He looked around them and seemed to realize at the same time she did that there were no roads. “You know, there’s an in-between option.”
“Which is?”
He closed his eyes, and she gasped as red wings lifted from his back, rising above her. He opened his eyes again. “I can still cloak, as Taylor probably did. And this way I can still hold you all the way back.”
She marveled up at the man she loved, thinking that everything just made sense about him.
He was truly one in a million.
“Perfect,” she said. “Take me home.”
Chapter 21
“Wow, you’d never guess this was inside from the look of the outside,” Janet exclaimed, jaw hanging open at the sight of Xander’s immaculate, expensive-looking home.
“To be fair, Tristan’s kind of the one in charge of decorating. But we have an indoor pool. A gym. A sauna.” Xander listed the things off on one hand as he spoke.
“The bare necessities,” Janet said, enjoying the chuckles she got from her mate.
“Yeah, more or less.” He wandered to the fridge, pouring a drink and handing it to her. “I think it’s Tristan’s way of coping with being cooped up all the time. You know, before he met Kelsie.”
Janet took a gulp of the cool water and set down the glass. “I’m glad that you two don’t have to live like that anymore.”
Xander put his hands on his hips. “Now that we’re mated, I wanted you to see everything about me. Tell you everything I haven’t been able to say because of the whole dragon thing.” His blue eyes met hers, looking oddly vulnerable.
Janet came over to him, draping her hands around his neck, showing him that nothing he said could scare her.
“How much exactly did Taylor tell you?” he asked, looking serious.
“Everything. Or at least most everything, I think. He didn’t even need to say it. He showed it to me in my mind as we flew to find you. It was amazing.”
“That’s right,” Xander said. “I believe silver dragons can put thoughts in human minds, not just read them.”
Janet let out a squeak. “You can read my thoughts?”
Xander laughed. “Don’t worry. I always tried not to.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, then chuckled. “Given how much you tried with me, I believe you. If you’d been able to read my mind, you’d have known how hard it was for me to hold myself back.”
“Well, I could tell. But more because of the way you looked at me,” he said. “That’s all I needed.”
Goshdarnit, he was sweet.
He looked off to the side, avoiding her gaze as his mind seemed far off for a moment. “This is only one of many places we’ve lived over the years. We had to move a lot because we were raised apart from dragon society. Worse, actually. We were taught to fear all other dragons. We believed we had to stay out of sight or we’d be in danger.”
“So the parents thing. Being abandoned. They knew?”
“They thought we were a mistake. Monsters. And we believed them until recently when Tristan found Kelsie and everything almost blew up in our faces.” He took a deep breath, getting it all out at once, and Jan just listened attentively.
“That’s why, for so long, I just went from club to club, meeting people at bars and hanging out, just to go home alone every night and wait for it all to start again the next day.”
“It sounds so lonely.”
Xander nodded. “But when I met you, that night at the bar with Kelsie and Tristan, my whole world changed. Everyone was a stranger to me, but I could feel there was something between us from the very start. I don’t care how silly it sounds, but I knew you were my mate from that first moment on.”
He leaned down, rubbing his forehead to hers, making her heart warm and happy.
“So that’s why you kept stalking me.”
“We’ve been over this,” he said, mock stern. “That was wooing, not stalki—”
She put a finger up to shush him. “I’m glad you did, Xander. I’m sorry I was so mean.”
He shrugged, still holding her close. “It’s okay. I didn’t know what I was doing to be honest. I just knew I wanted you, and no one could possibly stop me. I’d have waited another hundred years to show you just how in love I really am with you. I’d go to the ends of the earth for you, Janet.”
She nuzzled him back, loving the way their bodies just fit together.
“Wait, a hundred years?” she exclaimed, suddenly realizing what Xander had said.
He laughed, taking the moment she was caught off guard to lift her into his arms, moving toward a hallway at the back of the entryway toward a pair of huge double doors.
“Oh yeah, did Taylor not mention that? Dragons live super long. And now that you’re my mate, you will too. He kicked the door open, then closed it behind him. “Which means we have lots and lots of time to spend together.”
“I love that,” she said, snuggling in.
Inside, a humongous master suite opened before her, white and gray and taupe with an oversize bed with dark-brown covers over taupe sheets.
But aside from the bed and a few modern furniture pieces, the room could only be described as sparse, and Jan wondered what it was like to live not knowing when your life would be uprooted at any time.
No wonder he’d run when he’d been worried.
She looked up to Xander, noting the intense way he was watching, and she reached a hand behind his neck to pull him down to kiss her. Quickly, the quiet arousal that had been whirring inside her began to burst into a heated flame that burned for Xander so brightly she didn’t know how to contain it.
“Whatever happens from here on out, we have each other, Xander. You’ll never be alone because I love you with all my heart,” Janet said, enjoying the feel of Xander’s lips so close to her she could taste him.
