Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One - Zoah
Chapter Two - Charlotte
Chapter Three - Zoah
Chapter Four - Charlotte
Chapter Five - Zoah
Chapter Six - Charlotte
Chapter Seven - Zoah
Chapter Eight - Charlotte
Chapter Nine - Zoah
Chapter Ten - Charlotte
Chapter Eleven - Zoah
Chapter Twelve - Charlotte
Chapter Thirteen - Zoah
Chapter Fourteen - Charlotte
Chapter Fifteen - Zoah
Chapter Sixteen - Charlotte
Chapter Seventeen - Zoah
Chapter Eighteen - Charlotte
Chapter Nineteen - Zoah
Chapter Twenty - Charlotte
Chapter Twenty One - Zoah
Chapter Twenty Two - Charlotte
Chapter Twenty Three - Zoah
Chapter Twenty Four - Charlotte
Chapter Twenty Five - Zoah
Chapter Twenty Six - Charlotte
Chapter Twenty Seven - Zoah
Chapter Twenty Eight - Charlotte
Chapter Twenty Nine - Zoah
Chapter Thirty - Charlotte
Chapter Thirty One - Zoah
Chapter Thirty Two - Charlotte
Chapter Thirty Three - Fin
Chapter Thirty Four - Charlotte
Chapter Thirty Five - Zoah
Chapter Thirty Six - Tara
Chapter Thirty Seven - Charlotte
Chapter Thirty Eight - Zoah
Chapter Thirty Nine - Charlotte
Chapter Forty - Zoah
Chapter Forty One - Charlotte
Chapter Forty Two - Zoah
Chapter Forty Three - Charlotte
Chapter Forty Four - Zoah
Chapter Forty Five - Charlotte
Chapter Forty Six - Zoah
Chapter Forty Seven - Charlotte
Other Books By Harmony Raines
Love of the Dragon
(Her Dragon’s Bane)
(Book Four)
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Note from the author: My books are written, produced and edited in the UK where spellings and word usage can vary from U.S. English. The use of quotes in dialogue and other punctuation can also differ.
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All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.
This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.
© 2015 Harmony Raines
Silver Moon Erotica
Kindle Edition
~ Then ~
Chapter One - Zoah
“You need to be back by eight.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes at him. “Eight? I’m fifteen, sixteen in two months’ time. I’m nearly an adult.”
“Sixteen is not an adult.”
“It’s near enough these days.”
“I don’t care about these days. Eighteen is an adult. Fifteen means you are still a child.”
“Eight o’clock is for ten-year-olds. I’ll look stupid.”
Perhaps that was what he was hoping. If he set her curfew early enough, her friends would laugh at her and then she wouldn’t go out. He was being cruel to be kind. And selfish. Ever since she had started going out with boys he had been having what could almost be described as panic attacks. He shuddered at the thought of any male, other than him, being near her.
It had become so bad, he had even followed her on two occasions. And was nearly caught by her on one. That was when he realised two things. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to make her hate him. This realisation had forced him to acknowledge something disturbing. That, despite his words to Connor, he didn’t want that to happen. He wanted her to see him as her mate. However, that idea was ridiculous.
His mood grew worse. Stupid damn fated mates! The universe must have a sick sense of humour to make a fifteen-year-old the mate of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years. He had seen so much of life, whereas hers had only just begun. She needed time to experience the world, to find her place in it. To enjoy the company of friends.
“Nine thirty, and only because it’s not a school night.”
Her face instantly brightened, a smile illuminating it. She took his breath away, as though the sun had broken through the clouds just to shine down on him. He tilted his face as if to absorb those rays, and she surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. It burned him. As if the sun's rays had been concentrated through a magnifying glass onto his skin.
He kept impossibly still, not trusting himself to move one single part of his body. His self-restraint was being sorely tested.
“Thank you, Zoah.” Then she was gone. Running through the old musty hallways, too fresh, too new, for this house and for him.
Feeling every one of those long years, he turned around and walked the other way. Putting as much distance between him and Charlotte as possible was the best idea. He only hoped Connor and Charlotte would come home soon. This was the hardest thing he had ever done. Battling men with swords and spears – no, battling twenty men with swords and spears – would be easier than this.
In the day, she consumed his every waking thought. At night, she spilled into his dreams. It was as though she were a drug. One to which he was addicted. The worse thing was that with each day that passed, he knew her hold on him grew stronger. Its grip so fierce, that even running to the furthest corner of this earth, would not make him forget. Or want her any less.
Chapter Two - Charlotte
She didn’t know why he got to her so much, or why she insisted on pressing his buttons. One minute he spoke to her like a child, the next he looked at her as though she were a desirable woman. Then his face became a mask, a blank stare, his emotions shielded.
As if being a teenager wasn’t hard enough. As if being kept prisoner wasn’t bad enough. Now she had to deal with a mixed-up dragon who was old enough to know better. Wasn’t he supposed to be the adult?
