by Zoe Chant
He shot to his feet, bashing his head against the light fitting and nearly knocking Virginia from her perch on the edge of the bath.
"Sorry," she said, holding up her hands. Her deep brown skin hid any blush, but Dai could tell she was embarrassed. "That was, um, inappropriate of me."
"No, no," Dai managed to gasp out. He unconvincingly rubbed one leg. "Just, uh, cramp. Anyway. You should get cleaned up yourself." Virginia looked down at her charred clothes, a mortified expression crossing her face, and Dai could have kicked himself. "I mean, it's been a long, tough night. You must want to wash and get some rest."
Virginia smiled wryly. "I could say the same to you." She bit her lip. "Um, not to be inappropriate again, but I don't think you should get that bandage wet. Before I kick you out to get cleaned up myself, did you want some, uh, help in the shower?"
His dragon thought that this was an excellent idea.
"No," Dai yelped, hitting his head again on the light fitting in his haste to back out the door. "I'll just go—elsewhere. Now."
He caught a glimpse of amusement battling embarrassment on Virginia's face before the door swung closed between them. A moment later, he heard the shower running. Firmly repressing a mental image of water running over her lush curves, Dai went into the kitchen.
A couple of gallons of icy cold water later, he was at least somewhat cleaner, and in better control of himself. His dragon sulked at the back of his mind, coiled sullenly under iron chains of self-discipline once more. Dai ran his fingers through his wet hair, shaking himself like a dog. Virginia was still showering next door, and he would rather have disemboweled himself than knock on the door to ask for a towel.
What about clothes? his dragon muttered snidely.
Dai looked down at his bare chest and fire-resistant trousers, cursing himself as he belatedly remembered that he was only wearing boxers underneath—he'd been on call tonight rather than at the station, and had been asleep in bed when the alarm had gone out to summon his crew. For a moment, he debated just continuing to wear his turnout gear, but he had the feeling Virginia might not appreciate the aroma of sweat and smoke that permeated the uniform.
I'm never going to hear the end of this, he thought in resignation, as he mentally reached out. *Chase? Are you up?*
*As always,* came the cheerfully lascivious response. *Where are you, my man? We've all been shitting kittens, waiting to hear from you. Who is this mysterious lady friend you ran off with? Is it true she's taken you home? Have you fu—*
*Will you please shut up and listen for once? I need your help.*
*Did your parents not sit you down for the birds and the bees talk?* Chase inquired solicitously. *Don't worry, I'm here to hold your hand all the way through. Metaphorically speaking. Of course, if your lady friend is into that sort of thing, I'd be happy to help out non-metaphorically too—*
*CHASE!* Dai blasted him with a mental roar, cutting off the torrent. *Seriously. I need some clothes.*
There was a brief mental pause. *Sorry, could you repeat that?*
*I need some clothes. I didn't bring anything with me.*
*So sorry, terrible psychic static tonight. Maybe you're going through a tunnel. One more time?*
Dai ground his teeth. *How many times have I rescued you from drunken one-night stands gone terribly wrong?*
*About the same number of times that you've lectured me about my loose morals,* Chase responded cheerfully. *Hey, do you think you could call me and repeat this conversation? I want to record it on my phone to savor later. I might make it my ringtone.*
Dai rubbed his forehead, wondering whether to try one of the other members of his crew. Unfortunately, John was probably asleep underwater by now, and just the thought of trying to explain his predicament to Commander Ash made him wince. *Are you going to help me or not?*
*Not only am I going to help you, I am going to remind you that I helped you every single day for the next year or so. And I'm already on my way.* Dai had an impression of wind whistling past Chase's ears as he stretched into a gallop. *Go outside.*
"Virginia?" Dai called. The sound of running water had stopped, and he could hear her moving around the bedroom. "I'm just going outside. A friend is dropping off some things for me. I'll only be a moment."
Without waiting for a response, he let himself out of the apartment, leaving the door ajar behind him.
