by Starla Night
His stomach dropped. She didn’t want him to be there next year. Because he had failed to protect her. Failed to satisfy his boss. Failed to satisfy her.
She didn’t want him.
“But that can wait. We don’t have time for this.” She put a small package in his lap. “You still have a few minutes! Open it.”
“I didn’t get you a present.”
She made a flubbing sound with her lips. “Except for this dress, the other dress, these shoes, the other shoes, a COACH bag, a once-in-a-lifetime dinner, decorations for the cookie exchange, and saving my life from an apartment fire. And also the cookie exchange. We’re square.”
He extended a claw and slit through the festive blue snowflake wrapping paper.
She laughed with surprise. “I forgot you can do that! How handy. You never need scissors.”
“Scissors are useful for precision work.” He slipped off the paper. A cardboard box for women’s shoes? He checked the size. “Too small.”
“Keep going,” she encouraged him. And then she elbowed him. “Was that a joke?”
It was a way of dealing with his nervousness. “You decide.”
“Come on, come on!”
He opened the shoe box. Inside were three smaller packages nestled in sparkling white tissue paper.
The first contained a small sample pack of Stumptown Coffee. “Because you said you liked pumpkin spice, so I thought you might like other kinds too.”
The second contained a box of Moonstruck chocolate truffles. “Because these are all my favorites, and if you don’t love them just as much as I do, I’m happy to help you eat any extras.”
And the last, smallest box contained a pair of gold cufflinks in the shape of dragons.
He lifted them out. They gleamed in the light with purity and strength.
“I was going to get you a nice pen for all of the successful contracts you’re going to sign, but then I saw these. You always look so nice and put together, I thought these could actually fit your style.”
An unfamiliar burning sensation flooded his nostrils. His eyes prickled and his throat unexpectedly closed. He swallowed. Hard.
She was always, always considering what he might like. No one devoted such thought to him. His likes, his preferences, his desires were boring before coming to Earth and meeting Karmel. Now, he looked forward to learning about himself through her eyes.
Through her eyes and through his own.
He cleared his throat. “Will you help me?”
“Of course!” Her happy smile and eager fingers made his heart ache more. “There. I’m so glad you like them! I was so torn.”
He lifted his sleeves and admired himself. “A pen would have been fine.”
“I thought so. Then, I thought, there’s always next year!”
He lowered his sleeves and focused on her. This question determined everything. “So, there will be a next year?”
She blinked. “Yes. Unless you don’t want to.”
“I want to. But my absence today hurt you.”
“It did.” She grabbed both his hands. “And, it reminded me of what I really wanted to say to you. Which is, I know you’re doing your best. You’re trying hard to be on Earth and succeed at your new job and not repeat your past mistakes.”
Pain stabbed him. She was right. He was trying so hard, and yet here he was, repeating his past errors over and over again in a terrible, nightmarish loop.
Chapter Fourteen
Peridot thought he was changing, but when Karmel spoke the truth, he knew he wasn’t. He was ashamed.
“And I think you’re doing great,” she finished.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry?”
“You made a huge effort to be here. Fifteen minutes of Christmas is better than nothing. We’ll both keep trying, all right?”
His heart swelled in his chest.
He tugged her into his arms. Crushing her soft curves against him felt so right. She was the ultimate gift. He never knew he needed anyone like her.
The future used to look dark and sad, an endless string of schedules and requirements. Now, his future entwined with hers. Her shining star filling his whole sky, and he could only see dazzling happiness ahead.
His communicator buzzed.
He pulled apart with a sigh. Reality so quickly intruded.
She squinted at his Rolex. “Who’s calling you at this hour?”
“Consequences.” He made sure Karmel was covered and then answered. His video screen showed the displeased face of his boss. “Sir.”
“Peridot. You disabled the cargo ship safety system and caused greater wear on the engines by returning so fast.”
He kept his voice even. “I apologize.”
“Recklessly violating equipment guidelines is unlike you.”
“I will not repeat this.”
“Your flippancy is unacceptable.”
Peridot considered his options. Pleasing Karmel came at a cost of displeasing Sard. His loyalties were torn because both had saved his life. Sard in the most literal way and Karmel in the most enduring.
“I’m disappointed,” Sard said.
And now he’d disappointed the one male who’d taken a chance on him and—
“Okay, this is my fault.” Karmel leaned against Peridot’s shoulder so she could see Sard as well. “I told him he had to spend Christmas with me or it was a break-up-able offense.”
Sard narrowed on Karmel. “Damaging a cargo ship could cost billions.”
“Well, should have given him Christmas off.”
Sard blinked.
“This year, I only got fifteen minutes. But next year, I need a week! And every year after that. Schedule your multi-million shipments—”
“Billion.”
“Whatever. Schedule them before December or after the New Year. Or else none of you are invited to my cookie exchanges ever again.”
Sard studied her for a long moment.
The way his coworkers had reminisced about the cookie exchange, there would be a morale problem if Sard caused the dragons to be disinvited. It might incite a mutiny.
