“Sexy black beast,” her taniwha piped up.
“Hello to you too,” Jessalyn muttered.
“I had a sterling sleep. Where are we?”
“Good for you. We’re going to the library to do research.”
“Road trip!”
“Shush,” Jessalyn said, seconds before the real estate agent poked her head out of a bedroom door, a tape measure in hand.
Jessalyn let herself out of the house.
“Where is the sexy black beast?”
“In his den,” Jessalyn said.
“Oh. What did I miss?”
“Nothing. I’ve been making wooden boxes this morning.”
During the bus ride to the Panmure Railway Station, Jessalyn stewed. Karen could have helped her or offered advice at least. Instead, she’d acted belligerent. Terrified enough to pack up her household and flee to Australia. She was learning that Karen never made threats. Instead, the woman took action.
Jessalyn tapped her chin. Hmm, she was running out of options.
Let’s hope she found something to help her at the library because Nelson Waaka loomed like a volcano ready to blow.
15 – A Flying Date
Manu waited at the warehouse until six-thirty. He sat at his workbench, pretending to concentrate when his mind danced from gloom to excitement. What if Jess didn’t return? A snarl echoed through his mind, his beast bearing the same concerns. Had he trusted too easily? What if she was in league with the Waaka family?
“Good grief, man. Get a grip.”
Just as he lectured himself about jumping to outrageous conclusions, the alarm bell rang on the gate. Long strides took him to the security screens, and he spotted Jess waiting for entrance. Once he opened the gate, she jogged through and relief at her appearance left him dizzy. Man, he had it bad.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Jess said, her tone breathless and her cheeks flushed from her haste. “The stupid train was late, and I missed the connecting one to Onehunga. I didn’t want you to think I’d taken off with your stealth unit, and I left my phone here.”
“You’re here now,” Manu said, not wanting to admit his mind had gone there. “Did you speak to your mother?”
“No. She made good on her threat, packed up her belongings, and skedaddled for Australia. The house is for sale.”
“Crap, I’m sorry. That must hurt.”
“I checked books out of the library. Maybe I’ll find a nugget to help.”
But her demeanor told him she didn’t truly believe that.
“What will Nelson Waaka do if he finds me?”
“My gut instinct says he’ll force you to marry into his tribe, and you’ll be kept a virtual prisoner.”
“And if he discovers you’re hiding me?”
“He might issue a challenge, depending on how pissed or determined he is to possess the relic.”
“That’s disturbing.”
“Yes, but instead of letting Nelson Waaka worry us, let’s go flying.”
“Now? It’s still light.”
“Stealth units, remember? I’ve packed a picnic dinner. I thought we’d fly to Great Barrier Island, have our dinner, and make love on a secluded beach under the stars.”
“He-haw!”
Manu chuckled at Jess’s embarrassment.
“Inside voice,” she chided her taniwha. “You’re lucky your taniwha is well-behaved.”
“Remember, we’ve been together longer,” he said. “We’ve come to terms.”
“My sexy, black beast!”
Jess groaned and hid her face while Manu grinned so wide the muscles around his mouth protested. Jess’s taniwha wanted them. That was half the battle won.
“How is this going to work?” Jess asked. “Is it cool to admit I’m incredibly excited? You won’t drop me, will you?”
“I’m beginning to see where your taniwha gets her chattiness.”
Jess pressed her lips together.
“Not going to comment?”
“Shut up,” she said, lifting her nose into the air.
“You’ll need to carry the backpack. That will leave my claws free if I drop you.” He kept a straight face at her flash of concern. “Come on. We’ll go out the back, so I can shift with no one seeing me.”
Jess preceded him, and he took delight in the sway of her hips and her rounded buttocks. Touching her, loving her hadn’t been enough. His taniwha was pushing him to claim her. It was becoming harder and harder not to stake his rights. Jess’s possession of the relic stood in his way.
