Dragon's Heart, Volume 1

by T. Cobbin

  “I’m in and parked—”

  Suddenly the driver’s side door flew open, startling her. Looking up the very tall, muscular body that now stood next to her, she gazed into Pete’s dark blue eyes.

  “You scared the bejesus out of me, numbnuts,” she said in her teacher’s voice, her hand firmly pressed against her heart.

  He held his hand out with a slightly apologetic look on his face. She took his hand, and he pulled from the car and to her feet. “Sorry, sugar, I was eager to have you in my arms.”

  She instantly relaxed against his warm body. Her nipples hardened and her panties grew damp as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She was already on fire for the man. No one had ever made her feel this way before. Not being able to resist, she raised up onto her tiptoes—she always drove barefoot—and tugged on his shirt, bringing him down the rest of the way, then tilted her head and placed her lips over his.

  Although she half-expected it with his alpha tendencies she gasped when one of his hands slid down to the small of her back and pressed against it, bringing her flush against his body, close enough that she could feel his erect shaft pressing into her stomach. He took over the kiss, pushing his tongue into her mouth when she breathed in much needed air. He moaned as he delved in for more, his tongue dancing with hers.

  When they finally broke for air her cheeks were heated. She wanted to climb his body and wrap her legs tightly around his waist. She craved to feel him inside of her. Come on, girl, get yourself together. You hardly know him, she reprimanded herself. But looking up into his sparkling eyes she knew she would find out about him while they were away. She had no idea why but deep down she knew she was his, and he was hers.

  Reluctantly, she turned away from him and toward her car. “Where do I put my bags?”

  Chapter 4

  Pete had paced and cleaned all night long. It wasn’t that anything needed cleaning, it was the fact he wanted everything to be just right for his Wendy. When he had first moved to London it was Troy who had found this place for him. Coming from the small island cottages to this had certainly been an eye-opener. He had the top floor of one of the highest buildings in London. He hadn’t bought the apartment for the scenery though; he had bought it for the roof. There was a massive greenhouse on the top of the building with a ceiling that was tall enough for his dragon to walk around the space comfortably.

  Pete had filled the glass house with a large variety of tropical plants around the edge. In the center he had a huge, circular hot tub installed, big enough for his dragon to curl up and enjoy itself. He also had Dennenth come over and place a protection spell around it so anyone who decided to pry on him would suddenly develop fuzzy eyesight. Pete often went up to his sanctuary and released the other half of himself. His dragon would sit looking over the city with wanderlust. He’d often tried to convince Pete to go back to their island. He missed being able to fly free whenever he wanted to.

  Pete looked over London through one of the many floor-to-ceiling windows of his apartment, knowing Wendy wasn’t far now. What would she think of his place? What would she think of his island? He was still a tad shocked that he had wanted, let alone asked, her to go home with him.

  With a shrug he pulled his phone out of his pocket and redialed Wendy’s number. If she knew how he felt about her, would she run? So many questions were going through his mind. He already knew Troy and Dennenth’s mates knew about their dragons. Would Wendy be as calm about it as they were?

  “No fucking way do you live here,” greeted him when she picked up her phone.

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. He pictured her looking up from her tiny, red beetle at the humungous building with wide, unbelieving eyes. He shot off the instructions to her to get into the underground parking facility while moving toward his elevator and heading down to her. His heart fluttered, and he felt like a kid heading into a lollipop shop. She was there and all his for a few weeks. He could see the grin on his face in the reflective doors. A sudden thought doused his happiness for a second before the elevator dinged and the doors began opening. He wondered what his family would have thought about Wendy.

  Breathtaking. That was the first thing that went through his head when he spotted her sitting inside her little car. He tore the car door open more forcefully than he meant to, making her gasp and look at him with a startled face.

  “You scared the bejesus out of me, numbnuts,” she scolded, relaxing.

  He held his hand to her. Get out of the car, woman, so we can feel you in our arms once again, he mentally urged. His dragon was growling, just as eager and impatient as he was. Delight flooded his system when she placed her soft hand in his. He tugged her up and held her close enough to his body to feel her erect nipples rub against his chest.

  “Sorry, sugar, I was eager to have you in my arms.” Her scent surrounded him, and he didn’t want to let her go now that he had her in his arms again. He very nearly said screw the long drive and the island and carted her up to his apartment to fuck her silly for the next few weeks, especially when her small hands roamed over his back.

  She instigated the first kiss, pulling him down to her level, but he couldn’t help but take control of it. He investigated her mouth with his tongue. He groaned. His cock could put holes in concrete right now, he was so hard.

  When they breathlessly parted he felt cold and hollow; he was already addicted to her. She moved back from his frame, his hands sliding away from the grip he had on her waist.

  “Where do I put my bags?” she asked, turning toward her car.

  He had already packed last night and placed all he needed in his jeep, apart from one thing that gave him a reason to show her his place.

  Our place, his dragon humphed.

  Soon, old fella. She has to learn about you yet.

  She will love me. I love a lot better than you do and less of the old, old man.

  Pete chuckled along with his dragon, happy to be one with his other half again.

