Bound by Thorns (The Dragon Soul Series)

by Sean Michael

He growled a little louder, growled into his pet’s mind.

  Shh. Busy.

  You’ve been busy for hours. Hours. Days. Which was possibly a slight bit of an exaggeration.

  Days? Silly dragon. I’m making supper.

  I could eat you for dinner.

  I’m not scared. Grey’s laughter filled his mind.

  He loved that sound, that sensation of Grey’s joy inside him. You weren’t supposed to be scared, you were supposed to be turned on.

  I am. “Ow!”

  He rushed into the kitchen. “Grey!”

  “I’m okay. I’m okay. I cut my finger. Get out of the kitchen.” Grey was heading to the sink to stick his hand under the water.

  He went over to Grey, completely ignoring the order to leave. “I’m not interfering with your supper, but I’m not abandoning you when you’re hurt.”

  “I only nicked my finger. Nothing big. I promise.”

  “Let me see,” he insisted, taking Grey’s hand in his and checking out his injured finger.

  The cut was short but deep, drops of blood dripping down with the water. He growled and brought Grey’s finger to his mouth, sucking on it.

  He scented Grey’s sudden arousal, the flood wild, making him want to bend his pet over the table. He met Grey’s eyes and slowly let the hurt finger slide from between his lips. “There. I kissed it better.”

  “Uh-huh.” Grey blinked, swaying nice and slow.

  “Does your supper need a lot of attention?” Because he wouldn’t sabotage any of Grey’s attempts at supper. Not if he could help it.

  “It’s almost done. Roast chicken, stuffing, potatoes, brussels sprouts.”

  “It sounds as good as it smells.” He put Grey’s hand down. “We should eat before...” he had his most wicked way with his pet.

  “Uh-huh...” Grey wanted him. “I worked really hard, Dragon.”

  “You worked for hours. We really should eat before anything else.” Maybe if he convinced Grey, Grey would convince him in return. Throwing Grey over the dining room table and fucking him until it broke would have to wait, no matter how tempting it was.

  “Yes. Sit. You want to carve the bird?”

  “Is that a euphemism?” he teased as he sat.

  “Uh-huh. Sit.” Grey’s laugh filled the air, so joyous.

  “I’m sitting!” He had to laugh, too, though.

  “Cut the bird up.” Please be done. Please be done.

  He didn’t need it to be done to eat it. But he wanted Grey to be happy, so he hoped it was done, too.

  He grabbed the carving knife and fork, and sliced into the chicken.

  “Is it okay? I cooked it long enough, right?”

  “It’s perfect, Grey.” He cut off one side of the breast, and put it on Grey’s plate—he knew that’s what his pet liked best. Then he put the second half on top of the first, letting Grey have both, and dumped the rest of the chicken on his own plate. “Bon appetit.”

  “There’s gravy, stuffing. All sorts of sides.” Grey had tried so hard.

  “It’s wonderful. I can’t wait to eat it.” He kissed Grey’s nose. “You take such good care of me.” It was an amazing feeling.

  Grey’s entire face lit up, pure happiness written all over him.

  “It’s true. You take better care of me than anyone.”

  “Someone needs to. Someone needs to show you how amazing you are.”

  He took a kiss, unable to resist, even if it led to making love first instead of eating.

  Grey moved closer, almost in his lap. Oh, lovely idea. They could feed each other. He tugged his pet right into his lap and kissed him again.

  “Feed me, Grey.”

  “I’d love to.” Grey made a bite of chicken and gravy and stuffing, then offered it over.

  He opened up, watching Grey’s face as he leaned in and took the forkful of food into his mouth. “Mmm. It’s delicious.”

  “Yeah? My first roasted chicken.”

  “You roasted it great. Let me show you.” He snagged Grey’s plate so he could put some breast meat with the gravy, the dressing, and a bit of potato. He offered the fork over to Grey.

  Grey took the bite and hummed. “Nice.”

  “You did a great job.” He put together another mouthful, feeding it to Grey before his pet could even think to protest. Grey needed the food. He needed the energy more than Luke did.

  They ate, laughing and kissing in between bites, and it hit him, this was his life now. His bonded, here, with him, making him laugh like he never imagined he could. Bringing such joy to him.

  “I love you, Greyson.” He said it quietly, seriously, staring into Grey’s eyes.

  “Good. I love you, Lukas-meine.”

  He rumbled happily at the words, and Grey squirmed for him. “Hurry, a few more bites before I can’t resist you a moment longer.”

  “You mean you’re not going to do dishes?” Grey teased.

  “They’ll keep. What I feel for you won’t.” He growled a little louder, let Grey really hear him.

  Grey’s eyes went heavy lidded, sweet arousal flooding him.

  He shoved a brussels sprout into Grey’s mouth. “Eat,” he ordered, his need ratcheting up another level.

  “Uh-huh.” Grey handed him a roll.

  He managed to slather it in butter before handing half over to Grey. He swallowed his own half in about two seconds, then grabbed another chunk of chicken, washing the whole thing down with half his glass of water.

  “Are you going to make me fly, Dragon?” There was a smear of butter on Grey’s upper lip.

