Burn: Dragon Shifter Romance

by Ava Frost

  And then, there was one night when we went about repeating our aforementioned naked encounter in the bathroom. He took me in there with him into the shower, bent me over all soapy and lathered up, and we engaged in tight, forceful anal sex. God, it felt wonderful... For all I'd heard about it from other girls, I actually really enjoyed it, being conquered in that way, and I even had the luxury of experiencing my first ever anal orgasm as a result.

  We knew that, should he find out, Ty would be irate about what the two of us were doing together, right under his own roof, and we strove to keep it a secret as best we could.

  But then, inevitably, he did find out.

  Danny and I made the mistake of getting too carried away one night. We got a little bit too drunk, and we ended up having sex so many times we lost count- though I do remember I came at least eight times, and Danny ejaculated a staggering five times throughout the evening.

  It was nearly noon by the time the two of us rolled naked out of bed, and before even stepping outside we knew we'd been found out.

  And sure enough, once we'd dressed, and poked our heads out the door, there was Ty, looking furious at Danny in particular, and we knew the party was over.

  I cried as he boomed with anger at his old best friend, a knee jerk reaction to the affair even though the two of us were both consenting adults and had every right to do what we pleased with our bodies.

  Perhaps not under his roof, though...

  He tore Danny a new one, not standing for the fact of such a lowlife screwing his sister, and then he kicked him out angrily, with Danny paying me a last sad look as he rode off on his motorbike.

  Then I got mine as well, like I was his stupid child or something, rather than his older sibling. He said that a girl like me shouldn't be risking her entire future with some scumbag like Danny, in spite of how much he'd been talking him up and trying to redeem him for his past prior to finding out that I'd been sleeping with him.

  And though I bit back with resistance, I knew, deep down, that he was right. It was actually quite the sobering moment for me, like I could see plainly again, and once I realized how much I'd risked throwing away for some stupid fling with an old crush.

  There was no place in my life for a man like Danny. No room to risk everything I'd worked for, only to have it end in heartbreak down the road once he cheated on me, or got arrested, or overdosed.

  I tried, then... I tried to be good... I continued with my studies, tried to put the whole affair out of my mind and get on with my life, as hard as it was to stop thinking about him.

  And that was when I found out I was pregnant...

  God, it was like a shock to my system... Like my worst fears, everything I'd been so careful to avoid over the years, all crashing down onto me like some punishment for a single week's worth of indulgence.

  I should have made him use a damn condom... My birth control had clearly not been enough, and god damn it, now here I was...

  I didn't know what to do... I didn't want to tell Ty about it, or Ashley. I didn't know if I should be looking for other options right now, whether I felt comfortable even thinking about shit like that. And yet I couldn't even begin to imagine Danny being there for me to help me raise the baby, or allowing my law career to take off in any way, shape or form in the meantime.

  I stood outside his door, feeling tensed and immobile, not willing to reach up and press the bell as the anxiety washed through me.

  I forced myself to go through with it.

  I stood there, shaking, as he opened the door his eyes widening at the unexpected surprise.

  “I'm pregnant,” I said, and I waited for him to start cursing, or to tell me to go to hell, or point me in the direction of the nearest abortion clinic and slam the door.

  But what he did surprised me far more than any of those things would have.

  A smile spread wide across his face, his eyes seemed to well with tears, and he leaned into me, arms outstretched, and whispered, “I love you.”

  We kissed passionately, my head light, my senses piqued, and he pulled me inside the house with him. The two of us made wild, sweet, celebratory love like there was no tomorrow, our reunion far sweeter than we might have imagined, and the pleasure of our meeting defying even our own wildest expectations.

  It turned out, there just happened to be some good in this bad boy after all.

  I no longer had any trouble at all sleeping at night after that.

  THE END

  Bad Boy For Christmas

  Chapter 1

  ~Jennifer~

  “Jesus Caroline, that’s not even close to the right color!” My sister hissed.

