Matthew: House of Wilkshire ― Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  It was the smile that got him. Rolland actually believed what he was saying. That he was only his brother because he could do things for him. Matt had heard of people like him before, but it had only just occurred to him that Rolland was just like that. A greedy little fucker who always had his hand out for something he wanted.

  “Here is what is going to happen.” Matt felt his heart harden with each word. It was time to cut the ties. Julia had told him that. That Rolland was a grown man and needed to be cut off. Well, he was willing to do that now. “You’re going to be here until such time as a court date will be set for you. When they ask you if you can afford an attorney, you’d better be telling them no. None of us—not your mom, my dad, nor I—will be footing the bill for you. You are on your own.”

  “No. That’s not right. My mother would never agree to that. You ask her about it.” Matt told him that he had. “And she’s letting you say this to me? I won’t believe it. Not without hearing it from her own mouth. You can prattle on about this other stuff, but I know that my mom will get me out of this. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she had any part in me going to prison. And if I do, it’ll be all on her and the rest of you.”

  “We talked it over last night, and your mom said that she should have cut you off years ago, long before she met my dad. You’re nothing but a greedy, selfish bastard that thinks just because you want it; it should be within your reach. Well, it’s not. Not now, not in the future. You’re stuck right where you are, due to things that you did to put yourself here. You killed those officers. You killed them without regard to what happened to their families, their children. This is all on you, Rolland, and we’re washing our hands of you.” Rolland stood up and asked him where his mom was. “At home. With my dad. They were house hunting when I left to come here.”

  Rolland sat back down and smiled. “If she’s house hunting, she can surely afford to get me out of here. Would you please tell her that I want to talk to her? Alone? Once I get finished with her, then she’ll see reason. It would hurt her badly if I were to have to go away. You and I both know that. I’m her only son, and that is the way it will be forever. Just do me this favor and ask her to come here and talk to me. You’ll see. A mother’s love is stronger than any other bond. You tell her that.”

  “I don’t think she cares about bonding with you any longer, Rolland. You’re nearly forty-five years old. You need to grow up and stand up on your own two feet.” Matt stood up, feeling that anything else he said to Rolland would be a waste of breath. As he was folding up the chair, Rolland asked him about his accommodations. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about. What sort of accommodations do you think you should have? Being a murderer and all.”

  “That’s nothing for you to worry about, brother dear. Mom will take care of it. But I would like to have a better meal or two a day. They said they only had to provide me with a meal, and that it didn’t have to be anything I liked. So, could you pave the way for me to have a steak or two a week, with some wine and a few other perks? I mean, that’s what brothers are for, right? To make sure that they’re well taken care of in the event that they can’t do for themselves.” Matt walked away. “I’ll just wait until lunch, then, to see what you’ve done for me. Thanks, bro. You did me a great service, not making me feel like these people are more than I am. Don’t forget to tell my mom that I want to talk to her. Okay? Soon. I don’t like being cooped up here all the time. You tell her that, please?”

  When he got out to his car, Matt felt dirty. Rolland really did think that everything was going to be just the way he wanted it. He thought about what Devon had told him about Kelly’s family and knew that they had to be cut from the same fucking mold. To think that he’d tried to get along with Rolland when he’d first met him. All he’d been doing was setting him up for the big payoff. The one that would only benefit Rolland.

  How’s your day so far? He told Aisling that he’d just left the jail. I figured as much. I could feel your anger all the way through our connection. It’s very weird, this feelings thing. Would you like to know what I’m doing? It’s no less frustrating.

  What are you doing? She told him. So my dad took you up on you sorting out the family jewelry, did he? What is so frustrating about that? I would think, after seeing you work with those pieces you found, it would have been easy for you.

  You would think that, wouldn’t you? Every time I trace a piece, each and every person that the things belonged to, he looks them up in this book that he borrowed from Devon. The Book of Dragons. If you didn’t want anyone to steal that thing, coming up with a better name might have deterred people. Like, I would have called it the Big Book of Turnips, the BBT for sure. Or something along those lines. Matt was laughing when he decided to go and see her. By the way, why aren’t your parents living in this place? It’s beautiful. I mean, I don’t know a great deal about the inside of castles—usually, I had to stay in the courtyard or something. But this place is really beautiful. Empty, but really beautiful.

  We have most of the furniture in our place. Thus, you were able to find the jewelry in the first place. And the castle is really nice, but it’s not a place to live in full time. The only reason that Devon can make it work is that he had the magic to make improvements on his. He thought of something. You know, together we might be able to put in the improvements that would make it a good home for us. Would you live there with me? I’m sure that I can convince my dad and Julia to take the house that we live in.

  What would the others say about that? I mean, they did purchase it for you. Don’t you think that you should ask them first before you have us moving out? He said that they’d be thrilled to have his dad around. You make sure. And I have come to like you enough to spend some time with you, over the next hundred or so years. After that, we’ll have to take it decade by decade. Okay?

  I’ve not said this to you yet, but I’m in love with you, Aisling. I think I have been since I first met you and hurt you with my dragon. She said that Julia had told her that he loved her. And what do you have to say to that, my dear? Do you think you could love me just a little bit?

