Page 46 of Dragon Detective

“I need to see that.” Her wide eyes met mine as we walked down the hall toward the back door. “Can I touch your scales?”

“Of course.”

“I know it sounds odd, but I’m curious. Dragons have been fictitious things until recently, and I still can’t believe they exist.”

“We always have. That’s where the stories come from.” I held the back door open for her, watching her as she passed, drooling over her luscious ass and curves and the way those heels made her legs look like they went on forever. “You need to know that when you touch my scales, you might turn me on.”

“You’re truly determined to show off that dragon peen, aren’t you?” she shot over her shoulder as she sashayed toward the path leading through the sand dunes to the beach.

“I’ll restrain myself. Promise.”

Before we reached the sandy area, she turned and placed her palm on my chest. Could she feel my heart racing there? It did whenever she was near. I was a mess all the time, a mix of excitement and hope and high heat, solely because this woman had come into my life.

“Perhaps, tonight,” she said, her brow knitting with thought. It cleared and her smile curved her red-tinted lips I ached tokiss. “I might like to see you let go of that restraint. Show me your wild side, Reylor.”

Chapter 22

Hannah

Iwas literally playing with fire, but I wasn’t going to hold myself back any longer. I liked him so much, and I wanted more. I was going to jump off the cliff even if I might hit hard when I landed on the other side.

“Hannah,” he breathed, stroking my face. “You won’t regret this.”

Time would tell. Jumping off the cliff and giving my heart were two separate things. The wall I’d built to keep from getting hurt had cracks on the surface. Depending on what happened, they’d deepen. If things went well, I’d let go and my wall would crumble. I hoped I’d never have to build it again.

He took my hands and squeezed them. “Let’s go explore both our wild sides, shall we?”

At my nod, he swept me off my feet and raced through the sand, his shoes digging deep.

“You’re going to get a workout,” I said, not complaining that he was carrying me.

“That’s for later.”

Heat simmered through me. Was I taking too much of a risk by telling him I wanted to be with him? My skin prickled withunease, but I shoved it aside. Reylor was not my ex, and it would be wrong to compare them.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for nesting yet.” More cracks kept appearing in my wall, but it remained strong and true.

“No nest until you say you want it.”

There was something wonderful about a guy who could not only lift me and hold me with ease as he slogged through the sand dunes, but who wanted to do it. No comparing, but none of the other guys I’d been with wouldn’t have thought of doing something like this.

He reached the open beach and paused, his breaths coming loosely.

A few people walked their dogs or strolled hand-in-hand near the shore, but with the sun shimmering on the horizon, the tourists had gone home, leaving this part of the world open for those who lived in the area and knew this was the best time to visit.

Waves soared up the beach only to retreat once more, leaving behind clumps of foam and random tiny shells. The shelling capital of the world might be in Florida, but Cape Cod offered a few treasures as well. It wasn’t uncommon to find horseshoe crab or razor clam shells here, though you’d mostly find those on the bay side. And tiny crabs. They sold them to tourists in some of the shops, but the savvy residents knew you could collect them all on your own, assuming you wanted to have a crab as a pet.

“I’ll shift here.” He lowered me to my feet and dropped the bag he’d slung over his shoulder.

“You’re going to get naked, aren’t you?” My voice bubbled. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to burst into laughter or drool. I saw him shift in my backyard, but I still couldn’t wait. Eat your heart out, romantasy readers. This dragon would not only be real, but it was also clear he adored me.

“I usually strip.” He pinched his t-shirt and drew it away from his body. “Saves on clothing. But there are too many people around for something like that.”

And I didn’t want to share the view with anyone else.

“Shifting in public must make this expensive,” I said.

“It’s not a problem.”

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