Nadine grinned, pulling out a small silver key. “Do you want to stop it?”
Did I want to? No. I’d never been more sexually attracted to anyone in my life than I was with Logan. We were mates. Mates were forever. Why wouldn’t I want to go all the way, and put out this fire that had been burning since before I met him?
“What’s the key for?” I raised an eyebrow as she slid it across to me.
“Keegan got it from Isaac. He thinks if you can stay on your own during the heat, you won’t shift. As long as Logan is far enough away from you. The key opens the door to a little cottage Isaac built at the top of the waterfall. I thought you might want to make your own life decisions.”
I did. I snatched the key from the counter and nodded. “Thanks, girl.”
She smiled and looked at my banana poised to go in my mouth and then laughed.
I rolled my eyes, chuckling. “I’m going to shower.”
She nodded. “Don’t forget to shave.”
“Shut up!” I laughed.
But our talk and the key in my hand had nerves bunching in my stomach. What would it be like to make love to Logan Sharp? My dragon tightened inside of me at the thought, sending waves of warmth through my body.
Freaking amazing, that’s what it would be like. I’d never trusted a guy like I did him, never felt so totally at peace in the relationship. For once in my life, I didn’t want to run.
8
After showering and shaving, I had dinner with the group. Everyone was present except Logan, Keegan, and Gear. Gear had called asking me some personal information like the address on my driver’s license and what year, make, and model the car was, but then he hung up without another word. I took that as a good sign that he was going to be able to get it back for me. I missed my pencils and sketch pad; I was itching to draw. I wanted to draw the canary-yellow sorcerer that Dom had killed, Griddish, and even Hemlock.
I wished everyone a good night. Nadine promised to keep Hemlock well cared for and away from Mittens. We weren’t yet sure how those two would do together.
I finally caved in and used our bond. ‘Where are you?’
I was heading for the waterfall. I didn’t want to hike up it in the dark and break my neck. This key was burning a hole in my pocket and my dragon was burning my skin at the thought of spending tonight with Logan. I was so ready for this. I just hoped he was too. All guys were, right? Anytime was the right time with them…
‘I’m helping Keegan with something. I’ll come say goodnight in a bit,’ he answered.
I reached the waterfall—the crisp water crashing into the pond below was mesmerizing. I took the trail to the left and started my short but steep hike up.
Inwardly, I rolled my eyes at Logan’s comment. ‘Helping Keegan with my dragon heat problem?’
There was a long beat of silence. Too long. Then finally he answered: ‘Nadine?’
‘Yep, and I can handle my own urges, thank you very much. So tell Keegan to uninstall that app.’
Seriously … tracking my ovulation? How creepy could he get? I guess since he was gay it made it a little less creepy … but still.
Logan groaned inside my head. ‘If you shift, which your dragon will with me around, then the druids find us. You’re not trained yet and we don’t have your staff. We’re just trying to keep everyone safe.’
I was out of breath; I’d reached the top of the waterfall. Sure enough, there on the riverbank was a shipping container house. It was blue with a large sliding glass door that opened up to the outside.
Keegan and Logan were standing outside of it, peeking in through the glass. “Looking for this?” I held up the key.
Both of the boys spun around quickly, clearly caught off guard. The trickling sounds of the rushing water had cut off my approach.
“Nadine!” Keegan growled, looking at the key.
I put one hand on my hip. “Keegan!” I pointed my finger at the alpha. “No more tracking my cycles. You’re not my gynecologist. I can handle my own body, thank you very much!”
Keegan’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Sloane, the reality of a female dragon is—”
“You have a penis, Keegan.” I cut him off. “Don’t even think for one second you know anything about my reality. Stop mansplaining. You can go now.”
He gave Logan a sharp look and left in a huff.
I stepped up to my mate. “We’re partners in all this, right? Isn’t that what the word mate means?”
Shame colored his face and he nodded. “I was just trying to get some different plans in place, and then I was going to talk to you about it. Last time it all happened so fast, and to be honest it was hard to control myself.”
I nodded and side-stepped him to unlock the large sliding glass door. Once it was open, I spun to face him, unzipping my jacket. “Logan, I don’t want to control anything anymore. Life’s too short for that.” Dom had almost died and who knew how much time any of us had.
His eyes flashed to green dragon slits as I backed into the small house and let my jacket fall to the floor. He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts.
“Sloane…” His voice was barely human. “I would never take advantage of a female in heat.”
I rolled my eyes, unzipping my pants. “I’m not in heat yet. Check your app if you need to.” It was true. I was close, but not for another day, maybe two. I let my pants drop to the floor and he practically jumped inside the house, shutting the door behind him with a whoosh.
Standing in my black lace panties and soft blue t-shirt, I walked over to click on the gas fireplace. This home was cozy and romantic. It had a simple bed on the floor surrounded by white mosquito netting, and a small kitchenette with enclosed bathroom area.
When I spun around, Logan was still standing rigidly by the door he’d just closed, his eyes glowing like lit-up emeralds, dancing with the reflection of the fire.
“Shy all of the sudden?” I teased.
At that, he stepped forward, taking my face into his hands. “Sloane, I need you to know something.”
His scent wrapped around me, my heart picking up speed as his body pressed into mine.
His thumb stroked my bottom lip as he looked down at me with a half-lidded gaze. “I’ve never loved anyone the way that I love you,” he whispered. “It’s all-consuming. From the moment I started dreaming about you, until now. You have this way of taking over every part of me.”
Holy romantic hotness. Do me now.
My lips crashed onto his, as his hands cupped my butt and hauled me up to straddle him. I parted my lips as his tongue entered my mouth with a warm sweetness that made me moan. A bright color below caught my eye, and I looked down to see our magic dancing between the two of us, teal and purple, like a star ready to combust. He walked me over to the bed and lowered me gently into it, taking his shirt off in a swift, one-handed move. I raked my fingers over his tight chest muscles and down to his abs. My dragon flared to life then, sending a spark of heat between my legs and I moaned as Logan leaned down to peel off my panties.