“And I love you with all my soul,” he replied. “I’ll never leave you, ever.” His blue gaze was intense, possessive as he held her close, moving them toward the bed.
“You better not, or I’m going to come after you and use my dragon strength to drag you back home and show you where you belong,” Janet said, glaring up at him playfully.
Xander suddenly plopped her on the bed, making Jan squeak in surprise just as he crawled on top, surrounding her completely and making all her nerves stand on end.
“Well, I’d rather die than leave you again, so that’s not even an option. You’ll just have to get used to having me around all the time.” His canines flashed as he licked his lips, already undressing her as excited tension pulled at Janet’s insides.
“I think I could get used to that, mate.”
“My mate. Forever,” he exclaimed, his lips crashing over hers a moment later, the heat of their connection burning Jan to her very core.
Forever.
She could definitely get used to that.
* * *
Xander took his time, slowly removing each piece of clothing off Jan’s body as she squirmed on the bed beneath him, skin flushed and sensitive to his touch.
He didn’t know how things were going to work out earlier that day, fearing he’d have to leave to keep his mate safe from something neither of them would have wanted.
And then when she’d shown up and mated him without question, Xander felt only joy and pure love toward the woman that had proved over and over again how amazing she was.
She moaned lightly as he drew off her underwear, leaving Janet completely bare to him. But when she stared down his still-clothed body and pouted, he didn’t make her wait, taking a moment to hop off the bed and throw aside his own clothes before straddling her again.
Everything about Janet was perfect. The way her soft thighs felt beneath him. The way she blushed at even the smallest things. The way she looked up at him as though he was her entire world.
The way she was his entire world.
He leaned down, taking one of her nipples in his mouth and suckling, drawing out the moment between them. Even though the
y were mated—his dragon roaring in satisfaction at the unbreakable fact—Xander wanted to claim her completely. Own her body and soul and show his love to her in every aspect of their lives.
“Xander…” Jan’s words trailed off as he kissed and sucked on the other breast, then went lower to kiss her abdomen and down her thighs.
“Janet.” The word was an oath on his lips. A promise to always protect her and stay by her side.
This room, which had always been his last escape when the loneliness had been too pervasive too bear, now felt utterly different. Outside his window, the ocean glittered with evening sunlight, casting the room in deep shades of orange and red, the color of his mate’s hair.
His mate moaned as he explored her folds with his fingers, which were slick from her arousal. And when his digit slid up against her clit, she shuddered, already near the edge.
But he couldn’t make her wait. Couldn’t bear another minute of not being joined with her, needing to watch her come while their bodies collided.
And by the hungry look in Jan’s bright-green eyes, she felt the same too.
“From here on out, it’s you and me, Janet,” Xander said as he parted her legs. The sight of her slick entrance made his cock tense in anticipation.
“You and me. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.” Her voice hitched as he thrust into her, and her eyes went wide with pleasure as they met hip to hip. The familiar wet tightness of their lovemaking was somehow different this time. Special because he didn’t have to hide himself or hold anything back.
It felt magical. More connected than ever before.
A oneness that only mates shared.
Once Janet was ready, Xander pulled back and then thrust forward, sheathing himself inside her again and soaking in the way her back arched, giving in to the erotic sensation.
And even though they’d only barely started, the sheer, overwhelming love between them gave Xander the impression neither of them would last long.
“I can’t wait to spend every minute of the rest of our lives together,” Xander said, the remark making Janet smile up at him as he continued to push them both toward their forever.
Then Janet’s legs wrapped around the small of his back, and with surprising strength, she pulled him into her, trapping him there, moving with him as he moved.
Xander gasped, not expecting the sudden friction that sent shocks of pleasure up his arms and down his legs from the motion.
“Incredible,” he said, smiling down at her.
She was breathless now, panting, glowing, but her lips still curved up. “You are too.”
They moved in a heated rhythm, and the friction was amazing, wet and sensual and everything he could want, just because it was with her.
Again and again, her tight heat enveloped him, making Xander’s muscles go haywire, so close to the edge. Below him, Jan was biting down on her lower lip, holding her breath against the similar storm raging inside her.
Then everything burst as he thrust in one final time, and they both came together. Xander leaned down, clutching Janet to his chest as she screamed his name repeatedly into his ears, the sound of her eager pleasure his whole world in this moment.
Below, his cock jerked inside his mate, pushing her deeper as the most powerful orgasm of their lives shattered them both simultaneously as they found comfort in each other’s arms.
Ever since he’d met Janet, everything had been different.
The universe, which had seemed so forlorn and empty before her, was bright and wonderful and full of hope.
All because of his mate.
Once they were finally finished, Janet let out a happy sigh, and Xander leaned down to kiss her, placing a long kiss on her lips and two smaller kisses on her cheeks.