How the hell could he inform her about mates and what they were to each other when her life was in upheaval?
He couldn’t. So he remained silent, trying to show her with actions how much he cared for her. She was his other half, and while their taniwha accepted this, the human part of Jess required wooing rather than decisive action.
While the clambering on to Manu’s back hadn’t been graceful, she perched securely enough as they arrowed through the air.
“Keep an eye out for planes.”
The words, uttered in Manu’s voice, echoed through her mind.
“Manu?” Planes? She glanced over her shoulder toward Mangere International Airport.
“Excellent. You can hear me.”
“Wow!” She thought the word instead of speaking aloud.
“Flying is incredible. It’s the coolest thing about being a dragon.”
Manu flew toward central Auckland, the evening lights spread out before them. From his back, Jessalyn spotted the green hills—all dormant volcanoes. The wind tangled her hair and stifled her hearing but neither dimmed her enjoyment. The salty tang of the harbor grew stronger as they approached Rangitoto, the youngest of the dormant volcanoes in Auckland at around six-hundred-years. From above, it was easy to see the crater, now full of plants and small trees.
“Have you been to any of the islands?”
“No. I hadn’t visited Auckland much before this trip. I’d done a school jaunt to the zoo and one to the museum. That’s it.” And now she understood why. Her father hadn’t wanted her to learn about her mother, her brother, and sister.
“That’s Waiheke Island there. I’ll take you to visit soon. We’ll go wine tasting and have lunch at a vineyard.”
“I’d enjoy that.” Normal date things. Come to think of it—that was also a rarity in her life. Since the incident with the rugby captain, her relationships had been short-term summer flings with no wasted emotion.
They flew onward until, through the dimming light, she spotted land again.
“That’s Little Barrier Island. It’s a closed island and requires a permit to visit.”
“Have you landed there?”
“I have. I’ve stayed overnight and listened to the kiwi call and watched the morepork as they hunted for prey.”
“You rebel, you.”
Manu’s amusement came through loud and clear. “This is Great Barrier Island. We’re traveling to the far end. They’ve just had the island declared a night sanctuary. Wait until you see the stars. It’s magical. Hold tight. We’re landing and the wind has come up.”
Jessalyn tightened her grip on the knobby scales that ran down Manu’s spine when he was in his taniwha form.
Despite his warning, the landing was smooth and without a hitch. Jessalyn clambered down to study the private bay. Two gnarled pohutukawa trees clung to the nearby bank, their roots a tangled mass while one tree bore the strange spiky beards typical of the older trees. Along with the stretch of sandy beach, this bay had a flat grassy area. Beyond that patches of native bush crammed the spaces and ferns grew in a green mass of ordered chaos. Jessalyn turned to the sea. Jagged rocks edged the shore, and the waves tumbled over them, creating white froth.
“You can become visible now,” Manu said from behind her.
“Oh!” Jessalyn pushed the red button and glanced at Manu. “It’s beautiful.”
“His human half is sexy too!” her taniwha squealed.
Jessalyn
winced. “Shush. Inside voice.” Parents must experience this same exasperation when they repeated instructions to their children. “Are you hungry? I forgot to take snacks with me.”
“We’ll eat straight away,” Manu said, drawing the backpack off her. He unpacked a rug and spread it on the grass. “A glass of white wine?”
“Yes, please. Can I do anything?”
“You could strip off your clothes so I don’t feel weird in my nudity.”
“Will there be a reward for compliance?”
“Count on it,” he said as he pulled containers and plates out of the backpack.
The area was private with the moon providing illumination. Almost full, she noted. A tingle swept her torso and landed in an ache between her thighs. Yes, removing her clothing sounded perfect. She’d bathe in the moon’s light while she waited for her dinner.
She stripped off her clothing and footwear and stacked them in a tidy pile. If anyone came, she’d hit the stealth unit button and the interloper would see nothing but a discarded picnic.
