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  “Chips from the store are gross. I’ll fry some tortillas.”

  “Great, I’ll slice the steak while you—” His phone buzzed in his pocket, so he drew it out and noticed several missed calls and a current caller notification from his father. “Shit.”

  “Uh-oh, trouble at work?” she guessed.

  “It’s Dad,” he replied with a grimace. “Gimme a sec to take this and I’ll help you out.”

  Erring on the side of caution, Nate stepped outside into the fresh air to receive the call. While he trusted Astrid to respect his privacy, he didn’t trust her ears not to pick up his father’s voice.

  “Hi, Dad.”

  “Why haven’t you checked in? Do you know how much you’ve worried me? Son, we were on our way to blow that beast to hell.”

  Nate groaned and leaned against the wall with his head tilted back. He swallowed and thanked the stars he’d answered the last call.

  “I’m sorry I’ve worried all of you, and I give my word that it won’t happen again.”

  “Has it been hostile with you?”

  “Not at all. She likes me.”

  His father remained silent for a time, then the man chuckled, only it lacked humor and warmth. “Not a surprise there. You’ve always had a knack with the girls, despite your disinterest in them. I guess even creature women can’t help themselves. Report in at the conclusion of the mission. I want to know what this thing has told you.”

  He paced while outside, listening to his father’s usual diatribe against the shifters, a reinforcement that Nate didn’t forget his identity and origins.

  “Then maybe you should allow me to return to her company,” he spat. “As discussed during our last meeting, I will not report my activities to accommodate your schedule. You will hear from me when I have news to report. Do not contact me again during this weekend.”

  Without allowing Kay the chance to respond, he pressed the red ‘end call’ button and spent the next moments cooling off outside.

  ***

  Nate’s phone call changed his mood, and while he did help her in the kitchen, he worked in silence alongside her until they returned to the couch with their fresh nachos smothered in cheese and fajita steak.

  She resumed the movie and settled in against the cushions, feet tucked up beneath her, and absently worried at the hem of her skirt. As a shadow fell over the evening, Astrid searched for a way to restore his cheerful disposition. She touched his knee and twisted to look at him. “Everything okay at home?”

  “Just Dad being Dad,” he said despite his strained smile. He startled her with a sudden question. “Are all dragon families like yours?”

  “What do you mean?”

  He gestured to the room around them. “It all looks normal, not that I was expecting humans in the oven and skulls on the mantle or anything.”

  “We’re not much different from anyone else, I guess. Mom and Dad work at the studio together every day. Grandpa Max looks forward to retirement and spending time with the twins. Grandma manages a huge charity for foster children of all backgrounds from human to shifter. We have friends that are human, dragon, shifter, witch.” She shrugged as if it were nothing abnormal. “Some dragons prefer solitude, but there’s reasons for that, I guess. The rest are just living their lives, same as you and me.”

  With a thoughtful look on his face, he nodded. “Before meeting you, I guess I imagined all dragons living in caves and emerging to abduct princesses, not making families and raising little girls. Did your mother teach you to cook?”

  She giggled. “Well, some do keep caves.” That knowledge was common fact at least, but she didn’t elaborate on treasure hoards or anything like that. “Actually, my grandma Ēostre used to tutor princesses. She didn’t kidnap and eat them. As for cooking, yeah, I guess Mom sometimes did, but I learned more from watching Aunt Mahasti and Uncle Leiv.”

  His brows raised. “I didn’t know Mrs. Emberthorn did that.”

  “Well, of course, you wouldn’t,” she laughed. “That was ages ago, back when we still had knights and castle and serfs.” Relaxed again, she stretched her legs out, wiggling her pink-painted toes.

  “Are your aunt and uncle dragons, too?”

  “No.” She hesitated a split second before adding. “My uncle is a shifter. His daughter and I grew up together.”

  “It must have been nice growing up with a big family at home.”

