22. Hannah

Chapter 22

Hannah

I was literally playing with fire, but I wasn’t going to hold myself back any longer. I liked him so much, and I wanted more. I was going to jump off the cliff even if I might hit hard when I landed on the other side.

“Hannah,” he breathed, stroking my face. “You won’t regret this.”

Time would tell. Jumping off the cliff and giving my heart were two separate things. The wall I’d built to keep from getting hurt had cracks on the surface. Depending on what happened, they’d deepen. If things went well, I’d let go and my wall would crumble. I hoped I’d never have to build it again.

He took my hands and squeezed them. “Let’s go explore both our wild sides, shall we?”

At my nod, he swept me off my feet and raced through the sand, his shoes digging deep.

“You’re going to get a workout,” I said, not complaining that he was carrying me.

“That’s for later.”

Heat simmered through me. Was I taking too much of a risk by telling him I wanted to be with him? My skin prickled with unease, but I shoved it aside. Reylor was not my ex, and it would be wrong to compare them.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for nesting yet.” More cracks kept appearing in my wall, but it remained strong and true.

“No nest until you say you want it.”

There was something wonderful about a guy who could not only lift me and hold me with ease as he slogged through the sand dunes, but who wanted to do it. No comparing, but none of the other guys I’d been with wouldn’t have thought of doing something like this.

He reached the open beach and paused, his breaths coming loosely.

A few people walked their dogs or strolled hand-in-hand near the shore, but with the sun shimmering on the horizon, the tourists had gone home, leaving this part of the world open for those who lived in the area and knew this was the best time to visit.

Waves soared up the beach only to retreat once more, leaving behind clumps of foam and random tiny shells. The shelling capital of the world might be in Florida, but Cape Cod offered a few treasures as well. It wasn’t uncommon to find horseshoe crab or razor clam shells here, though you’d mostly find those on the bay side. And tiny crabs. They sold them to tourists in some of the shops, but the savvy residents knew you could collect them all on your own, assuming you wanted to have a crab as a pet.

“I’ll shift here.” He lowered me to my feet and dropped the bag he’d slung over his shoulder.

“You’re going to get naked, aren’t you?” My voice bubbled. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to burst into laughter or drool. I saw him shift in my backyard, but I still couldn’t wait. Eat your heart out, romantasy readers. This dragon would not only be real, but it was also clear he adored me.

“I usually strip.” He pinched his t-shirt and drew it away from his body. “Saves on clothing. But there are too many people around for something like that.”

And I didn’t want to share the view with anyone else.

“Shifting in public must make this expensive,” I said.

“It’s not a problem.”

“Sure it is. You should buy . . . paper clothing, I guess. Or wear a garbage bag.” There was nothing sexy about that, but I’d long since learned to economize. My dad might own a construction business, but he didn’t stiff his customers. He kept his prices fair, taking only enough profit to keep him and Mom comfortable and save a bit.

I’d done the same while working with him during the summers and then when I had finished my schooling. It wasn’t in me to toss away decent clothing. If something no longer fit or I didn’t want it, I took it to the local shelter where someone might use it.

“We have thought of paper clothing. I’m not dressing in a garbage bag.” His crooked grin grew. “That would mess with my hot guy reputation.”

A well-deserved rep. “Alright then. Shred this outfit, but maybe buy some cheap stuff from a thrift store for the future.”

He cocked his head, a frown stealing his smile. “Checkered pants from the clearance bin? T-shirts with corny sayings?”

“Something like that. I’m good at finding bargains, and I’ll be glad to help.”

“Dragon shifters go back forever,” he said, his frown only deepening. “We’re hoarders.”

“You mean like piles of unneeded papers and yard sale finds from floor to ceiling all over your house, leaving only narrow paths between them and sheds stuffed to the point you can’t get inside?”

“Like jewels. Precious metals. Treasures you can only find far beneath the ground.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I don’t need to worry about the cost of clothing.”

It was only now sinking in. He was politely trying to tell me he was wealthy. I wasn’t sure what I thought about that, though this was his wealth, not mine.

“I assume dragons donate a lot, then,” I said.

“Always and to everyone in need. Who do you think makes many of those anonymous donations?”

“People who don’t want to be named. Those who are happy to help without getting credit. Lots of people donate that way.”

“As do dragon shifters.”

“Just because you can afford to buy anything you might want or need doesn’t mean you can’t be frugal.”

“No checkered pants.”

My laugh snorted out, lightening the mood. “You might look good in them.”

He advanced on me and swept me up in his arms again, spinning me around while I clung to his shoulders and laughed harder. “If you think they’ll look good, I’ll wear them.” Coming to a stop, he gazed down at me with the entire world in his eyes. I could sink in and wander there forever.

He gave me a kiss that was too quick to savor, though it left my lips burning with need, and set me back on my feet. My heels stabbed down into the sand, grounding me despite my mind that wanted to keep spinning.

“After I shift, would you pick up my shredded clothing and put them inside my bag?” he said. “I’ll dispose of them later. And after you’ve done that, and you’re on my back, you can hook the bag onto the spike jutting up between my shoulders. You can hold onto the spike while we fly to help maintain your balance.”

