by Amelia Jade
A long, meaty finger pressed itself to her lips, silencing her. She lifted an eyebrow, letting him know that what he was about to say had better be damn good for shushing her like that.
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t finish it,” he admonished gently. “It’s not the what. It’s the where that I question.”
“Huh?”
He snorted and kissed her gently. “Sometimes you’re so blind it’s funny. I love you dearly, you know that, right?”
Michelle nodded. “I do. It’s one of the things I love about you, that you always tell me.”
Kase smiled. “Why, then, do you assume that I’m not going to have the lab rebuilt and brought back up to speed?”
She licked her lips, trying to come up with a good answer. “Uhhhhhh.”
He laughed and tackled her into the sinfully comfortable bed. “You actually didn’t think that?”
“That’s going to be horrifically expensive, Kase… I can’t ask you to do that.”
“I know.” He stroked her head, pushing hairs behind her ear. A second later they popped free, her mane never one to obey. “But you’re forgetting something.”
“I am?”
He tapped himself on the chest. “Me dragon.”
“You dragon.” She mimicked. “So what?”
“What do dragons like most?”
“Women.”
He pondered that answer. “Okay, maybe you have a point there. But what do they like most after that?”
She thought it over. “Gold?”
“Treasure. Exactly.”
“I don’t get it.”
“The money isn’t an issue, is what I’m trying to say. I’m going to rebuild your lab. Not just rebuild, though—expand, upgrade, whatever it is that needs to be done, it’ going to be done. No expense spared. You’ll have what and who you need; all you have to do is tell me and it’ll happen.”
She gaped. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly.”
“Kase!” she shrieked, throwing herself at him, pushing him down into the bed as she smothered him with hugs and kisses. “You’re too amazing!”
He laughed and pulled her tight. “There’s a catch, though. Something you have to do for me.”
Michelle stopped moving, sitting up straight while straddling him, watching his eyes roam across her body. “I suppose I can do that,” she whispered, reaching behind to stroke him.
“Not that,” he said, laughing. “I don’t want to exchange money for favors with you ever. No, it’s actually bigger than that.”
She pursed her lips. “Kase, I don’t know. You’re already pretty big for me and…”
His laughter had her bouncing up and down. She loved to watch him laugh—it was one of the most energetic things in the world, always bringing her mood up if it was down. He really was a once-in-a-lifetime catch.
“Anything for you,” she said, settling down comfortably onto him. “Anything, my love.”
Her love. He had her love. All of it, and then some. In mere days she’d gone from caring for him, to unabashed, unashamed love. Truly, madly, deeply do. It scared her to feel how far she’d fallen, but there was no denying it. Not anymore.
“Careful before you say that. I haven’t told you what it is.”
“Well, spit it out already.”
“I want you to come overseas with me while it’s being constructed. I have somewhere that I’m needed. A battle I need to fight.”
“Another fight?” she asked nervously, her mood sobering swiftly.
“Yes.”
“Against who?”
He squirmed underneath her uncomfortably, but made no effort to free himself. “I’ll explain it later; it’ll take a little bit of time to bring you up to speed. But let’s just say that there are more than just shifters out there, and some of the creatures have it in for humanity as a whole. Some humans and some dragons have banded together to fight them. Some of my friends are there, and they could really use as many of us as possible.”
She knew he meant dragons. “It sounds dangerous.”
He nodded. “If we lose, it could be. But we haven’t lost yet.”
“You want to bring me near a warzone? Where are we going?” She figured he meant somewhere in central or South America, where things were more lawless and unregulated.
“Northwest United States, near the mountains,” he said weakly.
“I can honestly say that I did not expect you to say that.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t choose it. But that’s where.”
“For how long?”
“Until it’s over, or the lab is rebuilt, whatever comes first. I know your research is important, and I want you to put all your effort into that. I’m just greedy and want you all to myself until then.”
Michelle wasn’t sure. “I guess Jacob can handle overseeing the repairs. We work well as a team, and I’ll just coordinate by phone and email. It’s not ideal, but it’s a pretty small price to pay compared to what it’s going to cost you.”
“I would spend every penny I had if it made you happy,” he said. “Thankfully, this won’t require me to. But I would.”
She hugged him tight. “I love you, Kase. I hope you know that.”
“I do, Michelle. My love. My mate. I do.” He kissed her, and she let him.
“I think I’ll just take care of this for free today,” she said, wiggling her hips as something began to push into it.”
