Staring down the object of interest with disdain, Colson said, “Still, I would much rather you give me directions on what to do. All it would take is one false step and that entire shelving system could come crashing down.” He continued to eye the haphazard-looking unit in a skeptical assessment.
Sabra had a quick comeback. “You’re a worry-wart. I put that unit together, and I can take it down. I would have had to do it if you weren’t here anyway.”
“True.”
Colson didn’t want to say more lest his tone give away the fact that he doubted she knew how shoddy the work had been. That shelving unit was a swift breeze away from collapse. Sabra had the gift of grace and possibly enchantment for how long the unit had held itself together. At the moment, his top priority was to keep her from tackling the project alone. When he saw her looking at him out the corner of his eye, Colson scrambled to make his argument solid.
“But I am here and willing to dismantle it for you. Please remember, I volunteered to help. It gives me pleasure helping you.” Colson allowed his voice to drop and deepen his intent of sincerity as he said that last part.
He didn’t miss the blush that warmed her smooth deep complexion. Instead of saying anything else, she set about the task of putting together more boxes. Gaging her reaction, Colson pulled back on the amount of attention he showered on her.
The last thing he wanted was to spook her with overwhelming affection. They worked in silence for a few minutes as she readied more boxes to be moved. Colson didn’t reveal that what she thought was heavy was like moving air to him. His Dragon strength put tasks like this to shame.
If she knew what he was and understood the capacity of what he could do, the moving would speed up even more. He hated portraying himself as a mere human male. Taking a box at a time was excruciating tedium, but he had to take this slow.
It wasn’t every day a Dragon met his mate. Sabra wasn’t a Dragoness, but she wasn’t all the way human either. That puzzle had been the main reason why he opted to try to talk with her before making any shows of romantic interest. He’d refrained from scenting her again after leaving the dinner.
The scan and scenting he’d allowed himself earlier had already revealed that Sabra had started her menstrual cycle. It had been hard to block that little extra gift out, but being this close, his reserves were weakened.
The rich cocktail of pheromonal information he’d deliberately ignored all evening stormed his receptors. She was delicious—pure and simple. Everything about her health, compatibility, and attractiveness compacted into a sensory bomb of arousal for him and his Dragon.
Whoa, boy—take it back down a few notches, he internally scolded himself. His Dragon wasn’t so easily subdued. Only past history was powerful enough to restrain his primal urge to press his case for mating.
He’d learned a lot about how important it was to maintain self-control around women he was attracted to since his daughter, Ava, came to be. That learning included what happened when he let his Dragon lead the way.
In the last five years, he’d done a lot to mature as a Dragon and father. Now that he’d been graced with the opportunity to mate with the greatest treasure known to a Dragon, Colson wouldn’t blow it.
He walked back to where Sabra sat on the floor filling boxes with a hodgepodge of items. Her essence filled the space. Even if he hadn’t known she was formally trained as a perfumer, the commingled scents in here would give away her penchant for fragrances. Still, he could pick out her unique scent profile above everything else.
Sabra was fresh air after a hard rain and the bright refreshment of cleanliness after a long day. She embodied everything that produced happiness in his world.
As a healer, health smelled clean and fresh like her. As a Dragon, his treasured mate produced sparks of energy ripe for creative exploration. As a father, her previous business demonstrated her ability to interact with children. As a man, being this close to her made him embrace all the possibilities that mating with this wondrous soul could provide.
Another little scan would only manage to make him more amorous toward her. As it was, Colson had taken caution not to get too close in proximity. His Dragon stirred and strained whenever he did.
She stood and stretched as Colson stole glances of her body. Even though the sweat clothes she wore were baggy, he had no problem imagining her form beneath. Sabra looked at the shelving and then over to the other area that needed attention.
With her hands in surrender, Sabra said, “Okay, fine. I defer to you to take down the shelving. I’ll be over here finishing up the last of the loose items. If that still works for you.”
He allowed himself to show how pleased he was that she’d taken his advice. “Yes, that works for me.” He considered the sturdy wood work table that took up major space in the back of the studio next to the shelving. “Does that go as well?” He motioned to the piece of simple but solid furniture.
“Oh, don’t know how I blocked that hassle out of my mind. Yes, that’s my table as well.” She huffed out an irritated breath, pushed up her sweatshirt sleeves, and moved to come back.
“No, you finish up that area, and I’ll handle the larger pieces. Remember, you have labor willing to move whatever you like.” He couldn’t resist the wink that he gave her. “Always make good use of resources when they’re available.”
“Did you just wink at me?”
“That I did.”
“I see.” She winked back. “My winker works too.”
“Noted and that’s a mighty fine winker you have there.” he wouldn’t let this devolve into X-rated territory—he wouldn’t.
“Dude, I still think you’re high on something. You’re not fooling anybody. This must be some charity-guilt trip you’re on to be here and so accommodating. I could see if I was one of those entertainment industry girls or something.” She looked around the sparse studio, hunched her shoulders and added, “Just so you know, there’s no chance I’m participating in one of those Wealthy White Guy Under Cover reality shows. You feel me?”
