Dragon Whelps: Earth Dragons Series: Book 3

by Hartnady, Charlene

  It was too soon.

  Far too soon to say. She needed to calm herself down. The fact of the matter was, she had no idea who Shale was. Not really. Maybe he was the kind of guy who made rash decisions and then regretted them. Maybe he wasn’t someone you could count on. He could be a huge liar. Then again maybe he was the opposite of all those things. Maybe he was father material.

  Stop!

  Georgia saved the cover she was working on. It was for a particularly difficult romance author. She liked the guys on the cover to be both buff and good-looking. Not an easy ask. In the end, Georgia had ended up meshing two guys. The image needed more work. She’d tackle it after her meeting with Shale. Hopefully, she’d be able to think a little more clearly then.

  Irritatingly, she found herself applying make-up. Why? She was meeting Shale for tea at one of the local coffee shops in town. It was nothing. They needed to talk, and yet there she was applying lip gloss and mascara. It wasn’t like Shale was going to look at her like that, in this state, and even if she wasn’t pregnant, she shouldn’t care about how Shale looked at her, period. He wasn’t even her type, beyond that one night. Sure, he was gorgeous, but that’s where his attributes ended. He had been sweet, though, that night. And funny. But mainly really sweet. Probably because he wanted to get in her pants. It hadn’t been just that, had it? Georgia pushed out a breath, thinking back on their time together.

  The drive to the hotel lasted all of a few minutes. Shale swiped his key card in the slot while Georgia quickly typed a message to Macy, telling her friend where she was. Namely, in the same hotel block. At least, this way, if something sinister happened to her, Macy would know where she was and who she was with. Not that she was afraid, although maybe she should be. Shale was huge. He wasn’t scary in the least, though.

  He had held her hand on the way to his car. A big, black SUV. He’d helped her in and hadn’t touched her once since leaving the bar. Not so much as a finger. He stepped to the side, giving her space to enter his hotel room. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go back to your place?” His deep voice was loud in the empty hallway. “You seem nervous.”

  “I am…just a little. It’s not you or anything. Like I said earlier, I don’t normally do things like this.”

  “Your place then, instead? Maybe you’ll feel more comfortable?” He raised his brows.

  She shook her head. Georgia would rather he didn’t know where she stayed. This was neutral ground. It might also be because she didn’t want him to see her tiny apartment and her threadbare sofa. Her sheets were a horrible, faded yellow. It had been a year or more since they were a crisp white. “This is fine.” She smiled.

  “Probably better.” He threw her a cocky smile.

  “How so?” she asked, looking at him skeptically. Where was he going with this?

  Shale leaned forward just a little. “We wouldn’t want your neighbors to hear you screaming. They’d never look at you the same again.”

  Her mouth fell open for a second. Then she scowled at him. “Screaming? I’m not sure I like where this is going. At least my neighbors would call the cops if you were—”

  “Not that kind of screaming, Texas. I assure you.” He leaned a little closer still.

  She could feel his heat. Her mouth felt dry all of a sudden. “Oh…um…I think I know what you’re trying to tell me.” She licked her lips, her nerves hitting her hard.

  “No pressure,” he quickly added. “We don’t have to do anything if—”

  It wasn’t easy considering how damn tall he was, but she reached up and planted her lips on his. He groaned and circled his arms around her.

  He broke the kiss. “Yeah, we could make out. That would be good too.” He picked her up. As in, off the ground. It didn’t seem like it was any effort to him at all. His tongue clashed with hers and another zing of lust rushed through her. It emanated from her clit and spread out through her body. She clutched his biceps. They were thick and hard, like the rest of him. It had been so long since she had been touched like this. Too long. Her nerve-endings were already firing on all cylinders and he had hardly done anything yet. Make that, he hadn’t done anything yet. What had she signed up for? Possibly more than she could handle.

  He walked her into the hotel room, in his arms. Carrying. Her. The door closed behind them with a soft click.

  “Let’s sit here,” he said between kisses.

