“Our first time,” she explained. “Our first time demonstrating our love and we created this.” She gnawed her lower lip and made a knee-jerk decision. “I don’t care who you’ve chosen as your mate, I claim you as mine and since I’m carrying your heir, you will disgrace us both if you don’t marry me. I refuse -”
He shushed her by taking her lips with his own. Wrapping an arm around her, he left his other hand on their child and brought her closer to him as his lips devoured hers. He poured every ounce of love, relief and devotion into the kiss.
“Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?” he asked as he pulled back. “I came to Jamaica to claim you,” he admitted and laughed when her eyes widened. “There’s never been anyone but you. There never will be,” he declared.
He dropped to his knees before her and pressed his face to her womb, wrapping his arms around her waist. He nuzzled the little bump and almost laughed when he felt the little flutter of life.
“You two are my life,” he whispered. “I would sell my soul to protect you both.”
Jazz’s eyes teared and she rested her hands on his head as he continued to cuddle and kiss her stomach.
“Alright,” Sera called from across the cavern. She entered in enough time to see Damien declare his love for her daughter. “We have a ritual to attend. You two have already skipped to the fun part, now we have to solidify it, get moving.”
Chapter Eight
Damien cradled Jazz in his arms and moved across the threshold of their new bedroom. The ritual hadn’t taken long considering that only two Elders attended, they’d quickly sealed their bonds and he’d whisked her away for a more private celebration. Jazz nuzzled the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply to permanently etch his scent in her brain forever. She never counted on them being apart, but being the Prince was a full-time job and eventually his work would force him to travel.
“Sssh love,” he murmured softly. “It’s our time and nothing is going to pull us apart again. If I travel - you travel with me. I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” he declared and gently set her on her feet. He unclasped the robe and pushed it from her shoulders, baring her entire body to him.
She mimicked his movements and they stood facing each other.
“I love you,” Damien whispered and lunged forward, taking her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled them both onto the king-size bed, his body nestled within the center of her legs. He knew her body was already prepared for him, so he didn’t waste any time in plunging balls deep into her heavenly cavity.
They moved in unison, back and forth, in and out until Jazz tired of his attempt to remain easy and shifted so that she straddled him. Gyrating her hips, she rode him like the stallion she thought he was. She felt him swell even larger inside her and knew they only had a few precious moments to seal their collective fates. Without stopping, she leaned forward and pierced his neck with her teeth. Following her lead, Damien did the same and they drank from each other as they reached orgasm in unison.
Within moments they lay panting in each other’s arms. Turning onto her side, Jazz snuggled back against Damien’s chest and smiled when he brought their joined hands to the child they created.
“Our species is at war,” he murmured in her ear. “It’s a dangerous time to raise a child.”
She heard the worry in his voice and smiled.
“Already worrying?” she teased. “Don’t. This baby will be the most protected Dragon in creation.”
Damien smiled into the nape of her neck.
“You damn right,” he declared.
THE END
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Lion Lord’s Kiss: A Shifter Romance
Prologue
For centuries, his ancestors had been roaming the savannah on four legs. They were the true kings of the jungle, and as the legends told, destined to be kings in this life or another. With all of the power and beauty of lions, and keen minds, it was hard not to be convinced of their superiority over normal men. They often lived decades longer than humans unless, like his ancestors in Tsavo, their lives were cut short by violence.
Today, Jay (short for Jelani), was hunting for more than a meal; he was hunting for a way out of a trip to New York. He hated the concrete without end, the dirty air and water, and the sheer volume of noise echoing off the tall buildings at all hours of the day and night.
As the offspring of a beautiful but frail human woman and his father, the late patriarch of his Pride, the task had fallen to him as a young, unmated Lord to make the trip. The Pride would eventually come under his rule, if he continued to display his father’s strength and his mother’s sharp mind, and Jay was expected to carry some of the burden of governing. His Uncle, the current Pride Leader was aging and remained unmated. Jay had been assigned more responsibility these past five years as his Uncle’s health deteriorated. Jay also privately thought that the Leader saw these tasks as a means of taming Jay’s sometimes unstable temper. When acting on official Pride business, he was more mindful of not embarrassing his people by letting his temper get the better of him.
As Jay slipped through the grass toward the edge of the watering hole where his prey waited, oblivious, a six hundred pound missile roared and launched itself at him, striking him in the shoulder and tumbling him into the dry grass, sending up a cloud of dust and an indignant roar. Jay looked with irritation to his prey that was already vanishing in a cloud of the same dust.
His Uncle Folami, meaning one who demands respect, transformed before him, and said, “Come Jelani, you procrastinate. Your plane leaves in two hours. I know this errand distresses you, but it must be done. It is important to the family and we trust you to handle this matter for us all.”
“Yes, I know it is important,” he said with resignation as he turned to follow his uncle, “You can trust me with it.”
