"That's their problem," Melanie said. "You're a catch too, River, you know that?"
"You flatter me. Also, I see what you did there."
"I'm not flattering you! I'm serious. You're open, inviting, and patient with people who might not get what you're talking about. If you weren't such an accepting person, I wouldn't be here right now." Melanie paused, then added, "Also, what did I do there?"
"River... catch... do you see it? You know, like catching fish from a river?" River was met with silence. "Fine. Don't worry about it then. We can deconstruct your accidental wordplay more thoroughly in the morning."
"Okay." Melanie snuggled up close to River. "You know this already, but it doesn't matter to me anymore that you're a dragon. I was freaked out at first, but I got over it. I really do love you for who you are. I know you won't eat me or spray me with dragon snot."
"Again with the dragon snot," River said through a groan. "It doesn't even work that way! The water doesn't go that far up."
Melanie giggled. "I guess dragon snot is one of your fun buttons to push, huh?"
"Fun for you, I guess. But I know your other fun buttons." River gave Melanie's nose a gentle push. "Boop."
"What?" Melanie stared at River, confused. "I don't think there's a button in my nose. I don't think I even have a button nose."
"Ah, live a little, humor me a bit just this once," River said.
"I banged a dragon, I think I'm living more than just a little," Melanie laughed.
"Good luck bragging about that," River said with a snort.
"Oh, please, I know better than to tell people I'm literally with a dragon. Not everyone knows the truth," Melanie said. "More like no one, really, but I'm fine with it being a secret until you're ready to tell anyone."
River frowned. "I don't know when dragons will be ready to reveal themselves to the world. I don't think it'll be too soon, but hopefully it won't be too far away either."
"That sounds about right." Melanie yawned and stretched. "Whew... I think you wore me out a little."
"Good to hear that I performed well," River said with a chuckle.
"Yes, you get an A+ and a gold star on your dick," Melanie mumbled.
"Please don't put anything on my penis."
"Yeah, okay." Melanie giggled. "Stop making me laugh, or I'll never get to sleep."
"I should say the same to you," River said. "You're a funny one tonight."
"All right, all right." Melanie leaned up and gave River a kiss. "Good night, Rivvy."
"Rivvy? That's a new one." River returned the kiss. "Good night, Mellie."
Though it was a whimsical decision, Melanie did not mind what had happened one bit. She felt closer to River than ever before, like she had gained a new understanding of him. Even if someone had treated him poorly in the past, she wanted to make up for that. She would give him all the affection she could so that the people who had slighted him would wash away. She had a wonderful man, and she knew it.
Chapter 11
As time went on, Melanie's visits and overnight stays at River's house became more frequent. After a certain point, she thought that she was starting to get used to waking up in his arms, and that she was spending more time at his house than her own. Then again, she didn't mind. River was an excellent companion.
One particular day, Melanie ate cereal at the poolside while she watched River swim about his pool in his dragon form. "You should know that I know better than to spray you while you're eating," he said into her mind.
"Don't you dare," Melanie said, waggling a finger at River. The dragon ducked his head under the water with a soft roar, then emerged with a squeal. "Are water dragons supposed to sound kind of like dolphins, or is that just something you do?"
"We are," River said. "It's a bit of an odd coincidence, but it's a thing."
"Very odd." Melanie took a bite of cereal and watched River swim about. At one point, he dunked his head under the water again, and she had a feeling she knew what was coming next. "Don't you dare spray me," she reiterated, pointing at him with her spoon. She was rewarded by a spray of water to her side that still made her jump. "What was that about?!"
"Just a compromise." River swam over to where Melanie was sitting, and lowered his head to her level. "Can I have a bit?"
"I guess. Just try not to bite my hand off," Melanie said.
"On second thought, I don't know if I can get my mouth there that precisely. I guess I'll just have some of my own later." River gently nudged Melanie's forehead with his snout.
Melanie made a squeak, then giggled and gently patted River's snout. "Good boy."
"I don't know how to feel about that." River drifted over to the deep end's pool ladder, and he was enveloped in light once more as he shifted back to human form. He climbed out of the pool and sat down beside Melanie, putting his arm around her. "You finish up; I'll go dry off and clean up."
"All right, see you then." Melanie watched River go off to the showering area, then absentmindedly finished the rest of her cereal. Next thing she knew, River had his arm around her again. "That was quick."
"I can be a real quick change artist if I need to be," River said, kissing Melanie's cheek. "You know, I think your tendency to get tired after a swim rubbed off on me. How about we relax upstairs for a bit?"
