Griffith: The English Dragon ― Erotic Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  He could see the castle from where he was and knew what was going on there. Just yesterday he’d seen the trucks and vans pull up in front of it, with large signs on them that said things like carpet cleaners, glass repairs, and even one that had safe installation. Like there was anything left in the place to keep inside one.

  But as he continued to watch from a distance, he saw things going into the castle that he knew for a certainty that he’d sold off or simply destroyed. Tapestries that he had sold for money were being cleaned and then taken in. There were the beds that he’d given away or pawned. This shit was making him crazy, wondering who the hell had told them they could replace things that he’d deemed unworthy of keeping.

  “Like any of them ever listened to me. But they will soon enough. Listen to me as I cut their lives short and make a stew from their skin.” He knew that as dragons they were worth a great deal. But so far he’d not been able to get anything from anybody that he’d been around. Even his asshole brother had been careful not to leave any part of himself around. A fucking scale alone would have been enough to set him up for a couple of years.

  “But no, he’s as selfish as I am about that shit.” Even when they were children, Griffith had taken care that he’d pick up his own scales and put them in the lakes around their home. And any blood that he might have shed, it too was put to use in the forest, giving enough of himself to make them grow to great heights, with more health than they might have needed. “Griffith should have shared it with me. Should have been willing to give me what I wanted. I’m the oldest and shouldn’t have to live like this. Like a squatter on land that I should own.”

  Pacing more, he stopped by a tree and watched the deer that were always out this time of the evening. His mouth watered when he thought of having a nice deer steak, or a few other treats that he couldn’t find in the wooded areas. But they, too, were out to kill him. Whenever he was close enough to shoot them with his hand gun, they seemed to know when he was ready to take them down and would run off. He was sure they were laughing at him too.

  The lake that was near enough that he could fish to get a meal didn’t help either. He had no way to catch them, even should he have known how; a pole and string, and whatever else that was needed, eluded him. Nothing at all was going his way. And he was getting mighty sick and tired of it.

  He looked down at the stones he’d put in a circle three days ago. So far, with all the rain, all he’d managed to do was have a roaring smoke out. Never a spark of a flame nor anything to keep him warm. James wondered if there was a time in his life that he’d been as cold and wet as he was right now. Shivering again, he sat down on the wet blankets he had under the soaking wet broken down tent.

  Screaming out his frustrations, James wanted to cry. This was not the way he thought things should be going for him right now. He should be living in the castle that Griffith had cleaned up. He should have clean clothing, a nice fire in the hearth, and food at his beck and call whenever he wanted it. All he had for being born first was a pile of wet clothes—no food or clean water. And he couldn’t light a fire to save his life.

  He thought of his father the day before he’d killed him. Smiling, he remembered like it was yesterday his dad telling him that he had plans of changing the way things were going. That he wished for Griffith to have the castle when they left there, as neither he nor his mother had any confidence in him keeping it the way it had been for generations.

  “You can’t take that from me. It’s mine, I tell you. You can’t do that.” Father had told him that not only could he, but he’d already asked the dragon council if it could be done. “Why the fuck do you think that I’d allow you to do that? I’m the first born, and I’m wholly sick and tired of having to beg for every little thing that I want.”

  “Beg for what, James? You’ve had everything that you wished provided for you. A home, servants, money when it wasn’t too much. You have lived a relatively good, easy life. How do you think you’re owed more than that?” He said that he wanted the castle given to him now. “Nay, I’ve told you. We’re not going to leave it to you. You’ve taken much of what was there anyway. It’s time that you made your own way in the world.”

  “I am making my way in the world. I just don’t do it as you have. I want it now, Father. You’ve no right to take from me what doesn’t belong to you. I want any money that you’ve stashed away, as well as for you to turn the castle over to me. Its mine by right of birth.” His father had only shaken his head. “You will do as I say, Father, or you’ll pay dearly for it.”

  “What will you do, James? Kill me? Go ahead and try. But you won’t get away with it should you succeed. I’m master of the house, and you will heed my warning that you’re going to have to make your own way in the world.”

  The next day, James had waited in the woods surrounding the castle for his father to take his daily walk. And when he’d come upon his father, he drew the sword that had hung over the mantle for decades. A sword that had been presented to his father by Damn Bird’s father, for his help in the wars.

  “You’ve pissed me off, Father dear, and I want you to tell me that you’ll stop this nonsense about taking the castle from me and turn it over to me now.” Father told him no, it was done. “No. It isn’t done until I say so. Beg me, Father, to allow you to live and I might. Or I might not. I don’t know at the moment.”

  “Do you think you could get away with killing me, James? Do you think that no one will care that you’ve murdered your own sire? I have news for you should you succeed in killing me, I can guarantee that you’ll get what’s coming to you. You’ll get your comeuppance sooner than you think.” He laughed at his father as he ordered him to his knees. As he went down, his hands at his sides, James felt the anger that had been building since yesterday roll over him like a deluge. He screamed at him to beg him. “Nay, I will not. Do what you must but know that someday you’re going to be brought to heel, and then I will have a peaceful death knowing that you’ve been killed too.”

