Dance of the Dragon

by Cathryn Fox

  Chloe trailed her hand through his hair, and her touch rattled his insides. “So when you lose your magic you lose your life?” Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed as she tried to take it all in.

  “Yes. Eons ago I fled to this island in search of sanctuary. Shortly after there was a shipwreck, and the survivors swam ashore. Some were dying, and I couldn’t sit back and watch that happen.”

  “Not even after the way humans had treated your kind?” Chloe shimmied back until she was propped against the pillow. She patted the space beside her.

  He crawled in next to her and shook his head. “No. Not even after that. We’re gentle beings, Chloe. We protect life.”

  She leaned into him and flung one leg over his. He could feel the heat of her pussy through her thin dress and suspected she wasn’t wearing any panties. Her plump breasts pressed into his chest and he nearly lost his train of thought.

  “When I ran into you last night, I wouldn’t have thought you were gentle. You seemed pretty damn ferocious to me. Then I realized you were just a big softy. A big, soft, beautiful, gentle being.”

  He swallowed. “Beautiful?”

  “Yeah, beauty and power.” She tapped his chest. “That’s you, Jared.”

  As his cock throbbed, he smiled and lightly ran his fingers over her arms, thrilled that she wasn’t repulsed by his dragon. “At first I didn’t realize it was you and I’d planned to put a good fright into the person who dared to enter my lair and hunt me. So much so that they’d run away screaming like a raving lunatic, and people would be hard-pressed to believe anything they said.” He ran his thumb over her cheek and she leaned into his touch.

  “Like the man who cut a piece of your wing away.”

  “Yeah, like him.”

  “Why is it taking so long to heal? Your arm healed quickly.”

  “The cut on my arm was small. The hole in my wing is much bigger.” And with his magic dying it was becoming harder and harder to rejuvenate.

  Her fingers marched over his skin and her sweet scent curled around him. “Chloe…” he breathed out heavily.

  Despite the sexual energy building in the room, she pressed on. “So because of hunters, you’re forced to stay in hiding?”

  “You see, humans are quick to hunt and kill anything perceived as different. But not you, Chloe. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “How do you control the change?”

  “It takes careful concentration and control to keep our human form.” He smiled at her. “Sweetheart, when we made love last night you just about did me in.”

  As though understanding how much their lovemaking had affected him, she smiled back. “When you lose the concentration you morph?”

  “Yes, when our bodies grow weak, it brings on the change. We must return to our dragon form and remain that way until we reenergize.”

  “So tell me what happened after you saved the shipwreck victims?”

  “I gave them immortality, and in return they protect me. Together, on this island, we’ve found a balance.”

  “And now you consider these people your family.”

  “Yes, but I’m still dragon, and even though I call them my family, there is still a distinction between us.”

  “Are there any more of you alive?”

  He nodded. “I’m beginning to think so.”

  “Yeah? Where?”

  He touched her cheek. “Right here. Beside me. You see, Chloe, my magic was growing old and dying, and then I met you.” He paused to give her a moment to digest his words. “After we made love, your sweet cream acted like a catalyst, reviving me and restoring my magic to its full strength.”

  Eyes alive with intrigue, amazement and total acceptance at what he was telling her, she glanced at his chest and his healed wounds. “The mongoose, you healed it. And your wound—?”

  “You’re my life mate, Chloe.”

  She swallowed. “How?”

  “I believe you’re a descendant of a dragon. It’s the only logical explanation I can come up with. We’re connected, Chloe. I know you feel it every bit as much as I feel it.”

  “Is that why it felt like you were with me the other night? Making love to me?”

  “Yeah, you were feeling my thoughts. It’s the bond we have between us, it’s growing more powerful every day.”

  “If I leave, what will happen to your magic?”

  “Only time will tell.” He suspected that without his life mate by his side, his magic would eventually diminish and die, but he refused to tell her that, making her feel obligated to stay. He’d just have to find other ways to sustain it.

