Burning for the Dragon: BBW Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance (Fated Hearts Club Book 1)

by Cecilia Lane

  He dodged the question and managed to plant another in her mind, the hint of it clear in her eyes. He cut it off before she could ask. He didn’t want to hurry her into any decision. She was timid underneath the bravado, and he wouldn’t scare his little rabbit into running from him.

  “What do you want with your life? Do you enjoy being a travel agent?”

  It wasn’t for him to judge. Some people liked to work with their hands, while others wanted to delve into the insides of computers. What mattered was that she found her work fulfilling and enjoyable.

  “It’s only something to pay the bills. I had to leave my previous job quicker than I intended.”

  The question in her eyes vanished and was replaced with hurt. He wanted to go to her side of the table and wrap her in his arms. He’d roast anything that tried to hurt her. “What happened?”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s stupid. A stupid thing. I walked in on my idiot ex and then-boss. So I quit the job and the man and found a different job."

  “Betrayal is a hard hurt to endure.” And one he’d correct, if he ever found out the names of those two. They’d look good in the color of ash.

  “It’s fine. Really.” She nearly echoed his words. The same lack of conviction was in her tone as had been in his. “I’ve moved on to better things.”

  The flashy grin didn’t quite meet her eyes. Jealousy didn’t factor into his concern. Her take-no-shit attitude and walking out of her job didn’t lend to her running back or pining over the cheater. He didn’t want her to feel she had any blame in the actions of scum.

  “And these better things, are they what you want?” He didn’t bother hiding the heat of lust in his eyes.

  She looked out toward the river and the city and mountains beyond. He could almost see the wheels in her head turning as she considered the question. That surprised him. If she were so insistent on getting him to answer the question, shouldn’t she have expected it in turn? It made him sad that she didn’t feel validated enough to expect him to care.

  “I want to care.” She said finally. A half smile pulled up her lips. “About the full children and even little Halfie. The white picket fence and the mangy mutt that begs for table scraps. I want something to care about, even if it isn’t in those forms.”

  He just stared. He’d intended to turn the conversation back to heavy flirting, but she’d floored him. He was used to people wanting things. Buildings built to their specification in the business world, or dresses and jewels in the dating world. Give and take of items were his norm. But she didn’t want objects. She wanted to love and be loved.

  Luca felt the last piece of the puzzle fall into place. There was no denying it. She was his mate and the one meant to be at his side.

  With the thought, heat thudded through his veins. He knew he needed to get her alone. He needed to touch her and feel her against him. If he didn’t get her in a private space soon, there was no telling if he could contain himself. He doubted his cousin would appreciate an exhibition in the middle of the restaurant.

  “How about we get out of here?”

  The smile reached her eyes when she said, “That’d be nice.”

  The check came and the plates disappeared with a waved hand. Luca threw bills onto the table, not caring how much he overspent. He needed to get Penelope away from there and in his arms.

  The limo pulled around as soon as they stepped through the doors. He paid good money for it to lurk just around the corner and wait for his texted summons. He again waved the driver away and opened the door for his mate himself. No one would get close to her.

  Chapter Six

  Penelope gasped at the quickness in which she was settled into the plush seat of the limo. She’d only just agreed to leave with Luca when he was ushering her out the door of the restaurant. The man certainly knew how to go after what he wanted.

  She gasped again as the door closed behind Luca and he pulled her immediately into his lap. He didn’t grimace or make a noise at her weight. It was surprising, after years of comments on her weight from boyfriends.

  Perhaps Vera was right and shifters enjoyed the bigger girls.

  “I’ve wanted to feel your curves against me all night.” His lips barely caressed her ear, but she shivered anyway. His tongue snaked out and traced the outer edges of the sensitive skin, and her shiver jolted through her limbs. “This dress is perfect for you.”

  “Luca,” she breathed. “The window.”

