Dragon Soul

Chapter 5

5

“Ouch!” I exclaimed, clutching my chest and fainting against the wall.

“Are you okay?” Zara hurries in after me and clamped her hands around my face.

“Marcus?”

“Hahaha, got you!” I laughed, suiting my dramatic act and brushing off my vest.

“Ooof, dusty inside your church.”

She stomped my arm and growled. “Not funny, I was really worried!”

“Sorry, Zara. Just making fun of my almost death.”

“You can be a real tool, you know that?” she glared, but I could tell she wasn’t really mad. She looked far too relieved for that.

“I know, it’s one of my special qualities.”

Zara shook her head, her brown hair dancing as she did. She really was beautiful and I didn’t care if she really was a pink speckled dragon or not. I was sure I would find it just as fascinating as I found her.

“Just get to the bar, will you?” She scowled, but there was a smile hiding in the frown. She was enjoying the banter and so was I.

The wooden bar was rather sticky, so I refrained from leaning on it. I held up two fingers to the bartender and drew my focus back to Zara. “Righto, but I want to look around.”

She spread her arms and gestured around. “This is the bar. It’s small.”

Mischief bubbled up in my gut and I shook my head. “No, I want to see the rest of the chapel. This might be the only time I will see one.”

“That’s not allowed,” she hissed, her perfume dancing around me. Seashells. How delicate. I always did love the beach.

“But that’s the fun part. Or are you chicken?” I dared her, not missing the twinkle in her eyes. She yanked on my sleeve and tugged me towards to the door for staff only. Quickly I snagged the two drinks from the bar and hurried behind her. The hinges of the black door shrieked softly as we slipped away from the inebriated crowd. There were so many people here, nobody noticed two figures sneaking into the staffing area. The dust prickled my nose and I barely managed to hold a sneeze back.

“Shhhhhh.”

Confused, I bumped into Zara and stared at her silly hair. “What?”

“You’re making weird noises.”

“Oh, oops. I was holding back a sneeze.”

“Ooookay... there’s someone coming, in here.” She tugged me into the nearest door and shut it impressively fast and quietly. Through the broken glass window, I noticed a random metal head passing by and smiled to myself. If he got into the church, it was no wonder I did as well.

“Let’s move back, there is a flight of stairs behind us.”

As silently as I could, I followed Zara towards the second floor. The wood shrieked with every step and my heart thundered in my chest. If someone passed by, there was no way they didn’t hear us. We could get caught any moment. I loved it.

"Oh wow," I muttered as I ducked under a low doorway, following Zara closely.

"Stunning, huh?" she asked, smiling over her shoulder.

"That's one word for it," I replied, more focused on her than the room.

I could still see it though. The light was shining through the stained glass windows. Six of them in fact, all different shades of blue.

It took me a moment, mostly because of how captivating Zara was, but I soon found myself drifting towards them. The glass was something else entirely. Each panel was a different shade, and the light seemed to hit each in a completely different way on top of that. It gave the room a seemingly bright look, at the same time as colouring it multiple shades.

"We're lucky the street lamps create so much light," Zara said, stepping up to stand beside me.

"Yes," I replied, the word hardly audible through my breathing. I'd never really understood the concept of having your breath taken away up until now. But I got it now. I really did. Because this, and Zara, were really it. They were special.

This moment was special.

And it was the moment I'd wanted just outside. That perfect story that we could tell when we're old. There'd be no story about us meeting on a night out and barely remembering one another, or on us almost missing each other.

Our story could be this. Completely authentic us, with just a little bit of awkward cuteness. Followed by a kiss that neither of us would forget in a hurry.

Or at least, I hoped not.

The location was good, so I definitely had that going for me.

Zara looked up at me with expectant eyes. And I knew that this was the moment I'd been waiting my whole life for. Not only that, but that she wanted this moment as much as I did too. If I was a full vampire, and she was a vampire too, then I'd almost have said she was my true mate. But I knew I didn't have that luxury. And maybe, as a halfling, she didn't either.

That could be a good thing. Maybe this was a chance at love for both of us. A chance that our sort didn't normally get.

Wait, why was I thinking about love? Somewhere along the line I appeared to have become as mushy as Ayra about this stuff. She would be lapping this up if she had any clue.

Clearing my head of thoughts, I looped my arm around Zara's waist, and pulled her to me, already surprised she hadn't turned tail and run. I wouldn't be surprised if she did. Just saddened.

She fit against me perfectly, and I could feel her softness pressed against me. Turning parts of my body super not soft. This woman was going to be the death of me. Or the joy of me. Wow. That one sounded weird. I should remember not to say that again.

"Marcus," she said softly, sounding more than a little breathy.

My chest swelled with pride at the realisation I was the one that put that note in her voice. No one else. Just me.

Take that every person who ever made fun of my bisexuality.

"Yes, Zara?" I asked, equally as breathy.

"Will you just kiss me already?" she demanded.

Damn, was I taking too long?

"Yes," she replied.

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked, panicked.

"No, the question was written all over your face."

"Oh."

"But seriously, Marcus, hurry up and kiss me. I don't want to have my signals ignored all night."

