by Sadie Sears
"Well, you know I’m not much for frisbee.” He ducked behind a tree, and a few seconds later, leaped out in his panther form and dashed into the woods.
I wasn’t surprised he’d shifted and gone off, but I was a little surprised by how laidback Gretta took him doing it. I tried to sound as casual as possible when I asked, "Does it bother you at all that Justin is a shifter?"
"Not at all. Why? Does it bother you?" Gretta’s tone was carefully neutral, and she, Lila, and Zoe all stared at me, awaiting my reply.
"Of course not. I have several friends who are shifters." If only she knew. I smiled and tugged off my jeans then adjusted the waist on my swim shorts.
"You're going to swim?" Gretta's eyebrows shot up even as she gazed at my chest. I bit back a grin.
"Sure, it's beautiful out. Come on, join me." I started to reach for her hoodie, but she squealed and took a step back.
"No way. I’m not freezing to death so you can see me in a swimsuit."
Gretta in a swimsuit might have actually killed me. I grabbed her in a bearhug. "You won’t freeze to death if I keep you warm."
“I don't know." Her words were cautious, but her pulse had spiked.
"You don’t know what you’re missing," I breathed across the column of her throat. She shivered against me. I was going to have to get in the water pretty quick or risk embarrassing myself.
She bit her lip, then nodded. I triumphantly pushed her hoodie off her shoulders. With a reluctant sigh, she took off her glasses, wiggled out of the sleeves and allowed the garment to drop to the ground, revealing a pale yellow tank top.
Before she could change her mind, I scooped her into my arms and ran for the precipice. My dragon yearned to jump off the cliff, to soar into flight with Gretta, but I shoved him down and leaped through the air. Gretta screamed and clung to me as I held her tightly to my chest.
"Trust me," I said just before we plunged into the water.
The icy lake doused a few degrees of heat, but plenty of fire still burned inside me, more so when we broke the surface, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Her bottom lip trembled as her body temperature dropped, so I held her tighter and radiated some fire dragon warmth.
Her breasts pressed against my chest; nipples hardened to little pebbles in the cold water. I groaned, and it took all my will not to lift her tank top and suck them into my mouth. Wet strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with laughter. Her smile was so bright, it was blinding.
"You’re beautiful."
I had to taste her. When I lowered my head, she tilted hers up and our mouths crashed together, the touch of her tongue heating me in a way my dragon never could. She moaned softly and wiggled impossibly closer.
I was hard enough to drive nails. She was power and beauty and magnificence personified. And for this minute in time, she was mine.
When she pulled back, her lips were swollen and her eyes dark with desire. I was about to go in for another round when a ruckus caught our attention. We both looked up just as a giant dragon flew overhead.
Mitias.
Gretta gasped and tightened her arms around my neck. "God, it’s so unnerving when they do that."
“Do what?” Uh-oh. That didn’t sound good, and I was almost afraid to hear her response.
“Fly so close. They’re so fierce and unpredictable, who knows what they’re capable of.” She spoke with such distaste. It broke my heart.
“They’re protectors. That’s their nature. They would never hurt a human, or any other shifter for that matter.” What I said didn’t really seem to matter, especially since Gretta didn’t take her focus off Mitias, her expression sour.
My heart sank to the bottom of the lake, along with any hope Gretta would ever accept me. I pulled away, and she didn’t seem to notice the shift in my mood.
"Come on. You’re right, it's too cold in here." I guided her out of the water, helped her dry off, and when we sat down to eat the sandwiches Lila and Zoe had made. Gretta curled into the circle of my arms like she hadn’t just unwittingly shattered me.
Justin appeared soon after, grinning like the cat he was. Gretta teased him, and I realized I was jealous of her feline friend. He had such an easy relationship with her. He was the kind of shifter who didn’t make her face contort. This was hopeless.
I was already in love with Gretta, and as soon as I told her I was a dragon, everyone I'd grown close to over the last couple weeks would vanish.
After I dropped everyone off, I parked the truck, then took off on a walk.
