I made a noise of irritation at him calling me “your female”, and August let out a long breath, finally turning around to face me.
Our bodies almost brushed, but didn’t.
That was for the best, because I didn’t need him reminding me that his touch could make me stop sweating and hurting.
“I want to see your brother’s dragon form up close when he comes back,” I said, instead of protesting the ownership-claiming thing that kept happening.
August’s eyes narrowed. “The only dragon you’re meeting up close is me, Fireball.”
“Then I want to see your dragon form up close in the morning.”
He grunted.
It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no, either.
We started toward the cabin, and he reached the door before me. Instead of going inside, he grabbed my laptop off the porch.
Though I wanted to be irritated that he’d picked it up, I was pretty sure he’d done so just to be nice.
To prove my suspicion, he handed it to me before he pulled the door open and gestured me inside.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Of course.” His voice was calmer than it had been a few moments earlier.
I stepped past him, suddenly hit with a wave of uncertainty. It was the middle of the afternoon, and we were alone together, in a secluded cabin.
It was just me and August.
How was I supposed to act?
What was I supposed to feel?
“I’m going back to cleaning,” August said. “This place smells awful.”
I sniffed the air. “I don’t smell anything.”
“You’re not a shifter.” His hand brushed my side lightly before he strode back into the kitchen, where he’d left his cleaning solution.
Though I didn’t think it was necessary, his cleaning did clear the air a bit. So, I headed to the couch and opened up my computer. I threw myself back into my project, and the lingering awkwardness vanished.
six
ELODIE
I sat on the couch and cursed heat while I worked. August cleaned every possible surface with his unscented multipurpose solution.
Countertops.
Tables.
Chairs.
The fridge.
The TV.
Doorknobs.