by Amelia Jade
“I might.” She shrugged, causing all sorts of interesting movement of her body. “I might not.”
Torran’s throat was suddenly dry. “Oh.”
She grinned. “You look kind of hot like that, all drenched in sweat. Your body is glistening, your every muscle contoured. It makes me ache to have you inside me.”
“Uh-huh.” He took a step closer, mesmerized by her half-naked body, ready to rip the lingerie from her so he could see the rest of it, yet tempted to tell her to keep it on so that he could enjoy being teased at not being able to see all of her deliciousness. It was a fight that he couldn’t win…but he also couldn’t lose. Either way, he benefitted.
“Besides, if you do your job properly today, you’re going to end up looking like that all over again.”
“I have another job, do I?” He stepped closer, noting the way she tensed as he approached, wary of his predator-like nature and yet ready to succumb to him anyway.
“You certainly do. You’ve neglected it all day,” she pouted.
Boy, she could do a damn good sexy pout. Big lips all bunched up, eyes lowered as she looked up at him through her lashes. It was an impressive feat when he considered she was lying on her back and he stood at the foot of the bed. It didn’t do anything to improve the ache between his legs.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting any longer, now would I?” He wiped the shirt across his face and then dropped it on the floor, climbing onto the bed as he did.
“I should hope not.”
He grinned and kissed her, enjoying the way she was already softly moaning at his every touch. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” he whispered, letting his breath play across her ear, watching as she shivered slightly in response.
“What’s that?”
Torran steeled himself. This was the reason he hadn’t pleasured her in the morning before he went to go start work. It was the reason he’d been a little distant the past two days. He’d been waiting for the right time, the right place, to work up the courage to tell her, and now he had.
“Well? I sure hope your tongue hasn’t stopped working. I was kind of looking forward to it,” she teased, seemingly unaware of the gravity of what was going on in his mind.
“Lilly, I…” his voice caught.
She sat back, suddenly aware that things had gone beyond playful. They had gotten serious. “What is it?”
He looked up at a pair of eyes, brown mixed with a dull red, like clay. They shifted left and right as she returned his look, trying to understand the sudden change in mood. Concern warred with curiosity. Just what was it that he was trying to say? The question was written on her face.
“You should know...” He paused.
Just say it already! Spit it out, you know it’s how you feel. Whether or not she agrees isn’t going to be changed by you stammering like an idiot.
“I love you, Torran.”
He jerked back in surprise. “What?”
Lilly followed him, sitting up. “I. Love. You.”
He pouted. “That’s not fair. You used my hesitation to say it first.”
She laughed and tackled him to the bed, not caring about his sweaty nature. “Say what first?” She pinned his arms to his side. “Say it!”
He laughed. “I love you, Lilly Jordan. With both my hearts.”
She frowned. “You have two hearts?”
“My human and my dragon!” he explained, laughing.
“Oh, yeah. Of course. Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way.” She leaned down to kiss him, doing a very thorough job of it.
After enjoying that for a moment he put enough pressure on her chin to push her head back slightly. “We didn’t. Not yet at least.”
“What? I love you. You love me. I’m happy to finally say it, you’re happy to hear it, and vice versa. I love you. What else?”
He blushed. “With dragons, when mates express their love, the male often gives the female a token of his personage.”
“A what of his what?”
“I want you to wear a piece of jewelry with a bit of me in it.”
“Well why didn’t you just say that! Of course I will.”
Torran held out his hand. “Most dragons use a piece of their power. Flame. Lightning. Acid. I wanted to do something different with you.” Slowly he uncurled his fingers, one by one.
Lilly stared in shock, her eyes wide. “Torran,” she whispered, picking up the ring. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s diamond-encrusted around the edges, and in the middle is one of my scales.”
“One of your scales? You grow them this tiny?” She looked at the ring. “I thought they were all massive things the size of a shield.”
“Not quite,” he laughed. “Around the edges and near my snout and tail they get quite small.”
“It’s gorgeous. And you want me to wear it?”
“If that’s acceptable to you, yes.”
“IF? Are you nuts? Of course!” she slipped it onto her right-hand ring finger. It fit perfectly. “Wow.” She turned the ring left and right, admiring the way the scale and the diamonds flashed in the light. “Now that is unique.”
He grinned and kissed the side of her neck as she looked at the ring more closely. “I’m glad you like it.”
Lilly giggled as he nipped at the skin. “I love it. Like I love you. Now come here and let me show you.”
It wasn’t until after they had finished and Lilly had fallen asleep in his arms that Torran realized it had been a long, long time since he thought of Lilly as human. Now he just thought of her as his.
It was amazing what love could do to change a viewpoint.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lilly
“This is a terrible idea,” Torran grumped.
“Oh shush,” Palin said from next to him. “It’s going to be perfectly fine. Your list of contingencies has seen to the safety of this and then tripled it.”
