Topper's Magical Christmas: My Crazy Alien Romance, Book 4 (Magic, New Mexico 40)

by Donna McDonald

  Calix pulled her finger away from his lips and touched his forehead to Lena’s as he held her hand in his. “Meeting you had already changed some things for me. For example, I feel a lot differently about naked aliens now.”

  Lena laughed and then her laughter dried up when Calix bent and lifted her still laughing body into his arms. She was not light and had no illusions about herself.

  He pushed open the door when Lena unlocked with a code. Calix wasn’t even breathing hard as he walked inside with her. Wow, the man was strong—really, really strong.

  She put a hand against his hard jaw. “Naked aliens rock. So do hunky deputies. And foxes even. My room is the last one down the hallway.”

  “That invitation better not be the wine talking. How do you feel about dragons, Lena?” Calix asked, staring into her happy gaze.

  Lena giggled at his crazy question. Maybe Calix was a closet Dungeons and Dragons gamer. “Oh, yeah. I love them. Dragons rock too. Scales are super sexy, and everyone wants wings to fly. Right?”

  “Right,” Calix agreed, carrying a happy Lena inside her bedroom. “Tonight I’ll be your dragon. Let’s find our wings together.”

  “Sexiest damn offer I’ve ever had. You are definitely my kind of man, Deputy,” Lena joked, contented when Calix laughed at her teasing. “One ugly question—but I gotta ask it. Are you clean? I practice safe sex.”

  “I haven’t had sex in years so you’ll not be safe from my passion,” Calix whispered. “But in all other ways I’m the safest lover you could ever invite to your bed.”

  When Calix slid inside her again, Lena’s body heated with an intensity she’d never felt before. The man had been making love to her for hours and showed no signs of being sated yet. They’d finish one session and a few minutes later start another. Calix didn’t seem to need any prompting either. The man was certainly making up for his celibacy.

  Her head hadn’t stopped spinning since the first time Calix had kissed her. All it took to get her going again was more of those drugging kisses of his. Whether on her mouth or her neck or on places the Kama Sutra recommended, Lena would find herself groaning with a mind-bending white-hot arousal and reaching for him like she was now.

  “Calix…” Lena called his name as her back bowed in yet another body-shattering climax.

  Heat flowed like molten lava through her veins, going to every cell. Her hips lifted and met his forward thrusts with complete joy. She was never, ever going to forget this night… or the man who couldn’t seem to get enough of her.

  “Lena…” Calix called back hoarsely, burying his face in her neck as he pleasured both of them. The woman beneath him pulsed on the inside, clamping around him as she found her pleasure. On the outside, her thighs squeezed him between their softness, mirroring the intensity of their internal connection.

  He’d never been with anyone like her—with any female who’d been so generous and welcoming. He’d never felt so much at home.

  His passionate intensity doubled as he emptied himself into Lena while she made happy sounds about receiving what he gave her. She’d been doing that for hours but having her over and over was barely taking the edge off for him. He could probably do this every night forever.

  Calix took her mouth fiercely and made her moan with renewed arousal again. His choice was either kissing her or admitting he was having strange possessive feelings about her. It was not something a dragon said to a human.

  It was also not something a male said to a female who was still practically a stranger. Only Dr. Lena Verglas didn’t seem like a stranger to him at all. Nor did she seem like a one-night stand. Instead, she seemed like his, but that was crazy. Wasn’t it?

  The need to sleep finally found both of them. Calix rolled their bodies to the side but kept their connection. He didn’t want this night to end. He didn’t want to lose the contentment he’d found in her strong, willing arms.

  He wanted to stay right where he was and treasure her.

  Chapter Five

  “Daddy? Who were those men who ate dinner with you and mommy? Auntie Evanna said they were aliens. I’ve never met an alien. I wish I could have met them.”

  Stark gently squeezed his daughter’s fingers. He enjoyed walking Jessica to school. He enjoyed their chats—usually. That was not true today. To Jessica, Glacier and Albuquerque were equally distant places. One day he’d have to impress upon the reality of space travel and other planets. But how did a father explain to his daughter that she too was what the Earthlings called an alien?

