Chapter 11
Beck
Isense Eleanor as I make my way up Starry Hill, her fragrant lavender and sparkling water scent beckoning me closer to The Dancing Daisy. My dragon sniffs the air with me and scales shimmer down my spine as he urges me forward with extra enthusiasm.
Since I finally admitted to my friends, and myself, how much I like Eleanor, and acknowledged how much I want to be more than just her friend, it’s like some type of barrier has been unlocked between my dragon and me. This week we’ve been more in tune with each other than usual, both of us now very keen on showing Eleanor how much we care forher, and ready to cautiously court her in the hopes that she’ll accept our affection.
Cocking my head to the side, I pick up the conversation in the bookshop, my elevated hearing helping me get a picture of Eleanor and Lucille as I turn onto Third Street. I don’t mean to blatantly eavesdrop, but I also don’t make any effort to hasten my steps.
“Are you ready to host your first book club meeting next week?” Lucille asks Eleanor, the question sounding warm and encouraging, just as one might expect from Lucille.
Slowing down even further, I listen to Eleanor’s response, enjoying the way I can hear her smile as she talks. “Yeah, I think we’re all set. Marisol said she’ll leave the door unlocked so I can get those extra chairs from The Singing Seahorse next door bright and early. I know we have only five confirmations, but I’ll put out a couple more chairs just in case any latecomers want to join too.” I frown at that. Eleanor has put so much effort into choosing a book, creating flyers that she personally delivered to each shop, coming up with discussion questions… Having only five creatures confirm their attendance is unfair to her. I don’t want Eleanor to be discouraged by a lackluster response.
Before I can figure out how I can fix this, Eleanor continues, “Maisie is delivering our themed cupcakes around nine, which reminds me that I need to ask Beck if he’d be willing to pick me up a little earlier so I can get everything set up.”
“Eleanor, I think Beck is willing to do pretty much anything for you,” Lucille says wisely, understanding my feelings for Eleanor better than I thought she did.
“I doubt that, but even if he were, I’d never want to take advantage of him,” Eleanor protests.
Take advantage. Please,I want to say. Instead, I keep my lips pressed together as I mentally reschedule next week’s supply run and ferry times while stomping on the cobbled street so the women can hear me approaching.
Seeing Eleanor’s face brighten, her smile wide and eyes sparkling the moment she spots me in the doorway, sends scales fluttering across my cheeks and down my chest, before they dissipate somewhere above my cocks. It’s the same expression she has when I show up in Cape Easton every Saturday, and it never fails to call forth my own smile, to make my stomach feel swoopy, and to get my dragon’s attention.
Eleanor walks toward me, but stops short an arm’s length away, her expression flitting between happy and… concerned? “Hi. Is everything okay?”
My first instinct is to say no, because how could it be when she’s standing so close when I’m aching to wrap my arms around her but can’t? And today especially, when she looks extra beautiful in an aquamarine dress that makes her hair look even brighter, more stunning.
“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?” I ask, pretending I’m not salivating for her.
Eleanor quickly scans my body before her gaze settles on my eyes. “I always meet you at your mill after I’m finished. Did something happen? Or am I late?” Eleanor’s pillowy lips that are normally turned up at the corners, are pulled down with worry. Everything within me begs to lean forward, place the gentlest of kisses to each corner of her mouth before pressing my lips tohers, parting them with my tongue, and finally finding out what she tastes like.
I try to redirect my attention from her lips and actually focus on the words she’s saying, but my brain feels slow to respond now that I’ve given myself free rein to truly appreciate all of Eleanor’s alluring qualities. “Oh, no. Everything’s fine. I—” I didn’t foresee Eleanor misunderstanding why I showed up here instead of waiting for her at home, like I usually do. Coming to the bookshop is supposed to be part of my courting tactics, but what if I’m bothering her?
My throat constricts and an uncomfortable warmth climbs up my neck and burns the tips of my ears. “I was done early with all my duties so I thought I’d walk back with you. When you’re done, of course,” I add hastily. “No need to rush. Or maybe there’s something here I can help with?”
I follow Eleanor’s gaze as she looks behind her, but Lucille has disappeared into the back room on feet way more silent than I thought was possible for a human.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, Eleanor looks up at me with a smile that seems satisfied with my explanation. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you, Beck.”
Lucille appears from the back, shuffling between the shelves toward us, holding Eleanor’s bag out for her while giving me an approving nod. “Hi, dear boy. We were just wrapping up.” Patting Eleanor’s hand, Lucille says, “I’ve put a bag of those candies you’ve been wanting to try in your tote. They’re always more fun when enjoyed with someone else. Now off you go, and have fun. See you next weekend.”
Eleanor says a quick goodbye and I incline my head toward Lucille as she winks at me with a secretive grin.
“Have you eaten yet?” I ask Eleanor as we make our way down the hill.
“Not yet,” she admits, sounding a little confused, and still unaware that I planned for this. “Richard usually brings us some of their specials from The Flowering Teapot around lunch time, but I guess they’ve been quite busy today?”
“Good.”
“Good?”
I clear my throat and try not to sound too pleased with myself that everything’s going according to plan so far. “Yeah, because now we can have lunch together. I’ve been experimenting with a new sourdough recipe all week and I finally feel happy with the flavors.”
Eleanor lays a hand on my arm, her touch sending a thrill right through my body, my cocks responding as eagerly as the scales flitting down my abdomen. “That’s really nice of you to offer, but aren’t you saving it for the boys tonight?”
“Uhm, boys’ night got cancelled. Unfortunately.” The words stumble clumsily out of my mouth and a light sense of panic threatens to take root. I’m such a bad liar and I didn’t plan on Eleanor being this concerned.
“Oh no. Is everything okay?” Eleanor asks, her hand lightly squeezing my forearm, anchoring me to her in a way I’d never tire of.
