Asher Read online

  The fight might have been a fair one if the Tantonic bastards didn’t carry shooters that would be powered high enough to paralyze an Earth elephant.

  His eyes narrowed. Even if their shooters didn’t stop him, their ice-vaporizers probably would. One well aimed spray of chilling mist would quickly seep through his scales and shut down his inner heating, rendering him impotent.

  The reptilian assholes were well versed in the capture and killing of Riddich people.

  With the fire already dying down, he had to act fast. Tightening his wings around Marissa, he crouched low and then surged upward, his head crashing into the car roof. It tore free and skidded across the bitumen. As he flattened his wings to his sides, Marissa wrapped her arms around his neck and clamped her thighs on his back.

  With a roar he lunged clear of the wreck. A shooter beam missed him by mere millimeters before it crackled and zapped a tree ahead. There was no time to delay, no time to do anything but run like hell. With Marissa’s legs now gripping his sides and her arms all but choking his windpipe, he lurched toward the trees and dry undergrowth.

  The Tantonics were fast and could easily run on all fours if required. He was faster. He ran alongside the road with flame erupting from his mouth. The Tantonics wouldn’t go near the heat.

  The fire should give him enough time to escape with Marissa, as long as the damn lizards didn’t return to their craft and fly overhead before he’d found concealment. But elation tore through him when the dry underbrush all but exploded with hungry flames that also pushed up billowing smoke, enough to conceal him and his heat signature.

  With the fire raging and moving with speed, he didn’t slow down. He hurdled over fallen logs and through the long, dry grass, zigzagging between withered trees and boulders.

  Marissa loosened hold around his neck, and sat up a little. With his three-sixty degree vision, he saw her look around with something close to awed shock on her face. Once out of range of the fire he slowed into a walk and lifted a wing, using its tip to slide over her head and comfort her. He couldn’t speak to her in his dragon form, but there were other ways to communicate.

  She leaned into his touch, and even with the chaos only just behind them, his dragon all but purred. That she was so forgiving of his beastly form melted something inside him.

  She coughed, clapping a hand to her mouth to cover the sound. He bit back a warning growl. She was right to be afraid. Tantonics had excellent hearing, one to equal to his own.

  At the sudden throbbing pulse of a helicopter closing in overhead, he slunk low beneath the outspread branches of a tree. Thank the goddess for the concealing smoke. Not so great was the fire that continued to head their way.

  He crouched onto his belly, and she stayed on his back, pulling her shirt over her mouth to breathe a little easier while she searched through the cloud of smoke. Her voice sounded muffled. “Well I’m guessing you can’t fly now.”

  He almost snorted at her dry sense of humor. She was one tough Earth woman.

  Perfect mother material.

  He snapped the thought shut. If she discovered what she really meant to him and his kind, she’d never forgive him. She’d always believe his aim had been to procreate with her. Always believe he’d set her up to leave the farm with him, when in fact his every intention had been to leave her behind.

  Not that it’d taken much to yield to her insistence that she come with him.

  When it came to Marissa he was softer than the violent sands rimming the lakes on his planet.

  A sudden wind gusted. The fire crackled sharply and swept toward them, a raging inferno.

  “Shit.” Marissa turned to him with frightened eyes. “Asher you’ve got to get me out of here.

  Chapter Eight

  The helicopter moved away from them and Asher no longer had to stay concealed. He raced almost noiselessly through the long grass and scrub on his big webbed feet, overtaking kangaroos that bounded away from the fire with incredible agility, and reptiles that slithered into holes to avoid the heat.

  But with the scent of nearby water, probably a river or creek, he knew the fire would die down all too quickly. The wind blew their way, bringing with it plenty of smoke cover. Enough that when he climbed a hill and reached a fall-off on the other side, he was able to leap, stretch out his wings and glide through the air fully concealed.

  Marissa gasped, pressing her thighs against him and wrapping her arms tight around him so as not to fall off. Not even a minute later they glided over a wide, lazily meandering river. He blew out a relieved, smoke-laden breath. The river would stop the fire from spreading and keep Marissa safe.

