Bad Dragons: Special Edition Complete Series

by Terry Bolryder

  “No, it’s fine,” I say. “I’m still just adjusting to being able to hear her, you know? Plus, I’m a little isolated from my family, though I think that’s best for now.”

  “We can go see your family,” Seth says. “One of us can play the boyfriend. The others can just sort of… be invisible.”

  I laugh. “That’s true. But no, it’s fine. I like my life here. It’s just sometimes, hearing her voice, it’s hard to believe this is all real.”

  “One hundred percent real, sweetheart,” Seth says, picking me up out of the recliner so he can sit down and rest me in his lap instead. “Though, sometimes I can’t believe it’s real either.”

  I relax back against him, and he begins to rock, drawing a sigh from me. “That feels amazing.”

  His warm chest, heart beating beneath me, arms holding me closer.

  “Why don’t you feel it’s real?” I ask.

  “I don’t have my poison threatening to break out constantly anymore. I’m not in pain all the time or waiting to die. It’s an adjustment.”

  I nod. “Like Lee adjusting to his dragon or Griffin adjusting to—”

  “To not living with bears,” Seth says with a laugh, making me giggle.

  “Yeah,” I say. “But do you think everyone is happy?”

  “Everyone is ecstatic,” he says. “Van is living up to being a leader. Byron is enjoying kicking ass all over the place. Lee is finally able to heal. Griffin is happy to have a home and a family. I’m glad I’m not dying. But most of all, we’re just happy to have finally found you.”

  I grin, putting a hand on his chest. “Dammit, how are you so wonderful? You always know how to make me feel better.”

  He kisses the top of my head, then pulls back to look over me, his blond hair falling rakishly around his face. “You know, I was thinking about taking you back out to get some pancakes, but I think there might be other ways to cheer you up.”

  He kisses me, and I lean into it, closing my eyes and inhaling his clean, fresh scent. No hint of dread or anything like it.

  When he pulls back, he smiles. “Or do you think you’d rather have pancakes?”

  I shake my head, pulling him back down eagerly for a hungry kiss. “I’d rather have dragon.”

  He smirks against my lips, then swipes his tongue deep inside. I cling to him as he explores, working me over expertly until I’m writhing with pleasure just from that kiss.

  My eyes widen as I hear footsteps in the hallway, and he just laughs.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t call for backup?” His green eyes sparkle wickedly. “I told you. The more the merrier.”

  My eyes are still wide as we hear another knock on the bedroom door. “Come in,” I say, peering at Seth cryptically.

  The door opens, and Griffin, Rainier, and Lee are standing there, all looking worried about me as well.

  “Are you okay?” Rainier asks, stepping forward with an apron still tied around his tight waist.

  Lee moves over to take me from Seth, holding me in his lap as he shifts over to the bed. As he strokes his hand through my hair, I feel his healing energy soothing me, and I mewl as I snuggle in close.

  “Who made you upset?” Griffin asks. “I’m going to kill them.” His auburn hair looks extra red against his worried, handsome face.

  “No one,” I say, wiping away an errant tear. I’m already feeling better just seeing my dragons, so my guess is that will be the last one. “How are you all doing?”

  “Seth said you needed us,” Griffin says, scratching the back of his neck.

  Rainier looks at Seth, eyes narrowing. Then a grin tilts up the corner of his carved lips.

  “Maybe she does need us.” His silver eyes are glinting as he reaches back to pull his hairband out, letting his silky hair fall around his face.

  Then he walks over to Lee and lifts me before putting me back down so I’m straddling Lee, facing him. My heartbeat picks up as Rainier stays behind me, slowly running his hand over my back.

  Then two shadows fall over me, and I look up to see Seth on one side and Griffin on the other.

  Surrounded on all four sides by dragons.

  “That’s not so bad, is it?” Lee asks, blue eyes glinting cockily as he smiles at me.

  I run my fingers through Lee’s hair as Rainier’s hand traces my back. Griffin comes down to kiss my right ear, running his tongue over the shell and making me shiver.