  “Well, we’ll never have to worry about that.”

  He opened his mouth to question her, but she cut him off.

  “It must have been lonely here for you all these years. Everyone deserves a family, children.”

  “At times,” he admitted honestly. “Especially at night.”

  She blinked up at him. “You don’t have to be lonely anymore, Jared.”

  “Why? What do you mean?”

  “You have me now.”

  He looked down solemnly, a lump forming in his throat, not daring to believe or hope for such a thing. “I only have immortality to offer you, and you deserves so much more. You need to go back home, Chloe.”

  Her voice came out a little raspy when she said, “I have nothing to go back to. Even if I did, I still wouldn’t want to go.”

  Her warm palms touched his face. “There is nothing here—” he began before Chloe piped in.

  “You’re here, Jared, and that’s all I want or need. And the only thing I want from you is your love.”

  “You’re human, Chloe, and I doubt I can give you children. You deserve a family and children. Everyone does. You just said so yourself.”

  She ran her fingers through his hair and lowered herself onto the mattress, dragging him with her. “Who says you can’t give me children?”

  “What if it’s impossible?” He gripped her shoulders and pinned her to the bed as he climbed over her.

  “What if it’s not? Heck, you just said I have dragon blood in me.” She winked at him. “And don’t you think it would be fun trying?” With that, she spread her legs wide for him, welcoming him home.

  Jesus, he could hardly believe how easily she accepted what he was, what she was. “What if the child turns out like me?”

  He saw love shining in her eyes. “Then I’ll be the luckiest woman in the world, and together on this island we’ll have a life, and a family and we’ll all protect each other.” She pulled her dress up to expose her naked pubis.

  With his heart pounding, he tore his pants off and positioned his cock at her opening. God, could this really be happening? “Are you sure, sweetheart? Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “I’ve never been surer of anything, Jared.”

  Heart soaring with bliss he asked, “So you only want my love, then?” He pushed his cock in an inch and watched her toss her head to the side in pleasure.

  She writhed against the mattress and began panting. “Well, maybe that’s not entirely true.”

  He laughed out loud and in one quick thrust drove into her heat. “Sweetheart, you have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”

  About the Author

  A former government financial officer, Cathryn Fox graduated from university with a bachelor of business degree. Shortly into her career, Cathryn quickly figured out that corporate life wasn’t for her. Needing an outlet for her creative energy, she turned in her briefcase and calculator and began writing erotic romance full-time. Cathryn enjoys writing dark paranormals and humorous contemporaries. She lives in eastern Canada with her husband, two kids and chocolate Labrador retriever.

  To learn more about Cathryn Fox, please visit www.cathrynfox.com Send an email to Cathryn@Cathrynfox.com or join her chat group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wicked_writers/.

  Look for these titles by Cathryn Fox

  Now Available:

  Blood
Ties

  One on One

  All Tied Up

  Dance of the Dragon

  Need the job done right? Get a handyman with the right…tools.

  All Tied Up

  © 2009 Cathryn Fox

  Pleasure Inn, Book 1

  Interior decorator Lindsay Bell jumped at the chance to help restore the old inn at Mason Creek. What could be more fun than letting her imagination run wild on an unlimited budget? Eagerly she plans to turn her assigned room into a fantasy BDSM playground.

  All she expected from her newly hired handyman was to help her tear down a support wall. She certainly didn’t expect Brad Caldwell to be so drop-dead gorgeous in a tool belt. When he proves to be a steady, hardworking, stand-up guy—unlike the men she’s dated—Lindsay has a new and wicked idea.

  To take her new creation on a test drive down the road of their deepest, darkest, most delicious desires—and seduce her way into his heart.

  Warning: Smokin’ hot sex with creative use of toys, and a dash of magic.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for All Tied Up:

  He shut the door. Lindsay’s eyes widened at the sound of the lock clicking in place. He could almost see her body stir to life. Almost hear her mind reeling with possibilities.

