by Victoria Zak
Knowing the gods had a sense of humor, he accepted their torture. Then, when he wasn’t looking, the bastards had laid one on him like a kick in the face. Surprise, you have a mate.
Not that he wasn’t grateful. Dying a lonely dragon on top of his mountain wasn’t what he had envisioned for his future. He longed for a mate, and now all he needed to do was go inside and claim her. By tonight, they’d be wrapped up between the sheets. Fuck yeah!
Thane stepped out of the car, then walked inside Dorothea’s café. He surveyed the room and found his mate. She was sitting at a corner table reading a book and drinking coffee. The sun shined through the widow behind her, casting a golden glow over her. His mouth went dry when she innocently licked her lips. Steady, my man, don’t seem too eager.
Taking a deep breath, Thane made his way to the breakfast bar and sat down. Dorothea took a minute to smile at him as she took someone’s order three barstools down. He propped his elbows up on the table and clasped his hands together, his thumbs tapping nervously as he waited.
“Hi, honey.” Dorothea poured him a cup of coffee. “Where were you yesterday?”
“Busy.” Thane took a sip of coffee, then placed the cup back in front of him.
“Right.” Dorothea gave him a knowing glance as she took a cinnamon bun out of the case.
“What?”
“Don’t lie to me. I saw you here earlier this morning.”
Christ, the woman could read him like a book. There was no point trying to lie to her—she knew everything that went on in Ember Brooke. She was the closest thing he had to a mother. He leaned in and whispered, “She’s here.”
Dorothea whispered back, “I know.”
“What?” Thane’s brows creased in confusion. “How long have you known?
“A while,” Dorothea said nonchalantly.
“You could have warned me?”
She chuckled, “No, it’s against the rules.” Dorothea grabbed the coffee pot off the burner. Before she left to fill empty coffee cups at the other tables, she stopped in front of him. “She’s beautiful. Congratulations.”
Pride filled his heart and a fool smile spread across his lips. His mood dimmed when he felt a large hand clasp his shoulder. From the corner of his eye, he saw Jensen take the seat next to him.
“Hey there, Casanova,” Stone greeted him.
And here he sat—stuck between bust your balls and the laughing idiot sidekick. Wait for it…
Jensen piped in, “Evel Knievel has nothing on you.”
Thane shook his head, waiting for Stone to make his move, because it was coming.
“So, was I right?” Stone asked in his signature smartass tone. Thane knew he was holding back.
“About what?” He shrugged him off.
“Come on, you almost wrecked my car because your dick was in overdrive.”
“Your obsession with my dick is really disturbing.”
Stone didn’t look happy that he was skirting around his question. “So, did you find what you were looking for?”
“I did.” Thane nodded toward the table where his mate sat.
Stone and Jensen looked in her direction.
“Shit man, that’s her?” Jensen asked.
“Yep.”
Stone sobered. “She’s beautiful.”
“Yes, she is.” Unsure of his dragon’s impulsive behavior, Thane didn’t dare look at her. He didn’t want to screw this up.
Stone turned, resting his arms on the table. “So, what’s the plan? I can go over and do the introduction. You know, pave the way for you.”
Thane’s dragon roared. Hell no, he didn’t want Stone or any other male near his mate. Thane snapped his attention to Stone. “No, I’ve got this.” He motioned for Dorothea to come over.
“Need more coffee?” she asked.
“No, but I need another cinnamon bun. The freshest one you have.”
Dorothea tossed him a curious look before reaching into the case. “There you go, honey.”
“Thanks.” Thane grabbed the plate and stood. “Watch and learn, boys.”
Thane set off in his mate’s direction. Still absorbed in her book, she didn’t see him coming.
“Is this seat taken?”
She looked up at him from the top of her glasses. The most stunning hazel eyes he’d ever seen stared straight through him. Her lashes swept across her eyelids like delicate angel wings. She shook her head and returned to her book. Thane set the plate on the table and sat down across from her. He pushed the plate in front of her. “Have you tried Dorothea’s cinnamon buns?”
