The Dragon I Fell In Love With

by Mary Abshire

  “This is one incredible workshop,” she said.

  He headed for the settee in the corner. “Some days, I spend a lot of time in here. But once I finish something, I let the work sit and forget to clean up. Even drawings need time to settle.”

  He gathered the sheets and blankets from the settee. Holding them, he looked for a good place to stash them. The cluttered room didn’t offer much clean space. He decided to drop them on the floor at the end of the settee.

  “Have a seat.” He patted a hand on the cushion.

  She headed for the windows instead. Stopping in front of a stack of canvases leaning against the wall, she pulled the first one toward her.

  He slid his hands into his pockets as he approached her. He’d always received praise from friends, family, galleries, and fans. The compliments gave him confidence. Yet, he anxiously waited to hear what she would say. She’d liked the drawing from earlier. Would she like his other work?

  “You’re an incredible artist,” she said as she studied each picture he’d drawn.

  He stopped beside her. “Would you like any of them?”

  She met his gaze. Mouth open, it was as if she didn’t know what to say.

  “I…I would love one. They’re beautiful,” she said. “You have a great gift.”

  “You can have any one you want.”

  “I feel bad, though. I can’t just take something you’ve worked so hard at. It wouldn’t be right.”

  He smiled. “Consider it a gift.”

  She glanced at his chest while she chewed on her lip, then she walked around him. “I have an idea that might work.” She headed for the settee.

  “What kind of idea?” He twisted to face her. “I won’t take any of your money. Whatever picture you want is yours.”

  Following a deep breath, she looked up at him. “Would you like to draw me…naked in exchange for one of your pieces of work?”

  Now he was staring dumbfounded at her.

  “I’ve never done this sort of thing before, and I don’t like the idea of my naked body on a photo or piece of art…The idea scares me, really.”

  Words came quickly from her mouth. He couldn’t be sure if she were thinking clearly or not.

  “I know this sounds strange, but what the hell,” she said. “You’ve seen me naked. I’ve seen you naked. I think…I think, well, it would be a good deal, if you want to draw me. Naked.” She lifted a shoulder.

  She couldn’t accept his free gift, so she’d let him draw her naked in exchange for a picture. She continued to amaze him.

  “Yes.” He stepped toward her. “I want to, but only if you’re okay with it.” His cock began to stiffen. Marveling at her beautiful exposed body would be heaven. He’d probably need a cold shower later.

  She took another long breath. “Promise me no one else sees it.”

  “I give you my word. I would be honored to draw you naked.”

  She nodded. “Okay then. Shall I sit here?” She looked down at the settee.

  “Yes. I can get some pillows to make you more comfortable.”

  “Can I wear your shirt?” She pointed to him. “I’m not going to button it. I just thought it might make me look…” She shrugged. “You know, maybe sexy.”

  He loved the way she thought. Without hesitation, he tossed the shirt away from his shoulders and then down his arms.

  “I’ll grab some pillows and get everything set up.” He handed the shirt to her.

  “I’ll change and wait here.”

  For a brief moment, they simply stared at each other. Then her gaze lowered to his chest and she smiled.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I want to. I do,” she said.

  She was such an incredible person. He’d have to take great care in drawing her.

  “You’re already beautiful. I’m just going to capture your beauty and put it onto a board,” he said.

  “For your eyes only,” she said, grinning widely.

  He backpedaled toward the door. “It will be our secret. I promise, no one else will ever see it.”

  She turned, set his shirt on the settee, then lifted her pink top.

  Marcel hurried from the room. His cock strained to be free from his pants. The thought of drawing her naked aroused him. When he changed her clothes earlier, he’d been too worried about her injured leg to look closely at her body. Now, he was getting the perfect chance. He’d have to stay focused. He’d have to study every curve and reflect it in his drawing. Running a hand through his hair, he hoped he could complete the picture of her without having to excuse himself to release the built up pressure in his groin.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “How’s it going?” Lynn asked.

  She sat in a reclining position on the settee, her injured leg rested on the cushions while her uninjured leg was bent, foot flat on the floor. Pillows behind her kept her upright. She held her right arm over her head. Her other arm lay beside her. The open white button-down shirt exposed her body, but that was the idea.

  “Good.” He sat at a slight angle facing her and the windows. A canvas stood on an easel in front of him.

  The scrape of his pencil continued. She’d been nervous to pose naked for him, but she knew it would make him happy. Truth be told, it didn’t take long to feel comfortable. She’d been curious to see him work at what he enjoyed. Now, she looked forward to seeing the results.

  With her head tilted slightly, she watched him. For at least twenty minutes he stood while he drew. Then he took a seat on a stool. For the last twenty minutes or so he bobbled one of his knees. His gaze constantly jumped from his canvas to her body while his hands moved. The few times she’d seen them, she noticed the tips of his fingers were blackened. She couldn’t be sure, but it almost looked as if he worked with both hands. He kept a towel hanging from the ledge of the easel, but he had yet to use it.