  The sword was too heavy for him. But with his anger, swiping it through his father’s neck seemed easy, too easy. And when nothing seemed to have happened, because his father was still intact, he leapt back when his father laughed as his head fell from his shoulders and landed right in front of James, his smiling face looking up at him from the ground. It was too much, and instead of picking up the body and taking it back to the castle for his mother to see, James ran away, terrified that his father would come back to life and kill him.

  Chapter 8

  Griff stood in the shower and let the water roll over him. If he was honest with himself, which he usually was, he’d say that he was too old for this shit. Laughing at himself, he reached up for the shampoo just as the door to the shower stall opened.

  “Hello there.” He reached for Lilac as she made her way to him. “This is just what I needed. You washing my back.”

  “I have something else in mind. I was thinking that I’d take your cock into my mouth and swallow you down.” He nearly fell on his ass when Lilac wrapped her hand around his hard cock. “Unless you’d rather I washed your back for you.”

  “No, you do what you must. I’ll try and suffer— Holy fuck, Lilac. That’s it.”

  She was on her knees before he could finish his sentence and held him hostage in her mouth before he could brace himself for her touch.

  All thoughts went out of his head. She used him as one would an all-day lollipop, and he couldn’t seem to catch his breath. When she moaned, he looked down at her as she bobbed on his cock and saw that in his stupor of being taken this way he’d crushed the shampoo bottle, and the creamy liquid was filling the stall with bubbles.

  Turning off the water was harder than he thought it would be. When she cupped his balls in her hand and held them tightly but gently, he felt his eyes roll to the back of his head and stay there. Reaching down to...well, he wasn’t sure what his plan had been, but as soon as he cupped the back of her head, his cock exploded in hi
s release.

  Griff cried out as his balls filled again. He wasn’t sure that he could stand much longer, surely not through another climax like that. Sliding down to the floor, even to be steady on his feet, seemed to be a feat that was well beyond what he was capable of at the moment. But she never stopped, didn’t let him take a breath as she swallowed him past the tight muscles at the back of her throat.

  Coming this time, he could only hold onto the wall. It was that or he was surely going to hit the floor. As she stood up, fisting his cock as she did so, Griff was sure that he was finished. There wasn’t any way that he was going to be able to come again. But then she took his hard nipple into her mouth and bit down.

  “Christ, you’re killing me.” Her laughter gave him a surge of energy, and he picked her up in his arms and took her to the bedroom. Dropping her on the bed, he followed her down and settled between her legs. “I’m going to make you pay, my dear.”

  “Yes, please. I’m so needy that I think I’ll come the moment you touch me.” He slid his fingers through the fine hair at her apex. She was soaking wet, the curls there were dewy with her obvious need, and when she begged him for more, Griff leaned down and took her fully in his mouth. Her scream pierced the room.

  Her juices flooded his mouth. She caught him between her thighs as she rode his mouth. No matter how many times she came, and he’d lost count long ago, Lilac begged him for more, telling him with her body and her voice that she needed his all, everything that he had. Griff moved up her body, nipping and tasting her as he went.

  The indentation of her navel seemed to hold secrets that he wanted to know. The way her ribs heaved in and out made him glad that he was seeing her this way. Lilac was beautiful. Sexy. He fell in love with her more with every beat of his heart, every breath that he took. And when he slid into her, his cock feeling her heat, her tightness around him, Griff could have gladly spent the rest of his days this way—Lilac beneath him, and him buried to the hilt inside of her.

  Making love to her was easier now. Before, and all the other times that they’d come together, they both had been so needy, so ready to come, that it was difficult to enjoy each other. But they’d both had a fantastic release, several in fact, and now it was just for them.

  “I love you, Lilac. ” She held him, her hands lazily going up and down his arms, his back. “You make me a better man every day that I’m with you. I love the way you feel when we make love.”

  “You make me want to be the best that I can be.” He started to move, slowly making her his. “The way that you hold me, the way that you make love to me, it’s wonderful. You’re wonderful, and I love you more than words can say.”

  He kissed her then, tasting his release on her tongue. Griff found that he enjoyed that as much as he did her taking him. It was as if he was having her again and again. The taste of himself blending with her made him realize that they were one and would be for long after this day.

  Making love to her slowly was amazing. When she moaned, he felt it in her chest as it touched off strikes of lightning-like feelings in his heart and body. Every caress, hers to him, was like he was being touched by a live wire, his skin seeming to accept it as a token of her love. His dragon, begging for him to mark her before, seemed content with what they were doing.

  “Take me, Griff. Make me yours.”

  At her words, strong and needy, he took her hard, filling her with each stroke, giving her another part of himself. And when she cried out, screaming his name as she came, he followed her, filling her with all that he had within him, until he felt the world turn and his heart stop beating for several seconds.

  Waking up, not even sure when he’d fallen asleep in the big bed, Griff reached for Lilac, only to find her side of the bed cold. Her pillow, still smelling like her, had an indentation of her head, and Griff took it to his nose to smell her scent. Getting up, he reached for her, just realizing that it was well after noon and he’d been asleep for several hours.

