by M. A. Church
“That’s some fancy technology,” Avery said.
“It’s set in such a way that only living tissue will activate the locks.”
Avery stared at the panel. “Was that a retinal scan or an iris scan?”
“A retinal scan. It’s more invasive, but… well, one can’t be too safe.”
There was a beep and then a multitude of locks disengaged. Warwick opened the door and stepped through. He held his arm out, gesturing to the enormous room. “Welcome.”
Mouth open, Avery stepped inside. “By all the gods. Warwick, this is… this is… unbelievable.”
Warwick glanced around the room, trying to see it through Avery’s eyes. It was large enough to accommodate his dragon and possibly another one in the room. Instead of the stone that had been used to build his castle, these walls were steel. He had paid a ridiculous amount for the most technologically advanced security system he could find. In fact, it wasn’t available on the market. There were cameras throughout the climate-controlled space and a total of fifteen medieval-looking torches that had been wired to support present-day lighting. He’d also had recessed lighting installed in the ceiling.
Warwick shut the door and engaged the locks. He pulled Avery farther into the room. “I can count on one hand the people who I’ve allowed in this room.”
Avery stood in the middle and turned slowly in a circle. “Everywhere I look, something sparkles or twinkles. This is your hoard, isn’t it?” Avery breathed.
“It is. I want to share this with you.”
The shock on Avery’s face was priceless. “There’s so much… stuff. An ungodly amount of stuff.”
Warwick glanced around the room again. There were so many piles of gold coins, he couldn’t even count them, much less see the floor. Some of the piles were higher than Avery’s head. Statues on whitewashed pedestals were scattered around, along with beautiful works of art the world thought lost. A multitude of treasure chests were positioned throughout, the tops open to display the bounty inside. Precious gems blinked under the bright lights. Reds and greens, blues and yellows shone throughout the room.
Avery bent and picked up a ruby the size of his hand. “My gods.”
There were dozens and dozens of gold candlesticks, pure silver vases, ancient swords lying around, and so much more. Every last piece in the room, Warwick had collected through his lifetime.
Mesmerized, Avery turned to him. “Do you even know what the worth of all this stuff is?”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s mine.”
“I… I… I simply cannot comprehend all this. I mean, I’ve heard stories passed down through the centuries about dragons and their hoards. Seen movies and such, but… I never once believed it could truly be something this gigantic.”
Warwick tugged Avery over to a pile of gold coins. He wasn’t sure what they were—maybe Spanish bullion. He sat and pulled Avery down next to him.
“What are you doing?”
“I understand your ability is to take certain type of materials—like minerals and such—and identify what they are.”
“Well, yes. Why do you… oh.” Suddenly Avery laughed. “Oh, I get it. You want me to tell you—”
“I want to see you do it. I want to see you close your eyes, hold something, and tell me what it is.” Warwick cupped Avery’s chin. “I can say with all sincerity that I couldn’t think of a more perfect gift for an Omega who’s mated to me to have. Would you do this for me? Please? It would mean so much.”
“I… I… my gods. I always hated the fact that in this modern world, what I could do was useless.” Avery gulped. “But for a dragon….”
Warwick lowered his hand. “But for a dragon such as me, that gift is priceless.”
“Aw, man, I warned you about making me ugly cry.” Avery took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay, I can do this—would love to do this for you.” He closed his eyes and held his hand out. “I’m ready.”
Warwick reached down and picked something up. Why not start simple? He placed it in Avery’s hand.
“Hmm. Okay.” Avery weighed it in his hand. “I can tell this is definitely a transition metal. Certainly no elements of zinc, cadmium, or mercury, since those are usually not transition metals.” Avery grinned. “Not really surprised you’d hoard gold.”
Warwick tried not to gawk. “Listen to you.” Warwick rearranged his hard cock. “I’m getting hard just listening to you.”
Avery sniffed. “I can tell. This is a gold coin, but I don’t how old it is.”
“Very good. Damn, that’s impressive.” Warwick took the coin from Avery. “And I don’t impress easily.”
“Fussy dragon.” Avery smiled. “Thank you. Can I open my eyes?”
“No, not yet.” Warwick dropped the coin back onto the pile. He looked around the room until he found what he was looking for. He hurried over, picked it up, and brought it back to Avery. “Here you go.”
Avery held his hand out again, and Warwick placed the object in his palm.
Avery’s fingers closed over it. “Ah, yes. My mother would kill for this. This is carbon—highly organized carbon. Hard to believe something so lovely comes from coal. It’s a diamond.”
“They are more than a girl’s best friend, yes?”
“And a boy’s. A diamond is practically indestructible.”
“Amazing.” All this talk left Warwick wanting to throw Avery down on one of the gold piles and fuck his brains out.