  Lee claims my lips in a kiss as I feel Seth’s hand trail down my waist to land on my thigh.

  Then Lee lifts me and carries me over to the bed, dropping me on it as the dragons encroach on all sides, hot and strong and looking hungry as hell as they decide who is going to do what.

  I let out a sigh as I arch back, letting myself be overwhelmed by them. By love, by pleasure, by the hopes we all have for our new life.

  Yeah, it’s not so bad.

  “We should bless this house or something,” Seth says, as we’re eating dinner later that night. “What we did was downright sinful.”

  Griffin snorts. “Felt fine to me.” He slants me a heated look with those blue-gray eyes I love so much. “Felt fine for everyone, I think.”

  Lee puts his head on the table. “I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to forget some of what I saw.”

  “It’s okay,” Griffin says with a smirk. “Big things are memorable.”

  Lee grins up at me, making me relived to see he was just joking. “Well, I’m glad I won’t forget some of the things I saw. Damn, you’re gorgeous, Anna.”

  “Yes,” Rainier says, the only one of us who seems totally composed. “Anna is beautiful, and I think things went splendidly. Pleasure all around.”

  Seth looks unconvinced, though he’s still flushing. “Fuck, we’re dirty.”

  “Not dirty,” I say. “Just in love.”

  “You don’t think it was dirty when I—mmph.” He’s cut off by my hand covering his mouth as my cheeks flame bright red.

  “Don’t say it,” I say, slowly lowering my hand.

  He smirks, green eyes gleaming. “Or when Griffin—”

  “Stop!” I say, laughing despite myself.

  Let’s just say that by the time the dragons figured out how to work things out between us, I was very tired but very satisfied. Maybe too satisfied, if there is such a thing.

  “There isn’t,” Griffin says. “Not when it comes to you.”

  I bite my lip, trying not to think about the filthy things he did while I was sandwiched between two dragons.

  “No, think about it,” he says, his eyes growing hot.

  I laugh as I eat my last bite of steak, and we all look up when we hear a loud thump outside, followed by another.

  “Van and Byron,” Seth says, standing up with his plate just as the other two come in through front door.

  They’re both flushed, probably from flying through the night, but Byron’s eyes light up the second he sees me.

  I jump up from the table and run forward, and he grabs me around the waist and spins me around before kissing me gently at first, then firmer, until my knees weaken because he’s devouring me right there and—

  “My turn,” Van says, and Byron sighs as he lets Van pull me in against him.

  Van jerks me in tight, tilting up my chin with his hand. “How was your day?”

  “Good,” I say, flushing.

  He smirks. “I’m glad it was fun. I guess Byron and I get you to ourselves tonight?”

  “Maybe later,” Lee says. “We’re having a pool party tonight because we still all haven’t been home to celebrate the house.”

  Van ignores him and kisses me so hard I can barely think straight. I love the way his dark hair falls around us, the way his hand keeps me prisoner, holding my chin.

  When he releases me, I’m panting, trying to stay calm.

  I’m still not used to these dragons.

  Van looks satisfied by my response. “I would like to go swimming. I would very much like to see Anna in a swimsuit.�
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  Griffin stands protectively, and I can see he’s about to get angry before he throws up his hands with a shrug. “Fuck. I want to see that too.”

  “We’re her mates,” Van says, brushing back my hair, tickling my ear. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to see her.” His finger teases my earlobe, stroking it lightly and making me catch my breath.

  Suddenly, we have all the dragons’ attention.

  “Let’s get our suits,” Byron says, jogging past me to the hallway. “First one in the pool is the best dragon.”

  Van releases me with a smirk as Griffin runs past. Griffin and Byron almost get stuck in the hall together when they both try to fit through the narrow entry, but they manage to struggle their way out.

  Rainier shares a grin with me about it as we all to go to our rooms to get changed.

  When I get to mine, I see a pink bikini laid out on the bed, the tags still on.