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Are you doing okay?” he asked.

  She lifted her lids. “Yeah, but I think my arm might be falling asleep.”

  “You can lower it, but keep it on your side and…” He paused and tilted. Staring at her, he said, “On the shirt where it’s somewhat out of sight.”

  Slowly, she moved her arm to her side. She set her hand near her hip. Within seconds, her arm tingled.

  He resumed drawing. “I almost have enough done to let you move.”

  “Have you ever drawn another person before?”

  “Yeah, a few times.”

  “Drawn anyone naked?”

  Grinning, he said, “You’re the first, and most likely the only one.”

  In a small way, the news made her happy, made her feel special.

  “Does it usually take a long time to draw a person?” she asked.

  “Uh, if it’s a portrait, maybe twenty minutes. If it’s a full body picture, another fifteen to twenty. It depends on the setting and the attire.”

  If she’d guessed, he’d spent close to an hour drawing her. Since she only had a shirt on, he should’ve been able to draw her with little effort.

  Biting her lower lip, she wondered what the picture would look like. Would her breasts look too big or small? Her stomach. She hoped her gut wouldn’t look too big. Thankfully, she’d trimmed her bush before leaving her apartment so she didn’t look very hairy. Still, what if she didn’t like her picture?

  She pushed the thought aside. The man had an incredible talent. All his works impressed her. If she didn’t like her picture, it would have to be because she didn’t like the way she looked, not because he sketched her poorly.

  He lowered his hands and stopped bobbing his knee. In one hand, he held a small dark pencil. In his other, he held something in the shape of a triangle. He bounced his gaze from her to the canvas. Using the odd shaped object, he brushed it on the canvas.

  “Do you like it?” she asked.

  “Like what?”

  “The picture of me.”

  He set the object and pencil at t
he base of the easel before grabbing the towel. “Well, it doesn’t compare to the real thing, but I think it’s close. Come take a look.”

  Excited, she sat up and shifted her injured leg off the settee. She stood and felt a small twinge from her hurt leg. Her body seemed stiff from not moving for so long. She stretched her arms and then twisted her back as she approached him.

  Marcel wiped his fingers and then set the towel on his right leg. By the time she reached him, he started bobbing his knee again.

  “Let me know what you think,” he said. “It’s not finished. I have a few areas to work on still.”

  She stopped beside him. Gazing at the canvas, she brought her hand up to cover her mouth. The black and white drawing stunned her. The detail to every curve, her bones, her aroused nipples, her inner belly button, her hair on top and below…his attention to detail stunned her. In her pose, she looked like a shapely model. For the first time in her life, she truly felt beautiful.

  “Is it good?” he asked.

  She lowered her hand. “It’s incredible. You made me beautiful.”

  He looked up at her. “I tried to capture what you already are.”

  She stared at the picture. “I haven’t been happy with my appearance for a long time. I think I’m overweight because I don’t work out. I’ve worked long hours at my job for years, so I’ve eaten bad foods…”

  “You’re wrong, very wrong. You’re perfect. I love looking at your body.”

  She shifted her attention to him. He had such compassionate and inviting brown eyes. His thick locks hung halfway over his forehead. He had a few light freckles on his cheeks and nose. Having shaved recently, he didn’t have any hair on his face. Her gaze lingered past his broad shoulders. She could never resist looking at his chest. A thin layer of brown hair along with shapely muscles gave him a youthful look.

  She stepped closer to him. “I have a confession.” She stood inches from him as he stared into her eyes. “I love looking at your body, too.”

  He swallowed hard and lifted a hand. Gently, he touched her forehead and then brought his hand to her cheek. “I would give anything to have you, to hold you in my arms, to kiss and make love to you.”

  She moved his hand from her face and slid it down to one of her breasts. Holding his hand on her, she tenderly ran her fingers through his soft hair. He closed his eyes briefly while he gently squeezed her breast. Taking his face into her hands, she tilted his head, and then brought her lips to meet his.

  The kiss started out slow and tender, hesitant, yet welcoming. Heat began to build within her. She wanted him. She wanted to touch him and feel him deep inside her. As their tongues touched and explored, her desire for him intensified while her temperature rose. In little time, it became clear his needs matched her own.

  She broke the kiss, but kept her mouth close to his. “Make love to me. Please.”

  His warm breath tickled her lips while he enclosed her with his arms. “With pleasure.”

  Enough said, he rose and then picked her up in his arms. Her soft chuckle turned into a wide smile as he carried her. With her hands locked around his neck, she marveled at him. He cared for her, treated her with the utmost respect, and acted pure of heart. Even if they only had one night of love and passion, she would enjoy every minute and return it with equal fervor.

