Max winced. “That’s not true, buddy. Remember, they’ve gone to heaven. We’ll see them again one day.”
Blaze slapped Max on the shoulder in silent sympathy. “Noel, you can share my parents, if you want.”
Max sent Blaze a grateful glance.
“Mother, please. You’re smothering me,” Sasha protested after a long time. “Please, I need to breathe.”
Tiberius laughed. “Dalinda, let Sasha go, so she can tell us where she has been all this time.”
“Excellent idea, husband.” Dalinda released her grip on Sasha and stood back. She slid against her husband’s side and glared at Sasha. “You worried us silly, child. You vanished without warning, and none of us could find you. Blaze, Griffith, and even Rafael have searched the Dragon Isles for you.”
Sasha crossed to Max and extended her hand. Silently, Max clasped their fingers, and together, they turned to face Tiberius and Dalinda Mountholden. “This is Max Lombardy, my mate, and his younger brother Noel.”
For a moment, silence fell, then both of Sasha’s parents lifted their heads. Their nostrils flared in the same manner Max had noticed the other dragons use when they were attempting to identify something or someone.
Tiberius frowned. “They’re human, but they hold your scent.”
“Because Max is my mate,” Sasha repeated.
“You’ve been hiding in the human village,” Dalinda said in clear disapproval.
“Mother, please listen to Sasha instead of jumping to conclusions,” Blaze said.
Max sent him another grateful smile.
“We’ve traveled from the monastery on Smoking Isle,” Griffith said. “I’m starving. Can we have something to eat and drink while we discuss where Sasha has been and why it has taken her so long to return home?”
“Good idea,” Blaze said and shunted their mother toward a door over to their right.
Noel marched over to Tiberius and tugged on his hand. Surprised, Tiberius glanced down at the boy. “Are you a dragon?” Noel asked.
“Yes,” Tiberius said.
Noel held out his hand for Tiberius to take. “I like dragons. Shasha is a dragon.”
Tiberius led Noel over to Dalinda, and Noel held out his free hand to Sasha’s mother. Dalinda laughed, the sound a delighted tinkle.
“Your brother has cut through their bluster,” Blaze said in a low voice. “You’re lucky to have him along.”
Sasha grinned at the interaction between her parents and Noel. Max groaned when his brother asked if they had cookies because he loved the ones Sasha made him.
“Don’t worry,” Sasha whispered with a tearful smile. “Everything is going to be fine.”
Max thought so too, but there was always an outside chance they might keep his brother and kick Max out for daring to touch their daughter. Sasha urged him to follow her parents and brothers, and Max walked at her side.
Sasha led him into a large room that turned out to be a kitchen. Two women wearing white aprons to protect their gowns were busy toiling at a sturdy wooden table. One was peeling what looked like a root vegetable while the other was stirring the contents of a large bowl.
“Normally, we’d sit in here, but for this conversation, I believe we’ll go into the formal dining room,” Dalinda said. “Sasha, show Max and his brother to the dining room while I organize tea.” She turned to Max. “What will Noel drink?”
“Noel likes milk,” Sasha said. “Come on, Max. This way.”
Max was aware of Tiberius following closely behind while Blaze and Griffith remained behind to chat with their mother.
The dining room held bulky wooden chairs and a sturdy table that looked as if it would comfortably seat a dozen people. Decorative cushions sat on each chair.
“Sit here,” Sasha said in a quiet voice. She tugged out another chair for Noel and helped him to clamber up while Max took stock of the rest of the room. The space was as clean as the kitchen had been, and the wooden surfaces gleamed from frequent polishing. A floral scent drifted through an open window. A large painting of the ocean on a stormy day dominated one wall of the room.
Tiberius took a seat at the head of the table while Sasha sat beside Max. Blaze and Griffith entered, banter racing between them. Blaze sat on the other side of Noel.
Dalinda bustled into the room, not long afterward. “Our meal won’t be long.” She sat at the other end of the table, making it clear as to their position of authority within the family. “Right, young lady. Where have you been?”