Fact one: Gretta didn’t like dragons. Fact two: I was a dragon. That was a problem even the worst mathematicians could solve.
What were the chances she could fall hard enough for me that my being a dragon wouldn’t matter? It wouldn’t be the first time a shifter hadn’t disclosed who they were to their mate, though I was sure Gretta wouldn’t forgive that particular indiscretion. I didn’t think I couldn’t do that to her anyway. When the time was right, I would tell her.
I walked on. The evening air cooled, and I walked toward the giant beech Leath had shown me. He’d said it was the tree of fairies, and I could use all the help I could get. So, I went and sat under its low-hanging branches, leaning my back against the cold bark.
I sat there, lost in thought, trying to tap into my ancestors’ wisdom.
"I figured we'd find you here." That wasn’t a huge stretch for Leath when he had Cam with him. They stood over me, but I just didn’t have the heart to get up. Cam remained silent but sat next to me in solidarity.
"So, I’m assuming all this mopey, puppy-dog face is about Gretta?” Not that I appreciated the way Leath worded the question, but I nodded.
“And what did you work out?"
"Turns out she doesn’t like dragons. There’s not much more to work out."
After a moment, Cam turned to me. "Why did you join the military, Samuel?"
Whenever he addressed me formally, he had something profoundly important to say. He flipped his hair out of his eyes and blinked rapidly, not waiting for my answer.
"You joined the military because it was your purpose in life, and you forged ahead with courage. Turning back was never an option. Even if circumstances wound us, we have to face destiny." Cam's eyes glazed over. I knew some of the horrors Cam had lived through and what it cost him to mention our time served. This wasn’t an easy conversation for him, and it meant everything to me that he was trying so hard.
Leath sat down closer to the sidewalk, legs stretched in front of him, body facing me and Cam. "We’ve got your back, Sam."
I'd been through a lot with Cam and Leath, and I loved them like they were my own blood. Cam had suffered the most of all of us, yet he was encouraging me to go for what I wanted. To take a chance on love.
“So, you’re saying that even though she doesn’t like dragons—”
“You just need to power through it and prove her wrong.” Cam cocked his head and smiled. “Isn’t she worth it?”
"Gretta’s definitely worth it." No question. My gut knew it. My heart knew it. My soul knew it.
A low laugh bubbled out of my throat and a great weight lifted off me. Regardless of the outcome, I had to tell Gretta how I felt, what I wanted, who I was.
"I'm all in." If only the strength of my conviction was enough.
"And all it took was the help of a couple dragons and the tree fairies." Leath smiled and squeezed my forearm.
"Not just any dragons. My best friends."
Leath busted out laughing, "Great. Now, can we go get a few beers? The guys are over at Sprucie’s."
I nodded and chuckled. I still wasn't convinced Gretta would accept me, but no way was I going to give up.
9
Gretta
"Miss Hampstead, you need to take your medication." I smiled away the frustration, though I’d met mules less stubborn than Lucille Hampstead.
"We all want you to get better. Please." I gently patted her bony hand and kept smili
ng. She looked at me sideways then opened her mouth and swallowed her pills. Her hands shook as she tried to set the water on the table.
"Let me get that for you." I took the cup with another smile, this one born from pure success.
She reclined on the bed and shut her eyes. I didn’t know her life history, but she had a face full of laugh lines that said she’d enjoyed many happy years. But now she moaned, and I ran my hand over her brow and smoothed her colorless hair back. She was in pain, tired, and restless. I wished there was more I could do.
As soon as she was resting peacefully, I exited the room and leaned against the wall outside her door. Miss Hampstead probably wouldn't last through the night, but, if she had to die, at least it wouldn’t be in pain since I’d managed to convince her to take her medication. The idea of losing a patient was the reason I never got close, which made me sound gruff and harsher than was good. According to Justin, anyway.