  His hand snapped out and hit the button to raise the partition between the driver and their space. She intended for it to slow him down, but there was no slowing down the dragon beneath her. The heat of his body seeped into her own and warmed the cold spots she fully thought would be in a deep freeze for life.

  A strong hand grabbed the plait of her hair and tugged her head to the side. Luca’s lips were hot against her exposed neck and shoulder. Each kiss made her heart pump hot blood to her limbs, heating every inch of her skin.

  Her eyes fluttered closed as he tasted every inch he could reach. She ceded control over to him and reveled in the feeling of being possessed. She had no doubt where the night would end and couldn’t wait to feel all of him against her. Her nipples tightened and desire arrowed straight to her clit. Her panties were already growing damp, just from his mouth on her skin.

  Luca trailed hot kisses up to her ear and pressed his lips against the soft spot below her lobe. The chain of her necklace felt cold under his breath. “No silver this time. Good girl.”

  The compliment sounded hot in her ears and warmed its way down her spine to settle in her core. She’d pleased him and he rewarded her. His free hand pulled down the sleeve of her dress and his lips soon followed. He kissed and licked back up to her ear, then scraped his teeth against the soft skin of her neck.

  “Luca…” She moaned quietly.

  “You have me so hard, sweet.” He mouthed against her neck. A small jerk of his hips pressed home the fact.

  His hand trailed up her thigh and she obediently parted her legs for him. His deep chuckle only set her further on fire, but he didn’t slip under her dress. His palm skimmed her rounded stomach and up her sides until he grabbed her breast.

  Penelope moaned as he kneaded her flesh. She wanted him to rip off the material so she could feel his skin on hers. She rocked against his lap and delighted in the thick press of his cock against her ass. It would have to do until they were safely in his building.

  “That’s it, sweet. Show me how much you want this.”

  His voice drove her on. She ground her hips into him. His chest rumbled with a purr at each pressed stroke of her against him and her body responded for him. Her pussy clenched around nothing, aching for him to fill her, and her clit throbbed. The need for him slid through her until she could think of nothing else.

  She was a total hussy and she couldn’t be bothered to care. Luca was a man in a million. Billion. Trillion, even. She wanted him like she wanted to live.

  “You smell intoxicating, sweet. I can’t wait to taste if your cream is just as delicious.”

  “Fuck,” she breathed. The bald honesty in his tone triggered another bubble and burst of pleasure in her veins.

  “Soon, sweet. Soon.” Luca chuckled darkly in her ear.

  ***

  Luca needed to give his driver a big, fat raise. The limo arrived almost as fast as if he’d taken wing back at the restaurant. He pulled Penelope to her feet and into his arms as soon as he exited the car.

  He eyed the building. Too many lights were on inside. Too many potential witnesses to his dragon form. Fuck, indeed.

  He pulled his beast back from the edge. It roared and spewed fire when it realized he meant to take the elevator like any normal man. He grabbed hold of Penelope’s hand and pulled her along with him, not bothering to stop for a word with the doorman.

  Luckily, they were alone when he punched the button to summon the elevator. It opened almost immediately, and he pressed the button to close before anyone el
se could join them. He would rather burn the next passenger than share the space he and Penelope occupied.

  She nearly trembled next to him. Her sweet scent filled the small space and a fresh wave of lust zinged through him to settled hotly in his balls. He was already hard as a rock and ready for her, but he doubted she’d want him to take her against the cold glass. Still, she was too far away for his tastes.

  She flicked her eyes at the predator she was trapped with. A note of anxiety entered her scent. He crossed the small space between them and backed her up, pressing her against the glass. Anxiety turned to excitement when his hands gripped the railing at her back and locked her between his arms.

  Her body fit against him like she was made for him. His hips pressed against her and he had to shut his eyes against the pressure. He held onto himself; he wouldn’t embarrass himself before he even got her naked.

  She was to be his mate. But there was so much to explain to her still, so much that she could reject. He wanted to growl and breathe fire as much as his dragon when he made the decision to keep his fangs to himself. For now.