“I feel you, and there are no hidden cameras—promise.” He wanted to laugh but knew she was somehow serious about the reality show part.
“Okay then. I guess I’ll take the free help and chalk it up to the Angel Lottery.”
“The Angel Lottery?” He had to know how her mind came up with that idea.
“Yeah, you know when something really good that would never happen to you in a million years, oh like getting out of a traffic stop without a ticket or need for therapy, happens?”
“I see,” he puzzled the comment and remembered the escalating tension around law enforcement issues. Colson wanted to keep her in a great mood. No downer conversation on his watch tonight. “So, you’re saying I’m an angel?” He waggled his eyebrows to sell the bit.
“Hell nah! I’m saying I must have been the daily pick for an angel. You—you’ll be dazed and confused for a few days after this. Bet on it.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because, like I said, you and me,” she motioned between them, “we don’t come in the usual combo packs. This partnership has to be some divine intervention at work.”
He didn’t follow what she meant but wanted to keep her entertained. “Well, I think it’s time to introduce our combo pack. Yes,” he looked around at the almost finished packing project and thrust his fists in the air, “it’s time the world gets introduced to our combo pack—Cole Stone Bria.”
Intelligent laughter caressed his need for connection. Sabra understood his humor. Thank the Goddess. Would she understand and accept him?
There was so much he needed to share with her before she could make an informed decision to take their interaction as more than a good Samaritan gesture. Not only hadn’t they moved past the pleasantries of names, but he’d also spent much of their time here getting to know her as a kiddie pageant stylist. Colson had yet to let her know what he did for a living, that he was a single dad, and that he was a Dragon-shifter. Th
at last part would be hard to fit in, no matter how close they got.
Feminine giggles floated on the air as Sabra laughed at an item she packed in the box. His Dragon pressed closer to the surface in response.
“What’s so funny?” he couldn’t help wanting to know everything that made her happy.
“Oh, nothing. I remember the pageant I used this piece in. The shenanigans were crazy. There was this one family who tried to steal this little baby here, thinking that without it, I wouldn’t be able to perform my duties for the three clients I was there to assist.” She cradled the contraption. “They didn’t bank on me having old school skills. My clients did hat tricks to sweep each of their categories including the top places. One of the officials found my piece hidden at their station and stripped their girls of even the participation badges they’d won.” She looked up clenching his attention as she added, “I pleaded for the judges to not take out the sins of the parents on the kids. I couldn’t have remained a part of the industry if they hadn’t.”
“That’s because you’re a compassionate person.”
“No, it’s because I’m a wuss when it comes to the kiddos. Yes, can’t help it. They’re so full of life. I love how they view the world. I’ve learned some of the greatest life advice from my little dolls.”
He couldn’t help but pry a bit more. “You like kids, then?”
“Yeah, when they’re someone else’s.”
“Do you ever want some of your own?”
“Hmm…” she tapped a finger to her chin. “I always assumed I’d have kids eventually. Never really thought about when. Guess I was getting my mother-vibe fulfilled with the pageants.” Sabra looked at him as a revelation settled in. “I’m going to miss my girls.”
Confessions of having Ava pressed in, but he shied away from the chance to share. Guilt doused his chipperness at the missed opportunity.
Sabra responded in kind by refocusing on her task. Colson wanted to kick himself when she went back to dealing with the last of the smaller items to be packed.
Instead of trying to move the decrepit piece, Colson made short work of dismantling it. He took off the shelves first and then the frame with a small cordless drill Sabra kept in a toolbox. To her credit, Sabra had a passable range of tools. To her discredit, and as he’d surmised, the shelves barely hung on the loose metal framing. It was a miracle the weight of the items housed there hadn’t caused the entire thing to collapse long ago.
After stacking the metal pieces of the unit against a free space next to the entrance, he unbolted the work table from the floor. Colson checked to make sure Sabra wasn’t watching and then moved it to the area for the movers by grabbing it on its side with one hand.
The only thing left to do in his area was to sweep and bag the loose trash. Sabra was caught in her own little world of packing. He finished his chore and was about to go help her finish when her scream curdled his blood.
“Sabra!”
9
Cole
Sabra lay sprawled on the floor with her leg contorted as a glitter ball crashed into a cardboard box.
Painful cries escaped her as his intended mate lie on her side and tried to cradle her right leg to her chest. He didn’t talk or try to explain himself. Instead, Colson sprang into action.
His quick scan to discover the extent of her injury met with a piercing pain to his frontal lobe. Her pain butted against his psychically invasive inquiry.
Medical training, his gift of healing, and experience kicked in as he pushed through the barrier. Ignoring the sharp stabs of pain that pricked his psychic advancement, Colson steadied his focus on her upper thigh. The offending neuron messengers and receptors bloomed in concentration at the back of her leg in the middle thigh area.
Not good.
He said a little prayer that Sabra hadn’t ripped or torn anything. Her tiny yip of pain from the slightest movement wrenched his heart like nothing before.
That pain in his chest was another sign of the Dragon mating thrall’s continued advancement. The mating thrall worked to weave her into his existence on multiple levels and planes.