I wasn't sure how serious she was, but I didn't want to chance it. Leaning down, I crushed my lips on to hers, being far more demanding than I ever normally was during a first kiss. But something about this woman just called to me. I wanted to make her mine. I wanted to ruin her to other men. Or other women. Or other anyone, really. I wasn't even sure if she was into anything other than men.

Probably not thoughts that should be happening while kissing her.

Zara's lips moved against mine, soft and pliant, just like the body pressed against me. She was like a ray of sunshine to a vampire with a skin allergy. Burning hot, all consuming, but definitely still welcome.

It was almost a certainty that I was going to lose my heart in that moment. And this was only the first date. She'd have me proposing within three months if she wasn't careful. And that would probably be moving a tad too quickly for my logical mind.

But that wasn't my mind that was in charge. That honour was very certainly with it's more basic neighbour right now.

Which Zara could probably feel. Maybe I should feel bad about that. But then a weird form of manly pride didn't allow me to. Or something like that.

We broke apart, and Zara looked up at me with her eyes hazy and lust filled.

Boom. All the man points to me.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Of course," I replied, my own voice barely above a whisper. If she'd been getting to me before, she was sure as hell going to be getting to me now I knew how she tasted. How her lips felt against mine, and how her body felt pressed up against me. Basically, I was one step away from going completely crazy over her.

That was probably a good thing. I had a tendency of just kind of skating through life. Going from job to job with no real purpose while I tried to decide what I actually wanted to do. Now, maybe I'd have some. Maybe I'd have her.

Being a good boyfriend would give me at least a little bit of direction. Which was a start. It had been a long time since I last was someone’s boyfriend, so I hoped I wouldn’t mess it up.

“There’s nobody around,” Zara grinned, tracing my cheek and walking her fingers down my chest. I subtly sucked in my stomach, hoping to give the illusion of abs. Damn, I should’ve done some quick sit-ups before I went on the date.

“We’re in a chapel,” I reminded her, not exactly sure why I was finding reasons for her not to continue. I wanted her, hell, even if I emptied the chamber earlier, I was quite sure I wouldn’t last very long. There was something titillating about her touch, something exciting and mysterious. Maybe it was the forbidden place we were in, or that I didn’t know her all that well. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I wanted her. Terribly much. Without wasting another second, I pulled her even tighter into me. Hungrily, I crashed my lips back on hers, hoping she knew just how crazy she was driving me.

She wiggled against me and I had no doubt she could feel the effect she had on me. It was hard to miss with it straining against my jeans.

“Doesn’t the chapel make it even more fun?” she breathed, a glimmer dancing in her eyes. She was right.

“You’re wild,” I growled between kisses, reaching backwards to tug my shirt over my head.

“You’re the adventurous one. Going into a church even though you could’ve died? Dinner with a dragon…” She nipped at my lip, sending all the blood straight down south. “About to have a one-night-stand in a chapel.”

Wait, what?

Confused, I pulled back and stared at her. “What?”

“What?” She stole another kiss from my lips and the softness was almost enough to make me forget what she just said. Almost.

“One-night-stand?” I gulped, a figurative rock falling on my stomach and crushing all the flutters.

“Well… Yes?” Zara tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowing as she studied me. “What did you think this was?”

I refrained from banging my forehead against a wall and swallowed the romantic thoughts I had earlier. Damn, how had I misinterpreted this so badly?

“I’d like to do this again,” I admitted, not sure what kind of reaction that would elicit from her. Maybe she would stop kissing me. Or scream. Or laugh in my face. I wasn’t exactly sure what would be worst.

“Marcus, you’re very sweet and handsome… But I’m not looking for anything serious.”

Ouch. There it was, the words nobody liked to hear. I certainly hadn’t expected the evening to end with her rejecting me like that.

“Why not?” I asked, dropping my hands from her waist and stepping back.

“I just don’t really do relationships, and let’s face it… I’m a dragon, you’re a vampire. I’m already an outcast, I don’t want to add to that.”

“Right, not a problem,” I muttered bitterly, brushing a little fleck of dust from my shirt. I didn’t want to show how much I cared and shrugged, pretending like it was fine. I only just met her, I really didn’t need to be all gushy and soft.

“Are you sure?” Zara asked, her voice laced with concern. So she did care, just not enough to actually want to date me.

“Yeah, I just wanted to see you again.” I pointed to the space between us. “You know, to do this again.” What a lie. But it was better than losing face.

“Oh. Right. Yeah, me too. Casual s*x is the best...” She shrugged awkwardly, the moment completely ruined. The previous s****l tension hanging between us had turned into just tension.

“Oh yes, totally,” I lied, the joy I felt earlier sinking. This was not how I envisioned the date to end. I scratched my jaw and stared in her deep eyes. “So that’s what we’re doing?”

I couldn’t work out what the look in her eyes meant. It was confusing to say the least. It was almost like she wanted me to prove to her that she was wrong. That she did want something serious, and that she wanted it with me.

Well…challenge accepted. I would prove to Zara once and for all that she wanted more than just s*x.

I pulled away from her. “I’ll pick you up the same time tomorrow,” I said. Turning away, without waiting for her to respond, I walked away. Maybe I’d regret it later, but if I didn’t give her time to say no, then she’d have no choice but to agree.