Kelos: Spring (Shifter Seasons Book 4)

by Harmony Raines

  “We are connected.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips tenderly, his teeth grazing the sensitive flesh. Amber opened her mouth and he slid his tongue inside, tasting her, teasing her while he cupped her breast in his large hand and rubbed his thumb over her nipple. She shivered, her arousal kicking up a notch as her anticipation grew. Everything about this woman, his woman, thrilled him. Amber made him feel alive, as if anything were possible. Something he had not felt for the longest time.

  Sliding her leg over his thigh, she switched her position and straddled him. Kelos turned onto his back, moving as one with her. Lifting herself on her knees, she hovered over him, her eyes fixed on his face as he guided himself into her. Slowly, she lowered herself down on to him, his hard length sliding inside her, grazing her inner walls as he stretched her.

  Amber closed her eyes, losing herself in the moment. Deeper, she took him, stretching to accommodate him fully as she began to move. Circling her hips. Kelos bit down on his bottom lip as he fought to stay in control. His body raced toward release, but he wanted this to last.

  He wanted to live in this moment with Amber where nothing else mattered.

  For now, they could push the events of last night and those of the coming day to the edge of their minds while they made love. While he mated with the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. The woman he’d waited his whole life for.

  Kelos slipped his hand around her neck and pulled her down, their lips crushing together as he kissed her. Fiercely, the powerful dragon shifter cupped her breast in his free hand, his thumb brushing the taut bud as he lifted his hips off the bed and thrust into her.

  He wanted to consume her like dragon fire consumed all that stood in its path. He wanted to light her on fire and watch her burn for him and only him.

  Amber moved her hips, circling around as she rode him, her breathing fast, her heart thumping in her chest. Her excitement matched his own and they raced together toward release.

  With a groan, he exploded inside her, his seed filling her as her inner muscles gripped him and pulsed and throbbed around him. Amber leaned down, her hand cupping his face as their eyes met then she lowered her head and kissed his lips. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, teasing her while he filled her with the essence of life.

  The promise of a new dragon shifter.

  His heart sang with joy.

  “If that’s the way you intend to say good morning every morning then we need to set an alarm for early.” Amber slid off Kelos and lay on her back staring at the ceiling.

  “I’ll buy you a new alarm clock,” Kelos promised. “Because I would love to wake up every morning and make love to you.”

  “If only life was that simple that an alarm clock could fix it.” Amber sighed and brushed her hand over her eyes before groaning. “It’s no good, I can’t just lie here.”

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and gathered up her clothes before dressing quickly. “I’m going to hit the shower if it’s free.”

  Kelos nodded. “I’ll go see if O’Malley’s up and if he’s got any news about Ostabell.”

  “Okay.” Amber reached the bedroom door but instead of pulling it open and going out, she turned around and padded back to him. Leaning down, she kissed his lips before dashing out of the room.

  Kelos listened to her footsteps as she went down the hallway. The bathroom door opened and then closed, the sound of the shower prompting his imagination to conjure up images of her naked under the hot water.

  Steam would be coming out of his ears if he didn’t get out of bed and do something. Something other than marching down the hallway and breaking down the bathroom door and joining her in the shower.

  “I thought I heard you moving around.” O’Malley met Kelos as he headed for the downstairs kitchen. “I was just getting the bar ready for opening.” Although he looked bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, the cougar shifter looked as if he’d been hard at work, his cheeks flushed from exertion.

  “Can I get you some coffee?” Kelos asked awkwardly.

  “The pot is fresh and hot, help yourself and if you want to pour me one, I’ll be in the bar.” O’Malley backed up a couple of steps. “Come through and we can talk.”

  Kelos nodded and opened a couple of cupboards as he searched for cups. He took out three, setting them down on the counter but only pouring two since he had no idea how long his mate would be in the shower. After adding milk, he picked up the mugs and went to find O’Malley.

  “How did things go last night?” Kelos placed the coffee mugs down on the bar.

