Cimmerian Shade: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection

by Kiki Howell

  “How long before I can resume my normal activities. I’m pretty active on my feet.”

  “At least a day or two if you allow Mac here to do the rehab exercises I’ve given him to do with you.”

  “Rehab exercises?”

  She didn’t miss the looks the doctor gave Mac. He reminded her of Mac in a lot of ways. It was evident they had a lot in common. When he refocused on her, his expression attempted to veil a lot of unspoken questions. Bronwyn didn’t know why he wasn’t asking them. She had nothing to hide. Instead, he resumed his consummate bedside manner.

  “Yes, I’d like for you to rest for a day or so and then Mac will help you rehabilitate your ankle to keep the range of motion and enhance the healing process.”

  “Okay, but what about walking on it. I have work to do this week.”

  “What type of work are we talking about?” the doctor asked.

  “I’m a personal concierge, and I have a client who’s hosting a poker night on Friday. I need to pick up and deliver the party items, poker table, and decorations.”

  “Yeah, things like that are off the list of activities you can do for at least two weeks.”

  “Two weeks? I can’t run a business without being able to move for two weeks.”

  “Do you want to be able to walk without a permanent limp or pain for the rest of your life?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She looked at Mac who was staring her down to cooperate.

  “Then I suggest you value your health over your business for a few weeks to heal properly. Stay in bed for a day or so and then give yourself time to regain your strength.” Looking over to Mac, he directed his attention to him as the doctor said, “I’ll come back by on Sunday to see how she’s progressing.” Then as if they spoke a secret language, the man added, “Congratulations, well met on finding your greatest treasure.”

  Mac nodded unleashing an enormous boastful grin. Bronwyn was itching to know what he’d found but refrained from asking. It was O-dark-thirty, but she managed to keep some of her manners in check. After a few more instructions, the doctor packed up his state-of-the-art lab and portable x-ray equipment.

  Both of the men were huge. The doctor was almost as tall as Mac, and they seemed to have a deep friendship. Bronwyn was thankful for him coming over to see her so late at night and tried, in vain, to pay him for his visit. After he’d set her foot in a soft cast and given her pain meds to control the pain for a few days he was gone, Mac walked him out to the front door.

  Thankfully, she’d managed to bathe herself before the doctor made it or else she’d feel icky with a cast on a dirty foot and ankle. Bronwyn tried to adjust herself on the sofa only to realize how awkward her new boot was going to make things.

  Mac came back into the room to stand beside the sofa, peering down at her.

  “The doctor wants you to get plenty of rest. I’m going to take a shower, then I’ll be back to get you.”

  Feeling like a burden on how much she’d commandeered his day and night already, Bronwyn tried to redeem a little bit of the time she was taken up.

  “Mac, thank you again for everything tonight... and today. I don’t know how I would have gotten out of there without you. It’s been a long day, and I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’m good and going to get some rest if you don’t mind me sleeping on your sofa. You do you. I’ll be fine.” Then with a stab at being cheery, she added, “See you in the morning.”

  “Did you hit your head on something?” He was clearly not happy with her at the moment. “There’s no way I’m going to leave you down here by yourself. Let me inform you on how this is going down. After I grab a shower, I’m going to come back and take you to our bed. Yes, our bed, and no I’m not crazy. You’ll rest in that bed. If you don’t wish for me to share the bed with you, I’ll sleep on the floor or chair next to you, but where you are, that’s where I’ll be. Got it?”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Yes, I haven’t changed my mind from earlier today. I want you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re mine.”

  “I’m not an object. You don’t and can’t own me, Mac. I don’t understand why I have to tell a grown man this, but here we are just the same.”

  It was as if she spoke to the wind for all the good it did. Mac continued his train of thought. “I’m yours, forever. Are you going to reject me again like you did today?”

