Max frowned. “Have you done this before? How do you know you can carry me?”
Sasha paused and cocked her head as if she was listening. A slow, sexy grin curved her lips, and everything inside Max turned molten hot. When he stared into her eyes, he glimpsed a hint of otherness, yet it didn’t scare him. Instead, intrigue joined the lust simmering inside him. This mysterious woman entertained him, consoled him, challenged him, and he understood at that moment what he’d missed in previous relationships.
Intelligence and empathy, along with the elusive something that told him he’d never get bored at Sasha’s side. Now, if only her family approved of him and accepted Noel. If that didn’t happen, he couldn’t see a way forward for them. He wanted to ask Sasha to marry him, and he wished to do the old-fashioned thing and ask for her father’s approval.
Her smile had grown wider while his thoughts had roamed to his future plans.
“Why are you grinning at me like that?”
“My dragon insulted you.”
Max’s brows rose. “She did? Why?”
“You expressed concern about us being able to carry you. You implied we’re weak. My dragon states we are not only gorgeous, but we are strong and could squash a puny human without breaking a sweat. We would, however, look after Noel if something happened to you because we like Noel very much.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” Max said dryly. “I’ll pack. Do we need to take any food?”
“I’ll pack a few things—some of Noel’s favorites. The locals on Holy Island come over here to shop for groceries.”
“All right. I’ll pack food in my bag and put on as many clothes as I can manage. From memory, there is a pub and a few small shops. We can’t use my credit card because that will allow the police to track us, so we must rely on cash.”
Max’s phone rang, and when he saw it was Jerome, he answered. “Have you found a place for us to stay?”
“I have. It’s on the outskirts of town. The owner said she has to attend a funeral tomorrow, but she’ll leave the key in her mailbox for you to collect. Told me the causeway was open early tomorrow morning, and she was heading to the mainland. I paid for two days.”
“Thank you,” Max said, his thanks heartfelt.
“The tide is right for you to cross early in the morning. Anything else I can do for you?”
“No, just get enough dirt on my grandmother to stop her from taking Noel. I appreciate this more than I can say.”
“Introduce me to your girl.”
“After we’re married,” Max said.
Jerome chortled and was still laughing when Max disconnected the call. Aware of the ticking clock, Max grabbed his day pack from the hall cupboard and headed to his bedroom. He stuffed his tablet inside plus spare underwear and socks. He donned his hiking clothes since he always dressed in layers when walking.
In the kitchen, he packed the cans and packets of food Sasha had placed on the table.
“That should do it,” Sasha said. “You wake Noel, and I’ll go outside to check for anyone skulking around the yard. We’ll leave from the back garden since it will give us more cover until I take to the air.”
Max nodded and took off to grab Noel. To himself, he confessed to nerves since dragons were an unknown quality. While he knew and trusted Sasha, he wasn’t so sure about her dragon.
“Hey, Noel,” Max shook his brother gently. “Wake up, buddy. Sasha is taking us for a dragon ride.”
Typically difficult to wake, the mention of Sasha and her dragon seemed to do the trick.
“We have to dress you warmly because Sasha says flying can be cold for us. I think her scales keep her warm, but we need to wear extra clothes otherwise, our teeth will chatter.
Max realized he was prattling like a champion, a sure sign of nerves, and he clicked his teeth together and shut his mouth.
“Where is Shasha?”
“Getting ready. She has packed food for us since we’re going to fly to an island and stay there for two days. We’re going on an adventure.”
With Noel dressed in as many clothes as he could tug onto his brother’s wriggly body, Max led him downstairs. He bent to fit a pair of runners on Noel’s feet and picked up his day pack. It was bloody heavy, but Max didn’t complain. They needed this preparation, and it would be best if they kept to themselves as much as possible on the island. He led Noel outside.
Sasha walked stealthily through the shadows and appeared at Max’s side before he realized it was her.
“Two cars, containing sleeping reporters. If we hurry, we can disappear before anyone misses us,” she said.