  I rolled my eyes, “Take it easy on her Ann, she’s new.”

  Ann glared at me and continued to bark orders at the new maid. The poor girl had been running tablecloth swatches to my sister for the last hour and none of them were right. I could understand her suffering though. Our family’s annual Christmas party was just hours away and nothing was going right.

  “I won’t take it easy on her, mother is counting on me.” She muttered.

  “Mother is just pawning this off on you. We both know she’s having too much fun trying to ruin my life to do the party.”

  “You are such a diva. She isn’t ruining your life. Look at the match that she got me, you know there’s talk of a McDermont coming tonight as your date.”

  “Lucky me,” I grumbled. “Just what I wanted, a man who loves himself above all others.”

  “You would be lucky to land a McDermont, they own two hotels in the Hamptons! Can you imagine the summer parties you could host?”

  “Does my dear brother in law know your daydreaming about my potential date?”

  She glared at me, “Please, Peter wouldn’t notice if I was dead on the side of the road.”

  I flinched at her harsh words, wishing they weren’t true. I couldn’t offer her very much solace though. Her marriage had been one of status, not love. In our family, love wasn’t something that was taken into consideration when it came to marriage. The only thing that mattered was furthering the family name. If my mother could land me a McDermont then it would boost my standing, and my mothers. Not that we needed any boost. Our bloodlines could be traced back to our original English roots. Our money was new and old both. Still, no risk could be taken. Last names meant money and the McDermont’s had that prestige.

  “I’m going to go check on the kitchen,” I told her.

  She smiled at me and took my hand. “Listen, when my marriage was set up I was nervous too. Don’t worry though, once you are married you are free to do whatever you want. The world opens up to you.”

  “Right. As long as I’m a good wife who hosts parties and makes babies?”

  She flinched at my words, I regretted them right away. Her and her husband had been trying to get pregnant for the last year. It hadn’t been going as planned, causing a rift in their relationship. I knew that Anna blamed herself for the shortcomings, just as much as her husband did. I hated him, I didn’t want to be stuck in a marriage like she had but it didn’t matter. It was my duty as a daughter of the Fairhaven line.

  “Ann,” I started to say but she waved me off.

  “It’s okay Jen, really. Go see if you can get the kitchen help off their asses please.”

  I sulked away, upset that I had hurt my sister. She was an amazing woman. Everyone called her the ‘plain’ sister but I knew better. She had a heart of gold. Her blonde hair and blue eyes were captivating. I felt like my thick auburn hair and green eyes were a little too bold. Men didn’t like woman who stood out. My mother was always trying to get me to change my hair, to lighten the color and wear contacts to try and ‘tame’ my wild look.

  As I followed the wide marbled hallway to the kitchen, my nose took over. Carlos was an amazing chef. He was always sneaking me treats on the side against my mother’s wishes.

  “You are going to get fat before a man scoops you up, if you keep eating like that.” She would tell me.<
br />
  “Mom, I run five miles every day, I eat right, and I am fit. I don’t think a few snacks are going to kill me.” I told her.

  “Maybe they will, then you will die alone and fat.” She shot back.

  I let it go, as I so often did. I was always letting things go with her. I would tell her what she wanted to hear and do what I wanted anyway. One of those dirty little secrets was Carlos and his amazing culinary skills. Even before I pushed open the door I could smell the roasting duck and sweet cherry tarts. It made my mouth water. I pushed open and door just in time to catch Carlos snapping at one of the waiters. His voluptuous face was beet red with frustration. He smiled when he saw me.

  “Cher! How are you pet? Does your mother know you are here?” He asked with a sly grin.

  I shook my head and snuck over to him. He handed me a small tart and I quickly inhaled it.

  “What would I do without you Carlos?”

  “Sweet talk another into your thievery,” he said playfully.

