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, Diesel yawned again and fell asleep.
8
When Sasha got up the next morning, she was alone in bed. The whole day, it was her and her canine companion stuck upstairs in the loft with nothing to do but watch Christmas movies. It was just before dark when Diesel finally showed up. He’d spent most of the day decorating the old vehicle with lights and cheap plastic evergreen garland. There were fuzzy reindeer horns on the roof and a red nose that was three sizes too small attached with pipe cleaners to the grill of the truck. The bed of his pickup was full of blankets and pillows.
“Is this supposed to be Santa’s sleigh? Or the Polar Express?” Sasha laughed as she climbed into the truck.
“Well, Merry Christmas to you, too.” Diesel just smiled.
The cab smelled delicious, like a savory blend of herbs and spices. On the floor of the passenger seat was a duffel bag filled with something that smelled wonderful. The pair were headed out of town.
Sasha had tried to guess their destination, but Diesel just repeated, “That’ll spoil the surprise.”
She couldn’t help but look at the bag next to her feet. Was it full of food? Or had he packed clothes for an overnight stay? Her mind transported her to a fictional cabin, with a fire and a cliché rug. She was hoping they would share wine and then… maybe…
Sasha was a little disappointed when Diesel took her to a little park close to a primitive campground, with, quite possibly, the only overlook in all of that patch of desert. She hadn’t dressed for roughing it. A knit dress and tights were practical for an evening out to dinner, not for camping. She was starting to second guess Diesel’s choice when she looked up. The moon was huge that night, and that vantage point made it look like it was close enough to touch.
Diesel helped Sasha out of the vehicle and into the bed of the truck. He tossed the gym bag in the back before hopping in himself. He took a seat next to her. Rummaging around in the bag, he pulled out a couple of thermoses and a flask.
“This will warm you up.”
The flask was full of bourbon, and the thermos was full of stew. Sasha took a sip from the flask first, then rested her head on Diesel’s shoulder. He put the food away quietly and stayed silent for another moment, as if searching for his words.
“I don’t want you to…” He made a small pause. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”
She looked up at him but didn’t speak.
“I don’t want you to hold back your feelings because you’re scared of what might happen,” he continued, looking deep into her eyes. “Whatever it will take to keep you here, I’ll do it.”
Sasha could feel her heart in her throat.
“I want you as my mate.” Diesel’s voice was delicately candid. “I love you.”
Sasha hadn’t realized how much she had wanted to hea
r him say those words until she did. All of the moments they had shared, the memories of all their brief encounters, came flooding back to her, and though the words would’ve sounded rushed under any other circumstances, now they didn’t. Not when they came from Diesel.
“I love you, too,” Sasha said, and she meant it.
Diesel closed the distance between them and finally kissed her. His mouth was intense and sweet against her, as if he had pressed all of his longing for her into that one touch. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him back ferociously. God, how had she been waiting for this moment.
They fell into the nest of linen.
Above her, Sasha had the most amazing view of the starry sky. She could see her breath before her eyes began to dampen. Diesel traced a line from her jaw down her neck with his mouth. When he reached the intersection of her neck and shoulder, he bit her, and Sasha arched her back up into his body.
“Sasha,” he whispered, “I love you.”
She bit her lip. It was hard to control herself underneath such a big body when she was aching for him.
Diesel waited for permission to have her, but she couldn’t form the words. Instead, she spread her legs open and let her knit dress rise above her hips, nodding her head. Diesel leaned back. Rubbing his hands over her legs briefly, he stopped at the crotch of her tights.
He reached under the seam of her tights, and then under her panties as his fingers reached the sensitive area between her legs. He expertly rubbed her mound, swirling his fingers over her pink bud while simultaneously sending shudders through her body.
Sasha gasped with every movement of Diesel’s fingers, her arousal increasing by the second. Her hands reached down to his pants, and she struggled with the button and zipper before she finally unleashed his erection. A low, guttural growl escaped his throat as she stroked his shaft in a rhythmic motion.
Unexpectedly, Diesel ripped off her tights and entered her waiting core with one hard thrust.
Diesel took a deep breath, and on the exhale, his eyes changed color. Sasha could barely make it out, but he seemed different. His gaze was fierce, even the sinew and vein in his arms were more prominent. Her whole body shuddered under his weight, and she couldn’t help but cry out as he moved in and out of her over and over, bringing her to her orgasm.
Sasha tried desperately to close her arms around his bulging back, but it was impossible. Diesel’s muscular body was much larger than her petite frame, and she wanted to experience every inch of him as he drove himself into her with ardor.
Sasha clawed at her lover’s back when she climaxed for the second time. She tried to catch her breath.
“Don’t stop,” she moaned despite the oversensitivity threatening to overwhelm her.
Diesel grunted. “Are you sure?” he asked her, his voice hoarse.
She moved her arms to encircle his shoulders again. She wanted him to climax just like she had. “Yes,” she rasped. “Please don’t stop, oh, don’t stop—”
Diesel didn’t need to be told twice. He thrust in and out of her, continuing to build both of their pleasures until he finally reached his own orgasm, gasping his climax against her mouth.
The sunrise was as beautiful as the moon had been the night before. The pair had fallen asleep long before the moon said its goodnight. Bundled up in the back of the truck, Sasha had never felt so warm. The crisp air reminded her that it was still winter. It was an added encouragement to make up her mind. She would be staying right at Diesel’s side as his mate.
* * *
THE END
Water Dragon
Element Dragons
1
Coral loved finding her victim for the night.
