It was Rosanna who coaxed Joe to play the ukulele so they could dance. Ben joined in on a conga drum, and Marlin surprised them all by singing a couple of songs in a mellow tenor.
Rosana twirled happily around the dining hall, face alight, her pleated skirt swirling to reveal long, tan legs. First Rianna, and then Cassidy joined her, and soon everyone but Joe was dancing.
Nic pulled Cassidy into his arms, his hands rested on her bottom as he moved her easily around the room. She twined her arms around his neck and rested her head in the warm hollow between his throat and shoulder.
His lips teased her temple. “I remember the first time we danced.”
“At a ceilidh.”
He nodded against her hair. “If you’d known what I was thinking, you’d have run away as fast as you could.”
She nipped his earlobe. “Try me.”
His tongue traced the shell of her ear. “I wanted to drag you off to a secret cave and keep you naked except for the jewels I gave you. A diamond for your navel.” He slid a hand between them and stroked her belly. “A strand of pearls to decorate those pretty pink nipples.”
Her breath sped up, but he continued in husky tones, her merciless dragon-lover.
“Rubies. Emeralds. Maybe I’d blindfold you so you’d feel it even more intensely. I’d balance gold coins on your mound and make you hold still while I licked you. And if you moved and let one drop, I’d turn you over my knee for being a bad girl.”
Cassidy’s whole body flushed. Her fingers opened and closed on his nape.
“And now I have you in my secret caverns—and you’re mine.” Hot words against her throat, while below, his erection pressed into her abdomen. “It’s only fair to warn you that I intend to do all that to you and more.”
She swallowed. “Promises, promises,” she managed to say.
He groaned. “You’re not helping, Cassidy. Keep that up and the party is going to end right now.”
The music changed. Nic set Cassidy away from him. “You’d better dance with someone else,” he said in a hoarse voice more animal than human.
Their gazes locked—and then Rianna tugged on Cassidy’s skirt. “I wanna dance with you, Mam.”
Cassidy drew a much-needed breath and turned to her. “I’d love that, alanna.”
She danced first with Rianna, and then with each of Nic’s brothers as well as Ben and Marlin. Finally, Joe set the ukulele aside so he could have a beer. A short time later, Nic, Dion and Tiago disappeared in the direction of Nic’s quarters.
“They’re going to talk about my mother and father.” Rosana tossed her wavy black hair. “Like I don’t want to know what’s going on. You know what it’s like to have big brothers who still treat you like you’re thirteen?”
“I do, actually.” Cassidy chuckled. “I’m an only child, but I have three older cousins who treat me like a little sister.”
“Let them have their conference.” Cleia patted Rosana’s hand. “I’ll make sure you’re part of any planning.”
“Thank you.” The younger woman fingered the pleats of her skirt. “I barely remember them, I was so small when they were lost. I still can’t believe they’ve been alive all this time.”
Alesia had been silently listening. Now she moved closer and set an arm around Rosana’s shoulders. “They’ll be so proud to see how you’ve grown up.”
“You think so?” Rosana sent her an uncertain look from beneath thick black lashes.
The dryad smiled at her. “I do.”
“Of course they will,” Cleia said. “If they’re alive,” she continued, “we’ll find them. The king knows damn well that I mated with Dion. I’m surprised he hasn’t set a ransom for them. He must know I’ll pay it.”
Rosana nodded. It was clear she trusted Cleia. In fact, she seemed to regard the older woman as a mother figure. If Cassidy hadn’t already warmed to the beautiful fae queen, she would’ve right then.
The men returned, and as midnight approached, Cleia and Dion glanced at each other and rose to their feet. “We’ll leave you to enjoy your mate-night in peace,” the queen murmured.
“You don’t have to leave,” Cassidy returned, although she itched to be alone with Nic.
Cleia shook her head. “We have to get home to our little girl. We’ll have to bring her to meet Rianna someday.”
“I’d love that. Truly.” Cassidy hesitated, and then held out her hands. “Thank you for coming.”
