Page 38 of Pierce

Curiosity was practically killing me. Just what did a full-grown dragon look like? He was kind enough to stand still while I walked a slow, thoughtful circle around him. I had to crane my neck to catch sight of the ridges which ran from the base of his skull to the tip of his tail, where they turned into sharp spikes. He was way taller than me while he was sitting with his smooth belly touching the ground. His legs were thick with muscle under their scales, and the curved talons at the end of his feet were each as long as my legs. Maybe longer.

And his wings. I remembered their translucence from my first flight on his back, the way the gray light shone through them. They were folded against his back just then, but they had an impressive span when they were spread.

I ran a hand over his side as I walked from back to front, and I could feel the way his sides moved with each deep breath.

A living, breathing dragon, and I was touching him.

It had the strangest effect on me. I wanted to do more than just touch him. When would I ever have an opportunity like that again? Standing in front of a dragon, with the heat from his body warming me in a way the sun never could.

He turned his head, neck bending gracefully to look behind him to where I stood, dwarfed.

He was beautiful.

Looking into those big, amber eyes which seemed to know me so well solidified the desire which danced around the edges of my awareness.

I almost couldn’t admit to myself what he stirred within me. This beautiful beast. A living, breathing connection to a time I couldn’t even imagine. Those eyes had seen so much, and they were looking at me. Into me.

A shiver ran up my spine.

“Can I…?” I gestured to his back, pointing up, chewing my lip. Was it considered rude to ask a dragon for a ride?

If it was, he didn’t seem to care. Instead of flying off or roaring at me, he stretched his neck out flat and lowered it until it was flat on the ground.

I took the hint—it was the easiest way for me to climb on, and even then, I grunted and huffed as I mounted him like I was mounting a horse. An extremely large, extremely scaly horse. Without the benefit of stirrups or a saddle.

I eased my way back, careful to raise myself over the ridges which rose up from his spine. I realized quickly that I could hold onto one of them like I’d hold onto a pommel. It was better than nothing.

“Is this far enough?” I asked, and he turned his head to look back at me again. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve sworn he was smiling.

My thighs gripped him tighter than ever. I wasn’t sure I liked that smile. Like he was about to show me a thing or two.

Sure enough, we were off the ground in seconds and soaring up, up, up.

I screamed, but it wasn’t entirely in terror. Exhilaration, for sure, and sheer joy.

First, we were climbing up to the top of the mountain, and suddenly we were plummeting down in almost a free-fall.

I shrieked and clung to him even tighter as my stomach dropped and the wind whipped through my hair.

“Pierce!” I screamed, but the wind carried it away.

Not that it would’ve mattered if he’d heard it—he was in control, and maybe even showing off a bit.

We banked, gliding in a smooth circle around the outside of the mountain. I could see the entrance where he must have brought me in, on the opposite side from the place where I’d come out and found him. It was overgrown, half-hidden.

I wouldn’t have known it was there otherwise. I guessed that was the idea.

Looking out, there was nothing but mountains and trees for miles and miles all the way out to the horizon. It was like they lived in their own world—which, again, I guessed was the idea.

They needed somewhere they could have the freedom to do this, to spread their wings and soar. If I could fly, not much would stop me from doing it all the time. I didn’t know why Pierce bothered to ever shift into his human form if this was the alternative.

Who would tether themselves to a fragile, two-legged existence? This was freedom, this was power.

I let out a whoop of pure joy, and the dragon roared in response. At that moment, we were together. United.

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when he landed. It would never be long enough for me, no matter how long or how far we flew.

My heart hammered wildly as I swung my leg over his neck and allowed my body to slide over his until my feet touched solid ground. I realized I was grinning like an idiot, but nothing could’ve wiped that smile from my face.

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