Firefighter Dragon (Fire & Rescue Shifters 1)

A rumble of thunder broke her rather unhelpful train of thought. The sky was darkening with ominous black clouds, rolling in from the sea so quickly that it looked like a cheap special effect.

"Huh," said Virginia, interrupting Dai's monologue about coastal erosion. She shielded her eyes as the wind picked up. All along the beach, people were hurriedly folding deckchairs and packing up picnics. "That storm sure is coming in fast."

"Ah," said Dai, looking up. "John." He seized her hand, and all of Virginia's determination not to let herself fall for him went up in smoke at the heat of his touch. "Run!"

"Why—" Virginia started—and then the rain came.

It was as if someone had scooped up half the sea in a bucket and tipped it out over the city. The raindrops came down so hard and fast they stung like hail. She staggered under the impact, pebbles shifting and rattling under her feet.

Without even a grunt of effort, Dai scooped her up in his arms, hunching over her in a futile attempt to protect her from the downpour. Virginia clung to his neck as Dai sprinted up the beach toward the promenade. The steps up to the top were thronged with people trying to get off the beach; rather than try to force his way through, Dai found shelter at the base of the wall, under one of the high vaulted brick arches.

"Best to wait for a moment for the rush to die down," he said, his breath warm in Virginia's ear. He lowered her to her feet, though his arms still kept her pressed against him, his broad back sheltering her from the worst of the storm. He let out a short, rueful laugh. "I should have brought an umbrella."

"I'm not sure it would have helped." Virginia laughed too, giddy from their wild dash through the storm. "Bertram's goons certainly won't be able to work through this."

She was soaked to the skin. She nestled against Dai's muscular body, his closeness warming her to the core. Despite the heat radiating from him, he trembled a little as he held her, as if he himself felt chilled. His breathing was deep and even, but against her cheek she could feel his heart hammering in his broad chest.

Virginia leaned back a little, tilting her head to meet his eyes, and found them wide and dark, the irises a thin green band around his dilated pupils. Emboldened by the suppressed fire in his gaze, Virginia reached up to brush his wet hair back from his forehead, her fingertips continuing down to trace the line of his cheekbone. His breath hitched. He caught her hand in his, pressing her palm to the side of his face, his eyes closing as if to better concentrate on the feel of her skin on his.

"Virginia," he breathed.

The rain made a silver curtain across the archway, enclosing them in their own private world. She captured his face between her hands, drawing him down for a long, deep kiss. Fire shot through her blood as his arms tightened around her, his tongue exploring her mouth with hungry desire.

Virginia drew back a little, breaking the kiss, though she kept hold of his head. "Why were you pushing me away this afternoon?"

Dai let out his breath in a long sigh. "Because I've been very, very stupid." He leaned his forehead against hers, eyes still closed. "And I'm terrified that you're going to run away when you find that out."

"I'm not going anywhere. Not if you don't want me to." Virginia slipped her hands down, lacing her fingers behind the back of his neck. "So yes, you have been stupid."

"No, that's not it." Dai raised his head, opening his eyes at last. His jaw set, as if he was bracing himself to face something. "I mean, I haven't told you something about myself. Something very important."

Virginia raised her eyebrows. "You mean, that you've been deliberately vague about your 'shifter ancestry' because you didn't want me to figure out just how much of a dragon you really are?" She couldn't help laughing at his utterly floored expression. "Dai, I figured that out a long time ago."

He gaped at her, his mouth working as if he was having trouble finding words. "When?" he said at last.

"Oh, round about the time Bertram started playing dominance games. The strength of your dragon side became pretty obvious." She tilted her head at him. "Does it come from your mother or your father?"

"Father," Dai said weakly. He stared at her. "It doesn't bother you? Really?"

Virginia shrugged. "Well, it would if you were a dragon like Bertram." She might have wondered if he was actually a full dragon, but Bertram's barbed insults about 'not being a proper dragon' had made it very clear that Dai wasn't a shifter. "But you aren't."

"My bloodline isn't even related to his," Dai said, with great finality. "I can promise you, I am nothing like Bertram."

"So." Virginia relaxed against him. "This is me, not running away."

She glanced up at him, a little shyly. He was looking at her as if she was some long-lost, priceless artifact that he'd just unexpectedly pulled out of the ground. The heat in his eyes made her stomach flutter. "What happens now?"

Dai stepped back, taking her hand. "Now," he said firmly, "we get extremely wet. There's something at my house I want to show you."

Laughing, Virginia let him pull her out into the rain. The feel of his strong fingers interlaced through hers was enough to warm her whole body. She felt light with relief, as if only Dai's firm grip kept her from floating away into the clouds.

How could he have thought I'd be frightened if I found out he's half-dragon? As he said, he's not like Bertram, after all.

He's not a dragon shifter.

Chapter Twelve

Dai felt oddly shy as he led Virginia up the stairs to his bedroom. He rarely had visitors to his house—his dragon's possessive instincts meant he couldn't relax with anyone else in his private space. Now, however, his inner dragon was coiling itself into eager, anxious knots, desperate to see if their territory would please their mate.