  “Wait? What the hell, reject you? Um, buddy, how about you switch that around? You’re the one who rejected me. You’re the one who stopped and shut down on me. You hurt me.” She was heaving with the force of the words as they’d poured out of her. “I was open and trusting that you meant what you said and you stopped without reason.”

  He ran a hand through his thick mane and stopped to look back at her. “That’s what you think? That I rejected you?” Bending down on knees, he came close. “I’d never reject you. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were my mate. If you accept me, I want to be yours as well.”

  Again, tears threatened to spill as his words hit that place only they had the ability to find deep within her. “I don’t understand what you mean by that. What is a mate? I’m not going to lie, I’m green when it comes to all the ways folks couple up nowadays.”

  He laughed. “You sound old when you say things like that.”

  “I guess I have an old spirit, but I do know I want loyalty and commitment. You’re the only man I was willing to, you know, offer myself to like I did today. When you stopped, it hurt, deeply.”

  “I didn’t know, nor did I ever mean to hurt you. Please forgive me, Bronwyn?”

  He laid his head down on the sofa in the space between her side and arm. No words came as she ran her free hand through his soft, thick locks. For a second it sounded like he rumbled the sofa with soft, deep sighs.

  “Bronwyn, there’s something I need to share with you. I imagine it will be... difficult to process. This part of me that I’m going to share with you is part of the reason I stopped earlier. You deserve to know this about me before bonding with me.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. Feigning courage, she didn’t possess, Bronwyn spoke as clearly as she could. “Sure, I’m listening.”

  “This is something I need to show you more than telling. It’ll be better if I show you first. Then, I’ll answer any questions you have about it, promise.” He raised his head to look her in the eyes. “Please, promise me you’ll give me a chance before you make any decisions on what I’m going to share with you, please?”

  Nervous laughter turned into soft giggles as she tried in vain to remain the vision of strength. “Boy, please. I’m from the streets. There’s not too much you can spring on me that would make me run for the hills. I’m good.” Then to strengthen her ability to be here for him like he’d been for her all night, she added, “Mac, we’re good, promise.”

  Rising to his feet and picking her up, he headed to the back of the house to go outside. She held on used to being carted around by him by now. Outside, he took her to the area by the fire pit. It was dark out except for a half moon. She waited for him to place her in a chair.

  Once she was seated, he stood and said, “Watch everything I do from here on. Once I’m done, we can talk. All I ask is that you wait and allow me to work with you to process what I’m about to share with you.”

  “Okay, now you are starting to scare me a little. Please don’t tell me you’re one of those little gray aliens with the big eyes. They always freak me out when I see them.”

  “Haha—not a gray alien, but not what you’re expecting either.”

  “Shoot—then quit stalling and show me. The suspense is killing me.” She forgot her foot and tried to yank it up to hug only to be met with a shooting pain within the soft case.

  “Stay still. I’ll get your pain meds.”

  She waved him back from going to the house. “Nope, we do this now, before pain meds mess with my ability to comprehend.”

  “Gotcha.”
>
  He looked over at the dark fire pit and spewed out a thin stream of fire so hot it was blue. The end of the stream hit the middle of the fire pit with precision, igniting the contents within. Bronwyn could see the results of what had just happened, but how, was taking time to make the connection with her logical brain. Whatever it was and how he did it was cool.

  “You still with me?” he asked.

  “Yep, still breathing. That was cool. You got more?”

  “You could say that is an understatement.”

  “Well then, get to sharing. I’m going to be fading fast in a few minutes. I’ve been ignoring Mr. Sandman’s calling my name for a few hours now.”

  That got a hearty laugh out of him.

  “Right, well nothing left to do but get to it then.”

  She watched as he stepped back into the open area of the lawn. The firelight from the pit and the moon were enough for her to see him with a good amount of clarity. Propped up and determined to handle whatever he threw her way, Bronwyn watched as the man she was falling for moved and contracted until he grew into a... Dragon!