  Marissa’s sudden giggle of exhilaration and relief spread through him, making him soar not just physically. Marissa made him happy. It was as simple and as complex as that.

  He flew another seven or eight hundred yards before the smoke began thinning out too much to conceal them. He glided into a clearing and crouched beneath some overhanging branches.

  Marissa slid carefully to the ground. She smoothed a hand over his snout, and whispered, “I’m guessing you want to shift back to human again now?”

  He snorted out a yes through his nose, and then wondered if she found the scent of ash and sulfur repulsive. It was the least of his worries. He had to shift to ensure his heat trail became almost negligible, making it so much harder for the Tantonics to follow.

  “I’m sorry that you’ll have to go through that pain all over again, but know I’ll be here with you. I’m not going anywhere.”

  It was odd how comforting he found that, how much easier the transition seemed as he pushed through it all over again. At least now he could take a little more time, not rush through it and endure even more pain.

  He lay on his side and willed the shift, his skin crawling and shivering as his body warmed up a little and fine-tuned itself before the grinding and shrinking of tendons and bones began. Before the pain tearing him apart finally knocked him out.

  He woke to her cool hand stroking his face, her eyes soft and her worry clear. “Welcome back, Asher,” she murmured, “I missed you.”

  He sucked in a deep breath, dragging in her scent like he was starved for oxygen. She couldn’t know that she smelled like the wild rainbow ziats, which were much like Earth’s flowers. Except on Riddich, ziats sprouted through violet colored sands after each full moon tide drenched the ground, then wilted and reseeded before the next tide.

  When ziats bloomed, everyone was aware the elder Riddichs had gone through their dragon shift.

  He sucked in another deep breath. Marissa’s scent might remind him of the ziats, but her strength of will was more like one of Earth’s big strong gum trees. He sat up and bit back a groan of despair. He had no doubt she’d need every bit of that strength in the coming days.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He nodded, then leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss that conveyed just how okay he felt. She sank against him with a soft sigh, yielding to his kiss, and then sighing again when he drew back.

  He lifted a hand and traced her bottom lip. “I missed you too.” He pushed a long, silken strand of her fiery red hair behind her ear, inhaling its gorgeous scent he couldn’t quite define. He reached higher, outlining the graze on her brow where blood had dried. Relief coursed through him. It was barely a scratch. “But as much as I’d love to linger here with you, we should get moving.”

  She nodded. “Yes.” Before she leaned forward and stole one more kiss in the softest brush of lips. She pulled back, smiled a little, and whispered, “Let’s go then.”

  It wasn’t until he stood that he remembered his nakedness was something not to be celebrated to the general Earth public. Shape shifting dragons didn’t hold onto such modesty, especially not at full moon when shifting shape meant clothes were nothing more than a hindrance.

  Except another part of him, not just his hardening dick, was pleased by the way she stared at him and then quickly averted her eyes. By
the way her face flushed even as she licked her lips.

  His dick thickened even more, making his voice sound gruff when he said, “I’ll follow you.”

  She nodded. “Good idea.”

  A pity the already hard part of his anatomy set like concrete at the sway of her hips. Not to mention the shape of her ass in her jeans and the slender litheness that he knew was from hardship rather than starving herself, as seemed to be the want of many reed-thin actresses he’d watched on his craft’s screen-capture.

  After nearly an hour of trailing after her through the rugged terrain that smelled of thin air, a pungent sharpness that he guessed was eucalyptus, and smoke from the fire, he nearly ran into her when she abruptly stilled.

  She turned to him. “Civilization at last.”

  He looked over her shoulder at the lone house in the valley below. The skewed timber structure looked no better than a shack. But going by the faint trail of smoke coming out of its chimney, someone actually resided there.

  She frowned up at him. “I think you should stay here while I knock on the door and see if I can’t get you some clothes.”