  “I will.” He leaned in and licked it off. “Are you asking me to make you fly extra high tonight?”

  Grey held his gaze, so sure, so happy. “Yes, Dragon. I am.”

  * * * * *

  Look for BORN OF AIR, the next book in the DRAGON SOUL series, coming from Sean Michael and Carina Press in February 2018.

  Also available from Sean Michael and Carina Press

  The Dragon Soul Series

  Branded by Flames

  Seduced by the Tide

  Also watch for the next book in The Dragon Soul Series, coming soon from Carina Press!

  About the Author

  Bestselling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used bookstores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic BeaverTail.

  Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

  Introducing the Carina Press Romance Promise!

  The Carina Press team all have one thing in common: we are romance readers with a longtime love of the genre. And we know what readers are looking for in a romance: a guarantee of a happily-ever-after (HEA) or happy-for-now (HFN). With that in mind, we’re initiating the Carina Press Romance Promise. When you see a book tagged with these words in our cover copy/book description, we’re making you, the reader, a very important promise:

  This book contains a romance central to the plot and ends in an HEA or HFN.

  Simple, right? But so important, we know!

  Look for the Carina Press Romance Promise and one-click with confidence that we understand what’s at the heart of the romance genre!

  Look for this line in Carina Press book descriptions:

  One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

 
Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.

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  Keep on reading! Carina Press has you covered on all your male/male romance!

  Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert

  A sexy new page-turning military series from male/male romance author Annabeth Albert.

  OFF BASE (Out of Uniform, book one)

  AT ATTENTION (Out of Uniform, book two)

  ON POINT (Out of Uniform, book three)

  “OFF BASE combines a sexy romance with an emotionally dramatic story and is a great start to the Out of Uniform series.”

  —All About Romance

  #gaymers series by Annabeth Albert

  A geektastic series from multipublished male/male romance author Annabeth Albert.

  STATUS UPDATE (#gaymers, book one)

  BETA TEST (#gaymers, book two)

  CONNECTION ERROR (#gaymers, book three)

  “This book was a perfect mix of sweet, angst and sexy. This book had it all.”

  —Gay Book Reviews on STATUS UPDATE, recommended read

  Agents Irish and Whiskey series by Layla Rayne

  Follow FBI agents Aidan Talley and Jameson Walker as they try to thwart a deadly terrorist attack. But time is running out...

  SINGLE MALT (Agents Irish and Whiskey, book one)

  CASK STRENGTH (Agents Irish and Whiskey, book two)

  BARREL PROOF (Agents Irish and Whiskey, book three)

  All Saints series by A.M. Arthur

  In A.M. Arthur’s male/male romances, friends learn that there’s more to life and love than just sex—no matter how steamy it is!

  COME WHAT MAY (All Saints, book one)

  SAY IT RIGHT (All Saints, book two)

  AS I AM (All Saints, book three)

  “In depicting the hurts of living and the healing comfort of love, [A.M.] Arthur hits all the right notes.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  The Boundaries Series by A.R. Barley

  Featuring an enemies-to-lovers romance, a professor–student relationship and a silver fox who falls for a drag queen, this series is about testing—and breaking—all the boundaries.

  OUT OF BOUNDS (The Boundaries Series, book one)

  AGAINST THE RULES (The Boundaries Series, book two)

  OUTSIDE THE LINES (The Boundaries Series, book three)

  “A sweet, feel-good story of two young men who help each other heal.”

  —Gay Book Reviews on OUT OF BOUNDS

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  Meet all the Beteferoce brothers in the Dragon Soul series by Sean Michael!

  Five dragon shifters, each with a strong elemental power. And each with a fierce desire to find his soul mate...

  BRANDED BY FLAMES

  For years, dragon-shifter-slash-firefighter Jake has been searching for his mate, but he’s beginning to tire of the search. Then he meets Shae. A former navy welder, Shae is handsome, talented, into power play and rough sex, and covered in dragon tattoos—one being Jake’s family crest. Now Jake must convince Shae to trust him as a man and as a Dom before the heat between them burns out of control.

  SEDUCED BY THE TIDE

  Deke has yet to meet a man who gives him a rush. Coast Guard rescue has kept the dragon shifter busy, but there’s no harder work than finding a mate. Then comes Bryan. Bearded and inked, the personal trainer-turned-mechanic smells of grease, sweat and red meat. And when it comes to hot, slamming sex, they’re the perfect fit. Now all Deke has to do is to tell Bryan what he really is and what he has planned for them.

  BOUND BY THORNS

  Park Ranger Luke Beteferoce likes the quiet of the forest—a place he can be alone. The dragon shifter keeps himself busy maintaining his territory in the park. That is, until he meets ex-solider Greyson Paulson. Greyson knows he isn’t ready for what Luke has coming but can’t stop himself from following every command that is whispered his way.

  “It is certainly steamy, and has plenty of ink, piercings, and brothers to keep your attention.”

  —The Romance Reviews on BRANDED BY FLAMES

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  ISBN-13: 9781488024351

  Bound by Thorns

  Copyright © 2017 by Sean Michael

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.

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