And a minute later, he’d wrapped himself around her, lying at the edge of the bed and looking out the window to see the sun dipping low past the horizon.
It was blazing. Gorgeous. Inspiring. Just like the woman in his arms.
“That was amazing,” Janet said, snuggling into him.
“You’re amazing,” he replied. Then he remembered what he’d stashed nearby in his nightstand, and he leaned over
“What are you getting?” she asked.
“A surprise,” he said. But when he opened the second drawer in the large cherrywood nightstand, he realized he had meant to open the top one.
He hadn’t meant to give her that kind of surprise. Not yet. Not on the most romantic night of their lives so far.
She peeked over, her mouth dropping open. “Um. That is a lot of vibrators.”
He quickly shoved the drawer shut. “That wasn’t… uh. After that night when I used that thing on you… I may have gone on a shopping spree.” It was his turn to blush, though he prayed it didn’t show on his tanned skin. “I wanted to make sure that if you ever came over to my place, I was… fully stocked.”
That made Janet laugh heartily, and she giggled so hard that tears of mirth crept at the corners of her eyes. “Fully stocked?”
“You know. In case we were planning on doing stuff together. I didn’t know which ones were best, so I figured you could help me try them out. I wanted to have everything you could need.”
She took a long breath, her hand cupping his cheek as green eyes looked up at him. “I love the toys, and I love the way you want to pleasure me. But, Xander, the only thing I need is you.” And when she said it, Xander knew he meant it.
He sighed happily, letting himself get lost in her words for a moment. Then he snapped back to the present, reminding himself he still had another drawer.
“This is what I meant to show you.” He opened the top drawer, and dozens of books lined it. Books by the authors he knew Janet liked to read so she’d feel at home in his room.
“This is just a start. Obviously, if I’d known we could be mated this quick, I would have had a ring ready. But I’d love to go pick one out together.”
She smiled, still looking at the books, amazed and touched. “I’d like that too. But honestly, these mean even more.” She raised her eyes to his. “Why do you have to be so perfect?”
He grabbed one of the books and flopped back on the bed. “Because I have to deserve you somehow.” He gestured for her to join him. “I can read aloud for you if you want. Then you can just rest and still enjoy the story, and I can enjoy just holding you.”
“I would love that,” she exclaimed, nestling into him. “I hope you don’t get bored, though. They’re all pretty similar. Boy meets girl. They fall in love…”
Xander pinned her with a glare. “You mean dragon meets girl.”
Janet looked up at him, then laughed as she realized his meaning. “Actually, you hopeless romantic, I think you’ll love this a lot. Since you’re such a cheesy—”
“Shh, you’re interrupting the book, love,” he replied playfully, wrapping an arm around Janet and resuming the first page of the paperback in his hand.
It was hours before they finished the book and fell asleep, holding each other.
But it was only the beginning of their story.
* * *
* * *
Thanks so much for reading Xander and Janet’s story! If you liked it, be sure to leave a review to help it find other readers who might enjoy it! Also, let me know if you’d like to see Taylor’s book! What else would you like to see from me?
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Want something to read while waiting for my next book? I have a new box set out!
Built Fur Love Box Set
For lovers of steamy, exciting, insta-love romance! When three sexy shifter builders travel to the remote, beautiful town of Silver Lake, love and adventure are sure to follow!
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Contractor Garrett Wilson is huge, handsome, friendly to everyone he meets…and a grizzly bear shift
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Grumpy alpha wolf Grayson Carver is determined to help the ramshackle local wolf shifter pack while his friends play catch-a-mate. When researcher April Nielson shows up to study recent wolf findings, Grayson knows he should send her away. Instead, his wolf has other ideas. Like mating the sexy little human as soon as possible, kissing her under the stars, and fighting off anyone who might threaten her.
Purrfect For Me
Hunter Raines is restless. Now that his friends are mated, the cougar inside him is pacing, ready for the next adventure. But everything changes when curvy, sweet Kelly walks into the bar, hiding secrets and radiating fear. Hunter's cougar is ready to pounce on whatever is threatening her, and Hunter is pretty sure that he just found a reason to stay in Silver Lake forever.
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Also by Terry Bolryder
A Note From Terry
Most of my series go by species. Most of my books are standalone, but if you want to read them in order and see characters reappearing, here is my list of the order for each species. So just choose your favorite shifter!
Dragon Reading Guide
Awakened Dragons
These powerful, newly awakened ancient dragons are stronger, more vicious, more powerful, and ready to save humankind, if only they can decide to be heroes rather than villains…
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Onyx Dragon
Sapphire Dragon
Ruby Dragon
Diamond Dragon
Dragon Meets Girl: Forgotten Dragons Book 2 Page 13
