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And maybe only the tiniest urge to nip his neck.

“I don’t think that Robby would have believed you if you’d told him.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “No, I don’t think he would have. I can’t imagine him ever believing where we ended up.” I looked out at the calm seas and rested my head on Damien’s shoulder. I kicked my shoes off and pressed my foot against his, something I had found I loved doing. Lying in bed, sitting on the couch, eating dinner. It was a simple little touch that made my heart soar. He rubbed his foot against mine.

“We’ve come a long way.”

“We really have,” I said. “And I’m excited to see what’s still ahead.”

“Hopefully, it’s an all-inclusive vacation to somewhere tropical for a few months. That sounds like it’s right up my alley right now.”

“Same. What about Costa Rica? I have an uncle who lives there. He can show us around.”

“That’d be nice,” Damien said, his hand tracing invisible shapes on my arm. His touch always sent sparks shooting through me, but this intimacy made those sparks catch on a miles-high tinder pile. The cool ocean breeze did nothing to calm the fire that started to spread inside me. I thought back to the first time Damien had brought me up here, and I suddenly wanted an encore. I tilted my head and started to kiss Damien’s neck.

Soft pecks, gentle. My hand on his thigh, giving him a playful squeeze. The softness in my kisses quickly evaporated with the rising heat. I sucked at his flesh, careful not to sink my teeth in. I’d just had synthetic blood about three days ago, which kept any urges down to a minimum. Damien didn’t shy away, instead leaning in.

I climbed onto his lap and switched from sucking his neck to sucking his bottom lip. His eyes, hooded with passion now, locked onto mine. His grin made my cock rock hard. I ground myself down on him, feeling him throb in return.

“Fuck,” I groaned into another kiss. “I want you. So fuck—”

I stopped, freezing mid-admission of lust. My senses were sharp, sharp enough to pick up a peculiar sound. One which got louder and louder. The sound of flapping. But it wasn’t a seagull flying down the beach—this was louder. It sounded like…

“A dragon?” I saw the shape now, coming in closer. “Hold up,” I said, climbing off Damien, realization dawning on me. “Are you kidding me?”

“How does he do this every single time?”

“I don’t know,” I said, watching as Maddox approached our secret picnic spot. “I think he’s got some sort of cockblock radar.”

I laughed at that, all boners ceasing to exist as Maddox made a less graceful landing on the bare strip of rock, quickly turning before his bulky ice dragon form knocked us all off our (not-so) private perch.

“Madds, what are you doing here?” Damien asked, arms crossed and brows pushing together in concern.

“Sorry, man. Dawn told me this is where I could find you. I would have sent a message, but I think those are getting read.”

I cocked my head and let out a surprised “Wha?” What the hell had Maddox gotten himself into?

“Are you in trouble? What is it? You’re worrying me.”

Madds chewed his nails. His fortress of a self looked deflated, like someone had sent a cannon flying through the bricks that made him stand so tall and proud. “I need your help. I think the Crimson Ring is after me.”

“Holy fuck” was both mine and Damien’s response.

So much for that all-inclusive Costa Rican vacation. It looked like the universe had different plans for us, but that was fine. Maybe that old Robby wouldn’t believe it, but as I looked to Damien, his hand finding mine again, I knew that no matter what, it would be okay.

“Alright,” Damien said. “Start at the beginning.”

The End.