by Mary Abshire
“I can’t believe I slept so long,” she said. “I usually don’t sleep so much.”
Marcel strode to the side of the stove, opened an upper cabinet, and withdrew a couple plates. They clanked when he set each on the countertop.
“You needed the rest. Your body needed it.” He gave her a quick smile before returning to the pans on the stove.
“Do you need any help with anything?”
“No, it’s almost ready.” He lifted a pot and then moved it closer to the plates. After he scooped up white contents from within the pot, he poured them onto one dish and then repeated the process.
“Did you sleep okay?” she asked.
“Uh… Well, I haven’t slept any.” He set the pot of rice back on the stove.
“What?”
“It’s okay. I have odd sleeping habits. I can go days without sleeping sometimes, and other times I can sleep for days.“
“Is that normal for dragons?” Concern grew within her.
“Pretty much. Our sleeping habits are dependent on our situations.”
She watched him add the chicken and vegetables to the dishes with rice. “I guess that makes sense. For a while, I was busy at work with a project and went two days without sleep.”
He returned the skillet to the burner, and then carried the plates toward her. “What would you like to drink?”
“Water is fine.” She took the plate he handed to her.
He circled behind her and then set the other dish beside her, on the counter. “I have coffee still on the burner if you want any.”
While she always enjoyed a cup of java in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoons, she couldn’t bring herself to drink any with her chicken and vegetables. “Water is fine. Thank you.”
She couldn’t help staring at the scars on his back as he proceeded to the refrigerator located at the far left end of the room. She wondered how he’d got them, but she didn’t dare ask. It would be rude. Of course, she couldn’t stop admiring his sculpted muscles.
“I hope I’m not the reason for your lack of sleep,” she said.
He procured two bottles from the fridge and then headed toward her with them. “I was doing some research.”
Smiling, he handed a bottle to her and set the other near his dish. Her gaze slipped to his chest. She wasn’t used to having such a fine built man standing so close to her.
She swallowed hard, then said, “Thank you.” She turned her attention to the food on the plates, hoping he hadn’t noticed her eye drooling at him.
“Forks coming up.” He walked around her and headed for the counter near the stove. “How are your wounds feeling?”
“The stitched one is still tender, but I think the bleeding stopped. I checked and they look a little red still.”
Silverware clanked when he opened a drawer. “I can put new bandages on if you’d like.” With one hand grasping utensils, he strode her way. “Probably should clean them again and apply healing ointment.”
Reaching the stool beside her, he handed her a fork and knife. After she took them, he set the other ones near his plate.
This time, she avoided looking at his chest. “I really appreciate you cooking and all. I hope you don’t think I expected this. You’ve been very generous.”
Smiling, he withdrew the stool from under the counter and then sat. “I actually enjoy cooking, especially when I have guests.”
“Do you have many visitors?”
“No. I think the last time I had a guest was…” He stared toward the kitchen window. “A long time ago.”
Questions from earlier surfaced in her mind again. She wanted to ask about his age, how long he’d lived on the reserve, and about his scars, but she didn’t want to come across as nosy or disrespectful. He’d been kind enough to save her from wolves, take care of her injuries, wash her clothes, and now cook for her. Men she’d met in Chicago had never been as generous. She had been lucky if her dates paid for her meal, and even then they’d expected something in return.
“I hope you like it,” he said.
She gave him a smile as she used her fork to mix the vegetables, colored pepper slices, onions, and chicken with a light brown dressing into the rice. “It looks and smells good.” She scooped some food into her mouth. “Mm…mm.” The food had a light teriyaki flavor her tongue enjoyed. She gave him a thumb up.
Smiling, he stirred his food. “I called a friend of mine and asked him if he remembered the name Winslow. He said he thought they owned property in the upper northeast part of the reserve.”
“That sounds right. I remember we didn’t have to drive far to go to a spot that looked down on the reserve. We would have picnics and my grandparents would play games with me up there.” She took another bite of food.
“Do you know how long they lived on the reserve?”
She finished chewing. “I think my mom had said they moved there in the sixties to take care of my great-grandfather. He owned the land originally. I’m not sure beyond that.”
“Hmm…interesting. Sounds like the property had been with the family a long time.” He shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth.
“I’m not sure. My parents didn’t talk about my grandparents much after they died.”
He swallowed. “Would your parents have any records?”
She lowered her gaze to her food. “No, they didn’t. They’re dead, too. I’m the only one left in my family.”
He stopped eating. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She stirred her food. “It’s fine. They died in a car crash soon after my freshman year of college. My grandparents died a few years after moving away from the reserve. I don’t know of any cousins. My mom didn’t have any siblings and my dad said his sister died before her second birthday. So, I’m all that’s left of the Winslow bloodline.”
She tried not to think about how depressing it was, not having any other family. She’d grown close to Connie, and a few other friends. In her mind, Connie was the closest thing to family now.
Marcel placed his hand on her forearm. “I understand what it’s like, believe me. I’m the last of my bloodline, too.”
She met his gaze as warmth soothed her from his touch and his words. His loss had to be more devastating since he was a dragon. There were plenty of humans on earth. But dragons?
