by Maia Star
But he didn’t. Levi was dead.
I turned around, shifted, and flew off. I didn’t look back.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Naomi
When I saw Alec flying back towards us, I was in tears.
I was crying tears of joy, and then I realized Fallon was too. We both stood, holding each other, waiting for Alec to land on the hill in front of us. I ached to be able to touch him again, to be able to kiss him.
Fallon ran up to his father first, tossing him a pair of jeans one of his men gave us for when he returned. Alec threw them on for the sake of decency and then embraced his son, picking him up, kissing him on the cheek, and spinning him around. Fallon laughed hysterically, happy to see his father alive and well.
I waited my turn as Alec ruffled Fallon’s hair and tickled his little guy, and then looked up at me. He smiled wider and opened his arms. Laughing, I ran to him and let them wrap around me. I couldn’t help myself from crying into his shoulder again, or from leaning up and kissing him. His lips were rough, but still very much kissable. All of my love for him was poured into that kiss, and we stood there, holding each other for what seemed like forever. Every brush of his fingers against my neck made me shiver. His gaze made me want to tear off those pants he just put on and go wild.
But we didn’t quite have that kind of privacy just yet.
Far behind us, Sandra began to scream out for Fallon again. “Fallon! Fallon! Please come here. Come see your mother!”
We turned at her shrieks, and Alec’s features hardened. Those who worked for Levi and didn’t run off were all bound with rope we’d found in the shed, including Sandra. In the distance, the police were just pulling up and were questioning Alec’s shifters about what happened. Alec strode towards her, leaving me to take Fallon’s hand and follow behind him. What happened to Sandra was his decision.
When she saw us coming over, and me holding her son’s hand, she snarled and spat at us. “Are you both happy? Is stealing my son that important to you?”
Alec stared at her. “He isn’t your son anymore, Sandra. You’re the one who left us.”
Her face twisted in agony, and then she looked to Fallon. “Come here, Fallon...please. I’m your mother.”
But Fallon wouldn’t budge. He stared back at her, much like his father did, and shook his head, then hid behind me.
Sandra went to swear at me again, but Alec stepped in between us. “It’s over, Sandra. You won’t be bothering us ever again. You won’t be bothering my son ever again.”
She took a step back. “What are you going to do with me then? Kill me? God, you shifters are all monsters.”
Fallon flinched at his mother’s words.
Alec slapped her across the face and then leaned in. “You’re going to jail. That’s it.” He waved over two officers. It looked like those officers had already been briefed on what had happened because they didn’t hesitate in the least when they grabbed her arms and steered her away. She looked back but couldn’t bring herself to speak again.
We watched quietly as she was placed inside a police car and then driven off.
We all let out a collective breath and visibly relaxed.
Then I remembered my little secret and patted my stomach.
Kneeling in front of Fallon, I touched his shoulder. “How are you doing? Are you all alright? It’s okay not to be.”
Fallon frowned and shrugged. “I’m okay…”
“Well, if you change your mind, we can talk about everything that happened, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good. Now, do you mind going over to those nice men? I want to talk to your dad about something important.”
Nodding, Fallon walked over to where a group of Alec’s shifters were laughing and talking. He joined right in and got a slap on the back. He smiled.
Turning back to Alec, he arched a brow as I took a deep breath. “Alec...there’s something I need to tell you. I have no idea how you’ll react because this is big, but…” I took another deep breath and wrung my wrists. “Well, here it goes. I was planning on keeping this a secret from you, but I’m pregnant.”
Alec’s eyes widened. My heart thrummed with the nerves in the body. I wanted to disappear entirely. I could feel his gaze suddenly darting to my torso, and his questions bubbled up from the bottom of his throat.
“You’re really pregnant?” he asked, stepping closer. “I thought you said you were barren.”