I knew medicine, and there were people in the world who would attest to my kindness. I’d just never put the two together because kindness meant caring and caring meant getting attached and getting attached in my profession meant heartache when I lost a patient. With a sigh, I pushed off the wall to see Dr. Holt striding toward me.
“Gretta, I’ve been looking for you. Your interview with the committee is set.”
"Oh, that’s wonderful. Thank you." I wanted to jump up and down and kiss him on the cheek. Instead, I nodded like a professional, smooth and in control of myself. Barely.
"Of course, you still need to impress them. There are a lot of candidates being interviewed, but I know how important this is to you. Don’t let anything detract from your focus on the project. The interview has been added to your online calendar for the end of May.” He nodded. “I’m proud of you, Gretta. Now go home and get some sleep. I want you fresh and on point. No more double shifts."
"Yes, sir."
I’d moved one step closer to my dream job and there was only one person I wanted to tell. Again. I headed to the doctors’ lounge and fished my phone out of my locker to call Sam. Instead of telling him though, I invited him to the spring fair on Friday. I wanted to tell him my good news in person.
The parking lot was already full, and I craned my neck trying to be taller so I could look for Sam. Spruce High had transformed their football field into a spring carnival every year I could remember, but this was the first time I’d ever gone with a date. Zoe rushed off to meet Shae, her best friend, and Justin, her babysitter for the evening. He’d volunteered so Lila and Shae's mom could have some private pampering time at the spa. He really was the best.
"Hey, you." From behind me, Sam's voice sent shivers over my skin. It was one of the best parts of him, although he had more best parts than I could keep track of.
His breath warmed my neck, and instead of instantly whirling around to face him, I waited a second before I turned. I needed the time to prepare and pull it together so I didn’t jump on him and make a scene that would get me kicked out and probably banned for life—and maybe arrested for indecently exposing myself.
"Hi." I gave him my best bedroom eyes, and he pulled me against him, so our bodies touched in all our best spots. I could’ve melted into a puddle under his heated gaze.
I stood on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"I have an interview."
His eyes lit up. "That's great news, Gretta!" He wrapped his hands around my waist, lifting me easily before he twirled me in a circle like some romcom move. When he stopped, I slid down the length of his body until my feet touched the ground. And still, he didn’t let me go. So damn hot.
"The interview isn't for another month, but I'm excited.” And happy. I was really happy, personally and professionally, for the first time since I couldn’t remember when.
The only things that would make life better was an MS cure. And if Bill got his crap out of my place.
We held hands as we walked toward the rides, then meandered through the rows of carnival games. The workers barked their game pitches at us as we passed, but Justin was up ahead waving, so we headed his way.
Sam grinned at Zoe. "Hey, Freckles, who's your friend?"
Zoe gave me a tight hug then turned to Sam and gave him one, too. I loved that she liked him. It made two of us.
"This is Shae, my best friend." She threw an arm around Shae and shifted her stuffed bunny, so he was facing us, too.
Shae shook her head to shoo a fly away, her thick blonde curls bouncing.
"Your curls remind me of Shirley Temple,” Sam said, tugging on one.
I laughed. There was no way Zoe or Shae would have any idea who Shirley Temple was. I wouldn’t have known if my mom hadn’t been over the moon for black and white movies when I was young. It was funny the things I remembered about them.
Shae wrinkled her nose. She had no way of knowing, at twelve, whether he was complimenting her or insulting her. "Who?"
"She was a movie star who sang and danced in movies. She had cute curls like yours." When Shae gave him a blank stare, Sam whipped out his cell and showed us a picture.
"Look at that outfit!” Shae and Zoe laughed at the plaid dress with the little tie at the collar.
“You do have hair like hers.” Zoe flicked one of Shae’s curls. “You’re so lucky.”
Sam put his hand at the small of my back and pressed gently. "I'm going to take the girls for some cotton candy so you can tell Justin your good news. Um, that’s if you haven’t already.”
“News?” Justin cocked an eyebrow, and Sam smiled as he figured he was the first one I’d told. He leaned in and kissed my cheek. Even the slightest accidental touch from this guy set me on fire. A purposeful brush of his lips on my skin had me forgetting everything else.
