by Sadie Sears
We made our way up a well-used trail, hiking at a steady pace as squirrels skittered through the forest and up and down the trees along the path. For June, the weather was unusually warm, so Gretta tied her windbreaker around her waist. Her chest glistened with sweat as I pulled her into my arms.
"Need a break?" I asked, brushing a stray hair behind her ear.
Gretta took her glasses off and wiped them on the bottom of my T-shirt. "Are you trying to imply I can’t keep up? Or I’m slowing you down?" She poked my stomach with a pointed finger.
I grinned. “Absolutely not. I am well aware of your stamina.” My eye wiggle might’ve been a little pervy, but she laughed. "Okay, we’ll keep going. I have something I want to show you if you can keep up."
She narrowed her eyes. “The only reason you’re in front is because you know where we’re going.”
I loved this woman. Everything about her. Brains, check. Beauty, check. Sex, all the checks.
Hundreds of luscious green ferns hugged the path, blanketing the ground under the tall northern white cedars for as far as the eye could see. I held Gretta’s hand in mine. Craggy formations gave birth to more cedar trees that survived against the odds growing in the crevices of the rocks.
"It's so beautiful here. When I was a little girl, I called these pistachio trees because of the little nuts that grow on them.” Gretta touched one of the branches and pointed to the clusters on the ends of the wispy leaves.
I smiled at her description and wondered if Leath had seen the trees. He’d probably cataloged every single one of them. “Come on, follow me.” I led her off the path through the thick ferns to a large clearing.
“This is amazing.” She grabbed my hand, and we stood drinking in the fresh mountain air. Rolling hills lay to the north as far as the eye could see. “I never knew this spot was here.”
She grinned and then spread her jacket on the ground, settling down on it and propping herself on her forearms so she was peering up at me. Then she gave me a sly look.
“What?” I asked, laughing nervously while sitting in the grass next to her.
“In the million questions I’ve asked you, I remember you mentioning you can shift into two sizes. I’ve seen the smaller size, but I’m curious to see how big you can get.” She flashed me a toothy grin. “Come on. Show me how big you can get.”
“You know how big I get.” I winked and grazed my fingers over her belly.
She slapped my hand away. “You know what I mean. I’m serious, though. You’ve been so worried about me thinking through the claiming thing, and I want to put your mind at ease.” God, she was adorable when she talked about being claimed.
I laughed and went back in to tickle the side of her belly, ignoring her request. When she moved away and lifted her eyebrows, I shook my head. “I’m nervous about doing it with you staring at me.” I mimicked her expression, exaggerating her wide eyes.
“Aw, performance anxiety.” She clucked her tongue against her teeth and tilted her head to the side. “I understand. Happens to the best of them.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know what happens to the best of them?”
“A girl hears things.” She shrugged and then laughed.
I growled and jumped to my feet, tugging off my jeans and tank top.
"Now, this is the best view I’ve seen all day.” She gave me a once-over, and if I wasn’t a fire dragon, it would’ve felt like I was. When Gretta ogled, she brought the temperature up by ten or twenty degrees. And I felt every single one.
With a grin, I moved back a few feet before shifting into my larger form, and then I looked up. I wasn’t worried about what she’d think, but I was curious to see her expression as she saw me the size of a small airplane for the first time.
She slowly stood and then walked over to me. When she was within touching distance, she stopped.
“You’re so beautiful.” She ran her hand over my snout and down my neck, and then she traveled around me, stroking my wings, my side, my tail. I watched her, and when she clambered onto a rock, I lowered my head to allow her to climb onto my back.
The feel of her fingers running over my scales had me closing my eyes. The desire to claim her rose inside me, and I released a small rumble from my chest.
“Sam, let me down.”
I lowered my head, and she climbed off me and back onto the rock. She gazed into my eyes, and I saw the fire in her. She was ready to be claimed, ready to accept destiny. She ran her hand over my snout once more, caressing my face.
