by T. S. Ryder
“You look the same as ever.”
“What do you mean? I’m not skinny.”
He scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Umm, you’ve never been super skinny. But that’s okay. I mean, I’ve always thought you were very beautiful.”
“But…” She pulled her eyebrows together in confusion. “Hang on.” She put up her pregnant glamor and rested her hand on her bulging belly. “Do I look pregnant?”
He shook his head and raised an eyebrow at her. “No.”
She changed her hair to be bright pink. “What color is my hair?”
“The same dark brown it’s always been. But you know, being a dragon shifter means magic works differently on me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t be affected by magic without my will aligning with it.”
“Huh?” She sat back down, her mind whirling.
“Dragons use magic, too, even if not in the same way witches do. Someone can’t cast a spell on me against my will. I have to be in agreement with it in order for it to work.”
Her jaw hung open. “So, that means any spell I try to cast on you without your knowledge won’t work?”
“Right.”
“So you can’t see my glamor at all.”
“No.”
“But then…”
He raised an eyebrow. “I like the way you look. The way you really look.”
She couldn’t wrap her head around this. It was one thing that he couldn’t see the skinny version of her. That was enough for her to comprehend. He liked her as she really was. But that also meant that none of her other spells had worked on him, either.
“My glamor wasn’t the only spell I cast on you.”
“It wasn’t?”
Tears formed in her eyes again and the thing she’d been feeling, the thing she wanted to tell him, welled up inside her. She held it back, though. The time wasn’t right just yet.
“I cast a spell to heighten your feelings. I’ve been using it on you to make you have feelings for me.”
“But those sorts of spells don’t work on me.”
“Right. So that means…”
“That my feelings for you are real.”
She blinked at him. “But that can’t be right.”
He laughed. “What do you mean?”
“You can’t really have feelings for me like that. Or well, I guess I should say feelings that you had. After all of this, I don’t blame you if you never want to see me again.”
He pressed his fingertips together and took a long time to answer. “My feelings for you are strong. Stronger than I’ve ever felt for anyone. I really liked Charlotte, and I’ve really liked a lot of the women I’ve dated, but they’ve all been sort of like Charlotte, interested in money and games. But you’re not like that. Or at least, I thought you weren’t until—”
“I’m not, Jesse. I’m really not. I was just trying to make my best friend feel better. Or ex-best friend. I don’t think I can be friends with her anymore. She’s been horrible to us both. I hated lying and tricking you. I wanted to stop. I wanted to tell you the truth. But then I would talk to Charlotte and she would be so upset, and I wanted to make it better. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” She gave him a pleading look as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I know. And I’ve been trying to reconcile that in my mind and decide if I can trust you or not.”
“I understand. I’ve given you no reason to.”
“It’s kind of weird that you tried to lie to me and trick me into liking you when I did anyway, without the magic.”
“I find that hard to believe myself.”
“But it’s true. And the other thing is, when you told me you were pregnant and I left for a little while, I just kept picturing you with our baby and what that life might be like. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that’s what I wanted. That you were what I wanted.” He reached over and took her hands. “Ella, I love you.”
Chapter Eight
“What? You can’t love me. That’s not possible.”
“What do you mean? Why would that be impossible?”
“You’re so out of my league, Jesse. You’re rich and gorgeous, and I’m not. Men like you marry women like Charlotte, women who look and act like they fit. Not women like me who are perfectly comfortable in jeans and sneakers, walking the dog.”
“Don’t you get it? That’s what I love about you. And knowing that you’re a witch, it makes complete sense. You’re not focused on all that material stuff. I’m a dragon shifter. Don’t you think that maybe that means I’m more interested in the things you’re interested in? In enjoying nature and animals and just living a good life? I got lucky. I created a company that took off in a huge way and made me crazy rich. But I never started it to get rich. That was never my goal. Being with you is a relief. I don’t have to act all high society and fancy. I can be myself. And more than anything, that’s what’s different about being with you. You’re fun and energetic. You don’t let dumb things bother you. Like being covered in mud after my dog rolled in a puddle.” He paused to laugh. “I may have fallen for you that day, honestly. You weren’t upset that you were covered in mud. You were upset because you thought that I was going to be mad that Murphy was messy. That said a lot about you. And you’re the first woman I’ve been with who didn’t want me to buy her clothing and jewelry and other expensive things. You fight me just paying for dinner.”
“I think I felt guilty about the whole tricking you thing.” Ella hung her head.
“And you should. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. My trust in you has been shaken. But I really want to have a family. And I want it with you. I love you, and I forgive you. Just promise you won’t lie to me or trick me again.”
“I promise,” she said fervently. “And I’ll never let Charlotte talk me into things again.”
“I’m so disappointed in her. I did really like her. She hurt me, you know? I thought I treated her well. I thought we had a good thing going. But then to find out she cheated on me, with more than one man, it made me hesitant to trust at all. And now this. I’m not surprised that she’s behind it.”
