“Okay, if you insist.”
“I do. Ready?” she asked him.
Without responding, Tanner shifted into his dragon form and took off. He flew over the gorge and dove in preparation to catch her. Somehow, Ella was confident she wouldn’t need his help.
“Come on, dragon.”
Ella inhaled and then focused. She shifted into her leopard form and ran as fast as she could toward the cliff. Right before the ground fell out from under her, she took a huge leap, because she needed to be far enough away from the edge in order to fly.
Ella soared, just like when she was ski jumping. All of a sudden, her vision blurred, and her body creaked and cracked. A wave of panic shot through her, but only for a moment. Ella Snowden wasn’t called the woman of steel nerves for nothing.
Her arms shot outward, but when she looked, they weren’t arms at all but rather wings. Her excitement was short-lived when she realized she was still descending.
“Flap your wings,” Tanner telepathed.
“Oh, right.”
When she raised her arms, or rather her wings, she stopped her descent. As soon as she figured out how to position her body and how to move her wings fully, she soared. Tanner shot upward and flew next to her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Never better. I might never shift back.”
While she couldn’t hear him laugh, she could feel the rush of excitement coming off of him.
For the next half hour or so, Ella dove, soared, and maneuvered. And here she thought skiing was freeing. “This is unbelievable,” she telepathed.
“I thought the same thing when I was in my leopard form.”
Ella wanted to fly forever, but they had to drive her car back to Plux. Since they’d spent so much time flying around, they would have to spend the night at a hotel. Oh, darn. Already ideas were popping into her head regarding what she wanted to do to her man.
7 months later
Ella was actually nervous, despite these last six months having been amazing. While she might have been hired to be Tanner’s secretary, she ended up being a lot more than that, and she wasn’t talking about being his mate.
When Tanner went to dinner with a supplier, he took her with him. After a while, Ella was able to add valuable input about each person’s strength and weakness that helped Tanner figure out how to deal with him. While she’d always been able to run the staff at her house in Thedia, it was her ability to understand the needs of those workers, and to address any issues, that made for a well-oiled household. Working at LaMont, Sanders, and McCarson was no different.
There were times when neither Tanner nor Clint could meet with a client, and she went alone. Was there some resistance from the male clients at first? Sure, but eventually, the client understood that she wanted to find the best solution for all.
Tanner cupped her shoulder. “You okay?”
Ella faced him. “I’m good. I just don’t want any angry stares when they see how huge I am.” They were on their way to visit her parents—who they hadn’t seen since they’d first met Tanner. She had spoken with her sisters and her dad quite often, but her mom seemed to be unavailable most of the time.
Tanner patted her distended belly. Ella was only six months pregnant, but she was quite large. This new addition was going to be a surprise. She’d told her family how happy she was but wanted to make sure the pregnancy was solid before telling them about the baby.
Ella put on her coat and slipped on her backpack. “Ready.”
They would be spending one night only, because Tanner had to be back at work the next day.
Once he was dressed, they stepped outside his house and both shifted. Even after seven months, the thrill of flying never waned. Because Tanner had flown to Thedia many times, she let him lead. It wasn’t until her family’s estate came into view that her nerves flared once more.
“Don’t worry,” Tanner telepathed. “Everyone will be happy.”
Even after all this time, she kept forgetting that he could sense changes in her mood. “I hope so.”
“If not, we’ll turn around and head home.”
That was what she loved about this man. He understood all of her needs.
They landed on the front lawn and shifted. Her parents knew they were coming for a visit, just not that she was pregnant.
Ella had to admit that it almost felt good being home, though she had no desire to stay. Once inside the house, Tanner helped her out of her backpack and coat.
Mori and Christa rushed down the hallway and stopped in their tracks. “Oh, my goddess,” Christa practically shouted. “You’re having a baby!”
Ella laughed. “It seems so.”
“Come into the living room and tell us all about it,” Christa said.
Ella didn’t think they needed details on how this came about, but it would be good to catch up.
“I’ll tell Mother and Father you are here,” Mori said.
“Please do.” Ella wanted to get this over with.
Tanner placed a hand on her back, and they followed Christa into the salon. No sooner had they sat on the sofa than her parents entered the room. Her father smiled, and her mother looked to be in shock. Okay, here it comes.
Ella stood and hugged her father. “I can’t believe it,” he said. “You’re pregnant. This is wonderful news. Why didn’t you tell us?”
She’d been prepared for that question. “I wanted to surprise you.” Actually, she’d wanted to shock her mother, who at this moment hadn’t moved or said anything.
When Ella looked over at her, tears were streaming down her mother’s cheeks. Never in any scenario had Ella imagined that. “Mom, don’t worry. My child will not embarrass you.”
Their son would be a dragon and a leopard shifter—or so she hoped.
Her mother swiped a hand under her eyes and moved closer. “No, it’s not that. I’m just so happy.”
Happy? Ella couldn’t remember that last time
