Page 51 of Cruel Daddy Dragon

“Wait,” Rufus says, his voice simmering down, “you’ve had visions before?”

I’m panting from the argument—that same heat is crawling up and down me again.

Damn it, why do I enjoy these arguments so much?

The fact he’s now basically naked in my police cruiser doesn’t help either…

I shake my head and try to focus on my beating heart.

“Just one,” I say, “And it was this afternoon, but it was exactly right. So when I watched you die…”

I huff a stressful sigh.

“So when you watched me die, you decided to come join me, I guess,” Rufus says, flapping a hand.

I don’t answer for a second, concentrating as we drive back into town. Once we’re back on a familiar road, I smirk at him.

“You know what it is?” I sneer, “I think you just can’t handle the idea that I saved you.”

“What?” Rufus snaps.

“I know for afactyou would have died if I wasn’t there,” I say, “However, it turned out that just being there changed the future. You can tell me I’m irresponsible all you like, but I’m fine—I changed fate, I got a shot at the dragon, and that allowed you to finish the fight.Isavedyou.”

I grin, still staring at the road. We’re getting close to the police station now.

“I saved you,” I repeat, smirking, “and I don’t think your big dragon ego can handle that.”

“It’s not that!” Rufus protests.

“No? Then admit it!” I challenge, “Admit that I saved you.”

“Well, yousayyou did,” Rufus says, “But this is based on what, a vision that you suddenly had?”

He gives me a little grin.

“What ifyou’rethe one whose ego can’t handle being saved?” he says, “I mean, from what I saw, you blundered in, shot a few times, which did nothing, andIhad to saveyou.You never mentioned having visions before.”

“I only started having themtoday!” I insist.

We pass by the stop sign where Merl and the butcher had their altercation, and I point it out:

“That’s where I saw Merl getting the shit beaten out of him—and I had to step in to save him. That’s how I know the visions are right!”

“And didanyonewitness this?” Rufus says mockingly, “Or did you just make up a second story to back up the first?”

I don’t answer for a moment, pulling up to the metal gates of the police station. I have to open the window and press my security tag against the gate. It clicks green, and the gate starts to open slowly. Once I have the window closed again, I snap back:

“I don’t lie about these kinds of things! The only people who saw were the other officers, and I wasn’t telling them I was having visions!”

“Oh, how convenient,” Rufus sneers.

We drive into the police station parking lot and then get out. The conversation peters out for a second as we walk out of the car and lock up. After we get to the door and I use my security tag to buzz us in, we walk in, keeping our eyes peeled.

“Will?” I call, “Ben?”

There’s no answer. I look over my shoulder at Rufus, still barely clothed, his impressive pecs the first things I see on him, and one thought comes to mind:

“Probably just as well they’re not here,” I grumble, “They’re already talking about that hickey you left on me last night. I hate to think what they’d say if they saw you walking in half-naked like a male stripper.”

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