Guardian Dragons of Prospect Falls: (A Paranormal Shifter Romance)

by Serena Meadows

  Knowing that Molly would be worried sick, he abandoned his thoughts and started for the cabin. He’d calm her down, tell another lie, then spend the night on the porch just in case the demon came back. The lights inside the cabin looked warm and inviting in the dark night, and the thought of Molly curled up in his bed made his blood begin to pound through his veins.

  Thinking about the kiss he’d give her when he got inside, he let the demon slip his mind, his passion boiling just at the surface, making him sloppy. The demon and its stench appeared at the same moment, and he stood paralyzed as it grunted and snuffled, pulling in his scent. He waited for it to materialize, but it snorted and growled deep in its throat as if disgusted, then the shimmering air mass turned and headed for the cabin.

  He ran around the demon and blocked its path, pulling on his gift to shift just as a wave of shimmering air reached out and knocked him off his feet. Sucking in a deep breath of air, he shifted and drove the demon back into the trees, his wings beating against the shimmering air. Shrieking, the demon backed into the trees, then Adam struck, flying at the demon and burying first his long talons and then his razor-sharp beak into its flesh, not needing to see the thing to kill it.

  The sound of it tumbling to the ground, and the cloud of acrid smoke that appeared in the air, told him that he’d killed it, but he held his shift just a few minutes longer. His lungs burned, and he had a terrible taste in his mouth, but he knew that Molly was safe for the night. Tomorrow, he’d get her off the mountain and back to the farm where the demons never dared to tread. Stumbling back out of the trees, he headed for the warm light of the cabin, but to his horror, Molly was standing on the porch staring at him, a shotgun in her hands.

  ***Molly***

  Molly rocked back and forth, looking around the room, trying to distract herself from thinking about Adam all alone out there facing a bear, but it wasn’t working. She hadn’t noticed that the room had no windows the last time she’d been there; now she couldn’t see what was happening outside, and it was driving her crazy. The longer she sat there, the more she began to feel trapped, and it wasn’t long before she was climbing down from the bed and slowly creeping toward the door.

  Adam hadn’t told her she had to stay in the bedroom, only the house, she decided, reaching for the doorknob and turning it slowly. She’d just slip down the hallway and look through the windows to see what was happening and then go back to the bedroom and lock the door again. Not knowing was driving her crazy, and if he got in trouble, she’d never know, shut away like she was.

  The cabin was quiet as she crept down the hallway and into the living room; only the sound of the clock ticking interrupted the silence. She wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one but kept going until she could see out the window into the forest around the cabin. Adam was standing halfway to the trees that surrounded the cabin, staring into the forest, but she couldn’t see anything from where she was.

  She sighed with relief, but then suddenly, Adam went flying through the air and landed in a heap on the ground. Screaming his name, she watched, barely able to breath, sure that he was dead, then his chest rose as he took in a deep breath of air, and he was on his feet again. Sobbing with relief, she looked around the clearing, unable to see what had attacked him, but unwilling to let him face it alone.

  Heading for the door, she spotted a gun rack on the wall and stopped to stare at the weapons, weighing her options. Briefly wondering why Adam hadn’t taken one, she pulled one down, cringing slightly at its weight, but as she held the shotgun, she realized that it felt familiar in her hands. Trying not to think about it too much, she popped it open, saw it was loaded, and headed for the front door; she wasn’t sure how or when she’d learned, but she knew how to fire the gun.

  She slipped outside, hugging the wall of the cabin, making her way around to where she’d seen Adam, but when she turned the corner, he wasn’t there. Her breathing was loud in the quiet of the night, but as she stood watching the woods, she heard muffled cries, then a high-pitched wail that made her blood run cold. It wasn’t long before the stench of rotten eggs came floating to her on the breeze, but she barely noticed, her only thought of Adam.

  She was just about to go look for him when he came stumbling out of the woods; the temptation to run to him nearly overwhelmed her, but she resisted. Adam limped to the porch, his face getting stormier with each step he took. “What are you doing out here? And with that?” he demanded. “I told you to stay in the house.”

  “I know how to use this,” she said. “And I wasn’t going to let you get killed.”

  “I had everything under control,” he said, but his knees were trembling, and she could feel it.

  “Let’s get you in the house and see how badly you’re hurt,” she said, ignoring the way he was glaring at her as she ducked under his arm, the shotgun still tucked under the other one. When he didn’t move, she said, “Unless you want to stay out here.”

  He made a grumbling sound in his throat. “I hope you have the safety on that thing,” he finally said, leaning on her as they made their way to the door.

  “I told you I know how to use it,” she said. “By the way, it’s not exactly safe to keep it loaded all the time.”

  He laughed, then winced like it hurt. “You’re giving me a lecture right now?” he asked.

  Molly shrugged. “I’m not sure what else to say; you scared me, Adam,” she said. “I was watching out the window, I saw you fly across the yard, but by the time I got outside, you were gone. I thought it dragged you away.”

  “Well, as you can see, I’m fine, and it’s not,” he said, grinning at her. “I just need a shower and I’ll be good as new.”