Cleia pulled her into a hug, and then lifted Rianna for a kiss. “Would you like to meet your cousin, little one?”
Rianna jerked her chin in a bashful nod and then pressed a kiss to the queen’s cheek.
“She’s adorable,” Cleia said as she handed her back to Cassidy.
“Thank you.” Cassidy shifted Rianna to her shoulders and watched as Cleia ’ported out with Rosana first, while the three brothers shared a last hug. Within five minutes, the dining hall was clear except for the six members of the den.
Her den, thought Cassidy with a rush of affection for Ben, Marlin and Joe. It was hard to believe that she’d known them for less than a month. She slipped her arm around Nic’s waist and he smiled down at her, sensing her happiness through their bond.
“Guess what?” Marlin announced. “We’re having a sleepover in the dining hall. How about it, Rianna?”
The little girl clapped her hands. “May I, Mam?” and when Cassidy agreed, she ran to their quarters to get her Annie-doll, too excited to question why her parents were sleeping in their own quarters.
“Thank you,” Nic told the men. He intended to build Rianna a room off the main bedroom, but for now, she slept with them, although they’d bought her a kid-size futon in Ventura.
They kissed Rianna goodnight, and she skipped over to where Ben was making a nest of blankets for her near the firepit. The three men set sleeping mats around her in a protective formation, their heads pointing in toward her.
Cassidy grinned. Rianna had acquired several badass uncles.
Nic set a hand on Cassidy’s lower back. “Time for bed, querida.” His low tone vibrated down her spine as they left to the chorus of good nights.
“Don’t stay up too late,” Marlin called. “You need your beauty sleep.”
Nic lifted his middle finger at him, and the men all chuckled.
The last thing Cassidy heard was Rianna asking what was so funny, then Nic shut and locked the door to his quarters and steered her into the bedroom.
Cassidy’s eyes widened. Everywhere she looked were pots of flowers—fat sunflowers, bright daisies, spiky lavender, and other colorful, scented blooms. They surrounded the plain bed and spilled down niches in the wall. Three new fae balls wafted overhead, glowing a soft candlelight-yellow.
“Oh.” She pressed her fingers to her mouth. “It’s lovely. Cleia must have done it.”
“Mm.” Nic nuzzled her neck as he stripped off his shirt. “We’ll have to thank her the next time we see her.”
He turned Cassidy around to slide down the zipper of her dress. Warm lips touched the sensitive spot between her shoulder blades. Her head fell back against his shoulder.
“Did I tell you today how beautiful you are?” He slid a finger beneath the camisole she wore under the dress and teased her nipple.
“Mm-hmm. But you can tell me again.”
“I’ll tell you every day for the rest of our lives. Now, take off your dress.”
The husky command sent a thrill of heat to her core. She slipped out of the dress and hung it on one of the pegs Nic had installed for her and Rianna, then returned to where he waited, chest bare, legs braced apart. All smooth olive flesh, and he was hers.
Her man. Her mate. She stroked her hands over the rounded muscles of his shoulders.
Hot, gold-touched eyes took in her lacy camisole and panties, the same grassy color as her dress. Beneath the camisole, her nipples pricked.
“Beautiful,” he repeated as he smoothed his hands down her body, playing with her breasts, squeezi
ng her ass. He cupped her face and murmured against her lips. “Sit on the bed, querida.”
When she obeyed, he took a delicate gold chain from his pocket and knelt at her feet.
“What’s that?” she asked as he set her foot on his thigh.
“A private gift.” He clasped the chain around her right ankle, beneath the scar.
She knew how tightfisted dragons could be with their treasure. That Nic shared his so freely with her and Rianna was huge. She twisted her leg to see the tiny gold heart dangling from the chain.
“You’re my heart.” He met her eyes. “Meu coração.”
“I love it.” She set her forehead against his. “I love you.”
“Yeah?” He smiled until he saw the tear run down her cheek. He touched it. “What’s the matter, love?” He lifted her and sat on the bed, cradling her in his arms.