  I hear a knock on my open door and turn to see Seth smiling at me. “Thought you might like it. I saw it last time I was out.”

  “Thanks,” I say. “It’s amazing.”

  He nods and leaves, shutting the door behind him, and I lock it before I change. It’s just a habit, and in a house this big, sometimes it’s still nice to have privacy.

  When I’m done, I walk into the bathroom to see how I look.

  I take a deep breath as I realize I barely recognize the person in front of me. My dark-blond hair is extra glossy. My skin glows. My face looks better just because it appears so happy.

  The pink bikini shows off how healthy my body has gotten since I’ve been here. I’ve been practicing martial arts on my own again, which the dragons have supported.

  I’ve been able to watch the dragons get healthier and happier. It’s nice to see the effect this new life has had on me, even with its changes.

  I still wrap a towel around me as I walk out into the living room to meet up with the other dragons. I like having something to reveal.

  The men are all sitting in the living room, shirtless, having changed in about two seconds.

  “You don’t want dinner?” I ask Van and Byron.

  “Dinner was a wolf,” Van says darkly.

  “Just kidding,” Byron says. “We got something on our way here.”

  “So you didn’t eat a wolf?” Griffin asks, cocking his head at them.

  “No, we did,” Byron says. “It just wasn’t dinner.”

  He smirks at me and stands up, all perfect golden hair and long legs and abs that go on forever. “Come on. Let’s go swim.”

  He puts an arm around my shoulders and pulls me toward the doors that open to the area with the pool.

  When we’re outside, I look around, unable to believe this is still my home.

  There are trees all around the cleared area, and there’s an in-ground pool with a wooden deck around it and a hot tub off to the side.

  A few tall lights shine down over the deck, and there are lights in the water, making it glow.

  I sit down on the edge, holding my towel and figuring out how to get in, but hear someone running by.

  I look up to see Griffin jumping into the air past me, grabbing his legs in an impressive cannonball for such a big guy.

  I laugh as I cover my face for the splash, but someone picks me up, hefting me out of the way so I don’t get wet.

  I look up to see Lee, thoughtful as always. He slowly sets me down, smiling gently. Damn, he looks good in a swimsuit, with those wide shoulders and lean hips. His dark hair shines and his blue eyes sparkle like the pool water. “Thought you should get wet on your own terms.”

  “Yeah,” Byron says, jumping in the water and storming over to Griffin, locking him in a headlock. “I’ll teach you some manners, ruffian.”

  Griffin just scoffs as he struggles with Byron, trying to get the upper hand. “Ha! You have to do a cannonball into the pool to start.” He glances at me, still trying to undo Byron’s grip. “I bet Anna is impressed.”

  “I am,” I say with a giggle as I stand up to take off my towel. When I drop it, I feel all the dragons’ eyes on me.

  Rainier is walking in by the stairs, Seth is in the hot tub, and Van is lowering himself down the side, his hair rolled up in a tight bun.

  They all pause, watching me hungrily.

  I take a running jump and do my own cannonball, hair flying up as I land in the water with a huge splash.

  And then I’m surrounded by big arms. Van is holding me up with one hand around my waist, as if he was worried I’d drown if he didn’t catch me.

  I guess this part of the pool is the perfect depth for tall dragons but not short humans. I can swim well, but I decide to let him hold on to me anyway. I missed him and Byron while they were gone.

  Byron finally extricates himself from Griffin and comes over to me, letting Griffin join the others to decide teams for water basketball.

  Van holds me up against him, cradling as the water passes by. “You look gorgeous,” he says, staring down at my swimsuit. “I thought of you the entire time we were gone, just wanting to get home.”

  “True,” Byron says, standing beside us with his arms folded. “We both did.”

  “How was the mission?” I ask as Van hands me to Byron, and he wraps my legs around his waist. He loves that position because it pushes my breasts into his huge chest.

  “Good,” Byron says, though he’s clearly more interested in checking me out. “Damn, dragon heart, you make it hard to focus.”