  Perhaps when she was older. He probably had a few months before he needed to have that sort of conversation.

  “The men are visitors from the planet of Glacier. Two of them will be staying behind when the others go home.”

  “Glacier? Where the Good IceyLaLa lives?” Jessica asked.

  “Yes. Those men serve Goddess Icela—just as I do.”

  “Serve? Like mommy serves dinner?”

  Stark chuckled which seemed to make his daughter chuckle too. Jessica’s speech always amused him. Why was everyone always questioning whether or not he had a sense of humor?

  “Serve as in care for, respect, and protect when necessary. Serve as in, I do things that Goddess Icela asks me to do for her.”

  “Since I’m your child…” Jessica began.

  “Yes, you certainly are my child,” Stark said, interjecting. “Your mother reminds me of that constantly.”

  “Should I do what the Good IceyLaLa asks me to do?”

  Stark looked down and frowned. Now why did that thought bother him? He trusted his Goddess with his life. Didn’t that extend to his child?

  He cleared his throat. “Jessica, has the Goddess Icela asked you to do something for her?”

  Jessica nodded. “Yes. It’s just a little thing—because I’m so little. But I can’t tell you about it because it’s a secret.”

  “Can you give me a hint?”

  Jessica giggled. “No, that’s not how secrets work.”

  “Well, I know that, but…”

  “It’s not how surprises work either, Daddy. The secret will be your Winter Solstice present. Mommy said that was okay since we’re witches and don’t get to have Christmas. I wish we could have Christmas trees and lights and…”

  “Jessica, does your mommy know your secret?”

  Jessica wrinkled her brow. “No. And I’m glad she didn’t ask me. She said I was not allowed to call Good IceyLaLa again without one of you being with me. Mommy doesn’t like me talking to her even though the Good IceyLaLa is very, very, very nice.”

  “I agree with you that the Goddess Icela is very nice, but I also agree with your mother,” Stark said firmly. “Do not contact the Goddess again without us being present.”

  “Okay,” Jessica said with a giant disappointed sigh. “You sure are hard to surprise. Elizabeth Crawley said she surprises her mother all the time. She said she climbs up on shelves and then pounces on her mother when she isn’t expecting it. I think she likes to make her mommy scream.”

  “It would not be wise to make your mother scream, Jessica. She might magically zap you—accidentally,” Stark warned.

  “And turn me into a toad?”

  “Or something much worse. Your mother is a very powerful witch, but she’s also a warrior. Warriors don’t do well with surprises.”

  “Mommy says you’re a warrior.”

  Stark smiled. “I am—or rather, I was. Now I am not as guarded.”

  “Does that mean you like surprises now? Please say you do,” Jessica begged.

  Stark laughed. “Only when they’re as cute as you. You and your mother are my two best surprises in life.” He bent and lifted Jessica into his arms to carry her. At the slow rate Jessica was walking, she was going to be late. “Where did you get the idea that you needed to give us a present?”

  Jessica kissed her father’s jaw then patted his face. “Everybody’s talking about Christmas, but don’t worry, Daddy. You’ll like my present. Then we’ll
have a Merry Winter Solstice instead which will be a whole lot better than Elizabeth Crawley’s Christmas. I promise,” she whispered.

  Stark didn’t know about any of that, but in the future, he was going to be keeping a closer eye on his far too smart child. And he was going to discuss this alarming situation with his mate when he got back home. He wondered what alleged ‘tiny’ thing his goddess had asked his daughter to do.

  Lena woke and stretched her body. She ached everywhere. It was a glorious feeling—one she hadn’t had in a good long while. She climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom. In the mirror, she saw the face of a very, very, very happy woman.

  “Calix,” Lena said, saying her lover’s magical name aloud. It made her smile.

  Thoughts of Calix and all they did last night also made her face heat with wonderful memories. The man was absolutely the best lover she’d ever had.

