by T. Cobbin
Wendy stood still and waited to see if she could hear Blue. Disappointed, she shook her head. “If he is trying to talk to me now...nope, nothing.”
“That’s okay,” Pete said. “Blue is happy enough to know when he is in his form he has someone else to talk to besides me.”
“Wendy.” A scream drifted across the beach from her friend who was waving like a loon, Troy was walking beside her, holding their precious new bundle.
Wendy waved at them, and with a quick kiss from Pete they walked hand in hand toward the small family.
* * * *
Pete watched Wendy and Amy talk abundantly about each of their experiences and flying on the dragons. Wendy had been right about her friend being a little jealous that she could talk to Blue. Amy swatted Troy playfully, asking why she couldn’t do it. It was a relaxing end to the day. Earlier he and Troy had even released their dragons to muck around together.
It was late evening before Pete and Wendy took their leave. By the time they came in to land on the island, Pete knew Wendy had fallen asleep. She had talked less and less to Blue, her hands had gradually loosened their hold on the small horns by his dragon’s neck, and her head had lowered between them. Blue tipped his huge body to the side and gently slid their mate down his large wing until she lay on the beach. She curled up into a ball, not even waking. With a flash his dragon released the reins and gave in to Pete.
Thanks, old buddy, Pete said, sending a wave of love toward his dragon, who then curled up into a ball inside of Pete’s mind. His beast, happy with life, quickly fell asleep.
Taking a step toward his mate, Pete picked her up in his arms and held her against his chest. He couldn’t keep his gaze off her as he walked home. He found himself fascinated by the way her nose was covered in light brown freckles, her small, pouted mouth, and the star-shaped scar on her forehead. She’d explained her uncle and aunt had an old fireplace in their home and one afternoon she had bounded in, tripped over the dog, and slammed her head into the corner of it.
A slight scent of something unknown hit his nostrils, causing him to pause. His body stiffened, and his mind came alert. He lifted his head and deeply inhaled the scents around him. He frowned. It was there, and yet not there. He couldn’t place where or what the smell was. Giving rein to his dragon, the beast helped him out with night vision, but nothing untoward moved or looked out of place. Then again, he hadn’t been on the island in years so he wouldn’t really know if it was normal. But something deep inside him told him this wasn’t right.
I don’t know what it belongs to either, his dragon said. It’s like a pine tree and yet not. I don’t understand.
No, my friend, I don’t either. I don’t want to put our mate in danger. Something just doesn’t seem right.
Pete walked toward his cottage. It was time he thought about letting this place go. Yesterday, after seeing his parents’ house again, he knew for sure that he could never live here, but he didn’t want to admit it to himself. He would keep the island as other shifters used it, but as for himself and his mate...no, this place wasn’t home anymore.
He walked down the small garden path of his cottage and opened the front door. Nothing looked out of place, but the scent he had caught earlier lingered in here too, just slightly stronger. If he wasn’t a shifter, he probably wouldn’t have noticed.
His dragon reared to the front of his mind, not liking the fact they could be putting Wendy in danger. Not letting his mate go, Pete walked through and scanned the house. Should he leave now, or should he give his mate some time to sleep and leave in the morning?
Take her to the den. You can keep her safe there. No other dragon shifter will enter another’s den without permission. But this type of thing doesn’t come across as a shifter thing. I think it’s human, his dragon said.
I’m not afraid and I won’t run, but I need to make sure she’s safe. The cave is a good idea. Once she’s safe we’ll take a look around and see what the fuck is going on. Someone has been here, and I don’t like that one bit. As you say, it can’t be another shifter, this has to be a human.
Do you think it might be the old caretaker, the one who… his dragon asked, not needing to finish the sentence.
Yes, Pete answered abruptly. I don’t think it could be the new one. Since...that fateful night, the new caretakers have been very carefully vetted. I have a gut feeling it’s the old caretaker who murdered my family. I just wonder why the fuck he would wait until now?
It’s the first time you have returned here, remember? Duh.
Pete couldn’t help but chuckle at his dragon’s answer.
Using his dragon’s speed, Pete walked to the cave, laid Wendy on the large bed, and covered her. Once he knew she was still sleeping soundly, he gave his dragon the freedom it needed to fly around the island.
After scanning the area, they came up with nothing. Now they had the scent memorized. The fake scent of pine seemed to be all over the place. Nothing moved on the island but the birds and seals. Even the lighthouse was empty.
Eventually giving in, Pete and his dragon decided to gather what belongings they had come with and head home in the morning. Pete hated the fact it looked like he was running with his tail between his legs, but his dragon pacified him by constantly sending images of Wendy laying in his arms. He couldn’t protect her from just a scent. Once he knew what was going on, then he would do something about it.
While packing up their belongings, which wasn’t much, Pete sent his friends and other shifters who used the island a warning that someone or something was on it but he’d yet to find out who it was. The lingering scent was stronger on their bags, like someone had gone through them carefully. Someone had definitely been there while they had been away.
Again, Pete knew if it wasn’t for his shifter senses he probably wouldn’t even know someone had been there. The same question from before came to him as he carried their bags out of the cottage—if this was the old caretaker, why now? The island had been used over the years by several other dragon shifters, and not one of them had ever reported a problem to him.
