Was Stella—who appeared to be a sweet lady in her fifties—judging him right now? Knocking back his second drink on a flight that was less than an hour and a half?

  Shit, he needed it.

  He mixed the drinks together, took a sip, and closed his eyes. Then immediately regretted it.

  The memory of Ryan kissing Tori’s cheek and his lewd words played in his mind like a bad reel.

  She hadn’t stopped him. Hadn’t even pushed him away. Instead, she’d smiled and said she’d think about it.

  And then, when James had confronted her, she’d flaunted the possibility that she might take Ryan up on his offer.

  His stomach twisted, and his blood began to pound with that same anger from last night.

  He’d known Ryan was bigheaded and cocky, but he hadn’t realized his cousin would take it to that level. How many women had he pulled this with?

  It was unethical. He should be fired.

  And Tori. God, for almost a couple of months now, he’d really started to think he’d been wrong about her. And it seemed they’d almost been flirting at the game.

  But, clearly, he was a fucking fool.

  James didn’t have the power to help her get more money and status at the firm, but Ryan did.

  Would she be having dinner with his cousin this weekend?

  The thought of it had him tossing back another gulp of his drink, then scrubbing a hand across his face.

  Stop thinking about it, man. You’re going to a fucking Comic Con. Think about that.

  It took a huge effort, but slowly, he turned his thoughts away from Hurricane Tori and toward all things comic related.

  He went to the Seattle convention every year, but this was his first time going to the Gem State Comic Con.

  The timing was perfect, being a couple months after the bar, so he’d bought a ticket and booked the flight.

  This was a nice little three-day weekend he’d put aside for himself. It’d been easier to tell everyone at work he’d be on the Oregon Coast.

  Some people tended to look down on the conventions and cosplay stuff, and he’d found more than a few of those types at the firm. His cousin being one of them.

  So yeah, he’d called it a weekend at the beach to avoid the drama.

  By the time James checked into his hotel, his mood had improved. Mostly because anytime Tori slipped into his mind, he shoved her right back out.

  He debated whether to go and grab food somewhere near the hotel. No doubt he’d find other comic enthusiasts running about town tonight.

  But the idea left him a bit exhausted.

  Nah, he’d save his energy for tomorrow. There’d be plenty of after-parties spilling into the bars once the convention ended.

  After tossing his suitcase on the bed, James unzipped it and reached in to pull his costume out.

  Excitement had his blood pounding as he carefully laid out his dragon shifter outfit.

  He’d steered away from the usual trendy ones from Marvel or DC and gone for a new indie comic that was steadily rising in popularity.

  Ash Masters.

  And he would be Aidan. The chief and alpha dragon.

  It was a bold choice. Not everyone was familiar with the comic. While he’d been enjoying it more and more, the thought of using it as cosplay inspiration had never crossed his mind.

  That was until Emerald City Comic Con last year. He’d spotted a woman dressed as the character Nadia from the comic, and he’d been blown away by how incredible her costume was.

  He’d begun planning his Aidan costume the next day.

  It was fantastic. More than worth the money he’d dropped.

  The cargo pants were sewn with dark-blue and black sequins in a fashion that mimicked dragon scales. The vest was similar and would be worn open, showing off his torso and arms.

  While he wasn’t the most ripped guy, all the running and crunches gave him a slight six-pack.

  On the back of the vest, there were wings attached that he could control with string loops that he wore around his fingers.

  But it was the mask, a mix of dragon-scale fabric and mesh that really gave him the confidence. He could fully slip into the world of Ash Masters.

  He hadn’t expected to wear it until the next Emerald City Comic Con, but now here he was in Idaho, about to get his dragon on.

  His phone buzzed from a text, and he went to grab it.

  It was Kris.

  Well? We’re all dying to know here. Did you pass the bar?

  Holy crap. He’d been so busy getting to Idaho and moping over Tori, he hadn’t checked again to see if the results were posted since before he’d flown out. They hadn’t been before the plane had taken off.

  Without answering Kristen, he went into his account and typed in his info. He barely breathed as it slowly loaded—thanks to the thick hotel walls.

  Shit, he should’ve splurged and bought the upgraded Wi-Fi—

  He’d fucking passed!

  The relief nearly brought him to his knees.

  He pulled up Kristen’s text again and typed a reply.

  Annihilated it with a 300. Hell, yeah! Permission to plan a big-ass party granted.

  His sister quickly sent another reply.

  I knew it! Okay, planning for one big-ass party has begun. Have fun tomorrow.

  Kristen was the only person he’d told about his weekend plans.

  With a smile so big it started to hurt, he put in a room service order and added a celebratory beer to his dinner.

  Glancing at the time, he decided to grab a shower before the food arrived.

  Wow.

  This was just an amazing beginning to what already promised to be an incredible weekend.

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning, James made sure he was up early to get ready.

  Even still, he’d been in line for at least twenty minutes, waiting to get his ticket checked and get in.

  Gem State Comic Con was quite a one-day event, and quite a bit smaller than Emerald City, being a newer convention that was still growing. But no less exciting.