Ella reached out and took his hands, squeezing them in hers. “I’m sorry she hurt you. And I’m so sorry that I did. There is one more thing I need to tell you, though.”
He took in a deep breath and gave her a wary look. “What?”
“I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you, and I guess now is as good as any.” She swallowed hard. “I’ve never told anyone this, though.”
He squeezed her hands back. “What is it?”
“I’m in love with you, too.”
His mouth pulled into a half smile. He leaned forward and kissed her. “That was the best thing you could have told me.”
“So now what? Where does this leave us?”
“I guess we just go back to being together and being happy. And leave Charlotte out of it.”
“I like that idea. The last part especially.”
“About that…” He gave her a pained look. “I would never tell you who to be friends with or who not to be friends with, but after all she’s done, I really can’t have Charlotte in my life in any way.”
“After all she’s done to me, I don’t want her in my life, either.”
“But you’ve been best friends for a long time.”
Tears returned to her eyes. She thought of their long friendship, of all the ways Charlotte had changed over the years and become the bitter, selfish person she was now. She’d stayed with her friend out of loyalty, but Charlotte had given her nothing in return. There was no real friendship there. There was only Charlotte using Ella like she used everyone else in her life. It wouldn’t be easy to say goodbye after so many years, but it was time. If she was being honest, it had been time years ago, but until recently, Ella had always been on Charlotte’s side in her games. Now that things had turned, she didn’t think she could ever go back to being Charlotte’s friend. A
nd if she was going to be with Jesse, Charlotte would likely never forgive her anyway.
“We were friends for a long time, but she hurt me really badly, too. And she hurt the man I love. I’m not saying I’ll never forgive her, but I don’t need to have her in my life.”
He nodded. “She’s done a lot of damage to us both.”
“But she can’t hurt us now.” Ella scooted closer to him. She wanted to kiss him but wasn’t sure if she should.
He put his hand on her cheek and smiled thinly. “Here’s to starting over?”
“Yes. Starting over.” She pressed against his hand and closed her eyes.
His lips were on hers the next moment. Warmth spread through her. Now that she knew he really loved her, and his feelings weren’t just from her spell casting, and now that she’d admitted that she loved him, and now that all the lies were out, she felt a new freedom. He loved her, curves and all. He loved every part of her. That freedom and that feeling of loving and being loved melted her from the inside out.
He pressed forward so that she was lying back on the sofa. He was already hard, pressing his erection against her through their layers of clothing. She ran her hands under his shirt to touch his back. When she did, she felt something new wash over her. It was a feeling of possession like he was really hers. Before, she had felt like she had him on loan, like at any moment he would find out the truth and leave. But now, he knew the whole truth, and he still loved her. He was hers.
She pulled his shirt over his head and danced her fingertips over his bare, sculpted chest. “I love your body,” she said.
He moaned and pulled her shirt over her head, then took her breast into his mouth. “I love yours.” He cupped her other breast in his hand, then teased her nipple with his tongue.
Her lower muscles constricted and she grew wet with desire for him. She pressed her hips up into him, rubbing against his hardness. He slid down, taking her pajama bottoms off as he moved down her body. He pressed her legs open and placed his tongue on her labia.
She moaned in the delicious feeling of his tongue on her, flicking around her clit and moving between her lower lips. He slid his finger inside her and sucked her clit, sending waves of pleasure through her. She gripped the side of the couch and moaned as she came.
He came back to kiss her mouth, grinning triumphantly. “I like it when you make that noise.”
“I like it when you make me make it,” she breathed.
He stood to take off his pants and pulled a condom from his back pocket. “Guess we know more than ever how careful we need to be.”
“I’ll get on the pill so we have backup.”
“For now.” He winked as he slid the condom into place, then climbed back over her. “Soon enough we won’t need protection at all.”
He teased the tip of his dick around her hole for a minute until she couldn’t take it any longer. She squirmed and moaned, “I want to feel you inside me.”
He popped in his head, then pressed the rest of his cock into her. She moaned at the feeling of fullness. He moved in and out, leaning down to kiss her and pinch her nipples. The feeling was so intense, and she dug her fingers into his back as the pleasure increased.
He sped up and thrust faster, getting ready to finish. When she cried out in orgasm, he did, too. He kissed along her neck hungrily before slipping slowly out of her.
“You feel so good,” he said. “I could do that every hour.”
“I’m okay with that.”
“I want to show you something.” He stood and got dressed, handing her clothing to her so she could do the same.
“Are we leaving the house? I’m not really dressed for—”
“You could go naked if you wanted to.”
“Where are we going?”
He pulled his mouth into a half smile. “It’s your turn to trust me, now.”
Chapter Nine
He led her into the backyard and looked around slowly.
“What are you looking for?” she asked.
“Do you have neighbors?”
