Skye's Dragon: Dragon Mate's: A BBW Paranormal Romance

by Serena Simpson

  “I’ll get us a table.”

  “Okay, what’s your name?”

  “Zeno, yours?”

  “Skye.”

  “That’s a beautiful name. I’ll be waiting for you, Skye.”

  She nodded her lips forming a small smile before she took off trying to look dignified.

  He watched as she walked away making himself stay still so he wouldn’t follow her. He found her. His dragon was turning over with joy. His little dragon mate, Skye.

  He sent his senses out looking for any sign of Mutufa’s henchmen. There had been several that had come and gone since he had been at the hotel. He should have been protected within the interior, and he was, but Mutufa had humans working for him, one of them had followed him to the hotel. He knew the male was there but any confrontation would have led to him having to kill the male and he was sure the human authorities wouldn’t believe the story he had to tell. If he convinced them by turning into a dragon his parts would be all over some scientist lab, so he let him live to report back to his master.

  His lips kicked up into a silly grin as he walked back towards the restaurant. The name of the restaurant was Safe Haven. It truly was safe to the point that he wanted to meet the owners. They seemed to know more about their hotel than the people around him.

  “Hi, can I help you?”

  “Table for two please.”

  The waitress nodded. He had wondered when he first met her what she was. He could sense she was more than human maybe a mixture of different species. She had winked at him and given him a big smile, and he knew that she wouldn’t be sharing her secrets and he didn’t blame her.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Another waitress came to help him.

  “I’m meeting someone here; I’ll wait for her.”

  “Glad to hear it.” The waitress moved fast before he could ask her to explain that comment.

  Now that he was seated he could loosen some of the self-control he had over his body. The minute he saw Skye he had become hard as a rock. Visions of her wrapped around him had almost caused him to miss catching her. She was his dragon mate, not a sex symbol, but she was so thick and curvy. Her eyes were a dark gray like storm clouds; he wanted to get lost in them. She had the palest skin with the darkest hair. The black of it reminded him of midnight then there was that sexy streak of gray proclaiming to the world that she was a badass who didn’t have to look like everyone else. He had never seen another female as sexy as she was and he wanted to lose himself in her.

  He picked up his cell phone and debated calling his brothers. He wanted to share his news, placing the cell phone back on the table he decided to wait. Maybe he was selfish, but he didn’t want to hear them tell him to come home and bring his mate so they could protect her. He didn’t want to be treated like the baby brother. He was just as capable as they were and she wasn’t his mate yet.

  The male stalking her came to mind. He had some minor work that he would have to take care of before they left if they left. Would she accept him as her mate? He looked up and watched the switch of her hips as she crossed the floor. He didn’t know, but he was sure going to find out.

  “Hi.”

  Her voice was soft and sensuous wrapping around him. He felt his cock twitch making him move a little in his seat to keep it under control.

  “Hi.” He stood and indicated for her to sit down on the bench seat across from him. “I hope this table is okay.”

  “It’s perfect.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “This is my favorite restaurant for lunch, but I don’t eat here often.”

  She slid onto the bench, and he retook his seat.

  “Why don’t you eat here more often?”

  She looked down at her belly and hips but declined to answer. Instead, she shrugged her shoulders. “I just don’t.”

  “I like their lunch’s here, but I think their breakfast is the best.”

  “I hear that a lot.” She gave a small laugh and fiddled with the napkin.

  “Hi, can I take your orders? Skye so nice to see you. It feels like it has been forever.”

  “Lori, I miss seeing you. I never seem to get this way anymore.”

  Skye grimaced when Lori frowned at her. They had been friends for a while now, and she knew some of Skye’s secrets as well as her fears.

  “Well, I’m glad you could come in today with this handsome, gentleman.”

  Skye frowned he was handsome, and Lori was beautiful. In fact, she bet if she weren’t here they would get together. Maybe she should leave?

  “I’m glad she chose to have lunch with me too.”

  She looked up to find him staring at her. He never turned his head to look at Lori. It was like he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

  “I’ll just have a glass of water to start off with.”

  “I’ll have the same.”

  Lori nodded and walked away.

  “Not a beer man?” His eyes were mesmerizing. She wanted to stare at him all day long. Reluctantly she turned her head to look around the restaurant. They were at full capacity. That was good for both the restaurant and the hotel.

  “When you’re as big as I am losing control can be dangerous.”

  Was he making fun of her weight or was it some sick sexual joke?

  “Maybe this was a mistake. I didn’t come to lunch to be made fun off.”

  She went to slide off the bench, but he held her wrist in a light grip. She could break the hold if she wanted to but the look on his face that said he didn’t understand what went wrong stopped her.

  “If I said something to offend you, please forgive me. I was talking about myself, but you don’t know me well enough to understand.”

  “I thought you were referring to me.” Her face flushed. How was she supposed to get through lunch with a man? It had been forever since she went on a real date. That’s what happened when your job became your life.