Warwick took the diamond, which was the size of a large fist, and replaced it. He picked out several more things to give to Avery, who nailed what they were each and every time. He could do this all day, but Avery was beginning to wilt.
Warwick stood next to Avery, who was still sitting on the pile of gold coins. “Open your eyes, please.”
Avery did and glanced down at Warwick’s crotch, then back up. He grinned. “That got to you, huh?”
“Most definitely.” Warwick was tempted to kiss Avery but didn’t. If he did, they wouldn’t be leaving his treasure room for a long time. “You are utter perfection.”
Avery blushed. “Thank you. It’s nice to be able to use my gift in a way that means something. Maybe we could do this again?”
“Just as soon as I have a mattress moved down here.”
Avery chuckled. “Of course. Thank you for this. You made me feel… useful.”
Useful was something Warwick figured Avery needed to be. Bringing him here hadn’t been strictly for Warwick’s pleasure. It had been for Avery too, and he wasn’t done yet.
Warwick clasped Avery’s hand and kissed his knuckles. Holding hands in the middle of his hoard, he looked into Avery’s eyes. “One last thing before we go. I thought about what would be the perfect gift to give you after we mated.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to. I debated about giving you the only other CCXR Trevita in existence, but I still haven’t managed to talk the owner out of it.”
“Warwick, that’s not necessary. Your money isn’t what’s important to me.”
“I figured that out. So….” Still holding Avery’s hand, Warwick went down on one knee, surrounded by all of his treasures.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Avery whispered.
“A dragon’s hoard is all that is important to them, but I’ve come to find it’s not the most important thing. You are. You are the most important thing in this world to me. All that I have and all that I am is yours. I racked my mind trying to figure out what to give you since I couldn’t get the car.”
“But I don’t need anything. I have you.”
“You do. Have me, that is. While I was desperately searching for an inanimate object to give you, it finally dawned on me the most important thing I could give you was my heart. And that, my dear Omega, you have. I love you.”
Avery stood shocked, his eyes blinking. “Oh gods!” He threw himself at Warwick, and they toppled over. Gold coins clinked and rattled together as Warwick and Avery settled onto them. The
other treasures surrounding them sparkled in the bright lights. “You damn dragon, I love you too.”
Finally giving into temptation, Warwick kissed Avery. All the pretty, shiny metal and priceless works of art… all the antiquities didn’t matter to him as long as he had Avery.
Without love, none of it meant anything.
M.A. CHURCH is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full-time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!
When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.
She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Contact M.A.:
Blog: machurch00.blogspot.com
Twitter: @nomoretears00
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Church/173797619379487
The Harvest FB fan page: www.facebook.com/#!/theharvest00
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5141393.M_A_Church
Amazon: www.amazon.com/M.A.-Church/e/B007A8JA4C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Email: [email protected]
Coming in November 2017
Dreamspun Beyond #7
Camp H.O.W.L. by Bru Baker
Moonmates exist, but getting together is going to be a beast.
When Adrian skipped his “werewolf puberty,” he assumed he was—somehow—human. But he was wrong, and he’s about to go through his Turn with a country between him and his pack, scared, alone—and eight years too late.
Dr. Tate Lewis’s werewolf supremacist father made his Turn miserable, and now Tate works for Camp H.O.W.L to ease the transition for young werewolves. He isn’t expecting to offer guidance to a grown man—or find his moonmate in Adrian. Tate doesn’t even believe in the legendary bond; after all, his polygamist father claimed five. But it’s clear Adrian needs him, and if Tate can let his guard down, he might discover he needs Adrian too.
A moonmate is a wolf’s missing piece, and Tate is missing a lot of pieces. But Adrian is up to the challenge.
Dreamspun Beyond #8
Ante Up by Kim Fielding
Love is a high-stakes game.
A century and a half ago, Ante Novak died on a Croatian battlefield—and rose three days later as a vampire. Now he haunts Las Vegas, stealing blood and money from drunken gamblers and staying on the fringe of the powerful vampire organization known as the Shadows. His existence feels empty and meaningless until he meets beautiful Peter Gherardi, who can influence others with his thoughts.
An attraction flares instantly, bringing life to Ante’s dead heart. But the Shadows want Peter too, and they’re willing to kill to get him. As Ante and Peter flee, they learn more about themselves and each other, and they discover that the world is a stranger place than either of them imagined. With enemies at their heels and old mistakes coming back to exact a price, can Ante and Peter find sanctuary?
Don’t Miss Dreamspun Beyond!
Love Always Finds a Way
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Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Dragon’s Hoard
© 2017 M.A. Church.
Cover Art
© 2017 Aaron Anderson.
[email protected]
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63533-879-9
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-880-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017905516
Published October 2017
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