  “It was, I guess. But as big as my family is now, it wasn’t always. I was… well, I was lonely as a kid until they got me some friends. Isolated. I was homeschooled, for one, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it didn’t exactly lead to having many friends my age. What about you? Do you see your mother often now?”

  “Yeah. I visit Mom in Los Angeles whenever I can get the time. I think we had this talk, but she’s into doing stuff for the community and organizing programs to help out the urban youth in the less fortunate areas of LA. She got me involved in the Boys & Girls Club when I returned from my last deployment.” He reached for another chip and scooped up a slice of avocado with the melted cheese and meat. The mood vastly improved, thanks to good food and her fruity, alcoholic beverage. “I think I’ve hit my drink cutoff if I’m going to drive.”

  “We could stay if you want…”

  With a smile on his face, he shook his head. “As fantastic as that would be, I’m not going to abuse the kindness of the president by hanging out in his beach house all night. I should get you home.”

  “Sure, not a problem.” She did her best not to let the disappointment show and took a sip of her drink to cover her letdown frown. “Your mom sounds nice. And I bet those kids looked up to you. Everyone loves a military man in uniform, especially one who will go play with them.” It was easy to change the subject and turn the focus away from herself.

  At least, for a moment it was easy. “What about your shelter thing?” he asked, directing the conversation back to her.

  “I like animals,” she answered, simple and honest. “Cats especially. Mom used to have a Savannah named Felix. She was so devastated when he finally passed on. Dad, too. In the end, Dad and I were using healing magic on him behind her back all the time to give her a few extra weeks together, but it was tiring Daddy out fast. So when Mom found out, she forced us to let him go. Dad had gotten used to the big guy and shed a few tears, though he’d deny it if you asked.”

  Nate said nothing at first, but his startled expression spoke for him. “I didn’t know a dragon could do magic to heal others.”

  “Yeah, we both can. If you ever pull a hamstring while exercising, I’m your girl. I’m so used to having pets around, I foster kittens from the local shelter. It helps them get socialized and stuff. If you ever want to bring Echo over, I’d appreciate it. Kittens need a chance to get used to having dogs around, too.” She bit her lip after the shy offer and glanced up at him. The shock had given way to a warm smile.

  “Okay,” Nate agreed easily. “Echo is well-trained, but I’d be wary of her breaking one of your expensive projects. Everything in your hoard looks as delicate as you do.”

  “She’d be fine at my condo. I don’t bring them to work all of the time, allergic customers and all.”

  “Your condo?” He glanced at her sharply, his brows raised. “Yeah… we’d both like that.”

  Tidying together restored the beach house to its original state in record time. While the dishwasher ran, they chatted about the movie and enjoyed a final walk along the beach. He held her hand, and it felt right to be close to him.

  When they embarked on their hour-long ride home, a belly of drinks and delicious food lulled her to sleep. She didn’t stir until Nate nudged her arm. They’d reached downtown San Diego and neared her building. Rain pelted the windshield and stormy clouds swept in over the city, an evil necessity since they’d needed the rain.

  “Here,” she passed over her garage card and directed him to the entrance. “You can park anywhere.”

  Nate pulled inside and
drifted through the parking garage until he found an empty spot. He killed the engine and glanced at her, a smile on his face. “Today was great, Astrid. Honest. Thanks for inviting me out.”

  “Thanks for coming out with me today. I know it was last minute.” She hesitated, reluctant to leave when she had so much on her mind. So she blurted it all out in a nervous rush. “Look, Nate, if this is too much for you, I understand. I like you, but I’m not a normal human girl, and I get that the whole supernatural thing is still new. If you want to end things here, I’ll totally understand. Really. It’ll suck, but I’d get it. I just… please don’t drive away and never contact me again, because even if you don’t want to continue dating me, I’d at least hope we could be friends.”

  She was breathless by the end, expending all of the air in her lungs for a nonstop ramble. At first, Nate said nothing, reduced to staring at her while his thick brows drew together in a perplexed arch. “Did I say or do something to imply I plan to run away?” After a slow indrawn breath, he continued, “Today was great, and I’ve enjoyed every moment with you.” He leaned in close enough to kiss her cheek.

