Page 8

FIVE

DANICA

A sher had turned to the stove and fired up the cast iron skillet for their steaks.

The crisp white of his button-down shirt contrasted with his tanned skin, his sleeves rolled up high to expose his muscular arms. The top two buttons remained undone, offering glimpses of his chest that Danica found herself repeatedly drawn to.

When Asher had asked if she wanted to watch the night shifting ceremony at the festival, a thrill had shot through her body.

She'd heard about shifters her entire life—they weren't exactly a secret in New Orleans—but she'd never actually witnessed a transformation.

The thought of seeing Asher become something so powerful and primal made her heart race.

"I would absolutely love to see that," she replied, leaning forward on her elbows. "I've never seen someone shift before. What's it like? Does it hurt?"

Asher turned away from the stove completely, facing her with an intensity that made her breath catch. The black granite island between them suddenly felt like an unwelcome barrier.

"It's like..." he searched for words, "releasing something that's always there under your skin. It doesn't hurt—it feels like finally stretching after being cramped too long."

Danica couldn't help but smile at how animated he became when talking about his dragon side.

The stiff, formal mayor from this morning had transformed into someone passionate and engaging.

The awkwardness from their first meeting had melted away, replaced by a comfortable rhythm that felt strangely familiar.

"And you're actually flying? Not just, I don't know, hovering a few feet off the ground?"

Asher laughed, a deep rumble that did funny things to her insides. "We're talking a wingspan wider than this kitchen. We fly—high and fast."

"That sounds..." Danica struggled to find the right word. Exciting? Terrifying? Sexy? "Exhilarating."

"It is." His eyes locked onto hers, seeming to penetrate straight through her careful exterior. "Most humans never get to see us do it. But you're different."

The air between them charged with something electric. Danica uncrossed her legs, suddenly feeling too warm in her dress.

"Different how?" she challenged.

Asher leaned across the island, closing some of the distance between them. "You don't back down. From anything. I can respect that."

Coming from him—this powerful alpha who commanded an entire community—the compliment felt momentous. Danica felt her cheeks warm.

"Is backing down something people do around you often?" she teased.

"Always," he admitted without hesitation. "It gets boring."

A thin tendril of smoke curled up behind him, but Asher seemed oblivious, thoroughly engrossed in their conversation.

"Um, Asher?"

"That's why this is..." he continued, gesturing between them, "refreshing."

"Asher, the steaks?—"

"What?" He followed her gaze over his shoulder. "Shit!"

He whirled around to find both ribeyes engulfed in flames. In a single fluid motion, he grabbed the skillet handle and moved it off the heat, then slammed a lid over it to smother the fire.

The kitchen filled with the unmistakable scent of charred meat. When Asher lifted the lid, two blackened, smoking remnants stared back at them.

"Well, that was unfortunate." Danica bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Asher's shoulders slumped for a moment before he turned to face her. "I got distracted."

The admission sent a ridiculous flutter through Danica's stomach. She, Danica Ulrich, had distracted the Alpha dragon shifter enough to ruin dinner.

"I'm so sorry, Asher."

Instead of frustration, Asher's expression softened. He leaned against the counter, unveiling a dazzling smile that caused her chest to tighten.

"You should feel flattered," he said as his eyes traced her figure with unmistakable appreciation. "Between your brilliant festival ideas and that incredible body of yours, I didn't stand a chance."

Heat rushed to Danica's cheeks. She'd received compliments before—usually from clients trying to sweeten her up for discounts or men with fleeting interest—but Asher's sincerity and directness caught her completely off-guard.

"I..." she stuttered, cursing herself for the rare loss of composure. "Thank you."

Asher smiled wider, clearly pleased at her reaction. "I like making you blush." He reached for his phone. "Let me call Rosie's. Best café in town, and the owner owes me a favor."

Fifteen minutes later, they sat across from each other, surrounded by fragrant containers of crawfish étouffée and sweet cornbread. Danica savored the explosion of aromas.

"This is incredible," she moaned around a forkful. "No wonder your town stays hidden. If people knew about this food, you'd have tourists swarming."