  Spine stiff, eyes bugged and body humming with life-invigorating electricity, Bronwyn was transfixed by the sight. It was out of the dreams too many to count that she’d had all her life of a majestic slate blue Dragon. More beautiful and way larger than in any of her dreams, Mac, leaped taking to the sky with an ancient grace. Her mouth fell open as she watched him soar high. The thumping sounds his large wings made against the air tickled her ears with excitement.

  Bronwyn blinked and even pinched herself a few times as he made circles above, doing aerial loops and turns that might as well be air ballet. This couldn’t be. How could this be? Her fondest dreams that she’d chased for as long as she could remember were playing themselves out here tonight. Times at the orphanage when she wanted to run away, hide, or disappear, the dreams would come to save her. She’d dream of riding her Dragon high about the problems of the world. Her Dragon was strong, could and would protect her from any hurt, harm, or danger, and she loved him. That she’d always been certain of. Bronwyn was in love with her Dragon. Remembering to breathe here and there, she watched, wishing she could stand and run beneath him in joy.

  As if sensing her mounting excitement, Mac landed in a graceful descent in the same open area of the lawn. Bronwyn had to stop herself a few times from jumping up to meet him. Through the glistening fractals of tears, she could see life-bending magic swirling around him, putting everything, including his clothes, back into the man she knew as Mac. When he came close, tears of joy ran down her face without restraint.

  “Dear one, are you, all right?” he asked, kneeling close to wipe the tears from her face. Too emotional to speak, her head bobbed in a nod fueled by her vigorous excitement. “Aw, my dear one, did I frighten you?”

  “No,” she managed to get out. “You’re my Dragon. You’re real... and here right now.” She clasped his face between her hands. “You’ve been in my dreams forever.”

  He searched her face for a long moment, allowing her words to sink in.

  “You’re not afraid of what and who I am?” he asked, still hesitant.

  “Of course not! You’re my beautiful Dragon.”

  “You realize you called me your beautiful Dragon, correct?” She nodded again. “Good, that means I can call you my beautiful mate then. I told you I’m yours. I always have been. Based on your dreams, it seems my Dragon has been finding you in the dream realm for years.”

  “Yes, and I’m so... oh, I can’t put what this means into words. It’s, no, you’re an actual dream come true.”

  “Flattery will get you everything. Keep talking to me like this and I’ll lasso the stars and the moon for you.”

  Without thought or permission, Bronwyn brought her face close and planted a firm kiss on his lips. When she released him, she whispered, “I’ve loved you all my life, my Dragon. Are you able to do the same for me?”

  Storms cleared in those eyes of his to reveal the purest clarity. Expressive and intense in their hold, Mac held her gaze as he answered, “Always.” Then she was up in the air again. “I’m going to get you to bed, shower, and rest. We have a lot to talk about, process and figure out. For now, you need your rest, dear one.”

  She made no protest, happy to be in the arms of her Dragon.

  Chapter Thirteen

  MAC

  Out of the shower and dressed in a set of pajama bottoms instead of in the buff as he usually slept, Mac made it over to the bed where his mate had finally fallen asleep. He sat on the edge closest to her and watched her in what he hoped was tranquil rest. She’d called him her Dragon and said he’d come to her in her dreams throughout the years.

  As he’d showered, memories of tales of Dragons coming to their mates in dreams came to him. He thought he’d know if he was doing this but decided it might have been best if he hadn’t known. From what he could tell, he was at least ten years older than Bronwyn. She was young, maybe in her mid-twenties. This was the perfect time for them to meet. Had he known sooner, he was certain he’d have been that creepy stalker always watching from afar. That would have ruined his chances with her.

  As for her learning, he was a Dragon? In a million years, he wouldn’t have imagined how the revelation that he was one would turn out so well. Not only did she accept him, but she also loved him in his Dragon form. He sent a prayer of thanks up to the Goddess for that blessing. Tomorrow, he’d have to thank Danny as well for being right too.

