Mated To The Dragon Of Manhattan (A BBW Paranormal Romance Book 1) (12 page)

Sighing, Truman dragged his hands over his handsome, square-jawed face. "You're not getting anywhere near a shifter. I'll never allow you to be in that kind of danger. I'm sending you back to your own world, where you'll be safe. Sure, I'd love to be selfish and keep you here with me, but I love you too much for that. I love you too much to put you in a position where you could be attacked. And where unthinkable things could eventually happen to you."

I folded my arms across my chest, huffing. "Well, what about if I were just locked up here, in the penthouse, when Dominic and his men come? And I'd stay here until after you kill them all. Brianna told me once about how this entire floor of the tower is surrounded by enough concrete and titanium to withstand an atomic bomb. I know that even the windows are made of some special material that can deflect bullets and withstand literally a thousand tons of pressure. And I also know that the doors and their frames and locks are the same, too. So, why can't I just stay up here while the fight's happening?"

"Because, like I said, I don't know what Dominic and his shifters are capable of. I don't know what level of strength they possess or what tricks they may have up their sleeves. One thing that Owen has been able to learn is that some of them can even become invisible for a couple of seconds."

"But, so what? That doesn't mean they can walk through walls. I think I'd be perfectly safe up here. And so, it's settled. I'm staying."

Truman clenched and unclenched his strong, square jaw a few times, taking a step closer to me. "It is absolutely not settled. But, actually...yes, you're right; it is. It's settled that you're going back to your own parallel. Owen is going to issue Dominic a challenge from me, and the second Dominic arrives to fight me, I'm going to send you back. So that you can be safe. And that is absolutely, unequivocally final."

We stared at each other without speaking for several seconds until I broke the silence.

"If our love was weaker, I might think that you want to send me back because you've had second thoughts about having a future with me, but it's not, and I don't. I truly believe you're just desperately trying to keep me safe, and even though I'm very, very mad at you right now, I think I love you even more for that. And I know you love me more than ever. However, I'm about to tell you something, something about yourself, and it might just make you hate me."

CHAPTER TEN

With a shaft of sunlight slanting across his handsome face, Truman stood a few feet away from me in the living room, frowning. "There is nothing, absolutely nothing that could ever make me hate you, Brette. Ever. And in fact, not only could I never hate you, but I could never stop loving you, for any reason, no matter what. I couldn't stop loving you even if I tried. So whatever you have to say, whatever you want to tell me about myself, just go ahead and say it."

I cleared my throat, mustering my courage, and took a deep breath. "All right. I'll just go ahead with it, then, and it's this. I think our love has turned you into an absolute cream puff, Truman. And I'm sorry to say it like that, but it's the only way I can think of to say it right now. Just plain and simple, you're acting like a total cream puff. You're acting like you're scared, and you're acting as if you checked your courage at the door the moment you told me 'I love you.' Which is understandable. I imagine that when a person desperately wants to keep someone they love safe, the natural inclination is to retreat. But I know that's not you, and this bothers me. It bothers me because you've already let Dominic win, even before he's stepped foot in this parallel. You've let him control your thoughts and your actions. You've let him control you into considering an action that might separate you from the love of your life forever. And I don't know how that looks to you, but the way I see it, he's scored a definite win. A win before he's even faced you yet. And this win was possible because you let love turn you into a cream puff."

I paused, expecting Truman to react with anger, maybe even tell me to get out of his apartment. But he didn't. He just looked at me with his jaw clenched and his expression unreadable. And so, I continued.

"I doubt you've had much experience in being a cream puff, but I definitely have, and I want to tell you about it. Living life as a cream puff isn't fun. It leads to a lot of regrets. I personally have so, so many regrets, enough to write a book about. But I'll just tell you a few. When I was thirteen, my dad got his pilot's license, and his biggest joy in life soon became taking his little six-seater up in the air on the weekends. He begged me to come up with him. He begged me for years. Wanted to share the joy with me, he said. He begged me for an entire decade, right up until the day before he died in a freak tractor accident. He called and said it would be the last time he'd ask me, and he turned out to be right. But I said no. I was too scared. Just the thought of being up in a little plane like that, even with a pilot as safe and experienced as my dad, just made me dizzy. And so I said no. I retreated. And I'll regret it every day for the rest of my life."

