ROMANCE: SHAPESHIFTER ROMANCE: Dragon Baller's Bride (Dragon Shifter Alpha Male Romance) (Paranormal Romantic Suspense)

by Summer Cooper

  I tried to be subtle and crossed my arms over my breasts, willing my boobs to get the message that they weren’t allowed to show my excitement at Paul’s words.

  I kept my cellphone in my hand and looked around to see if anyone else noticed that I was texting. I hoped they didn’t, but I couldn’t be too sure.

  “Move your arms. You’re ruining the view.” Came the next text. I ignored it.

  “I’m hurt. You’re ignoring me.” I looked in his direction and he again was pretending to pay attention to the speaker. Apparently, I was the only one in the room who knew that he was doing the absolute opposite.

  “Stop texting me.” I mouthed to him across the room, when he finally made eye contact with me.

  He looked at me innocently and shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. I turned away, determined to ignore him. I subtly looked over the crowd and then at the panel, hoping no one noticed that I was half-arguing and half-ignoring text messages from my student.

  “You’re so sexy when you’re angry,” said the next message, and I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

  “Dr. Gabardi, you seem to disagree. You’re the expert. Perhaps you have a different view of things?” Said one of the presenters. All eyes turned in my direction.

  I was caught off-guard, but thankful that I had kept up with most of the conversation so I smoothly answered and everyone nodded in agreement, clearly impressed with what I had to say. I felt self-satisfied when I was done and would have pat myself on the back if I could. Apparently, I had no problem thinking on my feet or sounding intelligent when I needed to. If only I could apply that same confidence to dealing with Paul, I thought to myself.

  Speaking of Paul, he waited a few minutes after I was done speaking and texted, “I think your intelligence might be your sexiest feature.”

  I smiled then, I couldn’t help it. It was such a flattering comment and it was scores ahead of comments about my nipples.

  My phone didn’t vibrate again during the presentation and as the moderator wrapped up, I glanced in Paul’s direction, but he wasn’t there. I hadn’t noticed him leaving and wondered when he had disappeared. I knew his presentation was next and I wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine.

  With a little smile on my face, I arrived at his discussion and took a seat towards the back. He smiled at me when he saw me and nodded in my direction in acknowledgment. I smiled back and as he was about to get started, I sent one text message.

  “I’m wearing panties. And they’re wet.”

  He visibly gulped and I felt a moment of power, as I crossed my legs, sat back, and smiled. This was going to be a great presentation.

  * * *

  Forty-minutes later, Paul wrapped up his session. I clapped with the others. It had been really interesting and I had enjoyed it. Paul was one of the better presenters that I’d had the pleasure of hearing, and that wasn’t me being partial. The rest of the crowd hadn’t said a word as he spoke. He commanded the audience’s attention with his presence and held it with his words. I was sure that I was the only one who actually had a physical reaction to his voice, but there was an almost hypnotic quality to it that made you lean in and want to listen.

  I left while he answered questions, but the entire time, I could feel his eyes on my back, following my every move. I headed to the next session, hoping to catch up with some of my other students when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I was already smiling as I reached for it.

  “How about dinner tonight?” I had a skip in my step as I replied. “You’re on.”

  He texted back a smiley face and I couldn’t help but actually laugh out loud.

  Later that evening he called me and we made plans to meet up at a restaurant in a small town about twenty-five miles from where the conference was being held. Although our relationship wasn’t exactly prohibited, given that my university didn’t have a policy that prohibited students and professors from dating, I still wanted to be careful. Our relationship, or budding relationship as it might be, would still be frowned upon even if it wasn’t specifically prohibited by university code.

  I had to admit, I was excited as I drove towards the restaurant where we were scheduled to meet. Besides the fact that I was ridiculously attracted to Paul physically, he also intellectually stimulated me.

