Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“That’s right.” I loved the way he saw things. “Alright. Here we go.”
Letting the magic take over, I felt the shift happen almost instantaneously. I was still me as the world came back into focus, but Stefan looked quite a bit smaller as I settled low against the ground and tried to be as still as possible.
“That’s fascinating.” Stefan leaned so far forward, he nearly fell off the stairs.
It definitely gave him a mental push because as he righted himself, he stood and came closer. “You’re very long. I bet you have an impressive wingspan in order to get the lift required. Oh, you’re a dragon. I bet there’s magic and physics involved.”
The encounter was nothing like I’d imagined it would be, no fears and no aww, look at the dragon…but I wasn’t going to complain because he was coming closer on his own and there didn’t seem to be a drop of fear in him.
No, he looked like he wanted to be making notes and was regretting he didn’t have any paper.
“I always theorized dragons would be dinosaurs or have a more birdlike appearance, but you look like a dragon.” He seemed pleased with that and if I’d been in my human form, I’d have laughed.
Stefan seemed to understand that, though, because he cocked his head as he reached out to touch my side. “I think you found that funny.”
Barely nodding so I didn’t frighten him had him sighing. “Yes, I can see why you probably think that’s adorable or something, but theoretical problems keep a mind active and happy.”
Yep, he was adorable.
“You’re very warm and your scales are softer than I’d expected. Oh, and pretty. I haven’t forgotten that part.” His rushed assurance that I was attractive had pleasure and pride going through me before I could hold it back.
“Yes, you liked that too.” Nearly giggling, Stefan slowly worked his way around my body, petting my wings and admiring how long I was again until he came around to my head. “Oh, I can see you in your expression. That’s fascinating. Maybe it’s your eyes? They don’t change much. Your personality, maybe? I wish I could explain it. There’s almost a weight to it.”
I wished he could explain it too.
Of course, I happened to think my dragon form and my human form looked very different, but it seemed that was wrong.
“You’re a very pretty dragon and your coloring…” He smiled, running his hands up the bridge of my nose and between my eyes. “Well, it’s very attractive and it’s given me so many more questions.”
Finally frowning, his mouth tightened before he sighed. “Would it be rude to bring a notebook with us so I can write down a few things while we head out for our date? You said we’d drive closer to the city, so we have time, but I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you.”
Talking himself into it, he stood straighter. “Really, it would be questions and notes that directly pertain to you, so I think you should take it as a compliment.”
Laughter bubbled around inside of me, but I did my best not to let it out in my current form. Stefan must’ve seen it in my eyes, though, because he huffed like a cute little dragon and folded his arms across his chest. “It’s not that funny.”
Oh, it was.
I thought I needed to point that out too, so I closed my eyes and focused on my human form. His gasp and the way the world shifted around me had me opening my eyes and rising from where I’d ended up crouched on the ground. “Oh, it’s very funny.”
Kissing his cheek as he pouted, I couldn’t resist chuckling any longer. “It’s also cute and perfectly understandable, but the price for making notes and ignoring me is going to be a kiss later.”
He looked interested but appropriately skeptical. “You already kissed me.”
“Correct but this would be you kissing me. That’s very different.” I shrugged like it couldn’t be helped. “That’s the price. Take it or leave it.”
Or safeword because my cheeky teasing had gone too far.
Nope.
He was bouncing back and forth between pouting and squirming…and having a very hard time keeping eye contact with me, but by the time I was back to half-mast again, he nodded. “Yes…I…I think that’s fair.”
Curious subs were so much fun.
“Then let’s go have lunch.”
Because he wasn’t the only one with questions.
Chapter 9
Stefan
Just one more…
Making a note to ask about the climate and geography of wherever they’d originated from, I finished and closed everything up neatly before setting the small spiral notebook and pen in the center console. “Done. Thank you for being so patient.”
Boyd closed out of the article he’d been reading and set his phone down on his lap. “You sure?”
It was tempting to keep going, but I nodded my head. “Yes, I’m content for the moment and I would like to get to know you more. Oh, and I promised to stop when we got to the restaurant.”