In a Dragon’s Dream by Riley Storm Page 0,19

inside the door.”

Rakell nodded silently and then he was gone. Laura sat back, realizing just how thoroughly she’d come to trust Rakell in such a short period of time.

Was it Rakell that inspired such faith and confidence, she wondered to herself. Or perhaps, was it what she’d been told about he and his kind, what she’d learned of who they were, and how they conducted themselves?

Her mind was leaning toward the former. There was something about him, about this dragon shifter in particular, that spoke to her. She’d met Blede, he was fine, she guessed. But nothing like Rakell. Blede was too wound up, too intense, for her liking.

Rakell was far better. He had that experience, that confident air of having done it before, and simply knowing what it was he wanted, that spoke so serenely to Laura’s soul. He was the type that wouldn’t change the longer she knew him.

Are you planning on knowing him long?

Maybe not, but just in case. It was an attractive trait to have. Just like the rest of Rakell was attractive. In look and feel.

She recalled the way his arms had felt, wrapped around her. Strong, protective, yet tender and gentle. They would ward off pain, and succor hurt. Stroke her gently, and yet hold her tight. All of that and more she’d learned in those long seconds of contact with him.

Tap tap tap.

Laura yelped, arms jerking out of reflex, one slamming into the steering console, which set the horn to blaring until she yanked her arm back.

“Don’t do that!” she shouted as her brain processed that it was Rakell at the window, and not some stranger trying to break in.

“I’ve been calling your name,” he said quietly. “For thirty seconds. You were distracted. Daydreaming I should say. I’m sorry.”

Laura waved it off, rolling the window up and getting out, feeling comfortable with him by her side. “No, no,” she said, having used the time to recover her breath. “Don’t worry about it. I should have been paying more attention, you’re right.”

Rakell shrugged. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured him, patting his upper arm to reassure him, trying hard not to focus on the thickness of his bicep under the taut skin, the thin material of his shirt not hiding much from her touch.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Just scared. Being a wuss I guess,” she said, shrugging helplessly.

“You are not being a wuss,” Rakell growled. “Someone violated your personal pace and security. It is completely acceptable to be vulnerable until it is secured again. That’s why I’m here for you. To help secure that space, to show you that it is safe again. Do not ever feel less than, simply because you aren’t impervious to everything.”

The impassioned speech caught her off guard. She’d not expected such strength of conviction from Rakell. He cared more deeply than she’d imagined.

“Thank you,” she repeated, trying to keep her stomach from flip-flopping as she gazed on him. “Though, you seem impervious.”

Rakell’s eyes went flat. “We all have our things,” he said quietly.

“What’s yours?” she asked, eager for a deeper look into her protector.

She carefully did not acknowledge why she was eager for that look.

“We all have our things,” Rakell repeated in the same soft tone, declining to expand any further.

Laura could sense when she was treading too close to a topic she shouldn’t push. This was one of those times, so she let it go.

“Do you wish to go inside?” he asked. “It’s clear.”

Laura nodded, and Rakell escorted her to the back door. He went up the three stairs first, pulling open the door and holding it open from inside, his head darting around, reassuring himself, and thus her, that it was secure.

“Thank you Rakell,” she said, feeling it proper to use his name this time. She was saying the words over and over repeatedly it felt, but by tacking on his name, he would hopefully understand that she meant them, each and every time. The effect of his presence on her calmness was palpable, and she didn’t want him thinking otherwise.

“You’re welcome,” he said, taking her coat before she could say anything and hanging it up on the hook.

Perhaps, she figured, if I let him know how appreciated his presence is, he’ll stick around. Maybe he won’t get as bored.

“I honestly didn’t realize how different I would feel since I got out of the hospital,” she said, the words tumbling out. “I just wanted you to know,” she said, stopping herself.

“I see.”

“This whole bodyguard thing seemed too