  Chapter Twenty

  The air blowing in from the windows did little to cool him, or the beauty laying beside him. Heat from her backside kept his temperature elevated. He smelled the salty perspiration from her body. As he nuzzled the back of her head, he noticed her hair was slightly damp. If their bodies weren’t joined, maybe they could cool off quicker. But he didn’t want to leave her. He loved being inside her. He loved touching and kissing her. Everything felt right with her.

  “It’s a shame you don’t have a ceiling fan,” she mumbled. Half of her face was buried in the pillow.

  Holding one of her breasts, he gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll work on installing one.”

  She let out a soft chuckle and lifted her head toward him. “Let’s trade places. You’re body is putting off a lot of heat.”

  “Mine? In case you hadn’t noticed, yours is generating a lot of heat, too.”

  He slid from her inner depths and then rolled onto his back. Raking a hand through his hair, he noticed how sweaty he was. They had spent several hours in bed together, and every minute had been a happy one.

  She curled a leg over one of his and pressed her body along his side, draping an arm over his torso. Her head rested on his shoulder. “This is better. I can feel the air blowing on me.”

  He took hold of her hand while he grazed his fingers along her back. “This is heaven.”

  There was no doubt in his heart, mind or soul—he loved her. He didn’t care if she were a regular human. He’d never been so happy. He’d never felt such passion from a woman. She was his Mrs. Right.

  He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “You are the one for me. The only one.”

  She turned her head to meet his gaze. “How do you know?”

  “I just know.”

  “But how?”

  “It’s a feeling in my gut and in my heart. I can’t explain it, but I feel it. No one has ever made me feel this way. I’m in total love you, Lynn.”

  She chewed on her lip as she laid her head down on him. When she didn’t say anything, he began to worry.

  “Hey.” He squeezed her hand again. “How do you feel about this? About me? Us?”

  She wiggled closer and brought her lips up to his. After she kissed him, she put her hand over his heart. “I’m in love and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. But I’m…I wonder if we’re rushing into things. I want this. I do. I want us, and this. I’m just scared it won’t last. Everything is happening so fast.”

  He saw the fear in her eyes and couldn’t blame her for the way she felt. How many times before had he questioned his feelings when he’d thought he met the right gal? It was a good thing he had, because all of them had been wrong for him. Lynn was different and he knew it in his heart. But he’d lived longer than her, had more relationships and experiences. She was young. She’d gone through bad relationships, but probably not as many as he had. He couldn’t fault her for being scared.

  “I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll wait and give you time. My love for you won’t change,” he said.

  She lowered her chin to his chest. “What if I don’t have any supernatural blood in me? What if I can’t prove—?”

  “It changes nothing. I. Love. You.”

  The dream of having children who would grow up to be dragons was just that—a dream. Yes, it would’ve been wonderful to see it come true, but if he couldn’t continue his bloodline then so be it. He’d accepted reality. He would be the last dragon in his family. Love and happiness mattered. He had it with Lynn. She was his family now.

  She inhaled a quivering breath. “I’m in love with you and it scares me.”

  Her words excited and confused him. What did she mean by saying she was scared?

  “Do I scare you?” he asked.

  “No,” she said firmly. “Not at all.”

  “Does love scare you?”

  She hesitated. “Kind of.”

  “Do I make you happy?”

  “That’s a definite yes.”

  “Do you know I’d give anything to hear your voice everyday, to look at you and kiss you everyday?”

  She smiled. “Yeah, I totally get it.”

  “Why? How?”

  “Well, I feel the same about you. Everything you do and say…the way you look at me and talk to me…I want to wake up to you everyday. I want to hear your voice and feel your warmth. I want us to be happy together.”

  “Those are good things, right? Things you want and look forward to, right?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “So how do those good things frighten you?”

  She took in a deep breath. For several long seconds she didn’t
say a word. He really wished he had the ability to read minds.

  “I guess because those things require change, and I’m afraid of losing you. I have a job in Chicago and you live and work here. Long distance relationships don’t last.”

  She had a point. Things would have to change, but it would be to benefit them both. Maybe it was the thought of changing that frightened her. Maybe she feared if she gave everything up and their relationship didn’t last, she would be left with nothing.

  He rolled to his side to face her. She propped her head up on her hand as she leaned her elbow on the bed. He did the same thing.

  “As long as you love me, there’s nothing you can do to change how I feel. I’m happy because of you. All I want is you, now and forever,” he said. “I will move to be closer to you.”

  “No, I don’t want you to leave your home.”

  “I’ll keep it and get a house in Chicago. We can come here once a month and take vacations here.”

  “You’d move to Chicago?”

  “If it means I can see you everyday and have you in my arms, I’m moving to Chicago.”

  She stared into his eyes. “You really do love me.”

  It was his turn to chuckle. “Yeah, I do. I’ll keep reminding you if it helps.” He gave her a kiss.

  She ran her fingers into his hair. “I am in so much love with you.”

  He loved her touch and welcomed more of it. “As long as you love me, you won’t lose me. We’ll figure things out together. Sound fair?”