Determined not to let thoughts of him spoil her evening, she went to change. Hoping to sneak out without him seeing her. If he did, they would end up having another disagreement. This time about the length of her skirt, or the amount of cleavage she was showing off.
It wouldn’t bother her so much, if she wasn’t the most conservative of young women anyway. Compared to her friends, she might as well be dressed as a nun. Perhaps that was what he wanted. Or a Victorian lady. She had to give him the benefit of the doubt. He had been alive long enough to have witnessed every fashion era. To him the present generation must be the most promiscuous and the most under-dressed he had ever seen.
She sighed, applying her make-up. Hopefully Serena and Connor would return soon and take the pressure off Zoah. Having her around was obviously making him feel his age. Perhaps it might be better if she moved out. After all, this was his home. Yet the thought of leaving here and, if she was honest with herself, leaving him, was not something she wanted.
Living here made her feel as if she had a home. The life she lived before this, in her old apartment, was not one she missed. Here she felt safe. There was no one to threaten her, or to beat Serena. The days when Samuel would turn up unannounced and bully Seren
a into doing horrible things were gone. Connor, her dragon and her true mate, would always look after her. Forever. Especially now they had succeeded in finding a way for Serena to obtain immortality.
Charlotte paused. A feeling struck her hard. Serena had found a way to live forever. She would stop ageing. In a few years, Charlotte would look older than her sister. In twenty or thirty years, Serena would probably be able to pass for Charlotte’s daughter.
“That is just messed up,” she said to her reflection. She would grow old and wrinkly and Serena would be youthful and young. “She’ll be pushing me around in a wheelchair when I’m old and grey.”
Looking down at her make-up, she realised none of this would help. She would grow old while Serena, Connor and Zoah stayed young. It saddened her. But no matter what, she was overjoyed Serena had accomplished her wish. It would be awful for the child she was carrying to grow up and have to live without their mother. Listening to Connor and Zoah, she had learned how tough that could be. As far as Charlotte knew, their mom had passed away at the end of her natural life. Their heartbroken father had been left haunted with regret at being unable to save her.
She was almost ready, when there was a knock on the door. “Shit,” she murmured to herself. There was no one else in the house, so she knew it had to be Zoah. She got up and pulled her skirt down as low as she could. Next, she made sure her buttons were done right up covering her vest top. She could undo them when she got out of his sight.
Opening the door she stood, arms folded and waited for his next tirade. Instead, he glanced over her body quickly and then looked her in the eye. Charlotte thought this was more unnerving. He was going to be nice. She had learned to see the signs, the way his mouth tightened as he fought for control of his tongue.
“I never gave you any p ... spending money.”
She knew he was going to say pocket money; he saw her as a young child, she was sure. Trying to keep her face neutral, she said, “Thank you, Zoah. I’m sure Serena will pay you back when she gets home.”
“It doesn’t matter. The money is Connor's as much as mine.”
“It’s still not Serena’s, though.”
“They’re mated for life and now she has gained immortality. That is a long life. What’s his is hers now.” His eyes flashed up at her, his expression unreadable.
“I still feel bad taking it.”
“I am supposed to look after you while they’re away. So take it, and I will sort it out with Serena when she gets back. If that makes you happy.” He turned to leave.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling awkward. She didn’t know exactly what it was between them, but she often sensed they left so much unsaid. Maybe he held his tongue about the way she dressed and the way she behaved while deep down he thought she was fat and ugly. Tugging her skirt down a little bit more she wondered if, perhaps, she should go and change.
“You are welcome,” he said, turning to take one last look at her. The depth of sorrow in that one glance tugged at her heart.
“For everything you’ve done for me,” she heard herself say. Although she knew she should just let him carry on walking.
He stopped. Damn, she should have let him go. Now he would start on about curfews and dress sense. “You know I’d do anything for you, Charlotte.” He hesitated. Mentally, he was trying to retract his words. This was getting creepier by the minute, although the sentiment in his voice was true.
“Because Serena will give you hell if she gets back and I’ve been led astray?” She tried to make it into a joke, but it fell flat.
Trying to play along, he half smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes. Of course.”
“I appreciate the care you’re taking.” She winced at her words. “I forget it can’t be easy taking care of a teenager when you’re so...”
He finished her sentence. “Old.”
“I bet teenagers weren’t so hard when you were young. There wasn’t alcohol and school.”
“No.”
“I bet your parents had it easy.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Connor and I got up to our fair share of trouble. I could tell you about it if you like.”
Behind her, the sound of her phone brought her back to her plans and her friends. “I’d better get that. They’ll be wondering where I am.”
“Of course,” he said, retracing his steps back down the hallway.
“Another time, Zoah. I’d like to hear about you and Connor growing up.”