“Okay.”
"I told you he's cool." Zoe poked Shae, and the three of them headed off.
“News?” Justin repeated. “Since when do you keep news from me?”
“I kind of wanted to tell Sam first, but I have an interview for the research position,” I said before Justin could berate me about the merits of best friends versus boyfriends. Not that Sam was my boyfriend…
Justin’s smile was genuine, as I knew it would be. “Of course you do! What did I tell you?” He high-fived me, and I grinned.
“Dr. Holt said a lot of people applied, and the competition is going to be tough, but he’s pulling for me.” That had to count for something if my mentor was running the project, and he’d been the one to write my recommendation.
“You know you’ll get it, but I haven’t heard of anyone else at the hospital applying, and you know I’m the hub of all the gossip in this town.”
“Not Spencer in Cardio? Or Erikson in Infectious Diseases?” Erikson traveled between hospitals here and in Burlington, but that kind of thing was right up his alley.
Justin shook his head.
“Maybe there’s a lot of out-of-town competition then, because this kind of research brings out the medical intellectuals in droves.”
“Don’t worry, girl. You got this. Dr. Dinosaur would be a fool to let the committee pick anyone else.” Justin gestured to Sam at the cotton candy stand. “How’s that going?” He grinned like he didn’t know—like he didn’t expect me to thank him at least once every day for the rest of my life.
“It’s good.” I watched Sam with Zoe and Shae. He was trying—badly—to pull a quarter from behind Shae’s ear. Twice he dropped the coin, and once he forgot to hide it when he moved his hand toward her face. Zoe laughed then showed him how it was done.
“He’s good with kids.” Justin folded his arms and watched with me.
“I can see that.”
“And he’s good with you.” He nudged my shoulder. “But the big question is how good, because you cannot tell me that stud of a man is bad in bed.” He turned his gaze on me as heat crept up my face.
My blush wasn’t because we didn’t talk about that kind of thing. We did. It was just usually Justin’s sex life and not mine. “
I don’t, er, I don’t know.”
His eyes went wide. “You haven’t found a way to get him to take you to bed and let you call him baby?” He shook his head. “You are obviously who he’s into. What’s the holdup?”
“We’re taking it slow.” Apparently.
“Sweetheart, you’re taking it stopped, and you’d better fix that quick before some smooth cat steals him out from under your nose.” He purred and made a claw with one hand.
I burst out laughing just as the cotton candy trio came back with five sticky puffs of pink.
Sam juggled three spools of spun sugar and handed one to Justin, who winked at him. Then he smiled and touched the tip of the candy to my lips. I took a bite, and just that fast, my focus shifted from everyone else to only Sam. The rest of the world faded.
As if sensing the shift, Justin took the kids in the direction of the rides, while I stood staring at Sam. Justin was right. I wanted Sam, and why we weren’t at home, alone, exploring each other naked was a mystery. I could have thought Sam wasn’t interested, but I knew better than that. Sam was just being a gentleman and perhaps waiting for me to make a move. I smiled and slipped my arm through his, and we strolled through the rows of carnival stalls as we ate our cotton candy.
“Everything feels easy with you.” It was true. When I was with Sam, I felt lighter, like I didn’t have the weight of the world holding me down.
He stopped walking and grinned. "Are you calling me easy?”
“That is the last thing I would call you.” But I returned the grin. If he wasn’t clear about what I wanted, maybe he would be by the time we left. This time, I pulled a bite of candy from the stick and fed it to him, letting my fingers glide against his lip. My knees almost buckled when his tongue flicked out to lick the sticky residue off my fingertips.
"You want to ride the Ferris wheel with me?" he asked.
I wanted to do whatever he wanted to do. And probably a whole lot of other things, too. I nodded and let him guide me to the ride. It creaked, was probably only held together by a couple of cotter pins and a ball bearing, but I had no fear, no apprehension at all when I was with him. I felt safe.