  Georgia cracked open her eyes. “Holy shit!” she breathed out the words rather than said them. They were high up. Then again, the elevator had gone up and up. She’d been too busy with that text to Macy to take much notice. The view was stunning. Who knew little Dalton Springs, lit up at night, could look so good? Beyond the town was mostly black. And then there was the moon. Large and round, hanging from the sky. Also, this was more of an apartment than a hotel room. They were in the living area. Shale was about to lower them onto the sofa.

  “Wouldn’t a bed be better?” Her voice had a desperate edge, but she was feeling too aroused to care. She pulled back so that she could look him in the eyes. Well, sort of look him in the eyes. Shale hadn’t turned the lights on, so she could barely see, but she could make out his face. She could feel his breath mingle with hers as well. His chest heaved against her. “Kissing sounds great, but I also want some good old-fashioned sex, so I think that maybe the bedroom would be better.” A jumble of words. She’d never felt more nervous in her life. “Although I might miss that view.”

  “I’ll give you something else to look at.” Then he chuckled. “That came out sounding corny.”

  She laughed as well.

  “I’m thankful we’re on the same page here. I want sex as well. So badly! I also want you happy and at ease. There is no pressure.”

  “I am at ease.” Her words were still breathless. How could they not be, she had her arms around his shoulders. His very broad shoulders. Shale was sweet for a player. It was unexpected. He started walking.

  “We’ll take it slow,” he murmured against her lips before taking back her mouth. “At least at first.”

  “Good, because I think I want hard and fast.” Where did that come from? She wasn’t normally this bold. Her clit throbbed at the groan that came from him. It had a growly edge that did it for her.

  “Shit.” He put her down on the bed. “You are so fucking gorgeous, Iowa.”

  She giggled. “Not that you can see me. It’s pitch-black in here.” She leaned back with her hands on the bed behind her.

  She could hear Shale walk along the side of the bed. There was a clicking noise and soft light filled the tiny space. It was beautiful. A huge bed. Big fluffy pillows. White bedding and sheets. White!

  “You like the room?” he asked.

  “Yes, it’s amazing. All for a martial arts convention.” She whistled.

  He shrugged. “We got a good deal because there are so many of us.”

  Shale smiled. Those dimples. Oh, lord. Then he removed his torn shirt and all she could focus on was his abs and that V thing just above his low-riding jeans. Oh, and the bulge in those jeans. It was big, he was really big. Everywhere. She wanted him. If she was honest with herself, she had since she had first seen him. He toed off his boots and began to unclasp his jeans.

  “Wait.” She put up a hand. “Stop,” she added on a whisper.

  He turned serious. That burning in his eyes instantly extinguished. “Have you changed your mind? It’s okay if you have.”

  She shook her head. “I want to do it.” She pointed at his pants, feeling her mouth curve into a smile. She was feeling wicked. That, and very bold. You would think she’d had more to drink than just half a glass of wine.

  Shale looked down at the ground for a beat before locking eyes with her, his sexy mouth was curved into a seductive smile. “You want to undress me?” He raised his brows, looking hotter than anything or anyone she had ever seen before. Ever.

  She nodded. Georgia so wanted to do it for him. There was something freeing about this. She was neve
r going to see Shale again.

  He grinned. “Well, okay then.” He moved to stand in front of her.

  Georgia just stood there for a few seconds taking him in. All of him. Every hard line. She eventually gripped the top button in her fingers, which shook just a little. Nerves and excitement all rolled into one.

  His throat worked as she began to pluck each one open. Georgia slowly slid his jeans down. It was like unwrapping a present. A long-awaited gift… just for her. His shaft sprang free.

  Oh, man.

  Commando! His penis was a thing of beauty. Long and thick. It slanted a little to the left. His head was large. As in triple-XL. For once in her life, she was thankful for being a little bigger than most girls. She wouldn’t break easily.

