Chapter 137: Flora

"I'm Acasia." She gestures behind her. "This is Bastian. We're very pleased to meet you. We just didn't expect you after what Jewel told us."
I drop her hand and interlock my fingers in front of me so maybe I won't strangle her son in front of her. "I didn't expect to be here either," I reply honestly.
"Mother."
We all turn to Ashrac.
"I'm in the middle of a kidnapping here and it would be better if we had this conversation another time. I haven't gotten to the having my wicked way with her part yet."
My elbow slips and lands directly in his ribs. My cheeks burn. Boiling oil's too good for the ratfink.
His father steps closer, his expression filled with concern and more than a touch of anger. "Flora, I will take you back to Earth if you wish to return."
A loud rumbling growl leaves Ashrac's throat. "She is my mate, Father. No one will be taking her anywhere but me."
Bastian's eyebrows arch. I'm guessing Ashrac doesn't usually speak to his parents this way. Decisions, decisions. Really there aren't any. We're mated, I love him, and hopefully someday I can say the words without wanting to kill him. And maybe someday he'll grow to love me.
Ashrac turns fiery eyes on me. I would take a step back but he grabs my hand and glances back to his father. "She's my mate and the first mating has taken place. When I kidnapped her the first time, I thought she had already agreed, but she hadn't, so I had to send her back. If I told Jewel the truth, she wouldn't have lied about it. Now I've kidnapped Flora the right way. She loves me and I love her. If you don't mind," Ashrac lifts me into his arms cradling me close to his bare chest, "we have unfinished business in bed."
He'll remain his current color for embarrassing me again in front of his parents. But, one word he said makes my heart swell. Love. "You love me?" I ask in wonder.
His baby shit yellow face goes soft and he leans in so our lips almost touch. "Of course I love you, my darling eagle." His lips move the last inch separating us and my world tips back on its axis.
I part my lips and he deepens the kiss. I forget about his parents until his mother calls out, "We'll be going now, but don't think I won't be back to get to know you better. I've always wanted a daughter. Just a warning, though, I will show up several times a week to remind you both to bathe."
Ashrac doesn't stop kissing me and it's the only thing that keeps me from sinking to the floor in mortification. When we come up for air, his parents are gone.
"I'm sorry I worried you," he whispers against my wet lips.
"You devastated me," I tell him simply.
His forehead leans into mine. "Then I'm truly sorry. I'm easily distracted and my very old professor was insistent."
I place my fingers over his lips. "Never again, dragonbreath, or I'll turn you pink and drop turds on your head while you sleep. You need to stop talking and get on with the having your wicked way with me part or you won't like the consequences." His arms tighten around me and I realize we both smell bad. "Shower first," I say.
"Deal," he says, regardless of my finger across his lips. He bites the finger gently. "I like you wet."
"Believe me, I'm wet," I say with a husky laugh.
His low return laugh runs through my body. He flies me to his bedroom. His shower is a monstrosity and much bigger than the one in my room. He has my shirt off in seconds and he turns on the shower jets that pulse from every direction. He actually lifts me in his muscular arms and carries me into the shower.
The water feels so good but his arms feel better. He bends and releases me so my feet touch the tiled floor. I'll need to ask him about how he's managed hot water in his realm once I can think clearly. He lathers soap in his hands and washes me from my head to my toes. He pays extra attention to the special spots. I'm breathing hard when he hands me the soap to do the same for him.
I lather my hands in anticipation. Ever so slowly, he bends forward and I begin washing his hair. After it's rinsed, my hands travel lower. I take my time to be sure I've washed every inch. I need to feel each part of my mate beneath my soapy fingers. My hands flow over the muscles and valleys of his body. His erection juts out beautifully and I wrap my fingers around him until he groans. Though I want to, I don't stay there. I grab more soap because the water washes it way too quickly and I bend lower until I'm on my knees so I can wash his feet like he did mine. I lift my wet face and look up at him. His enormous erection bobs in front of me, and the look of worship on his face is almost my undoing. My lips are too close to resist. Not that I want to. I slowly slip my mouth around the head. He's so wide I'm not sure if I can take more, but I plan to try. His fingers slide into my hair and he releases a low growl. I have all the power. I love it and I love making him groan.