"Speaking of the town," Asher said, spreading out their planning notes beside their plates. "I've been thinking about those LED fairy lights you mentioned."

Danica perked up. "Really?"

"They could work strung across the tent ceilings," he conceded, tracing a pattern on the sketch. "And I suppose a few jewel-toned tents mixed with our traditional white ones would create visual interest."

Danica couldn't hide her surprise. The stubborn, traditional man from earlier was transforming even further before her eyes. "What happened to 'that's not how we've always done it'?"

"I'm not completely inflexible," he countered, his green eyes sparking with challenge. "But the town emblem stays prominently displayed around the festival, and we keep the ancestral fire ring lighting ceremony intact."

"Deal," she agreed immediately. "I'd never want to erase your heritage. Just enhance the experience."

As they ate, they continued refining ideas, creating a vision that honored tradition while embracing innovation.

Asher's willingness to meet her halfway stirred something deep in Danica's chest. Most clients either surrendered completely to her vision or fought her every step of the way.

This collaboration felt different—balanced.

Their hands brushed as they both reached for the same sketch, and electricity jolted through her fingertips. Instead of pulling away, Asher's fingers lingered over hers, warm and steady. Danica froze, suddenly forgetting how breathing worked.

"I think we make an excellent team," he murmured, making no move to break contact.

"We do," she managed, her pulse thundering in her ears. What was happening to her? She'd met attractive men before, especially working with powerful executives and charming celebrities. But none had affected her like Asher.

They moved to his office, where stacks of planning notes gave way to their sprawling ideas. As midnight approached, their conversation flowed between the festival plans and her memorable event planning stories. Each accidental touch lingered longer than the last.

"Your creativity is extraordinary," Asher said, leaning close to examine her updated festival layout sketch. His shoulder pressed against hers, radiating heat. "You see possibilities where others see limitations."

Danica's body hummed with awareness. "And I admire your dedication to your people. The way you honor your ancestors while protecting their future—it's remarkable."

Their hands collided again, and this time, neither pretended it was accidental. Asher's fingers intertwined with hers, his thumb tracing patterns on her wrist that sent shivers up her spine.

"Danica," he whispered, her name sounding sacred in his deep voice.

She met his gaze, drowning in those forest-green eyes. Her heart thundered in her chest as she fought the overwhelming urge to close the distance between them. This intensity defied logic—they'd just met this morning, for heaven's sake—yet felt as natural as breathing.

His gaze dropped to her lips, and Danica's entire body tensed with anticipation. The practical voice in her head screamed about professionalism and rushing in, but her body refused to listen, leaning imperceptibly closer.

Suddenly, the large grandfather clock chimed loudly, breaking the spell they were momentarily under. Danica jerked back, blinking rapidly as if waking from a dream.

"Midnight already?" she whispered, her voice husky with unspoken want.

Asher's expression shifted, his posture straightening as he reluctantly released her hand. "You're staying here tonight."

It wasn't a question. Danica widened her eyes at his commanding tone, but exhaustion hit her like a wave. The thought of walking to the town square in the dark and then driving to the hotel suddenly seemed impossible.

"I still have my suitcase in my car. But its parked near the town square," she said.

"I can go to the town square and get your suitcase for you." Asher rose to his full height. "You're in no condition to go anywhere tonight."

Danica opened her mouth to argue—purely on principle—but a yawn betrayed her. "Fine, but only because you have excellent food and comfortable chairs here."

Asher's mouth quirked into that devastating smile. "Wait until you see the guest beds."

He led her through the mansion's hallways, their footsteps echoing on polished hardwood. The guest room he showed her was twice the size of her bedroom at home, with a plush four-poster bed draped in rich burgundy.

"I'll go get your suitcase now," he said softly.

She reached for her car keys in her purse and handed them over to him. He turned and headed toward the door. "Make yourself comfortable," he said, looking over his shoulder.

The moment he left, Danica's exhaustion hit full force. She sat on the bed, intending only to test its softness, but found herself sinking backward, her eyes drifting closed against her will.