  Yes. When she didn’t say anything more, he wondered what she was thinking. When she spoke again, he could tell that there were others in the room with her. Your dad said to tell you to get your butt home. He has a couple of questions to ask you about your aunt Tilly. You have an aunt named Tilly? Anyway, he wants you here. And I do love you.

  Matt had to check his speed on the way home. It was that, or he was going to get a speeding ticket. Or worse, he might hurt someone. Pulling into the drive, he could see that they had company again, and wondered who he might have to kill to get Aisling alone. As soon as Honey came to the door, he got out and smiled at her. She didn’t look all that happy with him.

  “What have you been doing?” Laughing, he told her that he’d been talking to Rolland. “Oh. I thought perhaps you were out looking for another faerie. My heart nearly broke.”

  “Why would you think that? You and I have been together for more years than either of us wants to think about. You and I are the same, and you understand me.” She said that it was a rough road, but someone had to do it. “What has you so upset, Honey? Something has happened. Tell me.”

  “Dak wishes to quit Aisling. Before you tell me that she is Lady Aisling, I will tell you that she threatened me for calling her that. Threatened me.” He asked her about Dak. “He said that it was just too much on him to care for her. He only just found out that she is a dragon such as you. I didn’t tell him, but Aisling was in the yard earlier helping the faeries out with some...with some fertilizer, and he saw her. I don’t think she meant for him to, but the faerie said that they needed the fertilizer for the new growth. I think that they just wanted to see the Earth Dragon. I would have done the same.”

  “Did they need the fertilizer? Or did they want to see if the dragon would shit in the woods?” She
just stared at him with a deep furrow in her forehead. “Never mind. Did they really need for her to give them some of it?”

  “Yes. She is a female dragon, and her fertilizer is much stronger than that of a male. Also, her being what she is, it will be the best they’ve ever used. The new blooms will be all the prettier for what she gave them.” She looked at him hard again. “Your lordship, I worry so for your mate. She seems to be taking on more than she can handle at the moment. Right now, she is working with your father. He is writing down the information she finds. His lordship is having her date and catalog the jewelry that has been in your family for more years than I have.”

  “If she didn’t want to do it, Honey, I think she’d tell him that. She might be pushed into things so far, but after a while, it will be on her if she’s doing something that she isn’t enjoying.” He looked at his faerie as they stepped up on the front stoop. “She loves me, Honey. She told me so.”

  “Of course she loves you. Why would she not? You are annoying at times, but you grow on a person after a while. Yes, I can see where she would be in love with you.” They entered the house, and he could hear Aisling laughing. He looked at Honey. “I guess she is having more fun than I would at such a task. I would find it boring to know who wore what to each event. Dragons are very strange.”

  “We certainly are.” He hung his jacket up in the front hall closet. “I need a few things more from you. We are in need of a butler. Also, look around and see who would like to serve as Aisling’s faerie. After you make your decisions on a few of them, we’ll tell them what sort of dragon she is.”

  “I think they know. You will come to see that they’re very proud of the fact that there is another earth dragon around. And some of them are even volunteering to be house help for the new hatchling when it comes. Are you by chance going to ever work on that, my lord?” He flicked her away from him, and Matt heard her laughter.

  Matt hoped that they might be able to work on that sooner rather than later. He and his dragon both wanted their mates. But she loved him. That, he thought, was a good hurdle to have crossed over.

  Going into the dining room where Dad, Aisling, and Julia were, he sat down and joined them. Almost as soon as he was seated, a platter of warm cookies as well as some tea, both hot and cold, was brought in for them to share. He picked up one of the macaroons and popped it into his mouth as he picked up Aisling and put her on his lap. Her squeal made him laugh, but he was thrilled beyond words when she didn’t move.

  “This is a great deal of fun, Matt. We’ve found out so much about the pieces.” Matt was only half paying attention to his dad as he watched Aisling finger one of the many rings that were in the pile. “She loves that one. I told her that she could have it, but she’s refused me. How about if I give it to you? That way, you can ask her to marry you with it.”

  “No.” When she stood up, Matt pulled Aisling back down to his lap. “He doesn’t have to marry me. I mean, we’re all right like we are. Right?”

  Getting up, he sat her in the chair. When he bent on one knee to ask her, she tried to pull him up. It might well have been funny if he really didn’t want to do this. Taking the ring from her hand, he put it on her finger.

  “Aisling, will you marry me? Will you have hatchlings with me and raise them to be good little dragons? Will you keep me safe? Love me as much as I love you? And will you tolerate my family until we can kick them to the side of the road?” She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. “I love you, Duchess of Green Gables. Lady of Lilac Castle. Aisling Earth Dragon St. James.”

  “Is that really me?” Matt nodded and put the ring on her finger. “Yes, I’ll marry you after we deal with my mother and your brother. I don’t want to go into this with all that hanging over our heads. As soon as we’ve dealt with them, whatever it takes, we’ll marry the next day if you wish.”

  He was so happy that he picked her up and danced around the room with her in his arms. Matt had never been this happy in his life. When he set her down on the floor, he noticed his dad and Julia leaving the room. Pulling her into his arms tighter, Matt kissed Aisling with all the pent up love that he could give her.

