Francesca

We found each other in the employee dining area. Ms. Eilidh was perfectly composed for her day, and I was wearing my cafe uniform. Summer had come to the resort, and it was still cold in the mornings, but that didn't bother me much. 

I nabbed three breakfast sandwiches and some coffee with a lot of cream and sugar, then made my way over to her table. She was reading something while she sipped her tea. 

"Morning, Ms. Eilidh. May I join you?" Her dark brown eyes lit up, and that made me smile.

"Please. And call me Eilidh." She pointed to the chair across from her. "How are you doing this morning?"

"Better," I said as I took a seat. "How are you?"

"Adequate for a Wednesday morning. Tonight is usually a late night at the club. I try to make sure we are well stocked before clients come in."

"Makes sense to me," I responded and then launched into my explanation. "So, last night. Um, that was intense."

She smiled. "Only intense?"

"Amazing, actually. I can say that I've never experienced anything like it." 

Her cup stopped in midair as concern appeared on her face. "Wait. What do you mean by that? Are you saying you've never had such a night with someone before, or that you've never, ever done anything like it?"

"I mean the latter. That's the first time I've ever done anything sexual. I've never been interested in anyone enough to be sexual with someone. It seemed pointless unless it was my mate."

"But I'm not your mate."

"I know, which is why this is so odd. The attraction I feel for you is pretty intense. Mostly manageable but intense. Like someone decided to flip my lust switch." I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. 

Most dragons were omnisexual. We were naturally curious and liked to experiment. How else would we find a mate? Except, I wasn't most dragons. I was something different, which is why my family was worried, I think. Not that they wouldn't be okay with me being different. I knew my parents loved me, but it meant that it would be harder for them to help me. Though I knew my daddy, Gavin, would research the ends of the earth to try and figure it out. While my da, Brice, would cook, and brood, and do his best to keep everyone that came within the sphere of his kitchen fed so they could help find answers. It's also the reason I needed to leave their house. Granma-ma Faith was worried too. Truth be told, I wanted to leave home, but I didn't know how. Moving from Wales to Spain was a start, but when Papa Ransford suggested the resort, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, with Eilidh, I'm not so sure.

I watched as she set down her teacup. I took that moment to take a bite of my breakfast as she glanced away at something then glanced at me.

"How would you like to proceed?" It was a calm, astute question that I hadn't thought about. Though it sounded like a familiar start, especially coming from the realms that Eilidh worked in daily.

"Is this a negotiation?"

"If you like." She picked up her cup and took another sip while I considered my options. 

"Would we date or only have sex?"

"I'm not opposed to either or both. Would you like to date?" 

"It would be a new experience." I thought about it for a moment. "I read a lot about it, but I've never dated anyone—"

"— Because you didn't see the need," we said at the same time as I nodded.

"I'm starting to understand a bit more. So, dating and sex. Is there anything else?"

None of the books I'd ever read had relationships begin like this. There were so many tropes and types of meet-cutes that I was slightly disappointed this wasn't more natural. But for the sake of experience, I was willing to put that aside. "I don't think there is for me, but what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes. A negotiation has two sides, doesn't it? What would you like in return for dating and having sex with me?"

Her lips twitched slightly. She took another sip then answered my question with a question. "How about information?" 

"What kind of information?" I wasn't sure what she had in mind, but an information exchange wouldn't be out of the realm of a normal dating relationship. Communication was key, after all, or so I've read.

"Any information you are willing to provide or give when I ask a question."

"That sounds reasonable. And I have the option to not give you the information."

"You do." She smiled. "Consider that I'd like to learn about dragons as much as you would like to learn about dating and sex."

"Oh? Is that all?" That seemed a little too easy from where I stood, but maybe she was curious too. 

She shrugged and smiled. "For now."

"I accept the terms." I wiped my hand on a napkin and held it out to Eilidh. She took it, and we shook on it. 

"For your first assignment: a romantic dinner. Thoughts?" Eilidh asked. 

A romantic dinner would be so easy. I totally had this. My da would be so proud when he found out that all his kitchen instructions didn't go to waste. "Do you have any allergies?"

"No."

"Anything you dislike?"

"Not particularly."

"Anything you do like?"

"Strawberries."

Noted. "What time would you like to meet tonight?"

"Let's say eight. I'll have an hour where the club will be fine without me."

"Eight o'clock. Sounds good." Plenty of time to plan and figure things out. I was already making mental calculations on what I had time to prepare when she asked a question I wasn't expecting.

"Should I take contraceptive precautions?"

I blinked. Oh, shit. Right. I was so used to my dual nature that I somewhat forgot that I could, in theory, make someone pregnant. Much more likely as a dragon, but less likely as a biped. But less didn't mean zero. "Yes. That would be a good idea."

She finished the last of her tea and set down her cup. "Very good then. I'll be at the club, so whenever you're ready, you can find me there." She stood up and then pushed in her chair. "Have a good day, Freddie."

"You too, Eilidh. See you tonight." We smiled at each other as Eilidh went one way, and I went the other.