  “Not until I get a look at those scratches,” she said, helping him down the hallway to the bedroom. “Sit down on the bed and take your shirt off.”

  “Those are words I never thought I’d hear come out of your mouth,” he said, grinning at her, “and as much as I’d love to obey that request, I think I’d better take a shower.”

  Molly felt her cheeks turning pink. “I’ll be waiting right here for you,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  She paced back and forth across the bedroom, listening to the sound of the shower running, thinking about how close she’d come to losing Adam, how close she’d come to missing out on something that could be wonderful. When she’d watched him fly through the air, she’d known that all the time she’d wasted being scared of what she felt for him had been a waste.

  That’s why she’d grabbed the gun and ran out into the night, heedless of the danger to herself; she had to make up for wasted time. Memories or not, it was time to listen to her instincts; she of all people should have known how quickly something precious could be taken away. A huge weight seemed to lift from her shoulders with her decision, and delicious tendrils of pleasure made her shiver with anticipation.

  Chapter Thirteen

  ***Adam***

  Adam shut the bathroom door and leaned against it, sucking in huge gulps of air, every muscle in his body throbbing. His arms burned like they were on fire where the demon had scratched him, and he was caked with mud and leaves. Stripping off his ruined clothes, making the stench of rotten eggs fill the room, he shoved them into a trash bag, tied it shut, and shoved it into the garbage.

  After turning on the water, he limped over to the sink and looked at himself, wincing when he saw the scratches beginning to fester. It had been a while since he’d let a demon get to him, and he’d almost forgotten just how much it hurt. He’d have to use the salve on the wounds, or they’d never heal, but he wanted hot water and good old-fashioned soap on them first.

  Standing in the hot spray, he let himself relive the moment he’d seen Molly standing on the porch, feeling both panic and anger; he discovered just a bit of respect in there too. She hadn’t listened to him, but she had come to help him, toting a gun almost as big as her, but clearly ready to use it.

  A smile spread across his face,
but it disappeared quickly when he realized just how dangerous it had been for her to come outside. His friend’s warnings echoed through his mind, and he knew that he had to get her back to the farm first thing in the morning. Not only had he put her in danger, but having her there was distracting him. Worse yet, he realized that his lie was part of the problem as well; if he hadn’t chased Michael away, he’d have been there and seen the demon before it got to the cabin.

  Banging his hand against the wall of the shower, he cursed his stupidity. He’d made a bigger mess than they’d had before. Suddenly, all the lies he’d told Molly didn’t seem so little anymore, and he wished he’d told her the truth from the beginning, or at least some of the truth. That was when he realized that all of the truth would shock her, and he understood why shifters and humans so rarely intermixed.

  Feeling as if the situation was impossible, he scrubbed every inch of his body, trying to rid himself of the demon smell, then slowly dried off. He put the salve on the scratches, wincing when it burned at first, then covered the wounds with bandages, exhaustion hammering at him. The wounds on his arms would heal by morning, but the ache he felt in his chest would take much longer to go away.

  Thinking only of his bed, he came out of the bathroom to find Molly pacing back and forth. “I was beginning to get worried,” she said when she saw him. “Are you okay?”

  “Fit as a fiddle,” he said, then laughed at the confusion on her face, a little of his despair melting away. “I’m fine, Molly; you can go back to bed now.”

  “What if I said I didn’t want to?” she asked, taking a couple of steps towards him, the look in her eyes making his heart begin to pound.

  Adam was suddenly very aware that Molly had nothing on but a long tee-shirt and a pair of her lacey panties, and he had to swallow a few times. “Umm, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, Molly,” he said, stepping back.

  “I realized something tonight when I thought that bear got you,” she said, coming closer. “I’ve been wasting time, ignoring the only thing that’s clear to me right now, and that’s you, Adam.”

  He was lost in the passion in her eyes, so lost he almost didn’t fight her at all, but then the lies he told and the promise he’d just made himself penetrated that fog. “Molly, you don’t understand; there are still so many things you don’t know,” he tried, desperately looking for a way out that wouldn’t result in having to tell the truth or openly reject her.

  She closed the distance between them and stood looking up at him, her nipples just grazing his chest, the thin fabric of her shirt hiding very little. “I don’t care about any of that anymore; either my memory will come back or it won’t, but nothing is going to change the way I feel about you right now.”

  He was rooted to the spot, unable to move, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to; the moment he’d been thinking about since the first time he saw Molly was finally happening. But that little nagging voice in his head wasn’t ready to give in, and he found himself trying one more time.

  Forcing himself not to touch her, he took a deep breath, feeling the heat between them, and said, “Molly, there are things I haven’t told you, things that might make you change your mind.”

  She reached up and stroked his cheek. “For just one night, let’s not worry about all that,” she said. “I almost lost you tonight, and I don’t want to waste any more time. I’ve wasted too much already. Life is unpredictable, Adam, we both know that, and I think it’s time I stopped worrying about the past and enjoyed the present. Will you help me do that?”

  ***Molly***

  When Adam didn’t answer right away, she reached out with trembling hands and stroked the hard muscles of his chest. She felt his body go rigid at her touch and almost pulled her hands back, her cheeks turning pink. But he groaned deep in his throat and said, “Molly, I don’t think you know what you’re asking.”

