But I'm just a freak

Chapter Ten

DRAYCE POV

Sleep failed to come easily last night, I had so many things swirling in my brain. My fated, the possibility of Nithe having a second chance fated, the feeling I was being watched and all the franchisees I had met and were yet to meet.

Irad was very agitated and I couldn’t let him out and, to top it all off, I was still sexually frustrated. I ended up polishing off all the mini booze bottles from the motel minibar and eventually drifted off into a restless sleep.

Last night, my dream had changed again. This time I saw all of her face and short dirty blonde hair. She took my breath away even in the dream.

I was getting so sick of having to take care of my hard-on, I hoped my fated was not far away. I took a shower and got dressed for the day.

I was hoping Nithe was feeling better this morning. I packed up my stuff and put it in the car. I then knocked on Nithe's door. He answered and he looked like hell.

“You alright?” I asked him.

“Uh yeah, just didn’t get much sleep, too much on my mind and Draco was being a dick.” He said with a gravelly morning voice.

“You jump in the shower and I’ll go find us coffee and food,” I said to him. He nodded and closed the door.

I walked out the front of the motel and had a look at what shops I could see. It paid to have dragon sight on days like this. I could see for miles. Several large blocks away, I spotted a café.

I made my way there and got us some really strong coffee and some food. Just as I was leaving the café, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end and I got that same sense of being watched.

I discretely looked around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so why the hell was I constantly getting this damn feeling? It was very unnerving.

I made my way back to the motel and straight to Nithe’s room. I knocked quickly and he let me in. He had had a shower and gotten dressed but he still looked like hell.

“What's going on Dray? you’ve got that look.” I glared at him and handed him his coffee and food before I finally responded.

“I’m sure I’m being followed. I felt it again as I was walking back from the café, but like the other day, I couldn’t see anyone obvious.” Nithe looked expressionlessly at me.

“What?” I growled at him.

“Well, are you sure you’re not just on edge because you haven’t found her yet?” He asked with a shrug. I growled again.

“I know what I felt Ni. Someone is stalking me but I’m not sure why.” He looked at me unconvinced but just nodded.

We ate in silence. Both caught up in our heads. Finally, it was time to get going to our first store for the day. Neither one of us wanted to be doing this today, not that I was ever particularly keen, but it was far worse today.

We made our way to the store and a lovely gay couple greeted us. They were doing a brilliant job with their store and I was quite impressed.

I liked that they were humble about it and not boastful and arrogant. Mick and Harry were exactly the type of people we needed in this business. They were also the first couple to show real hospitality by asking us to have lunch with them.

Unfortunately, due to the time constraints, we had to decline, but I promised to come back another time and take them up on their offer.

“What a nice couple, and their business is run incredibly well,” Nithe said as we made our way back to the car.

“Yes, I agree. I think they should be nominated for our annual award, along with young Darren from the other day.” I replied.

“Oh yeah, I had forgotten all about the annual award. Definitely mark them down as candidates. So where to next?”

“We have a few hours' drive ahead of us to reach the next store,” I responded.

“Cool, well I might grab a nap then.” Nithe said as he leaned his seat back and curled a little to one side facing the window.

“Sure, but I’m putting some music on,” I said as I reached for the CD. I knew he could sleep through it if he was tired enough and he sure as hell looked tired enough.

I mindlessly drove for a few hours before I needed to stop and stretch my legs. Nithe woke as I stopped the car at a petrol station to fuel up.

“We there already?” he mumbled, still half asleep.

“Nar, got about an hour and a half to go, but I needed to stretch my legs and get some fuel.” He nodded and tried his best to stretch in the limited space before reaching for the door handle.

“I need food, want anything?” he asked as he stepped out of the car and stretched again. A gaggle of young human girls saw him stretch and started to giggle as his, now untucked, shirt rose up, showing off part of his abs. I chuckled.

“Looks like you have a fan club,” I said, indicating the girls with my head.

He turned to look and they all giggled and whispered. I saw him wave and wink at them and they looked like they were ready to faint. He finally turned back to me and shrugged.

“What can I say, the ladies love me.” It was nice to see his cheeky side again after the last few days.

“Can you grab me a coffee and a sandwich please, I’ll get the car fueled,” I said, and I started pumping fuel into the car.

“Sure thing, boss,” he said with a mock salute. We got back on the road a short time later and just made small talk about the store we were going to next.

Nithe seemed to be back to his normal self and I must say I was quite relieved, I was worried about him.

We made it to our next stop and stepped out of the car. I scent the air but smell nothing unusual. Nithe fixed up his shirt and we entered the store.

As soon as I set foot inside, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end again. You’ve got to be shitting me. I wished I knew who the hell was stalking me and why.

I casually looked around but it seemed everyone had stopped what they were doing to look at us. The store owners made their way towards us. We made introductions and they proceeded to show us around the store.

I was so distracted by the feeling of being watched that I didn’t notice anyone coming around the corner as I approached and I slammed right into them, sending them flying.

“Oh s**t, I am so sorry ma’am, here let me help you up. Are you hurt?” I mumbled as I helped the young redhead off the ground.

“Oh no I’m sorry sir, I wasn’t watching where I was going, I’m fine really.” She said as I checked she wasn't hurt.

The hairs were still sticking up on the back of my neck and my dragon was super agitated around this stranger.

I stood upright and, after apologising one last time, I went to follow after the others, who had already moved on away, but she stopped me.

“What’s your name handsome?” she said flirtily.

“I’m sorry, but that is none of your business, ma’am, I’m sorry for walking into you, but if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do," I said and walked away.

I heard her frustrated huff and low growl that any human would not have heard, but I was not a human.

I turned back to confront her but she was gone, along with the feeling of being watched. What the hell?

“Nithe, we need to go. Now!” He looked at me concerned but nodded.

We thanked the owners and apologised for leaving so early, telling them that something had come up that needed our urgent attention.

We got into the car, and I took off before saying a word. I then explained everything to Nithe and to say he was shocked is an understatement.

“Do you think she is a witch?” he asked.

“I honestly don’t know. I guess it’s a very real possibility, but what does she want with me?”

“I dunno man, can you think of any reason someone would be stalking you?”

“None whatsoever, this is what is so annoying, and who even knows I’m on this trip except the shareholders' board and the franchisees?” I pondered aloud.

We spent an hour driving in silence before Nithe spoke up.

“Uh, where are we going?” I had been so thrown off by what happened that I had forgotten we were supposed to be staying in a motel back in the last town.

“Ah s**t, let's just keep going and find somewhere in the next town, I didn’t feel like staying where the stalker had been anyway,” I said as I kept driving.

It was quite a drive to the next town on our itinerary, but we still managed to find a place with two rooms available. We both went to our separate rooms, and I once again raided the minibar in the room.

Why was this happening to me? All I wanted was to make the shareholders happy, by visiting our franchisees, and find my Fated. Now, s**t was way more complicated and I just didn’t have the mental capacity right now to deal with this new drama.