“I will expect an invitation,” he ground out.
“You’ll get it. Next year will be fabulous. We’ll have twice as many cookies. You won’t believe how full of holiday spirit everyone becomes.”
His hard gaze flicked to Peridot. “You were rendered temporarily insane by three Christmas spirits. Do not let it happen outside Christmas.” He cut off the transmission.
Peridot put away the communicator. Tension drained out of his body and his shoulders slumped. Karmel forgave him and so did Sard. He fulfilled his obligations. And next year, he wouldn’t have to choose.
He could prioritize Karmel the way she wanted. The way they both wanted.
“We still have two minutes.” She pushed him back on the bunk with a giggle. “I know what to do.”
Her fingers worked his buttons and she pulled up his white undershirt, reveling in his taut abs. She nipped his lips, her softness brushing his firm chest, and ready heat flowed into his loins.
“This will take longer than two minutes,” he groaned. If he shifted into dragon and smashed the sound barrier, he could push it. “Longer than ten.”
“We have hours. I’m just eager to get started.” She unzipped his trousers. His cock strained against the fabric. She licked her lips. “Here’s a present I can’t wait to unwrap.”
He grabbed her waist and lifted her on top of him, grinding his cock against her satin panties. “Unwrap me.”
She fumbled with his boxers.
He unzipped her dress, yanked it over her shoulders, scooped her generous breasts free of her demure bra, and feasted.
She moaned. “Peridot.”
His cock throbbed with heat. Everything about her was an aphrodisiac. Her cinnamon-and-sugar-scented skin, her soft moans, her gentle tugs on his waistband, her dampening panties.
She dropped her head to his and thrust her tongue in his ear. It gave hi
m shivers and his cock pulsed. “I want you.”
He peeled her dress off, divested her bra and panties, and shimmied out of his shoes, socks, pants, and boxers. She tugged off his suit jacket, then suspended over him, nude, while she worked to remove his new cufflinks.
He fought the urge to shift and shred his clothes. Instead, he extended a claw. “I’ll get them off.”
“Don’t you dare.” She fiddled with the clasp. “It’s tighter than I realized. Just a sec.”
Her breast, like a generous scoop of his favorite whipped cream, suspended over his chest. He ducked his head and filled himself, savoring her sweet flavor.
She dropped onto an elbow and moaned. “Stop. I can’t concentrate.”
Her butt angled up.
He caressed her soft derriere and squeezed.
“Peridot.” She rocked her hips, pushing into his caress. Her rich arousal filled his nostrils. “Just wait…”
The link uncoupled. It clinked and his sleeve loosened. She pulled his shirt off around his back and concentrated on the other wrist.
He switched breasts.
Her gasps hitched higher. “You!” She lost her balance and sat on his thighs. Her damp slit rested against the base of his cock.
He slid against her, coating his ramrod hard cock with her liquid honey.
She moaned and rocked with him.
He loved driving her wild. Watching her lose control from his caresses made him come alive. He wasn’t a dull, undesirable, cast-off dragon. He was necessary. She needed him.
And he loved her too.
“There.” A clink and she tugged the shirt off, then made him lose the undershirt. “Now, perfect.”
He gripped her flared hips and nudged his thick head against her silken slick entrance.
Her lids half-descended. Gorgeous pleasure transformed her face. She shuddered and gave herself to him, entrusting herself, balancing on his shoulders.
He thrust up, burying his cock to the hilt.
She gasped. “Yes!”
“Now,” he growled, unsteady. “Perfect.”
A smile flitted across her lips. She clasped his cheeks and claimed his mouth for a long, soul-affirming kiss.
He plunged his cock in and out of her slick channel.
Karmel cried out in his rhythm, escalating as their bodies slapped faster and harder. She rose on her palms, arching her back, and twined his legs.
He rocked her to the brink, bobbing their sexes together, knitting their souls into one. She believed in him, she admired him, she completed him.
“Peridot!” She collapsed on top of him, shuddering. Her channel milked his cock, sending him over the edge.
He poured his seed into her.
His vision went white, losing and then finding himself moments later, still buried all the way. They both lay gasping like they’d flown around the world, twice.
She curled against his shoulder. “Thanks for the late Christmas present.”
“Of course.” He stroked her sinuous back. His. “I do have something for you.”
“You do?”
“It’s small.”
“Oh, I don’t mind. It’s the thought that counts.”
For her, that was the truth. “What did you think of the night sky in the common room?”
“What night sky?”
“You didn’t push the button I showed you?”
She shook her head. “Now I want to see.”
He checked the time, rose with a groan, and untangled them. Sex was stickier than he’d imagined. He didn’t mind being smeared in Karmel’s juices but she liked to be soft and clean. He walked them through the cleanser unit, himself into a fresh suit with his new cufflinks, and her into new pajamas.
She stroked the comfy T-shirt fabric printed with daisies. “This is a nice present.”
He twined his hands. “That’s a replacement. Your present is here.” He showed her a palm-sized red paper bag folded over and taped.