  Moving away to make a place to sleep on his wide recliner next to the bed, Bronwyn stirred and grabbed his hand. Grogginess filled her words, but not enough for him to misunderstand what she said.

  “Not on the floor. Sleep with me here in the bed. I need you to hold me, my Dragon.”

  The smile that erupted barreled up from deep within to explode onto his face. No words had ever sounded so sweet to his ears.

  “Are you sure? I want you to get rest and be able to move about freely with your foot.”

  Again, she spoke, this time more lucid. “Shut up, Dragon, and come to me.” Bronwyn raised her arms, grabbing for him to join her in the bed.

  After asking her to clarify what she meant and laughing at her mounting frustration with his slowness to grant her request, he decided to join her in their bed. When he was certain she was aware of what she requested and not the powerful pain meds talking, he snuggled in on her other side, as to give her plenty of room to move her leg on that side. In response, she burrowed into him, her breathing returning to the deep, even pattern of sleep she’d kept before. He lay there in the dark stunned into compliance that she was certain about what she wanted—him next to her as she slept.

  This was life for him. Mac Kelnar had been well met with his greatest treasure—his mate. Allowing rest to overtake him, Mac drifted off to sleep cradling his mate in their bed. His life was grand.

  MORNING CAME FAST AND bright. Cracking open one eye, he woke to see an arm, brown like the finest Mahogany, thrown over his chest. The grin spread wide and fast across his face. His mate was in bed next to him. Her head was wedged into his side beneath his arm, and her right foot, encased in a soft cast was entwined with his left leg. It would appear his mate was an active sleeper. The laugh rumbled low in his chest.

  “Are you laughing at me?” she asked, voice tinged with sleep.

  “Yeah, sleep travel much?” he asked, laughing looking over to see how close to the edge of his side of the bed they were.

  Her head popped up, to look over at the edge of the bed. It took everything within him not to grab the precarious bun of hair that wobbled on the top of her head. He’d been fascinated with the ritual she’d engaged in last night of corralling and coaxing the sheer volume of her massive mane of curls into that bun and then wrapping a long scarf around it in and intricate assembly, only to see it hadn’t made the journey to stay on her head through the night.

  He was still considering where the scarf had ended up when soft, plump l
ips kissed his torso. That tiny gesture was the encouragement his cock needed to spring to life. Without the protection and barrier of space, he found himself pushing her back and away from him.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, still sleepy. “I’m feeling neglected and rejected again.”

  “Haha, well, if you don’t want to be bonded in mated with me now, you’ll stop with the kissing me, anywhere until I can put some distance between us.”

  Bronwyn propped an elbow up as she rested her head on it. The bun plopped over to hang like a sock puppet. The effect was enough for Mac to laugh and flick the bun with a finger.

  “Your hair is a personality onto its own,” he said, amazed at how the bun didn’t budge that much with his finger flick.

  “She is not amused,” Bronwyn said, swatting his fingers away. “Let’s get something straight. Do not touch her,” she pointed to her hair bun, “without permission. My hair is an entity unto herself. Think of her as the Venus Flytrap. She can’t be held responsible for what she might do if you continue to mess with her.”

  “Oh, like how she ate that long scarf you used to ‘tie her down’ as you called it last night?”

  “Shoot—not again.” Bronwyn sat up completely, patting her head and looking around. As if commencing on a snorkeling adventure, she dove under the bed covers to emerge victoriously. In her hand was the missing scarf. Some sort of way it had ended up at the foot of the bed embedded in the sheets. Tossing the scarf onto the night table on her side of the bed, when she turned back to him there was no mistaking raw hunger in her eyes. An apex predator two times over, he recognized primal lust. His mate had it in spades. He could see now that mornings waking with Bronwyn were going to be adventurous fun times.

  Cursing himself for doing the right thing, he jumped off the bed and turned a bit to hide his growing erection. It had been in the nick of time too, as the sneaky member was about to poke out of the slit in the front of those pajamas.