“Yes. Another time.” He walked away from her. She stood and stared at the empty hallway. What was wrong with her? Part of her wanted to stay and listen to his stories. Maybe that was his plan; he knew how much she enjoyed history. Hearing it first-hand from his memories was incredible. But she had plans. Although her excitement was beginning to ebb away. The image of him walking away stuck in her mind, so lonely and dejected. Of course. That was it; he was lonely. How stupid of her not to realise. Zoah had lived with Connor all of his long life, and now Connor had gone off to Spellholm with Serena. It made sense that he was lonely without his brother.
She needed to stop being so hard on him and spend some time with him. Tomorrow she would ask him to show her the hall that was full of the suits of armour. He could walk her through the different ages. Zoah and Connor had apparently been there to watch most of the battles. It would be incredible to hear his version of events and compare them to written history.
She had to admit she was a history geek, verging on being a nerd. It was stupid to pass up having access to these first-hand accounts.
And that was the only reason she wanted to spend time with Zoah. It had nothing to do with the fact that despite his old-fashioned ways and the vast age difference, he was somehow attractive to her.
“Yuck," she said, as she picked up her purse and safely put the money he had given her inside. “I have definitely been spending too long in this house. It is time to mix with people my own age.”
Yet even to her ears, those words didn’t ring true. However, she forced herself out of the door. Charlotte was sensible enough to know what a crush was. She also knew teenage crushes pass quickly enough. They didn’t last forever.
Chapter Three - Zoah
A gloomy night lay ahead of him. If he went out, he would be drawn to where Charlotte was hanging out with her friends. Staying in left him with nothing more than the tedium of roaming the hallways of the large, lonely mansion.
With only memories for company, he headed for the library. Surely a book there would entertain him for a few hours. However, he had read them all five times or more. He needed something new, something distracting. All these books were old, just as he was old next to Charlotte. He shouldn’t have thought of her, now he couldn’t stop.
Exercise. That would do it. He left the library and headed for the gym Connor had set up. The equipment had been delivered to the front gate. They had carried it inside and had their first introduction to self-assembly instructions. Zoah had nearly found a new way to use the exercise equipment. How far can you throw a rowing machine out of the window?
Recently, it had become his way of amusing himself. Or, if he was honest, distracting himself from the irresistible Charlotte.
He started warming up. Stretching his muscles, feeling the dormant power in his body. In his mind, he felt his dragon, itching to be freed, to go and claim his mate. What was she doing? Who was she with? Had she experienced her first kiss? Or more?
He switched to the treadmill immediately. Concentrating on the digits as they registered the miles he covered without leaving the room. Closing his eyes, he pictured a white beach with a blue sea. He was running through the shallows as the waves lapped at his ankles. It was something he had done so many times, before the human race decided to commercialise everything.
However, she invaded his mind once more. There she was waiting for him. With every step he took, he drew closer to her outstretched arms. Like some romantic movie, he was supposed to run up to her, embrace her and sweep he
r off her feet. Instead, he turned his vision to the sea. Dragging himself away from her arms, he pictured a huge tidal wave sweeping in to knock him off his feet. To knock some sense into him.
Sweat glistened on his body as he picked up the pace. If he ran, fast enough and hard enough, he would conquer this. His heart pounded, his breathing coming in short, sharp gasps as he pushed himself to the limit of his physical endurance. He was a mighty dragon, thousands of years old; there was no way he was going to be brought to his knees by a fifteen-year-old girl.
“Zoah.”
Her voice distracted him. It was so real, he tripped and fell. What hope did he have if even a vision of her could bring him to his knees? He wiped his forehead and sat for a moment with his face in his hands.
“Zoah. I’m sorry if I interrupted you.”
He looked up, feeling a complete fool. Her voice wasn’t in his head. She was here, in this room, looking at him crumpled up on the floor.
In one swift movement, he stood and went towards her. “You’re back so soon. Is everything alright?” He allowed the concern to show in his voice. He allowed himself the privilege of touching her arm, checking her over.
“Yes, I’m absolutely fine,” she said, but her face was flushed with excitement.
For him?
“I just got a call from Serena. They’re coming home tomorrow. I thought you’d like to know. So I came straight home.”
He let his breath out. No. The excitement had been for someone else. Not him. Never him. “That's great news.” It meant he could do what he needed to do. It meant he could leave.
Chapter Four - Charlotte
She didn’t tell him that she had been watching him for a few minutes before she spoke. It wasn’t often that she caught him unaware. He often had a sixth sense for knowing when she was close. This time though, he had been so preoccupied with his workout, he hadn’t sensed her presence.
Grabbing a towel, he came towards her, wiping his face. It wasn’t his face she was interested in; it was the rest of him. His naked chest, for one thing. For an ancient beast, his was in pretty good shape.
Love of the Dragon: BBW Shifter Romance (Her Dragon's Bane Book 4) Page 1