  “Enough of that Lena Verglas. Coffee. Food. Then it’s back to business, girl. A woman does not live for good sex alone. You have a bio-dome to build.”

  She went to get dressed and pulled on one of her favorite sundresses. It felt looser than usual. The New Mexico heat and last night’s sexy calisthenics must have melted away some of those stubborn pounds her doctor had been fussing about her needing to lose. Luckily the sundress had cute lace-up ties on both sides, so she adjusted those for a fit that made her look damn sexy in her opinion.

  Strangely, her boobs felt perkier this morning. Maybe she was just more aware of her girls after Calix had paid so much sexy attention to them the night before. They stood at attention every time his face popped into her mind. It really was amazing what a difference great sex could make in a woman’s outlook on life.

  Slipping her feet into sandals, which Lena noted with relief felt exactly the same as they did yesterday, she wandered out into the rest of the inn. Following a wonderful smell, she found a dining room where a full, beautiful breakfast was waiting for her.

  “Oh, look at this. Some sweet soul cooked breakfast for me,” Lena said to the empty room, pouring herself a cup of fragrant black brew. She sipped contentedly and hummed as she filled her plate.

  Fueling up was important. Next up on her business agenda was tracking down the “unofficial” mayor of Magic.

  In a small town like this, she bet everyone knew where she could get in touch with that Topper person Calix had mentioned.

  After his shower, Calix felt amazing. He wanted to shift and fly to work, but it wasn’t worth the trouble for traveling no more than a handful of blocks. His muscles felt energized and yet utterly relaxed at the same time.

  He’d hated leaving Lena’s bed this morning, but he’d had to go home and get ready for work. He hoped she was as understanding about that as she’d been about everything else involving his work.

  Theo was grumbling when he walked into the office. His cousin’s gaze widened as his head rose from his task.

  “Dude, that’s fantastic news. Who is she?” Theo asked.

  “Who’s who?” Calix asked in return, unwilling to reveal his night of bliss to his too nosy cousin.

  “The female dragon who cranked up your pheromones so high,” Theo said, rising to come close.

  Calix frowned as Theo sniffed him. “Dude, I just took a shower. You’re probably smelling my body wash.”

  “Nope. You can’t shower off pheromones. They’re a distinctive scent. My nose never lies,” Theo said, clapping him on the back. “Congratulations, cousin.”

  Calix swept off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “What in the world are you talking about?”

  Theo frowned and stepped back. He looked his cousin up and down. “I know you like to think of yourself as a footloose and fancy-free dragon, but that’s not how it works for our species, not even those so far from their natural home.”

  “Theo, stop. The female was a hook-up—just a pleasant night’s companion. She was astounding, but I’m here at work just like normal. Nothing’s changed.”

  Theo whistled. “Boy, you are in denial. I should have guessed you’d react that way to finding her.”

  “Are you going to keep hinting all morning or just tell me what the hell you’re trying to say and yet aren’t saying? You’re making me nervous.”

  Theo leaned a bit and sniffed again—to be sure. “Whoever the female is, Calix, I think she was more than a hook-up. Dude, I think she’s your mate. You reek of mating pheromones.”

  “Simply not possible,” Calix said with a chuckle, dismissing his cousin’s conclusion.

  “Why? Because she’s not a dragon?” Theo huffed indignantly. “I don’t understand why other shifters aren’t good enough for you. I let Karen out of the cell this morning. Poor girl cried all night long. What in the world did you do to her?”

  “Damn it, Theo, I wish you hadn’t done that. Karen attacked a human in the restaurant last night. I locked her up to keep from hurting someone.”

  “Oh—my bad,” Theo said regretfully. “I’ll have to run by and have a chat with her. Guess I should have contacted you first to get the story. It wasn’t Karen you slept with, was it?”

  “No. Hell, no. She’s a kid… and a fox. Nothing was ever happening in that direction.”

  Theo narrowed his eyes. “I’m not liking what I’m hearing.”

  “Neither am I. I’m not biased about being with other shifters. I just never feel attracted to them,” Calix said firmly. He walked to his desk and slammed his hat down on it. “If you must know, Sheriff Nosy Pants, the woman I slept with last night was an actual one hundred percent woman. She was human.”

