Page 82 of Never Flirt with a Dragon

My smile widened.

“Ready?” His voice was in my mind again, but I was coming around to the intimacy of it.

“I guess.”

“Lift your arms.”

I did as he instructed, and his tail came around to the front of me slowly, tucking beneath my arms. In a smooth motion, he lifted me off the balcony and set me on his back. It was the same place he’d put me the last time I flew with him, but his gigantic body was much calmer.

I hadn’t realized what a big difference the lack of tension would make. I could relax against his neck much more comfortably, with the way he was positioned.

“You comfortable?” he asked.

“Surprisingly, yes.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning against him.

“Alright, hold on.” His body tensed for a moment, and he took off.

My stomach was tight as I closed my eyes and held on to him for dear life, waiting for the discomfort I remembered from the last flight.

It never came.

Instead, after a few minutes, I opened my eyes.

We were gliding over the mountains.

The air whipped my damp hair around behind me, the sound of it like white-noise that sort of comforted me.

It was… peaceful.

Nothing like I’d expected after our first flight.

The air smelled fresh and felt nice on my skin, if a bit chilly.

Jasper’s body kept me warm.

The scenery beneath us and around us was stunning, full of mountains and valleys covered in lush trees. Clouds floated below and above us, making me feel like we were on top of the world.

“Is it more bearable this time?” Jasper asked me, after a few minutes went by.

“Definitely.”

He rumbled below me, and I felt more than heard it.

“Is it hard to fly this smoothly?” I asked, wondering if the peace was going to last.

“Only when I’m under heat’s influence. This is how I normally fly.”

That was fair.

Heat had been difficult on both of us.

I pressed my cheek against his scales a little harder, my eyes still moving over the scenery. “Is it helping you feel better?”

“Much. I’ve always thought better in the sky.”

“I can see why. It’s calming up here.”

His responding thought was so loud, I heard it in my mind. “Thank fuck.”

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