“More like quadrupled,” Lilly snapped, irritated as she fumbled with straps and lines that were far too unfamiliar. “I feel like I’m going to be completely immobile.”
“That’s the point,” Torran stated. “If you’re immobile, you can’t move.”
“That…that is the definition of the word,” Lilly explained, exasperated beyond belief with her mate. It wasn’t that dangerous, not according to Sandy at least.
“He’s just afraid for your safety,” Sandy chimed in as she worked the complicated system of restraints for her friend.
“More like paranoid.”
“I can hear you,” Torran informed her. “Dragon hearing. Verrrryyyy powerful.”
“Too bad it doesn’t bother you if I start yelling.”
Sandy giggled.
“Don’t encourage her, please,” Palin pleaded. “It just means I have to put up with him some more.”
“Shut up.” Torran snapped at Palin in irritation.
“Will you both just sit still and stop moving?” Sandy shouted. “This is hard enough for me to do on my own.”
Palin started to speak but she rounded on her mate. “You should be up here doing this, not me.”
“I have no idea what that contraption does or how it’s supposed to work.”
“It’s a simple harness,” Torran grumbled. “How difficult can it be?”
Lilly slapped his side, growing frustrated with the dragon. “Torran, you’re being an ass, and nobody wants to deal with you right now. Your ‘harness’ has like sixteen hundred safety points and a two hundred-page manual to go with it. This is ridiculous!”
The big dragon raised his head at the end of the long neck, one glowing yellow eye regarding her through half-closed triple eyelids. “What’s your point?”
“That I’m not happy with you right now, and if you don’t do something about it, I’m going to move to being mad at you.”
“Oh shit,” Sandy mumbled under her breath. “You tell him.”
“Again. I can hear you.”
&
nbsp; “And everyone can hear you being a child!” Lilly slapped at another of the buckles on the harness.
Torran sagged, nearly throwing Sandy off balance as his body deflated. “Fine. I’ll try to get on board with this, but I still think you should wait until you’ve given birth.”
“People fly in airplanes until they’re much much later into their pregnancies. Heck, plenty of mammas go on ‘Babymoons’ these days just to relax. I want to go on one measly twenty-minute flight on the back of a dragon, and you lose your mind.”
Palin chuckled, an intimidating sound when coming from the mouth of a prehistoric-looking creature.
“I said fine. Don’t make me change my mind.” Torran was more than unhappy.
“Okay, I think I have this worked out,” Sandy said, draping straps around Lilly and starting to fasten them down.
The harness itself draped over her shoulders, around her chest, and through the crotch. There were additional sections that went over her quads and then below where her knee bent to cover the bottom of her legs as well. Ropes were clipped down from various points, until a spiderweb of them ran outward to the saddle that was draped over Torran’s back.
“I literally don’t think I can scratch my nose if I need to,” she complained as Sandy lowered goggles over her eyes, another stipulation she had to agree to. “You are so paranoid it’s irritating.”
Torran just eyed the straps, asking Sandy to tighten a few, and then he finally pronounced it adequate—albeit just barely—to fly.
Lilly watched with jealous envy as her friend scrambled from Torran’s back to Palin’s, trading one green dragon for another via the simple method of walking across the wing Palin draped over his friend. There she secured herself into a much more simple-looking harness. That one strapped her down at the sides and gave her two mounts to hold on to with her hands. That was it.
“Unbelievable. Okay, Sea Biscuit, show me what you got!” she shouted, kicking him in the sides. “Hyah!”
Well, she tried to kick him, to spur him on. It was more like she moved back and forth slightly, like she was on the world’s worst rocking horse. What a letdown.
“I’m going to ignore that insult,” Torran informed her, spreading his wings wide as Palin ambled off to the side. “Simply because I know you’re going to forgive me any moment now for my insistence on this.”
“I wouldn’t bet on—” Her last word was cut off as her voice dropped into her stomach, which dropped out of the bottom of her torso.
With one powerful explosion from his hand legs and a downward swoop of his wings they were airborne.
“WHOOOO-HOOOOOO!” she hollered as they swiftly gained ground. “YAHOOOOOOOOO!”
Her shouts were echoed by Sandy a few moments later. Even though her friend had been out flying before, it had only happened twice, so the experience was still novel for both of them.
“Do you forgive me yet?” Torran asked as he swooped gently to one side and then the other, before beating his wings to gain them more height.
“Hell no, but this is amazing! You’re actually in more trouble for delaying this for so long! It’s beautiful up here!”
“More trouble?!” he blasted. “That is not fair!”
She laughed, forced to cover her mouth so that she didn’t choke on the air rushing by. Her hands could only move that much, but little more. Despite all that, and the numerous arguments it had taken with Torran to get him to agree, it was more than worth it.
