Dragon Reign: A Paranormal Love Tale

by Pressley James

  Unfortunately, remnants of the nightmare plagued her.

  “No, what do you want? Get away from me,” she whispered helplessly as she turned. The sheet fell lower, revealing the sheer, white chemise that swathed her curvaceous form. “Xander, I need you.”

  Even in the darkness, her feverish gaze was glazed over as she rose up in the bed. With trembling hands, breathing fast, she reached out, and only the elegantly designed foot railing separated them as he halted.

  “No, I’m not going with you. Let me go! No,” she moaned again, dropping her hands as she fell back against the pillows. She fisted the satin sheet tightly as she twisted in the bed. A single tear slipped free as she whispered, “Xander, please don’t let him take me. Please.”

  Quickly, he moved to her side.

  “You’re not alone,” he whispered. “Baby, I’m here.”

  With an unsteady hand, he reached out.

  Suddenly, hesitating, he dropped his hand.

  She was beginning to mean too much to him. Even in this short amount of time. And soon, he’d be a danger to them both.

  Crying softly, she whispered again. “Xander, I need you.”

  Taking a shaky breath, he edged closer. “Shhh---I’m here. I won’t let him hurt you. I promise.”

  Though, she hadn’t awakened from the nightmare, she reached for him. “I need you. I need you.” And as she grasped his hand, the breath lodged in his chest. Her beautiful features softened. “Don’t go,” she pleaded softly, coming up in the bed. “Please, don’t go.”

  With a gentleness that stunned even him, he cupped her face. “I’ll never leave you.”

  What’s wrong with you, he mulled, stiffening in shock.

  Pull away.

  Go now while you still have some semblance of yourself.

  The bed sagged under his weight as he sat down. Like it was only natural, they went into each other arms, and again, he couldn’t shake the sense that they both realized that they were home. Sighing with contentment, relaxing against him, she rested her head against his chest. Tightening his hold, he hugged her close. “I’ll defy everything to protect you---everything.”

  Closing his eyes, he clenched his jaw tight.

  Would things have been different if they’d met in a different lifetime?

  A different world?

  Then, would they’ve stood a chance?

  A real chance……

  “Xander,” she mumbled again, snuggling closer. But, still, her mind was still lost in the mind space of their earlier struggle with the vamp. “Please stay.”

  He closed his eyes against the warring emotions.

  She was perfect.

  All woman.

  Untouched.

  He was the last thing that she’d ever need.

  That thought was enough to jolt him back to reality.

  She whimpered softly as he pulled away. But, she didn’t awaken as he lowered her onto the bed and pulled the covers back over her.

  Quietly, he stood.

  He glanced at the clock.

  3:30 a.m.

  Just a few hours until daylight.

  And then, she’d be safe, not even realizing that he’d been here.

  Like all the other nights he’d protected her.

  In seconds, he was perched on her alcove again.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  What the new day would bring…who knew?

  Chapter 4

  At 7:30 am, the following morning, the alarm clock shrilled.

  She groaned in protest before slapping at the clock. “No, it can’t be time to get up.”

  To her relief, the shrilling sound was silenced with quiet. But, still, it’d been enough to jar her from sleep, she frowned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  She sat up before resting against the headboard. She combed a hand through her mussed hair, and then toyed with the chemise’s thin strap. “I’m so tired. Why does it feel like I’ve been hit with a mass truck?”

  In a blinding rush, last night’s dream came flooding back.

  A chill ran through her.

  The nightmare had been more unsettling than before.

  Her attacker had issued the same eerie warning.

  You’ll be mine forever.

  But, last night, he’d appeared more demented and reckless.

  Her hand flitted to her nape.

  Even now, she could remember the suffocating feeling as she’d been nearly overpowered by the stranger. But, just when it seemed that he’d exact his deadly revenge, he’d disappeared in a misty haze.

  Immediately, he’d been replaced by a safe, comforting presence.

  Her protector--- in the guise of Xander…

  In her dreams, he loomed larger than life.

  He was formidable.

  Strong…

  Powerful…

  Otherworldly…

  Last night, she’d reached out to him, if only to prove that he was more than an illusion, and he hadn’t denied her. He’d held her close, and she sensed that his needs mirrored her own. In the dark mind space of her dream, an unexplainable emotion had seized her. Somehow, she realized that she was where she belonged.

  In his arms…

  But, then, in an instant, he was gone.

  She shook her head. “Get it together, Nicole. It was only a dream.”

  Then, she straightened in the bed.

  She inhaled a sharp breath.

  Surely, she wasn’t imagining this.

  There it was again--- that lingering whiff of musky cologne.

  Each morning when she awakened, the same deep, masculine scent pervaded her senses. Even in the early, morning hours, it was heady.

  Intoxicating…

  It was all Xander…

  A thrill of excitement ran through her.

  Had it been a dream or had Xander really been here?

  She sighed. “This is crazy. Of course, Xander wasn’t really here, you idiot. Keep dreaming.”

  Like always, it was just wishful thinking on her part.