  O’Malley glanced over his shoulder before going back to filling up the small fridge behind the bar containing bottles of fruit juice. “Joanna said it went well.”

  “But you don’t think so?” Kelos sipped his coffee and tempered his disappointment as he waited for the reply.

  O’Malley shrugged. “It’s probably just me.” He grinned as he shut the fridge and leaned on the counter, coffee cup in hand. “I’d have gone in all guns blazing and arrested Ostabell last night.”

  Kelos chuckled. “Years ago, there would have been no arrest, I’d have simply found Ostabell and chewed his head off.”

  O’Malley’s brows knitted together. “I took you as being more of a death by flames kind of a guy.”

  “In my younger days, I liked to show off.” He winked at O’Malley who laughed loudly.

  “That I would like to see.” The cougar shifter sipped his coffee. “I always wondered what it would be like to wander around as a cougar. I expect when you were younger, things were different, the world was emptier.”

  “It was but there were still plenty of threats. People didn’t understand how people could shift from one thing to another and they still don’t.” He drank his coffee, his senses telling him that his mate was out of the shower and would soon be coming down to join them. “Does Joanna’s boss think they will arrest Ostabell? Is the evidence good enough?”

  “Yes. He thinks so but it’s still not for certain.” O’Malley ground his teeth together. “It would only take someone higher up the chain of command to want this to go away and we’re right back to square one.”

  “If that happens, heads might burn.” Kelos shook his head. “As long as I’ve been alive there has been corruption.”

  “Her boss is a good man. He knows how much this means to Joanna. He’ll make sure it sticks. We just have to be patient.” O’Malley looked up as Joanna came down the stairs. “Coffee’s in the kitchen, we’re in the bar.”

  “Okay. Cool,” Amber answered.

  O’Malley looked at the clock above the bar. “I need to get on with my work. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need.”

  Kelos stiffened as Amber came into the bar. In one fluid movement, he was out of his seat, standing between his mate and the doorway. “Someone’s here,” he said in answer to Amber’s shocked expression.

  “Relax, it’s Joanna.” O’Malley slid around the bar and went to the back door. “Come in, we were just talking about you.”

  “All good things, I hope.” Joanna entered the bar behind O’Malley, her face flushed with excitement. “We arrested Ostabell at 6:00 a.m. this morning and hauled his naked ass down to the station.”

  “He was actually naked?” Amber asked in surprise.

  “My boss let him put some pants on but only after he’d hauled him out of bed and read him his rights.” She grinned and rubbed her nose as she tried to hide her excitement. “The photos were verified last night as authentic.” Her grin subsided and tears filled her eyes. “It’s over.”

  “Hey.” Amber placed her coffee down on the counter and went to Joanna. “It’s okay to feel confused.” She wrapped her arms around the detective and hugged her tight. “It’s okay.”

  “I know,” she sobbed. “I just wanted to come to tell you before I go and tell my mom.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Amber asked as she gently released Joanna.

  “No, thanks.” Sh
e sniffed loudly. “What I want you to do is go get your brother and take him back to his family.”

  “Really?” Amber reeled backward, her face pale.

  “Yeah. After studying the information in the file, we found a whole slew of evidence against Ostabell for money laundering. Hidden bank account details, the whole shebang. There is no way the creep is getting away with any of this.” She smiled happily. “It’ll take a few hours for the paperwork to clear, but my boss reckons Fabian should be able to go this afternoon.”

  “Then tonight, we fly home,” Kelos announced.

  And if we never leave again, it might be too soon, his dragon added.

  Really? Kelos asked.

  Only joking! There is a whole world out there for us to share with our mate. His dragon chuckled. Despite wanting to explore the world with Amber, he truly did just want to take her home.

  Chapter Twenty-Four – Amber

  “We’re going to what?” Fabian asked as they reached the park where Kelos had landed two nights ago. He was waiting there now, in the darkness. Waiting for his mate so he could take her home.

  With one other passenger.