  I didn’t have anything really nice to wear on our date, so I was glad when he mentioned a place that was pretty casual. I donned on my best pair of jeans and a pretty top. It was a light pink lace blouse, and it made me look sexy, but still tasteful. I then put on a pair of heels. In terms of makeup, I went for a very natural look with just a little mascara and lip gloss. I didn’t want him to think that I was trying too hard. Whatever that actually meant, I thought with a smile to myself.

  I pulled up and parked my car. I saw him leaning against his car, casually waiting for me in the parking lot. I thought again how sexy he was. Looking at him, I was glad I went with jeans and a blouse. He wore just a plain blue button-down shirt and a pair of jeans as well. He didn’t smile when I pulled up and got out of the car. Instead, he just stared at me intently, as if trying to memorize everything about me.

  I didn’t speak either, letting my eyes roam over his body freely.

  “Are you done undressing me with your eyes?” I asked him.

  “Almost,” he said raising one brow and looking really focused. I laughed and he smiled then and took my hand. He kissed the back of it as he escorted me through the entrance. I felt a tingle of heat go up my spine and my heartbeat raced as his lips pressed against my flesh.

  When we were settled at a table, I took a moment to look around at the restaurant he had chosen. It was definitely rustic and resembled a log cabin. I saw massive ovens in the rear of the room and my mouth watered at the scent of meat cooking that permeated the air.

  He looked around to where I was staring and then looked back at me, “Tell me you’re not a vegetarian.”

  “Actually, well-”

  “Oh no, I’m sorry. I should have asked first.” He said clearly frustrated with himself, and I decided to let him off the hook easy.

  I shook my head, “You’re so gullible. I’m not a vegetarian. I’m a huge carnivore. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I had a salad. Give me a hamburger instead of arugula any day.”

  He shuddered, “Arugula. I can’t stand the stuff. It’s right up there with bean sprouts and tofu in my opinion.”

  I mockingly put a hand on my chest and said, “A man after my own heart. We must be soul mates.”

  “I think so,” he said those words softly and from the intense look of his eyes, I wondered if maybe he actually meant it.

  I quickly changed the subject, hoping to stick to lighter topics. I realized I didn’t know much about him, so I started there.

  “Where are you from?” I asked as our waiter came back with our drink orders.

  “I grew up in Canada actually, near Vancouver.”

  “Really? I would have never guessed. Did you move here just for school?”

  “No. I’ve lived in the U.S. for a while. I’ve traveled a little bit all over.”

  “Which places did you like the most?”

  “The warm ones,” he said, and I had to smile, even though I felt as if he were being deliberately vague.

  We grew quiet as we looked over our menus. I wasn’t disappointed at all; there were so many options to choose from and everything sounded appetizing.

  When we finally ordered, we relaxed a little more and I told him about my parents and growing up in Texas. I found it interesting that he liked Texas so much especially given where he was from.

  “So life here suits you is what I’m hearing?”

  He nodded, “I do really enjoy living here. I plan to go for a PhD though, so I don’t know where I’ll eventually end up.”

  I tried to keep the smile I had earlier plastered in place. He planned to leave. I couldn’t get upset with him about that. He wanted to furthe
r his education. At least he was upfront about that, so now I knew not to get emotionally invested. I just worried that it was too late. Because I feared, against my better judgment, I already had.

  Chapter Four

  Dinner with Paul ended earlier than I had wanted it to. That was unfortunate, as I was really enjoying getting to know him. He was smart, funny, easy-going and that voice of his still did sexy things to me whenever I heard it.

  It was dark as we were driving back and I didn’t know the area well so I tried to be as cautious as possible. My thoughts were on Paul the whole time. Things between us had escalated really quickly, but if I thought about it, the sexual tension between us had been there for a while, I just refused to acknowledge it. I thought I was just turned on by his voice, but no; it had been more than that. I had wanted him since the first day he walked into my classroom, so confidently.