Each moment his thirst for mating with her grew exponentially. Most compelling about the phenomenon was his unquenchable need to have her close by and to feel physical touch. Colson strained toward the direction of her body heat until he caught himself.
It would be hard enough to win her affection without the whole Dragon-shifter issue. It would be near impossible if he couldn’t remain detached and calm enough to be objective. Ways in which their mating could turn into a cluster fuck danced on his practicality and reserved stance on most things.
A pitiful whimper broke his trance as Sabra’s leg trembled from the shock of pain. He had to put what he wanted on the back burner. Sabra needed him to be the healer and not the moonstruck potential mate.
Again, not good.
Self-control prevailed as he fought to reclaim his professional bedside manner. “Try to stay still. I’ll attempt to find the cause for the pain.”
A single tear rolled down her face as the woman who’d captured his heart in an instant fought back the instinct to move. Colson glanced at the beginning of what would be a noticeable hematoma in a few minutes smarting on her left temple.
Positioned to get an eye-level assessment, Colson leaned in to capture her attention. Sabra blinked and tried to shield her eyes from the glare of the overhead fluorescent lights.
She had a sensitivity to light—definitely not right.
“Hey there, look at me,” he coaxed. “Can you tell me where we are?”
She moved, and pain bloomed deepening the red undertones in her face once more. He could kick himself for not stabilizing her movements before doing a concussion protocol.
Her leg contorted in an unnatural angle as a pained spasm tore through her body. He had to do something to mitigate the torment now. On his knees and careful not to move or bump her, he performed a detailed scan.
That she’d torn her hamstring and suffered from a concussion, weren’t the top issues. The trickle of blood running down the back side of her neck took priority. His healing gift and Dragon senses overrode normalcy as Colson set about working.
“Sabra, listen to me.” She nodded through the pain. “I’m a medical doctor, and you’ve torn your hamstring.”
Her eyes grew large. Maybe he should have said it appeared that she’d torn her hamstring instead of being so absolute. It was too late for that now. He had to relieve the pain and get her stabilized. The amount of anguish with this injury could be excruciating. Even with his healing ability muscle repairs still took time to regrow and heal. He could shorten the time it took and lessen the pain but not completely eliminate the process, or discomfort.
She bucked when another jab of hamstring’s revenge exacted its punishment. He’d have to dull the feeling of the aggravated torn muscle enough to work on her head injury. To her credit, Sabra didn’t make too much of a fuss when he placed a hand on the back of her leg.
“I know the pain is a bit much. Try to stay as still as possible while I assess the extent of your injuries.”
She nodded.
He pressed in concentrated intent to push healing power through the thick fabric of her sweat pants. Colson wasn’t prepared for the sensations that met his probe. The tear was aggravated and firing on all pain receptors. Then there were snaps of interfering electrical impairments that wreaked havoc on her system.
The angry, piercing energy almost made him yank his hand away. The sensations repelled his efforts as if he’d stuck his finger into a live electrical socket. His poor Bria. Her entire being was under attack. Sabra was in extreme duress.
He needed skin-to-skin contact to do anything to lessen her pain.
“Bria?” He waited to grab her attention. Her eyelids dropped, and grogginess overtook her. Shit. It looked like she might have more complications from that head injury. He had to work fast.
Prioritizing the situation, he’d work to su
bdue the most aggravating issues first—the hamstring. Then he’d concentrate on her head. If she was this groggy, he had mere seconds to work before she could slip into unconsciousness.
The scented, still air of the studio did nothing to relieve him. Nothing short of stabilizing Sabra’s injuries would calm him down. His Dragon clawed and rage just beneath the surface. Colson refused to lose grip on his ability to react in logical and rational measures. Sabra deserved his best, and he’d make sure she had that.
Pricks of panic threatened to throw him off his game at the sight of his future mate in discomfort and medical danger. “Bria, open your eyes and look at me.” The stern snap of his tone was enough to get her to reopen her eyes. “I need you to continue to look at me. No falling asleep. You got me?”
Her neck warbled under the weight of her head. All he wanted to do was make the pain and injuries go away. He should have cleared the floor when he had the chance.
“I can do that,” she mumbled.
“Good.” Colson didn’t try to keep the relief out of his reply. “Bria, I need to touch you skin-to-skin to help you. Is that all right with you?”
Sabra smiled a lazy grin as she slurred, “Yeah, go for it.”
What he wouldn’t give for his medical bag right now. A few quick swipes of a sharp scalpel and he would have made quick work of the thick fleece material of her sweatpants. Instead of ripping the fabric to shreds with his bare hands, he took the time to work his dominant hand past the elastic waistband of the obtrusive garment.
He ignored the perfectly rounded plumpness of her butt and worked to position his hand over the injured area. “Bria, are you still good? I’m almost to the injured area.”
“Sure thing, yeah… all good.”
He didn’t like how her words began to slow and take on a pronounced impediment.
“Bria? Stay with me. Remember, don’t fall asleep.”
Deep red streams of blood smeared her neck and top of her sweatshirt. Colson had to work fast to stabilize the hamstring and then investigate the head trauma. As he’d suspected, she had a pretty good size goose egg on her temple by now.
Dragon’s Curvy Patient Page 10