Max’s stomach did an uncharacteristic swoop. He was nervous, which he hated to admit, but it was expected, right? He’d never seen a dragon—not in person. Heck, before today, he’d considered them a part of myth and legend. His stomach bucked again, and he forced himself to speak. “What do we need to do?”
“Stand back, so I can morph to a dragon. I’d hate to hurt either you or Noel by mistake.”
Max grasped Noel’s hand, and they stepped back against the side of the house.
“Is Shasha turning into a dragon?” Noel asked in a loud voice.
“Shush,” Max said and crouched beside his brother. “We have to be quiet, so we don’t wake the reporters sleeping in their cars. If they get a photo of Sasha, she’ll be in trouble. Okay?”
Noel gave a solemn nod, his gaze on Sasha. Max rose and turned to face Sasha too. Whoa! The woman was naked! For a stunned moment, Max gaped at her shapely body. She was crouching and stuffing her clothes into a cloth bag. When she stood, his eyes widened further. A bronze dragon tattoo covered most of her torso, and as he stared, the tattoo shifted on Sasha’s body and winked at him.
He must’ve made a noise because Sasha grinned and looked straight at him.
“My dragon says she told you we were gorgeous. Are you ready? Once I shift, I want you to climb onto my back and sit near my shoulders, just in front of my wings. Seat Noel before you so you can hold on to him.”
Max nodded, mesmerized by the golden—no, it was more bronze—dragon that was now waving at him and blowing kisses. He shook himself. “Where do you want me to put the bags you need to carry?”
“Leave Noel’s bag near my cloth one.”
Max darted across the lawn to place Noel’s pack with Sasha’s.
“Max, everything will be all right,” Sasha said.
Unable to help himself, he strode across the gap separating them, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gave her a quick but firm kiss. “You are gorgeous,” he murmured. “Both of you.”
Then he was striding back to Noel and taking his brother’s hand. “Are you ready?” he asked Noel.
His brother grunted, his blue eyes gleaming in the scant light. His round face held eagerness and excitement, and none of the apprehension that clawed at Max’s belly. So many things could go wrong. He was placing a tremendous amount of trust in Sasha… Hell, from the start, he’d trusted her with Noel, and he needed to continue instead of letting fear get the better of him. But even so, there were so many variables at play. The reporters might see them and get photos of Sasha. Heck, pictures of him and Noel with Sasha would give his grandmother more ammunition. Then there was the fact he was leaving the house. His grandmother and her team of lawyers might take umbrage with his absence. And, finally, he didn’t know what to do for the best.
For Noel or himself.
Yep, the variables were doing his head.
Max hadn’t considered how Sasha would shift to her dragon form or what it would look like. He’d read books, seen movies that depicted the process for werewolves. This was not as he imagined. Sasha’s shift was fast and seamless. One moment a strikingly beautiful and naked woman stood before them, and the next, a bronze dragon. It had an immense body covered with bronze scales. A long neck and largish head. Sasha’s eyes were also blue with black slits instead of pupils. Intelligence gleamed from her, and she slowly flitted long eyelashe
s at him.
She crouched in front of him, her nostrils flaring. A tiny puff of smoke emerged.
Noel darted forward and stroked her hide, unafraid of the gigantic dragon. Shrugging inwardly, Max fitted his pack to his back and lifted Noel onto Sasha’s shoulders. He sat astride between two dangerous, gleaming spikes. Max clambered up behind Noel in an ungainly fashion.
In the next moment, they were off. Somehow, Sasha scooped up the two other bags in her talons. Her wings flapped, lifting them into the air. Noel released a chortle of pleasure. Max was more worried about the reporters seeing them, but all remained quiet as they flew away from the house.
In mere seconds, they were flying over the sea. The wind whipped their hair, and Max wished he’d thought to don gloves. Sasha had been right to warn them about the cold.