Without taking her eyes from the book, she shook her head.
“Oh, you have to try them. They are the best in town.”
“No, thanks,” she replied casually.
Shot down and spiraling fast into a crash landing—this wasn’t what he’d anticipated from his mate. He expected her to be more accepting or at least smile at him. Why was she giving him the cold shoulder? Could he be wrong; was she not the one?
He spared a glance at the dastardly duo, and yep, they were watching his every move. Jensen had his hands wrapped around his neck signaling Thane was choking under pressure while Stone blew him a kiss. Fucking assholes.
Thane rested his elbows on the table, glancing at the blonde. Stray tendrils framed her face and neck, her hair pulled back into a loose braid. Beautiful.
His dragon growled as she shifted in her seat to cross her legs. She pulled her sweater across her chest, hiding her breasts. Fuck yeah! Thane sensed she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Now we’re getting down to business.
Thane reached across the table and removed her glasses. A bold move to gain her attention, but hell, she was playing hard to get. She immediately glanced at him, then laid the book on the table. She crossed her arms. Their gazes locked. “Thane.” He reached out to shake her hand.
“Bex.” God, he could feel her heat.
“So, what brings you to Ember Brooke?”
“Vacation. How about you?”
“I live here.”
“Ah, a local boy.”
He wetted his lips as he watched her pick a piece of icing off the cinnamon bun and taste it. Male dragons thrived on feeding their mates. This was a good sign; she was accepting him. Thane relaxed.
“So, what do you do here?” she asked.
“I’m a hang gliding instructor. I take people on guided tours of Ember Brooke from a sky perspective. It’s our biggest attraction here. You should join me.”
Bex tore a hunk off of the bun, then placed it back on the plate. She wiped her hands on a napkin. “Look, I’m sure you’re a nice guy, but I’m not interested in hooking up.”
Wait, what did she mean by that?
She grabbed her purse and stood. “I almost forgot.” She reached across the table, her breasts inches from his face, and grabbed the cinnamon bun.
Still baffled, Thane didn’t know what to say. Didn’t she know he was her mate? Shouldn’t she want to spend time with him? She was treating him like any other guy trying to hit on her. This was no fling…this was the real deal.
“I’ll give you an A for effort, Dragon.” He looked up at her as she smiled back at him, then walked away, leaving him speechless.
She walked out the door, her hips swaying seductively. He scrubbed a hand down his face. Perhaps he should have brushed up on his courting skills, because it was going to take more than one encounter to gain his mate’s attention. If she wanted to play hard to get, he’d play along.
He smirked when he discovered Bex’s book on the table. Until we meet again, she-dragon.
5
Bex rushed to her room, before she erupted like a volcano. She desperately needed distance between Thane and her, and another injection to level out her temperature. She was fine until Thane walked in. As soon as he’d entered the café, she was aware of his every move. She sensed he was dragon, and by the way his smoldering gaze heated up her body…that dragon was trouble.
The
n again, it was hard not to notice his tall, muscular frame filling the room and the way his biceps strained against his rolled up sleeves. She could only imagine how his arms would feel wrapped around her. Pure heaven.
She’d eyed him from her cozy nook, knowing good and well she wasn’t his type, which was okay with her. She’d admire him from afar. All she wanted was some relaxation time to figure out how to improve the anti-shift serum. The side effects were worsening by the minute.
Unfortunately, hiding in the coroner with her nose in a book wasn’t a good enough disguise. She was shy and it surprised her he’d even noticed her. Then she totally freaked when he asked her to go hang gliding.
She plopped down on her bed. It would have been so easy to throw caution to the wind, to accept his offer, and spend the day with a sexy dragon. But she couldn’t risk her future for a man in ass-hugging jeans, even if it was only for a week. Until she fully understood her dragon, she was going to stay on course and figure her shit out before seeking a relationship. In the meantime, a girl could dream.