  “Ride on the back of a dragon,” Amber repeated.

  “Did you hit your head or something?” Fabian always had lacked imagination and a belief in anything extraordinary. He was going to have quite a shock when he saw Kelos was really a dragon.

  “Kelos is a shifter. He can shift from a person to a dragon,” Amber repeated but, once again, her words did not sink in.

  “Is that what he told you?” Fabian asked. “And you believed him?”

  “That’s what he showed me.” Amber was wasting her breath. Fabian would not believe they were going to fly home on the back of a dragon until he saw the dragon with his own two eyes.

  Even then, Amber suspected, he might argue it was not real.

  “And did you sleep with him after he told you he was a dragon shifter?” Fabian asked.

  “You think he told me he was a dragon shifter to get me into bed?” Amber put her hands on her hips as she squared up to her brother. Then she let her arms drop to her sides. “You know what, it doesn’t matter.” She grinned. There was nothing Fabian, or anyone else could do or say to rob her of the happiness that was practically spilling out of her.

  “So how are we really getting back to… Where is it again?” Fabian asked.

  “Bear Creek,” Amber said over her shoulder. “You’ll like it.”

  “Do the kids like it there?” Fabian’s voice quavered.

  “They do. And Margie has discovered she likes wielding a hammer.” She laughed at Fabian’s expression. “You think I’m lying about that, too.”

  “I don’t know what to believe anymore.” He hurried to catch up with her as they skirted around the pond and hugged the tree line, heading for the place where Kelos waited. “I’m just happy to finally be free.”

  Amber slowed and linked arms with her brother. “It’s over now. You, Margie and the kids can go back to your old lives. If that’s what you want.”

  “All I want is for us to be happy.” Fabian ducked under the trees, his steps slowing. “Where are we going?”

  “To meet up with Kelos. Like I told you.” Amber hurried on, it was as if she could sense him, if she pushed out her senses, she’d be able to pinpoint his exact location.

  “You really believe that.” Uncertainty laced Fabian’s voice.

  “Yes, I do, and you will, too.” Amber broke into a run, pulling Fabian along with her just like when they were children.

  He laughed and ran by her side, leaving behind all his fears for his family as they sprinted through the darkness. At least, she hoped he was leaving it all behind. Amber hated the idea of her brother being permanently changed by what had happened.

  “I’m proud of you,” she told him as they slowed to a walk. They were close. He was close.

  “Listen, Amber, I just want to tell you…thank you.” Fabian’s voice faltered. “Thank you for coming when I asked you. I don’t know what I’d have done if anything had happened to Margie and the kids.”

  “That’s what I’m here for, to help you. We’re family.” She wanted to hurry on and meet up with Kelos, but Fabian wasn’t finished yet. “You would do the same for me.”

  “I hope I would.” He stared at the ground for a moment before he looked at her once more. “And if that means I have to believe in dragon shifters then so be it.”

  “Are you okay?” Amber prodded, there was something different about Fabian, but she couldn’t decide what exactly it was.

  “Do you think we’ll be okay? I mean me and Margie. After what I’ve put her through…” He took a breath. “I still don’t know if we’ll be able to go back to our old lives.”

  “She loves you. She also knows you did the right thing.” Amber closed the distance between them and hugged Fabian. “Talk to each other. And be honest.” As she pulled back, she added, “Be honest with yourself. Do you want to go back to your old life? Or maybe it’s time to start afresh.”

  “And you recommend Bear Creek?” Fabian asked as they continued on. “I get the feeling you’ve lost your heart to the town.”

  “And to Kelos.” She glanced sideways at Fabian. “I’m in love. It’s real and it’s messy but it’s love.”

  “I know. I can see it in your eyes.” He grinned. “He must be quite a guy.”

  “He is.” She saw him, silhouetted next to a tree, larger than life. He came toward them. “Ready?”

  “Yes.” Kelos glanced at Fabian. “Good to see you again, Fabian.”