  Van sighs. “The oracle is pleased with our work. She had a mission for us but also wanted to tell us we’re now her strongest task force.”

  “That’s nice,” I say. “I just don’t want any of you to get hurt.”

  “With as many dragons as we have, we’re capable of pretty much anything,” Byron says, nibbling at my jaw before trailing down to my neck.

  The cool water is all around me, making me feel weightless as Byron’s lips tease my skin.

  I’m already hungry for both of them. To feel them and kiss them and touch them and know they are home and all right.

  “Fine with us,” Byron says, biting down lightly at the edge of my jaw where it meets my neck.

  “We can wait,” Van says. His purple eyes gleam under long dark lashes. “Waiting only makes it better. For now, let’s just have fun with everyone else.”

  Byron pulls back with a groan, and even though I’m already aching for more, I look over to where the other dragons are waving for us to join them and have to agree.

  I push down out of Byron’s arms, going underwater, and swim to where the other dragons are, popping up to surprise them.

  Griffin pulls me in against him, declaring I’m on his team, while Seth, Rainier, and Lee decide what the rules will be.

  Van and Byron swim up to join us, and every time I look at them, the hot promise in those gold or purple eyes lets me know I’m in for it when we hit the bedroom.

  But for now, I’m just enjoying the fact that we’re all safe and together.

  Because dammit, I love these dragons.

  Epilogue (Special Edition)

  One Year Later

  Cool fall air trickles through the crack in my open window, tickling my nose with the smell of fallen leaves as I smooth over my outfit one more time, checking the mirror to see how I look.

  In the house, I can hear the voices of my dragons talking excitedly, accompanied by the sounds of cooking and party preparations.

  A couple weeks ago, Seth pointed out that Halloween was coming up and asked what was customary for humans to do on the occasion. Since Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, I suggested we throw a party complete with costumes and everything.

  Since then, everyone has been excited for this evening to varying degrees, though I’m honestly just curious to see what they’ve chosen to wear for their costumes since we’ve all been keeping it a secret until tonight.

  Granted, the witch costume I ordered is definitely a bit smaller than I presume
d from the photo they had online, and the miniskirt that goes with the black top and cute little cape barely reaches midthigh. I decided to splurge and go all out on the boots, though, and I think the calf-length black leather and stiletto heels make my legs extra sexy even if I wobble a bit just trying to stand up straight.

  I adjust the big, wide-brimmed, pointy witch hat one more time, then grab the green, normal-looking broom I pulled out of the closet earlier today, figuring any broom would do for a witch in this day and age.

  When I turn to head for the door to my room, I almost stumble but catch myself on my dresser, already too excited to go out and greet the others.

  For the past year, every day has been a new best memory. Each experience with them—both in and out of the bedroom—a new, joyous high that I intend to keep soaking in.

  The Blur and everything that happened back then seems so distant compared to this little world we now live in on our private island with nothing but happiness to keep us company.

  And yes, things aren’t always perfect. But each of the dragons is willing to improve and try new things, and they’re patient with me too as I continue to discover new things about myself and about us as a group.

  Legs finally stable, I head into the hallway and out into the main dining area where all the smells of cooking hit me like a wall of deliciousness. The living room and kitchen are decorated from top to bottom with Halloween-themed colors and objects. Black and orange streamers line the ceiling, cobwebs hang from the walls (complete with plastic black spiders), and there are even spooky-looking figurines on the table and against the walls.

  The guys really went all out.

  Seth spots me first from his place standing behind Rainier where he’s been watching closely as Rainier boils something on the stove. Seth’s green eyes light up immediately, and I see he’s covered in loosely wrapped gauze and bandages that cling to his lean frame.

  Lately, Seth has been taking a stab at cooking. And even after a few attempts that made the other guys wonder if black dragons just weren’t made to cook, Seth is still determined to at least learn the basics, which I find utterly adorable.

  He smirks as he crosses the distance between us, not drawing the others’ attention as his gaze rakes over me and he pulls me close to him.