She woke with a start at the sound of the bedroom door closing. Disoriented, she blinked in the dim room. Her suitcase sat neatly by the dresser and her keys were on the nightstand—Asher must have delivered them while she slept.

"So much for a polite thank you," she chided herself as she sat up. Her dress was wrinkled beyond salvation, and she desperately needed to change into something more comfortable.

A movement outside the window caught her attention as she stood. Through the gossamer curtains, she spotted Asher crossing the moonlit lawn. He glanced around furtively, then began removing his clothes.

Danica's breath caught. She knew she should look away, but her eyes remained fixed on him as he stripped down to nothing. His body was magnificent—sculpted muscle moving fluidly beneath tanned skin, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, and between his legs?—

"Oh my," she whispered, her cheeks burning even as she couldn't tear her gaze away.

But what happened next drove all thoughts of his impressive anatomy from her mind. Asher's body began to shimmer, his form elongating and expanding. Within seconds, where a naked man had stood now towered a massive crimson dragon with scales that gleamed like rubies in the moonlight.

"Holy shit," Danica gasped, pressing her palms against the glass.

The dragon—Asher—unfurled enormous wings that blotted out the stars. With a single powerful thrust, he launched himself skyward, becoming a scarlet streak against the night.

Without conscious thought, Danica found herself racing through the mansion, her fatigue completely forgotten. She pushed through the back door onto a stone patio, tilting her head back to search the sky.

There—a flash of red against the moon. Danica's heart pounded with exhilaration. She'd known about shifters, but witnessing the transformation firsthand was otherworldly. Something primal stirred within her, a recognition that transcended rational thought.

A piercing screech split the night, and she spotted Asher's dragon form wheeling sharply, diving directly toward her.

Logic dictated fear—a creature that size could crush her with one foot—but Danica remained rooted in place, unafraid. Somehow, she knew with bone-deep certainty that she was perfectly safe.

The massive dragon landed before her with surprising grace, his wings creating a gust that whipped her hair around her face. His eyes—still that impossible forest green—fixed on her with intelligence and something far more complex.

Danica stepped forward without hesitation, her hand outstretched. "You're beautiful," she whispered.

Asher lowered his massive head, and Danica's palm connected with scales that felt warm and smooth, like sun-heated stones. Electricity sparked where they touched, and she traced the elegant line of his jaw in wonder.

The air shimmered again, and suddenly her hand rested against human skin. Asher stood before her, gloriously naked in the moonlight, his eyes burning with intensity.

"You don't mind?" he asked, capturing her hands in his.

"Mind?" Danica laughed, her eyes traveling over him shamelessly. "You're the most incredible thing I've ever seen—in both forms."

Asher pulled her against his bare chest, one hand tangling in her hair as his mouth found hers. The kiss began gentle, almost questioning, before igniting into something hungry and demanding. Danica melted against him, her fingers tracing the hard muscles of his chest.

Abruptly, Asher broke away, his breathing ragged. "We should get to bed," he said, his voice low. "Tomorrow's full of festival preparations."

Danica stiffened, stung by what felt like rejection. She stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. "Right. Of course."

"Danica." Asher reached for her hand, his touch sending sparks up her arm. "This isn't rejection."

"No?" She met his gaze, struggling to maintain her composure.

"If I did what I wanted right now," he growled, pulling her closer until she felt every hard inch of him pressing against her body, "we wouldn't leave my bedroom for days. And while nothing would make me happier than exploring every perfect inch of you, we have responsibilities."

His words sent heat pooling low in her belly. "Responsibilities," she echoed breathlessly.

"I want you—make no mistake about that," he continued, his thumb tracing her lower lip. "But when I take you to my bed, I want to savor you properly. Not rush because of this damn festival hanging over us. You deserve my complete attention."

Danica's irritation melted away, replaced by molten desire. "That's... surprisingly reasonable."

"I have my moments." Asher's mouth claimed hers once more, his kiss a promise of things to come.

When they finally separated, Danica's legs felt unsteady. "Goodnight, then," she managed.

Asher's eyes glowed with intensity. "Sweet dreams, Danica. I know mine will be."