  Chapter 6

  The kiss was more than she could have hoped for from Matt. He was gentle at first; then, when she wrapped her arms around him, he seemed just to let go of all his gentleness and pulled her body flush with his. Not only that, but he also lifted her up enough so that they were breast to breast, cock to pussy. Pulling back from him slightly, she looked up at him.

  “This isn’t going to end well if you don’t take me upstairs to our room.” He smiled at her and asked her to close her eyes. “Are you going to shift and fly us up there? I have to tell you, I really love this house, and if you mess it up, I might have to hurt you. What will your parents say about it when they move in?”

  “I don’t care. But no, I’m not going to fly you up. I can move us there.” She had only just closed her eyes when he told her to open them. “There. See? No messy dragon marks on the floor. I’m glad that you’re thinking about the castle. I think it would be wonderful to live there with you. Mom, not Julia, hated it. I don’t remember why, but she would sit outside all day in the yard rather than be inside. But enough about that. I want you.”

  Aisling pulled from him again, this time taking an extra step back. She was nervous. But more than that, she was afraid. Not of him, but everything that sex would mean between them. When he said her name, she blurted out what she’d been thinking.

  “Aisling, you know that I’d never hurt you, don’t you?” She told him that wasn’t it that she was just afraid. “I think I can understand that a little. It’s not exactly been a slow, get to know you sort of life we’ve had together. I mean, my dragon bonded with yours even before we had any time together. I’m sorry about that. But I’m glad too. He’s made us both stronger for it.”

  “He did.” She looked at him and wondered if he’d think she was weird for her next question. “What will he want of me? Will he, I don’t know, want to mark me in some way? I think that has me more nervous than anything. My dragon is so much smaller than yours. I mean, she’s bigger now, but not nearly as large as yours.”

  Matt pulled her back to his body. “How about we just take this one step at a time. No, he won’t have sex with you. First, I don’t even think it’s possible. And secondly, if you were worried about the floors before, giving my dragon you as a human could not only crush you, but it could really mess up the bed. I have plans for that bed.”

  When he picked her up in his arms, she held onto him and felt beautiful. Sexy even. But when he dropped her on the bed, she not only laughed, but bounced twice before she settled back down again.

  “My goodness. Be still my heart. You are so romantic.” They both laughed, and she smiled as she watched him looking at her. Removing her clothing with just a thought, Aisling laid back on the bed and let him look at her all he wanted. “I used to have scars all over my body from being a warrior dragon. One of them was right here. It should have killed me, and it was the one that took me to the cave to rest.”

  “It looks like it should have pierced your heart.” He kissed the area where she had pointed. “What happened to you?”

  “The other rider, he had a long spear. I didn’t see it until it was nearly too late. My rider was dead by then; his body still latched to my back when I tried to move away from the weapon. It was one of the reasons that I took the time to shift, to rid myself of his corpse.” Matt told her that they’d spoken about that, he and Connor how she was human when he’d found her. “Had I not had Dak, I think, I’d not be here today. I would have been exposed to so many people, either as a human or dragon, without his protection.”

  “Where else did you have wounds? I want to kiss each and every spot on you, but give special attention to those wounds that have marred your beautiful body.” She pointed out the one that ran along her arm.
It had been deep, she told him, and she had suffered it as a human. “What happened?”

  It was getting difficult to think. He would run his tongue over any place that she pointed out to him, and it would take her breath away. Not to mention her ability to reason or speak. Matt smiled when he asked her again what had happened.

  “My mother did it. She said it was an accident, but I never believed her. I was coming into my house that I shared with her after my father was killed. I was told that I should have knocked—she thought I was an intruder. I’d lived there longer than she had. Not to mention, it was my home.” Matt asked her what Medusa had done. “Came at me with a garden tool. I was slashed several times before I was able to get her to stop. Even then, she looked ready to murder me, I remember.”

  His administration to her body was wonderful. No longer able to think, much less remember how to form words, Aisling watched Matt as he became familiar with her body with his mouth. When he was near her pussy, she could feel his breath as he inhaled deeply. It was just enough to make her come with a hard fast punch to her system.

  “That was amazing.” She laughed slightly and screamed when he slid his tongue deep inside of her. Come for me again, love. I want to drink from you. Feel your body fill mine with the very all of you.

  Her body didn’t need to be told twice to come for him. Each and every time he begged for more of her, she gave it to him as if she was feeding him. In a way, she supposed she was, feeding him just as he wanted. Over and over, she came for him. Her body was limp, her arms weak, and her throat was raw from screaming out each of the releases that she had. When he started up her body, she wanted to reach for him, but she didn’t have it in her.

  “I’m afraid that you’ve killed me.” Matt told her that he wasn’t finished yet. “You have no idea how drained I’m feeling right now. I need a nap.”

  “No, you will need one when I finish with you. Although I don’t think that is even possible. I want all of you.” She smiled at him when he kissed her breast then suckled at it. “You taste like a dream to me. Cream. That’s what you taste like, the cream that is on the top of milk. I could lave your body for days and still not get enough of you.”