Page 39 of Her Dragon Outlaw

“You're mine now,” he says, pulling me into his chest.

“All yours,” I admit, loving the way our bodies fit together.

His arms tighten around me and he brings his lips to my ear. “Are you ready to christen our home?"

I pull back so I could see his face, “You got us a house?”

He shrugs nonchalantly but I don't miss the mischievous glint in his eye. “It was already ours, I just made it official.”

The weight of his words has me turning to the lake and back to him. “You didn't.”

He dangles a key from a white ribbon. “Proof enough for you.”

I feel my smile down to my bones. It lingers when I’m kissing him, when he carries me back to our home, and when he shuts the door between us and the world.

33

CODY

ONE YEAR LATER.

The sound of the scratching pen competes with the unsure chirps of newborn birds, and the steady drip of water spilling out of cupped, sagging leaves. Cedar, pine, and the salt of spring rain collide against my nose and I inhale. The mostly quiet space- the cicada and other insects were in full, vocal mating season- feels as if I had walked these trails forever. In some ways I guess I have, I’ve explored every inch of this forest, land, and sky.

It’s been my sanctuary, the place that gives me that spark you need to survive. And now it's my home.

Finishing up my notes for one of the recently fallen trees, I tuck my clipboard into the driver's side of my jeep. After the incident with Stella and Miller, I decided it was time to make my life something I wanted to be a part of. The first step was mating Lori, the second was quitting PEACE and following my dream.

I’ve always been lucky.

My luck just has a funny way of taking me on a joyride before it evens out.

A local park ranger job opened up in the forest beside our new home- like I said I’m lucky- and after some encouragement from Lori, I went for it. The muted crunching of leaves turns my attention to the left. A medium-sized doe poke her nose out of the foliage timidly. Her black wet sound crunches as she sniffs the air.

I pull up my phone, making sure the flash is off so I don't startle her. This is my favorite part of my job, well aside from being in the forest. Experiencing these small, amazing moments that often go unnoticed. Laying witness to the tiny actions that make our world spin. After getting a few shots I start up the engine and head home from the night.

I walk through the door and look for my mate in her studio. Ever since she landed the development contract for the homes that will one day house our neighbors, she's been working non-stop. This was her first real project since she’s become a licensed architect.

Loris bent over the table, her brow pulls together in concentration as she makes a few lines on her latest blueprints. Her golden hair is tied in a messy bun that sits on top of her head. Her gaze flits from a 3-d model of the land and plot points for the homes sitting on her left and the paper in front of her. She’s tapping her foot furiously, a habit she has when she’s trying to solve a problem.

I'm silent as I walk up behind her. “I think it’s about that time to put down the pencil.” I reach over her shoulder and pluck the pencil from her fingers and toss it. My free arm snakes around her waist as I bring my lips down on the back of her neck. “Don't make me beg for your attention.”

She giggles, turning to face me and wrapping her arms around my neck. “I couldn't ignore you even if I wanted to.”

“Does that mean you try?” I say in mock offense.

She presses a chaste kiss to my lips.“All the time,” she said, slipping from my hold and grabbing my hand instead. “The sun is setting, let's go watch it down on the dock.”

“I like where this is going,” I say salaciously, as I let her guide me toward the water.

She tosses me a cheeky grin over her shoulder. “Patience is a virtue.” She sat down on the edge of the dock.

I took my place next to her tossing my arm over her shoulders. “One I don't have.”

She's looking out at the water, but instead of leaning into me like she usually would, she sits up straight, stiff. It feels like the start of a free fall, that moment where fear and panic recognize that something is drastically wrong and flood you. The calm expression she usually wears is replaced by a slight frown on her face making the smile slip from mine.

Her eyes grow wide as she notices me watching her and the corner of her lips tilts upward. It's an action meant to placate, to calm. Too late.

“What's wrong?” I ask, moving my hand to her back and rubbing it along her spine.

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