by DJ Michaels
Dev grabbed her and Sorcha, throwing them to the floor and covering them with his body. The dragons took three large chunks of wall each and then stopped as suddenly as they started. The Enforcers leaped onto seats and tables, calling for order to be restored, forcing calm on the poor hapless townies who’d been caught in the crossfire.
Finally Dev eased off them and Chelsea didn’t have time to get to her feet before her men were there. They lifted her up and ran their hands over her, checking for injuries. “I’m fine, truly. Not a scratch.”
“There better not be,” Tarkan muttered, smoothing his hand over her hair. “You’re sure you’re all right, love?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Dev took care of us.” She looked at the broken walls and then back at her husbands. “You know Benmonth and Annlyss wouldn’t have done that if there had been any risk at all to any of us.”
Ari’s mouth turned down. “You wouldn’t say that if you could see them in battle. Some of their maneuvers border on suicid—”
“Chelsea doesn’t need to hear that,” Tarkan cut in. He gave Ari a weird look and Ari snapped his mouth shut. She tapped her toe. Maybe she did need to hear about that, but not now. Not when Sorcha stared wailing again, clutching her head and screaming.
“For the love of all that’s holy, shut the fuck up!”
Chelsea pressed her lips together. It wasn’t funny. Really it wasn’t.
Poor Sorcha dragged her heavy skirts to her knees and climbed up on the nearest seat, addressing the chamber’s shambles. “Tengale’s not finished. He says there are black dragons at your estates and they are within striking distance of your immediate family and several key family members. If you do not give all the Earth females citizenship immediately, the dragons will consider that an attack. If you do not ratify Arian, Tarkan and Chelsea’s mating contract the dragons will demolish your homes and burn the rubble. If you make any kind of move against any woman claimed by an Enforcer, the dragons will smash Sapphire township to the ground.” Sorcha jumped off the seat and walked over to Chelsea. “Tengale says Benmonth and Annlyss are on the roof, waiting to take you home.”
Then Chelsea watched in awe as Sorcha turned on Jax, all six-feet-eight of him and poked him in his mile-wide chest. “Your dragon is an asshole.”
Jax gave her an evil smile. “He likes you. I think he’s going to enjoy having a new friend to talk to.”
“Obviously being assholes is what drew you two together.” She turned her back on him and then muscled Tarkan and Ari out of the way so she could put her hands on Chelsea’s shoulders.
Chelsea put her hands on her new friend’s waist and smiled into her eyes. “Thanks, Boston.”
“If I said ‘you’re welcome’ it would be a lie. That dragon is giving me a migraine.” She glance at Ari and Tarkan. “You sure about them?”
“Surer than I’ve been about anything else in my life.” And that was the truth.
“What about the big, black and scalies?”
“Love them.” Chelsea’s grin got wider when Sorcha’s eyes popped.
“Seriously?”
“Yep. My dragons just destroyed a building and threatened to raze a town to keep me happy. What’s not to love?”
Sorcha dropped her hand. “You, my friend, have too many kangaroos in your cornfield.”
Chelsea cracked up. She’d been teaching Sorcha Aussie slang while they’d been sharing a room at the dorm and the American still had a bit to learn. “You mean I’ve got a kangaroo loose in my top paddock and you’re probably right. Want to be the chief bridesmaid at my wedding?”
“Hell yes.”
Sorcha held up her hand for a high-five and Chelsea shook her head. “We don’t do that where I come from.”
The hand stayed up. “Humor me.”
So Chelsea did and barely winced when Sorcha slapped her a little too hard.
“You’ll have to come visit me in the den,” Chelsea said. “Ask Tengale to bring you.”
Sorcha wrinkled her nose. “Now that was plain mean.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Ari was wrecked. His heart rate still hadn’t returned to normal and he was too unsteady on his feet to safely stand on his own. He leaned on Tarkan and they both clutched Chelsea tight between them, knowing she was safe now but not quite willing to let her go. Both Enforcers had assumed they’d have some difficulties from the Council but nobody in their right mind would have suspected such deliberate underhandedness. The fact that they’d only found out about the meeting by accident set up a panic inside him so terrifying he could hardly breathe.
Then Tarkan was there, gripping him the back of the neck and pressing the foreheads together. “It’s all right, Ari. It’s done. She’s ours now. Nobody and nothing will take her from us.”
Ari kept one arm around Chelsea and he wrapped the other around Tarkan’s waist, pulling him close enough that their bellies pressed together. “You’re mine too.”