The grandfather clock in the hallway adjacent to the living room chimed one

o'clock
, interrupting me, and I waited a second before continuing.

"My most recent regret is that I didn't go to my best friend's funeral. Unlike my parents, she wasn't cremated, and I just couldn't stand the thought of seeing her lying in her casket, dead. I was scared. I managed to leave my apartment to go to the funeral, but I never actually made it into the service. In the lobby of the funeral parlor, I got stressed, and dizzy, and I just freaked out. I sat down in a chair, and there I sat for the entire service. I sat there because it was just easier than being brave and facing my fears, come what may. It was just easier than putting one foot in front of the other to take a step inside the funeral parlor to properly say goodbye to my best friend and pay respects like I should have done. It was just easier to retreat. Like you're doing, in a way, by sending me home."

I paused, thinking Truman might respond. But he didn't. He just stood there, muscled arms folded across his broad chest. His expression was completely unreadable. It didn't even give me the tiniest clue as to what he was thinking. And so, I continued on again.

"When I first arrived here in this parallel, I was terrified. I thought I'd been abducted by some sort of dragon cult. I got dizzy. But somehow, I made my legs work to carry me into your throne room. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. But I took those steps because I had to, I guess. I didn't have a choice. It was really forced bravery. But I stood in front of you, and I managed to remain standing, and I didn't die. I survived. And I was actually a little proud of myself later. And also later, that got me thinking about things, and I've been kind of continuing to think over the past several weeks. I'm tired of being a dizzy cream puff. I have been all my life; people always come to learn this about me; and I'm sick of it. I'm done being a cream puff, and I'm done being known as one. I'm in a new world, literally, and I'm ready to make a drastic change. I want to become known as being brave. I don't care that I've never had nerves of steel; I'm going to make myself have them from here on out. No more retreating. Not from new Brette. And I want a boyfriend who makes choices reflecting the same."

Truman still didn't respond, and I took a step closer to him, looking into his deep gray eyes.

"I want a boyfriend who keeps me safe, yes, but I also want a boyfriend who doesn't let love lead him to make choices based on fear. I want a man who won't give his opponent a win before he's even faced him." I took a deep breath, surveying Truman's face. "So, tell me, Truman...will that man be you? Will you agree to let me stay? Will you let me stay safe here, in this nuclear bomb shelter of a penthouse? Will you refuse to let Dominic part you from the love of your life?"

Seeming to be thinking, Truman clenched and unclenched his strong jaw a few times. My questions hung in the air. But only for a few moments. Truman finally opened his mouth to speak.

However, before he even could, a loud knock sounded at the door. And it wasn't even a knock so much as it was a frantic banging. My heartbeat accelerated, and I couldn't help but jump a little, wincing, with each loud bang.

Truman glanced at me, his dark brows drawing together. "Stay right here."

He began striding towards the foyer while the pounding continued. But before he could even make it there, the front door flew open and in staggered a frail-looking older man in a white lab jacket. Based on things I'd heard, I assumed he was Dr. Townsend. Truman stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide.

Dr. Townsend stumbled across the foyer and into the living room, panting. "If you're really going to send her back, it's now or never. Because...." He took a great gulp of air, clearly still trying to catch his breath. "They're here."

*

Dr. Townsend took another great gulp of air. "Owen is outside, mobilizing all your shifters. They're just waiting for you. The shifters from the other parallel are already in the sky, circling, seeming to be preparing for a battle. Owen says that somehow, Dominic was able to intuit his thoughts and realized that we were onto his plans. And so, he apparently decided to beat us to the punch before you'd even issued your challenge to him and before we'd even had time to prepare. He wanted the element of surprise."

Truman spoke through gritted teeth. "Well, he definitely got it. Though I think he'll find that the dragons of the Confederation of Dragon-Ruled States don't lose strength or heart, even when taken off guard."

I stood maybe a half-dozen paces to the side of him and Dr. Townsend, trembling, and Dr. Townsend glanced at me, panting, clearly still trying to catch his breath. Truman suddenly turned and looked at me for a long moment, then crossed the distance between us in two long strides, took my face in his hands, and kissed me so fiercely I had to take a tiny step backward.