“I thought so too...but I was wrong,” I said, stepping away from him. “I know you don’t want to be hearing this right now. But it’s the truth. I’m going to have a baby. I’m...not even sure if it’s yours. It could be my ex-boyfriend’s kid…”
Alec stepped closer, closing his palms around my cheeks, lifting my gaze. “Well, who cares? We’ll raise it like our own no matter what.”
I opened my mouth to argue...but then his words finally hit me. “Wait, you aren’t mad? You’re not going to fire me and ditch me?”
He frowned. “Who exactly do you think I am?”
Laughing, I kissed him. “But you said we’ll raise him…”
“Yeah,” he said, kissing me on the nose. “Because I’m claiming you as my mate now. I don’t want you just to be the nanny anymore. I want you to be mine. In every way possible. So from now on, we’ll truly be together.”
I fanned myself to keep my eyes from tearing up again. “It’s just the wind!” I muttered when he chuckled.
“Do you know whether it’s a boy or girl yet?” Alec said.
“No, not yet. It’s early. We’ve got another eight months before the baby comes, you know.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “Hey...how about I send Fallon home with some of these guys and we stay here? The police have rounded up Levi’s men, so they’re gone. There’s nobody else around. It’ll just be the two of us. We can have a lot of fun, you know…”
Just even hearing him mention us making love up here made me bite my lip in anticipation, and so I nodded. “Fallon will be fine without us now, I think.”
And so Alec gave his clan the signal to leave.
Chapter Thirty-Six
We waited patiently as the other dragon shifters took Fallon and flew down the hill and headed towards San Francisco. Because we didn’t want Fallon to see what we were up to, we waited until the whole group was completely out of sight before we pounced on each other. Literally.
Waiting for the chance to let loose only made it even hotter when we finally did get to touch each other.
We went for long kisses first. I ran my hands up and down Naomi’s body like she was something holy. I caressed her soft skin, eagerly gripping onto her hips and pulling her closer to me, pressing her chest against my pecs. In response, she giggled and ran her soft hands through my hair, rubbing her palms against the tips of my ears. I shivered at her touch, wanting to feel so much more of her. I was desperate to have her.
Lifting her up, she wrapped her legs around my waist and I pulled off the shirt that had been loosely hanging on her torso. Her bra was the only obstacle in my way now, and I tore it off fervently, pressing my face into her chest. She moaned and gasped as my teeth bit her skin. I wanted to fumble around with her pants, but I couldn’t, so I tore her off of me and put her on her back on the grass. She laughed as my fingers tickled her while I slid her pants and panties off. Finally, she was completely naked below me.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was like an angel, vibrant and gentle, and oh so alluring. My whole body urged me to hurry up, but when she bit her lip and reached forward to undo my jean zipper slowly, I tensed. Her fingers were slow and deliberate, her eyes watching my reactions. We could finally let loose now without worrying about any interruptions, and she wanted to make sure I felt every second of this.
I breathed heavily as he pulled down my pants, and then I kicked them off. I knelt and climbed on top of her, leaning down to keep kissing her. I never wanted to stop.
She reached in between my l
egs as we kissed, guiding me, her touch making me growl in pleasure.
Then I was inside her, and we both gasped as I plunged deep. I rocked back and forth, gaining momentum with every second. “More...more...faster...faster!” she kept saying, making my inner dragon go frantic with desire.
Soon enough, she was screaming in pleasure as my hips slammed against hers. Our bodies trembled as one. Every movement made me stiffen, and before I knew it, I exploded, going rigid.
Naomi’s breath was hot as she squirmed at the sensation, her arms and legs wrapping around my back tightly. I grunted and stuttered, closed my eyes, kissed her, went slack.
And then I kept going. She spasmed like crazy.
Then she tapped me on the shoulder. “Flip…” she gasped.
Obeying, I put my hands under her and rolled over so that she sat on top. She smiled down at me as she righted herself. I placed my hands on her hips, but then she threw them off and started moving on her own. She rocked back and forth, bounced up and down. My eyes were spinning at the sight of her getting so into this. Before, Naomi had been reserved, but now it was like she was finally free of something.