“Nothing.” She swiped the tear away and set her hand on his chest over his heart. It beat beneath her palm, strong and steady. “I just never thought we’d get here. You. Me. Rianna.”
“I’m sorry.” He set his cheek to hers. “I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you both.”
“No.” She stroked her fingers through the soft curls on his nape. “You were right. I didn’t want to go with you four years ago. Not really. I loved you, but…”
She felt his swallow. “No woman should have to make that choice. I hate that you have to give up your family and your clan for me.”
“I’m not giving them up. I know they’ll always be there for me. But this is my family now, and you, Rianna, and the men are my clan.”
He lifted his head to meet her eyes. “It could be a long time until you see them. It’s not safe to take Rianna too far from the ward.”
“Then that’s how it has to be.” She cupped his face with one hand. “It’s not your fault, love. You didn’t ask to be a sea dragon. I saw how my clan was when they heard a sea dragon was in the area. They practically got out the bloody pitchforks.”
His mouth twisted. “I’m a throwback, as much reptile as mammal. They can’t help it.”
“Bollocks,” she returned. “They can learn. It’s prejudice, plain and simple. But perhaps we should give them a chance. Tell them the truth.”
“I don’t know. It’s not just me anymore—we have Rianna to think about now.”
She sighed. “I suppose there will always be those who’d sell out a clan member for the fae’s gold.”
“Or for a fae lover,” he said, and she knew he meant Blaer and Evan.
She stroked his jaw. He’d let his beard grow while he convalesced so that it formed a neat black line around his mouth. “At least tell Rosana and your brothers—and your granddad. What’s the worst that can happen? They can’t banish you from their clans. You’ve already founded your own.”
“This?” He made a dismissive gesture. “It’s not a clan.”
“No? The men treat you like an alpha. Right now it’s a den, but when they start their own families, you’re going to be head of a clan.”
“Huh.” He pressed his lips together, but she could tell he was pleased.
“Think about it. That’s all I ask. Your family loves you—they may surprise you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Brilliant.” That was enough for now. She turned so she straddled him, her panties rubbing over his jeans-clad erection. She framed his face with her palms. “Now, where were we?”
“I believe I was about to make love to my mate…” He gripped her hips and took her mouth in a slow, sweet kiss.
Her whole body melted. The only thing keeping her grounded was the strong thighs between hers and his firm hold on her hips.
He slid a hand between them, teasing her through the lacy panties. “You’re wet,” he said against her mouth.
She took a breath, senses swimming. “And you’re hard. So very, very hard.” She punctuated the words by pinching each of his flat copper nipples in turn, and then slid a fingertip down the silky black trail to his groin.
“Raise your arms.” When she did, he pulled off the camisole.
He palmed her breasts and flicked the nipples with his thumbs. His skin was callused, the roughness exciting against the delicate buds.
“So pretty,” he said, and switched to a guttural Portuguese.
He tongued and sucked her nipples until they were wet and rosy. Somehow she ended up on her back, panties off and knees bent, wide open to him.
He dragged off his jeans and crawled over top of her, his hard face intent on her slick folds. He gripped her hips and swiped a hot tongue over her sex in slow, languorous licks that made her whole body quiver.
He swirled his tongue around the swollen furl of her clit before moving to the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, nipping and stroking them. He even moved down her leg to the anklet, sliding his tongue erotically under and over it.
From far off, she heard her own moans of pleasure.
She stroked her hands over her body, pinching her nipples and fingering her mound, hardly knowing what she did, but desperate for more. “Please, Nic. Touch me…”
“Here?” He slid his mouth up her inner leg to close warm lips around her aching clit.
Her lungs seized. “Yes. There.”
He settled in to suck and nibble her like they had all the time in the world. Taking her close, and then backing off to stroke her thighs or ass or breasts.
He stopped and rose up over her. She opened passion-dazed eyes to see him break off a stalk of lavender from a pot on the nightstand. He trailed it over her neck, the sweet-sharp scent filling her nostrils.
She moistened her lips. “Nic?”
He tapped her throat with the lavender stalk. “Close your eyes.”