  He frowned right back at her. “You don’t know who lives there.”

  She arched a brow. “Yeah, like they could be any worse than your Tantonics. Besides, I’m beyond thirsty ... and I know you won’t let anything happen to me.”

  He nodded, secretly thrilled and troubled by her absolute trust. He didn’t for one second want to destroy her trust, not when every particle within knew he’d die before he’d allow something to happen to her.

  “Give me ten minutes,” she murmured, “and don’t move, not unless I call out to you.”

  His lips curled into a semblance of a smile. The great King Asher ordered around by this slip of a woman. Yet somehow he didn’t even mind. Instead he crouched low and watched as she descended toward the house, her hair brighter than flame through the trees.

  He wouldn’t for a second let her out of his sight.

  *

  Marissa drew free of the trees and stepped onto the spindly, dry grass that looked like it was meant to be a lawn. She approached the shabby house with its corrugated roof, hoping whoever lived here would be a decent human being, maybe even friendly.

  A brown snake slithered away just ahead, and she froze, waiting for the poisonous reptile to put more distance between them and for her heartbeat to settle back into a normal rhythm. She felt the burn of Asher’s eyes in her back, like he was aware of what had just transpired and wasn’t happy to not be there with her.

  “Don’t you dare come after me, Asher,” she whispered, aware somehow that he’d heard her every word. He’d heard the dogs before she had, she guessed his hearing must be more acute than any humans.

  Sucking in a steadying breath, she trudged forward, climbed two concrete steps and rapped on the peeling, wooden door.

  “Who is it?” a hoarse, suspicious voice yelled out.

  “My name’s Marissa. I’m afraid I got lost while ... bushwalking. I was hoping you might help me.”

  Shuffling steps approached from inside the house, its wooden floor creaking and groaning. A gray-haired woman opened the door a crack and peered at her from narrowed eyes. “Where’re you from?”

  “Chelderwood.”

  Her eyes sharpened. “Yeah, I know the place. What made you bushwalk out this way? It’s the middle of nowhere with nothing to see but stunted trees and too many snakes.”

  Marissa smiled. “Believe me, I’ve got more things to worry about than a few snakes.”

  The lady’s eyes sharpened a little more. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  Marissa swallowed. Damn. The other woman was far too perceptive. It would be stupid to lie. The door would be slammed in her face. She shrugged. “Trouble seems to follow me around these days.”

  The lady blinked, her eyes softening even as she nodded and exclaimed, “I remember those days! I only wish I had the energy again now to make trouble.”

  Marissa’s smile was real this time, until the other woman said, “Come in child, you must be hungry, thirsty?”

  Her smile died. “Actually ... I’m not alone.”

  “Oh?” The woman stuck her neck through the crack and peered outside. “I don’t see anyone else.”

  “Yeah, he’s ah, he’s hiding in the trees.”

  “Hiding?” Suspicion laced her tone. “Why would he be hiding?”

  “He’s ... naked.”

  The lady cackled, her eyes bright with interest. “Well, it’s been some years since I’ve seen a man in his birthday suit. There was a time I saw more than my fair share.”

  Marissa pressed a hand to her mouth to quell a smile. “I’m not sure you’ve seen anything like my Asher.”

  My Asher?

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

  I do.

  The woman sighed. “I should probably ask why he’s naked, but I’m not sure I want to know.” The lady frowned. “He isn’t some axe wielding murderer is he?”

  “Actually, quite the opposite. He wants to protect me from the whole universe.”

  Literally.

  “Well then, he doesn’t sound so bad. He’s welcome inside too, long as he covers himself up, stays a gentleman and behaves himself.”

  Marissa felt almost faint with relief. “Thank you, you don’t know how much that—“

  “Don’t need your gratitude, girl. Just get yourselves in here and keep a lonely old woman entertained for a short time.”

  Marissa nodded, walked back down the steps and through the yard a few paces before she shouted, “Asher, you can come out now.”