  I’m at the bank. Did you know that there are all kinds of things that you can invest in that are right here in this town? He told her that he’d been looking into that too. I’ve decided to set up a scholarship fund for kids coming out of the local high school. I have the money, and I think that someone could benefit from it more than I could by just having my money sitting around in a jar.

  Do you really have your money in a jar? He turned on the water, thinking of the last time he’d stepped in there. Please tell me that you don’t.

  I do, as a matter of fact. I actually have it buried in different places around. Some in caves too. It’s very useful to have it where I can get to it at a moment’s notice. Sunny keeps track of it all, and when we need something, she and I will go there and get some. She laughed, and he smiled at the sound of it as he washed his hair. I’ve had a few poachers over the decades, but I always figured that if they need it badly enough, then I did them a favor by leaving it behind. And sure, it could have been someone else, like your brother, who found it, but I like my version of it better.

  And you call me a goof. I’m just getting out of the shower, for the second time today. How about you and I have lunch in town? Mom is finishing up having things arranged in the castle today, and told me that she was going to stay there from now on. Lilac told him that she’d talked to his mom that morning about meeting for dinner next week. Good. I’d like that. And she’ll be safe there too. Have you seen my brother around today? He’s not going to be happy about any of this going on.

  He’ll get over it. Or not. I don’t care anymore. My mom is keeping an eye on him for us. She said that for the moment, he’s taken refuge in a cave near the castle. But he’s not doing anything but talking to himself. He felt her pause, thinking that she was speaking to someone else when she came back to him. Griff was just leaving the house when he realized that he didn’t have a car any longer. The one that he’d ordered one for each of them, but they wouldn’t be ready for a few more days yet. He was upgrading to something stronger. Griff, you should get here soon. I’m not sure what is going on in town, but every shop on the main drag is closed up. I’m looking around now.

  I don’t have a car. She asked him if he could get someone to bring him. I’m sure that I can. I’ll get one of the others to come for me. Unless you think that I need to get there right now. I can be there in a few seconds as my dragon.

  Yes, I think that would be a great idea. Her calmness wasn’t very helpful. While he could feel her fear of something, it was the way that she was handling it that had him shifting immediately and heading to town. Griff asked the others to join him, not having any idea what was going on.

  My mom is there now. She said that she was sitting in the diner when the place was starting to close up around her. Mom doesn’t know what is going on either. We’re all on our way. Griff thanked Danburn as he landed as his big dragon right outside of the town. Reaching to Lilac, he tried to think what the hell could be going on. I can see you, Griff. Christ, it looks like they’ve all disappeared, doesn’t it?

  As soon as they were men again, they ventured out onto the main street. When he saw Lilac, she came to him with Elissa and the other women. They all looked worried, and he was almost afraid of what might be going on.

  “Look over there. The building there looks like it has lights on.” Cautiously they made their way to it. Griff glanced at Kip when he spoke again. “It’s like a ghost town. Kinda creepy, if you asked me.”

  “You’re not helping.” Kip just smiled at him and Griff wanted to ask him what the fuck was wrong with him. As they got closer to the building, he felt his dragon curl up, like he was ready to take him should he need it. Christ, this was scary as fuck.

  Did his brother do this? Did he make all the shops in town close up and was holding the patrons hostage? He had no idea why, but his thoughts went to James lining up all the people and removing their heads one at a time. When Danburn was near the door, he wanted to tell him not to open it. Whatever was wrong, he could dea
l with it tomorrow or never.

  “You stand there while I open the door. We’ll have the element of surprise if we do this correctly.” Danburn nodded to him as he stood on the side of the door where it would open. Griff didn’t want to see what sort of carnage his brother had done. And when Danburn said, “Now,” they all rushed into the building ready for whatever happened.

  “Surprise!”

  He barely held onto his dragon when all the townspeople jumped up and yelled at him. Happy Birthday signs were everywhere. So were balloons and other decorations. Griff sat down hard, glad that there had been a chair behind him when he did.

  “You should have seen the look on your face.” Danburn was laughing hard, and Griff wondered how hard he’d laugh if he knocked him on his ass. “You have no idea how difficult it was for me not to laugh in your face as you stood by the door. I wish I’d had a camera. It’s a face I will never forget.”

  “You scared the shit out of me, you moron.” Of course, instead of Danburn saying he was sorry, he laughed harder. Taking the drink from Lilac, Griff pulled her to his lap and held her while he soothed his terror with a glass of juice. “Did you plan this?”

  “No. Elissa did. She said that she’d been planning it for a couple of months, and was so glad that I was able to celebrate with you. How old are you, anyway?” He had to think on that. Not having birthdays like other people did, he had to subtract the year he’d been born from the year it was now. “You have to think that hard on it?”

  “Yes. I’m nine hundred and twenty-five years old.” Lilac told him that it was small wonder that he could even move around, being so old. “Yeah? Well, my dear mate, how old are you?”