  Already dozens of people had come up to him and commented on his costume, many asking for pictures.

  The cosplay turnout was impressive. From the usual superheroes and villains to characters in video games.

  He smiled as another Harley Quinn approached.

  “Oh my god, you look amazing.” She squealed and wiggled her hips in a little dance. “Can I get my pic with you?”

  Her cosplay game wasn’t super-complex and looked more like something someone could pick up at the Halloween store, but she seemed to be having a great time.

  “Sure can.”

  These were his people. Fellow geeks uniting with no shame, only confidence, knowing everyone here shared the same passion.

  This was him in his element.

  She slid her arm around his waist and squeezed close while her friend—who was dressed as Poison Ivy—took their picture.

  “Thanks.” The Harley Quinn cosplayer stepped away and tossed one of her blonde ponytails over her shoulder. “Hey, I saw your girlfriend go inside earlier.”

  He cocked his head. “Sorry, what?”

  “A girl dressed as a half dragon, half human like you. She was hot.”

  Someone else had dressed up as a character from Ash Masters?

  “So hot,” her friend agreed. “You need to go get your picture with her.”

  Hmm. He’d keep an eye out for her inside and check out her costume.

  By the time he’d made it into the convention center, he already had a plan of action on where he wanted to go first.

  There was a panel from a popular show speaking at eleven. Which gave him plenty of time to walk around and explore.

  People were everywhere, some in costume and some just taking in the view. He couldn’t blame the observers. One of the best things about these conventions was the people-watching.

  He made his way to the display room, stopping for pics when asked. When he was about to step inside, a flash of color caught his eye.

  He turned and his breath caught.

  There she was, tall in her thick-heeled boots. Her leggings, which looked like purple-and-green dragon scales, clung to her. Like him, her midriff was bare, showing her smooth belly and a pierced navel.

  His gaze rose to the corset-like top she wore that matched the leggings. Her breasts were lifted and high, pale curves peeking over the boned fabric.

  That hair. Wow.

  It was glittery green, braided, and fell down her back in a way that made it look like the spine of ridges on the dragon.

  Her face mask, just like his, was mesh and fabric, and completely obscured any of her features.

  She was Nadia, queen of the dragon shifters. Magnificent and breathtaking.

  And she’s mine.

  The thought wasn’t just his primitive side kicking in, it was him respecting the storyline of the comics.

  Nadia was Aidan’s palindromic mate.

  And she undoubtedly was the same woman he’d seen cosplaying at the Seattle convention.

  He swallowed hard, unable to tear his gaze away.

  Why the hell couldn’t he remember her being this hot?

  *

  Ryan Benefield can go screw himself.

  Tori took one last look in the mirror, nodded in approval, and left her room.

  And his cousin James too.

  With Ryan doing such a blatant dangling of the carrot for sexual favors, she had a few options. One, go to Grace in HR and tell her everything. Two, ignore Ryan’s gross advances. Three, put in her notice, walk away from all the drama, and find a new job.

  She’d called in sick for work Friday after the game on Thursday. She needed time to think about her options. She needed to de-stress.

  And so she’d accepted an offer she’d received a few months ago. One of her friends in the cosplay community had invited her to come out to Idaho, go in on a hotel room, and attend the Gem State Comic Con together.

  Initially, it hadn’t been in the cards, but now that she had a few days at her leisure? She’d been determined to swing it.

  One of her other friends, a former foster sister, worked at the airlines. She’d been able to give her a pass for a non-rev ticket to fly out late Friday.

  Hopefully, getting home wouldn’t be a challenge, but so far, the flights looked pretty open coming back Sunday.

  She was more than aware of the stares she attracted as she walked through the lobby. She ignored them and kept her gaze straight ahead.

  “Excuse me, ma’am, can I take your picture?”

  “Sure.” She paused in her stride and smiled at the young teen boy. Not that anyone could see her smile behind the fabric-and-mesh mask, but still.

  “Your Nadia costume is beyond amazing.” The hero worship was bright in his eyes as he stood politely beside her and a woman—his mom, maybe?—took their picture.

  “Thank you. Are you guys going to the convention?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded quickly, causing his glasses to slide down. He pushed them back up. “We’re heading there now.”

  “Well, have fun and I’ll probably see you out there.”

  She continued on her way, searching the lobby for Lucy. A moment later, she spotted her friend hanging out with a group near the front desk.

  “Tori.” Lucy waved to beckon her over. “You look awesome, girl. You ready to head out?”

  “You look pretty amazing yourself.”

  Lucy had always been big on cosplaying Star Wars characters. Her Rey costume today was spot-on, and she managed to look bad-ass and hot at the same time.

  “Let me introduce you to a few of my friends who are also local.”

  Tori said hello with enthusiasm, even though she’d never remember any of these peoples’ names. Especially when they were all cosplaying as someone else.

  The short blonde with a sword was She-Ra, then there was Chewbacca and Hans, and finally there was Tifa from Final Fantasy.

  They made their way to the convention center, chatting and laughing the whole time. The excitement and fun in the air were tangible.