"Huh? Sure." Melanie had a feeling that she knew where this was headed, but she wasn't in the mood to object, regardless of the outcome. She followed River out of the basement, made a quick detour to deposit her bowl and spoon in the sink, then caught up to him in the bedroom. He was laying spread eagle on the bed, his eyes half-closed.
"What took you so long?" River asked. "I nearly fell asleep waiting for you."
"I wasn't going to take my bowl and spoon with me," Melanie said. "You need to pull yourself in a little bit, or there won't be any room for me."
"Fine, fine." River pulled his spread limbs in, then patted the spot next to him on the bed. "Better?"
"Much better." Melanie sighed happily and plopped down next to River, curling around him. "I love holding you. You're so... solid and sturdy, and so warm. It feels nice to lay on you."
"It sounds a little weird when you put it that way," River said. "But I can appreciate your softness when you lay on me."
"Hmm." Melanie adjusted herself so that she was slightly more on top of River. "Is this better?"
"Better for what? I can feel more of you, yes." River put his arms around Melanie and gave her a squeeze. "I wouldn't mind getting to feel even more of you."
This time, Melanie put herself completely on top of River. It was a compromising position of sorts, and she knew it. "Like this?"
"Yes, like that." River chuckled, "You really are a tease."
"I don't have to be," she said. "I could let you feel as much of me as you want."
"Really?" River's hand began to slide downward towards the edge of Melanie's shirt. "In that case... why don't I feel you now?"
Melanie shuddered as a slight rush went through her. She found herself lost for words to respond with, and in the end settled on giving him a deep kiss. When they parted, she nodded, and allowed River to slide her shirt the rest of the way off. She worked to pull her bottoms off while River unclasped her bra with a remarkable finesse. "Hey, no fair, I don't get to be naked while you keep your clothes on."
"Who said I was keeping my clothes on?" River asked, tossing Melanie's bra aside. "I can't exactly do you through my pants, you know."
"Duh." Giggling, Melanie lowered herself and tugged at River's swim trunks, eventually pulling them off to find that he was semi-erect. "Oh my."
"Like I said, you are a tease," River grinned, carefully reaching over to his nightstand and opening a drawer to grab a condom (Melanie got off him to allow him to do so). "Good thing I'm prepared."
"Very prepared." Melanie rolled onto her back, mentally preparing herself to allow River to have his way with her. She wasn't afraid, no; she had b
een waiting for this moment. She wanted to feel him as much as he wanted to feel her.
After sheathing his shaft, River positioned himself over Melanie and sealed the deal with another deep kiss. When the two parted, he quipped, "Are you ready?"
"Absolutely."
When River eased himself in, Melanie couldn't help but make lustful noises. He stroked her head and planted a kiss on her forehead before pulling into a thrust that made Melanie yelp with ecstasy. He paid attention to her breasts as well, gently caressing and nuzzling them. Melanie thought she was going to explode with all of the physical attention being lavished on her. She rewarded him with load moans and no thought as to whether the neighbors could hear her. "I love you," he said through heavy breaths. "I want you in my life, and I want to make you mine."
"I'll- I'll be yours," Melanie huffed through the blinding euphoria. "Make me yours!"
"I will!" Chuckling, River gave Melanie another long smooch. "Get ready."
Melanie didn't have time to ask what for; River practically rocked her senselessly right before he came, and she knew full well that she did too. River released himself from her and disposed of the condom; when he returned, he plopped himself back into bed and pulled a still very dazed Melanie close to him. "So? How was it?"
"I... wow," Melanie mumbled.
"Good." River sighed and pressed his head into the pillow. "I'm glad."
Melanie shook her head in an attempt to bring herself back to reality. It worked just a bit. "You know... Riv, I have a question."
"I might have an answer," River replied.
"What does it mean to have dragon blood? I mean, what if we have kids? Will they be able to shift like you? Or will they be human like me?" Melanie looked up at River with a questioning yet unfocused stare.
"You're getting a little ahead of yourself," River said.
"I know, just... can you tell me? I'm curious."
"All right, all right." River adjusted himself a bit to be able to look at Melanie more comfortably. "Half-dragons can still shift. Their dragon forms are smaller than full dragons' forms, and their powers tend not to be as strong. Quarter dragons follow the same rule. Once you get down to an eighth of dragon ancestry, it gets a little dicey and there's no way to know for sure if the child will be able to shift. I don't know how far back your dragon ancestry might be, but it's obviously far back enough that you can't shift."
"Obviously." Melanie put her arms around River and gave him a squeeze. "I wonder what we'll do next."
"Take a rest, then go about our day?"
"No, I mean, in the future. I know you said I was getting ahead of myself talking about kids, but... it'd be nice if we could stay together like this," Melanie said.