Kase grinned.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kase
He paced nervously back and forth in front of the jet as he awaited her arrival. Today was the day they left for overseas. Hopefully, that wasn’t all they would be doing that day.
“Everything is fine, sir,” the pilot assured him from where he hid just inside the hatch, holding a cord in his hands. “You can relax.”
“What if she doesn’t like it? What if it’s too soon?”
The pilot chuckled. “I’ve been flying for you and your kind for two decades now, Kase. I’ve seen my fair share of proposals. Do you know how many times someone has been rejected?”
“No, how many?”
“None.”
“Great!” He tossed his hands in the air. “Now there’s pressure on me to continue that unbroken streak. Just great.”
He fidgeted while he paced, fumbling the small velvet-covered box in his pocket, turning it over and over until he was sure he’d worn away the exterior.
“What if she doesn’t like the ring?” he asked, taking it out and popping the top.
Don, the pilot, smiled easily. “Then she has poor taste, sir.” He pretended to frown. “Although if she likes you, that’s already a given.”
“Careful, Don,” Kase warned, wagging his finger up the stairs. The pilot ducked back inside, leaving the sound of laughter in the air. They were still in easy speaking range however, and the conversation continued.
“She’s going to love it, Kase. Stop fretting like a worried hen.”
“I am not fretting,” he protested.
“I grew up on a farm,” Don called back. “You’re fretting. I’ve seen it. Here she comes.”
Kase spun. A black luxury SUV had emerged onto the tarmac and angled toward the jet. Anxiously, he bounced back and forth from one foot to the other until it came to a halt. Then he dashed over to it and opened the door.
“Why, thank you, good sir,” Michelle said, getting out of the car.
She was wearing a black loose-fitting shirt with a high neck and cutout across her neck and upper chest, paired with white pants and black sandals. It looked amazing.
“Why are you wearing a suit?”
“I always wear a suit to fly.”
She stopped. “You’re lying.”
“Of course I’m lying,” he said with a laugh, hooking her arm. “They’re bloody hot and uncomfortable.”
“Well, you look damn good, whatever the reason.”
“Thank you.” He glanced at the hatch, saw Don’s head just peering out, and nodded at him. “Michelle,” he said, stopping, facing the side of the plane. “There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
Don pulled the rope, and a banner that had been tightly rolled up fell loose, draping itself along the side of the plane. At the same time he dropped to one knee.
“Kase!” she gasped, covering her mouth.
“Will you, Michelle Deborah Barden, do me the unimaginable honor of becoming my wife?”
He opened the box, displaying to her the ring made of pure quicksilver. Tiny scales ran around the outside of the band, whilst two slightly larger ones had been molded around the sides of a diamond and then set into the top of the band. The entire thing shone brightly in the sunlight.
“Kase, I don’t know what to say,” she said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
“There are really only two choices,” he said, his heart thundering violently.
“What? Oh, no, that’s not what I meant!” she yelped. “I accept. Oh, Kase, I so accept, yes. Yes, a thousand times yes!” She tackled him to the ground, smothering him in kisses, the ring all but forgotten.
He shut the box with a snap of his fingers and then wrapped his hands around her, returning the kisses with rapid interest.
“Is that why you’re wearing the suit?” she asked with a laugh.
“Yes,” he said, helping her to her feet. “I wanted to impress you.”
“Oh my goodness, Kase.” She pressed herself to his side. “You already impress me, you loser. You didn’t need to dress up.”
“I figured you’d appreciate it for the pictures.”
“Pictures?”
He pointed behind them to where the driver was standing, a large camera in hand.
“You sneak!” she yelped. “You set me up.”
Grinning, he nodded. “Yup.”
“Unbelievable.”
“I love you. Now stop whining about being engaged and let me put the ring on your finger, will you?”
Still looking shocked, she extended her hand for him.
“Kase, it’s beautiful,” she whispered, lifting her hand to examine it more closely.
“Then it’s worthy of you,” he said with a wink, well aware of how much she secretly loved such cheesy lines.
Michelle groaned, but her lips turned up into a smile anyway. “I get to put up with this for the rest of my life now, don’t I?”
He smiled. “A lot longer than you bargained for,” he said cryptically, knowing she would interpret it to mean she might not have planned for it for the rest of her life.
Wasn’t she going to be surprised when she found what being mated to a dragon and wearing a part of him did for her life span. There was so much he had yet to tell her. But why rush it?
After all, they were going to have centuries together.
********
********
This concludes Dragon Bound, Quicksilver Dragons Book 2.
Stoen’s story is up next! To be notified when it’s available and to get a bonus scene between Michelle & Kase, click the link below.