  “Wow,” Theo said, studying his cousin’s anger over having to admit it. “I sure didn’t see that coming.”

  Calix leaned his face into his hand. “Neither did I. She was a pain at first, but a funny one, and then she was just—nice. She bought me three steaks for dinner. You don’t think I hurt her, do you? I was never with a human before. She was just so… responsive and welcoming.”

  Theo winced and crossed his arms. “Okay. Let’s not panic and start worrying for nothing. Maybe this is not as bad as I think it is. Did you feel dragon fire when you—you know?”

  Calix snorted at Theo’s euphemism. “There was enough heat between us to burn down a fucking building. I spent half the night inside her. So yes, I felt seventeen kinds of fire with that female.”

  “Duuuude,” Theo said, drawing out the term. “I think you also might have made her yours. How much of a stranger is she? Is she a resident of Magic?”

  Calix sighed. “Damn it, Theo. Will you stop making me panic? She isn’t from Magic. It was Dr. Lena Verglas. And it just… happened.”

  Theo tilted his head. “I know that name. Where do I know that name?”

  “She’s the crazy snow dome lady from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The woman just showed up yesterday without any warning. She’s the one who picked up the Glacierans on her way here.”

  “Holy shit,” Theo said, smacking his forehead. He lifted a hand and pointed to the door. “She’s a potential threat to Magic in about a dozen ways, Calix. Where is she now?”

  “At the inn. I imagine Lena’s still sleeping off last night. I wore her out—and she wore me out. It was great.”

  “I don’t doubt it given the way you smell. Do you think she’s going to go through the change now?” Theo asked.

  “Get real,” Calix ordered, making a face as he rolled his eyes. “That’s a stupid and untrue myth in our family. Our great grandfather was senile when he told us that story. He did not change our great-grandmother from a human into a dragon. Dragons mate and make baby dragons. That’s how new dragons are made. That’s how we were made. That’s the only way it works.”

  “Werewolves can make werewolves out of humans. Most don’t—but it can be done. It’s about motivation and intention and timing, Calix. Topper taught me that. Oh, and something about the moon having to be right. I don’t recall all the details. Never seen a created shifter here in Magic, but I�
��m not sure I’d know the difference. Once it’s done, I think it’s done for good and the switch is permanent. They completely lose their humanity.”

  Calix rolled his eyes. He refused to believe such nonsense. “You’ve never seen a turned human because it simply doesn’t happen in this day and age. Mixed species lovers bite each other all the time and nothing changes. In case you don’t know, that’s considered great sex.”

  Theo sighed and went to get his hat. “Come on. My instincts are screaming now. We need to go find your human and make sure. My nose is keen and I want to see if I can smell her. I think I’ll be able to tell you for sure then if anything is happening to her.”

  “There is no need to go running Lena Verglas down and making her think things she shouldn’t be thinking. I had a hell of a time covering up Karen’s attack on her last evening.”

  Theo snapped his fingers. “Karen was jealous.”

  Calix nodded. “I guess. I think the fox needs some counseling. But I’m telling you Lena is completely clueless about paranormals and harmless as a result. She picked up the aliens and brought them into town with no clue about what they actually were. She thought they were escapees from Magic’s mental facility.”

  Theo laughed. “We don’t have a mental facility. We have the witches who cure the paranormals of anything like that.”

  “I know that, and you know that, but I’m telling you, Lena is as clueless as any other human. She has no idea about Magic or shifters or witches or anything. All she wants is to build her freaking snow dome here.”

  “Humans run from dragons,” Theo reminded him. “Why didn’t your human female run from you?”

  Calix shrugged and glared. He didn’t care why she’d slept with him. He was not going to regret the best night of his life. “She did run at first, but then she stopped running. I liked her for that, Theo. I liked her for a lot of things. The only crazy thing about her is she thinks she can make it snow in the desert. She’s as nutty as she thought the naked aliens were.”