  No, she gave a shake of her head that’s what happened when a stalker threatened to kill you eventually, and no one believed him.

  “Can we start over?’

  “Yes, we can.” She gave him her best smile. For however long lunch lasted she was going to stop justifying her existence to the world and enjoy her time with Zeno. She may never see him again.

  “I noticed your tan you must be from a warmer city.”

  “A tropical island.”

  They placed their orders when Lori returned. Then he told her about the beauty of Dragon’s Cove.

  Chapter Three

  “This was nice.” They had talked for almost two hours; her lunch break had come and gone, and still they talked. Since she rarely stopped to eat anymore, she justified it as collecting time she was owed.

  “I’ve enjoyed it.” He reached over and took her hand into his.

  Safety. It was a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time. With her hand clasped in his, she could almost believe in fairytales.

  “I need to get back to my office.” She stood walking too fast to be casual. It was as close to a run as she could get without running. She didn’t want to give the impression that she was fleeing, although that was what she was doing.

  The walk through the hallways was easy. She waved at anyone who called her name and kept going. When she saw the safety of her office, she did run the last few steps, stepping inside she locked the door and then leaned against it finally able to take a deep breath. What was she doing? Zeno was dangerous, not in a take him to jail way. No, he was dangerous to her senses, her desires, and most of all her sanity. As they talked, she saw herself with him. Wrapped around him making love to him, she could almost see his hands on her body caressing her exploring her curves. That kind of thinking was dangerous because it fed into every unfulfilled fantasy she ever had.

  It wasn’t like she didn’t know about sex; she even knew about good sex. Zeno was more than good sex; she was sure that a night with him would make her crave more. It was the way he looked at her when they talked like she was the only pers
on in the room. Then there was how he held her hand or touched her briefly like he was enamored of her. In less than the two hours they spent together he made her feel special, something she couldn’t ever remember happening in so little time.

  There was no choice she would have to stay away from him. He would be leaving soon; all the guests did and then it would be back to her stark world with fantasies of him to warm her nights. Standing upright she went to answer her ringing phone getting lost in the rest of the work day.

  *~*~*~*

  He watched as the waitress came to take a seat across from him.

  “Why that doom and gloom look on your face?”

  He ignored her not about to tell her that his mate just escaped from him at a run.

  “Zeno?”

  He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything because she could have overheard his name numerous of times.

  “Well I like the way nothing phases you, so I’ll tell you this. If she were my mate, I wouldn’t have let her run out of here like the devil was chasing her. I’d have her tied to my side.” For one moment, her form shook and changed allowing Zeno to catch a glimpse of something he couldn’t name.

  “When she screamed for security you may have regretted that action. She is my mate, and I know where she went.”

  She leaned over the table getting closer one hand moved to cover his. The nails changed until they became little daggers.

  “She may be your mate, but I’m the one who’s been protecting her. Don’t delude yourself she’s not easy, and your enemy is determined to have her.” She retracted her hand and stood before she sauntered away.

  A Guardian. Skye had a Guardian, the mythical race that they thought no longer lived. He looked around again this time allowing his dragon to have a little more of his body. It took some time but he finally tuned into the currents that kept the place protected, he still couldn’t see what the people around him were, but he picked up an intense wave of otherness. This hotel was protecting more than him and Skye. He’d have to unravel what races were living and thriving in the human world later, right now he had a mate to watch.

  He bypassed the main lobby and went to the small sitting area in the back of the hotel. The employees hung out there as well as several guests who found it by accident and decided they liked the more relaxed atmosphere. He sank into one of the plush chairs in a corner by itself. He slouched and laid his head on the back of the chair before he closed his eyes. There was no way Skye was getting past him; he didn’t need to see her to feel her.

  The day had been long, and all she wanted was to go home and soak in the tub preferably with a bottle of—. Who the hell was she kidding? She didn’t drink because the one time she got drunk in college weird shit happened and all her friends disappeared in a night. When you’re in college, it doesn’t look good if you go around saying, please be my friend. So, she had found a second set of friends who didn’t drink when they partied, and that was the last time she indulged. There would be no bottles of anything alcoholic, but a soak in the tub still sounded amazing, now all she had to do was get out of the hotel.

  Normally she walked to work it was only a couple of blocks from where she lived. Lately, Nathanial was becoming more persistent, he as scaring her more than he did in the past. So, she decided to drive. Her car was parked in the employee lot at the back of the hotel. She would take the long way around avoiding the main lobby and Zeno who she was sure was waiting to talk to her again. That should scare her, the fact that she thought he was as persistent as Nathanial and it did to a point, but he felt right.

  She shrugged, it wasn’t like she had to justify how she felt. It was just a strange feeling to meet someone that she automatically clicked with. It made her want to see him again, spend time with him, but she couldn’t not with the craziness that was her life. His presence hit her the minute she walked into the employee lobby. Should she call security? No, she wasn’t scared, impressed, but not scared.

