Page 57 of Driven By Dragonblood
I settled in my chair and closed my eyes, his teasing sliding off my back like it always did. “Not exactly, but I havea case that is eating away at me, and I would really love your opinion since your brain has always been a little out in…well, left field.”
“Whatcha got?” He got down to business, unbothered by my statement as I’d been with his. His pursuing his doctorate in New York while I’d stayed in Boston for mine had separated us from getting together and eventually as close confidants, but one truth about real friendships—they stood the test of time.
I exhaled a long breath before telling him about Jaxon—without naming him—and how the voice in his head made him believe he could fly.
“I’ve seen a handful of similar cases that don’t fit into the science we both studied,” he said once I finished my brief recap of what had been in Jaxon’s file opened atop my desk.
“Did any of them ever mention dragons—or dream of dragons? Alphas, betas, and females? Fated mates?”
He hesitated long enough that I checked my cell to make sure Steven and I hadn’t been disconnected.
“You were never one to beat around the bush, Patty.”
I heaved another heavy breath and frowned at the half-lie about to leave my mouth. “There are two men, actually, who have dreamed of dragons and flying. I’ve done research.” I went on to fill him in on the bit about the stories the Natives in the area passed down from generation to generation, even tossing in the word “dragonblood” in hopes Steven might know something about the mess I found myself in.
“Well?” I pushed when he went silent yet again.
“I think it’s arrogant of man to believe we’re the only beings in this universe,” he said slowly as though choosing his words carefully. “I studied the same textbooks you did, though. What does your gut tell you?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, knowing I had to admitto questioning my sanity out loud—but I trusted this man’s ability to remain professional. “I’m not sure.”
“Are these two men hospitalized?”
“No.”
“Should they be?”
I still managed to contain my weakness for the most part, but I considered Jaxon, the wildness that had gotten him into trouble, and the mischievous glint in his eyes. I also imagined taking my belt to his backside to teach him a thing or two about not making stupid choices.
Clearing my throat, I shifted on my office chair, and it squeaked beneath me. “I think they’ve both accepted reality.”
A snort drifted through the walls imprisoning the beast inside me, and I frowned, pulling oxygen deeply into my lungs.
“Are you happy, Patty?” Steven asked as though seeming to know I needed a topic change.
“I’m not sure how to answer that, to be honest.”
“Have you found that fulfillment you’ve been driven to snag for yourself since the day I met you?”
“No.” At least, that answer was easy to answer with honesty.
“In a relationship?”
I stared unseeing across the office, all too happy I had rid myself of Jessie even though I’d always longed for companionship and acceptance of what I hated about myself. “No.”
“Still sharing lovers?”
“Fuck,” I muttered and closed my eyes against the sudden images flashing in my head of Jaxon and Primrose that filled my dreams every goddamned night.
“You know…” Steven paused, and I imagined him tapping his chin like he’d done while deep in thought when we were younger. “I might have a lead for you.”
I waited, breath held.
“A close friend of mine owns a sex club downtown, and I’ve referred countless patients to him.”
“He’s a dominant?”
“Yes—Giovanni DiLoreto. He disappeared toward the end of last year, and I finally just heard from him a few days ago. He moved to Wyoming to live with what he called his beta and female. I always knew he was a kinky fucker, but he spoke about them like he was bonded to them or some such shit. He didn’t use the words ‘fated mates,’ but that’s the gist I got from the brief conversation.”