  He was about to tell me about the preparations when the back door opened, drawing both our attention. The man that walked through was intimidating to say the least. He was dressed in a leather jacket and skin tight jeans. His trim body was perfectly outlined. I couldn’t stop my eyes from trailing down his body, looking at the tattoos that poked out from under his shirt. A head of unkempt dirty blonde hair shook free from his helmet. The second our eyes met, I found myself getting lost in his dark blue eyes.

  He grinned at me, a crooked smile that set my chest on fire. My heart started to race, my cheeks felt like they were flaming red as his eyes looked down my body. I was suddenly very aware of the tight dress that I was wearing. My body reacted to his gaze, my nipples standing up and poking through the thin fabric. He took a step closer to me and I held my breath, wondering if my shaky knees would hold me up. No man had ever made me feel so weak before, so turned on.

  Chapter 2

  ~Michael~

  The first time I saw her, I knew that I was in trouble. She was stunning beyond words, like a rare gem that I had discovered overseas while in the marines. Immediately I wanted to know more about her, I wanted to feel her skin as it brushed against mine. I took a set closer to her, wanting to know her name. Before I got the chance, a large and brutish looking man stood in front of her and wrapped me into a suffocating embrace.

  “Michael! Brother it’s been too long!” Said Carlos.

  I returned the embrace before pulling away, but the girl was gone. My attention turned back to Carlos.

  “My god man! Look at you! The time has treated you well. How are you?” I asked.

  He laughed, “The private service treats me better than the mess hall, that’s for sure. I wasn’t sure you would really come.”

  “I told you I was out,” I muttered.

  “Not by choice I take it?”

  “Bullshit politics, you know how it goes. Once you get too many kills, they ship your ass off to being a civilian.”

  “Ahh, they didn’t offer you the elite group?” He asked.

  I shrugged, “They did, but it’s time for a change. I missed my bike.”

  Carlos laughed once again and looked out the back door at my motorcycle. She was the only thing I hadn’t taken with me overseas as a marine sniper and the woman I missed coming home too.

  “You and that damn bike, she will be the death of you. So, you’re here to meet the boss, eh?” He asked me.

  I shrugged, “It’s a good job, I just don’t know if I’m cut out for the private sector.”

  Carlos patted me on the shoulder and tossed me a bag of potatoes. I rolled my eyes and shook off my jacket before grabbing a peeler and starting on the sack. It was something that I was use too. On any given night, you could find me in the kitchen with Carlos back on base, working next to him after blowing stuff up all day. He wasn’t just my brother in the marines, he was my best friend from childhood also.

  “You will do fine; I promise you that. One interview won’t kill you.”

  I grinned, “So what can you tell me about that pretty girl who was in here?”

  Carlos glared at me, “No Michael. Don’t even think about it, there are very few things in this world that are off limits but Miss Jennifer is one of them.”

  “Miss? Is she one of them?” I asked, emphasis on the term ‘them’.

  He nodded his head and sat down next to me, peeling the potatoes also. “She is a good girl. I like her. She isn’t like the rest. They are rude and cold, like her mother. Miss Jennifer and her father are good people.”

  “Then what’s the problem then?” I asked playfully.

  He shook his head, “Them, they marry for money, for prestige. They do not slum around with the help so keep it in your pants.”

  I laughed, “You make me sound like a whore!”

  Carlos grinned, “You are a whore! How many hearts have you broken my brother?”

  I blushed and shrugged my shoulders, falling silent. There had been more than a few women in my past but that was only because I loved looking for love. Sure, most of that hunt didn’t last past one night but it sure as hell was fun trying. I wasn’t looking for marriage, I was just looking for a good time. So, I would avoid the boss’s daughter, she was a little too bratty for me anyway.

  “When do you meet with him?” Asked Carlos.

  “Tomorrow at noon, after this party. I thought I would get arrested pulling up. Some old lady shot me looks that could kill.”

  “Old lady? Pink dress, stern looking? Generally, gives the appearance that you aren’t good enough to touch her dirty laundry?”

