How to Date a Dragon (25 page)

“We’re happy just the way we are,” Drake added. He wrapped an arm around Bliss’s waist and gave her a side squeeze.

“Your loss.” Mother Nature folded her arms and disappeared.

Thalia stayed behind.

Bliss leaned in and lowered her voice. “Can she hear us?”

“Only if she wants to, and I doubt she does.”

“Whew. I can’t imagine working for her. She seems so…” Bliss couldn’t come up with the right word.

“Cynical? Snarky? Scoffing? Mocking?” Thalia supplied plenty of appropriate options to choose from.

“Yeah. All of that.”

Thalia shrugged. “You get used to it.”

“Well, I’m used to working for myself, and I like it that way.”

“Are you sure you won’t change your mind? There are so many cool things you could do. Do you like Paris?”

“I’ve never been there.”

One finger snap later, Bliss and Thalia were sitting atop the Eiffel Tower. It lit up the night in multiple colors. Bliss panicked and grabbed on to a steel beam. “What the… ? How did you do that?”

“Simple.” Thalia snapped her fingers and they returned to Drake’s apartment.

He was glancing all around as if wondering where they went. “Sheesh. I was afraid I’d lost you.”

“You’ll never lose me.” Bliss walked into Drake’s open arms. Thalia smiled and said, “I guess you really do have what you want.”

“I really do.”

Thalia winked and disappeared.

“Well, that was… enlightening,” Bliss said.

“Once again, you amaze me.”

“How is that?”

“You stuck to your guns. Even the most powerful goddess on earth can’t beg or bribe you out of your integrity.”

Bliss smiled. “And you impressed me too, lover. Giving up your immortality? For me? Are you sure you want to do that?”

He caressed her arms and gazed into her eyes. “Positive.”

They shared a long, languorous kiss. Their lips parted at the same time, and their tongues sought each other and swirled in perfect synchronization. Bliss’s heart was full.

***

“I have to go to my parents’ house tonight,” Bliss said. “If I don’t get there soon, they’ll send out a Saint Bernard to find me.”

“I imagine they already have the red carpet rolled out for you,” Drake said.

“Uh… maybe. But the party might be over as soon as I deliver some bad news.”

“Bad news? What is it, honey? Maybe I can help.”

“No. I’m afraid you
are
the bad news.”

“Huh?”

“I have to let my mother know I won’t be producing grandchildren.”

“Oh. I can be there to support you. Maybe if she knows how much I love you… and I’d be fine with adoption.”

Bliss held up one hand. “Stop. That’s why I can’t have you there. You might say something to get her hopes up. I’m not sure if
I
want kids.
We
haven’t discussed it yet. All I want to do is tell her not to fix up the nursery. I can do that on my own.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. In fact, I should get going. Seriously. I’ve put this off for too long as it is, but it’s time.”

Drake nodded and let her go.

***

Bliss strolled up to her parents’ front door and knocked.

When her mother opened the door she blinked. “Bliss. Why did you knock? Don’t you have your keys?”

“No. I forgot them at Drake’s place, but we were halfway here and I didn’t want him to turn around and go back.”

Her mother stuck her head out the door and glanced up and down the front porch. “Where’s Drake? And for that matter, where’s your luggage? Your purse?”

“Ma. I forgot everything in Drake’s truck. I was a little—distracted. I have something important to discuss with you.”

“Oh, no. You two didn’t have a fight, did you?”

“No. We’re fine.”

Mrs. Russo wiped her forehead dramatically. “Whew!”

“So, can I come in or what?”

“Oh. Of course.” Her mother giggled and stepped aside.

Bliss headed to the kitchen where they always had their talks. Serious talks or just chitchat. It happened more easily in the kitchen. She started to open the refrigerator for a bottle of water. Suddenly, Mother Nature’s reaction replayed in her head and she grabbed a glass from the cabinet and drew her water from the tap instead.

“Tap water? We have some of the good stuff in the fridge.”

“No, thanks. I want to lessen my carbon footprint.”

“Whatever that means,” her mother mumbled.

I
won’t bother to explain it now
. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s in the basement, of course. Is this serious, Blissy?” Malinda Russo’s pretty forehead had few wrinkles unless she was worried. At that moment new wrinkles seemed to make an appearance. Bliss wondered how many of those were her fault. Chances were that Ricky and Emilio had contributed plenty.

“It’s not terrible… at least not to me. You might be disappointed, though.”

“Did they take the prize away from you? Were you mugged? Drugged?” She gasped. “Were you in another fire—”

“Ma, stop! I’m fine.”

At last her mother said, “I’ll get Daddy,” and she strode to the cellar door.

Oh, no.
Her mother didn’t call him “Daddy” unless she was preparing to make Bliss feel like a little girl again. No doubt her mother was already planning to make Bliss move back in so she could take care of her.