“I flew over the sea before going to visit my friend. Anger drove me after our conversation about Bruceous. I thought to fly off some of my temper.”
Tiberius and Dalinda exchanged a glance before turning their attention back to Sasha.
“Go on,” Tiberius said.
“While I was flying, the air turned thick, and it was like fighting through heavy syrup. I kept flying, and the next minute, I spotted a long sandy beach. I wasn’t sure of my location and landed to get my bearings. It turned out I’d crossed through the barrier and ended up on the mainland. My dragon and I heard crying, and we shifted and dressed before investigating. I found Noel. He’d become lost. I helped him and met Max, who offered me a job looking after Noel. Since I already liked Noel, and it was apparent Max cared for his brother, plus I needed somewhere to stay, I accepted. The more I got to know Max and Noel, the more I liked them.
“When Max’s grandmother paid people to kidnap Noel, I had to shift to my dragon form to save him. Things became worse when Max’s grandmother involved the law, and they ordered Max to give Noel to her. We journeyed to Holy Island to avoid the reporters, the grandmother, and the law. By this time, Max knew I was a dragon, and he said we should check the barrier in case I could travel home. The barrier was strong and impassable, but we met Liza and Cherry on the beach. I smelled the dragon on them, and we followed their trail. That’s where we met Blaze.”
Tiberius glanced from Sasha to Max and back. “You left out the part where you became mates.”
“I—” Sasha began.
“Let me answer this one,” Max said. “Your daughter is amazing. She’s unlike any other woman I’ve met. She’s smart and beautiful.”
“You forgot gorgeous,” Sasha’s dragon shrieked.
Max smiled and winked at Sasha. “She’s gorgeous. Adaptable. Sensible. She loves Noel and taught him to swim. It’s been amazing watching my brother bloom under her care. Our parents died in an accident just over six months ago, and it has been difficult. I had to work, and my grandmother was toiling behind the scenes to take Noel from me.”
Tiberius frowned. “He’s not normal.”
“Don’t say that,” Sasha snapped, acting the mama bear without hesitation. “There is nothing wrong with Noel.”
Everyone stared at Sasha in surprise, everyone apart from Max. He’d learned how protective Sasha was of people she loved.
“My brother was born with a condition called Down syndrome. It means he has an extra chromosome.”
“Which makes him special,” Sasha snapped, glaring at each of her family members.
“What’s a chromosome?” Blaze asked.
“It’s part of every living thing and holds our genetic code,” Max said.
When everyone looked blank, Sasha said, “We need a Justine, The Smart Computer, here to help everyone learn mainland stuff.” She wrinkled her nose. “Everything is more advanced on the mainland. Humans are smart and have progressed faster than our people.”
“Then the outlandish stories Blaze and Griffith have been telling me are true?” Tiberius asked.
“Yes,” Sasha said, clenching her hands beneath the table. “I will say this only once. I refuse to become the wife of Bruceous. He spends his time pinching bottoms at social gatherings but does it on the sly. I have my suspicions he forces some dragon women into having sex with him. For you to compel me to marry him is ludicrous.”
“Sasha will marry me,” Max said. “Or at least, I intend to ask her once t
he moment is right.”
“Mother. Father. We are already mates. I know everyone believed the old tales of mates were pure fiction, but Leo and Martinos and now me have discovered our true mates. Each of us has a human mate. It is wrong for you to consider even trying to part us. It would be cruel. Wait, why are you smiling?” Her eyes narrowed as she stared at her parents.
“We never intended for you to become Bruceous’s wife,” Dalinda said. “But it concerned us when you turned down every eligible offer.”
“Child, we could sense your restlessness,” Tiberius said. “You needed an adventure of sorts.” His brows drew together. “We didn’t envision you bursting through the barrier and taking on the mainland, but it appears we underestimated you. You have not only had your adventure, but you have thrived.”
“Wait, you were intent on pushing me to act on my own?” Sasha asked, her confusion clear.
“We didn’t want you to follow in the footsteps of your friend and agree to marry a much older dragon to have your own home,” her mother said.
