He laughs. “Are you ready to fly?” I know he directed the question to me, but Tali takes it as an invitation to get moving.
She jumps up, nearly knocking me back again. This time I’m able to steady myself on my own. Her tail starts swishing quickly and her eyes are big. She really wants to go.
“I’m sorry,” Lucas says. “That’s what I usually say to her to get her excited for some fun. I didn’t think when I said it to you.”
“Uh huh.”
He pats Tali on the side and takes a few steps to me. He’s close. If I leaned in I could press my lips to his. “Fly with me, Alison,” he says in a deep timbre.
I’m lost in the color of his baby blue eyes. He leans in, and I close my eyes in anticipation, but a snort interrupts our moment. We break apart and look over to a very impatient dragon. Who would have thought? Tali is giving us attitude. It’s probably for the best she disturbed us. I don’t think kissing this handsome prince is the best idea. Of course, it would fit right in with this day.
Lucas turns to me with a mischievous grin. “I don’t think she wants to wait. Let’s go.” He takes my hand in his, long fingers wrapping around mine.
He turns to leave the stall, pulling me with him. Tali is on our heels. We exit the opposite way we came in. These doors are much larger to accommodate the dragons. Once outside, I notice the sky has darkened and the stars have made an appearance. The air is comfortable; the temperature has only dropped slightly. It makes me wonder if it’s like this all of the time.
Tali walks to where the stone pathway elevates and seems to end atop the wall. I step forward and sure enough, it drops down into the water. No bridge on this side. If we fall we’re toast. Lucas pats her side and she sinks down to her belly. Her foreleg is bent to allow us to use it as a step to get on her.
He gestures for me to go ahead. One foot on her leg and I’m trying to figure out how to get on her back. “There’s no saddle or anything?”
He shakes his head. “No. It makes her uncomfortable, and she can’t maneuver as she needs to.”
“How do you hang on?”
“Her scales. She has larger ones on her back that you can get a grip on.”
“But, what if you fall?”
“I won’t. We won’t,” he stresses. “I’ve flown with her so much that when we’re in the air we fly as one. I’m able to predict her moves and know which way to lean.”
“Kind of like riding on the back of a motorcycle.”
His forehead scrunches. “A what?”
“A motorcycle. You don’t have them here? What am I saying, of course you don’t. Ignore me.” I wave a hand in the air, hoping he’ll drop it. We are about to fly. I can save the conversation about what a motorcycle is for another day.
Somehow, and I don’t honestly know how, I manage to climb on Tali’s back. With unbelievable grace, Lucas swings himself up behind me. He moves forward so his chest is pressed to my back. His legs hug the outside of mine. One strong arm wraps around my stomach and I lose my breath. He’s so close. I can feel him everywhere. Oh, how I wish there were no clothes between us. Unconsciously, I lean my head back on his shoulder. He tenses for a second, then relaxes. There’s a soft flutter on the skin at the base of my neck, causing goose bumps to break out over my body. His lips are feathering over my sensitive skin. I moan low in my throat.
“We should go,” he says with his mouth below my ear.
“What if I want to stay like this?”
He chuckles. “I don’t know how much patience Tali has. She’s not known to sit still for long.”
The dragon! I completely forgot we’re sitting on the back of one. The haze in my lust-filled mind eases. “Right,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’m ready.”
“We’ll see about that.” He sits up tall behind me and grips me firmly. “Grab on to her, Ali.” I’m afraid I’m going to hurt her. My hands land on a section to hold onto and do I ever, because in the next breath, he yells, “Talethla, fly!”
Her giant wings spread slightly from her body and she takes a leap off the cliff. I try to scream, only nothing comes out. I’m going to die. Death by cliff diving dragon. Before we hit the water, her back arches, her wings stretch wide, and we start to curve toward the night sky. My stomach is in my throat, and I’m holding on for dear life.
We keep climbing, her wings flapping, and my eyes closed. I can’t look. At any moment my body could be thrown off and plummet toward the ground. Yeah, I’m good with pretending I’m on a plane. At least then there is an enclosed cabin with seatbelts.
Her wings are situated just behind us. With each flap, we move with her. Eventually it feels like we are leveling out. My stomach starts to settle, but I still don’t want to see how far up we are.
“Ali.” My name from his lips floats across my skin. “Open your eyes.”
“Nope. I’m good.”
He laughs. “Would you trust me and open them? You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“I believe I do. I’m missing the view of what I could land on if I fall.”
“Okay, say you do fall. Tali is incredibly fast and would be able to swoop down and catch you before you hit the ground.”
I turn my head to look over my shoulder. “So, now you admit I could fall? Great. I knew it! This is when my life is going to end.”
Thanks to the moon, I see his mouth lift into a smile. “Your life will not end today or any day that you’re with me, my princess. That I promise you. I would sooner give up my own life than allow yours to be taken away.”
I melt at his words. Damn, he’s sweet. He leans forward and places a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth. My eyes flutter closed. “No, don’t shut those beautiful eyes now that you have them open.”
He takes his fingers and turns my head from his. “Holy shit!” I scream and launch myself onto Tali. My body is pressed to hers and I’m hanging on the best I can. Lucas’ arm is still wrapped protectively around my waist. Tali turns to look at me like I’m some crazy human, then continues her flight. Every now and then Lucas tells her what direction to go in.
We dip to the right. I can see dim lights coming from buildings. I’m not quite sure what they are, since I don’t know the layout of the land. The castle is easy to spot due to the many lights coming from it, its sheer size, and the way the lights reflect off the surrounding water.
“Why is the castle so bright, but not the other buildings outside of its walls?”