She obediently shut them and stilled as he traced the soft spike down around her breasts. He brushed it over each nipple, then continued down her abdomen to her inner thighs, stroking the flower over her in light-as-air, tantalizing touches. He finished by tucking it into her anklet.
Then he was back kissing and stroking her again. This time his hands and mouth were sure and steady. Taking her over, controlling her every response. Winding her tighter and tighter until her whole world was Nic and his clever mouth and work-roughened hands.
“Please,” she begged, and reached for his head.
“Soon,” he crooned against her slick, tender center. “I want you to remember this.”
She moved her head against the sheets. “I will, I will.”
“Shh.” He captured her wrists in his hands and pressed them against the mattress, and something about that sexy dominance sent her hurtling toward the edge.
Her hips bucked. A cry of pleasure ripped from her throat.
Nic pulled away and she sobbed out his name, but he crawled on top of her and thrust inside. And that was perfect, exactly what she needed—him stroking hard and fast while she clenched around him and rode the orgasm in a wild arc of joy and need and love.
He caught her face between his hands and pressed a kiss to her open mouth. Then he stilled and came with a low growl.
“Mine. You’re never leaving me now.”
“Yours,” she agreed. Between them, the mate bond had solidified—a shining cord of light and emotion that she could almost touch.
His eyes flickered and she felt his wonder through their bond…wonder and an ocean of love that swept through her, warming her down to her toes.
“It’s beautiful,” he said as he settled on top of her, careful to take some of his weight on his forearms.
“Mm.” His skin was damp with sweat. She licked the side of his throat, taking his taste inside her—masculine, a bit salty, and all Nic.
Almost, she could thank Blaer for sending her to California and Nic.
She wrapped herself tighter around her mate’s hot, hard body…and smiled.
Bestselling and Award-Winning Paranormal Romance authors are bringing you the baddest
of the bad ALPHA dads. Keyword BAD. So sexy, you’ll want to teach them to be good. These shifter dads need all the help they can get, and we want to give it to them.
For the release schedule and more about our fabulous authors, check out our website www.BadAlphaDads.com
Also by Rebecca Rivard
The Fade Shapeshifter Series
The Shannon Sea Fada of Ireland
Stealing Ula: A Fada Shapeshifter Prequel (Book 0.5—Nisio & Ula’s story)
The Rock Run River Fada
Seducing the Sun Fae: A Fada Novel, Book 1 (Dion & Cleia’s story)
Claiming Valeria: A Fada Novel, Book 2 (Rui & Valeria’s story)
Tempting the Dryad: A Fada Novel, Book 3 (Tiago & Alesia’s story)
Fada Shapeshifter Short Reads
Lir’s Lady (Book 3.5—Lir & Isleen’s story)
Shifter’s Valentine (Book 3.6—Chico & Jenny’s story)~available soon (Previously published as “Valentine Kisses” in the Once Upon a Valentine Boxed Set)
Sea Dragon’s Hunger: BAD Alpha Dads (Book 4.5—Cassidy & Nic’s story)
The Baltimore Earth Fada (The Darktime Trilogy)
Saving Jace: A Fada Novel, Book 4 (Jace & Evie’s story)
~And watch for Books 5 and 6—Marjani and Adric’s stories!
To find out more, go to: http://rebeccarivard.com/shapeshifters/
Vampire Blood Courtesans
Ensnared: Star (Star and Remy), a sexy vampire romance set in Michelle Fox’s Blood Courtesans world
Compelled: Cerise (Cerise & Bard), part of the Blood Courtesans Boxed Set: Awakenings
To find out more, go to: http://rebeccarivard.com/vampires/
About the Author
Rebecca Rivard read way too many romances as a teenager, little realizing she was actually preparing for a career. She now spends her days with dark shifters, sexy fae and alpha vampires—which has to be the best job ever. When she’s not writing, she walks, bikes and kayaks in the Chesapeake Bay area with her guitar-playing, storytelling husband.
Sea Dragon's Hunger: BAD Alpha Dads (The Fada Shapeshifter Series) Page 16