I shifted back, the desire to claim her too strong to remain in dragon form. She jumped off the rock, and I couldn’t look anywhere but at her. Her body. Her smile. The flex of every muscle as she pulled her T-shirt over her head. When she pulled off her jeans, I groaned, an all too human sound but one that resembled that of my dragon. She sauntered my way, her firm breasts bouncing slightly with every step.
As she moved closer, I could barely control myself. My cock hardened to the point of pain, and when Gretta glanced down at it and then licked her lips, I almost went to my knees. I drew her to me and took her into my arms, moaning when the peaks of her nipples pressed into my chest. She felt incredible against me, warm and pliant, sexy and proud. I breathed in the scent of her hair, her skin, and then slowly kissed her, pulling her closer until I could feel need in her every inch of her body.
When she pulled back, I instantly missed her warmth, but she led me across the clearing and over to where we’d left our clothes. She picked up her pants and fished something from a pocket, and then she turned to me, her eyes sparkling.
“Here.” She handed me my engagement ring back, but before my heart could sink, she smiled. “Ask me again. For real this time.”
“It was real for me last time.” But I dropped to one knee in front of her, still naked, without hesitation. “Gretta Kipling, my heart, my love, my mate. Will you marry me?”
She thrust her hand out and wiggled her fingers. “Yes.”
I grinned at her enthusiasm, and then slipped the ring on her finger. I held her hand for a minute, staring at the ring before I pressed a kiss against her knuckles. Gretta ran her fingers through my hair, and I stood, wrapped her in a hug I felt all the way to my soul. I sighed, deep and long. She ran her hands over my shoulder blades, down my chest to lay one over my heart. I wanted her, wanted to claim her, but I wasn’t rushing this moment.
I kissed her softly before going back down to my knees to bury my face in the warmth between her legs. She moaned and widened her stance so I could access her slick heat with my tongue and fingers. I loved the way she thrust her pelvis out, the way she tasted on my tongue, the way her clit pulsed. I loved the way she allowed me into her body, her heart.
She whimpered, and her knees gave way. I held her and laid her out onto the soft grass. I wanted to draw this out, but I wasn’t that strong. She made me desperate and needy, and my desire for her overwhelmed me. I rolled her over so she was on top of me, and then I bucked my hips toward her heat so I could sink my cock deep inside her.
God, she was so hot and wet, and it felt as if her body sucked me in, welcomed me as if I belonged there. I groaned then thrust up hard. Gretta ground her pussy down on me, forcing me deeper until I was buried to the hilt, and then she began to bounce, taking her pleasure while throwing me to the edge of orgasm.
No way was I going to last, but I wanted her to have control, to be in charge. I gripped her hips and gritted my teeth as I tried to stave off from coming too soon.
“Sam, do that thing.” Gretta dug her fingers into my shoulders, her eyes wild.
I knew exactly what she meant, and I ran my thumb over her clit until her pussy clenched tight, and she cried out.
In an instant, I rolled us over, thrusting harder, faster as my teeth elongated, and my cock thickened. I hung there, right on that edge of bliss, every muscle tense, and then I bit down on her neck. Gretta cried out once more, but in pleasure, not pain. She came the exact moment I emptied myse
lf into her body. My seed, my blood, my soul.
She was mine now. Claimed by the fire dragon.
Gretta’s eyes flashed amber as she struggled to sit. She looked a little woozy and disoriented. I draped my arm over her shoulder and kissed her temple.
“Are you okay?”
“A little dizzy. That was some bite.”
I checked her neck. There were a couple of reddened marks, but she wasn’t bleeding, and I could tell she wasn’t going to scar. In fact, if I hadn’t just done it, I wouldn’t have said she’d been bitten. I kissed the fading marks and then looked at her.
“Do you feel anything else? Like a flow of molten heat going through your veins?”
She cocked her head to the side and then nodded. “Actually, yeah. Does that mean I’m able to shift now?”
I blew out a breath because thinking of her flying next to me had my heart racing and my blood boiling. “If you’re ready.”
“Yeah, no. I mean, how?”
