Perplexed, he stared at her for a moment. Then he started laughing.
Helplessly giggling, Liana collapsed against his chest a moment later.
“Sorry,” she said when she could talk again, although she wasn’t sorry at all. Timothy looked gorgeous when he was overwhelmed by laughter.
Almost as gorgeous as when he’s overwhelmed by passion...
“I guess we did.” The grin he gave her was just as unapologetic. “That’s how the mate bond works. The closer we become, the stronger it grows.”
Curious, Liana tilted her head at him. “And so being mated means—what exactly? Being married? Will I get cool new powers too, like... like shooting laser beams? Ooh, or underwater breathing?”
Timothy laughed. “No lasers, sorry. And underwater breathing... I don’t know. This hasn’t really happened before. But there must be a reason that all three of us found human mates. I think it’s because the earth realizes that the fire dragons are a huge threat. The elements have to be united and at the height of their power to fight it.”
“Hmm,” Liana said thoughtfully. “So what about the mating?”
“It’s a sort of wedding,” Timothy said, “but deeper, more powerful. A wedding of the soul, if you want the romantic explanation. To truly mate, I would have to claim you, and you would have to want it, too. It only happens between two willing souls. But when the mate bond is in place, I’ll be able to feel when you are in danger—and you’d feel me as well.”
“Like mind reading?” she asked curiously.
Timothy gave her a knowing grin. “You can be a super heroine at last. But I’m afraid it’ll only work on me. You won’t be able to know what our fire dragon thinks.”
“Pity, that would make your work easier.” She sighed, then stretched against him instead. “Thanks for explaining all of that. This would make a great video game, you know. All the fun, none of the danger.”
“I’m sorry those dragons got to you,” he said softly. “I should have—”
She pressed a finger to his lips.
“None of that,” she said firmly. “You came and watched over me all night. You didn’t have to do that. But you did, and you saved me. There’s no reason for guilt.”
He smiled against her finger, then nodded.
“Okay. No more talk of depressing things.” He straightened. “How about a swim in the ocean before I get us back home?”
Liana grinned. Then she abandoned her bikini top at the sandbank as she got up and waded into the ocean, enjoying the way Timothy’s eyes widened as she tried her best to look sultry and enticing.
Like a mermaid. Like a black, geeky mermaid—but hey, at least I know I can compete with the best of mermaids when it comes to the busty department.
And then, she’d already caught her sailor...
Chapter Fourteen: Timothy
It was late afternoon by the time they made it back. Braeden was stretched out in the sun on the beach near the house, his hair still damp.
Timothy had already shifted back, but he couldn’t resist nudging the ocean just a little.
From out of nowhere, a large wave came rolling towards the beach, breaking just where Braeden had napped in the sun. The fire dragon woke sputtering, scrambling further up the beach to dry land.
Timothy snickered while Braeden gave him an insulted look, looking like a bedraggled cat.
A second later, Braeden pounced—and all of a sudden, Timothy found himself on his back in the wet sand, a heartbeat before another wave came crashing over them
both.
When the water retreated, Braeden was grinning at him, his eyes alight with the gleam of fire. There was a large string of green seaweed wrapped all around his neck.
“A bold fashion statement.” Braeden gave him a smirk, as if he was completely unaware of the green necklace he was currently wearing. “I can’t believe your mate lets you go out like this.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Timothy began, raising a hand to rake it through his hair.