He only gives me a minute before I'm snapped up, and then my back hits the wall. I tighten my arms around his neck and circle my legs around his waist. I squeeze his hips as his body aligns with mine. With one upward thrust, he impales me. I feel it all the way to my toes. The sizzling awareness of his dragon takes center stage and my eagle does the same. We don't shift, but their power washes over us and combines. It's enough to send me over the edge and we haven't even begun. I cry out as pulsing waves of ecstasy fill me. He lifts me slightly and pulls me back down on him and groans. He goes wild after that and when he finally orgasms, I'm there with him again.
I'm prepared for the light this time and once again it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It swirls around us, feathering across every inch of our bodies. It's hot and tingly and at the same time sexual and comforting.
Minutes, hours, days later, we're on the floor of the shower with my back to Ashrac's chest and his arms curled around me while I sit in the V of his legs. I open my eyes slowly and glimpse over my shoulder. His head is back and his eyes closed. Even when he's baby shit yellow, he's gorgeous.
Everything is perfect in our world for all of two minutes. Then something strange happens. I inhale sharply as a stabbing pain hits my stomach. I don't even realize I've cried out, when Ashrac's hands tighten around me. "What's wrong?" he asks.
Another pain hits and my stomach also turns nauseous. My entire body is tingling and it's hard to get the words out but I finally manage.
"Oh hell," Ashrac grumbles. He stands with me in his arms so fast another burst of nausea rolls through me.
"What are you doing?" I ask in obvious pain. He quickly carries me from the shower to the window of his bedroom that leads out to the balcony.
I'm holding his neck tightly. "Let go, Flora. There's something I should have warned you about and I'm sorry I didn't think of it."
The pain grows worse and I'm afraid within seconds I'll be crying like a baby. That's when Ashrac tosses me over the side of the tower. The pain is so great it's hard to even think much less say my power words. I manage, though, but nothing happens, and I continue falling. My eagle failed me for the first time in my life and I realize I'm going to die. It's really okay because I can't live with this pain.
Then it happens. Power wraps around me. It's so overwhelming I can no longer breathe. This is what it's like to die, I think as if I'm in a dream. The pain fades and another powerful burst of magic rolls through me. Then I explode into a million particles. I reform and mighty red wings keep me from hitting the ground. The power within me pulls the wings up. I still don't feel right, which of course I shouldn't. I'm fucking red. And, a dragon. I land unsteadily while trying to figure out what happened.
Ashrac lands beside me. "I forgot to mention that mating with me would turn you into a dragon," he says cautiously into my mind.
My poor parents. They'll never understand. "I will kill you," I grind into his mind. "Losing my eagle should have been my choice. I would have done it, but it should have been my damn choice."
His side bumps against mine. "You haven't lost your eagle, or at least Sierra didn't lose her wolf form. Give it a few minutes and try again."
My large head slowly turns his way. "You're serious?"
"Yes," he says with a huge nod. His jaws open and the sides bend, displaying humongous teeth. I'm looking at a dragon smile.
I won't lose my eagle. "Okay, dragonbreath, but you're doomed to spend the rest of your life baby shit yellow. I, on the other hand, rather like my new red. Poor you."
His head hangs down with the grin still in place. "Poor me," he says in the saddest voice he can muster.
I say the words and pull in some of my power letting color overtake me. Ashrac's rumbling laughter fills my head. I glance down at myself and now we match. Oh no, dragonbreath hasn't earned the right to red but I'll join him for a while.
"I love you, mate." His words wrap around me and I pump my gangly wings and lift into the air.
"Then you better catch me," I say with a laugh.
"Always."
END OF PART FIVE