  A surge of need tugged at her and she rose up, taking his head into her mouth. It just happened. Again. She wasn’t sure what had come over her. She and Tate had dated for weeks before they’d had sex for the first time. It had been two or three months before she’d plucked up the courage to give him head. It wasn’t something she enjoyed, and yet, right then, in that moment, all she wanted was to suck Shale off. To hear him groan. To watch him tense up and his eyes squeeze shut. To feel him vibrate with need. She took him deeper in her mouth. The taste of salty pre-come hit her tongue. Oh god, even his come tasted good. This guy was too much and not nearly enough.

  Shale cursed softly and cupped her cheeks. “No,” he growled. She was forced to release him with a soft pop. “We’ll save that for later, Kentucky.” He bobbed his brow, his smile was tense and needy. “I won’t last with your mouth on me. I haven’t fucked in a while. I’m…” He groaned, low and deep. “My balls are already in my throat from wanting you so badly. I think I’ll save it for when I’m buried deep inside you.” His eyes smoldered.

  That was both the dirtiest and sexiest thing anyone had ever said to her. She swallowed hard and nodded once.

  “Can I undress you now?” he asked, his gaze hesitant. His eyes had a soft look of concern. The rest of him was tense with need. His cock jutted from between his hips. Shale kicked his own jeans the rest of the way off as he spoke.

  She nodded and then laughed when he lifted his eyes to the ceiling and said a prayer of thanks. He was so cute and sweet and sexy…and hung like an ox.

  “Don’t run away screaming when you see my hairy legs.” Her voice quivered a little. Georgia had felt bold not a minute ago. Right then, not so much. What if he didn’t like what he saw? It was a possibility. A guy like this probably only ever slept with supermodels. She wondered, for the tenth time, why he had picked her up.

  Shale sat down next to her. He hooked an arm around her waist. “I told you I don’t give a shit about any of that. I want to look at you… every last inch of you.” He dropped a kiss on the side of her mouth.

  Oh, god help her. This piece of man-perfection wanted to look at her. “Um… sheew… every inch, huh?” No. No. No. “Look, I’m curvy. More curvy than most of the women in that bar. That means I have…” She’d been about to say stretch-marks and cellulite, but he interrupted her before she could do so.

  Shale growled. “I had noticed your curves. Believe me on that one, Nevada.” He winked at her. “I think that you’re sexy as fuck.” His voice was deep and gravely. Even more so than normal. His dick jutted out from between his thighs. His muscular thighs. This guy worked out. A lot.

  “I don’t exercise. At all,” she blurted, wishing she could take it back when she saw his eyes narrow. She felt like such an idiot. She was supposed to take this sexy guy home and screw his brains out, leaving before sunrise without a care in the world for a few short hours. Yet, here she was second-guessing herself. Shale hadn’t signed up for this. He wasn’t a shrink. What was wrong with her? Why didn’t she just take her clothes off and go at it? So what if he had second thoughts. She wasn’t having any. No way!

  “I don’t care about any of that. I’m very attracted to you. Look at me.” He glanced down. “I’m feeling a little apprehensive myself.”

  “You are?” That couldn’t be true.

  His eyes locked back with hers. “I’m not sure I’m going to last very long buried inside you.” His jaw tightened. “I might just embarrass myself.”

  Her cheeks heated. He was sweet. Not at all what she expected.

  “I want you, Kansas, you.” He smiled. “I might not know your actual name, but I know that much. Do you understand that?” He made a soft noise of frustration. “I think that you are beautiful and sexy.” His hand slipped beneath her shirt, but he kept it on her back. His fingers felt hot against her skin. “I love your wild tangle of hair. Your eyes are beautiful. I know for a fact that I’m going to love everything you are hiding beneath these clothes. Fucking love.” He kissed her lips, softly and gently. “I happen to be a ‘tits and ass’ kind of a guy. If there’s a side order of hips and thighs, all the better. You’ll need to believe me on that.”