“Romeo,” her mother bellowed. “Bliss is home, and she has something bad to tell us.”

“Oh crap,” she heard her father say from below.

Bliss groaned. “Don’t make a big deal out of it, Mom. It’s really not that bad.”
I
hope.

When all three of them were seated at the kitchen table, Bliss began. “I don’t know any way to say this tactfully, so I’ll just say it.”

“Why should this be different from any other conversation?” her father mumbled.

Bliss held her tongue until the urge to retaliate had passed. “Look. I know you were counting on grandchildren…”

Her mother’s hand flew to her chest. She looked like she was holding her breath, so Bliss thought she’d better get to the point before her mother passed out.

“Drake’s sterile. We won’t be having kids.”

Her mother sagged back in her chair, and her hand dropped to dangle by her side.

“That’s it?” her father asked. “That’s the big, bad news?”

“Yeah. That’s it.”

Mrs. Russo closed her eyes and swallowed. She looked as if she were counting to ten. At last, she opened her glistening eyes and said, “Honey, it’s not the end of the world.”

Bliss almost fell off her chair. “It’s not?”

“No. It’s not. There are alternatives these days. There are sperm banks and—”

“Oh, for the love of… Look. We aren’t even married yet. We don’t know if we want to pursue other options or not. I just wanted you to know so you wouldn’t be hinting to Drake or asking me every month if I’d missed my period.”

“That’s it for me,” her father said. He rose and went back to the basement.

Her mother put on a brave smile. “I understand, Blissy. I’ll let you two figure it out on your own. Lord, I was afraid you were going to tell me the wedding was off.”

Bliss chuckled. “Well, we haven’t set a date or anything. I figure you guys will understand if we just elope to Las Vegas.”

Mrs. Russo shot to her feet. “How dare you! Your father and I have been saving money for your wedding since you were born.”

Bliss laughed. “Relax, Ma. I was kidding.”

Her mother plopped onto her chair and gazed at the ceiling. “You’ll be the death of me, young lady.”

“So, is it a deal? No pressure on me to have kids? And you won’t hold it against Drake?”

Her mother leaned over and smoothed Bliss’s hair like when she was little. “As long as he makes you happy, honey, that’s the most important thing.”

“He does, Ma. He really does.”

“We need to pick a date soon. Even if we narrow it down to a month, that should satisfy your parents for a while.”

“Yeah, in other words, before my mother has a chance to bug us about it.”

Drake chuckled. He was getting to know the Russos fairly well. As much as they all complained about Malinda’s nagging, they loved her dearly. In fact, Drake and Bliss were strolling through the Russos’ neighborhood, having come for a visit—voluntarily.

“So, what are you thinking of in terms of a good month?” Bliss asked. “Is there a fire season or anything we should avoid?”

“The city doesn’t have to worry about that as much as rural areas do. High summer when the vegetation is dry can be a problem out in the country—or even the suburbs. But we shouldn’t need to worry about it.”

“Yeah, now that Zina is gone, the city doesn’t have to worry at all.” Bliss bit her lip. “She
is
gone, isn’t she?”

“She really is. And I don’t think she’ll be bothering us anymore after the dressing-down she got from Gaia.”

Bliss seemed to relax. “Autumn is nice. Does that sound okay to you?”

Drake draped an arm around her shoulder. “Anything you want is fine with me.”

“Maybe we should get married sooner. Like as soon as we can book a church and fake you a birth certificate. Then they wouldn’t have time to put together a full-blown carnival. I know my mother will be relieved that she’s not the only one who rushed into a June wedding.”

“Can you handle the pressure of coordinating something quickly?”

Bliss laughed. “I think you know I can handle pressure. Hell, I work best under pressure.”

“You’re amazing. You deserve to have the wedding you want. I’m still impressed by how well you handled Zina’s threats to you at the time.”

Bliss snorted. “I was scared, but I didn’t have time to fall apart. And I didn’t want her to get the better of me and run my life. Not even for a little while.”

Drake kissed her cheek. “That’s the woman I love.”

“Come to think of it, you must be afraid sometimes when you run into a fire—but you do it anyway.”

“I’m more afraid for the guys with me. I’m fireproof. They’re not.”

“True.” After a few moments of quiet contemplation, she brightened. “We’re getting off the subject. So, when do you want to get married?”

“Now.”

Bliss chuckled. “Right this minute?”

“Yup. Right here, right now.”

“You know my parents would have a fit.”

“I know. We’ll give them the whole three-ring circus later, but right now—while it’s just you and me…” Drake stopped walking and took both of Bliss’s hands in his. He faced her and said, “Bliss Russo, will you take this sorry-ass dragon to be your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you can tolerate me?”

Bliss laughed. “In other words, forever?”

Her smile warmed his heart. “If forever exists, then yes.”