“Make sure you do not get distracted.” Folami said with a raised brow, referring to Jay’s reputation as something of a womanizer.
“When have I ever let a woman distract me from my duty?” Jay growled
“Do not show your teeth to me, cub, lest I have to teach you to respect your elders…again.” Folami said, bristling. “Just make sure that your weakness for a round ass does not get you into trouble…again.”
No matter that the incidents had happened many years ago, Folami was loathe to let him live them down. He was an aging King holding on to every scrap of authority as he watched the years slowly rob him of his ability to enforce it. Though there was more to his leadership than brute force, it still took strength to command respect. A respect his Uncle still well deserved.
Choking down his anger, Jay simply replied “Yes, Uncle,” as the head of his family transformed back to his magnificent lion form with a slightly whitened muzzle and loped toward home with the deceptive speed of his kind. Jay did the same and followed along behind him at a respectful distance.
Chapter One
Kathryn eyed herself critically in the full-length mirror that hung on her bathroom door and was pleased with what she saw. At five foot nine inches tall and with the kind of robust curves that were just too lush to pass for conventional beauty in the thinner-is-better atmosphere of New York City, Kathryn still managed to turn heads. If asked, she would describe herself as an hourglass with about fifteen extra minutes added. She had great skin, a true peaches-and-cream complexion, complimented by long, auburn hair and full, ruby lips.
She was wearing a grey designer skirt and white blouse. It was traditional office wear, but she could not hide the fact that she was all woman, not that she would care to anyway. She was very comfor
table in her own skin and exuded the easy-going confidence that other women tried to emulate but so many ended up over-doing, making themselves seem brash or even lewd. Kathryn had no need to resort to such tactics to draw male attention. And to be truthful, she really didn't have time for men in her life right now.
Her career was taking most of her energy at the moment. She had recently started practicing real estate law at a busy law office. The firm’s clientele mostly consisted of wealthy real estate investors buying and selling large commercial properties. Between her attention to detail and her natural charisma, she was doing extremely well and her clients were very happy. So happy, in fact, that many worked exclusively with her.
Recognizing a rising star when they saw one, and the threat she could represent to their bottom line should she start her own firm and take those clients with her, they had offered her a junior partnership. Of course this didn't sit well with some other members of the firm, who had been practicing there for years. The one who stood out though was Todd, the misogynistic prick, she thought with derision. He couldn't imagine that a woman would possibly be better than he at anything that didn't require a spatula. He attributed her success to a willingness to use her more obvious assets to her advantage. Nothing could be farther from the truth of course; she was damn good at what she did.
The worst part was that Todd believed that he was the only male in the office who hadn't gotten his shot at some action with the curvy bombshell and he was convinced of his own irresistible charm. This had led to some very awkward moments when she had been forced to fend him off, both physically and verbally. Unfortunately, this just seemed to increase his interest. If she had to deal with it one more time, she was going to lose it.
She had a meeting this morning at 10 am, a new client that had been referred to her by a colleague who regularly did business in Africa. Evidently, he was looking to purchase several warehouse properties to accommodate a small import/export business that already enjoyed success in other locales. Having never worked with an African before, she entertained a picture in her mind of a tall, thin, black man wearing flowing robes, a round little hat, and carrying a zebra-tail fly swatter. Ridiculous of course, the stereotypes we get from modern media, but she had trouble picturing anything else. She hoped that they were able to work without an interpreter, at least. It was always cumbersome to work through an intermediary.
If she was going to make it to the office on time, she needed to get her ass in gear. She scooped up her purse and keys and snatched her coffee off of the kitchen counter on her way out the door. She had just enough time to catch her train, if she was lucky.
Chapter Two
“Why would people build such monstrosities?” Jelani thought to himself as he looked through the window of the apartment his family kept in the city. Concrete as far as the eye could see, relieved only by the corner of Central Park he could just glimpse from his small balcony. Being so separated from the earth, particularly his native soil, for an extended length of time, caused him anxiety. Indeed, it was one of the few weaknesses that afflicted his species, and was the main reason their range didn't extend further than it did. The longer they were separated, the more stressful it became. The condition could be relieved for a short time by reverting to his lion form, and by contact with a more natural environment. Eventually however, the pain would be too much and his irascible nature would come to the fore; all the more reason to keep this trip as short as possible. Hopefully the properties he was sent to procure would prove to be acceptable, and the lawyer he was to meet with, proficient at her work. There were no real worries on that score however, the lawyer came highly recommended from a trusted source.
Jay was feeling uncharacteristically restless this morning. He had slept poorly and awakened early with a pounding headache, courtesy of a long flight and a case of jet lag. He had showered and donned his human camouflage, a Hugo Boss suit tailored to his muscular, six foot four-inch frame. Nothing could truly make him blend in here though. His obvious height, broad shoulders, and handsome face were only a part of what caught people's attention. Less obvious, but more compelling, was the way he moved: like an arrogant predator among sheep, supremely confident in his ability to master anything under his golden gaze.