  She stepped back, the passion in his voice driving her forward, her embarrassment forgotten, and pulled her tee-shirt over her head. Adam’s eyes filled with desire as they took in her full breasts and taut nipples, then dipped lower to the lace panties. Her heart pounding in her chest, each breath coming a little quicker, she stripped the scrap of fabric off and dropped it to the floor.

  Adam growled but didn’t move, his eyes roaming over her body making her insides clench almost painfully until she was forced to go to him. But as soon as she was in arm’s reach, he grabbed her and pulled her to him. He brought his mouth down on hers in a kiss that was both demanding and gentle, and she pushed all her doubts and fears aside, abandoning herself to his kiss.

  Pressed tightly to his chest, her swollen breasts tingling with pleasure, she kissed him back. Nipping playfully at his lips, him teasing her with his tongue, she was all too aware that the only thing between them was the towel. When she reached between them and pulled it away, Adam’s erection sprang free and she found it with her hands, making him groan and a thrill wash over her at her ability to please him. But he didn’t give her long to explore the throbbing power that rested in her hands.

  “As wonderful as that feels, sweetheart, it feels just a bit too good,” he said, taking her wrists and pulling her hands away.

  She felt her cheeks beginning to turn pink, but Adam swept her into his arms, carried her over to the bed, and set her on her feet next to it. “Did you ever wonder why this bed is so high?” he asked, his finger tracing a path from her ear down her neck and across her chest.

  “Mmmm, I didn’t...” her words trailed off as his thumb and finger teased first one nipple then the other.

  “Well, there is a very good reason, and I’m going to show it to you,” he said. “But you have to trust me.”

  Molly’s body was throbbing with need as his hands massaged her breasts, but she heard the question in his voice and forced herself to focus on his eyes. They were full of raw need, but underneath, she saw something else, a tenderness that melted her heart and made her knees go weak. Realizing that she wasn’t the only one who was vulnerable, a wave of dizziness washed over her, followed by an intense feeling of love.

  “I trust you, Adam,” she said, her voice husky with passion.

  He reached down and lifted her onto the bed, then kissed her, standing between her legs, his erection pressing against her. When she reached for him, he stepped back, then gently pushed her down onto her back with her legs still hanging over the side of the bed. Heart pounding, body throbbing, she closed her eyes when he knelt between her legs, then gently spread them apart.

  He ran his fingers lightly over the soft skin of her inner thigh, and she spread her legs even farther, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. But it vanished the instant his hot tongue slid over her swollen nib and his finger slid inside her throbbing core, releasing a wave of pleasure so powerful, she cried out his name. With each lap of his tongue and thrust of his finger, the feeling grew in intensity until she tumbled over the edge.

  As she lay trembling, the waves of pleasure still pounding through her, he stood, grabbed her by the hips, and pulled her to the edge of the bed. When she felt the hard tip of his swollen manhood pressing against her opening, her body flooded with moisture and anticipation made it difficult to breathe. She opened her eyes to find him watching her, his eyes filled with not only desire, but love, and the dizzy feeling washed over her again.

  He slid into her slowly, filling her inch by inch, his eyes locked on hers until he was buried deeply, then slid back out and with one powerful thrust of his hips, and filled her again. Hands gripping her hips, he thrust into her over and over, his muscular legs driving him into her welcoming body until she cried with pleasure as the waves consumed her once again.

  Deep inside her, she felt him throbbing, felt the moment when his satisfaction came, and her body responded by taking her to the heights of passion once again. With one final thrust of his hips that buried him deeper than ever before, he emptied himself inside Molly, her name escaping his lips. When their bodies finally stilled, Adam pulled
Molly into his arms and stood holding her, still buried deep inside her, until their breathing returned to normal.

  He pulled back the covers, helped her into bed, then got in next to her and pulled her into his arms with a pleased sigh. Molly cuddled up next to him, floating on a cloud of happiness, then closed her eyes and sighed herself. There was so much she wanted to say, but she was too tired to form the words, and she felt so secure in Adam’s arms that there didn’t seem any reason to hurry. She’d tell him she loved him when they woke up in the morning, she decided, and let the mist of sleep take her away.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ***Adam***

  Adam woke with Molly still in his arms, her breasts pressed up against his side, and felt his body begin to stir, but guilt quickly doused the feeling. He should have resisted her; he knew that. Now, what had been a mess was a total disaster and he’d have to face her all day knowing what was coming. But she stirred in his arms, opened her eyes, and looked at him, her eyes full of love, and he pushed those thoughts away.

  He still had one day with her, and he wasn’t going to waste it worrying about how she was going to take the news that he’d lied. “Good morning,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Better than I have in a long time,” she said, stretching and sitting up in bed, then quickly pulled the covers over her chest and asked, “What time is it?”

  “Well, I’d say it’s time you stopped hiding those from me,” he said, his voice full of amusement.

  She turned around and looked at him. “Adam, I’m serious.”

  He reached over and pulled her down onto her back, leaned up on one elbow, and looked down at her. “So am I,” he said, slowly pulling the blankets down.