Page 22 of The Dragon, the Bear, and Their Sugar Glider Omega

Rome, about to strap into a seat in the back row, lifted his hand. “Dragon, but our sugar glider does a bit as well.”

Clay snorted. “I glide, but you are a true flier.”

“I only ask because sometimes those who fly elsewhere like to sit up with me and see how everything works. No pressure if you’d rather not.”

He was already out of the seat he’d been about to occupy and halfway to the front when she stopped speaking, and I suppressed the urge to laugh, not wanting him to feel self-conscious. By the time we lifted off, our dragon was intent on watching everything the pilot did and asking questions about it all.

I turned my attention to the promised city view below, edged by the dark waters of the Pacific to the west. “So many lights,” I murmured. “The city has grown quite a lot, but it somehow doesn’t feel the same as other urban areas.”

“I like it here,” Clay said, reaching for my hand. “Especially the company.”

We left the urban and suburban areas behind before long, heading inland and landed on an open mesa where we disembarked and unloaded our picnic. “I’ll be back before dawn,” the pilot said before closing the door and lifting off again, leaving us just in time for the rising of a full, golden moon. I’d always loved the beach and mountains, but there was something about the desert that my bear and I loved, and spending this evening with our mates here in this wide-open space was beyond magical.

“What do you want to do first?” Rome asked, already perched near the edge of the mesa. “Eat or shift?”

Clay’s grin told me he was just as aware as me of what our mate wanted. “Let’s play first and eat later?” he suggested. “Unless you’re hungry, Rome?”

“Uh, not terribly. It’s a long way down there. I want to swoop.”

“How about you fly, while we set up our dinner and have the pleasure of watching.” We could shift in a bit, but my bear wanted to see him out here where he could be free and really stretch. “Is that okay with everyone?”

“Sure—” Clay said, but Rome was already stripping off his clothes and becoming the dragon I was endlessly fascinated with, leaping into the air and disappearing over the edge. Then he reappeared. He was so big that his wings cast a wide shadow over the desert floor below. We laid out the blanket in the basket that came with the cooler and took a seat near the edge where we could enjoy the show. After a while, we shifted too, but I’d never grow tired of watching Rome fly, his grace and fierce power a kind of feral beauty that made my breath catch in my throat.

Eventually we shifted back and ate the delicious sandwiches and salads and baked treats and then made love in the moonlight, then did everything all over again. It felt like no time had passed when we heard the distant clop-clop of the helicopter’s rotors in the distance telling us our date was ending.

But when you were with your mates, did the date ever really end?

Chapter Sixteen

Rome

A night off. Finally.

I had a date with a bear. I couldn’t wait.

Clay and Armel and I had outings together, but when we had time, we also sometimes spent a few hours one on one. Full nights were rarer. We, especially me, were all super busy.

Tonight, Armel and I had planned a movie night on his couch. I was so exhausted from work, I hoped I could stay awake long enough to be a good mate.

I got home from Old Town at around 5:30. I lived fairly close and could get there by side streets, thus avoiding traffic. But Armel’s house was a little farther away.

I quickly showered and changed.

Dez was sitting on the couch when I came out.

“You spending the night out?” he asked.

“Hopefully. Depends on Armel’s schedule, too.”

“When are you all moving in together? You’re due.”

“We’re not rushing. Besides, you and I have a lease together. I’m not going to leave you in a lurch like that.”

“What? You’re worried about me? These are your fated mates, dude. That trumps all.”

“I wouldn’t leave you like that.”

“I have a new job that pays better now. Plus, I might find someone to move in.”

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