Whatever Chase's flaws—and they were many—at least he was fast. Dai barely had to wait five minutes before a duffel bag thudded out of the sky like a meteor, narrowly missing hitting him. He glanced up, catching a brief flicker of Chase's black wings occluding the stars.
*Thanks,* he sent to the other shifter. *I owe you one. Unfortunately.*
The only response was an amused whinny, drifting down from the sky as Chase shot away again. Dropping the mental connection and picking up the duffel bag, Dai went back inside. Virginia was sitting on a chair in the lounge, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe, drying her hair with a towel.
"I put a blanket and a pillow on the sofa for you," she said, slightly muffled from the depths of the towel. She flipped it back over her shoulder, scrunching her fingers into her glorious halo of dark hair. "Was that your friend? Didn't he want to come in?"
"Just a flying visit." Dai had to look away from the sight of her flushed, damp skin as his dragon reared up again, fighting his self-control.
He busied himself unzipping the duffel bag, and discovered that Chase had thoughtfully packed him a box of forty-eight condoms, prominently displayed on top of the folded clothes. He thrust them into the depths of the bag. "You should go get some rest."
Virginia yawned, getting to her feet. "No kidding. I feel like I could sleep for a week." Nonetheless, she hesitated at the door to her bedroom. "Are you sure you're going to be all right?"
He caught her gaze with his—and this time, she didn't flinch as she met his eyes. "I've got everything I need," he said. A slow smile spread over his face. "You go sleep. I'll keep guard here."
See? he told his dragon. Patience. Everything's going to be fine.
Chapter Five
The dragon pinned her down. The bone-white claws dug into her chest, the weight of the beast pressing all the air out of her lungs. She could taste the reek of its breath, a foul mixture of carrion and ash. Its glowing orange eyes were filled with cruel delight at her helpless struggles. The dragon's nostrils dilated as it inhaled; the smirking jaw dropped open. Virginia looked into the gaping maw, and saw the burning flames rushing up the dragon's throat, right into her face—
"Virginia! VIRGINIA!"
Virginia fought like a mad thing against the hot weight pinning her to the bed. She raked her fingernails down—skin? Not scales? She gasped for breath, and tasted clean air rather than smoke.
"It was a dream. Just a dream." Dai's soft Welsh voice in her ear brought her fully out of the nightmare. He was lying across her, on top of the bedclothes. "You're safe. You're safe now."
"The dragon." Virginia swallowed a sob, her breathing still harsh and ragged. Tears streaked her face. "I thought it had me—"
"Shh. I know. Just a dream." He eased his weight off her, releasing her wrists. He pulled her up to a sitting position in the bed, steadying her with an arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry I scared you. I ran in when you screamed. You were thrashing around so much, I was afraid you would hurt yourself."
Virginia leaned gratefully against his chest. She could hear the deep, reassuring beat of his heart. Her own racing heartbeat started to slow in response.
"I should be apologizing to you." She leaned back a little, tilting her head to look up at Dai. The dim light of early dawn filtering through the blinds was enough to show her the red scratches she'd cut into his cheek and neck. Without thinking, she reached up to trace the marks. "As if you haven't already been injured enough in the course of protecting me."
Dai went perfectly motionless as her fingertips brushed his face. Against her side, Virginia felt the hard muscles
of his chest tense, although his grip on her shoulder stayed feather-light. Virginia could hear his strong heartbeat speed up, even as the rest of him went utterly still. Heat radiated from him like a bonfire—but it was a good sort of heat, clean and protective.
That heat kindled an answering fire in Virginia's own body. She'd never had such a strong reaction to a man before. Every fiber of her being yearned for him, like a moth drawn to a flame. She wanted to bury her face in the junction of his neck and shoulder, to drive away the memory of smoke in her lungs with his scent. She craved his skin on hers, his body in hers, burning away her nightmares.
Consumed by that desire, she twisted upright to face Dai, and kissed him.