River nodded. "You're very right, and I agree with you. However, I can't predict the future. I don't know what we'll do next. I think the best we could do is enjoy each other's company in the here and now."
"I like that," Melanie said. "I think I'll do that from now on. I'm not going to get ahead of myself. I'm just going to love you and take each day as it comes."
"Sounds like a plan."
The two enjoyed a silent moment, and Melanie found herself reflecting on all that had happened. It all started with a pendant at a craft fair and now here she was, immersed in a world of mystery that she didn't even know existed. The world had dragons and possibly magic; who knew what else was waiting for her? The idea that one of her ancestors had once consorted with a dragon intrigued her more than ever, and while she didn't know how she would find out more about such a thing, she had a feeling that River could help her with the research. She didn't know much about her ancestry to begin with and the promise of knowledge was an interesting temptation.
Perhaps, someday, she would continue the line and help dragons and humans to unite once more. Her relationship with River was proof that such a thing could happen, and she remembered that that was one of his goals. A half-dragon child would leave a mark on the world, though of course the timing of the revelation would have to be just right. Once again, though, she was getting ahead of herself. All she wanted to do was enjoy her life with River for now.
All the rest would come in due time.
THE END
Against All Odds
Chapter 1
“Dammit,” Trish said to herself as she tried to move her hand against the tire. Of course, this would totally happen when she was all alone, and now she had to figure out how the hell she was supposed to get out of here.
Her phone was dead. She couldn’t call a towing company and she didn’t have a means to charge it. She could try to go back to the buildings nearby, but everything looked closed. So, there she was, trying to change this damn tire, but she kept accidentally missing the little screws to put it back on.
“Come on, this is just getting stupid,” she said to herself.
There was a small noise, and immediately, Trish whipped her head around. Was it a bad guy? Was it someone that she could trust? She didn’t even know. It definitely was making her feel slightly ill at ease. She knew she could take care of herself, but there was always that shadow of a doubt in her mind as she thought about it.
“Who’s there?” she asked loudly. She needed to find her knife, in case if things get out of hand. However, the person that came out from the darkness was completely different than what Trish expected, and when she looked at him, immediately, she felt a strange attraction to him. She pushed her black hair towards the back, the little strands that kind of hung there immediately whipping her in the face.
This guy was cute. She noticed that he was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome with pale skin, black hair, and adorned in all black. But he was definitely different from the type of person she’d expect to meet out here.
“Sorry for scaring you,” he said.
She relaxed. This guy was pretty cute. Immediately, she got up, looking at him and studying him.
“You seem different from what I expected to run into in the middle of the night out here in a parking lot,” she said, her guard still up.
“Well, I was in the area. I noticed you had a flat tire. Want some help?” he offered.
Trish normally didn’t accept help from others. She was always the type that seemed to be headstrong, independent, and took price in her ability to take care of herself. But of course, this guy was also pretty damn cute, and it made her interested in him almost immediately.
“Sure. I mean, it might be better if I got a bit of help. I kind of know what I’m doing,” she said. Of course, that was a lie. She knew how to change a tire. She just liked the guy.
He went over to the wheel, and almost in a flash, he sorted that out. She watched as he skillfully put the tire on, taking the one that was flat out of the way.
“I’ll toss that later,” she said to him.
“Fine by me,” he replied.
When he finished, he looked at her again with a smile, and she saw a tiny bit of grease on his face. It was cute, and she had to admit, he was actually quite attractive.
“Thanks for doing that. I’m Trish by the way,” she said, extending her hand. The man was hesitant, but then he took her hand, accepting the handshake.
“Remy. So what are you doing all the way out here?” he asked.
“Well, I was out at one of the bars nearby, but obviously it’s late, and everyone went home. I was about to do the same until I got a flat tire. Thanks for sticking around,” she said.
“You’re welcome. It’s not every day I run into a cute girl like you,” he smiled.
Trish blushed. Normally, guys didn’t compliment her like that, but she enjoyed it.
“I do appreciate it. So why are you all the way out here? Kind of random,” she pointed out.
There was a pause, and then, he got up.
“I actually realized I need to go do something. If you want, maybe we can meet each other again. I’ll see you around,” he said.
“Wait—”
It was too late though. Remy was gone. Trish stood there, trying to process what the hell just happened. He seemed super sweet, but then he just ran off like that. It was weird.
Oh well, it was probably high time she got out of here. She started her car, driving over to the small apartment her sister and her shared. When she got there, Megan looked at her with worry.
“Where were you?” she asked her.
“Sorry, my phone died. I had a flat tire too. But I got some help,” she told her.
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