>>>Click Here<<<
(If you’re already signed up, you can find the link to the bonus scene in one of your emails from me)
I hope you enjoyed the adventure.
If you enjoyed it, please considering leaving a review to help others find the story as well.
Want More of These Characters?
Hey!
Thanks for digging in to my back matter for more books to read. I’ve written a number of series now, in three main worlds. All worlds have an easy and convenient to read introduction, with a number of stories in it that will drag you right into the world.
The Outsiders
Ancient Dragons have been awakened to fight a monstrous enemy from out of this world. But they have one condition first: They must be allowed to find their mates.
Dragon Temptation (Crimson Dragons Book 1)
Cadia
In this world shifters and humans live apart. Will imaginary barriers prevent real love? Not sure where to start? Try reading:
Frost Dragon (Dragons of Cadia Book 1)
Genesis Valley
This is the other world I have written extensively in. There are a number of books in the series, and the order can jump around a bit. The best way to start is here:
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear (Ridgeback Shifters Book 1)
Flip the page for the complete rundown of all my series and the recommended reading order.
Thanks!
-Amelia Jade
The Outsiders
This is the series/book list for the Outsiders world.
Crimson Dragons
Crimson Dragons: The Box Set
Includes:
Dragon Temptation
Dragon Seduction
Dragon Devotion
Onyx Dragons
Dragon Fixation
Dragon Obsession
Dragon Addiction
Ice Dragons
Dragon Eruption
Dragon Redemption
Dragon Rebellion
Emerald Dragons
Dragon Passion
Dragon Desire
Dragon Craving
Cobalt Dragons
Dragon Blood
Dragon Heart
Dragon Soul
Quicksilver Dragons
Dragon Marked
Dragon Bound
Dragon Betrothed
Cadia
Here are the main series in the world of Cadia. Find them below!
Start with:
Dragons of Cadia: The Complete Dragon Shifter Series.
The Full 6 Book Bundle (Link)
Includes:
Frost Dragon
Fire Dragon
Electro Dragon
Gale Dragon
Fume Dragon
Aurum Dragon
Next:
Base Camp Bears
The Full 6 book Bundle (Link)
Includes:
Green Bearets: Luther
Green Bearets: Aksel
Green Bearets: Jarvis
Green Bearets: Garrin
Green Bearets: Kiefer
Green Bearets: Gabriel
Then:
The Koche Brothers
Blackjack Bears: Pierce
Blackjack Bears: Kean
Blackjack Bears: Gavin
Blackjack Bears: Kassian
Blackjack Bears: Maximus
Then:
Bad Bear Shifters
Big Bad Wolf Dad
Bad Bad Bear Dad
Big Bad Bear Daddy
Bigger Badder Bear Dad
Baddest Bear Dad
Standalone
Wing Her Over
Genesis Valley
This world follows the events in Genesis Valley, where misfit shifters of the world are sent. It is a brutal, vicious place where everyone’s chances have already been used up. This is it. Screw up, and they end you. But amongst the harsh life these bear shifters have eked out for themselves, everything burns brighter. Especially love.
The books in the first two series jump around some if you wish to follow the exact chronological timeline. See the numbers in bold to follow the order.
Get the complete 16 Book Boxed Set
Or start with:
Jade Crew
The Complete Boxed Set (Link)
Includes:
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear [1]
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear [2]
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear [3]
Jade Crew: Captive Bear [5]
Jade Crew: Outcast Bear [6]
Jade Crew: Hunted Bear[8]
Jade Crew: Fallen Bear [9]
Next:
Stone Bears
Stone Bear: Sentinel [4]
Stone Bear: Phoenix [7]
Then:
Genesis Valley
Blueblood Dragon
Black Market Bear
Finally:
The Agency
Get the 4 Book Boxed Set (Click Here)
Sentinel: Bravo Bear
Blackblood Bear
Silver Bullet Bear
Kingpin Bear
About the Author
Amelia Jade
Amelia Jade loves to write the stories of tall, growly shifter men and the women who come to love them. Living out in the backcountry near the mountains, she keeps her own alpha male close by to keep the bears away and keep her warm. In her downtime (which is rare), she loves to read science-fiction with a dash of fantasy. You can often find her curled up in front of the real wood-burning fireplace, her nose firmly buried in a book or her favorite e-reader. The cold can’t bother her there!
For more information about Amelia Jade and her work, visit her website or find her on Facebook.
Amelia Jade’s Website
Author Page