I simply laid back and watched her go to town, trying my best to stay sane. I couldn’t help but watch my goddess ride me like I was a wild beast.
When I couldn’t just stand to watch anymore, and when I wanted to pick up the tempo, I grabbed her and pulled her down, lifted her butt a bit. Then I went rapidly, making her shout swears and loud moans. It was a good thing we had decided to wait, or else everyone and their mother would have heard us.
I nibbled on her ears, my adrenaline racing, my body hardening. She dug her fingers into the dirt, pressing her face into my shoulder. She moaned directly into my body, her lips kissing my chest.
I lost my mind and erupted. I couldn’t hold it. She was just too much. It was too hot.
I barely knew what happened next as I held her and she laid on top of me, swearing over and over and kissing me. It seemed like our spasm went on for hours. When we finally got to breathe, I kept holding her. After a few minutes, she lifted her head and kissed me, still smiling beautifully.
“Are we done?” she asked.
“For now,” I said. “So, I’m still amazing, aren’t I?”
“Beyond words, of course.”
That made me chuckle, and we continued to lay like that in silence, just holding each other. The world around us was so peaceful.
“So, what now?” she asked, looking up at me. “We are done. With the conflict, I mean. Right?”
I nodded. “Levi’s clan...we’ll make sure they understand they lost. After that, my clan will be the only major one left in the city.”
“What, does that mean you’ll be a dragon king or something?”
I smiled. “And you’ll be my human queen. Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
Naomi lifted her torso and drew circles on my body. “So, it’s our happily ever after then, eh?”
“Looks like it.”
Naomi grinned at me. Her smile was so beautiful.
I didn’t think this could have ended any better.
Her Three Dragon MatchMate’s
Erika
Book 3
By Maia Starr
Chapter One
Erika
It’s midnight by the time Maxen finally stumbles back in through the front door.
I’m in our bedroom, rifling through my clothes, sorting through all my boyfriend’s shredded shirts from when he shifts and doesn’t bother to strip first. My heart catches in my throat as I listen to him slam the door, stumble towards the living room, mumbling drunkenly to himself. I think I hear him whisper my name a few times in that rumbling voice of his. Creeping to the bedroom door, I press my body against the frame and listen closely.
“Erika...where are...you...Erika…” Maxen growls.
Chills run up and down my spine, and I’m careful not to press too hard on the creaking floorboards as I hurry to hide my mess. The last time Maxen caught me leaving a banana peel on the kitchen counter, he’d slapped me almost into unconsciousness. He’s always been a control freak like that, wanting everything a certain way. If that damn bear shifter wants me to buy him three beers, and not four, he’d shatter one bottle on the ground and order me to clean up the glass and liquid. If I didn’t clean up fast enough, he’d take me by the arm and drag me upstairs to be locked in the bedroom until he came back to sleep with me.
Fixing any signs of my packing, I silently pick up the suitcase and place it on the bed, opening it up to see the clothes and wads of cash that are tucked inside. I don't have a smartphone anymore, not since Maxen realized he can’t control who I text or call. Shaking, I sigh and close the latches on the suitcase, lifting it and composing myself. In a few minutes, I’ll be face to face with Maxen, doing the bravest thing I’ve ever imagined myself doing. I’m going to tell him I’m leaving him.
The guy is too controlling, too abusive. I touch my cheek where a fading bruise still stings from one of his many “lessons.”
Descending the stairs to the foyer, I place my suitcase by the front door and peer around the corner into the living room where Maxen sits on the couch, his feet perched on ottoman, flicking through the TV channels. By the time I sneak into the living room, standing above him, listening to his animalistic groans, he’s settled on a ghost hunting show. One of the ghost hunters screams at something off-camera, and I jolt back, the sound of my feet sliding across the wood enough to whip my boyfriend’s head around.
I stare into his bear-like eyes while he huffs and snarls at me. “Where the hell have you been, Erika?” he practically shouts. “Damn, girl, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
“You only just got home,” I mutter, my arms coming up and crossing over my chest defensively. I lean away as he turns around and leans towards me.