Holy Island soon lay beneath them. Scattered lights glowed from houses and buildings. They’d checked a paper map of the area instead of going online and had figured out the best landing place was the middle of the island. It would mean they’d need to walk to get to their accommodation, but given the hour, Max doubted many residents would be driving around to notice them.
By the time Sasha swooped downward, Max’s face had gone numb. They’d decided not to fly near the settlement either for fear of someone spotting them flying over. Not that the town was substantial. Max had visited as a child with his parents and on a school trip.
Sasha landed in a field, and Max slid down before reaching up to lift Noel free.
Noel clapped his hands, his expression full of pleasure despite the late hour. “Again,” he insisted.
“Sasha needs to have a rest first,” Max said, making his voice firm. His little brother wasn’t beyond begging or having a hissy fit to get his way when he became overtired.
Thankfully, Noel allowed Max to pluck him from Sasha’s back.
Sasha transformed as quickly as the last time. This time she shivered and hurriedly rifled through her bag to grab her clothes. She pulled on black trousers, a shirt, and a jacket without bothering about underwear. She took the time to pull on socks, though before she donned her boots. “We’re near the accommodation your friend booked for us. I landed closer than we’d planned, so it should be a five-minute walk at most.”
“Let’s hope the owner was as efficient as she promised, and the key is in her mailbox.” Max pulled a face. “Otherwise, we’ll be in trouble.”
Sasha picked up her bag plus Noel’s.
“Let me take that,” Max said.
“I think you’re going to need to carry Noel. Now the excitement is over, he’s drooping.”
Seeing she was right, Max lifted Noel and sat him on his shoulders.
Sasha led the way, her progress unfaltering despite the dark. Max hadn’t thought to bring a torch.
“You’re very quiet,” Sasha said after a while.
“I’m unsure of what to do for the best. For Noel.”
“You can’t let your grandmother get her hands on him, not if all she’s interested in is the trust money,” Sasha said.
“But we can’t spend our life running either,” Max said.
“You can’t let her win.”
“No. My mind is chasing in circles.”
“Let’s try to enjoy the two days we have before the court’s deadline. Perhaps a third alternative will come to us,” Sasha said. “Ah, I think that’s the cottage we’ve rented, judging by the photos your friend sent to my email address. Why don’t you and Noel wait here, and I’ll run to get the key?”
Max smothered a yawn and indicated acceptance of the plan. She headed into the darkness without hesitation and was back in under ten minutes, flourishing a key. “Found it along with a note.”
“Great. I want to get Noel in bed, otherwise it will be a fun day for all of us tomorrow.”
With a nod, Sasha unlocked the door and flicked on the entrance light to reveal a large room sectioned into seating, dining, and food preparation areas.
“Nice,” her dragon said. “I like the human’s open rooms instead of lots of smaller ones. I enjoy the space.”
“Me too,” Sasha agreed.
Max dumped his pack on the floor, picked up Noel’s smaller bag and led his brother down a passage leading off the principal room. She picked up Max’s pack and took out their food supplies.
“What was in the note?” her dragon asked.
Sasha plucked it out of her pocket and read the contents. “Excellent,” she murmured. “Fresh milk, eggs, bacon, and bread. That means we won’t need to go out if we don’t want to—not to visit the town at any rate.”
Max came out a few minutes later.
“Is Noel asleep?”
“For a while there, I thought he’d put up a fight. The flight thrilled him, and he wanted to draw a picture of your dragon before he forgot the details.” Max pulled a face. “He fell asleep midway through telling me about exploring the island. These days, he’s excited and involved, and it’s all thanks to you. I hate to think of him going backward with my grandparents. I’m sure they’d look after him, and he’d lack for nothing physically, but their child-rearing methods are old-fashioned. Seen and not heard. Noel needs to learn and repeat things until he understands them. I want him to be excited by life.”
Sasha touched his forearm and squeezed. “Noel is a great kid. He has lots of friends. He’s well-behaved, although sometimes stubborn. My dragon is stubborn, too.”
“Huh!” her dragon said but confined her comments to that.
“You didn’t see him after Mum and Dad died. You’ve worked miracles with Noel.”