“We didn’t expect you to disappear without warning or to bring back a human mate.” Tiberius glanced at Noel and grinned. “Or a child.”
“What are your plans now? Will you stay on Perfume Isle?” Dalinda asked.
“Family is important to Sasha,” Max said before Sasha could speak. “We’d like to have a base here, but we will also spend time on the other islands with Leo and Liza, and Martinos and Cherry, plus David and Rena. It doesn’t feel right to abscond with Noel and have the law on our tail. I’d like to clear my name on the mainland, which means traveling back there sometimes.”
“I’m going with you to the mainland,” Blaze said.
“Me too,” Griffith said at the same time.
“We can arrange that if everyone agrees, the visit is a good idea,” Max said.
“Cherry and Martinos are moving to Bamburgh,” Blaze said. “We have a plan to work together and slowly introduce a few chosen dragons.”
“We can’t have dragons flying everywhere,” Max said.
“The newspapermen saw me,” Sasha said, “although they didn’t know it was me. Any dragons who travel to the mainland must keep to their human forms unless it’s a matter of life or death.”
“We’ve already agreed to those terms with the others,” Griffith said.
“We understand the dangers to us as a species. Sasha, we told you what happened here while you were on the mainland.” Blaze glanced at his parents. “You haven’t heard everything. Max is a reporter. He is writing the stories to go into a newspaper.”
When Tiberius and Dalinda exchanged a puzzled glance, Max wondered if the dragons and humans here could read. He’d thought Sasha had told him they could. Before he could ask questions, Sasha enlightened him.
“If we wish to impart news here on Perfume Isle, we pin posters up in several strategic places. The other islands do the same. A newspaper will be radical for the Dragon Isles’ residents. A step toward progress. It’s an excellent idea,” Sasha said. “I wish we could have the internet here along with Justine, The Smart Computer. I liked Justine very much, and she taught me a lot.”
“Communication is important,” Tiberius conceded.
Max nodded, surprised a little by the calm acceptance of something unfamiliar.
“My love,” Tiberius said, grinning at his wife.
Max stilled at the salacious expression on the dragon’s face. He glanced at Dalinda and discovered an answering smirk on her face.
“Your plan worked,” Tiberius said. “Sasha has a mate, Blaze and Griffith wish to spread their wings and explore the mainland, while Rafael remains at the House of Ghan. We will have our home to ourselves.” He waggled his brows.
“Eew,” Sasha’s dragon screeched. “They’re talking about kissing and sex.”
“We kiss,” Max pointed out along their private communication path.
“We’re young. They’re old,” Sasha’s dragon snapped.
Max glanced at Tiberius and Dalinda again and grinned. “I’m so glad I met Sasha. She has changed my life.”
“You treat our daughter well, and we won’t have any problems,” Tiberius said.
“And don’t turn up without giving us a warning,” Dalinda chirped and waggled her eyebrows, aping her husband. “We might be busy.”
Max bit his lip to halt his laughter as Blaze’s mouth dropped open. Clear shock etched into Griffith’s features while Sasha wrinkled her nose.
“We should not be having this conversation in front of Noel,” Sasha said.
“I like kissing,” Noel said, and he leaned closer to Blaze and made a loud kissing sound against Blaze’s cheek.
Max chuckled along with the others. His chest felt tight and full, and he realized this was happiness. Sasha had charged into his life and changed everything for the better. She’d filled the aching hole inside him after he’d lost his parents and become responsible for his brother. While he still mourned their loss, he’d released his panic and the out-of-control sensation that had buried him with worry and stress. He reached under the table and placed his hand on Sasha’s knee, squeezing lightly. “I love you, Sasha.”
She smiled at him, everything she felt on her face. “I love you, too.”
And she leaned over to kiss him on the lips. It was a firm kiss that had him longing for more. Privacy, for one.
“Max and Sasha like kissing too,” Noel said. “They kiss lots.”
“It means they’re happy and like each other,” Blaze said. “Would you like to see my orchard? It’s full of beautiful trees.”
“Are there butterflies?” Noel asked.