Bex huffed as she grabbed her black case from her overnight bag. The quicker she solved the mystery behind her dragon, the quicker she could stop the injections. But would she be ready to live a new life as a dragon? Unlocking the she-dragon was unknown and scary territory, completely opposite of her comfy life as a human.
Shoving her dragon issues aside, Bex slid off her jeans and plunged the needle into her left butt cheek. Disgusted with her fear, she tossed the syringe on the bed, then sat down at the desk and popped open her laptop, determined to work.
Hours later, Bex was stunned awake by the sound of a fire engine. She gazed at the clock, still sleepy. “Eight o’clock?” Seriously, she’d stayed in the room all day. Bex walked to the window by the balcony. People were sitting on both sides of the road waiting for something. More fire truck noises sounded, and the crowd cheered. “A parade?”
Deciding she needed to enjoy the night, Bex quickly freshened up. She didn’t want to miss the parade. Slipping into a white, sleeveless sundress, the light material was always her best choice for being comfortable. She never knew when another hot flash would strike. After she donned a pair of white canvas sneakers and a jean jacket, Bex took one last look in the mirror and tightened her pony tail. I wonder if I’ll bump into Thane? With that thought, she applied more lip gloss.
Bex left the B&B and walked down the lighted pathway to the edge of the driveway, then stopped. She looked down the street. Muffled music played in the distance.
“Oh, good,” Dorothea said as she walked up. “I’m glad you’re here. Would you be a doll and help me take some food down to the block party?”
“Sure,” Bex replied. She couldn’t remember the last she’d gone to a party.
They walked down the street to the café and went inside. Two aluminum containers sat on the bar. Dorothea handed Bex a container. “I made enough chicken wings and dragon fruit tarts to feed an army.” They giggled.
“I’m sure everything is as good as it smells, Dorothea.”
They left the café and headed down the street where the party area was marked by a huge white tent. “Who’s the party for?” Bex asked.
“It’s a celebration to bring in the winter. Have you ever seen a Drakon celebration?”
“No,” Bex said, disheartened she didn’t know about her own kind.
“Dating back to the dragon elders of old, it’s tradition to bring in the winter with a warm heart. It’s a time where the whole town of Ember Brooke celebrates our history. You’ve vacationed at the right time. The parade is just outrageous.”
Bex’s mouth dropped open. “You’re a dragon?”
“Why yes, dear. We’re all dragons.” Dorothea stopped and turned to face Bex. “Hasn’t anyone taken you under their wing and taught you about your kin?”
Bex averted her gaze.
“Doll,” Dorothea put her arm around her, “stick with me. We’re all family here.”
Bex smiled, and for the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged. Could the answers she desperately searched for be right here in Ember Brooke?
They reached the tent and arranged the food on a table where there was already a spread fit for a king. After taking the foil off the wings, Bex looked around. The tent could easily cover a football field. Chairs and tables with winter-blue coverings surrounded the dance floor in front of a raised stage where a band was playing southern rock. White lanterns were strung throughout the space, casting a warm glow.
From the welcoming ambiance to the sultry beat of the music, her heart felt at ease. It was time to live a little. She couldn’t report back to Mel that she stayed in her room the whole time. That would pass like a cold day in hell.
“Bex,” Dorothea called her over. “This is my granddaughter, Keira.”
“Hi,” Bex greeted her.
“You girls go find some trouble to get into,” Dorothea said, but her stern look held a different meaning.
Keira leaned into Bex. “You look like you could use a drink.”
“Possibly two.”
Keira escorted her to the bar where they stood in line. Before they reached the bartender, they hit it off like best friends discovering how much they had in common. The way they were finishing each other’s sentences and laughing made Bex feel she was connecting with someone of her own kind.