She reached for the tape.
“Open it here.” He led her across the ship to the common room.
Inside, it was quiet. The other dragons were out experiencing more traditional human Christmas celebrations, finishing business, or resting. He settled her on the rear counter and pressed the wall button.
While the lights lowered to darkness, he scooted behind her and drew her backside to his chest. “Now you can open it.”
She unpeeled the tape and folded the paper. Inside, five golden nuts lay within toasted, cracked shells. “It smells amazing. What is it?”
“Chestnuts.”
She turned to him with excitement. “Are you serious? Chestnuts roasted over an open fire?”
“Or roasted in a matter analyzer.”
“I always wanted to try one!” She pulled off a shell and bit into the soft meat. “Mmm. It’s amazing. Sweet and creamy, with a nutty flavor but more of a marzipan texture. Oh, wow.” She offered him one. “Try it.”
He accepted, even though he’d gotten it for her. It was her generous nature. Like the holiday spirit, she wanted to share goodness with everyone. He was so lucky that she’d shared herself with him.
“So, what’s this a view of?” She gazed at the overcast sight.
“Outside. On a clear night, you can see Draconis.”
“Wow.”
“Watch.” He gave a voice order for the screens to magnify. The clouds came into focus, and then it magnified as if the ceiling were glass.
Tiny white dots fluttered on the windows, danced for a moment, and then swept away on their journey to Earth.
“That’s right! It’s a white Christmas.” She buried her face in his shoulders. Dampness misted his neck. “You are so thoughtful. This is the best Christmas ever.”
He held her close, feeling the same.
She eventually pulled back, wiped the tears from her eyes, and pressed soft kisses to his jaw. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Next year will be better,” he promised.
She snorted. “Our first Christmas, my apartment burned down. Next Christmas will definitely be better.” She nuzzled him and gazed again up at the drifting snow. “We’ll have amazing stories to tell our children.”
He squeezed her.
For now, life fully satisfied him. Every moment with her taught him new things about himself. She revealed a sparkling world glimmering beneath the one he thought he knew.
This silent, snowy night was filled with warmth and love. Human and dragon found peace on and above Earth and spread goodwill to all man- and shifter-kind. He wished every dragon a small sliver of the spirit filling his heart.
Christmas was the happiest holiday in the universe.
Dear reader,
Thanks so much for reading. If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review. Nothing helps an author more, and your fellow readers appreciate your honesty.
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Sincerely,
Starla
What’s Next?
Tattooed mer-shifters are climbing out of the secret depths to claim their soul mates and save their race!
Determined warlord Torun cannot wait to claim Lucy, who mistook him for a shipwreck survivor and pulled his injured body from the ocean. All his instincts tell him she is his soul mate. Now she must join with him and give him a child.
Lucy can’t believe the words coming out of this dominant male. He insists her destiny is to become a mermaid queen and mother to his future children. The one thing “destiny” forgot to mention was that Lucy’s a broke divorcee who can’t even have a child. It’s really too bad, because his gorgeous lips are all too kissable, and she’d love to see his iridescent gold tattoos moving as he flexed those broad, hard pectorals under the water…
But Torun’s i
n more immediate danger than a bad bump to the head, and Lucy is the only one who can save him. Their choices will either save the entire race of mermen, or destroy it forever.
This is a complete novel with a happy ending! Also, it features steamy mer-shifter love scenes, underwater gun fights, and a giant female octopus named Mr. Huggles. Fall in love with these men of the sea!
Dive in to the Lords of Atlantis: Seduced by the Sea Lord
Enjoy this brief excerpt!
Seduced by the Sea Lord ~ Brief Excerpt
A dead body.
That was what had fouled her anchor line. Lucy broke the surface, spat out her snorkel, and rubbed the fog from her mask. The bright sun set the ocean on orange fire as it sank beneath the waves, and there was a dead body tangled on her chain.
She had sailed to this isolated atoll three times now. Each time, she found something amazing that turned out to be cursed.
Her first trip, she discovered the largest Sea Opal in the world. Her second trip, she got engaged to her now ex-husband, who made off with her Sea Opal.
The third time was the charm. The atoll was skipping the “seems-amazing” part and going straight for the curse.
Only ten minutes ago she’d stood in the water-logged trawler engine room and trained her cell phone on herself for what was going to be her final Facebook Live expedition broadcast.
“Mel, as you can see, the leak’s gotten worse. I’m heading back to port tonight. I’ve got time for one last dive.”
And that would be it. Her last chance to find a Sea Opal. Mel had double-mortgaged her family house to get Lucy this far. There would be no second expedition.
Lucy squared her shoulders, made the victory sign, and grinned. Her grease-smeared cheeks ached. “This is it. I know I’m going to get lucky.”
And now…
Now her last chance was fouled by a dead body on her anchor line.
She could pretend she’d never seen him and search for her Sea Opal. But…she just couldn’t. He had relatives. Friends. Maybe he even had kids. Worse than a tragic closure was the unfinished, senseless ache of never knowing for sure what was in store.
