Page 7 of Protecting my Human
“The moment you speak of me, this place will be crawling with humans.I won’t be a circus freak, like Nessie.”
“Wait, are you implying Nessie is real?”
He groaned.“Would you stop asking questions?”
“No.”
He brought his face close enough I felt the hot huff of his exhalation through his nostrils.“You’re testing my patience, woman.”
“Would you stop being so grumpy?We’re having a conversation.One that would be much nicer in front of a warm fire, maybe with some tea?”I couldn’t help a hopeful lilt as the tugging wind crawled up my sweater and pimpled my flesh.Fat raindrops began falling.If we didn’t move soon, I’d end up sodden and truly miserable.
“I don’t have tea.”
“Coffee?”I countered.
Rather than reply, he turned around and began lumbering for the castle, and despite not blinking, suddenly, instead of a giant dragon ahead of me, a man strode.
A naked man.His buttocks flexing, his back wide and muscled, but nowhere close to the size he’d just sported.
Despite no formal invitation, I scurried in his wake.Foolish to enter a dragon’s lair?Perhaps, but I couldn’t turn away now.
ChapterFour
I should have lether fall.
Should have eaten her the moment my mind tricks didn’t work.
Should have done anything but lead her into my castle.
Too late now.I strode in and grabbed one of the robes I kept hanging on hooks by the door.I wrapped it around me and tied the sash before glancing at Davina.That’s when I felt a jolt, for I finally gazed upon her as a man—not as a dragon—and in person—not through the grainy footage from my doorbell camera.Damned if the sight of her didn’t pack a punch.It shouldn’t have, though.
She stood average height, about five foot six or seven, with a curvy shape.Well-rounded hips and a bust that strained her thick sweater.Her hair, pulled back into a tail, was more auburn than brown, and freckles speckled her pale skin.Even without the slight accent, I’d have pegged her as Scottish.
Rather than stare at me, she glanced around with curiosity before trailing her fingers over the wooden trim framing the door.“You’re restoring the molding,” she murmured.
“I’m trying to keep as much of the original bones as I can, but will have to replace sections where the rot and damage have gotten too bad.”
“In the village, they said you were doing the work yourself.”
“Yup.”
“Wouldn’t it be quicker to hire someone?”
“Quicker, yes, but expensive, given the quality I expect.Besides, I enjoy this kind of thing.”
“But it will take you a decade or more to complete,” she pointed out.
“Yup.”
She slewed her gaze my way.“Not pressed for time?”
“What do you think?”
As she turned from the woodwork, she perused me with a crease between her brows.“You’re definitely not as big as I would have expected.”A comment that almost earned a snort.
“Would you like me to step on a scale so you can check my weight?”
“Would you?”she exclaimed, clasping her hands.