  “What—”

  In two long strides he closed the distance between them and pressed his fingers to her lips. “Shh.”

  He watched her throat work as she swallowed and knew, by the heated look in her eyes, her untamed passion and desires matched his. She wanted this as much as he did. No questions about it.

  He gripped her slim waist and packaged her soft body against his. Christ, she felt so incredible in his arms, he could only imagine how wonderful she’d feel trapped between his legs. Nudging her feet with his, he backed her up until the rear of her knees hit the padded table. Eyes wide, questioning, her chest rose and fell with her erratic breathing.

  He tugged her T-shirt out from her tight jeans. When his fingers connected with her soft skin, his brain nearly shut down. “I’m going to give you what you want, Lindsay.”

  Her voice hitched, color bloomed high on her cheeks. “How do you know what I want?” He heard the intrigue in her voice and felt her hips push against him. It was a slight movement but hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  He offered her a slow smile. “You’re going to have to trust me on that one.”

  “I can’t possibly see—”

  He pitched his voice low and demanded in a deep tone. “Take off your clothes. Nice and slow.” He touched her arm and felt her body shake with excitement.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me?” Her voice betrayed her emotions. He could see the passion, the invitation building in her eyes.

  He shook his head. “Not even for a minute.”

  “Brad—”

  “Take them off, Lindsay. Now. Nice and slow like I told you. If you don’t follow the rules, I’m afraid you’ll be punished.”

  He slid his hand between her legs and cupped her sex, just to prove just how serious he was.

  An edgy laugh morphed into a heated moan. He noted the way her legs wobbled. “Sweet mother of God,” she whispered under her breath. Then she starched her spine and met his glace. “What if I don’t want to?” Her voice lacked conviction. They both knew it.

  He trailed his finger over her arm and felt the goose bumps on her flesh. “You do. Now take them off. Then I want you sprawled out on that bench. I want you naked, hot and wet, and begging me to fuck you.”

  “Ohmigod,” he heard her gasp as his lips closed over hers for a deep, intense, mind-numbing kiss. He slipped his tongue inside her delicious mouth and spent a long moment just tasting her lush sweetness. Jesus, he wanted to devour her. All of her. Right now.

  Lindsay inched back, her eyes clouded with emotion, her voice breathless. “This can only be about sex, Brad. Just to help ease the tension between us. Nothing more.”

  “Naturally,” he agreed, lightheartedly, feeling anything but. He might have readily agreed with her, the truth was, he wanted to see where this led them. With that he gave her a gentle push.

  Lindsay landed on the bench, her legs spread. Brad let out an agonized groan as his groin tightened and throbbed in heated anticipation. Jesus, he’d never felt such intense desire before. It took all his strength and willpower not to act on his natural urges and answer the demands of his body. At the moment he’d like nothing more than to strip her clothes off, spread her legs wide open and sink his cock into her damp heat. Honestly, it practically killed him not to ravish her caveman style, to push inside her pussy and fuck her until sundown. But, right now, this was about Lindsay, so he needed to control those urges for the time being.

  He growled low in his throat as she sat there, eyes glazed with lust as she awaited his instructions. God dammit he wanted her. So much so that he ached to the point of pain. He took a moment to get himself under control before he fucked her with wild abandon.

  Obviously not wanting to give him time to catch up and anxious to get the game started, she asked, “What is it you’d like me to do?”

  It didn’t take her long to assume her role of submissive, which led him to believe she’d been fantasizing about this for quite some time. It also led him to believe no man had ever taken the time to get to know her on a deeper lever and understand her needs and desires. Stupid bastards. With a girl this incredible, this amazing, a guy had to be a total asshole not to spend all his time getting to know the real her. And give her what she wanted.

  “Take you pants off and then resume that position.”

