<span style="font-style: italic">'If you want to know so badly, you’ll have to prove your up to the task'</span><br/><br/>These words spoken with a hint of playfulness added to the invitation of a drink with her, and the offered hand made Christopher feel as if he had stepped back into a dream.  It was far more than he had ever dared to imagine could happen.  He had boldly asked her the question of his heart, and she had in turn replied like this.  He did not even hesitate.  Sure, she was a dragon - most likely one of the most powerful beings in the world, but Chris was drawn to her in a way he could not explain.  There was a raging inferno - was that his imagination, or was he truly sensing that from inside her?  Was it just from her natural form burning inside, or was it something different?  Yet, even as he took her hand...so warm to the touch...a different question came to his mind instead.<br/><br/>"I don't even know your name, Lady?" he whispered a tad huskily now that their hands had met.  Part of him warned not to let himself be so swiftly swept away in fiery passion.  The majority of his soul, however, reached out to the woman before him.  The years he had spent honing his soul and mind made this easier, but what happened was instinctive...not deliberate.  His soul simply reached out for her with all he was - as if he had found a piece of himself long missed.  Chris gulped hard as his soul caressed the woman's for the very first time, and at the same time he took a long deep breath of her presence.   Never in all his life had he felt as enchanted and warm as he did at that very moment.  Her touch, the fire within her, standing now closer to her...dream was reality, and reality blurred to him.<br/><br/>Chris clasped her hand a tad more firmly...to show he was not afraid.  His eyes sparkled with pure affection, devotion, and even desire for this dragon lady that had once saved his life.<br/><br/>As if it were the most natural thing in the world for him; Chris found himself stepping a bit closer and hooking her arm in his.  There was never even the thought that she could tear him to pieces, or incinerate him on the spot.  Instead, the only thought was learning of this divinely gorgeous woman he now found himself with...wondering at how she must be feeling from the caress of his soul to her own, and at his own reactions to her.<br/><br/>"Show me," he whispered to her as he led them away from the alley.