Page 48 of Lahaina Noon

Can you hear me?She thought at him, hoping this was how it worked. He rumbled in his chest, and she took that as a good sign.You’re beautiful!She thought in awe, hoping to convey to him how moved she was.

He lowered his massive head and looked at her with eyes the size of car tires. He snorted a smoke ring at her, making her laugh.

“Cut that out.” She gently smacked his neck, and he snorted again.

He purred softly, which shook the rooftop.

“How do you not collapse the building under your weight?” she asked him.

He rolled his eyes.

“Oh yeah, magic.”

Are you trying to say I’m fat, little one?She heard in her head. It was his dragon voice, deep and raspy.

No way, not me! Not me saying a thing about your size,she smiled at him.

Good,he rumbled,Dragons are very proud, and we do not take kindly to insults about our best form.

She looked him over and stepped closer, running her hands over his scales. They were smooth and shiny, not soft but not sharp either. She looked at his nearest eye, watching her movements and walked to his snout. She leaned over and saw his sharp fangs poking out from his lips.

I am not a horse to be evaluated,he grumped at her.

She stifled a laugh so as not to offend him. “Why, Mr. Dragon, what large teeth you have.”

He rolled his flame-colored eyes,All the better to eat you up if you keep sassing me.

They both laughed.

What do I call you?she asked curiously.

Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All,he replied haughtily.

She blinked, then laughed.Nice try, smartass. I know that reference.

He shrugged, which in his dragon form was more of a ripple of muscle.I’m still Vaughn, but if it helps you to separate us in your mind, you can call me Drake in this form. We all have a human name and a dragon name. There’s no separation otherwise,he explained.

She nodded. “So now what, Mr. Dragon? Drake,” she said, looking down the length of him, marveling at his sheer size and power.

Now, my love, we fly.

Chapter 27

Bridget held on tightlyas they soared through the night sky.THIS. IS. AMAZING.Underneath her legs, Drake rippled a shoulder.

You don’t have to shout,he grumped at her.

Sorry,she thought back quieter.This is ahhh-maaazzziiinnngshe drew out the word.

He bobbed a bit in flight as if to warn her he would drop her if she kept being a smartass. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. She knew he never would and was just being playful. He rumbled in response to her hug.

She sat back up and continued looking around. She could make out the highway below them. It seemed they were following it north. The night air blew through her hair, tangling it hopelessly, but she didn’t mind. She was flying on the back of a huge black dragon. How many people could say that?

You’re the only one,he thought quietly.

Her heart swelled for a moment, thinking about the meaning behind that simple phrase. It was an honor, she understood, onereserved only for mates or battle partners. Drake angled slightly west as they flew over the city of McKinney. Already? She was amazed at how far they’d come. How fast was he going? She decided she didn’t want to know, really.

Good choice,he chuckled.

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