“Always have been.” Tarkan rubbed their noses together, lowering his voice so only Ari could hear. “Although I don’t ever remember you threatening to fuck me before.”
“It wasn’t a threat.”
Ari took a deep breath, taking the scent of his lovers into his body in order to calm his nerves. He’d intended it as a comfort, something to soothe his soul but when his nostrils flared he got a double dose of arousal and his cock almost jumped out of his trousers. “We need to get home.”
Tarkan flexed his hips, pressing them together before releasing Ari and moving around to set Chelsea between them.
Ari didn’t want to wait around, he wasn’t interested in the excuses or recriminations, so he gathered his mates and trusted to Jax to look after the rest. Holding tight to Chelsea’s hand he led her and Tarkan out of the destroyed chamber, along corridors and up stairs until they finally exited onto the landing. Benmonth and Annlyss were waiting for them, happy and completely unrepentant.
You took a big risk today, Annlyss.
She snorted at him and a wisp of black smoke puffed from her nostrils. There was no risk. If the roof or floor had started to crumble, Benmonth and I would have saved you.
That’s not what I meant. Ari followed his mates, helping Chelsea into the saddle once Tarkan was mounted. Your actions today and those of the other dragons could have triggered a civil war.
I doubt that, the dirt-walkers need us too much to fight us. Without the den to protect their funny little town, Brightstar would have them overrun in a week.
Ari secured Chelsea into Benmonth’s harness and debated the merits of trying to explain caution to a creature as arrogant as a dragon. But as he looked into his woman’s beautiful, happy face, he realized they wouldn’t be riding home now if not for dragon intervention. Perhaps arrogance had its place.
All the way back to the Den Ari kept casting glances at his lovers, reveling in the simple joy of watching them together and trying not to dwell on the afternoon’s events. He kept his eyes on them, a visual talisman for the reality of his new life.
When Annlyss came to a skidding halt on the landing, Ari slipped out of his harness and hurried over to Benmonth, hauling Chelsea from the dragon’s back and clutching her tight to his chest.
He walked quickly along the corridor, through the living room and into his bedchamber. Chelsea’s feet had barely touched the floor before he was on her, kissing her face and neck while his hands got busy unlacing her gown. “You fought for us,” he murmured against her skin.
“Of course I did. Did you doubt me?”
“No.” Not her. But he knew how intimidating the Council could be. He yanked her dress over her head. “You’re so sexy when you’re defiant.” The petticoats disappeared. “As long as that defiance isn’t directed at Tarkan or me.”
Chelsea laughed, her small hands busy on the buttons of his shirt. “Don’t piss me off and you’ll never have to worry about it.”
He shrugged off his shirt and jacket. “You know we’re going to piss you off eventually.”<
br />
“I know.” She turned and presented him with her back so he could unlace her corset. At that moment Tarkan came in and she addressed her next comment to both of them. “I expect we’ll have all kinds of ups and downs, but we’ll sort it out together.”
And those words gave Ari more confidence than all of the “I love you”s they’d shared so far. The three of them were committed to each other and they had the entire den on their side. All they needed to do now was get Chelsea’s friend back and their life would be as good as they could make it.
A naked Tarkan pressed himself to Ari’s back and slid his hand down the front of Ari’s pants.
“I want to suck your cock.”
Ari nodded, he wanted that too, more than his next breath. Tarkan squeezed. “Get naked, love.”
Tarkan always called Chelsea “love”, but she was already naked. It occurred to Ari’s fuzzy brain that he was the only one wearing anything at all and that oversight was remedied with more speed than elegance.
By the time he wrestled his boots off, Tarkan and Chelsea were on the bed together, kissing and touching. When Tarkan saw Ari looking, he pushed Chelsea onto her back, spread her legs wide and slid two fingers inside her. He finger-fucked her slowly, giving Ari a good view of slick fingers and wet core.
“How are you feeling, my man?”
Ari fisted his cock and squeezed the base. Hard. “I feel like I’ll die if I don’t get inside her.”
Tarkan laughed. “You’re not going to let me suck you off, are you?”
“Not this time.” Ari had watched Tarkan with Chelsea and knew his den-mate loved the tease. Ari was wound too tight for anything but hard and fast this time.
Crawling onto the bed he prowled up Chelsea’s body not stopping for kisses until he got level with her, lips to lips. Ari sealed his mouth over hers and positioned his cock. As he plunged his tongue into her, he rammed his cock inside so hard and deep he bottomed out. Then he did it again.