“How many other dragons are left?” she asked.
“There is one other on the reserve from a different bloodline. I believe there are a few others scattered around the world. We don’t keep in touch.” He gave a slight grin as he removed his hand from her arm.
“Did the dragons die off or were they hunted?”
“In the early centuries, dragons were hunted. As mankind evolved, dragons found better ways to blend in and hide. And as dragons blended, they had relations with humans instead of other dragons. Humans produced babies that carried the gene, but weren’t dragons. Those who carried the gene often mated with another human, and the gene was passed on, but it gets weaker with each generation. Most dragons wouldn’t reproduce with their offspring who carried the gene, so many dragons died eventually. Unless a human carrier mates with a dragon, the gene will remain dormant.”
“So dragons have essentially become extinct because they weren’t mating with human carriers or other dragons.” She shook her head. “But if a carrier mates with a dragon…”
“The carrier can produce a dragon. Of course, the dragon won’t emerge until he or she has reached full adulthood.”
“Is that like puberty?”
He gathered food with his fork. “No, it’s after puberty. It can be in late teens or early twenties. Usually female dragons change in their late teens. Many males develop later.” He consumed the food on his utensil.
The whole story about dragons fascinated her. Although she didn’t know a lot about biology, it made sense how the gene would stay in a person unless it could interact with a similar gene.
She finished eating more food before she asked
, “Do carriers live longer than normal humans?”
He wiped his mouth after he swallowed. “No, the gene doesn’t extend a human’s life.”
“How do you know if you meet another dragon or carrier?”
“Today, it’s very difficult. Because we’re scattered, and there are so few of us, there really is no way of knowing unless the person admits it or we know the family lineage.”
“Do you have a lot of ancestors?” She gobbled another bite of food. Learning about him, his past, and dragons intrigued her.
“The lineage of my family dates back five centuries, so it doesn’t show much beyond my great-grandparents. Most records were lost or destroyed from moving around.”
She widened her eyes. “The record shows five centuries and it doesn’t go beyond your great-grandparents?” She waited while he took another bite and chewed.
After he swallowed, he said. “We can live over four centuries. My mother lived to be three hundred and forty-four. My father passed away when he was three hundred and forty-nine. They detailed their parents and names of their grandparents, but that’s when the bloodline stopped. My parents didn’t talk much about their families. I honestly didn’t know my grandparents well. We moved to America when I was a toddler. My brother was less than a year older than me. The four of us moved here, to Canada, in the late nineteenth century.”
Stunned by his words, she stared at him. Had she really heard him say his parents lived over three centuries? “Can I ask how old you are?” She couldn’t resist asking any longer.
“Are you going to freak out if I tell you? Please tell me you’re not going to go crazy from all the information I’ve shared about dragons and my family.”
“No way! I’m absorbing and processing every detail just fine. I’m just a little shocked, but it’s all so amazing to me. I want to know more, but I don’t want to pry. If you don’t want to tell me—“
“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know as long as you promise to keep everything to yourself, and don’t pass out from mental shock.” He collected more food with his fork and stuffed it in his mouth.
“That’s an easy deal. I won’t tell anyone, and I’m not going to go into any mental shock.” She set her utensil on her plate. “How old are you?”
“One hundred and forty-seven.”
“Seriously? Wow, I would’ve guessed about twenty-five, maybe twenty-seven. You hide your age well.”
While he chewed on more food, she continued eating. She couldn’t believe he was over a century old. How could he still look so young? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask.
“Am I too old for you?” he asked.
“What?”
“Am I too old for you?”
She stared at him and lifted a shoulder. “Well, maybe.”
Emotion drained from his face.
She quickly realized he might not think she was joking and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m kidding. Just kidding with you.”
He stared at her hand touching him. Amusement returned to him in the form of a smile.
She quickly removed her hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—“
“It’s okay. I won’t breathe fire on you.”
Laughter sprang out of her. She couldn’t help it.
He laughed, too. “You can touch me any time. I don’t mind.”
Heat rushed to her face. There were plenty of places on his body she’d like to feel. Trying to ignore such naughty thoughts, she turned her attention to her plate and resumed eating.
“I was going to say that we age slowly after we reach adulthood and change. I look like I’m in my twenties, but I was actually born a long time ago. I went through the change when I was nineteen,” he said.
“That’s so strange.”
“Can I ask how old you are?”
She looked down at her food and stirred it, wondering if she should share so much personal information. But what could he do with what she’d shared? Besides, he didn’t seem like the type of person to steal her identity. “I’m twenty-six.”
“Beautiful and in your prime.”
She bit her lip, unsure how to respond. At the moment, she felt very unappealing. Her flat hair and oversized shirt didn’t exactly make her look or feel attractive. Head lowered, she speared a piece of chicken. “Thank you.” She ate the chunk of meat.
“Do you, uh, have a boyfriend at home?” He took a bite of more food.
Although she didn’t know him well enough, he’d shared a lot about himself and dragons. He didn’t give her any strange vibes. In fact, she felt very comfortable and safe with him. It was time to pay attention to her intuition and see what would happen.