  I felt our entire time knowing each other; each classroom session had been some form of foreplay. And now after dinner, I realized he felt the same way too. I felt an ache between my thighs for him and told myself to calm down. He was set to graduate at the end of the month and I thought then would be the perfect time to explore things between us. He had agreed and we promised to keep our hands away from each other, at least while we were on campus.

  I groaned to myself, it was going to be a long four weeks until he graduated. I was so busy bemoaning the lack of sex that I would have to endure until Paul graduated that I didn’t see the creature in the road at first, but then my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I swerved to avoid hitting it. I screamed as my car veered towards a cliff and I stomped on the brakes as hard as I could. My tires squealed as they came to a stop, and just as I thought I was going to be fine; the car started tipping dangerously to the side.

  I sat there for a second scared to make a move, knowing that one wrong move would mean me careening off the cliff in my car.

  Suddenly I saw a shadow at my window and I jumped, startled. It was just Paul. Unfortunately, as soon as I realized that, I also realized that my abrupt movement had been enough to push the car off its precarious slant, and with a scream I felt the car leaning over, about to fall off the cliff. I closed my eyes as the car tumbled once and then twice, throwing my body side to side and then all was still as it rested against a large tree. I realized that my door was now open as I had crashed into it while falling. I was sore and scared. I knew I was only minutes from dropping down the entire two-hundred feet to the bottom, but there was nothing I could do about it.

  A sob broke out of my lips and then before I could move, I felt the car shifting again, about to plunge to the ground, and then I saw Paul, easily holding on to a boulder next to me, yelling for me to take his hand.

  “Come on, Sydney, quick!” He shouted through the window at me. My mind scrambled to come up with a way to get to him without jeopardizing my own safety, but I couldn’t think of what to do. If I reached for his hand surely my body weight would make the car fall, but if I didn’t reach for his hand, I would probably be crushed to death in the car.

  “I can’t. It’ll fall! I can’t!” I yelled back feeling hysteria bubble up at the idea of my own impending death.

  “Trust me, Sydney, just make a jump for it. I’ll catch you. I promise.”

  I didn’t know how he planned to do that. In no way could I picture that working. He must have saw the fear and doubt in my eyes, because he began to plead with me.

  “Please, Sydney. Give me your hand or you’ll die.”

  I looked down at the ground and then up at Paul. I didn’t want to die. As the car again began to slide through the trees, I jumped for Paul’s outstretched hand, screaming the whole time and the car lurched towards the ground, hitting stone and trees before it toppled towards the ground. And my body went with it.

  At first, I didn’t understand what was happening. And then terrified, I figured it out. I missed Paul’s hand and I was being pulled down with the car since my foot was now entangled in the seat belt. Paul couldn’t catch me. There was no way he could, and I screamed all the way down, struggling against the seat belt, hanging on to the door for dear life. Rocks and trees cut into my skin as I plummeted down with the car. I was about to close my eyes, not wanting to see my own imminent death when Paul came back into my line of vision. I watched in utter shock as he dashed down the mountain towards me, defying gravity, running full speed towards me. He jumped over boulders, pushed through the trees, looking as if the exercise in saving me was completely effortless. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him as I struggled out of the seatbelt, and as I felt the car leaving my body behind and I began to fall towards the ground on my own. As I continued to scream, Paul jumped for me and I extended my hands and this time he securely wrapped my hand in his and pulled me to him as if I weighed nothing at all.

  The car hit the ground. I heard it, but I didn’t see it since my head was buried in Paul’s chest. My arms clung around his neck and I breathed heavily, trying to catch my breath. My entire body was shaking and I realized that the entire time Paul was talking softly to me.

  “You’re okay, Sydney. I got you. You’re going to be fine. You’re okay.”

  I couldn’t stop shaking and I also started to cry. I stuttered as I said, “Www...What are we going to do now?”

  He said simply, “Hang on.” And then with one arm he started to navigate the mountain, scaling it easily, not even winded as he climbed at least fifty feet with me cradled in one of his arms. He then hoisted me up and over the edge, as if I weighed about as much as a leaf. I wasn’t exactly a small woman and yet; he had no problem throwing me over the edge to safety.