  Lindsay obliged without hesitation. She lowered herself onto her back and brought her legs onto the bench. She unsnapped her pants, pulled the zipper and wiggled her gorgeous, curvy ass. Once her jeans were at her ankles she kicked them away. Without inhibition, she sprawled across the bench. He was pleased at how comfortable she was in her own skin. He met her glance. The look in her eyes conveyed without words just how excited she was. Which pleased him immensely.

  Brad walked around her, devouring her with his eyes. With exquisite gentleness, he touched her bare legs, his fingers trailing lightly over her soft skin, going higher and higher, coming perilously close to her pussy. Her body quaked. Her legs inched open in invitation.

  He lowered his voice. “Very, very nice.” He inhaled and could already smell the tang of her arousal.

  “Brad please,” she begged, and reached for him, her fingers brushing against his throbbing cock.

  He shackled her hands and put them to her sides. “Sit up,” he commanded. “And take off your shirt.”

  Lindsay sat up, her legs wide open, straddling the bench. As he took in the sight of her, he thought he’d go mad with want. The need to fuck her made him edgy, shaky.

  He swallowed and worked to control his voice. “Spread your legs wider.” She did, but it wasn’t nearly wide enough for him to have a full, unobstructed view of her sweet spot. “Wider, Lindsay,” he whispered his glance going to the unpacked box of BDSM toys in the corner of the room. “If you’re not going to listen, I’ll have to punish you.”

  Her face flushed from heat, her dark eyes glazed with passion. A soft mewl caught in her throat. He stroked her again. Her body buzzed, her skin felt hot to the touch.

  She shimmied to the end of the bench and spread her legs impossibly wider, offering her pussy up to him so nicely.

  “That’s a girl.”

  Twin folds opened for him, affording him a view of her luscious pink softness. Jesus, her pussy was drenched with desire. He did this to her. Damn that pleased him, knowing he could raise her passions to such height and make her soaked with need.

  He lowered himself to his knees to get a better look. He leaned in and inhaled, pulling her feminine scent into his lungs. Then he blew a warm breath over her pussy. Her damp hairs bristled.

  She drew a shaky breath. “Oh God,” she whispered and tilted her pelvis forward, an obvious plea for more.

  Her heat beckoned hi
m and he wanted to touch her. No. He needed to touch her. If he didn’t soon feel her softness, he was certain an artery would blow. His jeans tightened painfully reminding him just how much he wanted her, just how much she affected him. Brad couldn’t ever remember feeling so crazed, so out of control.

  He drew a breath, gathering himself. “You are incredible, babe,” he breathed the words over her pussy and watched her sex muscles tighten and throb.

  After a light brush of his knuckle over her swollen clit, his finger moved her moist opening. He probed her pussy and knew, as well as he knew his own name, that once he entered her, once she branded him with her heat, he’d never be the same again. With her hips bucking forward, she drove his finger inside.

  “Jesus,” he said, loving the way the tight walls of her pussy closed over him. He’d never felt anything so divine.

  Brad pressed a finger inside her, unmoving. His gaze went to her shirt. “Didn’t I tell you to take your top off?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Shh,” he silenced with a frown. “Don’t question me. Just do as I say.” His glance went to the box of toys a second time. “Otherwise, you’ll be punished.

  Vampire: (noun) Bloodsucker, murderer, bedpost-notcher, God’s gift to women, fiend.

  Tooth and Claw

  © 2009 Annmarie McKenna

  Seth Gramble is a prince among his people. Half vampire, half jaguar, he is one of a rare few who can shift into an animal form. Both his halves have found their mate in a female detective determined to lump all vampires in with the rogue who killed her former lover. He’s given her six months to see him differently. He’s done waiting.

  Paxton Tenor wants nothing to do with a blood-sucking fiend, no matter how much he makes her body sing. Nothing good can come of a vampire. A case she’s working on partners her with Seth, and she’s forced to reconsider her hatred. He doesn’t seem at all like the rogue who sucked the life from her boyfriend in cold blood.