Page 36 of The Dragon’s Accidental Manny

I’d been sharing a bed with a dragon shifter for months and living in a house with him and little dragons even longer. But I’d never met my mate’s fiery beast.

Price hadn’t done a full shift that day in the studio. He’d had scales on his forearms and chest, and he’d produced fire, but his dragon was tucked inside him. I’d sprinted to the car and hadn’t hung around asking to see the rest of his beast. My mate’s dragon was part of him, and I should have been present when he shifted long before now, but that day was seared into my memory, and whenever I pulled it up, my body was wracked with tremors.

I was Price’s mate, his life partner, his happy ever after, and he was mine, but I’d asked for time. He didn’t prod me, and I didn’t bring up the topic. Not that he didn’t talk about his beast. He’d mention how grumpy he was or how he wanted to hunt. But the one issue hanging over us was me meeting the dragon, and we’d detoured around it.

My mate usually flew at night, and my reading or work would be interrupted by wingbeats over the roof that reminded me of a sail captured by the wind. I’d jump out of bed and peer up at the night sky but was never able to see much.

Isla often drew her papa’s dragon, and the three children talked about their dragons they were yet to meet just as human kids discussed how tall they were going to be or what they wanted to be when they grew up. I’d listen and ask questions, though I’d never been eye to eye with a dragon.

But my due date was drawing closer, and if I was going to give birth to a dragon shifter, I needed to be in the presence of the baby’s father’s dragon. And today was the day.

The kids were at school and Price was working from home, so I strode into his office before I could talk myself out of it.

“I need you to show me your dragon.”

He set down his coffee and glanced at me.

“Not a fly-past-the-window and no loop-de-loops. I don’t want you showing off, because this baby is almost here and I can’t be scraping you off a tree while I’m in labor.” I cradled my belly. “Our little one will probably have wings one day, so what sort of parent would I be if I can’t look your beast in the eye.”

Price scoffed that his dragon would never go splat, “And especially not in a tree.”

“Okay, forget that, but I need to introduce myself to him.”

He got up and walked around the desk. “You ran last time and all you witnessed was fire and scales. Are you sure you want to do this now?”

My bump pressed against him, and I stroked his cheek. “I am. This needs to happen.”

My mate pointed out the window. “Can you hold that thought until tonight? I’d be asking for trouble if I took my scales in the middle of the day.”

Damn, I’d gathered my courage, and now I had to sit on it and contain it until this evening. “Okay, after the kids are in bed.”

The children could have shared the experience, they’d seen their dad’s dragon many times. But I needed to be alone, in case I wobbled, choked, or raced inside and hid under the bed.

“Is the baby coming?” Bea reached for her tablet, and I was ready to shut down any documentary speak. She understood she wouldn’t be witnessing the birth but was eager to add any finishing touches to her project. “You can’t keep still, and you’re constantly glancing out the window.”

“Is that where the baby is?” Jack peered outside.

“No, I’m tired and can’t wait to meet your new brother or sister.”

Price did the bath-and-bedtime routines, but when the kids were asleep, he held my hand and we wandered into the back garden.

“I need plenty of space because of my beast’s wingspan.”

Did I need to pee? I had an inkling I might, and what if the kids woke, though I had my phone with the baby monitor app. And when was that logo due? Perhaps I should rush back to the house and finish it?

Price squeezed my sweaty palm. “You can change your mind.”

No, no. This was going to happen despite me shivering in 90F heat. “Take your clothes off and shift, please, babe. I have a bed that’s calling my name.”

My mate unfolded a deck chair and told me to sit. He got undressed and folded his clothes. Thank gods one of us was tidy. My mate would set a good example for the baby. But my side of the bed was messy. Should I fix that now? I tugged at his hand, but he didn’t let go.

“You’ve got the look, as the kids used to say.”

Huh? That was when he and I were circling around one another.

“Your mind’s racing, making to-do lists.”

“Pfft.” I shook my head. “No.”