“You’re gorgeous, Jess,” Manu said as he handed her a glass of wine. “I enjoy watching you.”
She wrinkled her nose at him and fluffed up her hair. “Well, my hair is behaving for once.”
“Pffff!”
“Did you snort at me?”
“Your beauty is more than your hair. It’s your gorgeous brown eyes and full lips, the glow of your brown skin, but most of all, it’s your courage and determination, the way you’ve accepted the things life has chucked at you. Instead of whining, you’re trying to discover a solution. Your work ethic is impressive as is your independence.” He smiled and the sincerity in him stole her breath. “And then there is your curvy body that fits mine perfectly, your sassy comebacks, and the way you tease me. You’ve given me a reason to get out of bed each morning.”
“Oh.” Mostly, when people commented, they insulted her size or her build. She was too Maori or not enough Maori. Like a square peg, she’d never fit properly with her peers in Piha. Heat gathered in her cheeks. “Thank you.”
Manu’s smile was wide and happy and contagious as he dug in the backpack for food. “I visited the bakery before you arrived back at the warehouse. There’s a bacon and egg pie, beef and horseradish sandwiches and an apple pie for dessert.”
“Great, what are you having?”
“You,” he replied without missing a beat. “A toast. To the future.”
“The future,” Jessalyn said, lifting her glass. Her mind traveled to the Waaka family, their persistence and tactics. A ticking time bomb, with the countdown underway. She forced away the thought, determined to enjoy this unexpected picnic treat. “How often do you fly?”
“Several times a week, but I’m lucky because I have a stealth unit. Most taniwha of the flying variety are limited to a few flights a year at best. How did the unit go today? Did anyone sense your presence?”
“No, the worst part was when an elderly lady tried to sit on me on the bus. After that, I picked seats at the rear. Rush hour would’ve been impossible, but the train is workable if you keep your wits about you. Danny seemed to sense something this morning.”
“Yes.” Manu frowned. “Some more tweaks required to disguise the scent.”
“Why? If a taniwha is trying to commit a crime using your stealth unit, it’s best other taniwha can sense them. You, as the inventor, might require the special capability, but for the normal person the news that it doesn’t mask scent might be a deterrent against bad behavior.”
“Good point.” Manu handed her a slice of pie. “I’ll pay George Taniwha and Sons to do a background check on each dragon who wishes to rent a unit. That will give notice of gambling problems, financial issues, or anything else that might make the rental a risk.”
“You wouldn’t want an abusive husband or stalker to get their hands on a unit.”
“Exactly. The units are tamper-proof. I’ve installed emergency kill switches to use as a last resort, and rather than purchasing the units outright as I originally intended, I’m sticking to rental. I thought weekly at first and longer after each taniwha proves his or her trustworthiness.”
“Have you worked out your costings?”
“Yes, I’ll recoup the cost of making the unit in the first two weeks and make a small profit for each week after that.”
“What about your time? You must’ve spent years working on this.”
“I have, but I’ve invented other things for the engineering industry that bring in consistent royalties. I’m not hurting for money. My reasons for starting were selfish. I wanted the freedom to fly whenever I wished, instead of being compelled to find a sexual partner every full moon.”
“I haven’t breathed fire for the last two nights. It’s so relaxing—this perception of control. It has only been two days, but that’s promising. Right?”
“My theory is you’ve accepted you have a taniwha and you’re taking better care of yourself. Also, sex has helped your influence over your dragon.”
“That’s not the reason I agreed to share your bed,” she blurted.
“Pleased to hear it,” he said. “It’s not my main aim either. I have my unit and can fly at any time.”
“So we’re having sex because…”
“We’re attracted to each other and want to express our mutual lust and liking.” His voice was firm, his gaze direct. “I enjoy spending time with you.”
“Where is my sexy, black beast?”
A growl burst from Manu and he and Jessalyn stared at each other in mutual consternation.
