f course.”
Which is how, later that night, I ended up walking through the doorway of what looked like the shed from hell.
What is this place? Miazydar said, flinching away from a woman who ran outside screaming with laughter while a guy in big, heavy work boots and overalls chased after her. Please tell me this is not what humans do for amusement.
Not this human, I replied.
And we are here why?
Dragons don’t have inescapable social rituals they have to suffer through in your world? I said.
In my natural form, I’m so big that few try to coerce me to do anything. We dragons don’t spend a lot of time around each other naturally, it’s something we tolerate for the sake of our riders. But Aravisans know that to try and force lengthy social interactions is a mistake.
I frowned as we walked in, feeling the pang I felt most days since he’d come through the portal with me. He was forced into a form he didn’t like, made to pretend to be a dumb animal when he was anything but. I stopped, letting Ash and Jez go on ahead. I dropped down to his level, looking into those deep brown eyes. We could go home if you like. I feel like I’m always forcing you to do these things.
Not forcing; where you go, I go. We are bonded, we are the same heart.
Yes.
So there is never any forcing, we both just have to live with the circumstances we find ourselves in. Now, are we going towards the awful noise, or away from it?
Towards, I think.
Of course we are.
5
“Tess, I’m glad I could catch you.” I looked up to see Connor (or was it Owen?) had strolled up. I was sticking with Sparkle Eyes, at least mentally, until they disappeared into the night. He held out a hand to help me to my feet, then drew me in close.
“You could have caught me at any point today,” I said, trying to pull back but was stopped by the rigid band of his arm.
“Babe, we’ve been working that friend of yours up all damn day to impress you, but she’s nothing but the entrée and we want the main meal.” I froze as those eyes did indeed sparkle as his head dropped down, his lips slowly moving closer and closer to mine.
Therese? M said, an answering growl coming from his throat.
“Look, Owen…”
“Connor.”
“Right, Connor. This,” I pointed to each of us in turn, “isn’t going to happen.”
“What? But babe, we’ve —.”
“Done an amazing job, I know and I really, really appreciate it. Like so much. But I’m not ready for anything physical right now.”
“Babe,” his voice was a masculine purr, “you were so wet this morning, you were glistening.”
“No—.”
“Yes, babe. Crowe, he could smell the desire coming off you in waves. You’re ours and we’re yours, ready, willing and happy to spend the rest of our lives making your every fantasy come true.”
“But!”
His lips descended, settling for coasting over my neck and shoulders when I jerked my face out of reach. “You’ve just gotta let us in, babe. We can make it so good for you.”
Therese? Therese! Miazydar began to bark loudly at the guy, but his hands were everywhere at once. He didn’t need to form part of a harem, his hands somehow doing double duty, pulling me closer but sliding up the back of my shirt. Tangling in my hair, yanking me against his groin, teeth against my skin. My heart started to pound. I pushed him away, but he seemed to be supernaturally strong, grabbing me around the wrists and holding me still when I tried to resist. His body pushed harder against me the worse I struggled.
Therese! I’m going to—.