How to Date a Dragon

“You don’t have to. We called in sick for you last night.”

He leaned back and scrutinized her. “You didn’t say anything about my getting beaten up by a girl, did you?”

She laughed. “No, of course not. We said you were in an accident and left it at that.”

He nodded. “Okay. Well, I should call anyway just to reassure them it was a minor accident, and I’m all right.”

“Or you could go in a little late…” She finger-walked her way up his arm until he groaned and captured her hand in his.

He kissed her knuckles. “Did I thank you for all you did for me last night?”

“No, but I’ll let you show me how grateful you are.” Bliss raised her eyebrows, hoping he’d get the hint.

She wasn’t horny as much as she was concerned about his pretending to be perfectly fine when he wasn’t. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She was equal parts horny and concerned. If he turned down sex, he was either not a typical guy or still in too much pain to perform. Better to find out now than when he was riding around in a speeding fire truck or climbing a ladder.

He grinned, scooped her up in his arms, and strode toward her bedroom. Apparently her message was received, and he must have been all right to carry her like that.

“Is Angie around?” she asked quickly, before they reached her bedroom door.

“Nope. She went grocery shopping. Said she had a few errands to run too, and she’d be gone a couple hours.”

“Handy.” She reached down and twisted the doorknob.

“Very,” he said, and carried her into the room, setting her down in the middle of the bed.

He began undressing, but Bliss still needed a bit of reassurance. “Just to be clear… you’re not interested in the woman with the rat’s nest hair who kicked the shit out of you, right?”

He reared back and laughed. “I couldn’t be less interested in her…” Then he crawled on his hands and knees up the bed until he was looking directly into her eyes. “Or more interested in you. What you did for me, Bliss… I don’t think many women would have been that forgiving. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d added your own licks.”

“Oh, I might still get in a few ‘licks’ but not the way you just meant it.”

“How did I get so lucky? I thought you’d never forgive me. When Angie brought the flowers up, I fully expected to have them thrown in my face.”

She caught sight of the lovely fresh flowers on her dresser. They lightly scented the room and added a delicate beauty to it. “I think I knew what you were trying to say.”

“You did?”

“Well, yeah. If I’m right, you felt bad for keeping your options open, even after you found the perfect woman… or you brought flowers to cushion the blow when you broke up with me and went off with Motorcycle Maddie.”

He lay down next to her and gathered her into a warm hug. “Of course I wouldn’t break up with you for— ugh—her, or anyone else for that matter. You’re amazing. I want to keep you for as long as you’ll let me.”

Bliss was glad she’d asked for reassurance. Sometimes a little insecurity can bring out the nicest compliments. As long as they’re not lines. She was fairly sure Drake was being sincere. Certainly he had been apologetic enough last night. He wouldn’t humble himself like that if he didn’t mean it, would he?

Her cynicism had resurfaced in a big way when she was confronted with the fact that he’d gone out with someone else while he was supposedly interested in her. Drake had admitted it was a mistake and promised her exclusivity in the future, but could any man be trusted if Heidi Klum came along? Then she almost snickered out loud. How apt is that to happen? Not very.

There were no guarantees, and Bliss had realized that long ago. That’s why her Hall-Snark cards were so popular. People disappointed each other all the time, but that didn’t stop them from trying again. If every relationship was effortless right from the start, she’d be out of a job.

While all this was going through her head, Drake was nibbling the column of her neck and popping open the buttons of her blouse.

Decision time, Bliss. Either you really do forgive him and take this relationship to the next level, or you hold a grudge and drive him away. What’s it going to be?

She only needed a moment to realize what she wanted. She reached for his zipper and dragged it down. He lifted his pelvis so she could push his jeans over his hips. He divested her of her blouse, and then the rasp of a zipper over her ass meant he was getting rid of her skirt next.

She fumbled with the hem of his T-shirt until he stopped what he was doing and yanked it off. In another minute, she was wearing only her underwear, but she was determined that he be naked first. She took hold of his boxer’s waistband and dragged it over the considerable bulge between his thighs. His cock sprang free, and what an amazing organ it was!

* * *

Drake watched her scoot down until she was at eye level with his cock, and then she grasped it tightly. He’d let her do whatever she wanted to him and couldn’t wait to see what that would be.

She laved around the crimson head and ran her tongue down the sensitive underside. Tingles raced through him. Then she lowered her open mouth over his shaft as far as she could go, then sucked and pulled back at the same time. Incredible sensations shot through him, causing an involuntary moan to escape.

“Oh, God. You do that well. But you don’t have to, you know.”

She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Of course I don’t have to. I want to.” She licked her lips. “Mmm… candy.”

She returned to sucking his rod as if it really were a giant candy bar. He lay back and moaned his pleasure until he felt the inevitable tingle at the base of his spine.

“Bliss, stop. I can’t take any more.”

She lifted her head and smiled. “Are you sure?”

“Oh, yeah. Besides, it’s your turn.” He flipped her over onto her back and she squealed, apparently not expecting his quick reflexes. Then she giggled, letting him know she didn’t mind a bit.

He yanked her red satin panties down and off, then reached for her matching bra’s front closure. As soon as it opened, he dove for one of her gorgeous breasts. He suckled hard, then licked her nipples and blew on each of them, making her shiver and moan.

“Please, suck them again,” she pleaded.

“I intend to.” He took one nipple deep in his mouth and sucked thoroughly. She arched and moaned louder. As soon as he was sure he had pleasured that one enough, he moved to the other and gave it equal attention.

“Oh, God.” She cupped his jaw and lifted his face until he was looking in her eyes. “I love that. Thank you.”

Drake grinned. “My pleasure. Anytime.”

“If I took you up on that, you’d miss a whole lot of work.”

He chuckled. “Or I’d just have to find a way to work from home.” Damn, Drake. You’ve already got yourself moving in with her. Slow the hell down.

“Um, are you up for the rest?” she asked.

Thankful that she’d let his comment slide, he murmured, “Oh, yeah. Where do you want me?”

“On a silver platter.”

He chuckled and said, “The lady knows what she wants.”

She winced. “Sorry. I can be bossy in the bedroom—well, not just the bedroom, basically everywhere—but right now I want to give you whatever you like.”

“In that case, let’s do it doggie style.” Perfect. That way if I begin to shift, she won’t see.

Bliss quickly rolled up onto her hand and knees, facing away from him. She looked over her shoulder. “Condom?”

Damn. How do I tell her I don’t need them? “I—uh… I guess we should have had