Lilly fell silent, content to just watch the world below her. It was tough to see in the growing dark, but when she looked to the west to see the remnants of the sun setting below the mountains, she was greeted with a panorama the likes of which she’d never seen.
“Thank you,” she said softly, knowing his hearing would pick it up. “This is unlike anything I’ve ever done before.
Torran’s face turned back to look at her as he kept his wings moving. The stern, sour look had been replaced by one of delight. As much as he might have bitched against this, if there was one thing he liked doing in the world more than ensuring she was safe, it was making her happy.
And Lilly was happy.
********
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This concludes Dragon Desire, Emerald Dragons Book 2
Cheryl’s story is up next! To be notified when it’s available and to get a bonus scene between Lilly & Torran, click the link below.
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I hope you enjoyed the adventure.
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Want More of These Characters?
Hey!
Thanks for digging in to my back matter for more books to read. I’ve written a number of series now, in three main worlds. All worlds have an easy and convenient to read introduction, with a number of stories in it that will drag you right into the world.
The Outsiders
This is the world where the book you just read was written. Get the first book for just $0.99c or FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Dragon Temptation (Crimson Dragons Book 1)
Cadia
In this world shifters and humans live apart. Will imaginary barriers prevent real love? Not sure where to start? Try reading:
The Dragons of Cadia Bundle (Click)
This 6 book bundle is just $0.99c or FREE with Kindle Unlimited. From there, just follow the links in the back!
Genesis Valley
This is the other world I have written extensively in. There are a number of books in the series, and the order can jump around a bit. The best way to start is here:
Jade Crew: The Boxed Set (Link)
This 7 book collection is also just $0.99c and FREE with Kindle unlimited. Once you reach the end, it will link you to the next series.
Already read both box sets and want more? Flip the page for the complete rundown of all my series and the recommended reading order.
Thanks!
-Amelia Jade
The Outsiders
This is the series/book list for the Outsiders world.
Crimson Dragons
Dragon Temptation
Dragon Seduction
Dragon Devotion
Onyx Dragons
Dragon Fixation
Dragon Obsession
Dragon Addiction
Ice Dragons
Dragon Eruption
Dragon Redemption
Dragon Rebellion
Emerald Dragons
Dragon Passion
Dragon Desire
The world of: Cadia
Here are the main series in the world of Cadia. Find them below!
Start with:
Dragons of Cadia: The Complete Dragon Shifter Series.
The Full 6 Book Bundle (Link)
Includes:
Frost Dragon
Fire Dragon
Electro Dragon
Gale Dragon
Fume Dragon
Aurum Dragon
Next:
Base Camp Bears
Green Bearets: Luther
Green Bearets: Aksel
Green Bearets: Jarvis
Green Bearets: Garrin
Green Bearets: Kiefer
Green Bearets: Gabriel
Then:
The Koche Brothers
Blackjack Bears: Pierce
Blackjack Bears: Kean
Blackjack Bears: Gavin
Blackjack Bears: Kassian
Blackjack Bears: Maximus
Then:
Standalones (In Chronological Order)
Big Bad Wolf Dad
Bad Bad Bear Dad
Big Bad Bear Daddy
Bigger Badder Bear Dad
Wing Her Over
The World of: Genesis Valley
This world follows the events in Genesis Valley, where misfit shifters of the world are sent.
It is a brutal, vicious place where everyone’s chances have already been used up. This is it. Screw up, and they end you. But amongst the harsh life these bear shifters have eked out for themselves, everything burns brighter. Especially love.
The books in the first two series jump around some if you wish to follow the exact chronological timeline. See the numbers in bold to follow the order.
Get the complete 16 Book Boxed Set
Or start with:
Jade Crew
The Complete Boxed Set (Link)
Includes:
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear [1]
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear [2]
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear [3]
Jade Crew: Captive Bear [5]
Jade Crew: Outcast Bear [6]
Jade Crew: Hunted Bear[8]
Jade Crew: Fallen Bear [9]
Next:
Stone Bears
Stone Bear: Sentinel [4]
Stone Bear: Phoenix [7]
Stone Bear: Guardian [10]
Then:
Genesis Valley
Blueblood Dragon
Blackmarket Bear
Finally:
The Agency
Get the 4 Book Boxed Set (Click Here)
Sentinel: Bravo Bear
Blackblood Bear
Silver Bullet Bear
Kingpin Bear
About the Author
Amelia Jade
Amelia Jade loves to write the stories of tall, growly shifter men and the women who come to love them. Living out in the backcountry near the mountains, she keeps her own alpha male close by to keep the bears away and keep her warm. In her downtime (which is rare), she loves to read science-fiction with a dash of fantasy. You can often find her curled up in front of the real wood-burning fireplace, her nose firmly buried in a book or her favorite e-reader. The cold can’t bother her there!