When she was out clubbing, she would watch for him: the swanky, handsome, seemingly perfect rich guy. They usually had a very particular drink in hand, thinking it would make them look sophisticated, and they would hit on the attractive women around them. They knew what they were doing, or at least they thought they did. That’s what made them so gullible.
This was the first time Coral was going to go through with her plan—a plan she’d imagined so many times in her head. She had to keep reminding herself that whatever guy she chose tonight deserved what was coming to him.
The man across the bar was the perfect victim. He was tall and handsome, with a fitted, bold blue sports jacket that matched his startling blue eyes, which looked at all the ladies throughout the room. He had a strange suaveness about him, like he expected to always have a beautiful woman on his arm and own a sports car that cost more than some people make over a lifetime. A flash of his wrist showed that he had expensive tastes in watches.
Oh, yeah.
Coral had found her man. He had everything she was looking for. She judged him from across the room, trying to determine what kind of drink he was into. All men seemed to have a favorite drink. It was always fun trying to guess what, exactly, it was. It wasn’t like buying the correct first drink was everything, but Coral was convinced that it was important to get a good head start.
She made a decision on the drink: a Manhattan. She ordered two. Her victim looked like the kind of man who dined on top-shelf alcohol, so it was good that Coral knew a thing or two about whiskey.
The club was the picture of elitism and sexism. Expensive? Oh, definitely. You could go in there and drop a thousand dollars without even trying. It was an exclusive club, one of the dozens that Coral had wiggled her way into with only her looks. Tonight would be different, though—she wasn’t going to chicken out.
The servers, who were all gorgeous women, were the only thing Coral hated about the club. They walked around in short skirts and shirts that covered no more than a swimsuit. Of course, the women looked great, she wasn’t jealous of them; it just meant she had more competition.
The bartender brought Coral her two drinks. Time to prepare for her advance. She wore her battle suit: a sexy dress that showed off her breathtaking body. It was green, a bold statement piece that matched her eyes. She wasn’t a big fan of heels but guys loved them for some reason, so she wore four-inch stilettos. She looked down to check out her chest and shifted her dress around to make her breasts even more voluptuous, and then she brushed her blonde hair out of her face with just one playful curl around her eye. She grabbed the drinks.
Time to get rich.
She moved in a direct line to the stranger. Ugh. He was probably the most classic example of a womanizer Coral had ever seen. A hot brunette server walked past him. He turned to look at her as she did, as if he had considered slapping her ass before thinking better of it. People like that drove Coral absolutely nuts. Her slender fingers tightened around one of her drinks. She forced a smile on her lips. She had to play it right.
The stranger wasn’t looking at her when she walked up, so she bopped her hip against his to get his attention. “Hey, stranger.”
He turned to her. For a moment, he had fire in his eyes. Then he saw that the person who had hit him was not only a woman, but a knockout woman, and the corners of his mouth turned up in an easy smile. “Hey,” he said, his voice suave and confident.
“I bought you a drink,” Coral said while batting her lashes.
She thought about saying something such as, Oops! I got too many drinks and now I’m looking or someone who’ll help me. But it sounded too stupid, and besides, she thought a direct approach would be better.
“Interested?”
The man eyed one of the drinks she was carrying. “What is it?”
“A Manhattan,” she answered.
He gave her a funny look before nodding in admiration. “Good guess.”
“I’m Tara,” Coral said. She had always liked that name.
She handed the man his drink, making absolutely sure that her fingers slid against his knuckles. Rule one of flirting: make physical contact. It’s a big deal. In case he was an idiot and didn’t realize the drink was a sign of her being interested, the contact drove it home.
“
Kai,” he said in return.
The way he noticed the contact, and yet coolly played it off, was impressive. She was looking at a pro.
“Pretty name,” she said, and she meant it.
Coral engaged in small talk, but she had a feeling that she wasn’t dealing with the typical womanizer. He was smooth—too smooth.
Maybe he’s going to try to rip me off, she thought.
Her guard was up. When he thought she wasn’t looking, she saw Kai check out her body from head to toe. He made skin-to-skin contact at least five times, but played it off as an accident or part of their natural interactions.
He’s faking a genuine interest in me! He must know that I know he only wants to sleep with me.
Although she still planned on stealing his wallet and that expensive watch, she felt a touch of admiration for him. Well, admiration wasn’t the exact feeling. She was impressed, while simultaneously disgusted, with the fact that he was such a pro.
Even though she had never trusted men, Kai’s charm still made her genuinely laugh. He was funny and witty. The conversation flowed naturally. When she had tried to pull off stealing from these types of arrogant men before, she instigated the conversation and then listened through thirty minutes of them bragging about themselves and how big they were below the belt through poorly articulated allusions that were supposed to be funny, but ended up being simply crude and unappealing.
The handsome stranger kept flipping the conversation back on her as though he was hanging onto every word she said. Even though she suspected it was a scam, it was a pleasant surprise.
Soon enough, Coral was ready to drop the mic. Time for the ego booster.
“So,” she said, “a man like you has to be pretty important, right?”
She purred that last part, like the idea of wealth and power turned her on for some reason. Contrary to what most people thought, she didn’t care about money. When she found the man who was perfect for her, the last thing she’d care about was the health of his net worth. She’d met plenty of rich men, and one thing she knew was that money didn’t make the man. Instead, she’d care about his hopes and dreams, and whether or not their values aligned. Hopefully, she wouldn’t still be stealing when she met the perfect man, because that was definitely out of alignment with her values. But, a girl had to do what she must to survive.