His lips were motionless under hers for the barest moment. Then he made a low moan, deep in his throat. He flung himself into the kiss like a parched man finally finding water after uncounted days alone in a desert. His strong hands twined in her hair. Virginia ran her own hands down his chest, feeling the hot, solid lines of his muscles through the softness of his T-shirt. She tugged up the hem of the shirt, slipping her hands underneath, glorying in the intoxicating heat of his skin. Her fingers traced the line of his spine, over the tattoos she'd seen earlier.
Dai gasped, jerking his head backwards and breaking the kiss. His eyes were wide and dark, just a thin rim of gold and green showing around the edge of his dilated pupils.
"Virginia," he said hoarsely. "We—first—I should tell you—"
"What?" That brief taste of him had only fanned the flames of her desire. She traced the line of his jaw with her mouth, exploring and nibbling, the slight friction of stubble teasing her lips.
"I—" He shuddered as she bit lightly at his neck. His hands clenched in the thin material of her own nightshirt. "Oh God. Later. Virginia, oh, Virginia."
With a quick jerk, he ripped her shirt from her body—literally, as she heard the fabric tear. She would have laughed in surprised disbelief, except that he'd already dipped his head down to her freed breasts. Virginia arched her back at the unbelievable sensation of Dai's tongue spiraling over her nipples.
His fingers slid under her panties, caressing her slick folds. She pulled at his T-shirt, desperate for more of him. He backed off just long enough for her to pull the shirt over his head, exposing his bronzed chest and hard nipples, then bent back to tease her breasts once more. His tongue left trails of fire over her skin. Virginia ran her palms over the taut curves of his shoulders, savoring both the feel of the solid muscles under her hands and the way Dai's breath hitched at her touch.
His strong fingers circled her clit. Somehow, without any guidance, he seemed to know exactly how to caress her. Virginia's hips jerked as her orgasm built into an unstoppable wave. She clung to him as her climax shook her, biting down on his sweat-slicked shoulder to stifle her cries.
"Please," she gasped as the waves of pleasure subsided. Her pussy ached to be filled. She fumbled with the buttons of his jeans, shoving them down over his hips. "Please, now."
Dai groaned, his mouth open and hot on her breast as her hand closed around his thick, hard shaft. "My Virginia." His voice was a deep growl, shaking with his need and desire. "Mine."
He slid his hands underneath her, cupping her ass. His powerful arms flexed as he lifted her, seemingly without effort, and threw her back onto the bed. He jerked off his jeans and boxers. Virginia had only a brief, glorious glimpse of his full naked body before he was on her, his mouth hungrily finding hers as his cock pressed between her legs. She spread willingly for him, thrusting her hips upward.
The broad head of his cock pushed tantalizingly against her opening—and then stopped. Virginia made a wordless sound of protest, but Dai drew back a little. His chest heaved with barely-restrained need as he raised himself up on his arms above her.
"Condoms," he gasped, glancing toward the door.
She couldn't bear the thought of delaying for even a second. "I've got an IUD." She shifted her hips, rubbing her swollen clit against his thick cock as she spoke. "I'll trust you if you'll trust me."
With a groan, Dai seized her hips, thrusting deep into her. Virginia cried out in ecstasy as his rock-hard cock slid into her slick pussy. She raked her nails down his back, wordlessly urging him to pound her faster, deeper. Dai threw his head back, jaw clenched. She could feel him struggling to contain his own climax as his thick cock caressed her most sensitive inner area over and over, again and again, until she clenched tight around him. Virginia's wordless cry as she came was echoed by Dai's own; his fingers dug into her hips, pulling her hard against his thrusting hips as he finally spent.
They both collapsed back on the bed, still joined. Despite Dai's weight on top of her, Virginia felt as light and weightless as ash on the wind, utterly consumed by pleasure.
After a moment, Dai let out a long sigh. "I never want to move." Nonetheless, he rolled, sliding out of her. He spooned her against his chest, curling around her protectively. "But my shoulder's seizing up. Sorry."
"I'll forgive you," Virginia said, without opening her eyes. "Just this once."
He smelled of clean sweat and wood smoke, the heat of his body against her back as comforting as a log fire in the depths of winter. Something snagged at her slowing mind.
"Hey," she mumbled drowsily. "What was it you wanted to tell me?"
