Page 2 of Rescued By The Dragon

We made it toward the center of the bridge, squatted down, and let our feet dangle off the side, as we wrapped our arms around the lowest rail and readied ourselves.

Sasha brought out a flask from the inside of her coat and grinned. “Where did you get that?” I laughed.

“My dad’s liquor cabinet. He only has ten of them, he’ll never notice. Plus, I don’t live with my parents, so I’ll blame it on my brother.”

She chugged it back and offered it to me.

I pressed the cool container to my lips and tossed it back. I wasn’t sure how liquor would mix with my pills, but at this point in my life, I would never get to drink if I didn’t take a chance. The liquor scorched the back of my throat, and I coughed like the newbie I was. Sasha laughed and rested her head on my shoulder.

“Lightweight.”

The sound of thunder echoed across the sky in the distance, and Sasha squealed. “They’re coming.”

Dragons crisscrossed in the sky, slicing across the moon, and twirling through the clouds when the first firework exploded. Sasha looped her arm through mine and rested her head against my shoulder. Several of them blew fire into the night and made both of us gasp. “One day I’m gonna bang me a dragon.”

I smiled and patted her head. “Keep dreaming, Sleeping Beauty.”

“You never know. I know it’s few and far between, but some dragon shifters mate with humans.”

I always envied the humans that mated with dragons. Dragon men were dominant, and no one could cross them. It was protection at its finest. And I do mean, finest.

“You’re the one that keeps that picture of the Dragon Prince in your nightstand drawer,” Sasha teased.

“Oh puh-lease,” I said. “Like he isn’t the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen in your life.”

“I’m not arguing. I’d drop my panties in a heartbeat. But we both know, even if it was the Dragon Prince, you would make him wait.”

A blush brushed across my face, even in the dark, it embarrassed me. “Sue me for wanting to give it up to someone that gives a damn about me. I don’t know about the mating process though. The mark they leave on a human’s neck—,”

“I think it’s hot,” Sasha said. “It’s saying that she’s mine, don’t touch her. I’m sure it hurts, but I bet it goes away quickly.”

I shuttered at the thought of a dragon piercing me with the edge of their wing. Not that I needed to worry about it. It wasn’t going to happen.

The fireworks began to pick up, and bright colors brightened the sky. Sasha passed me the flask again and I took another brave drink. The minutes ticked by, and I felt the breeze pick up. I curled into my jacket to shield myself from the cool air.

A piece of stray hair flew off my shoulder from the growing wind and then began to twirl around as if a tornado was above—oh no, dragon.

Sasha glared at me, and hurried to her feet, offering me her hand. A thundering noise drowned me, and fear snaked into my body.

We’d have to go in front of the king if we were caught on the bridge. My stepmother would find out, and everything would go to Hell. “Hurry,” Sasha said, trying to pull me up.

I tried to stand but something tugged me back. My jacket caught on something. The noise grew closer, and I tried to shimmy my arms out of the sleeves, but I couldn’t get it off quickly enough.

“Go,” I yelled over the noise. “Go!”

Sasha looked torn and continued to try to help me out of my jacket, but I shook my head. "Go! I'll get out. Go!"

Sasha cringed but ran down the wall. There was no sense in us both getting caught. My body grew numb from fear as I finally got my jacket off and crawled to my feet.

The thump of his landing stiffened my spine. The shadow of his wingspan shaded me, making me feel tiny.

Knowing I was caught, I dropped to my knees and glared at his feet. His black boots were large and shiny. His jeans were dark, though I couldn’t see everything like I would have in the daylight.

“Get up,” he said.

His voice was deep, sliding over my skin like silk, and leaving me gooey like chocolate. I slowly stood to my feet, keeping my eyes cast downward, as the wind picked up and my nipples hardened underneath my thin dress.

My gaze shifted toward my jacket hanging on a loose nail.

---