  I landed with a thump and dragged myself backwards, still breathing heavily. Paul hefted himself up easily and landed gracefully next to me.

  I breathed in deeply and just as I was about to ask how he had been able to do so many of those feats that I had seen, I heard a growl from behind me and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I turned around slowly, and behind me was apparently the creature that had started this whole ordeal. It was a mountain lion, and apparently it was hungry.

  It leapt toward Paul and he went down at the force of its body barreling into his. I screamed and scrambled backwards and I watched as Paul threw it off easily. It didn’t even register being thrown as it leapt instead, towards me. I tried to get up and run but I needn’t have even tried as it sprung on me and knocked me down.

  I screamed as its claws sank into my back. I then heard a roar and the giant cat disappeared from my back, taking a layer of my shirt off with it. I flipped over, gasping for breath and the sight before me made me almost faint.

  Standing behind me with the mountain lion in its hands was a giant black bear. I looked frantically for Paul. I didn’t see him anywhere. I didn’t know what to do. I jumped up and started to run, calling out for Paul as I did.

  I heard a whimper and then a howl. I didn’t bother to look behind me. I knew it was the mountain lion and I also knew that I didn’t have a chance fighting either one of them.

  I ran as fast as I could and then I heard the heavy footsteps behind me. I turned around; the bear was heading my way. I started screaming and then the mountain lion appeared again. I instantly came to a stop and the bear came towards me. I was sobbing in fear as they both approached me slowly and then the mountain lion retreated.

  I backed up slowly. The bear stood at least seven feet tall and he looked at me. He was ferocious. His mouth was huge and intimidating.

  I didn’t know what to do and then the bear’s head snapped back and he let out a roar as his body began to recede into itself. His fur began to shift and in its place was strong human muscles and as the snout began to disappear, a human face began to form. And as I watched, the bear completely disappeared and in the moonlight was now, Paul.

  He reached for me and I screamed. He reached again and I kicked out as hard as I could. He was naked and vulnerable hence he couldn’t block one of my kicks and my heel connected with his crotc
h. He stumbled back, grabbing himself as he went down on his knees.

  He groaned my name and I stood up and kicked him in the face this time and ran towards his car. I slammed myself in it and thanked God that the keys were still in the ignition. I started the car, pushed down on the gas and drove the car straight down the road where Paul had been previously. There was no sign of him. I realized that I was shaky and tried to get my head together. I didn’t know what was going on. I had no idea, but all I knew is that I had to get out of there.

  I drove towards the resort, still shaking, wondering how I would explain what had happened to anyone. Knowing that no one would believe me.

  I felt blood running down my cheek and realized that I had cut my face. It was too bad. I actually liked my face the way it was. With that thought, I knew then that I was getting hysterical.

  As I got closer to the resort, I sobbed in gratitude. I parked the car, stumbled out of it and went running toward the entrance. I didn’t make it as a hand grabbed me and yanked me off my feet. It was Paul and he dragged me kicking and screaming back to his car.

  “Calm down, Sydney. Calm down. I can explain everything.” He said, his voice exasperated. But there was no way I planned to calm down. I had seen him shape shift from a bear to a man; there was no way I was going to calm down now.

  I hit out at him with my fists and kicked him as hard as I could, attempting to bite his hand at one point. He yelped when my teeth came down on his flesh and then he mumbled, “I’m sorry, but you have to go in here until you calm down.”

  He banged the trunk open, shoved me in and I screamed the whole time, even when he closed the lid encapsulating me in darkness. I soon felt the car moving and I continued to kick and scream. I kept it up for at least ten minutes until I went hoarse. And then, feeling helpless, I cried silently to myself. What did he plan to do with me?

  As the car slowed down, my whole body tensed up and then the car stopped. I could hear footsteps approaching, and Paul opened the trunk. I stared up at him and said, “Please don’t kill me.”