  Several minutes later, she had showered and then donned a white cashmere sweater and faded jeans.

  She returned to the bathroom. Her hands trailed across the counter, finally landing on the round, wooden knob. The drawer squeaked as she opened it and removed the cosmetic bag. Quickly, she pulled her long tresses into a less than fashionable ponytail before swiping her lips with shiny, lip gloss.

  “Am I’m at least passable?” she asked half-heartedly, leaning against the bathroom counter. “Of course, talking mirrors only existed in fairy tales.”

  And she certainly wasn’t a princess about to be swept away into a torrid, love affair. She turned away from the mirror. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

  Moments later, humming softly, she padded towards the kitchen. A light faintness flooded across her face as she pulled the refrigerator door open. She rummaged through it only to find an empty milk carton. “Just great,” she muttered, straightening. “As if I don’t have enough to do as it is.

  Frowning, she checked off her to-do-list.

  Rehearsal…

  Daily chores…

  Laundry…

  “And now, grocery shopping,” she groaned, closing the refrigerator door. “Just great.”

  Sensing her discontent, Macy nudged her blue-jean clad leg.

  Obviously, Macy’s portions were lean, too.

  “I’ve been falling short on my duties, haven’t I?” she chided affectionately, reaching down to pet her. “It’s inevitable, Macy, we have to make a trip to the market. Aren’t you just as excited as I am about running into a bunch of harried impatient consumers? Better yet, what about the ones that barrel into us with their shopping carts with no apologies whatsoever?”

  The dog whined again.

  “Neither am I. So, that means we have two alternatives: starve or eat. I opt for eating myself, and I know that you can’t do without your doggie snacks. Dorsey’s Market it is, then.”

 
; Seconds later, she put on a light jacket before zipping it up. She stooped over as she pulled the elastic straps across the boots and then straightened.

  “Time to go, Macy,” she replied, grasping the dog’s leash while holding her cane in the other. She affixed the small, shoulder bag over her shoulder before walking to the front door. She stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her.

  She turned the lock.

  Not a sound from her heroic neighbor.

  Apparently, he was already out and about.

  Not that it mattered anyway, she reminded herself, heading for the elevator. They were merely acquaintances, and it was time that she remembered.

  The bell chimed as the elevator doors slid open.

  She held onto Macy’s leash tightly before stepping on, and then moved to press the button.

  “Hey, Nicole. Can you hold the elevator?”

  Her heart leapt in her throat.

  Once more, she fought to maintain a mental balance. A deep flush stained her already warm features. “Of course,” she muttered, listening as he made a fast approach. “I’ll wait for you.”

  He jogged the short distance to the elevators, and he stepped on just before the elevator closed. The elevator was built to hold only a few people, and that fact was easily proven.

  They were standing so close that their body heat could be felt, she mulled, feeling the heat rise further in her face. Somehow, hopefully, he wouldn’t see her intense reaction to their closeness.

  She jabbed the key for the 1st floor and offered a tiny smile. “Good morning. I’m assuming that you’re going down, too. Tell me otherwise if I’m wrong.”

  “First floor it is,” he muttered hastily. “Thank you.”

  She fought to hide her hurt as his abrupt tone. “Okay.”

  The uncomfortable silence stretched.

  She tightened her hold on the dog leash.

  Could the tension grow any thicker between them? Still, though, the man was all male testosterone.

  It was apparent anytime that he was near!

  Suddenly, his masculine scent filled her nostrils.

  And there it was.

  Cologne---the cologne.

  The same signature scent that lingered in her room each night…But, that’s crazy! There’s no way that he’s actually been there!

  She swallowed hard.

  But, still, she couldn’t dismiss his overwhelming presence.

  The elevator shook and rattled.

  When it did, it shifted them closer.

  He grabbed her arm to steady her. “You alright?”

  At his touch, the fire shot straight to her heart.

  She pulled free, but still, the heat of his touch lingered against her skin. “Y-yes, I’m fine.”

  “This elevator is like a damn matchbox, isn’t it? It’s hardly fit to accommodate one person let alone two.”

  Was it her imagination, or did he sound flustered?

  She shoved the thought away quickly.

  Now, she was really being absurd!

  “You’re right,” she agreed instead. “I don’t think that they even took that fact into consideration.”

  The elevator stopped at the third floor.

  Yet, no one stepped on.

  As the elevator doors closed, it began its slow descent again.

  Much too slow for my taste, she thought, flustered.

  Macy gave an excited yelp.

  She struggled to keep a straight face.

  Even poor Macy was swooning over his pure hotness!

  Traitor, she whispered inwardly, although she knew Macy was helpless to be immune to his charms. But, there was no point in both of them being complete idiots!

  She raised her chin primly. “Mr. Sullivan, I ---”

  “Xander,” he interrupted, and again, his tone was laced with raw sexiness. “Again, there’s no need for such formalities.”

  “Alright, Xander.”

  The uncomfortable silence stretched again.

  She had to say something.

  She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I really can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done. I really appreciate ---”

  “Nicole.”

  She shivered again.