“I haven’t even ridden a horse other than the wooden ones inside a carousel, let alone a dragon.”

“You’re going to love it.”

We’d see about that.

“What do you do with the clothing shreds if there’s no one here to handle that for you?” I asked.

“I carry them in my mouth.”

My smile rose. “I bet you look cute with clothing dangling out of your mouth.”

“I look like I just ate someone. Where do you think all those rumors about dragons eating people come from?”

“Oh, wow. I never thought of that. Are you saying that dragons have never eaten people?”

“Not too many. Most of my ancestors were partial to sheep.”

“Poor sheep.”

“Never doubt,” he said with a hint of grimness, “dragons have always been carnivores.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. And yes, I’ll collect your clothing shreds. Wouldn’t want to litter the beach.”

“Never.” He studied my face. “Are you ready? I’m big, and I have scales and fangs, plus a long snout, and I can breathe fire. A tail that might whip up a sandstorm if I’m pissed off, and spikes jutting down my back.”

People walking nearby on the beach were going to freak out. I might freak out, too, even though I’d know it was Reylor inside the dragon skin.

“How tall are we talking about?” I asked.

“Two, three stories.”

“As tall as my B&B.”

“Just about.”

“You need a bullhorn.”

His gaze narrowed. “Why?”

“Shouldn’t we announce you’re going to shift before you do it?”

“I usually try to do it where there’s no one around. People sometimes get upset. They scream and run and call the cops.”

“What do the cops say?”

“That I’m a dragon shifter, to leave me alone,” he said.

“That’s fair. At least they don’t call SWAT teams.”

“Not for a very long time. No pitchforks and torches either, thankfully.”

“Alright, then.” I spun around and lifted my voice, pointing to him over my shoulder. “Dragon shifter here. He’s gonna shift so don’t freak out!”

His low laugh echoed before he went silent.

A hoarse, raspy sound erupted overhead, and my blood froze.

I turned to find he’d already shifted.

While a few people cried out, and thuds told me a few were running away, I stood with my shoes embedded in the beach, my breath catching in my throat as I tried to comprehend the glorious being standing about ten feet away from me, his claws sinking into the sand. My heart slammed around behind my ribs, each heart beat reverberating through my entire body.

Reylor in dragon form stood at least two stories high, his scales shimmering with a fiery palette of orange, amber, yellow, and red. He was molten lava captured mid-flow in the setting sunlight.

Every muscle rippled beneath his luminous scales as he moved with an almost unbearable grace, and I swore the ground trembled in response to his magnificence. Goosebumps prickled across my arms despite the warmth of the fading day.

My eyes locked onto his massive wings folded along his sides that seemed both delicate and powerful at the same time. Each scale cast a tiny shadow that danced across his amazing dragon form.

I couldn't tell whether it was fear or awe sparking through my every nerve, and I decided it must be both. What dominated most was my overwhelming sense of wonder.

His eyes met mine, a deep golden hue filled with gentleness tinged with worry. Did he think I’d reject him?

Any bit of fear I might’ve felt melted away in an instant. This was Reylor, the guy I was beginning to fall in love with despite the walls I kept trying to rebuild between us. He was kind, sweet to both me and Max, and strong. A true person who didn’t hide a shady side that might whip out and bite me.

My breath quickened, almost shallow as excitement clashed with wonder inside me.

“A dragon,” a small voice said in awe behind me. “A real dragon?”

“Jimmy, don’t,” a woman cried hoarsely. “Come back here.”

A little boy about seven or so barreled past me but came to a stop below Reylor.

“I’m sorry.” His panting mom raced over and grabbed his arm, dragging him away from Reylor, her head tilted back, and her eyes like saucers on her face. “I know you’re a person inside,” she told Reylor. “Jimmy knows better than to treat you like you’re a beast.”

Many of the monsters who’d come forward to join us were pretty much beasts, though she was right, inside, they were people just like her and me.

“I’ve told you not to stare and to leave the monsters alone,” she chided him.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m sure Reylor’s used to people staring.”

How couldn’t he be?

“I’ll leave you two to whatever you were doing.” The mother gazed toward the sea. The moon had slipped out of the horizon and its milky whiteness shimmered across the water. “It’s a lovely night to go flying, I think.” She winked my way. “I’m assuming you two were about to go somewhere.”

“Yes,” I said. “This is Reylor. He works for Monsters, PI, the detective agency in town. He’s . . .” Could I call him my boyfriend? Not yet, though I bet I would be using the term soon. “A good friend.”

“But he’s not a creature at a petting zoo,” she told Jimmy. “Say goodbye to the dragon and his friend. It’s time we got home. You need a bath and dinner, and then it’s to bed with you, little guy.”

“Bye, dragon,” Jimmy said forlornly. “Bye, lady.” He directed his wave to us both.

Reylor lowered his head to Jimmy’s level and slowly blew smoke across the boy’s body.

“Whoa,” Jimmy said. “He’s . . . He’s breathing fire, Mommy. He’s a real dragon, and he’s breathing fire!” He hopped around while Reylor blew more smoke.

Jimmy’s mother’s gaze met mine. “He’s sweet to do that for my son.”

That was Reylor.

Pure sweetness.