“Yes.” She pointed to the houses on either side of her house, hidden by darkness and trees.
“Okay, then we’ll have to do this a little differently.”
He took her hands in his and closed his eyes. He whispered something she couldn’t hear and the world around them grew shimmery like they were standing behind a waterfall looking out.
He stepped back and shifted into a dragon like she’d seen him do before. He crouched down in front of her and, in her mind, like a thought, but louder, he said, “Climb on.”
She jumped at the sound. “Did you just speak into my mind?”
“Yes. Now get on.”
“But how?” She walked over to him and threw her leg over the place where his thick neck met his body in a ridge of hard shoulder muscles and scales.
“I can do it with you because you’re a witch. It’s a dragon power.”
“Awesome.” She leaned down and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He stood, then his massive wings flapped several times, lifting them off the ground. They soared up into the sky, the ground growing farther and farther away. When they were above the clouds, they sped off into the night.
They soared over the city, now a scattering of lights below them. The moon was high in the sky, like a glowing ball guiding them through the darkness. The cool air chilled her skin, but Jesse’s body shielded most of it. His silvery scales were warmer than she’d expected them to be. His body didn’t exude heat like it did when he was in human form, but he didn’t feel cold, either.
She closed her eyes and the wind blew her hair out behind her. She felt that free feeling return, soothing her with the caress of wind over her skin. They circled the city several times, then he landed them on the top of the tallest building in the city. The roof of the building was an observation deck, with a high glass railing running around the perimeter. In the center was a glass elevator.
He changed back to human form and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her as they faced out to the city below. She leaned over the railing to look at the tiny cars and people below. His strong arms around her made her feel like she could fly herself, as long as he was with her.
“Sometimes I come up here just to be alone and think and watch the city,” he said.
“It’s beautiful. You can see everything from up here.”
“The best view is right here, though.” He turned her to face him, cupping her cheek in his hand. “I love you, Ella, and what I said earlier still stands.”
She pulled together her eyebrows. “Which thing?”
“I know I just did this, but since the circumstances have changed a bit, I thought I’d do it again, just so you know it’s real.”
He took the ring box from his pocket and knelt down in front of her. “I want to spend my life with you. I want to have a family and grow old with you. Will you marry me?”
“What? You don’t have to do this. I mean, I know you did before just because you had to, but you don’t have to do this now.”
“I know. And that’s why I’m doing it. Because I want to.”
“Are you sure?”
He chuckled. “Yes.”
“If you’re sure, then so am I.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a yes?”
She laughed. “Yes.”
He stood and kissed her, then took her left hand and slid the ring into place.
“It’s perfect,” she said.
He kissed her hand. “As crazy as this sounds, I’m happy you lied to me the day you told me you were a dog walker and showed up at my house. I guess, in some ways, we have Charlotte to thank for getting us together.”
“She’d be thrilled to hear that. Honestly, I’ll probably have to be careful for a while. She can get, umm, vindictive when she’s jealous.”
“Don’t I know it. Maybe we need to get you a bodyguard, then.” He winked. “I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep you safe.”
/> “Once this is public, she’ll probably tell people, though. She might tell them everything. You being a shifter, me supposedly being pregnant, all that. She might just go nuts and make up a bunch of stuff.”
He nodded. “I’ll get a restraining order. And you should, too. I’ll talk to my PR person. If it gets out that she’s nuts and a stalker, it’ll be fine. No one will believe her.”
Ella stepped into his arms and rested her head on his chest. “Thank you for forgiving me and loving me for who I am instead of who I pretended to be.”
“Thank you for being yourself so I could.”
Chapter Ten
A week after Jesse had proposed and Ella accepted, she woke with the sudden urge to throw up. She ran to the bathroom, threw up in the toilet and sat on the cool floor.
“You okay?” Jesse stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
She nodded. “I guess I’m getting the flu or something.”
“Stay here today,” he said. “I’ll work from home so I can take care of you.”
“No, then you’ll get sick, too.”
“It’ll be okay, I’m sure. I’ll work in my office and you take the bedroom. I’ll have Marla bring up some tea.”
He went to the intercom on the wall and called for her to come. Ella rinsed out her mouth and brushed her teeth, then climbed back into bed. Marla came in a few minutes later with hot tea.
“Can you bring Ella something? She got sick,” Jesse said.
Marla squinted at Ella, looking her over. “Are you pregnant?” she asked.
“No,” they both said fervently.
“You look it.” Marla shrugged and left the room again to get some medication.
Ella stared at Jesse with wide eyes. Then she remembered. “There was that one morning.”
“What morning?”
“After the first time we slept together. I crawled on top of you in the morning. We were both half awake. Now that I think of it, we didn’t use anything.”
“What? We must have.”
“No.” Tears filled her eyes. “Jesse, we didn’t. I didn’t think about the fact that I could actually get pregnant.”
