by Mary Abshire
“It kind of…tickles. It’s weird. It burns a little, too.”
“I’m almost done, then I need to apply bandages.”
“My grandparents sold the land they owned. I think it had been in the family for a couple generations. I used to love spending time with them in the forest. I wanted to see if the house was still here and what things looked like.”
“I don’t recall the name Winslow.” He threaded another stitch. “This house belonged to my family, too. I’ve made renovations over the years.”
“How long have you lived here?”
He paused, debating how to answer. If he told her he’d lived in the house since the 1950’s, he suspected it might confuse her more. At the very least, it would open the door to more questions and cause her some distress.
“Long enough.” He carefully tied the thread.
“Do you live here alone?”
“Yes, my brother and parents are long gone.”
“No wife or children?”
He grinned as he straightened. “No, sadly.”
She glanced in the area of her wound. “Is that it?”
“Five stitches. A little more than I’d originally thought, but that’s okay. I just need to apply the bandages, then you can clean up if you’d like.” He tore open a package containing a larger sterile pad since there weren’t any adhesive bandages to cover the long marks.
“Mind if I ask why you live out here alone?” she asked.
“It’s quiet and peaceful.”
“Do you work?”
“I work here.” He opened a similar shaped bandage.
“What do you do?”
“Well, I’m an artist. I sketch, paint, and take photographs on the reserve. I also help with web design. I don’t need much money to survive here.” After he unfolded the pads, he placed both over the scratches.
“But what about socializing?”
He smiled as he removed medical tape from the kit. “Why do I need to socialize?”
“How else do you plan to meet someone to marry if you’re here by yourself all the time?”
Her questions kept him entertained. For a woman who had survived such an ordeal, she seemed very interested in him, not that he was complaining.
He taped half the bandage across her abdomen. “Well, I’m different from most men.” He continued applying tape to keep the pads on her. After he finished, he straightened and met her gaze.
“You’re a dragon. Am I right?” she asked. “Please tell me the truth.”
He swallowed hard. Was this it, when she’d freak out? He didn’t want to lie. He’d rather tell her the truth and see what would happen.
Besides, there was something unique about her. Something he couldn’t quite place. Whatever it was, it called to him and he longed for it. Maybe he needed companionship. Maybe he was feeling desire. Actually, he knew he was. He hadn’t been with a woman since his last girlfriend, over thirty years ago. But the thing luring him to Lynn was more than sheer desire. As much as she wanted answers from him, he wanted the same from her. Knowing she descended from someone who had lived on the reserve strengthened his curiosity tenfold.
“Yes, I’m a dragon. I come from a long line of dragons, but I’m the last one in my bloodline. I live here because it’s safe,” he said.
“Are there…others like you?”
“Yes, there is one, but I’ve never actually met him.”
Her breaths quickened. “What was after me? I thought… They sounded like dogs, but bigger. Maybe wolves.”
“They were werewolves. There are many packs throughout the reserve. Some are good. Others are…more primitive.”
“Werewolves that can change and look like humans?”
“Yes.”
“Would they have killed me?”
He gave a short nod. “There are many of us who have lived here a long time. Our ancestors lived here. Most of us want peace. It’s not much different from living in the regular world.”
“You said “us”, but you said there aren’t many dragons. Who else are you referring to?” Breathing heavily, she bunched her shirt in her hand.
He couldn’t be sure if she was ready for the truth, but he planned to tell her anyway. If she couldn’t accept it, he knew he could count on his good friend Demetri to erase her memories.
He placed a hand on her forearm. “The world is full of many creatures, many species. Many of us have been driven out or hunted until we are nearly extinct. In this reserve, you’ll find just about any creature you call supernatural. There are shape shifters, witches, sorcerers, vampires, demons, elves, goblins, fairies and many others who live here. We’ve been here a long time, and anyone who has lived here, including your grandparents, knew about us.”