His phone went off, and he looked at it to see a text from his friend Dennenth.
Hey, you need me to come over? Two sets of eyes are better than one.
Pete smiled and texted back. Nah, don’t worry, we’ll be heading home tomorrow. I’m done with this place, too many memories. Time to look forward now.
Dennenth sent a short reply. Safe flight home.
Pete placed the phone back in his pocket as memories of his broken family went through his mind, along with thoughts of the missing caretaker. What if the creep had stayed silent all these years to find the one who got away? What if coming back home had brought the crazy nutcase back? Pete’s desire for revenge had always been a burning lava in his stomach, but putting his mate in danger wasn’t in that plan in any way, shape, or form.
Another text pinged his phone, this time from Troy.
Fly to my beach house in the morning. It will not only be safer, but there’s less chance of being followed.
Troy had a point. This crazy person wouldn’t be able to follow them across the ocean. And as for his jeep, that could be picked up at a later date after he knew his mate was safe.
Pete sent a quick reply to Troy. Thank you, my friend. I’ll see you in the morning.
Looking around the cottage one last time, Pete said his goodbyes quietly in his head and locked the door. This chapter in his book was over. He would bring his mate back to his mother and father’s den for time away, but as for the island itself, it wasn’t home anymore, his mate was.
If the crazy human wanted him, then let him come. Pete had purposely left a leaflet on a table near a window about Dragon’s Heart. If whoever had been in the house today wanted him or his mate, let them come somewhere he chose.
* * * *
Wendy couldn’t help but wiggle the bottom half of her body. She was naked and in bed but didn’t even remember falling asleep or getting undressed. Sh
e’d woke feeling highly aroused, and by the feel of warm fingers skimming along her inner thighs and hair tickling the same place, she knew where Pete was. It was confirmed when his hot mouth latched onto her clit and sucked. She tried to close her legs, but the big, muscled body of her mate was firmly between them. A growl came from deep in his chest and rippled over her thighs.
“Morning, sugar,” came his deep, husky, muffled voice from below.
“What a way to wake up.” She panted and pressed her pussy up toward his mouth more.
It was then she opened her eyes and realized she was back in the cave they’d spent the previous night in. Although she wanted to ask why they were there instead of in his bed at the cottage, her mouth didn’t seem to want to form words.
As Pete licked and nipped at her lower lips and clit, the diamonds in the wall seemed to twinkle along. It was magical. Her body grew tense as she grew closer to her orgasm. She curled her fingers into his silky, shoulder-length hair and gripped harder when he pushed his tongue deep inside her.
“Oh God, yes,” she whimpered.
Chapter 9
For a few intense seconds Wendy lay watching the twinkling diamonds in the cave wall, panting as she came down from her powerful orgasm. Pete’s face appeared above her, still licking his lips.
“Mmm, breakfast.” He smirked.
She felt his heavy shaft pulse against her inner thigh where he had moved up her body and it now rested. “Morning.” Her voice came out husky. “Are you happy to see me or is that…”
“Very happy.”
He moved so both of his arms caged her in between them and slanted his head to kiss her. His tongue dived between her lips and roamed her mouth. Her tongue moved against his. She could taste their combined taste and groaned.
“Are you going to put that to use?” she asked, nipping at his bottom lip and giving a rock of her hips.
His cock slipped between her thighs and thumped lightly on the bed underneath them. With a quick motion Pete had his hard length pressed at her slick entrance, and he pushed inside. Combined moans filled the air, and her pussy stretched to envelop his dick as he thrust fully inside her. She felt deliciously full when his balls pressed against her arse. He paused, and his mouth laved at her neck just behind her ear. Her walls clamped down enough that she wasn’t sure if it was his pulse she felt below or hers.
“Move,” she begged impatiently. She needed more; she wanted to feel him move deep inside her, for him to hit her sensitive point over and over.
“Beg me again. Beg me to fuck you ’til you see stars. ’Til you come so hard you crush my cock and milk my seed. Let me fill you ’til you overflow.”
Beg him? She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, and using all the strength she could, she pressed down on his arse with her feet, trying to get him to move.
“Fuck me, damn it.” Lifting her head slightly, she ran her tongue over the pulse in his neck. Annoyed that he still wasn’t moving, she bit down on his shoulder.
He moved. Oh God, did he move. He pulled out slowly, and she could feel every vein ripple along his long length, then he slammed back in with a grunt. She gasped when he repeated the action. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he moved. She dug her fingernails into his skin, and her toes curled against his arse. He continued pounding while nipping at her skin around his own bite mark.
She was so close to coming and knew he was too; his movements became jerky, his breathing harsh in her ears. She felt the sting from his fangs slipping into her neck but didn’t feel anything after that as her orgasm erupted. Stars shone, her body tightened, and her vagina walls squeezed his cock as his roar echoed off the cave walls. She felt the warm streams of his cum splashing off her walls and into her womb.
After a few minutes he rolled onto his back and pulled her over his chest. “Morning, sugar,” he murmured.