  God, she loved comics and cosplay. She’d been hooked on it since one of her foster dads had introduced her to comics and taken her to the Seattle Comic Con when she was twelve.

  When she cosplayed, she could become anyone. She wasn’t Victoria, the foster kid, being shuffled from home to home. She could be Princess Peach or Wonder Woman. Or in her college years? Lara Croft, since the costume had been on the sexier side.

  It was an escape from reality, and a chance to embrace her creative side, once she’d started designing and sewing her own costumes.

  The people at these events? They were her type of people. They got her. And just like her, they let their nerd flag fly bright and strong. They were fun, and they all loved comics and cosplay with a passion.

  “I’m so glad you came.” Lucy caught and squeezed her hand. “And that you wore the Nadia costume again. I was so bummed I couldn’t get to ECCC this year.”

  “Oh, with all the time it took me to make this?” Tori gestured from her head to her toes. “I’ll wear it to church.”

  Lucy guffawed. “Right, like you go to church.”

  A smile tugged at her lips and Tori smiled. “Okay, I’ll wear it to the gym.”

  “Now that’ll get you attention from all the gym rats that do nothing for you.”

  “Absolutely nothing,” she agreed.

  An abundance of muscles and cockiness was a turnoff. And in her experience, the first always came with the second.

  Now someone like James, who got his fit physique from running—stop.

  You are not thinking about James.

  What was he doing this weekend? Oh right, hanging out on the Oregon Coast. Probably running on the beach, scowling at toddlers, and kicking over sandcastles.

  Maybe not that bad, but he was likely living up to his grumpy James persona.

  Her lips quirked into a small smile beneath her mask and she picked up the pace to walk with her group.

  By the time they got inside the convention center, the adrenaline was coursing through her blood.

  The air hummed with energy. And just like in Seattle, her costume quickly attracted attention.

  In between checking out exhibits, she posed for pictures.

  “Thanks,” a tweenage Pikachu said after taking a picture with Tori. “Did you know your mate is here?”

  “My mate?” She glanced around, looking for anyone who might be cosplaying from the comic, Ash Masters. “I don’t see—”

  Oh wait. Yes, she did.

  Holy . . . whoa.

  Whoever was cosplaying as Aidan had knocked it out of the park—if she wanted to use a term she’d learned at the Mariners game.

  That outfit was like Aladdin meets dragons. The fabric and sequins were stunning and convinced the eye they were dragon scales.

  The matching vest was open, revealing a hard-looking chest and six-pack covered with a smattering of chest hair. His arms were discreetly muscled, and the wings on his back seemed to fold up, but extend when he moved his arms a certain way.

  Wow, those were impressive. Her wings were dainty and sewn to the back of her corset.

  Just like with her, you couldn’t see his face. It was all shadows under the mesh and fabric. Which somehow made him even hotter.

  Stop.

  When had she ever ogled cosplayers? That wasn’t who she was. That wasn’t why she was here.

  Maybe it was because he was her mate in the comic. He was Aidan, and she was his Nadia.

  They were enemies. They were lovers. And they were each a force to be reckoned with.

  And it warmed her heart to know there was a guy out there who loved Ash Masters as much as she did. Or, at least, enough to cosplay as Aidan.

  She continued to stare, completely entranced by how incredible he looked.

  He turned and saw her. Or, at least, she figured he did, because it was hard to tell with that mask on.

  For a moment, he didn’t move, just seemed to be staring at her while lots of people nearby were pointing between her and him and talking excitedly.

  “You guys need a picture together,” Lucy urged. “Come on.”

  Before she could take a step, he took that first stride in her direction.

  Her heart quickened, and she wet her lips beneath the mask.

  “Nadia. At last, I have found you,” he called out as he approached.

  Oh, god.

  He sounded like he was a bad actor auditioning for a high school play. His voice was unnaturally loud and low. It was cheesy and awkward, and she was one hundred percent here for it.

  She straightened and lifted her chin. Made her voice breathy and lush.

  “Aidan, my mate. You should’ve looked harder.”

  People laughed, and cameras snapped.

  He stopped in front of her, as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do now.

  Tori slid her arm around his waist and sidled close. “Let us pose for the mortals.”

  He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. The smell of sandalwood and—was that coconut?—teased her nostrils. Cologne? Deodorant?

  Whatever it was, he smelled nice.

  The muscles from his bicep pressed lightly against the back of her shoulder, and his long fingers rested on her upper arm.

  There was nothing inappropriate about his touch, and he never moved his fingers over her bare skin where they rested. And yet, just feeling them lightly against her both reassured and stirred something in her.

  She relaxed into his solid body and smiled beneath her mask as people photographed them.

  For the next fifteen minutes, they posed with other attendees who’d approach, or just each other when people asked for photos.

  When it looked like the initial excitement was over, he released his arm and stepped away.

  A prickle of disappointment hit, but she shoved it off because . . . how weird was that?

  “Your costume is amazing,” he raised his voice over the noise around them, but the mask still distorted it a bit.

  She did the same, not quite yelling, but still projecting to make sure he could hear her. “Thanks, I like yours too. Homemade?”

  “Absolutely. By a seller on Etsy.”

 

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