  “Kelos.” Fabian stopped walking and said, “My sister told me we’re going to ride back to Bear Creek on your back. Because you’re a dragon.”

  “That’s right.” Kelos kept his tone flat. “Shall we go?”

  “Sure.” Fabian nodded and shot Amber a disbelieving look. “Why don’t you shift? I think I got the right term.”

  “You did.” Kelos took a couple of steps backward. “I’ll shift here under the trees, it’ll give me some cover. You two climb on my back and then I’ll head out into the open before making a near vertical ascent. You’ll need to hold on tightly.”

  “Okay,” Fabian agreed nervously. He shuffled his feet and moved closer to Amber who couldn’t figure out if her brother was more worried about Kelos really being a dragon shifter or what the repercussions would be if he were not. “Go for it.”

  Amber dashed forward, kissed Kelos on the cheek and said, “See you in Bear Creek.”

  “Safe journey.” Kelos gathered her into his arms and kissed her mouth before letting her go. Almost immediately, the air around him shimmered and she backed away, watching as Kelos’s human form gradually faded away.

  “What the hell!” Fabian was left speechless when the hulking shadow of the dragon came into this world and stood before them.

  “Shall we go?” Amber grabbed hold of Fabian’s jacket and propelled him forward. “It’s risky being on the ground too long.”

  “We’re going to ride on a dragon.” Fabian looked at her, still not believing the statement to be true.

  “Yes, we are.” She shoved him forward even when he tried to drag behind her. “We need to move fast, Fabian.”

  He staggered forward and clumsily followed her actions as they climbed onto the dragon’s back. “Where do I hold onto?”

  “You sit at the front and hold onto this horn and I’ll sit behind and hold on to you.” She settled down behind Fabian and reached around him to place his hands on the horn. “Okay. Hold tight.”

  A long loud whine filled the air as Kelos crouched down and sprang into the air. Fabian clung so tightly to the horn in front of him, Amber could see the whites of his knuckles even in the dark.

  “We’re flying.” Fabian gasped as the dragon beat his wings up and down in a strong swift motion that took them straight up into the air.

  “We are. On the back of a dragon.” Amber kept a tight hold of her brother as Kelos kept climbin
g.

  “I guess this is the biggest ‘I told you so’ of all time.” Fabian’s tone had changed from one of shock to one of awe.

  “I’ll skip that as long as you promise me you won’t tell anyone about this. He’s one of the last of his kind and I am his mate,” Amber told her brother.

  “I won’t tell anyone. I promise. And I owe you that and much more considering you and Kelos have saved me from a miserable life always looking over our shoulders.” Fabian fell silent as the dragon banked to the right and made his way toward Bear Creek.

  Amber had traveled all over the world but as the mountain peaks appeared in the distance, silhouetted against the starlit sky, she experienced her first taste of returning home.

  Her heart beat faster in her chest and a thrill of excitement sent shivers up her spine. This was the place where she would live with Kelos. This was where they would raise their children.

  The dragon surged forward faster, his wingbeats stronger. He’d sensed home, too. Or maybe he’d sensed his mate’s excitement. Amber slid one hand from around Fabian’s waist and placed it flat on the dragon’s side. His body thrummed beneath her palm, reminding her of a cat’s purr.

  A small smile crept over her face. Kelos was as soft as a purring kitty cat yet with the ability to turn and strike out with claws and teeth if he needed to protect his own. Would he like the analogy?

  Happiness threaded through her veins. When they reached Kelos’s cabin, she had no desire to pick a new destination to travel to. She wanted to set down roots and make a home.

  “There!” Amber yelled at Fabian and pointed toward the small cabin tucked away on the lower slope of the mountain. She couldn’t actually see it, not yet, but it was there.

  “Where?” Fabian scanned the area she was pointing to.

  “Just wait for a couple of minutes.” Amber kept her finger pointed at the spot as Kelos’s dragon skimmed the top of the trees, hurtling down the side of the mountain toward the safety of the cabin. Amber could not wait to go inside and close the door on the world.