Every Miraculous Moment (Hyena Heat #6)(9)

They broke through the surface and he gasped loudly, drawing in breath after breath to his starved lungs. He squeezed her hard around her middle, holding her against him as he paddled with one arm toward the shore. When his feet hit the sand and he could stand up, he lifted her into his arms and hurried her to the beach, where he laid her down gently. Her heart was beating, but she wasn’t breathing. He placed his mouth over hers and breathed into her, his wolf howling for him to save her. As he breathed a second, and then a third time, her body jerked and she coughed, leaning to her side and clearing her lungs of water.

With a groan, she fell to her back, her body highlighted by the moonlight. She wore a sinfully tiny white bikini, which made his wolf practically purr, and he mentally snagged his beast by the scruff and ordered him to behave. She’d nearly died.

“I’m Mack,” he said, leaning over her. “You were drowning and I pulled you out. Do you want me to take you to a hospital?”

Her eyes flashed iridescent green, and a trilling purr came from her open mouth. She slapped her hand over her mouth and groaned. “That was weird. Sorry.”

She sat up, coughed several times, and shivered hard. He saw her towel a few feet away on the beach, and he leaned over and snagged it, wrapping it around her shoulders.

“Thank you. I’m Miracle.” She rubbed her face with the towel and secured it around her shoulders more firmly.

“I didn’t see you earlier. Are you a guest here?” She was still breathing hard, and her voice was rough.

“Yes. My flight was delayed, so I didn’t get in until about an hour ago.”

She didn’t say anything for a long moment, and then she leaned over and kissed him. It was the simplest of kisses, but it rocked him to the core. He knew exactly why his wolf had been so intent to go to the beach: this lovely dragon was his mate.

She shivered again, and he said, “Want to finish our chat inside?”

The silence stretched between them for so long that Mack worried he’d rushed her. He opened his mouth to tell her that he had no ulterior motives, that he simply wanted to get her somewhere she could get warm, but he knew he couldn’t say that without sounding like a pervert.

“Sorry for being quiet. My dragon is being really vocal in my head right now and she’s never acted like that before,” she said.

“It’s okay. Miracle, I want to tell you the truth of what I’m feeling, because I think it might set us both at ease. But whatever we say right now, it doesn’t have to mean anything as far as physical stuff goes. We’ve just met. We can take as much time to get to know each other as we like.”

She smiled. “Thanks. Can we stay out here for a little bit?”

“Of course.”

He sat next to her, shoulder to shoulder, and stared out at the water. The waves were capped with white, and the moonlight reflecting off them made them seem magical.

“I’ve never met a dragon shifter,” he said.

She inhaled softly and purred again. “You’re a wolf.”

“I’m from New Jersey.”

“My clan lives in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania.”

“What happened with your dragon?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for a swim. I was bobbing around out there in the water when I saw you come onto the beach. My dragon went nuts and forced the shift. It happened so fast that I couldn’t hold my form, and the stress of shifting so swiftly again knocked me out.”

Guilt filled him. “You nearly drowned because I came out here.”

She shrugged. “How could you have known that would happen, if I didn’t?” She looked at him and pressed her fingers lightly to his cheek. “I feel really drawn to you, Mack. I didn’t know when I came out for a swim tonight that I’d meet you, but I know you’re my mate. It feels right to be with you.”

He laid his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “When our gazes locked, I knew why my wolf had been urging me to the beach. It’s because you’re mine, too.”

She leaned in to kiss him, and this time he met her halfway. Their lips met, hers soft against his, and when their tongues touched, Mack felt it all the way to the center of his being. He’d been alone for so long. Even though he’d come to the singles’ resort with an open mind, he’d still been a little skeptical. Now he knew that he’d been given a second chance at love, and he wasn’t going to waste it.





Chapter 5





Mack helped Miracle stand, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her. She’d nearly drowned because her dragon was being an idiot. She couldn’t believe that she was walking next to her mate. The mate chosen by her dragon, not chosen by her king. She picked up the small bag that contained her flip-flops and her keycard, and held his hand as they walked toward the hotel. When they reached the end of the beach, he swung her up into his arms and carried her the rest of the way.

She swiped her card at the security pad, and he held her close with one arm and pulled the door open with the other.

“I’m on the third floor, with the other females.”

“I’m on the fourth.”

“You need fresh clothes.”

“So do you,” he said as he climbed the stairs.

“Are we at an impasse already?” she asked with a chuckle.