“Please tell me you like eighties music,” Keira said as she waited for the bartender to make Bex’s drink.
“Oh, my gosh, yes! Billy Idol,” Bex exclaimed. “Dancing With Myself, favorite song ever.”
“I knew it.” Keira sipped her drink. “Where have you been all my life?”
Bex grabbed her drink and they walked toward the tables.
“I have some friends I want to introduce you too.”
“Great.” Bex’s stomach started to twist into knots thinking about meeting more people.
She was far from a social butterfly. Between her position at the institute and her dissertation, there wasn’t much time leftover. Then again, it was easy for her to throw herself into research. It was a great excuse not to deal with her antisocial tendencies. Yep, that was her, the invisible girl standing in the shadows watching everyone else having fun.
But tonight, she was determined to let go.
Bex downed her drink and grabbed a beer from a cooler before they reached three guys standing next to a table.
“Hey guys, I want you all to meet my new friend, Bex.”
The three men turned their attention on Bex. But it was only one of them that made her cheeks flush.
“Bex, this is Stone, Jensen, and Thane, my grandmother’s adopted sons.” Keira poked Jensen in the ribs.
Stone shook Bex’s hand. “The pleasure is all mine.” She swallowed hard when he gave her a charming smile and winked.
The band announced a break and was replaced with a DJ. The dance floor filled up when eighties music started to play.
Keira’s face lit-up. “Someone has to dance with me.”
“Would you look at the time?” Stone checked his watch. “It’s the fucking Twenty-first century. The eighties are dead.” He nailed Keira with a smart-ass smirk and walked away.
“Don’t be a dick.” Keira called out behind him and was greeted by a friendly middle finger.
Bex’s heart raced when Keira looked at her. She shook her head, but before she could say a word, Thane closed the distance between them. “The parade is going to start soon. Want to go grab a spot with me?”
How could she say no to this man towering over her and smelling mountain-fresh? Apparently, she couldn’t say yes either. She simply nodded.
“Oh, this isn’t fair,” Jensen huffed as Keira drug him to the dance floor.
Bex giggled as she followed Thane out of the tent. They walked down the street. “Thanks for saving me back there. I’m not the greatest dancer.”
“No problem. Keira’s a good girl, just high energy.”
Bex scrambled to keep the
conversation going, which was hard when his body was close to hers. “So…” She gave him a sideways glance. “I want to apologize for being rude this morning.”
Thane took a sip of his beer. “No need to apologize.”
“No, I jumped to conclusions and thought you were hitting on me. Work keeps me busy and it’s obvious I don’t get out much.” And quite frankly, you intimidate the hell out of me.
Thane leaned in and whispered, “I was hitting on you.”
A warm sensation washed over her body.
“How about we start over.” He stopped and faced her, then held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Thane Monroe.”
“Bex St. James.” They stared at each other. Burgundy specks dotted the gray-green of his eyes. She’d never seen eyes as alluring as his.
A snap and pop made her jump and spin around, breaking Thane’s hypnotic hold on her. A child ran by throwing Pop-Its on the ground.
“Relax,” Thane said, “It’s only fireworks. The big ones are yet to come.” His lips brushed against her ear sending a shiver through her body.
How did she know he wasn’t talking about the kind of fireworks that explode in the sky?
A big bass drum thundered, the mighty trumpets cried out, and the Great Highland Bagpipes blew a battle tune striking Bex straight to her soul.
“It’s starting,” Thane announced.
Bex followed him to an open spot on the side of the road. The marching band lead the parade down the street. A group of girls dressed in glittery red outfits stopped in front of them. They danced in unison reminding her of The Rockettes. And then out of nowhere a group of fire dancers joined the entourage.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Bex called out to Thane.
He smiled, putting his arm around her. “Just wait, it gets better.”
Following the parade, an impressive fireworks show lit up the sky. Bex watched in awe, as the sparkling star bursts rained down over the mountain. It reminded her of home.