Now here he was, pacing with the nervous energy of a caged animal, his long strides carrying him back and forth in front of the large window overlooking the city. It was almost two hours before his meeting so Jay decided to walk the ten blocks or so to the office building where his meeting was to take place. Hopefully he would be able to sit still through what promised to be a tedious morning and afternoon.
Jay stepped past the doorman dutifully holding the door for him to exit, and stopped to get his bearings just short of the stream of humanity bustling passed on the sidewalk. The sheer volume of people, the noise, and odor of vehicle exhaust threatened to overwhelm him. He had an animal’s inherent mistrust of anything that drowned out the senses he depended on for survival. Once he felt like he had a handle on the sensory input, he joined the river of people heading the direction he needed to go. There was nothing outwardly threatening about him, but even in the crush of New York City pedestrian traffic, people unconsciously allowed him extra space, a small buffer between themselves and the man who seemed to radiate an aura that repelled casual touch.
Jay strode along the streets of New York, carried about by the flow of the crowd, in no real hurry to get to his destination. He had plenty of time to take in the sights of the morning commuter crush: the blaring horns from the traffic, the people engrossed in their phone conversations, or just staring mindlessly at their smart phones, totally unaware of their surroundings. The one thing he did enjoy was the smell of exotic foods coming from small eateries and carts spaced out along the streets. They reminded him of the fact that he had left the apartment with an empty stomach and it took a lot of food to fuel an animal his size. He was only a couple of blocks from his destination and still had some time to kill, so he decided to find something to quell the gnawing in his belly.
He scanned the small establishments that catered to the on-the-go crowds and chose a bagel shop based on the pleasant aromas wafting through its door. As he entered, he breathed deeply of the smell of coffee and baked goods. Stepping into the long, but swiftly moving line of people awaiting their turn at the counter, his eyes fell upon the woman at the front of the line. She was tall for a woman, dressed in a form fitting skirt that did nothing to hide the fact that she had a gloriously shapely backside. The fall of her rich, auburn hair reached nearly to the nip of her waist, accentuating her hourglass shape. If there was one thing he had a real weakness for, it was a woman with soft curves and a lush figure, and from behind, this woman fit that bill perfectly. As she turned toward him, juggling her purse, a cup of coffee, and a pastry, he noticed that the view from the front was excellent also. He appraised her from the floor up, her gloriously lush thighs, the generous swell of her hips, and good god, those breasts! He ached to feel the weight of them in his hands. What really stopped his heart though, were her eyes. They were watching him with frank amusement at his not so subtle appreciation of her figure. If he had not been so stunned, he would have thought to feel chagrin for being caught so obviously ogling, like someone’s lost village idiot. As she passed him, headed for the door, he couldn't help but avidly watch her progress. She paused in the doorway, turned, and flashed him a sunny smile. She stood there just long enough for him to think to himself, “Go after her, you idiot!”, when she was suddenly jerked through the door with a loud yelp.
That broke his paralysis, and he leapt for the door after her, jerking it open on to a scene that momentarily baffled him. She was standing on the sidewalk clutching the straps of her purse with her left hand and thoroughly beating the piss out of a man who was desperately clinging to the rest of her purse. He wasn't a large man at all, barely five foot seven, and scrawny. He had chosen his victim poorly, as she outweighed him by a good forty pounds, and obviously was
not going down without a fight.
Jay was stuck behind her in the doorway, unable to assist without knocking her down. She didn't really look like she needed much help though. She was glorious in her ferocity, and he couldn't help but watch with admiration as her assailant absorbed blow after blow while stubbornly tugging to wrench the purse from her hand.
Just when Jay thought the man was going to give up, one of the straps on the handbag gave way, giving him enough distance to avoid the blows raining down on him. Fortunately, this also allowed him to back away at an angle, clearing the way for Jay to act. Reaching past the woman, he casually cuffed the man under his left ear. What was a casual blow for Jay was anything but for a human, and the purse-snatcher was sent sprawling several feet away, stunned.
Chapter Three
Dammit! She knew better than to not check her surroundings when she left a building! Now here she was, fighting with a mugger because she had been distracted by that gorgeous man in the coffee shop. She was SO not going to let this happen! This asshole was not going to strong-arm her! She almost had him beaten when the strap on her purse broke, giving him more control over the bag, and enough distance to avoid her fury. She was trying to figure out how to overcome this sudden disadvantage when the tension was suddenly released from the other end of the purse and she was sent hurtling backwards into a solid wall of male flesh. The seemingly immovable mass quickly enfolded her, bracing her until she regained her balance. She was still angry and full of fight though, so when she saw her attacker scrambling to pick himself up from the ground, she lunged forward to finish him off, only to be brought up short by strong arms encircling her waist.
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 89