“I think so,” Griffith said. “I’ll help you look for butterflies.
Tiberius stood. “Dalinda and I are off to celebrate our new freedom.”
“Eew!” Sasha’s dragon shouted. “I don’t want to hear that stuff.”
Max laughed. “Why don’t you give me a tour of the place? Show me your bedroom.”
Sasha jumped to her feet. “That is an excellent idea. We’ll make my private wing the last halt on our tour.”
Max took her hand in his and wandered where she led, taking in the comfortable and sometimes expensive furnishings. It was obvious Sasha’s family was wealthy by any standards. There were the family rooms where they relaxed and more formal rooms to host guests and a solarium.
Everything was spotlessly clean without a thing out of place. This house didn’t say lived in—not like his parents’ property at Bamburgh—but it was still a spectacular residence.
“Did you want to live here or find our own place on one of the islands?” Max asked.
“I want a smaller place,” Sasha confided. “Somewhere where we are comfortable and can relax.”
“Sounds perfect to me.”
“We don’t need to make a quick decision,” Sasha said. “We have time.” She stopped outside a thick wooden door with carved panels. “This is my chamber.”
She opened the door and led Max inside. Max scanned the enormous bed, currently streamed with sunshine, before shutting the door behind them. A sharp clunk sounded as he shot the sturdy lock to bar surprise visitors.
“I’m so glad you’re here with me,” Sasha said.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Max said and took her into his arms. An instant later, their lips met. Max took his time kissing Sasha, enjoying the hell out of the intimacy. They were both breathing hard when the kiss ended. Max pressed his forehead to Sasha’s and breathed in her scent. “I’m feeling tired. What do you say to a rest before we rejoin your family?”
“Yay!” her dragon cried.
Max chuckled, and Sasha watched the happiness in his features, the sparkle in his blue eyes, and the sensual intent. An answering heat roared through her.
“I think a rest is a perfect idea. Blaze and Griffith will watch Noel. You can trust them with his safety.”
“I know,” Max said, prowling across the space between them. “Your brothers ha
ve been great with Noel, but I don’t wish to discuss brothers right now.”
“Hee-haw!” her dragon shouted.
“Shush,” Max whispered, and he kissed her again, his touch igniting desire and lust and yearning. His hands glided across her shoulders and down her back. Sasha relaxed against his broad chest and savored the heat igniting between them. He licked the seam of her mouth, urging her to open for him.
She moaned, his questing fingers shaping and massaging her breast through her clothes. The barrier eventually became too much, and she wriggled away and ripped off the T-shirt she was wearing. She stepped closer to Max and unfastened his shirt buttons one by one. Each bit of flesh revealed enticed her to plant a kiss on his torso. She loved his scent and the warmth of his skin, the swift intake of air he took each time her lips grazed his body.
Soon their clothes melted away, left in a trail as they made their way across the room. Max lifted her and placed her on the bed. In the next instant, he was beside her and kissing her again. Hands wandered and explored, and Sasha enjoyed herself immensely. She kissed Max’s neck, his flat nipples, teasing groans and sighs from her man. Gradually, she moved down his body, fascinated by their differences.
“Reading a kissing book and doing the exploring myself is quite different,” she whispered.
“I should hope so.” Max’s grin took the sting from his words. “What will you do when your Kindle runs out of charge, or you read the last of your kissing books?”
“We must visit Cherry at her bookstore. I think we visited the one Cherry and Martinos intend to purchase.” Sasha curled her fingers around his cock and lightly squeezed. “You feel hot.”
“That’s what you do to me,” Max said, the lazy gleam in his eyes enticing her to continue.
She gripped his shaft and pumped up and down, fascinated by the bead of liquid that formed on his tip. Curious, she bent her head and licked away the droplet.
“God, Sasha.”
Encouraged, she took more of him into her mouth and explored with her lips and tongue. Max’s fingers curled into her hair, the faint sting bringing a reaction in her too.
“Take me deeper,” Max said. “Place your hands at the base of my shaft so you can control how much goes into your mouth.”
Sasha (Dragon Isles Book 4) Page 19