“Don't argue with me! Now hurry up and get over here and get on your knees...I need you to make me feel good tonight.” He snaps his fingers and turns back around. “Quickly, now. Your lips always feel better when I’m drunk, dear.”
I quiver at the thought, but I force myself not to move. It’s frightening to disobey him, yet I stand my ground. “M-Maxen. I need to tell you something.”
“I don’t need you to talk. I need your mouth. What don’t you get about that, bitch?” he says, unwilling to even look at me.
I scowl, trembling as I hold myself tighter. “You don’t understand, Maxen. I’m leaving tonight. For good.”
There is an uncharacteristic silence from him for a good half minute. I slowly begin to step backward towards the door. Then he slowly looks around and eyes me, a raging fury in his gaze. “You...what?”
“You have ears, honey,” I say, my confidence rising. He might be a control freak bear shifter, but he can’t control me forever. I won’t allow that. I can’t. My heart races and pounds in my chest. I’m sure the sound of my heart beating is louder than whatever the ghost hunters are screaming about.
But then Maxen rises from the couch, his bulky frame coming into view, the top of his head almost brushing against the low ceiling. I see a wild glint in his eyes that I don’t like at all. My confidence suddenly crumbles, and my grin is replaced by a gaping mouth. My instincts shout at me to run, and before my mind can keep up, I spin and sprint towards the front door, Maxen’s feet pounding the floorboards behind me. I rip the door open and pick up my suitcase, but then one of his meaty hands catches my hair and yanks me back. I yelp at the sudden flare of pain, and suddenly I’m in the air, the suitcase slipping out of my fingers, my legs kicking out at nothing, one of his solid, tattooed arms hugging my stomach and pressing me to him. He presses his arm into my stomach so hard that all the breath nearly leaves my lungs, and suddenly I’m light-headed.
I moan and scream and try to punch him away. I even beg to be let go. For a brief second, I even wish to trade places with some other woman.
But Maxen won’t have any of it.
He takes me out
back. There aren’t any other homes nearby, yet I keep on yelling, hoping someone will hear me. I won’t go down without a fight tonight, not this late in the game.
He barely speaks a word as he carries me towards his shed. The shed is just big enough for one regular-sized person to stand tall in, so whenever Maxen is inside, he’s always bent over, complaining about the lack of room.
Throwing open the door, he heaves me inside, slamming it shut before I can scramble to my feet. I struggle to stay awake, and my whole body hurts from his crushing arms, yet nonetheless, I stand and glare out the small peephole in the shed door. Maxen glares right back, his eyes alight.
“You stay in there until you stop thinking those wild thoughts, you hear?” he says. “You ain’t never leaving me.”
I want to claw him apart, to hurt him the way he has hurt me for the past year, but as soon as he picks up the padlock that’s been on the ground and places it through the door handle, I know it’s over. I want to wilt in place, knowing I’ll be stuck in his gloomy shed for a few days, maybe even longer.
As Maxen stalks away, his back to me, he groans and clutches at his head. His body begins to shift, and tufts of brown hair and even bulkier muscles spring up. He snarls, and for a split second, his voice is more guttural than human. But he doesn’t shift all the way and goes back to being human. I’ve seen him partially shift like this nearly every time he’s drunk, yet it still makes me cower. His clothes tear apart but manage to stay clinging to his body as he sways and trudges back inside.
Stumbling forward, I place a hand on the door so I can firmly hold myself while I shout swears at him, but then the door swings open. I fall to my knees, stunned, and gaze at the padlock.
Maxen didn’t properly close the padlock!
I wait for Maxen to realize and saunter back out...but he never comes. Switching gears, confidence suddenly flooding my mind again, I rise on unsteady feet. Trudging forward, I peer in through the backdoor, seeing Maxen passed out, face first, snoring, on the couch. I gulp and sneak in, walking past him, watching him for any sign of movement.