Shaking her head, she said, “No. I dated for a while, but…” She sighed. “I got tired of it.”
“You mentioned Chicago when I was stitching your wound. Is that where you live?”
Although her stomach was telling her she’d had enough to eat, she prepared to take another bite. “Yeah, I have a small apartment in Chicago. I grew up in a suburb on the outskirts of the city.”
“Is it difficult to find a decent man in a big city like that?”
She grinned as she lifted her fork. “Very. You have no idea.” She took her last bite and then set the fork on the dish.
“It sounds like it might be similar to a dragon trying to find a mate.”
She nodded. “It probably is similar.” She slid her plate forward, away from her. “That was very good, but I can’t eat anymore.”
“There’s plenty left in the skillet. I can save it for dinner later, if you’d like. I doubt we’ll be able to get your car working before tomorrow.”
She hated to admit he was probably right. “I don’t want to impose—“
He set his utensil on his plate and then placed his hand on her arm. “You’re safe here. Please, stay. I’ll feel better if you stay. Appease an old man.” He grinned.
She chuckled softly. “If you insist. And yes, save the food.”
“I can do that.”
She scooted off the stool. “Do you want me to wash the dishes since you cooked? I’d be glad to.”
“No, no. I’ll take care of everything. If you want to clean up, I can take care of the dishes and then look at your wounds before we leave.”
“Are you sure you don’t want—“
“I can handle this. Besides, you’re my guest. I won’t allow you to do any chores. It’s my job to accommodate you.”
His wealth of generosity amazed and confused her. No other man had ever treated her so kindly.
“I really can’t thank you enough,” she said as she slid the stool under the counter. “I’m glad to help you with anything. Really, I don’t mind.”
“I won’t have it.” He said in a firm tone as he rose from his seat. “Your clean clothes are in the first spare bedroom to the right of the stairs. Take your time cleaning up. Your car isn’t going anywhere.”
His hospitality overwhelmed her. Grateful to have met him, she threw her arms around him and gave him a quick hug. “Thank you for everything, Marcel. I mean it from my heart. You’re a good man.”
His clean scent drifted into her nose. With her ear pressed just below his shoulder and her breasts against his chest, she could hear and feel his fast beating heart. His body felt warm and hard, comforting and intimidating at the same time. He could probably squeeze the life out of her in a matter of a few minutes, but she sensed he wouldn’t harm her.
As she felt the tips of his fingers graze her arms, she backed away. “I’m just going to take a shower and get dressed.” She took one step after another back. “Thank you, again.”
He looked stunned by her hug as he stared at her. “Hugs are good. I like hugs.”
She stopped and grinned. “Me too. Maybe I’ll give you more.”
Before he could reply, she spun and left the room.
What on earth was she doing, flirting with a dragon?
Chapter Six
Marcel stared at the running wate
r cleaning his hands in the sink. He couldn’t stop thinking about Lynn. She’d gone upstairs to take a shower about ten minutes ago. Water would be flowing over her breasts and curvy body. Suds from the shampoo would be cleansing her. He could imagine bubbles scooting down her skin. He wished his hands were all over her, washing her. He fantasized about using his tongue to clean her, too. The woman had awakened him, and now he couldn’t get her out of his head.
He shut off the faucet and lifted his gaze to the window. Clouds dotted the sky and hid the sun randomly. When a burst of light brightened the house, he knew the sun had escaped. He’d checked the forecast earlier and it had called for rain in the evening. His garden, several feet away from the side of the house, would be thriving with more vegetables soon. Even now, he could see green stems from the ground. With all the precipitation, he expected his garden to flourish.
He closed the dishwasher door and then pressed the button to start the wash cycle. Grabbing the towel on the counter, he wiped around the sink. His mother had always kept a clean home. She’d taught him, and his brother, to take good care of things so they would last and hard work has its rewards. While he and Michael had been growing up, they’d taken over her chores so she could spend more time gardening. Eventually, they helped her with that, too. They’d also learned various maintenance tasks from their father. Marcel knew how to repair just about anything, but he preferred to use his hands for drawing and painting. He’d love to draw a picture of Lynn.
Towel in hand, he strode around the center island to the spot where they’d eaten lunch. He started wiping the counter and his thoughts returned to her sitting next to him. He’d tried not to stare at her bare legs or her breasts hiding under his shirt, but he’d snuck in several glances. And he couldn’t resist looking at her nipples after she’d hugged him. Desire had swelled within him and in his cock. He doubted she’d noticed the bulge in his pants since she’d taken off to shower. If she had, she’d hidden it well.
Lynn was still a mystery to him. Most women he’d met were forthcoming with information, chatty, and good at hiding things. Even his mother had concealed her illness from them until it was too late to do anything. Women he’d dated had hidden other lovers. But Lynn seemed honest, a bit shy, and hesitant to trust. He’d detected the latter when he’d stitched her up and a few times when he’d asked personal questions during lunch. Although they were still strangers, he understood her uncertainty to share much. He’d tried to make her feel comfortable by providing details about his past and talking about dragons. That seemed to work, but he sensed he still needed to gain her trust.