  I nodded my head, “That’s her.”

  “That would be the boss’s wife and Miss Jennifer’s mother. I would stay away from her. She thinks that all help is replaceable.”

  “You mean we aren’t? I thought that was our job in life and the marines. Don’t get in the way and don’t be seen.”

  He laughed, shaking the stool that was holding up his ample weight. “You will be the death of me Michael!”

  With the bag peeled, I rose and grabbed my jacket.

  Carlos looked at me, “You mean you won’t stay for dinner?”

  I shook my head, “Hell no. There’s a dive bar down the road calling my name.”

  He laughed, “You go have fun my friend. I will see you tomorrow. Don’t go getting arrested, I can’t afford bail!”

  I wrapped my arms around him in a bear hug and headed for the door. The brisk New York wind licked my face as I flipped up my collar. I trotted down to my bike and grabbed my helmet. Before I slipped it over my head, movement in the corner of my eye made me pause. Years of working as a sniper had trained me well. I looked up at the balcony high above me. There she was again; the woman Carlos had called ‘Jennifer.’ She was looking down at me and my heart started to race.

  She smiled at me and I couldn’t resist smiling back. In that brief moment, I felt a stronger connection than I had ever known before in my life. The wind picked up again, whipping her hair across her face and bringing the sweet smell of wild honeysuckle down to me. I closed my eyes, taking in the pure pleasure of it. When I opened them again, she was gone. A few moments later, I got onto my bike and headed away from the house. I knew that she was going to do me in.

  Chapter 3

  ~Jennifer~

  “What in god’s name are you doing in the cold Jennifer?! Are you trying to ruin the evening with Jacob? My lord, you will catch your death.” Came my mother’s sharp voice.

  I quickly ducked back into the bedroom and rolled my eyes, “Mother it’s not that cold.”

  She shook her head, “Don’t argue honey, it’s not ladylike. Why aren’t you dressed yet? Jacob will be here any minute!”

  “Mom, the party doesn’t start for an hour!” I reasoned.

  She shook her head, “I know that, but this is a date also. He will be here early to meet you and to talk with your father.”

  “Don’t I have any say in this?” I asked.


  “Of course you do honey! Jacob McDermont will love you and your wild opinion. We must do something about that hair though,” she muttered.

  I resigned myself to her care, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to fight it. Within minutes a team of people was there, working on my ‘wild’ hair and makeup as they pushed and pulled me into a skin-tight dress. I ignored most of the commentary. Over the years I had become use to the constant chatter that happened around me.

  “You really should stop running,” muttered my mother. “Your figure is athletic, not thin like a lady should be.”

  “I just want to know I can survive the zombie apocalypse.”

  She scoffed, “That sense of humor is so dark. Why not try something else?”

  I sighed, “You are right mother, my thick birthing hips will never do. I will do my best to go without food tonight.”

  “You might try tomorrow too,” she whispered under her breath.

  I rolled my eyes. I knew she thought she was being playful, but her words still hurt. I would never be good enough for her or any man she picked. To her, I was just another way to move up the social ladder. To be able to tell her friends that her daughter was ‘a McDermont’ would bring her more joy than anything else I had ever done in my life. I looked out the window, thinking about the dark stranger that I had seen in the kitchen.

  Why couldn’t she just be a regular mother who loved her kids? No, we were stuck with the wicked witch of the West Hamptons. I tried not to scowl as she spun away from me. I had picked a long black dress for the party. The red sash made the color of my eyes stand out, something I knew my mother hated. I glanced in the mirror one last time before heading down to the sitting room.

  “Jennifer, you can look at yourself later. Jacob is waiting.” Said my mother.

  I took a deep breath and walked past her. How did she still make my blood run cold, even at twenty-four? I walked down the steps carefully and met my date in the sitting room. He was just as handsome as I remembered. His perfect posture, expensive suit, and manicured nails all screamed wealth. I smile and held out my hand, determined to be polite.