  Even her name slipped through his lips like a sweet caress.

  “Yes?” she asked, almost breathless.

  “You don’t owe me anything, alright? I don’t want you to feel obligated. Besides, saving people on a daily basis is just part of my job. I would have done the same thing for anyone else.”

  So, she was just anybody.

  The thought sobered her quickly.

  “Well, forgive me for expressing my heartfelt gratitude,” she snapped. “But, since my words are obviously a hindrance, I’ll not mention it again. As a matter of fact, why don’t we just ignore one another from now on?”

  She stiffened alongside him.

  “Ouch. Do you always jump to the defensive so easily?” he questioned, and she could feel his warm gaze on her.

  “I’m a rather blunt person. So, there’s no point in doing anything other than stating the obvious. And it’s rather apparent that you don’t accept kind gestures easily. That makes you rather short-sighted in my opinion.”

  “In this case, you’re obviously wrong. And don’t put words in my mouth or assume that you know my thoughts and motives,” he said harshly. “Your words are not a hindrance, and I wouldn’t exactly state that you’re blunt either. It seems to me that you’re just privy to jumping to conclusions.”

  “Jumping to conclusions?” she gasped. “I think that your assumptions are way off, Mr. Sullivan---”

  “Xander---”

  “Mr. Sullivan,” she reminded him stiffly, “at the moment, I’m finding you to be quite rude, which means that our associations will be slim to none! Good day!”

  Before the elevator barely opened, she was stepping off, and to her surprise, he was right there with her.

  “Hey, hold on a minute,” he said, grabbing her arm. “I’m afraid that we’ve gotten off to a very bad start. It certainly wasn’t my intent to be rude. So, I’m sorry if it came out that way.”

  As she pulled free, she ignored the tingling sensations. “No harm done. Let’s just say our goodbyes and be on our way.” Tugging at her jacket, she pulled the sunglasses from her head and dangled them in her hand. Though she felt his hard stare, but she pretended to be unmoved.

  Finally, he broke the silence. “Where are you off to? You never know. We may be heading the same way.”

  “Oh, I seriously doubt that. Most men today are lacking culinary skills,” she rambled on, knowing that she wasn’t making any sense---she didn’t even understand herself! “And not that it’s any of your business, but we are heading to the market.”

  Xander’s laugh was low and sexy. “Isn’t that a coincidence? I was just going to Dorsey’s to pick up a few things.”

  Dorsey’s?

  How did he know that’s where she was heading?

  She quickly shook away the thought.

  It was merely a coincidence.

  Her brows knitted in a frown. “Well, don’t let me keep you. Actually, Macy and I have a few stops to make before we go.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I would think that you’re trying to give me the brush off,” he replied quietly, and she felt him step closer. “But, that can’t be the case, I’m quite sure.”

  She forced herself to frown. “Well, I’m stopping short at the point of being rude, something that you should work on detective. As for my whereabouts, they are none of your concern. I must admit that your inquisitive nature is quite off-putting.”

  Now, that was a lie.

  Everything about him fascinated her!

  “However, there’s no wonder as to why you’re a top-notch private detective,” she laughed caustically. “Still, I have to wonder, though. How many women have you scared away because of your sleuthing tactics and questions?”

  Now, where did that come fro
m?

  Face flaming hot, she cringed with embarrassment.

  “Believe me, running away from me is the last thing they do,” he said smoothly. “As a matter-of-fact, it’s quite the opposite---they can’t get to me fast enough.”

  “Apparently, you are conceited as well. Typical of today’s men, of course,” she quipped, dropping the sunglasses on her face. To her relief, she’d regained some composure. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  Head held high, she walked away, and instincts said that he’d follow.

  He did.

  A thrill of excitement ran through her.

  “No, I won’t excuse you. And since you’re so keen to bring up my heroic actions, I suppose it’s only logical that you compensate me somewhat.”

  “How much?” she asked as she stopped walking. “I can write a check right now. Name your price.”

  But, he only irritated her further as he laughed. “You really are a funny girl. Did you know that?”

  “And you are an infuriating man,” she fumed, walking away again.

  He fell into step beside her. “I’m not after money. But, I’ll accept payment in the form of your company. A little of your time is all I ask for,” he said conversationally as they stepped onto the streets. “I’ve only lived in Atlanta for a short time, and I don’t know too much about this beautiful city. Since, I don’t know that many people either, I think that it’s only fitting that you and I make acquaintance. We’re neighbors and we will be running into each other from time to time. So, we may as well be on friendly terms. Don’t you agree?”

  The cool, brisk air hit her face, but faint sunlight still brightened the day.

  “I don’t find that necessary,” she said dryly, though her heart was speaking different words. “Yes, we met under extenuating circumstances, but that hardly constitutes as a necessary route to a budding friendship.”

  “And you criticize my manners?” he asked jokingly. “Come on, Nicole. Though some may not agree about my next statement, I’m not a hard fellow to get along with. Forgive me for being blunt, but maybe you should consider broadening your own inner circle. Surely, you want to interact with more people than Linda.”