  “Let’s put your bags in my jeep, then we can pop up to my place before we set off, I have to pick the picnic up.”

  Wendy turned to him with a surprised look on her face. “You made a picnic? I’m not good enough for a restaurant?” He could hear the fake sarcasm in her voice but decided to let whatever she was up to play out.

  “I’ll take you anywhere you wish.”

  She giggled while giving him a gentle slap on his arm. “I’m winding you up, silly.” She turned to her car and picked up a pink carryon bag and held it out to him.

  “I mean it. I will take you anywhere you want. All you have to do is ask.” He took the bag from her and placed it in the back of his jeep.

  “I think a picnic is actually quite sweet. I love to be outside.”

  She grunted the last word at the same time as he heard the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground behind him. He turned quickly toward the sound. He was surprised, a little shocked even, by what he saw. He’d packed a small duffel bag and rucksack whereas she had brought along a fuchsia, waist-height fucking suitcase.

  “Put your whole wardrobe in that thing, did you?” he asked.

  Her answer was to stick her tongue out and then turned to shut and lock her car. She tapped the red beetle on its top and whispered, “See you soon, Sally.” Turning back to him as if she hadn’t just whispered to her car, she said, “I can wait here if you want to run up and get the picnic.”

  “I’d like you to come up and see where I live if that’s all right?”

  “It’s fine. A girl likes to snoop on a man who plans to take her away to an island for a few weeks. I mean, you could be a serial killer for all I know.” She paused and looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. “Are you?” she asked in all seriousness.

  Instead of giving her the wouldn’t-you-like-to-know answer that was on the tip of his tongue, he decided to do a little winding up of his own. With a stoic face he said, “I have witnesses to prove I was never there, no matter where or when it happened.”


  Holding in his laugh, he picked up her suitcase and placed it in the back of his jeep and locked it. He turned back toward her and held his hand out, hoping she would take it. With a roll of her eyes and a smile she did.

  “I think we’re going to have some fun between us,” she said, nodding. He agreed.

  The ride up to his place was fraught with excitement and sexual tension. He could smell her arousal, and his own was still stiffly pressed against the material of his jeans. He used the mirrors in the lift to look Wendy over from top to bottom. She was wearing beige khakis shorts that showed off her tanned, long legs. They were combined with a form-fitting purple v-necked t-shirt with a unicorn on it. She had black trainers with pale pink socks.

  The elevator dinged, but the doors didn’t open until he placed his identity number into a keypad underneath the floor buttons. He gestured for her to step into his apartment before him. First, because it was the gentlemanly thing to do, and second, he wanted to watch the sway of her butt as she did.

  * * * *

  A gasp left Wendy’s mouth before she could stop it as she stepped off the elevator and into his place. The ride up had given her time to quietly peruse Pete in his tight jeans that didn’t hide the rather big bulge at his crotch. He had on a black t-shirt that showed and defined all of his fine muscles. His clean-shaven face called out to her to touch, just to see if it was as soft as it looked. He looked like an average, regular Joe, not some CEO she imagined living in a place like this. His place was frecking huge! It was a little like the one her friend Amy now lived in. Wendy could put her whole place in here, two, maybe even three times over.

  Two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows were tucked into one corner of an open-planned kitchen. In another corner sat several display cases with small figurines filling their shelves. A huge television was mounted on the wall that separated what she assumed led to the bedroom, and the rest of the wall was filled with numerous shelves full to the brim with books. The man liked to read it seemed. She liked that. The center of the room had a few brown leather couches, one of which looked to be a favorite sitting place as it was well worn.

  “This place is fantastic and…huge. I’m wondering if it will echo if I shout.” She giggled. “Is this place yours, or do you rent it?” she asked, nervous of hearing the answer. This man did not look like a millionaire, but if he owned a place like this he had to be.

  She turned to see him stepping out of the elevator, blowing a breath out. Had he been holding it? She watched an emotion flit through his eyes and thought it looked like unsurity.

  “It’s all mine,” he said, puffing his chest out.

  “Family money?” she asked before slamming her mouth shut, regretting what she’d said. She knew his family owned the island they were heading to, but maybe the man had worked bloody hard to achieve buying a place like this.

  “Somewhat.”

  She saw the flare of sadness in his eyes before he walked over to the kitchen area and opened the fridge. He started pulling various items out and putting them into a wicker hamper sitting on the counter.

  She walked toward him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  “It’s okay, honest,” he replied, continuing to fill the basket with food that smelled divine, making her stomach rumble.

  “Hungry?” he asked, pausing.

  She chuckled and nodded. “I didn’t eat this morning. Too nervous.” She shrugged.

  “Sit.” He motioned toward a barstool near a breakfast bar facing the cooker.

  After pushing the basket aside, he began filling the counter with eggs and an assortment of veggies. For the next ten minutes she watched Pete make and dish up the perfect Spanish omelet. Wow, a man who could not only look out for her on a dark night but one who could cook too. Jackpot! Pete placed a plate in front of her and another next to her, where he sat.