“If you plan to wake me up like that every morning, I’ll keep you.” She chuckled while drawing circles on his chest with her fingers.
“Keep me? Pfft, woman, you have me forever and a day no matter what.”
“Then I need you to set your alarm clock for sex every morning.”
“Done,” he said, rolling her over again so she was looking up into his dark blue eyes. He leaned down and kissed her. “Making love to you each morning is no hardship at all.”
“Why are we in the cave?” She frowned, her mind finally catching back up with her.
“Umm, there was a slight problem when we arrived at the cottage last night.”
“Oh?” she asked, concerned. “If it’s something you or your dragon can’t take care of, it must have been serious, but not serious enough for you to leave straight away?”
“A strange scent, like fake pine, was all over the cottage, and all over our stuff. It wasn’t there when we left. In fact, I’ve never smelled it before. But once I brought you here, me and my dragon scoured the island and found nothing. Still, we decided to take you home today just to be on the safe side.”
“A smell? That has you worried? What if it was another shifter or something wondering who and why you are here?”
“No.” He shook his head and rolled off her to sit up. “If it was another shifter scent, I would know.” He ran his hands down his face, then turned to look at her. She could see worry flash in his eyes. “Another shifter would also never enter my place unless they had permission. This scent was like someone was trying to hide themselves. I’ve never come across it before.”
“But why the cave then? Why not just leave?”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “You looked so peaceful sleeping I didn’t want to wake you, or worry you. This place...” He motioned to the cave with his head briefly. “Before I left the island after my family…” He paused and swallowed a few times, and when he next spoke his voice seemed a little choked with emotion. “I had Dennenth place a protection around the cave. If any human comes across the entrance, they will only see a cave wall. If they run their hands over the rock, for whatever reason, that’s what they will feel too. So no human could find this place. Being it’s dragon magic that keeps this place secure, a shifter would be able to see what the humans can’t. Only a dragon shifter can enter here, or of course a shifter’s mate like Amy, but again, one will only enter if permission is granted. We are polite creatures like that.”
He shrugged and grinned. Even though a smile lifted his lips she could see how much this had upset him and didn’t want to push it any further, no matter how many questions she had that needed answers.
“Okay then,” she said, plastering a fake smile on her face. “So I guess we’re heading home.”
“Aye, lass.” He nodded, and the smile he’d had on his face grew, meeting his eyes. “We will fly to Troy’s and go home from there. It doesn’t mean the holiday has to end here though, wait ’til you see my den.”
Our den, his dragon grumbled.
She raised an eyebrow. “Where exactly is your den?”
With a tap to the end of her nose he replied, “Just you wait and see.” He stood and turned around, suddenly fully clothed in a tight-fitting black t-shirt and leg-hugging black jeans.
She let her head flop onto the mattress below and groaned. “That just isn’t fair. Now I understand how you can look so handsomely gorgeous all the time whereas I look like death warmed up in the mornings before I have a cup of coffee.”
His deep, husky voice breathed across her skin near her ear. “But I had a good breakfast, remember?”
He threw the covers away from her body and pain from a quick swat to her behind had her lifting her head, a frown on her face.
“Come on, let’s get you home, huh?” he said.
She grumbled even though he pulled her toward him and hugged her tight against his body. She couldn’t help but curve herself into him.
“Only if you promise a huge cup of coffee and a pastry. I haven’t had breakfast yet.” She chuckled.
He slanted his head and kissed her until she couldn�
�t breathe. When he pulled back his nostrils flared as a sexy grin filled his face. “How desperate are you for that coffee?” he asked.
Pushing against him, she said, “Oh no, I need breakfast and coffee.”
Brushing past Pete, who now had a disgruntled look on his face, she moved toward her clothes at the end of the bed and started dressing. She peeked at his crotch and secretly smiled. The man always seemed to have a hard-on. By the time she’d dressed and pulled her hair up into an untidy bun Pete had picked up their bags and was waiting by the entrance, or exit, of the cave.
With one last look around the place she asked, “We will come back here, right?”
“For a week every anniversary of our mating?” he suggested.
“Perfect.” Another question bothered her, making her pause before exiting the cavern. “What about when the kids come along?”
“I’m sure our friends will be happy to watch them. If they can’t, then we’ll hire a babysitter, or we might even have a nanny. But this place will be ours.” He moved a breath away from her. “I’m glad you’re thinking about children.”
Before she could say anything else he walked through the wall, making it shimmer. She hoped he wanted a big family, because she did.
* * * *
Although Pete was disappointed he couldn’t make love to his mate again he knew he had a lifetime with her. And as for kids, he hoped they came as soon as possible. He couldn’t wait to see her ripe with their child inside her. Pete had seen Amy grow plump with her and Troy’s son, Sajan, and while he had been pleased to see his friend so happy, he’d also been slightly jealous. When he’d met Wendy for the first time he couldn’t wait to place his seed inside her and watch it grow. Now he had his chance, and he was going to get inside her as often as he could just to make sure.
Sunlight brought him out of his thoughts.
“Time to fly,” he said, dropping their bags at the entrance of the cave.
Pulling his mate into his arms, he kissed her plush lips and ran his tongue over them. He loved her taste.
