Chapter 2

Hey Baby

(Malachi POV)

I was out on a pretty routine flight. It's easier to not get spotted when I fly in my humanoid form. I'm smaller to see. And the clouds do a good job of camouflaging me in the evening air.

As I roll through the clouds, flapping my wings against the wind and breathing in the fresh atmosphere, I frown as I smell and hear trouble before I see it.

A plane's going down. And… there's a woman in it.

She's screaming, trying to get out. But she can't.

I dive. I know how to make myself heavier so as to fly harder and faster downward. I shoot down like a meteor, my gaze focused as I calculate just exactly what I need to do in order to get her out of there without hurting her…

I spiral, my tail acting as a rudder as I latch onto the roof of the old plane. Tearing the roof off, I quickly reach into the cockpit. The woman screams, but I ignore her words, which are incoherent anyways, and tear off her seatbelt. I grab her, and let my wings catch the wind, which yanks us both off the plane as it plummets to the ground in a messy explosion.

I cradle the human gently, gliding on a current as I look for a good place to stop. The plane crashes into the forest. Good thing she got out this far before falling, or else I may never have come across her in time to rescue her.

I look down at this small human. She's curled into my arms, her own tiny hands clasped desperately around my neck.

She's so soft...

Why the hell isn't she wearing a jacket? Isn't she cold?

I bank, flapping hard as I land as gently as I can, setting her down on her feet. I look way, way down at her. She's a little smaller then average height, maybe 5.4.

I'm 8.3 ft tall.

She looks a little awed, and maybe even scared. Heh, I don't really have anything against humans. And she's pretty cute for a human. So, I try to break the ice.

"Hey baby, buy a parachute. I'm not always going to be there to catch you." I grin and wink, watching to gage her reaction.

Her eyes widen and then…SMACK!...I've just been slugged in the face by an average height woman of small stature.

She scowls," Who the HELL do you think you are?"

"I think I'm the dragon who just pulled your butt out of an engine-failed plane."

"That doesn't give you the right to be rude!"

"Hey, if you ask nicely, I may stick around, in case you need me again." I grin lecherously.

Her eyes widen and she snaps, "I won't, I assure you. Good bye!" She turns around, only to find that she's stuck in the middle of nowhere.

This is Colorado. Very remote for the USA. She slowly turns back to me, but by this time, I'm crouched up in a tree, grinning down at her.

"I assume you no longer need my assistance, as you seem to be very well adjusted to-"

"Can you give me a ride to the air strip? Please?"

Hmm. That had to hurt, by the way she's all tensed, her jaw clenched.

Still… she's quite lovely. Beautiful when she's angry.

I chuckle, as I stand on the branch and turn my back on her, chuckling to myself, "Oh but I wouldn't want to do anything to cause you to doubt your own self-sufficiency. Women get so uptight about being damsels in distress-"

"You're a fucking dragon, not a knight in shining armor. Now get down and give me a ride, or so help me I'll-"

"What kind of ride?" I look over my shoulder to give her a suggestive grin, enjoying the fact that she's squirming now, her cheeks flushed.

"That wasn't what I meant, damn it!" she blurts, her face intensely dark now as blood rushes to her skin.

I chuckle as I fall over backward, now facing her. My tail has a grip on the branch, so I'm pretty much standing beneath the branch I formerly stood upon, grinning slyly at her.

I like the way she's getting all tensed.

And before you get the wrong mental image, I DO wear modern clothing. So I have pants on. No loincloth, or anything tribal.

What kind of barbarian do you think I am?

"Well then… what exactly are we talking about?" I chuckle, allowing a small growl into my voice.

Her face goes even redder if that's possible.

"Ok… I'm sorry I was rude. It will take me about 9 or 10 hours to walk all the way back to the airstrip, and much longer to actually walk back to something resembling civilization. I'm not dressed for survival in the middle of the woods. I need a ride. Please?"

Her tone is slightly humbled, though I can hear indignation in her undertone.

"Of course I'll give you a …lift." I grin, wriggling my brows. The changing colors of her face are so entertaining. I like this human. She hasn't even screamed at me… well, not in the usual way. Normally, humans are scared enough to wet themselves when they see me.

Her… Nothing even remotely frightened… hold it.

There's something about her scent. It's changing...

Well then.

I think she's possibly turned on by me.

I barely restrain a smug grin as I launch myself off the branch, timing myself so that I not only swoop down in a perfect reverse swan-dive, but I grab her on the way up. Heh, she wasn't expecting that, and once again, she's clinging to me for dear life.

Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm not going to drop you. I promise.

As I fly, reaching for the sky with every stroke, I ask casually," So, you live around here?"

She's slowly opening her eyes, staring at me.

"Well?"

"Uh, yeah. I do. Sorta."

"My name's Malachi."

"I'm Rosalie."

"Hmm, Rosalie. Doesn't suit you," I grin as her eyes flicker with wrath, quickly adding, "You're much prettier. You smell sweeter too."

Her eyes widen and she blurts," Are… are you a c-carnivore?"

"Oh yes… but humans aren't normally on my diet. Too bland and stringy."

She glares.

"If you even think about eating me, I'm going to rip your manhood off and strangle you with it."

"Well, I don't know whether to be horrified or intensely flattered."

Hell, I DO feel flattered. I mean, after all, I've got a decidedly thick neck...

But she only growls," You pervert!"

I laugh, "Aw, honey, you're so sweet. How old are you?"

"Old enough to kick your ass to next thursday."

"Cute, too." I chuckle as I roll into a downward spiral.

To my surprise, she doesn't scream. She leans forward, enjoying the flight. It then occurs to me.

This is her first flight without a machine. She's flying. And she loves it.

Not for the first time, I pity the humans. They can't fly. Not without help.

I pull up, and then make the ride longer and wilder.

And when she giggles and laughs, I grin. This is really fun. A warm feeling spreads through my chest, and an ache I had not been aware of spreads through me. She's one of those who should have been born a dragon.

How do I know?

Because as I become more carefree in flight, the more she relaxes, her body leaning and flexing with mine as we dive, spin and weave through the clouds. I have never felt this way before.

8~8~8~8~8~

(Rosy POV)

When he dropped me off, it was nearly midnight. People had found my airplane and were searching for me. When I showed up, they asked what happened.

"Some bozo stole my airplane and crashed it." I replied. I'm not about to tell them that I was saved by a lecherous dragon man. Hell no. I may as well just BEG for them to take me to the asylum.

As I drive back home, I catch a glimpse of… something. Something big and dark… with big beautiful wings.

Showoff.

Geez, I've never felt SO embarrassed by a guy in my life. What a jerk! He completely enjoyed making me feel uncomfortable. I hope I never see him again!

But he did save my life.

Oh the irony. I wanna kill the dude who saved my life. Maybe I DO belong in the asylum.

Naw… well maybe.


I'm going to post the next chapter of "Oh That's Just Perfect!" soon, it's nearly done! Meantime... more insight into the past. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything other then my own OCs. And each chapter has been read and reviewed by Khalthar, who once again has proved himself to be an invaluable part of my writing. Thanks for sticking it out with me, dude. You rock!