ROMANCE: SHAPESHIFTER ROMANCE: Dragon Baller's Bride (Dragon Shifter Alpha Male Romance) (Paranormal Romantic Suspense)

by Summer Cooper

  Axel got a lot of satisfaction out of how quickly everyone started moving when he said his name. He was big stuff and he was about to give them even bigger stuff.

  It was a near thing. Axel could tell the chief was itching to get to him, but Axel waylaid him with the offer of a bigger fish. In fact, the biggest fish in this Podunk town.

  “You’ve got to let me go in first and bring Eduardo down. If I don’t assert my dominance, those ass holes will be dogging me for the rest of my life. That’s a deal breaker.”

  In the end the chief agreed. They set a date a few days away to give all the parties involved time to get ready.

  Next, Axel went to see a man he had been avoiding for a very long time, asked for forgiveness and got his job back. It helped when you had family on the board of trustees.

  The worst of it over, he went back to the new apartment – still no furniture, not that he was surprised – and changed back into his gang clothes. Then he drove back to the old apartment and walked in like he owned the place, his senses on high alert in case there was a snitch in the police.

  He laid low for several days, until the time came for action. On the day he was calling “Operation Free Axel,” he took the elevator to the top floor. As he stepped into the vestibule, he incapacitated the two guards by snapping the fingers on their trigger hands and knocking them unconscious.

  He opened the door to Eduardo’s apartment and took a minute to assess the situation. There was a goon out on the roof, his back to the glass doors and Eduardo was on the couch with a different blonde than last time. Axel wondered what Eduardo’s wife thought about the revolving blondes. Axel stepped into the living room.

  “Better send her to the back,” Axel said indicating the blonde, “I’ve got news.”

  Eduardo jerked his head in surprised and sent the girl away.

  “What’s up?” He asked.

  Axel stepped forward and grabbed Eduardo’s dominant hand, breaking his fingers. Then he twisted that arm up behind Eduardo’s back and held there with the lightest of pressures on the broken digits.

  “Push the panic button,” Axel said.

  “Are you crazy, the boys will kill you.” Eduardo’s voice was two registers higher than normal.

  “Only if they kill you first. Push the button.” Axel applied the tiniest pressure to Eduardo’s broken fingers and Eduardo quickly reached under the table and pushed the button.

  The building erupted in the noise of men in heavy boots running up the stairs. As the first man burst into the room, he stopped frozen at the sight of Axel with a gun to Eduardo’s head. As more and more men arrived they pushed into the room; the front line of men being pushed closer and closer. It would’ve been humorous if Axel hadn’t known that this was freedom or death. If he got it wrong, he wouldn’t live to walk out of this room.

  When the noise in the stairwells stopped, Axel performed a mental count and calculated that everyone was here. He spoke.

  “Does everyone see this?” He asked in a voice so low they had to strain to hear him. Axel indicated the gun that he held to their bosses head.

  The men nodded.

  “Does anyone dispute that I’m now the Lord of this house?” Again his voice was low.

  There was a mass headshaking this time.

  “Good. I want you to know that as is my right, I am disbanding this community. Should I see any of your faces ever again, I will shoot you on sight and without question.”

  Again they nodded. At that moment, the entire Police Department plus at least two more from the surrounding areas, burst in through the stairwells, the roof, the windows and even the elevator shaft.

  It was fall before Axel went looking for Julie, even though he knew she was nearby. He had completed his transformation, including having the worst of his tattoos removed. But not all of them, a man had to have some autonomy. He spotted Julie walking from class, freshman seminar he guessed and fell into step beside her.

  Julie looked at him and smiled her polite smile, the one she reserved for strangers. He had to choke back laughter when she did a double take and stood stock still on the path.

  “Axel?” She looked both pleased and frightened.

  “Professor Kehoe to you.” He said sternly.

  “What? Professor?” She looked around and sat on a nearby bench. “Are you really professor here?” She asked.

  “Adjunct professor of criminal studies, law enforcement and prison culture,” he said. “For a start.”

  “I didn’t know you were qualified,” she said, still somewhat dazed.

  “Back before I fell in with the wrong crowd,” Axel said. “I’m not as uncultured as you might think.”

  “I never thought you were uncultured,” she said. “You are a very cultured criminal.”

  “Cultured ex- criminal,” he said pointedly.

  “Really? Ex- criminal?”

  “Yes.” And he held out his hand to her. “Why don’t you come back to my place and I’ll show you just how reformed I am.”

  He pulled her to her feet and she threw her arms around him. When they broke apart, he walked her the three blocks to his apartment. There was so much heat between them, they could barely get through the door. He pushed her up against the wall and kissed her with all the gentleness of a werewolf at the full moon. She pushed him away.

  “I tried to find you,” she said. “I wanted to tell you that I loved you, but I couldn’t live a life of crime.” She sounded sad and Axel couldn’t bear it.

  “There will be none of that,” he said. He pulled her through the living room and into his bedroom, which was dominated by a king-sized bed. She got the better of him, twirled him around and pushed him backwards onto the bed, climbing on top of him. She sat on his stomach grinning down at him.

  “None of what?” She asked.

  “None of any of it,” he said. “No crime, no sadness, no lowlifes, no prison.”

  “Good,” she said. “I won’t tolerate any of that. In fact, I think I must punish you for the crimes of the past.” She bent down and kissed him full on the lips.

  Axel reached up to pull her flat against him, but she batted his hands way.

  “You are forgetting this is your punishment,” she said. “Lay still.”

  She unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it aside to run her fingertips over the hair on his chest. She felt him harden against her ass and liked the feeling of power over him. She licked his nipples until he writhed and bucked against her, his breath ragged.