“Jerome arranged for the owner to stock up on breakfast food. We have milk, tea, and coffee, along with bacon and eggs. A few other treats too.”
“Something else,” Max said. “There is one other bedroom with an enormous bed, admittedly, but if we both want comfort, we’ll have to share.”
“Tell him he’s safe,” her dragon murmured. “We’re too tired to attack his body.”
Sasha chuckled.
Max’s brows rose. “What?”
“My dragon confirmed you’re safe. We’re as exhausted as Noel.”
“Then, we’ll share.”
“Yes,” Sasha said without hesitation, although her stomach did a slow flip of anticipation.
“Let’s go then,” Max said. “You can use the bathroom first.”
“I wouldn’t mind a shower,” Sasha said. “We’re sweaty after the flight over to the island.”
“Did you sense your barrier?”
“Yes, it was there. Intact. Honestly, I have no idea how we crossed through.” She stopped in the middle of the passage. “What if I can never return?”
“We’ll try to find a way for you, Sasha, but you will always have a home with Noel and me.”
“While I didn’t part on great terms with my mother, I miss my family.”
“I get it. I miss my parents too.” Max folded her into a hug, and Sasha melted against him, accepting the comfort he offered.
“We’ll go for a walk tomorrow. Perhaps we’ll find something to help you get home. A clue.”
“Suddenly, I am not tired,” her dragon said, her tone distinctly flirtatious. “This man is decent. I bet he wouldn’t go around pinching other dragon’s backsides.”
Max pulled away from her, smiled, and kissed her lips. He shunted her toward the bathroom. “I’ll bring your bag to you. You’ll want your clothes.”
“We normally sleep in our skin.”
Max stilled and waited for a beat before speaking. “Please, for my sake, wear something to bed this once.”
“Fine,” Sasha said.
“I’ll leave your bag outside the door.”
“Aw, he’s so sweet,” her dragon cooed. “A gentleman.”
“Thanks,” Sasha said.
The water was hot, and she enjoyed her shower immensely. After donning a long T-shirt, she padded down the passage to the bedroom. She found Max stretched out on the bed, fast asleep.
He wasn’t snoring, but his loud breaths were close.
Shrugging, Sasha let him be.
“At least we can take off our T-shirt and get under the blankets,” her dragon said. “You know I prefer to sleep without clothes because—”
“Because you suffer clothes during the day when you’re certain most dragons and humans would prefer to study your sexy dragon form,” Sasha finished. She’d listened to the argument so many times she could repeat it verbatim.
In the interest of peace—because she was truly exhausted—she shed her T-shirt and slid under the covers.
She pushed away her fears of becoming trapped on this side of the barrier forever and fell asleep almost immediately.
It was still dark when she awoke. She found herself pressed up against a male chest.
“Mmm, nice,” her dragon said drowsily. “I like Max trespassing on our side of the bed.”
Sasha focused. “Ah, newsflash. We seem to have gravitated toward Max, not the other way around.”
“Well, you could never call us stupid,” her dragon said with satisfaction. “It’s a pity our parents didn’t give us the benefit of the doubt and let us choose our partner. We found Max, and he’s exceptional.”
“He’s not a dragon.”
“Doesn’t matter. We could still have children with Max if we wanted and live in either world. We’ve proved we’re adaptable and clever enough to blend in here.”
“Max mightn’t want children.”
“Pffff! He loves Noel and has given up a lot to raise him. Max didn’t have to fight for his brother. He could’ve let his grandparents take care of Noel. Even though he had an important job in that London place, he gave it up. He changed his life and walked away from his fiancée.”
“True.” Sasha yawned, hoping her dragon had ended her lecture.
“You have to act positive and reach for what you want in this life.”
Sasha bit back a groan. Evidently not.
“So far, we’ve escaped Bruceous, whom we do not want as a husband. Max is an acceptable husband,” her dragon persisted.
Sasha (Dragon Isles Book 4) Page 14