If he answered, Virginia didn't hear. She fell into a deep, contented sleep, and didn't dream of dragons.
Chapter Six
When Dai had been a young kid still getting to grips with his dragon, he'd been expressly forbidden to practice fire-breathing. Naturally, this had meant he'd regularly snuck out of the house when his parents were asleep to do so. Whenever his experiments had gone terribly wrong—as they had more often than not—he'd always tried to preemptively put his parents in a good mood by bringing them breakfast in bed the following morning. The bigger the field he'd accidentally torched, the more lavish the breakfast he'd prepare. His mother claimed that to this day, the sight of a plate of bacon and eggs brought her out in a cold sweat of dread.
Dai was currently wishing that Virginia owned a bigger frying pan.
He cursed himself as he flipped the bacon. All his good intentions, all his practiced control—it had all gone up in smoke when she'd touched him.
Yes, his inner dragon agreed happily.
In contrast to Dai's grim mood, his dragon sprawled in luxurious contentment, as smug as a cat in a sunbeam. As far as the dragon was concerned, the only thing that was wrong was that he was out here instead of still in his mate's bed. Even now he could be awakening her with kisses, running his hands over the lush curves of her hips—
Dai shook his head, forcibly thrusting the alluring daydream out of his mind. The dragon was a creature of instinct, unable to think beyond seizing what it wanted, but his human half was not so fortunate. He felt like a little kid again, waking up to the consequences of his nighttime transgressions in the cold, harsh light of day.
I should have stopped. I should have told her what I am. She wouldn't have wanted me if she'd known. I betrayed her trust. I betrayed her.
Dai sighed, steeling himself for what he knew he had to do. I have to tell her. Straight away, as soon as she wakes up. No matter what the consequences.
He stared down at the frying pan. Maybe I should make some pancakes too.
He could tell the instant Victoria awoke by the way his inner dragon was suddenly on full alert, straining eagerly like a dog on a short leash. He heard the bed creak as she stretched, then the sound of her bare feet on the floorboards. He didn't look round, delaying the inevitable moment by as long as possible.
Victoria's hands slipped around his hips, rucking up his T-shirt. All of his stomach-churning dread melted away at the simple warmth of her skin against his.
"I had this crazy dream that I was rescued from a dragon by a hot firefighter who's amazing in bed." Despite her bold words, her touch was a little hesitant, as if she doubted her welcome. "And now it turns out he can cook, to
o. I hope I never wake up."
"Good morning," Dai said, turning around in her embrace to catch her in his own arms.
With a tiny sigh of relief, Virginia melted against him. For a moment, all he could think about was how right she felt, how perfectly their bodies fit together.
Then his guilt reared up again. I'm not worthy to hold her. I shouldn't even touch her.
Nonetheless, Dai didn't release her. He couldn't bear her to think for even one second that he didn't want her, or that she was just some casual one-night stand to him.
"I hope you're hungry," he said into her ear.
"Ravenous," said Victoria. She leaned round him to peer into the pan. "Okay. Let me clarify that 'ravenous' doesn't mean I can eat six eggs. I hope you're hungry."
"Actually, yes," Dai said apologetically, releasing her.
Turning back to his cooking, he slid two eggs onto Victoria's plate, and the rest onto his own. Shifting burned a lot of energy. He added the bacon to the plates, having some difficulty finding space for it next to the eggs, fried bread, sausage, and grilled tomatoes. "It was a busy night."
Virginia raised her eyebrows, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Due to the fire or the dragon?"
Dai put a finger under her chip, tilting her face up for a long, deep kiss. "Neither," he breathed.
Releasing her again, he picked up the plates. He tilted his head in the direction of the dining table, which was still piled with papers and archaeology tools. "I didn't want to move anything you were working on, so I didn't set the table. Where do you want to eat?"
"Oh, don't worry, there's nothing important out here." Virginia cleared a space by the simple expedient of sweeping an arm across the table, jumbling papers into haphazard drifts. They sat down, and for a few moments were both fully occupied shoveling food.