She stared at him for several seconds before she said, “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Chapter Three
Standing in a large bluish-gray bathroom, Lynn slid one arm after the other through the sleeves of the oversized maroon t-shirt. The cloth flowed loosely over her breasts and down her body. A light clean scent drifted into her nose. Marcel’s shirt nearly reached the middle of her thighs. Regardless of the large size, it was clean and covered her.
The bathroom appeared spotless and well organized. A large tub took up a corner. Next to it, glass doors hid a wide shower. A dark blue towel hung from the rack nearby. In front of her, the fixtures above the two sinks appeared modern. A toothbrush, soap dispenser, and towel were the only items on the counter, aside from the boxer shorts he’d left for her. A large wood frame held the mirror. The dark color of the frame matched the cabinetry under the sinks. If she guessed right, the spacious room was bigger than her apartment bedroom in Chicago.
She lifted the pair of Marcel’s shorts from the counter. They were red plaid and smelled as clean as his shirt. Bending, a sharp sting from her side forced her to stop. The stitches. She took a couple of breaths as the pain lessened. Ready to try to dress again, she held the shorts as low as she could in front of her, lifted one leg, and then slid it into the slot. She repeated the process for her other leg, clenching her teeth when pain shot through her.
Straightening and breathing heavily, she faced the mirror again. The ill feeling in her stomach grew when she appraised her reflection. Her long brown hair, still damp from the rain, had become frizzy. Dark circles had formed under her red eyes. She looked and felt exhausted. A good shower or bath would help her feel better, but the pounding in her head encouraged her to get some sleep.
With a deep breath, she shook her head. “How the hell did I get here?”
Of course, she knew the answer, but it was like being in an episode of the Twilight Zone. She had difficulty believing reality. A dragon had picked her up and saved her from werewolves. Other odd creatures lived in the forest. It all seemed too unreal, but she’d seen the truth with her own eyes. She’d heard the vicious snarls from the wolves. And she had been injured, showing proof something had clawed her. She’d sound crazy explaining everything, but at least she had evidence.
She lifted her shirt as she stared in the mirror. A long bandage covered most of her stomach. A smaller pad with a dark spot covered the stitches. He’d added the smaller bandage to protect them. Peeling some of the tape and pads from her skin, she peered at her flesh. Two red scratches ran horizontally below her other wound. There was no way she could’ve injured herself in such a way.
After she reapplied the bandage, she braced her hands on the countertop between the sinks. A dragon. A living, fire breathing dragon existed. But also a man. She was pretty sure she’d seen him naked before he’d dashed to get medical supplies, which meant his first priority had been to treat her injury. She had no reason to believe he’d intended to hurt her. So far, he’d treated her with care and kindness. But would he lie to her? Why would he lie when he’d confessed to being a dragon?
One thing was certain—he had a great body to admire. Holy hell, the man was built!
He’d changed from a dragon t
o a man. Supernatural creatures lived in the forest. Who on earth would believe her? Who could she tell?
A touch of panic snaked through her as she looked around the bathroom. She had no clothes other than her torn ones, no phone, and her car was in a ditch somewhere. She had nothing. She had to get to a wedding in six days. How in freaking hell was she going to make it there and keep her sanity?
The pounding in her head intensified. Fighting the urge to cry and vomit, she closed her eyes and placed her hands on each side of her head. The heavy weight in her mind, her eyes, and her body begged her to rest.
A knock on the door jolted her. She shot her gaze to the reflection of the door in the mirror.
“Lynn, are you alright?” Marcel asked.
No! Far from it! “Do you have any aspirin?”
“There’s some in the drawer at the far left of the sinks. I brought you a bottle of water. May I come in?”
“Yes, I’m dressed.”
She moved to the end of the counter and then opened the drawer. The Tylenol and other bottles rattled inside. A glimpse at the other ones indicated they were vitamins. While she procured the Tylenol, the door clicked behind her.
“I wanted to make sure you hadn’t passed out or anything,” he said as he slowly entered.