  He was sitting in a chair watching her; she never acknowledged him knowing he was going to follow. What was she supposed to say to him? How could she shoot him down gently? She was going to shoot him down, right? She wasn’t going to let a perfect body and light brown eyes that glowed sway her. What about his mouth that was made for kissing or his tan skin? No, she knew her place in life, and big girls didn’t get the hot men they got the creeps.

  She slowed down as she approached her car something didn’t feel right. Stop Skye, your scaring yourself, nothing is wrong. She agreed with herself even as she began to walk backward. Zeno was following her how long would it take for him to realize something wasn’t right?

  “Where are you going, Skye?” Nathanial stepped out from behind her car.

  How had he cloaked himself? She should have seen him standing there.

  “You’re not allowed to be here Nathanial.” She would brazen it out until she made her way back to the hotel. Maybe she should rent a suite here to live.

  “I told you to stay away from the dragon Skye but did you listen to me? I told you I would protect you, but you ignored me.”

  “You told me that you were going to kill me, Nathanial.” Maybe if she said his name, appealed to the human side of him that hopefully wasn’t insane, he would hear her.

  “It’s a temporary death. When he comes, he’ll bring you back with him and then we’ll be together forever.”

  “I know that people think of death as a doorway, but I don’t think it’s a round trip.”

  Nathanial raised his arm; she was out of time. She felt someone grab her around the waist picking her up and setting her down, so she was behind him. There had never been a time in her life that she appreciated a strong muscular back like she was appreciating Zeno’s. Stop it, Skye; you’re in danger stop thinking with your libido. She kicked that hussy to the curb except it latched onto Zeno’s back and wouldn’t let go.

  “Dragon.”

  “Henchman.”

  Nathanial began to back up; Zeno took a step after him, but Skye’s hand on his arm stopped him.

  “You can’t hurt him; he should be locked up. I don’t know why they let him roam the streets he’s a danger to himself and others.”

  “I only want you, Skye,” he said still backing up. “She’s mine dragon; I saw her first.”

  “I am not a bone to be fought over,” she screamed frustration getting the better of her. Why was she trying to talk to a crazy man? She should have let Zeno beat some sense into him.

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to her, and you can let Mutufa know what I said.”

  Nathanial turned around and ran now that there was a good distance between them.

  “Skye.” He turned around to look at her. His hand came up to hover close to the gray streak in her hair but didn’t touch. Instead, he looked for permission.

  She gave it to him with a small nod. His fingers shifted through her hair gently allowing it to caress him

  There was a fleeting touch of his fingertips on her scalp and a slight electric response. She wanted him to touch her again.

  “He’s not going to leave you alone. He’ll keep coming back getting bolder each time.”

  “I know. What was that in his hand?”

  “A Taser.”

  He was going to tase her. If Zeno hadn’t been here what would have happened? Images of her body on the ground out of control as he tied her up flitted through her mind making her tremble. When Zeno pulled her into his arms rubbing his hands up and down her back to bring heat back to her cold body, she didn’t protest. Was this what she had been looking for, a male that would stand between her and the craziness of life without flinching? No, she was proud, independent, she didn’t need anyone.

  Keep telling yourself that, and maybe one day you’ll believe it.

  “That’s the second time today you saved me.” She stepped back and looked up into his face, those eyes mesmerizing her again. “I think I should buy you dinner as a thank you.”

  She held
her breath, now was the moment of truth. If he turned her down, then she would know he was just being polite, but if he said yes, then he wanted something from her. It could be good a fast vision of him kissing her took over, or it could be bad. A vision of him plunging a knife into her heart replaced the first one. She loved her vivid imagination. A grimace touched her face at the thought.

  “I think you should buy me dinner since I seem to keep saving your life. It would be in your best interest to keep me full, so I’ll be at my best physically.” He gave her a smile to die for while his eyes glowed and for a minute she thought his shadow looked like a dragon.

  She needed to sleep more. “Come on dragon,” she teased. I know the best place for someone like you to eat.

  Chapter Four

  Dragons. He couldn’t help it when he entered the Chinese restaurant she picked out he started laughing. Their theme was dragons, and they had them all over the place. It was beautifully decorated, and there were even two dragons they got correct. For a minute, he felt sad, then he looked at that sly grin playing around her mouth, and he started laughing again. His mate had a sense of humor and he loved it.

  A waiter smiled at them before he sat them down, he brought them little pots of tea and glasses of water.

  “Do you come here often?”

  “No, but it’s my favorite place to eat out.” She tugged on her shirt and patted her hair trying to make sure she looked presentable. Maybe she should go to the bathroom, have a look in the mirror?

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Who was he talking to? She turned around to look; she couldn’t help it. Jealousy was awake in her heart even though she knew he wasn’t hers.

  His hand came out to covers her. “You’re beautiful Skye. I feel lucky to have you on my arm tonight.”

  Her mouth opened, but she wasn’t sure what to say. It was around seven she worked later to make up for her longer lunch break, but there were already couples in the restaurant. He couldn’t be talking to her, could he?