  His tongue breached her mouth and she kissed him back like her life depended on it. A deep rumble vibrated from his chest. Shale began to slowly lift her shirt and she must have tensed or something because he stopped.

  He cupped her cheek with his big hand. “Let’s make out. I’m sure I can make you come without taking any of your clothes off.” He winked. “Multiple times.”

  Her pussy clenched. It all out clenched, and a zing of need rushed through her.

  His nostrils flared and his eyes seemed to darken. “I mean it.” His voice was deeper, so much more sexy. “We can take this slow. We don’t even have to have sex.” He said it like it pained him to get the words out.

  “I definitely want sex. I’m sorry for being so…” She shrugged.

  “You’ve never done this before. It’s normal for you to be apprehensive.” He paused. “I can see that you’re stressed about something. I’m sure that’s affecting you as well.”

  He was intuitive. “You’re right, and I normally know someone quite well before… I feel like an idiot.” She rubbed her face.

  “It’s important that you know that you’re driving me crazy, Kentucky.” He gave her a sexy half-smile that brought out his dimples. “Crazy.” He widened his eyes and exhaled through his nose.

  She giggled.

  “Still haven’t picked the right state yet, have I?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not telling.”

  “I’m going to undress you now and I need you to know that I’m going to love everything I see.”

  “How can you possibly know that?” She felt her smile widen.

  “Trust me, Virginia, I know! I’m taking off your clothes and then I’m going to go down on you. I am going to love tasting that sweet pussy of yours.”

  Oh, god.

  Help me.

  Kill me now.

  Shale put a hand on her thigh and she almost jumped out of her skin. “I don’t care about a bit of hair, and curves happen to be my favorite thing, along with redheads named after a state.” He was so sweet. “Redheads who wreck shirts are my all-time and absolute favorite of them all.”

  She laughed. “You do know that only two percent of the world’s population have red hair.”

  “Is that so, Tennessee?”

  She nodded, still smiling. The muscles around her mouth actually hurt. It had been so long since she had smiled this much. Her muscles weren’t used to it.

  “Then you know my struggle is real.” His eyes moved down the length of her. They heated as they did. His chest rose and fell in quick succession. He seemed genuinely attracted to her.

  Georgia licked her lips. “You can undress me now.” Her voice was steady. “Don’t you dare laugh at my freckles…I have them everywhere. I’m also a natural redhead, so…”

  Chapter 8

  Laugh?

  What the fuck?

  Someone had been feeding this female bullshit. He wanted to find the dickhead and put his fist down the male’s throat. Shale had to force himself to unclench his fists. “There will be no laughing or runni
ng or anything other than staring because I am going to love the fuck out of your naked body. Look at me.” He wished he knew her real name. He wanted to look her in the eyes and say it. He wanted her to believe him enough to let him show her that he meant every word he was saying. “Look at what you do to me.” He pointed to his hard-as-nails dick. “I want you… just as you are.”

  She swallowed hard and nodded once. “Okay, then.” She grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head.

  He kept his eyes on hers. Not wanting to scare her. “There,” he pressed his lips to hers, whispering against them, “that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  She shook her head. Shale kissed the hell out of her lips. Her soft, honeysuckle lips. He could kiss her all damned night. She allowed him to maneuver her so that she was lying down. He kept his weight on his arms, which he bracketed on either side of her. He kept his body, his cock, off her for now, not wanting to scare her. A dragon shifter dick, his dick, was a scary thing to a human female.

  “Delicious,” he murmured as he moved to kiss her neck. She arched into him and made a soft moaning noise. Her full breasts mashed up against his chest. He could feel her hard nipples through her bra.

  “Can I touch you a little?”

  “Mmm, what?” Her voice was dazed. Great! That meant she was relaxing. He hoped he hadn’t screwed that up.

  “I’d really like to cup those gorgeous breasts of yours. I’ve been working really hard at not ogling them…it tends to put females off.”

  She giggled.

  “I’m sure you’re used to males staring at your chest, instead of looking you in your eyes, gorgeous as they are.”