“I haven’t passed out, yet.” She glanced at him through the mirror as she tried to pop the lid open from the bottle. His short, dark-brown hair had dried some. Part of it hung over the right side of his forehead. He wore jeans now, but no shirt. The muscles in his arms and chest mesmerized her. The thin layer of hair on his chest was a lighter color than the hair on his head. She tried not to stare, but he was handsome and solidly constructed. She guessed he spent a great deal of time exercising to have such a toned physique.
He set the bottle of water on the countertop. “Mind if I take your clothes and wash them?”
She paused to shake her head, then lifted the cap to her teeth to open the bottle of pills.
He gathered her clothes she’d dropped on the floor. The man seemed so normal and kind. He looked as normal as any man. No, he looked better.
When she couldn’t get the lid off the bottle, she tossed it in the empty sink closest to her. Pills rattled inside the container. “Why does everything have to be so difficult?”
“Do you need help?” He set the pile of clothes between the sinks before he claimed the Tylenol.
“My head is killing me.”
He twisted the cap. Following a snap, he removed the lid. “You’ve been through a lot and need to rest. That’s all.” He took hold of one of her hands and poured three pills into her palm. “The extra pill won’t hurt you.”
His voice calmed her. His touch warmed her. The way he looked at her with a slight smile eased her worries. It was as if his dark chocolaty brown eyes were saying she’d be okay. Why was he being so kind? She was a complete stranger. She could’ve been some crazy woman who killed people and decided to run to hide from the law. Maybe he felt guilty for hurting her. He was responsible, after all. Maybe he was being nice now, and would act mean later. Maybe he would try to prevent her from leaving. But the way he looked at her, and was treating her, seemed to suggest he might be a good guy. Did they really exist?
“Thank you for your help,” she said. “And I promise, I’m not some crazy killer on the run.”
He gave her a smile. “We can talk more after you’ve had some rest. You need it.” After he set the Tylenol down, he moved the water bottle in front of her. “Feel free to sleep in my bed. I’ll sleep in one of the other rooms.”
“No, don’t. I don’t want to put you out.”
“There are five bedrooms up here and one in the basement. You’re not putting me out. My bed is the biggest, so you should sleep on it.” He gathered her clothes. “I’ll get these cleaned for you, but I think you’ll need a new shirt. You can have one of mine.”
His pleasantries supported her nice guy theory, but she still had trouble believing he was one. She’d find out soon enough if he wouldn’t let her leave.
“Do you think you could take me to my car tomorrow? You drive a car, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yes, I have a Jeep.”
“My phone and purse were in my car, along with a travel bag. I need them. I have to check in with a friend.” Part of her felt lost without her phone. She used it as her alarm clock, among other things. And without her purse, she didn’t have an identity or access to money. She hoped everything would still be in her car when she returned to it.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take you to your car. It’s not a problem.”
“Thank you.”
He gave another smile and a nod before he walked out of the room, carrying her clothes.
She tossed the pills in her mouth and then opened the bottle of water. Drinking the cool fluid, her thoughts focused on Marcel. Although he was a complete stranger, and a dragon, she felt as if she could trust him, which struck her as odd. She didn’t trust many people outside of her close friends and a few coworkers. Too many times, people had taken advantage of her. In a big city like Chicago, each person sought to get ahead and didn’t care who they stepped on or hurt to get what they wanted. Even kids acted the same way. Another reason she disliked city life.
Marcel seemed different. His presence eased her worries. His demeanor indicated he was a very generous and courteous man. He didn’t act like he was looking to get something from her. Men like him didn’t exist in the city. Because they lived in the wildlife reserve. And he’s more than an ordinary man.
Having capped the water bottle, she took it with her on her way out of the room. She wouldn’t mind having sweet dreams of the attractive dragon who’d come to her aid, but she had a good feeling her mind would shut down within minutes of her head hitting the pillow.