“You’re so beautiful, pretty girl.” He pumped hard. “I love how hot and tight you are. How wet you are for us.”
She felt perfect around him, squeezing him with every pulse of her muscles, her body soft and feminine under his, her small hands clutching at his back. Then Tarkan slid his hand down to her clit, rubbing and pressing while he used his free hand to roam Ari’s body. And just like that, with the three of them so intimately connected, the perfection of being with Chelsea elevated into something else, something deeper and more real. Ari fisted Tarkan’s hair and dragged him up to kiss him with the same passion he was giving Chelsea. He loved being inside both his mates, pleasuring them, loving them, giving them all of who he was. Chelsea’s orgasm triggered his own and as she shuddered and cried out Ari knew he’d be hearing that sound for the rest of his life.
* * * * *
Sorcha’s head was still pounding from her dragon encounter and she’d spent far more time than she intended holed up in a small, dark room on the ground floor of the council building. The chamber was quiet, far enough out of the way that it didn’t get much foot traffic and Sorcha hadn’t heard so much as a door close in over an hour. She knew she should go back to Addestet House but the thought of facing a dorm full of anxious, question-filled women was more than she could stand.
Perhaps the walk back would give her time to clear her head and get a handle on what transpired today. Because as post-kidnapping days went, this one was a doozy.
And she was going to be Maid of Honor at a dragon-themed, alien three-way wedding. Sweet Mary, she could almost hear her dead grandmother clutching her rosaries, even all the way out here on planet Freakazoid.
Sorcha wondered how much daylight she had left, so she went to the window and peered through a crack in the curtain. When she saw Medalyn Consbaregh coming along the path outside she eased back a little. The Councilor had made his interest in her very plain and she had no desire for him to know she was in the building all alone and not quite feeling up to scratch.
Medalyn was in his early forties, fit, smart and okay-looking. He talked a good talk, saying all the things a recently rescued kidnap victim would want to hear but there was something off about him. Sorcha had spent half her life in her father’s bar and she could spot a player a mile away. She had no intention of having anything to do with him if she could help it.
As Medalyn paused near a hedged alcove, another man stepped out of nowhere. He was big, his back ramrod straight and because he wore regular clothes it took Sorcha a few moments to figure out where she’d seen him before. But once she twigged, a cold fear reached down and grabbed her gut. She braced her hand on the wall, forcing herself to stay upright because she was too scared to take her eyes off the soldier. Sergeant Edrick. The guy in charge of the shuttle transfers from the slave ship, the guy who had almost zapped Chelsea into oblivion.
Sorcha didn’t see how it could be a coincidence that Edrick was here talking to a Councilor on the same day that Chelsea, Tarkan and Ari had confronted the Council and won. And if Medalyn had called him in because of Chelsea, what was to stop Medalyn from betraying all the rescued women?
Sapphire wasn’t ideal by any stretch but it beat the hell out of a life of slavery and prostitution under Brightstar’s control. Mind racing, Sorcha hurried out of the building and requested an escort from the first guardsman she saw. If Edrick was sneaking about in the bushes it was unlikely that he’d stumble onto her in the main streets but she didn’t want to take any chances. Headache forgotten, all she wanted to do now was get back to the dorm and whatever passed for safety in this town.
Tomorrow would be soon enough to worry about Sergeant Edrick and what his presence in Sapphire might mean.
About DJ Michaels
Books have always been my refuge, a bit (okay, a lot) like an adult cubbyhouse. When real life gets too much—or too little—I can delve into my library and be utterly transported to places familiar and exotic. I can also meet the kind of people I’d never come across in my normal life, which is not always a bad thing.
These days not only do I get to visit other writers’ worlds, but I get to create my own—worlds chock full of sexy warrior men; strong, capable women; and oh yes, let’s not forget the dragons. My cubbyhouse is very cool, the door is always open for visitors, and new friends are most welcome.
DJ welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Enforcer’s Craving
ISBN 9781419949739
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Enforcer’s Craving Copyright © 2014 DJ Michaels
Edited by Nina Gooden
Cover design by Kelly A. Martin
Cover photography by Matt Gibson, CURAphotography, MJTH, Maksim Toome, Artem Furman
Electronic book publication July 2014
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage
the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.
The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party websites or their content.
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com to find erotic reading experiences that will leave you breathless. You can also find our books at all the major e-tailers (Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Google, Apple iBookstore, All Romance eBooks, and others).
www.ellorascave.com