Was that it? Didn’t women get off on this emotion stuff? He stared at Emma, willing her to tell him she loved him, too. She wasn’t a casual girl. She must feel something for him. They hadn’t had sex, dammit. They’d made love.
“So, are we going to charge Mahoney?” She dug deep inside her shorts pocket and pulled out a foil pack of pills. “I took this from the room where they held me.”
Jack straightened in alarm. “What did they do to you?” She seemed all right, but he knew about hidden wounds.
“Tied me up.” She shrugged. “I managed to get loose, and I threw a rock at the guy they left to look after me.”
Shit, she’d even escaped by herself. Why did she need him around if she could rescue herself? “We have enough to make life difficult for Mahoney,” he said finally.
“Good. Let’s go.”
“I need clothes.”
Emma surveyed him with a long, leisurely gaze then bared her teeth in a wide grin of unholy delight. “Does this happen a lot? I mean you look pretty without clothes but doesn’t it get a little cold?”
Jack reached over to stroke her cheek. “Not if I have a willing woman to keep me warm.”
“I won’t share.” Her eyes narrowed in warning. “I expect you to concentrate on me. No other women.”
“Other women?” Jack didn’t mind admitting it—he was having trouble keeping up with her today. She wasn’t reacting how he thought she should. In other words, she was confusing the hell out of him.
“We are getting married. Right?”
“You haven’t told me you love me.” Jack didn’t have to pretend confusion. Marriage? With Emma? The idea didn’t scare him as it would have a week ago. In fact, the more he thought about it, the better the notion sounded.
Marriage and Emma.
That would mean no one else could steal her away.
“You silly man.” Emma’s blue eyes were full of laughter and something else. Tenderness. Caring. Her expression made him hope for a future and maybe children. “Jack Sullivan, I have loved you for months. Haven’t you noticed that women fall over themselves to go out with you? Why wouldn’t I want you? Come on. If we don’t hurry, we’ll have to spend another night outdoors.” She stood and held a hand out for him to take. “You need clothes.”
“I have a friend who lives not far from here. He’ll help us, and we can report to George.”
“Great. I hope he has food.” Emma couldn’t believe Jack didn’t know how she felt about him. He grasped her hand and tugged until she fell against his naked chest. His eyes glittered as he stared at her and her heart thudded with sensual awareness. Oh, yeah. She loved him like crazy.
A taniwha.
It didn’t matter. Living with a man who changed into a less than pretty dragon worked for her since the sex was great. Hot. Mind-blowing. Awesome. In fact, it made her hot just thinking about touching him. As she’d come to know him more her liking and respect had grown. She grinned as another thought occurred. Was that why George and the rest of his operatives appeared exhausted at certain times of the month?
“I love you, Jack.” Emma pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.
He hugged her and deepened the kiss.
She smiled against his mouth, feeling so happy she wanted to cry. As far as twenty-fifth birthday presents went, winning Jack’s love was a doozey. And now she’d caught the man, she did not intend to let him go. It might take him a while to get the idea, but she had patience enough for them both…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shelley lives in New Zealand with her husband and a cheeky Jack Russell/mystery breed puppy.
Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand speak – big overseas experience). A year long adventure lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, lazing on white sandy beaches in India, whale watching in Alaska, searching for leprechauns in Ireland, and dealing with ghosts in an English pub.
While travel is still a big attraction, these days Shelley is most likely found in front of her computer following another love – that of writing stories of romance and adventure. Other interests include watching rugby (strictly for research purposes), cycling, baking bread and curling up with a good book.
Blue Moon Dragon is the first story in a new series.
Follow Shelley Munro online at:
http://www.ShelleyMunro.com
http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyMunroAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/ShelleyMunro
A VIKING’S NEED