Tomorrow, she planned to learn more about Marcel. Was he really a kind dragon, or would he turn into an evil one?
Chapter Four
Standing by the windows in his bedroom, Marcel watched the rise and fall of Lynn’s chest while she slept. The blue comforter hid her body from her stomach down. Her arms rested above the covers. He couldn’t deny it—he was in awe of the sleeping beauty in his bed. A deep feeling in his gut told him she was special. He’d sensed it the moment he’d tasted her blood. Regular blood wouldn’t have stirred him, but hers… It roused the fire within him. He’d felt drawn to her in a way he hadn’t felt toward another. It was as if he wanted to claim her as his, which made no sense. She was a mere human. He should be able to resist her lure. There was something that made her special, and he had to find out what it was.
He ran a hand through his short hair. He couldn’t sleep. All he could think about was her. After he’d tossed her clothes in the washer, he’d hurried to clean the kitchen. Although he hadn’t been away from her for long, he needed to see her again, to check and make sure she was still breathing. For the last fifteen minutes he’d watched her resting. She hadn’t stirred a single time. Her breathing and heartbeat were steady. He reassured himself the injuries she’d sustained weren’t life threatening, so he could leave at any time. But the more he studied her, the more he dreamed of the things he wanted to do to her.
A strong desire unlike any he’d ever known had taken root. He wanted to touch every inch of her skin, feel her, smell her, and taste her. He wanted to kiss every inch of her, make love to her, and bury himself deep inside her. He’d love and care for her, give her anything and everything. Oh, to just snuggle up and hold her would please him right now.
He took a deep breath as he shook the thoughts from his mind. His hormones must have awakened with her presence and the taste of her blood. He was beyond horny for a woman since he hadn’t been with one in over thirty years. Thankfully, she was asleep and couldn’t see his hard-on. He’d hate to scare her, or give the wrong signals. He’d tried to focus on her injuries earlier, but damn, it was difficult to ignore her cute underwear while he was placing bandages on her. His fantasies had run wild, ima
gining her in the sexy red brassiere and underwear.
What he needed to do was find answers to his questions instead of dreaming. He needed to think rationally instead of letting his hormones lead him. Easier said than done.
Feeling confident Lynn would sleep for a while, he headed for the door. The sun would be up in a couple of hours. Demetri would be awake until dawn. If Marcel needed Lynn’s memories altered, he needed to notify his vampire friend right away.
Marcel left the bedroom and headed downstairs. The storm outside had died down, but rain continued to smack the windows. He loved flying in storms. Planes rarely flew over the reserve during turbulent weather, which allowed him to soar high and undetected. Like other stormy nights, he’d taken flight once the sky had darkened. He’d been enjoying the vastness of the sky, until he spotted the twin lights moving through the forest. He’d flown closer to check out the beams and had heard the hum of the engine. Those who lived on the reserve didn’t venture out in cars during storms, so he’d suspected the vehicle belonged to an outsider. He’d followed it to see where it would go, but then the car had suddenly changed directions. He didn’t know why, but he sensed trouble. Thankfully, he’d been low enough to spot Lynn.
Questions surfaced in his mind. What caused her car off the road? Had she fallen asleep? Even so, how did the werewolves find her so quickly? They were within mere feet of pouncing on her. Why would they want to attack her? He’d heard about untamed werewolves roaming areas of the reserve. Maybe it had been some of them. But it seemed unlikely she would’ve went off the road at the exact same time they were hunting. Things didn’t make sense, and he didn’t want to ask Lynn too many questions until she’d rested.
From the staircase, he passed through the main room. Rain streaked down the tall floor-to-ceiling windows on the far wall. Darkness and silence filled his home, except for Lynn’s heartbeat. It sounded soft and soothing. His enhanced hearing didn’t quite compare to that of vampires and werewolves, but his vision was exceptional. The minute Lynn had left her car he’d spotted the heat radiating from her body. The second he’d seen five four-legged creatures approaching her, he’d known there would be trouble.