Page 108 of Red Fury

Shadow

The sky is hinting at gray. The sun will start to rise soon. We’ve been driving for several hours and are back in our secluded spot in the wilderness outside DC.

Our.

I probably shouldn’t think of it as that.

“Here we are,” he says, his voice rough with exhaustion. Dark circles shadow his eyes.

“Thank you for doing this for me. I know you probably just want to crawl into bed for a couple of hours of sleep,” I say, stepping out of the vehicle and breathing in the crisp morning air.

“No problem.”

“I need this,” I tell him.

He nods in understanding. “Me, too. Let’s get it done and then let’s get back to my place.”

I nod.

Without another word, he unties the blanket from around his waist and lets it drop to the forest floor.

Even after everything we’ve been through together, the sight of him naked still makes my breath catch. All that powerful muscle and tan skin, the tattoos that wrap around his biceps and torso. I’ve come to like the red in them. It’s sexy, just like the male himself.

Fury closes his eyes and reaches for his dragon. I can see the moment he connects with his beast – his muscles tense, his breathing deepens, and there’s that familiar shimmer in the air around him.

But the shift doesn’t come.

He growls in frustration, his hands clenching into fists. “Come on,” he mutters.

I watch him try again, see the strain on his face as he fights to shift. The drugs must still be affecting him, still muffling his connection to his dragon.

On the third attempt, his body finally begins to change. The transformation is slower than usual, more labored, but gradually his human form gives way to scales and wings. His bones lengthen and thicken, muscles expanding as his dragon emerges.

When the shift is complete, he’s magnificent. Massive and powerful. His eyes, now reptilian but still unmistakably his, focus on me.

For a few moments, I just look at him, and then I realize that it’s my turn. He’s waiting for me.

I’m exhausted.

That’s all.

I pull the dress over my head and let it fall beside his discarded blanket. My panties follow. The cool breeze raises goosebumps along my skin, but I barely notice. My dragon is pressing against my consciousness, eager to be free.

Behave, girl!

I feel bad asking Fury to do this. I can see he’s tired. I hope he doesn’t have to end up chasing after my dragon. I’m tired, too, so I think it will be okay.

Unlike Fury, my shift comes easily. Too easily, in fact. One moment I’m human, the next, I’m stretching wings. My gray scales catch the very start of the morning light.

We need to hurry. The sun will be above the horizon soon.

I turn toward Fury, drawn to his massive presence. My dragon goes over to him. She rubs against his side, a deep rumbling purr emanating from her throat. It’s gentle, almost tender. Fury responds in kind, his own rumbling purr matching hers as he nuzzles against my neck.

It feels nice. I like the contact. The closeness. The— Crap! It’s her thoughts invading mine. We need to remain professional. Even after all that happened. Especially after all that has happened.

Stop!

I tell her, trying to assert control over my dragon.