Dangerous Territory.

[Jaycy Ashleana]

They missed the sunrise.

He shifted and growled as the first blush of morning reached the cliffs they slumbered on, the world beginning to warm slightly with the promise of the morning light. The cloud cover obscured the exact position of the sun but the world slowly lightened to a hazy gray. Limbs entangled in an untidy pile as the gypsy and the dragon-man nestled close within a “blanket” of curled azure wings. Embers gleamed weakly in the nearby firepit, clinging to the last vestiges of life after a full night of consumption. Discarded stems from three bunches of grapes flitted away from the rock they rested on with the morning wind that whistled over the cliffs.

She snuggled closer to him, burying her face in the expanse of his chest, fingertips pressing into his skin as hands curled in subconscious grasping as invisible claws aimed to hook into him and keep him close. His awakening was slow, dragon-slow, but she failed to become conscious before he came to himself. A sleepy rumble of a chuckle echoed within as he realized that slightly draconic gesture from the gypsy. He tugged a hand free from the jumble of limbs and lifted it to her crown, gently smoothing down the loose red curls.

Her head tilted into the petting and eyes slowly opened. Green-gold gaze was clouded with sleep as she blinked owlishly up at him. “Mm, morning,” she murmured with a lazy smile. “Morning, hun,” was his warm response. Wings uncurled from around the pair, eliciting a shiver from the gypsy. “It’s time to go.” She slowly sat, arms extending and toes pointing as she stretched, mouth gaping wide in the yawn. “Mmm, alright.” He slowly clamored to his feet, wings extending wide as he too prepared to depart.

As she swiftly pulled on gypsy skirts, he waited patiently. Dark green gaze slid over her body as she hastened to protect it from the morning chill. A hint of a smile turned the corners of his mouth up as he appreciatively watched the show. He moved forward once she was clothed. His eight-foot-tall form loomed over her for a moment before leaning down and sliding one arm behind her knees and the other at her back. He hefted her into his arms. “Where to?”

“The Manor, please?” she asked softly, bringing her nearer arm around his waist, the farther settled into her lap. He nodded and crouched before pushing up with powerful leg muscles, wings beating to lift them off the ground. The manor was close, almost merely a short hop away for him, and he deposited her at the solid door within the inner courtyard. After gently setting her down, his head dipped down for a kiss before he backed away and leapt into the sky. She watched as he disappeared from view, then slipped inside and shut the door firmly behind her.

The gypsy padded through the entry hall and past the amazing view of the ocean without a glance outside, a frown crossing her face. What in the world had she been thinking last night? Offering to find him a girlfriend? Inviting him to stay with her here as often as he wanted?! The frown darkened to a scowl and she made her way into the sumptuous parlor. An overstuffed antique chair beckoned and she dropped into it. “Ugh.” She pulled a blanket from the behind her back as it draped over the chair and tucked it all around herself, huddling beneath.

Teagan’s teasing had bothered her much more than it had him and that had prompted the evening, likely. She couldn’t place a finger on why, either. It just did. Mayhaps that was why she was so interested in finding him someone. At least if she had a hand in finding him someone he could be attracted to, she could have some influence in finding someone who would accept her too … at least for a time. Eventually he would want to be with someone exclusively or that other woman would want him to herself. This was probably the most likely way of postponing that – giving her more time with him.

That was likely why she also had invited him to almost move in to the Manor with her, come to think of it. She wanted as much time as she could before she lost him. Wait, what? She was worried about losing him? The link didn’t seem to be fading; at this point she had to admit it was likely permanent. If that were the case, she couldn’t lose him. But … she could feel his love, and his loving, with that figurative woman. She groaned! What the hell was wrong with her? They were just frie –

Oh, hell. She was infatuated with him. Teagan was right, in ways. Mayhap even a little more than infatuated. She should have realized the signs in herself. This wasn’t good. She shuddered, but not from pleasant thoughts. Even now she wanted to find him, just to talk to him, be near him. They’d talked almost more than they’d made love last night. She hoped he’d come to the Manor often just so he could hold her and sleep. So she could do the same. She wanted to protect him even as he fought to protect her. She wanted him happy, whole and safe. No matter what it took.

This was dangerous territory.

And he could never know how she felt.