  Astrid shrugged. “You wouldn’t be the first guy to skip off the moment he found out I was a supposed monster,” she whispered. The touch of his lips didn’t help soothe her fear; it was given with no real feeling behind it. Suddenly she was an awkward teen again, uncertain of herself, her words, or her actions. “Forget I said anything. I’ll let you go.” Tears burned behind her eyes as she fumbled with her seat belt.

  As the seat belt snapped into its former place, he reached out for her wrist and caught her. “I’m not skipping out. I thought we had a great date.”

  And an even better kiss, she thought. As if she’d willed it to happen by the sheer force of her desire, Nate leaned in and kissed her again.

  With one hand on her wrist, his fingers slid down the back of her hand and twined with her slimmer digits. His lips parted against her mouth, the kiss less coaxing, more demanding.

  One kiss, one real kiss, was all it took to shatter the walls she’d been building up to protect herself, and suddenly the only thing in the world that mattered was them. In the secluded, dimly lit garage, they were completely alone. The outside world was silent, excluding the thunder and rain.

  She made a small sound, a whimper of submission and a groan of need all wrapped into one. While one hand twined with his fingers, her other lifted to the back of his head and drew him closer.

  The roomy Jeep allowed him to twist over the console between them, and as her arm raised around his neck, his other hand dropped from her shoulder, descending with confidence. She hadn’t worn a bra beneath her dress, leaving nothing but thin cotton between his fingers and her tightening nipple.

  A low, appreciative groan from him cried out to her, stirring her lust, hitting deep in her gut. She answered in kind, a soft growl she’d never made before as her fingers tightened in his hair and the other hand reached for him.

  “Sorry,” he murmured against her lips. His fingers toyed with the stiffening tip, teasing it in idle, playful circles. “You make it easy to lose control.”

  “Don’t apologize,” she breathed against his mouth before losing herself into the next kiss.

  If she received only a single night with him, she’d treasure it beyond all the jewels in her hoard. One night of bliss with a man who wanted her for her, not for what she could get him. One night with a man who saw Astrid.

  His hand delved lower, slipping from her breast to the crux of her thighs without going beneath her dress.

  Without a single coherent thought, she maneuvered over the center console and straddled his lap. Her fingers tugged at his shirt, the need to feel his skin again an all-consuming desire, but it wasn’t enough. Following instinct, she traced her fingers downward and boldly palmed his erection through his pants. Nothing prepared her for the heat radiating through the cloth, or the hard length of a well-endowed man with mutual desire. Their mingled pheromones filled the darkened car, and she knew without a doubt that she couldn’t stop, couldn’t pull back and walk away, not until he was hers.

  “I think I have a condom.” He fumbled behind him into the rear seat, searching clumsily while his other hand abandoned her for exposing his arousal to the open air. Tall and stiff, it jutted up without restraint.

  Something primal and wild took over, frustration tossing good sense aside for the demands of the present. As if they were tissue paper, Astrid’s panties ripped when she tugged them. She leaned over Nate and snagged the bag, so it came within his reach. Then her hand returned to where it had been, denim replaced by bare, hot flesh.

  Hurry, hurry, hurry, she screamed inside, uncertain of her willpower when all she wanted was to sink down and feel him deep where no one had ever claimed her before. When her fingers surrounded him and failed to close, he groaned in appreciation, the throb beneath her touch frantic with his need for her.

  Abandoning his fruitless search, Nate grasped a handful of her bare ass and jerked her forward, gliding the rounded, sensitive crown through the slick skin between her legs.

  The tip of his cock notched against her clit, setting off an unfamiliar chain of sensations that left her trembling.

  “Don’t tease me,” she whispered. With or without a condom, she needed him, and if he drew their liaison to an abrupt end, she’d combust on the spot.

  “Shh,” he muttered. “Give me a moment.”