“Also, our taniwha appear to favor each other,” he said, his tone dry.
They ate most of the food and drank another glass of wine each. When she should’ve blushed and fidgeted with self-consciousness in her unclothed state, Manu’s presence both relaxed and stimulated her mind.
“Your description of the stars didn’t do them justice.” Jessalyn set aside her empty glass and lay back on the rug. Without the interference of man-made illumination, the vast number of stars and the beauty of the night sky stole her breath. “This is stunning. Magical.”
Manu settled beside her, their bodies touching, and they watched in silence until Manu turned on his side.
“What?”
“I’m going to kiss you.”
“Have at it.” She licked her lips, her gaze going to his mouth as he rolled slightly to cover her. His solid weight against her torso electrified her, and she wound her arms around his neck, holding him close.
Their lips touched, and the kiss was slow and dreamy. Full of pleasure and promises and shared intimacy. His confident skill and easy strength fired her body and left her hungry for more. An outing to remember. Then, Jessalyn stopped thinking and surrendered to Manu’s experience and magic.
Best first date ever.
16 – The Cops Visit
The week unfolded for Jessalyn, full of research in which she discovered absolutely nothing. She worked on her wooden boxes, using delicate tools to carve the lids. Instinctively, she etched in Maori symbols. The koru and the fishhook. One box she left natural while she painted the lid of the others in black and white and red.
Manu strode from his office. His demeanor told her something was wrong and alarm surfaced. Her instincts suggested their days full of easy camaraderie and nights of passion were at an end.
A piercing whistle shrieked inside her head, and she clapped her hands to her ears. “Stop!”
A brief grin flickered across Manu’s mouth. “Your taniwha.”
“Yup. Showing her appreciation of a mighty fine man. What’s up?”
“Nelson Waaka has requested a face-to-face meeting.”
“Can you refuse to meet him?”
“He has adhered to our protocol, and to rebuff him will be an insult. He is bringing a group of six with him.”
“I’m sorry. This is my fault. I’ll leave. You can tell him you have no idea of my whereabouts.”
“No!” Manu seized her han
ds, forcing her to look at him. “I don’t want you to leave. Besides, if you go, you’ll always be looking over your shoulder and wondering if you can trust the people you encounter.”
The truth.
“You’re right.” She eased out a shaky breath. “This needs to stop. What do you think his visit means?”
“My best guess is he wants to push your marriage to that Danny bloke. A marriage to a Waaka will cement his hold over the relic.”
“He’d try to take it from me,” Jessalyn said.
“Yes.”
She pulled the pendant from under her shirt, her thumb tracing the familiar curves of the fishhook. “I can’t give it up. It’s a part of me.”
Manu’s focus was on the pendant, yet his interest didn’t alarm her because he’d shown no sign of wanting it. He didn’t covet the pendant like Nelson Waaka, but she sensed his respect for the history and magic of the relic.
“There must be something I can do or find to help or at least guide me in the right direction. The librarian I spoke to at Auckland said they hold the older, original texts at the National Library in Wellington. Although she did say some of the papers and books were old and valuable and are restricted to those doing special research projects.”
“Nelson wants to come next week. Wednesday.”
“Could I borrow money from you? I can fly to and from Wellington in a day.”
“What if we both went? Tomorrow. I should be able to purchase two seats on a plane. I mean, we could fly the taniwha way, but holding on for that length of a flight might be taxing and cold. Safer to fly on a plane.”
“Can I borrow a stealth unit in case the library staff refuses to allow me access?”
“Definitely. We should use the units, anyway. Can you research the layout of the library and the places where the books you require are stored?”
“Internet,” she said.
“Do as much research as you can beforehand, and I’ll help you once we arrive at the library.”
Jessalyn set aside the third box she’d intended to varnish. “I’ll start now.”
Manu’s phone buzzed. He picked it up and frowned at the number of the incoming call. “Richard, this is an unexpected pleasure.”
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