  His lips brushed against hers but didn’t quite connect. The temptation to kiss her almost overrode the desire to tease. The heady scent of her excitement drove him on and urged him back in turn. He flicked his eyes to the floor numbers they sped past. His was so soon.

  “I’m glad you decided to come upstairs,” he breathed against her lips. “Because I’m going to taste you. Then I’m going to fuck you.”

  Penelope’s groan when he stepped back at the door’s opening ding made his cock twitch painfully. Soon, he told himself. He’d be sheathed in the perfect woman soon. After he made her beg for it.

  ***

  She tried to form any thought but yes. Nothing came to mind. She ran on instinct alone, and couldn’t be bothered to feel wrong. He felt too good for it to be bad. She was going to combust if she didn’t get to feel him inside her in seconds.

  But nothing could be as simple as stripping down and getting dirty. Especially not with her man in a trillion. He had other ideas, and they included excruciatingly slow torture.

  He led her out of the elevator and down the hall, of which there were only two doors. Neighbors weren’t a thing for dragons, it seemed. She didn’t have a chance to check out the type of furniture or decor he liked before she was pushed back against the closing door and finally, he kissed her fully.

  His taste exploded on her tongue. Sweet and dark, with all the notes of a wood fired barbecue. Delicious. Decadent. She couldn’t pick one word to accurately describe him and she couldn’t care. All she knew was that she never wanted it to end.

  Was she crazy? Yes. She’d known him for only a short time. Did she care? Not a damn bit. Everything about him felt safe and sure.

  His hands cupped her cheeks and tilted her head further up. He took advantage of the new angle and delved her more completely. She opened everything to him then, stroking and tasting when he pushed his tongue into her mouth and chasing him when he retreated.

  Penelope fisted her hands in his shirt and locked her knees. She feared she’d trip over herself if she didn’t hold on for the ride. It was the right thing to do, as Luca murmured into her mouth and wound his arm around her body to pull her flush against him. Pleasure rolled through her at the feel of his hard length pressing against her soft stomach.

  He tugged off his jacket and she could feel more of his solid chest. Her hands roamed over him and couldn’t wait to feel the skin below. Silk over steel, that’s what she was sure he’d feel like. So lovely and so strong.

  He kept sliding his tongue along her own as he started to drag her backward. One cautious step after another was pulled from her. She kept her eyes shut and trusted in Luca, but that proved the wrong decision.

  They backed into a table, sending the picture frames perched there clattering as they fell. Luca laughed, and it slunk thickly in her ears and down her body. Her giggle turned to a squeak when he bent to hook his arm under her knees and around her back.

  “I’m too heavy!”

  Luca pressed his nose against her neck. “Never, sweet. You’re the perfect size. These curves were made to be worshiped.”

  If that wasn’t enough to melt a girl’s heart, she wasn’t sure what was.

  He carried her through the penthouse too fast for her to get more than a quick impression of an open floor plan and a huge bank of windows. Deeper into his life he took her, until he brought her into his bedroom and dumped her unceremoniously on the bed.

  “Mmm, that’s where you belong.”

  She caught his eyes and preened under his attention. He liked her curves? Well, she would just rub her hands from her hips to her breasts. She saw his chest stop moving for a second when she pressed the overflowing mounds together.

  “Mine.” He growled.

  His words aroused her even more. Her pussy again clenched around the nothing he should be filling, and her clit ached with the desire to be touched and tasted. His dark, lust-filled eyes captured her gaze and held her still when all she wanted was to strip right there and pull him on top of her.

  One knee hit the bed, followed by one of his hands. Then the other knee, and other hand. He crawled her backward until she settled against the pile of pillows at the top of the bed. He caged her body with his own and pressed his hips into hers.

  Penelope’s eyes fluttered closed. His weight was perfect, his heat extraordinary, and she wanted him. Needed him. The realization slammed into her. She’d accepted that she wouldn’t have a lasting relationship and sentenced herself to being the crazy cat lady of her building. But Luca reawakened her desires and her needs. Right then, she needed him.