  “A mo—ohhh,” she moaned and swayed atop him as the thick, blunt tip of him dragged toward her entrance.

  Then he did more than glide against her slick skin. He pressed inward, entering her with gradual increments. Her tightness surrounded him in a vice grip, seeming too shallow and narrow to hold all of him.

  “You’re so…so…”

  “So what?” he whispered against her lips.

  Astrid clung to him, her nails leaving divots in his shoulders, tearing his shirt. “Big.”

  Her body yielded over time, and just when she thought he couldn’t glide any deeper, he filled her with a final, urgent thrust, melding their bodies close in the intimate embrace she’d craved since their first meeting at the cafe.

  Cheek to cheek, she listened to his moans of mutual satisfaction while gasping against his ear. After the shock had vanished, her instinct kicked in, leading her into the first clumsy roll of her hips.

  His head fell back. “Fuck,” he groaned out, oblivious to the gift she’d given him, that she’d chosen him as her first. Her only. He churned with a few testing strokes. With tinted windows to guard their privacy, he pulled at her dress. “Let me see you. I need to see you.”

  She fumbled with the straps at her nape. After helping him yank the white fabric up over her head, she straddled him, nude from head to toe, her slim, toned body and small but plump and firm breasts on display. Perky, her friend Svetlana had teased her. Her blonde hair, knocked loose from its clasp, fell around her shoulders in a tumble of golden waves.

  He tossed the dress into the passenger seat and spent a few moments gazing at her in awe. “Perfect. God, every inch of you is perfect.”

  She tugged at his shirt, wanting skin against skin. “You too. Get it off.”

  His shirt joined her dress after he adjusted the driver’s seat and pitched them back into a reclined position. His jeans fell around his thighs, exposing him from the hips up, all lean muscle and hard, chiseled angles honed by training and daily athletics.

  She peeked down, entranced with the lines of his hips and the flat, hard plane of muscle above his pelvis. Below her, she saw the root of his cock, so thick and perfect, glistening with her desire. “All of you. I want all of you.” She needed that final inch.

  He thrust up, grinding until their pelvises could be no closer. “How’s that?”

  “Good,” she gasped, leaning forward with one hand against his chest to keep her upright while he reclined back, the other at her side.

  The muscles surrounding his arousal ached with a subtle burn
, but it hurt too good to stop. With sluggish strokes, Nate thrust deep, a full range of gliding motion meeting each descent of Astrid’s hips. As she discovered herself, their tight rhythm became fluid, easier with each subsequent roll. He guided her hips at first, and once she seemed confident in herself, his hands traced over her lean curves, thumbs flicking the pink peaks at the tip of each breast.

  When she found her pace, Nate dragged his dick from her slick embrace and slammed it home.

  “Yes!” she cried.

  He did it again, satisfying her new thirst. Each backstroke and subsequent return built pressure within her core, stimulating fine nerve endings she never knew existed. She cried for more, encouraging screams for his ears alone.

  Over time, the Jeep grew warm, the windows opaque with steam, and a thin layer of perspiration glistened against her tanned skin.

  “I’m so close,” she wailed as she chased the elusive pinnacle gliding beyond her reach. Even in times of self-pleasure, she struggled to reach orgasm.

  Don’t let that happen now, please! she begged.

  “Me too, baby. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

  Nate leaned up to taste the tip of one nipple and trace the pale areola with his tongue. As she rose, he snuck a curved finger between them, wriggling until he found the source of her pleasure. He teased the small pearl and watched her face.

  “I can’t...” Frustration brought burning tension to her throat as her failure threatened to ruin the perfect moment between them.

  No matter how good he felt, how deep he stroked, or how fast she rode him, the promise of orgasm hovered out of reach. “I can’t. I can’t,” she whispered on shallow, hyperventilating breaths. She ground her hips against him, desperate.

  In the back of her mind, she wondered if it was possible to die from lack of fulfillment.

  “Nate, I... I’m sorry. Please come, baby. I can’t. It’s not happening.”