“It’s an instinct.” I couldn’t explain it to her. It was something she would have to feel.
Gretta’s eyes sparkled as she stood, naked and glorious. “Show me, I trust you.”
I nodded and walked us to the edge of the clearing. The sun dipped below the horizon, and a light wind blew around us, rustling the trees in the distance. Out of habit, I draped my arm around her in order to warm her, but her dragon heat seared through my arm, blending with my own. Oh, this was going to be fun.
“Close your eyes.” I waited until she’d squeezed her eyelids shut, and then I dropped a light kiss on her mouth and squeezed her hand.
Gretta smiled and blew out a breath.
“Focus on your energy. Push it evenly through your body.”
She nodded.
“Feel the fire deep in your belly, begging you to move, stronger and bigger and faster than you’ve ever been. Feel it vibrate in every cell.” It sounded so romantic, even to me. And I’d been doing it almost since I was born. “Now, imagine yourself as a dragon, and let yourself just be.”
Gretta’s body vibrated as her dragon came to the surface. Stunning scales of apricot, saffron, and burnt orange emerged as she shifted. She raised her head to look at me, blinking eyes as exquisite as the creature she was. She spread her wings and lashed her tail, and then did a little dance in the clearing before blowing out a plume of smoke.
Adrenaline burst through me at the sight of her. “You’re so beautiful.”
She blew out another plume of smoke, and then nudged me with her snout. I stroked her warm, scaly skin, spellbound with how incredible it was to have her with me like this. When she nudged me again and glanced at the cliff’s edge, I grinned.
“Come on, let’s test your wings.” I guided her toward the edge, and then I shifted.
We stood there. Two dragons. One soul.
I glanced at Gretta, and she gazed back at me, stunning, fiery, mesmerizing. And then we flew, soaring through the skies, roaring our happiness, our love.
Free.
23
Lila
"I'm stuffed, Lila. Thank you for a lovely meal." My sister’s boyfriend smiled and sat back in his chair.
I shot him a wink. He complimented Gretta's life in every way, and I’d never seen her so happy. They were a perfect fit.
I glanced at everyone sitting at the picnic table in my backyard. These were my people. Sam, Gretta, Sophie, and Shae, and obviously my growing weed, Zoe. Sam told funny stories about some of the crazy jobs the guys had to do, like rescuing cats stuck in trees and carrying Old Lady Maxwell's groceries home every week.
“But it pays, so Leath is all in.” He laughed. “Last weekend, she had him wear an apron while he helped her put them away.” This man knew how to tell a story.
I hadn't laughed so much in a long time. It warmed my heart to see Gretta so in love. And Sam and Cameron were such gentlemen. They didn’t refuse even the smallest job.
"Leath got a job yesterday cooking for the retirement home once a week." Sam chuckled and scratched his head.
"How is that protecting someone?" I scrunched up my nose and giggled.
Sam laughed and shook his head. “It isn’t. Actually, he’s a really good cook. The regular cook needed a day off, and no one would apply for a one-day-a-week job, so Leath goes and cooks. If you follow him on social media, he puts a picture up every week of whatever he makes. And he makes some of his golden oldies—that’s what he calls them—pose with their plates.”
"Aww. I think it’s sweet.” Sophie smiled and nudged me. “Is this Leath single?”
Sam pulled out his phone and started flipping through. “He is. He probably has a profile on the local dating sites.”
Gretta leaned in and wrinkled her nose. “He’s a bit of a pretty boy.”
“Maybe we should hire him, Mom.” Zoe smirked at Gretta. “He can’t do worse than Aunt Gretta.”
“What?” Gretta faked her outrage, but to be honest, she wasn’t much of a cook. I’d eaten more than my fair share of pizza rolls since I got sick.
“I can cook for us now,” I said. And we were definitely going back to healthier diets, with lots of fruits and vegetables.
We exchanged warm sister smiles, and I stood. "It looks like we need more tea. I'll be right back." I excused myself to get the reserve pitcher I’d made because Shae could drink her body weight in sweet tea.