  She snapped open her eyes at the sound of tearing cloth and the rush of cooler air down her frame.

  “Hey!” She glared at the split remains of her dress. Then she caught sight of the wicked claws tipping Luca’s fingers. An electric thrill jolted down her spine. He could do so much harm with those claws, but he treated her so delicately.

  “I’ll buy you as many more as you desire.”

  Well, that spoke of more than one night together. Or more dresses being sent to her workplace. She certainly hoped for the more than one night.

  He lined his body up with hers and she thought he’d take her then. But no, he was still dressed. She wanted to scream with the building frustration inside her. She wanted some wicked claws of her own to shred his clothes away.

  When he smoothed his hands over her cheeks and dropped his heated eyes to her lips, she thought he would lean in and kiss her. Instead, he pressed his nose against her neck and inhaled deeply. Her nipples brushed against his chest as he moved south. The delicate scrape met with the ache in her pussy for a full on attack of her control. She wasn’t one to beg or voice her concerns, but he and the desire he sent coursing through her veins made her bold.

  “Please, Luca.”

  He shifted his weight and a hand passed between their bodies. A quick tug and he’d pulled the cups of her bra down. His fingers pinched and rolled her nipple until she arched into him for more.

  But he was gone, sliding further down her body and leaving her panting against the pillows. She bit her lip as he kissed his way down her ribs and over her stomach. She jumped when his mouth touched the ticklish spot along her hips, but he pressed on and settled between her thighs.

  “So delicious, sweet.” His beard roughly rubbed against her inner thighs, marking her as his. His chin rested against her mound and his eyes met hers. He looked at her like she was a feast meant for a starving man.

  A moan started low in her throat and spilled over when his fingers tore at her panties. She wasn’t even mad. Goodbye, black lace. Hello, sexy man. His desire was written plainly on his face. She’d never been treated like a decadent prize.

  His breath was cool against her slick skin when he pressed his mouth to her slit. His fingers stroked her lower lips while his mouth sought the hidden gem at the top of her sex.

 
“Yes.” She trembled against him when he flicked his tongue against her clit. But he didn’t stay there long. He traced her pussy, teasing and tasting her. His eyes didn’t leave her face as he gauged her reaction to how he touched her.

  It melted her to him, more than she already felt. He was an attentive lover and determined to make her enjoy herself before they got to his portion of the show. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t need special treatment, but he was too good and too hard to resist.

  A new burst of pleasure rolled through her when he probed further between her folds. He started at her center and traveled back north. That became his rhythm. A slow tour of her pussy, followed by quick flicks of her clit. Over and over until she moaned and rolled her hips for more.

  Luca growled and the vibrations of it echoed through her body. The percolating bubbles of pleasure grew and grew until she was just about ready to burst. She wanted him, wanted more.

  She nearly cried out when he pressed one finger into her pussy. She groaned, but he didn’t stop. He pulled out only to push two fingers into her. He stretched her with only his fingers, but she craved more. Always more.

  “Mmm. So tight. So hot.” His tongue swiped against her clit and pleasure curled her toes. “So wet.”

  “Luca!” Penelope dug her hands into his curly hair and held on for dear life.

  “Tell me what you like, bella. Tell me what you want. I’ll eat this perfect pussy and fuck you so sweetly.”

  Her pussy clamped down on his fingers. He pumped in and out of her, slowly while she adjusted to the delicious invasion, then faster and deeper. He mirrored the pace with his tongue, sucking and gently nibbling on her swollen clit.

  Penelope tried to meet each thrust, but she was lost in the pleasure. She thrashed her head back and forth, spewing incomprehensible words. Red-hot bliss devoured her from the inside and threatened to spill outward. Luca kept urging her on, seeking that final piece of pleasure to send her flying into rapturous oblivion.