"I hope to God I won't regret this." He gave me another fierce kiss. "You keep the front door locked at all times, until I call you saying it's safe; do you understand me?"

I nodded, thrilled that he was letting me stay. "Yes."

"Good. Do not open it for any reason, at any time, until then. And same with the door to the garden, which is already locked. You keep them both locked, and you do not even think about unlocking them at any time, for any reason, until I call. Is that crystal clear?"

I nodded again. "Yes."

"Good."

After one final kiss, he took his large hands from my face and began pulling away, but I clung to his navy blue t-shirt.

"Please just hold me for a second. Please, Truman. Just one second. I just want to feel your arms around me before you go."

I knew my request was a bit selfish and unreasonable, being that he was obviously in a bit of a hurry, but I hadn't been able to help making it. Despite my little speech earlier about being brave and wanting to be seen as brave, I was scared. Terrified, even. Even though at the same time, I was elated that Truman was letting me stay. But my fear was now decidedly rising above that emotion. I realized that being brave might take a bit of practice. And I just wanted a bit of fortifying strength from the feel of Truman's arms around me before he left.

I'd thought he might resist, or say no to my request while dashing out the door.

But to my surprise, he took me in his strong arms, pressed my face against his hard chest, and spoke near my ear in a low voice. "You may think you've been a 'cream puff,' as you say, but starting from the moment I met you, I've thought you're incredibly brave. And I know you'll continue to be brave over the next several hours, or however long this takes. You might hear a lot of crashing and booming, and you may even see a lot of fire in the sky. But all you have to do is just remain strong and calm, and try to withstand it, until I return. You may even want to lie down in the bedroom with pillows over your ears if the sounds of the battle become too upsetting. But whatever you do, I know you'll remain strong and brave, like I know you are."

I nodded. "I'll be okay. Now that I know we don't have to be separated, I think I can get through anything."

It was true, though I wondered if I could really be as brave and strong as he seemed to think I was. I knew it was a real possibility that I might have to lie down in the bedroom and cover my ears if I got too upset or dizzy. But I was going to try to avoid taking that action for as long as I possibly could.

Truman kissed the top of my head a few times, rocking me in his strong arms almost imperceptibly. "I love you. More than anything or anyone I've ever loved before. I'm going to go out there and fight to keep you safe now. And I'll return as soon as possible." He planted one more kiss on the top of my head. "Follow me to the door, because I want to hear the locks click into place before I leave."

He released me, led me to the door by the hand, and then left with Dr. Townsend after giving me one final kiss, this one on my mouth. I immediately turned all the locks and then just stood there, the apartment suddenly seeming unbearably empty.

But within moments, my phone, which was on the couch in the living room, went off, and I dashed over and answered it. It was Brianna, talking a mile a minute.

"I just wanted to check and see if you're still here.
Are
you still here? In this parallel, I mean. I mean, I'm just assuming you still are, since I'm talking to you on the phone Truman gave you, and I'm just assuming it wouldn't even work if you were back in your own parallel. Though, who knows? Cell service is a lot better than it used to be, isn't it?  Its probably not so good that it can connect people between parallel worlds, right? I mean, that would be crazy. Probably no crazier than the existence of dragon shifters and parallel worlds in the first place, though, right? But, anyway, I just wanted to call and see where you are. Because Owen told me that Truman was going to send you back to keep you safe. I take it he changed his mind. Which is awesome, because I would have missed you so, so much. And it's also awesome because I'm so, so glad you're on the phone with me right now. Because I'm just a little...."

At the tail end of the last few words she'd spoken, her voice had suddenly, unexpectedly cracked, surprising me. And when she continued, her voice was decidedly wobbly and thick with emotion.

"I'm just a little scared, Brette. Scared for Owen, and scared for all of us in this building. Scared for everyone in this whole city."

"It's gonna be okay, Bree. Where are you right now?"

She sniffled a bit before responding. "Somewhere under the building...in some sort of a basement-type room. There's lots of them, and right now, there's an evacuation to get everyone in the building down here. Everyone but the shifters, that is. They're all already outside, getting ready to fight."

"I know. Truman just left a little bit ago to join them."

There was a long pause, and then Brianna burst into a sob.