“Yes, Drake Cameron. I will. Do you think you can put up with my sarcasm and impatience for the rest of eternity?”

“I do.”

“I now pronounce us officially crazy,” Bliss said, and they kissed.

Bliss opened her eyes and found herself nose to snout with a dragon in her bed. She shrieked and jumped out from under the covers, knowing but not caring that she was naked.

Drake shifted into his human form, laughing.

“Don’t
do
that!” Bliss shouted.

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye as he struggled to get his laughter under control. “I’m sorry, honey. I got so hot watching my beautiful wife sleeping beside me that I shifted.”

“Oh. Well, in that case…” Bliss returned to bed and scooted into his waiting arms.

“Have I told you I love you?” he asked.

“About a million times, but you can tell me again if you want to.”

Drake rolled up onto his elbow and stared down at her. “I love you, Bliss Cameron. I never thought I’d find a woman like you.”

“What do you mean, like me?”

“Beautiful, intelligent, fun,
and
dragon tolerant.”

She snorted. “Just don’t make a habit of testing that tolerance like you did this morning.”

“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Dragon!”

Bliss startled, then rolled toward the female voice in their spacious new bedroom. She began to sputter, “What is with you people and knock—”

Mother Nature stood there, crossed her arms, and frowned.

“Oh, it’s you,” Bliss said sheepishly. “Sorry.”

Gaia rolled her eyes. “I suppose I can forgive you. I’m here to update you on the Zina fiasco.”

“Zina!” Bliss grasped the sheet to her chest as she sat up. “Is she back?”

“No. And don’t bother covering your breasts. I’ve seen them before.”

Bliss raised her eyebrows. “You have?”

“Well, not specifically yours, but millions of others. Let’s get to that update, shall we?”

Drake pulled himself up and rested against the headboard next to his wife. “Please tell me she’s not in our hemisphere. You warned her not to come back.”

“I realize that. Now be a good dragon and shut up while I talk.”

Bliss opened her mouth to address the way Gaia spoke to her husband, but as soon as she noticed Mother Nature’s intense glare, she quickly shut it. No use poking the beehive. A metaphor inspired by Gaia’s current hairdo.

Mother Nature relaxed and smiled at Bliss. “As you may or may not know, I sent her off with a specific set of circumstances and a warning. I told her she wouldn’t be fertile again until she learned how to handle it. In other words, she’d have to attract a voluntary mate, create a safe and loving environment to bring a child into the world, and try to be the best mother she can be.”

Bliss blew out a deep breath. “Do you think she can do all that?”

Gaia shrugged. “I don’t know, but at least she has a chance.”

“More of a chance than we have,” Bliss muttered.

Gaia waved away her complaint and continued. “I haven’t discussed your reward for trapping her so Vulcan could bring her to me yet. Wouldn’t you like to know what it is?”

Bliss’s eyes popped open. “There’s a reward?”

“Indeed. Now, I understand you two would like to have a family someday, but as we all know, dragons and humans can mate until the sun and moon collide, but no child will come of it.”

Drake hung his head, apparently blaming himself for dashing their hopes and dreams. Bliss reached over and took his hand. “That’s okay. We’re making peace with it.”

A sly smile raised one side of the goddess’s lips and her eyes twinkled. “What if I could change that?”

Bliss gaped. “Can you?”

“Remember who you’re talking to.”

Drake squeezed her hand but didn’t say anything.

“Of course.” Bliss nodded, reverently—at least she hoped she conveyed reverence. “If anyone could change that, it would be you.”

“Exactly. Keep creating the loving, child-friendly environment you have here—and begin using birth control.”

With that, Gaia disappeared. Bliss didn’t know if Mother Nature heard her gasp, but she gasped loudly.

“Drake. Do you know what that means?”

He was grinning. “I think we can have kids.”

“She must have altered your DNA or something. I wish she’d stuck around to explain it. Holy moly, we didn’t even get a chance to thank her.”

Drake chuckled. “You know she’s all business. I get the feeling that was her way of thanking
you
.”

“Oh, my God! Or goddess. We should celebrate. Tell our friends…”

“Slow down, sweetheart. Let’s take a shower together first.”

Bliss grinned, then remembered their new status. “Shoot. We need some kind of birth control. We don’t even have condoms.”

Drake rolled out of bed and strode over to her. He took her in his arms and said in a low voice, “Or we could take our chances. Either way, I’m okay with the consequences. Are you?”

Bliss didn’t have to think it over very long. Giving birth, taking care of, and loving Drake’s baby would make her happier than ever. Her mother would be insanely happy to babysit if Bliss couldn’t take the little tyke with her when she was needed elsewhere. And she could still make her cards during nap time.

“Yes. I’m fine with whatever happens too. Let’s take that shower together.”

“I’ll race you.”