  She took a bite and moaned as the food melted on her tongue. “Oh God, this is superb. In fact...” She waved her fork at him. “You, sir, can cook for me anytime you want.” She placed another forkful in her mouth, groaning around it again. “I think that while we’re away you can cook every single day.”

  When she glanced up at Pete again he had a feral look in his eyes. The meal in front of him seemed to have been forgotten. His stare made her feel like he was ready to jump off his stool, slam her over his shoulder, take her to his bed, and fuck her into tomorrow. Crap, now she was thinking the same. She clamped her legs tighter together as the burn from her sensitive clit thrummed.

  “I could do that.” He paused, staring into her eyes deeply. “But I think I would require something from you in exchange.” His voice had grown low and husky.

  The food in her mouth suddenly seemed tasteless. Uh-oh, what am I getting myself into? She finished off the last bite of omelet, then looked back at him. “Cooking every night wouldn’t be all that bad, would it?”

  “No backing out now,” he warned. He scooped the rest of his food into his mouth and picked up their plates, putting them in a dishwasher that was discreetly hidden behind a fake cupboard door.

  “I’m not exactly backing out as such, it’s just I am a little dubious as to what you intend to come up with.”

  He walked back around the kitchen area, spread her legs with his knees, and slid in between them. His muscled arms moved either side of her, braced on the counter behind her, both boxing her in and making her more aware of his wondrous body.

  “Here’s the deal. You and I both know I will be inside of you at some point on this holiday. Numerous times.”

  His words sent a shiver down her spine, and her body heated in response. She nodded in agreement, not able to find her voice. Oh yes, she totally agreed on that.

  “So if I cook the entire time we’re there, I get you for an entire weekend naked. No clothes.” He grinned. “Nothing hidden, entirely for my eyes only.” He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Only mine.”

  She felt the gentle kiss of his lips touching her earlobe, then he pulled back, his eyes shining brightly as if he’d already won the challenge. An even bigger bolt of lust shot through her, setting her clit afire. Oh God, an entire weekend naked just for him? She could do that, right? With all her jiggle bits too?

  “You’ll be naked too?” she squeaked out.

  “Maybe.”

  “I could just say no and you would suffer the wrath of my cooking,” she challenged, gulping at the thought of putting a plate of burnt offerings in front of this sex on legs who could cook way better than she could. “But what if we have sex and you don’t like my body, or the magic, so to speak, doesn’t happ—” She didn’t get to finish as he leaned in further and covered her mouth with his.

  His tongue darted between her lips and made love to her mouth, and she practically melted into a puddle. There was no way in hell that sex with this man would leave her unsatisfied. Shit, she could orgasm on his kisses alone.

  He moved forward a touch more, shoving between her legs, his rigid cock coming to rest against her heated, damp pussy. His body size caused her legs to open a little bit wider to accommodate him. She couldn’t help but twist herself until his hard bulge firmly pressed where she so badly needed it. Her hips undulated on their own, and her hardened nipples pressed firmly against his chest. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips, locking them in place. Even though his hips were quite big she just managed it. This man made her feel small.

  He kept kissing her, and the air in the room seemed to heat up and sizzle. He moved from her mouth, kissing and nipping along her jawline. Was he murmuring something?

  “What are you saying?” she asked between the small gasps he caused nipping at her skin.

  “We have to stop.” Kiss. Nibble. “Or we won’t be going...” Kiss. Bite. “Anywhere.”

  Would it really matter if we never actually went anywhere but the bed? She pressed her core against his length, moaning in delight, which just seemed to encourage him more. His lips were back on hers, his tongue invading
her mouth again.

  He suddenly pulled away, causing the air between them to cool. He looked down at her with the expression of a kicked puppy.

  “We have to stop. I want you bad, but if I take you here we won’t leave. I haven’t wanted to go back or even take anyone to my island before now. You want me just as badly as I want you, but I also want to show you something first.” He pulled away further from her, his hand moving a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “This will happen.” He motioned between them both. “But not yet.”

  She sat stunned as she watched him move back to the fridge where he resumed packing the hamper. One minute they are dry humping, within seconds of jumping into bed and having the hottest sex ever, and the next he was filling a basket. Did he really want her? What did he want to show her first? Oh God, maybe he had some erection problem and had to wait to get her on an island alone before telling her? Or crap, what if he got off on inflicting pain? Maybe what he wanted to show her was his collection of whips and chains and… Stop it! Her imagination was running riot; she’d been reading too many of those books. She straightened her spine and looked anywhere but him.

  “When we get back I want to show you the top floor. I think you’ll like it.”

  Wendy couldn’t help but look at Pete as his voice filled with mystery and amusement. He looked back at her with a smirk.

  “Woman,” he muttered and walked around the kitchen counter to stand in front of her again. He ran a hand up and over her neck and cupped her cheek. She couldn’t help but press against it. “I’m not stopping because I don’t want you. I didn’t stop because there is something wrong with either you or me. Look at me, sugar.”

  She lifted her gaze from where she’d been looking at his shoulder to his eyes. Love, honesty, and lust shone from them.

  “I want to show you something first. Will you trust me?”

  She nodded. Something deep inside of her told her to trust him.