I glanced back for just a second. I wanted a mental picture of this. The worst was behind us now. It had to be. We’d been through it lately and I was ready for some peaceful, easy feelings.
When I brought the tea back, the girls were jumping on the trampoline and a soft breeze perfected the summer evening.
"The mountains are so lovely at sunset," Sophie said. She adored the warm sunlight and the view. Our houses were close, and we had practically the same view, but she lived a little higher on the mountain.
"Yes, I've spent a lot of nights out here, practicing gratitude in awe of the beauty." I’d spent many an evening outside, talking to the sun, asking for its energy to get me through an MS flare-up.
“It’s really good to see you looking relaxed. It’s been a while,” Gretta said as she gripped my hand.
She’d seen me in all my MS glory. Sick, laid up in bed, so achy I couldn’t move without crying out. She’d given up so much to help me, to be here for me and Zoe, and it wasn’t fair. I was the big sister. I should’ve been making her life easier, not the other way, but she was amazing.
“Ever since Vincent and Taurus cleaned out all the crystal orbs, I feel much better. No flare-ups, and the last visit to my specialist said I haven’t transitioned into the secondary phase of my illness. So, as this is a cause for celebration, we’ve got homemade apple pie. Who’s up for a piece? And ice cream.”
“I’ll go and get it,” Sam said. He didn’t give me a chance to protest before he headed off to the kitchen.
I smiled. Gretta got one of the good ones. He was thoughtful and kind, and he loved her like no one had ever loved her before. I closed my eyes for a moment, simply relaxing, when an old Beatles’ song came on the radio. I sat up. “Remember this one?”
Gretta nodded. “I remember when we snuck out in mom’s car, and this played on the radio as you almost drove us off the mountain.”
I hadn’t thought about that in years, and I had an entirely different memory to go with the song. “I forgot about that.” I stood up and pulled Gretta up with me. “I don’t know how many dancing days I have in me. Let’s not waste this one.”
We did a little slow dance, and Zoe and Shae joined in with us until Sam came back out with plates, ice cream, and an impressive double-crusted pie the girls had baked with Sophie.
"Don't blame us if it's crappy." Zoe shrugged.
"My mom didn't let us put extra sugar in it," Shae said.
“So, tell them your other good news.” Sophie handed me a small portion of the pie but with no ice cream because she knew I tried to curb my dairy intake.
; “Well, it’s our good news. Sophie and I are thinking of opening up a yoga studio in town with room for massage therapy and Sophie’s tarot readings.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.”
I both heard and saw Gretta’s concern, and I sighed. I knew my limits, and yes, though I’d recently been sick, that had nothing to do with my MS.
“Yes, it is, and it’s going to be a perfect setup for those who can’t or don’t want to come out so far from town.” I used my no-nonsense voice, the one I rarely used on my younger sister, but this was one of those moments.
“Gretta told me about the group you created. That's wonderful." Sam said.
"Well, I didn't really start one. A few people liked to stick around after one of my yoga classes and we’d drink tea. Plus, we’re all struggling with something chronic, so we commiserate and bitch and from that came friendship and support. It took on a life of its own and morphed into a coping group after that." And I looked forward to it each week.
Sam nodded his head. “It’s sweet.”
"Something's coming." Sophie furrowed her brows, and her nose twitched. She stood, her long summer dress swishing around her legs.
I straightened my back. Sophie had her critics, and they could say whatever they wanted, but Sophie knew stuff—a lot of it before it happened. “What are you picking up?” I frowned, but Sophie laughed.
"It's a storm. Look." She pointed to the mountains where an ominous storm loomed over one of the peaks. The wind picked up as if Sophie had beckoned it—not one of her special skills.
Trees at the perimeter of my property creaked and whipped their leaves. I always loved the sound and wanted to stay outside and watch the rain. But the wind was too strong, blowing our paper plates off the table. We all scrambled to pack up and dash inside, but not soon enough. Large droplets of rain pelted us as the wind bent the trees, and by the time we made it to the kitchen, we were all soaking wet.