  “Tell him we don’t have all day,” the lady said, before he eyes suddenly widened. “Oh, my.”

  Marissa understood the older lady’s sharp interest when Asher emerged from the trees. She swallowed. Heaven help her, he really was a fine cut of a man, every long muscle and sinew honed so that there was not an ounce of fat on him. Even when he wasn’t aroused his cock was impressive, his muscled thighs and ripped abs a perfect backdrop.

  “Ladies,” he murmured, utterly unselfconscious as he stalked toward them in a long-legged stride.

  Marissa nodded greeting and then turned to the older lady. “Do you think you might have something that he could wear?”

  The older lady grinned and shook her head. “Well, now. There’s no need for him to dress on my account. I’m more than happy to enjoy the view.”

  Marissa didn’t bother stifling a laugh. So much for the older woman wanting Asher to cover himself up!

  Asher arched a brow. “Thank you, but I’m afraid clothes are necessary if I hope to blend in with the city crowd.”

  “Who says you need to blend in?” the lady asked, before she tsked and added, “oh, all right then. Go and spoil my fantasies.” She cackled and then ushered them in. “Come on, come inside. I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

  She opened the door wide and Marissa thrust her hand out. “Thank you. I’m Marissa.”

  “Hi Marissa.” She took her hand in a surprisingly firm handshake. “I’m Dorothy, but you can call me Dot.”

  “Dot,” Asher said as he stepped inside and bent over her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Asher.”

  “Oh, the pleasure is all mine, believe me,” Dot trilled.

  The interior of the house was cluttered but clean, with framed sepia wedding photos and pictures of what Marissa assumed were Dot’s children and grandchildren hanging on the walls and gracing the top of an old cabinet. There was a musty scent pervading the air, a peculiar aged smell that mingled with what she guessed was potpourri lavender.

  Dot glanced at Asher with wide, bright eyes, not even bothering to pretend she wasn’t fascinated by his nudity. “I s’pose I should find you something to wear then.”

  Asher inclined his head. “Thank you, I would be most grateful.”

  Dot’s eyes twinkled at his charm. “I hope you don’t mind wearing my Tommy’s clothes—he’s been
gone now almost nine years.” She sighed, decidedly nostalgic. “I should have thrown them out, but I do like to hang onto my happy memories.”

  Dot disappeared inside a bedroom and rustled around looking for something that might fit him.

  Marissa turned to Asher. “One day we’ll really have to buy you some new clothes.”

  He shrugged. “Unless I’m in no hurry to shift and I’ve got the time to strip first, they’ll probably only shred to pieces anyway.”

  “Will Earth’s full moon make you shift involuntarily?”

  “I’m not sure. Things might be completely different here. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”

  Dot came back from the bedroom holding up a long sleeved cotton shirt and a pair of big denim shorts. “These might fit. My husband liked his clothes big and baggy.” She looked him slowly up and down. “I doubt these will be big and baggy on you though.”

  Asher nodded thanks and dressed as Dot moved into the kitchen and filled up an electric kettle with water. “Now how about a cup of tea and scones?”

  Marissa smiled. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

  As Dot got busy laying out her scones and filling them with jam and cream, she asked Marissa, “So who is it you two are on the run from? I know you’re not out here bush walking.” She looked down at Marissa’s cheap canvas footwear. “Not in those shoes.”

  Marissa’s breath stopped. Shit. So much for not lying to this wonderful and bright lady.

  Dot raised her brows. “But I also know you aren’t bad people, I’ve seen enough of those types in my lifetime.”

  Marissa wanted to hug the older woman for seeing things outside the box, and for seeing them for who they really were. “You’re right. We are good people. I’d prefer not to tell you more than, as I’m not sure you’d believe me.”

  Dot paused from slathering cream onto a scone and said, “Try me, you might be surprised.”

  A fully dressed Asher stepped into the kitchen, his shorts snug in the crotch and thighs, and his shirt pulling tight across his big shoulders. “We’re on the run from alien enemies and from humans trying to capture me.”