  “Stay,” she said, standing above him to shimmy out of her silk panties. He groaned as she danced overtop him until she took pity and leaned down to slide down his zipper. The movement brought her vagina inches from his face and she gasped as he slid his tongue between her labia. He sucked her clit and it was her turn to moan and writhe. The she slid his erection into her mouth and the tables were turned yet again.

  She left off torturing him to sit up and say, “Enough of this,” and she turned and lowered the warmth of her vagina over his penis. She rocked her pelvis over him, moaning and gasping until he could take it no longer and bucked into her until they came together.

  Julie slid down next to Axel; resting her head on his chest and he pulled her close.

  “Why did you decide to give up your life of crime?” she asked. “It had to be more lucrative than teaching community college students.”

  “I had my reasons,” he said softly.

  She smacked him on the shoulder.

  “Yes, and I’m asking what they are,” she said.

  “Babe,” he said. “It was because I knew you wouldn’t have me unless I went straight. So I had to.”

  “Too right,” she said crossly, smacking him sharply on the chest. “Don’t you forget it.”

  But Axel could see her face in the reflection of the dresser mirror. Julie was smiling, she was his forever.

  THE END

  House Mates

  Menage Paranormal Romance

  About the Book
<
br />   Ron had never had much luck when it came to love, but when he moved to Alaine and had found a room to rent with David and Julie he thought it might start to improve. As a vampire though, he had a lot to hide and he was terrified they would find out and he would have to run just like he had before coming to Alaine. His new roommates kept to themselves though, and they didn’t get involved in his life much.

  David and Julie had been a couple for a few years but they had always felt like something was missing. They had no idea what it was and as dragon shifters it was hard for them to figure it out without giving themselves away. After all their added strength often tipped off everyone else that something wasn’t quite right. When they needed the additional income of renting out one of the rooms in their home, they encountered Ron who seemed slightly lost. Seeing it as a way to help someone who clearly needs help they let him move in. Soon they realize that Ron might be what they have been missing, but can they risk losing the perfect roommate to satisfy their own needs?

  Chapter One

  Ron knew he had to find somewhere to live but by the time he arrived in Alaine he was exhausted and he did not have the energy to go looking around for something he could afford. He couldn’t really afford a hotel either though, but he knew he didn’t have much of a choice if he wanted to stay here. He had heard good things about the town, and most importantly there had been a few job openings in the paper. Having to move around a lot, his resume was pathetic and he always had to start at the bottom, but he didn’t mind too much. Maybe Alaine was the town he would finally settle down in permanently.

  Looking around as he stood in the town square, he sighed at the knowledge that he didn’t have a choice but to find somewhere to rent because he really couldn’t afford a hotel room for even a night as long as he didn’t have a job. That knowledge alone spurred him on as he started to walk in the hope of seeing a sign that indicated something for rent, but he wasn’t having much luck as the only places he saw were out of his price range. He knew he should have called around for a place to live before coming, but he had panicked when his girlfriend had found out about him and he had packed up his belongings and left town.

  Just as he was about to give up and go find a cheap motel, he saw a small sign in a window of what looked like a normal home. It said there was a room for rent, but based on the size of the home he had no idea what they would ask for it. He doubted he could afford it but he knew he had to ask and he walked up to the front door, ringing the bell, before he could change his mind. As soon as the door opened and an incredibly good looking man stood in front of him, he felt his heart drop into his stomach. He had mostly dated women but he wasn’t blind that this man was beautiful. Tall and muscular, hair down to his shoulders and a genuinely nice smile. He immediately noticed the hazel eyes and slightly red lips and instantly forgot why he was there.

  “Can I help you?” the man finally asked.

  “Sorry, yes. I saw you had a sign that you are renting out a room?”

  “We are. My girlfriend and I have been living in this big house by ourselves and could use the extra income as well as the company. Do you want to see the room?”

  “How much is it a month? I’m on a bit of a budget and don’t want to waste your time.”

  “A hundred a month. You’ll have a private bathroom, but we share the kitchen and living areas. Would you like to see it?”

  “Absolutely,” Ron said, knowing he would accept it even if it was the size of a shoebox. A hundred a month was a third of what he had been paying on rent for several years and he would soon have enough saved that he could take the time to look for a halfway decent home. “I’m sorry, my name is Ron.”

  “Oh how rude of me. David. This is Julie. Our room will be on the opposite end of that hall, this one would be yours. You are welcome to have guests but discuss it first if at all possible.”

  “I doubt I will have any but thank you. This room is nice,” Ron said as he looked around his room. It wasn’t huge by any means but it was large enough that it had a queen sized bed, dresser and night stands. There was a built in closet and as he looked through the bathroom door he noticed a simple bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. “This is perfect. When would I be able to start renting?”

  “Whenever you’d like. Since it’s almost the first of the month we won’t charge you for the next week if you move in now and just start on the next month, if that works for you?”

  “Thank you, that would be amazing. I left my luggage in a locker at the bus station so I just need to go get it.”

  “A locker? That’s not a lot of belongings.”

  “I’ve moved a lot over the years and just kept downsizing. If you don’t mind I’ll be back in about thirty minutes?”

  “I’ll come with you and help you get your things, and we can have a key made for you,” David said, giving Ron a concerned look.

  Ron didn’t know that David was worried about his few belongings and how easily he had accepted the room without seeing the rest of the house. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days and didn’t stay anywhere long. It sounded too familiar for his liking and a glance at Julie indicated she had thought the same thing. Ron clearly needed some people in his life as well as a place to sleep and David almost felt bad charging him rent.

  “Sounds good. Thank you so much,” Ron said, smiling for the first time. “I’ll need to get some groceries while I’m out.”

  “Oh no, that’s included,” Julie said quickly, seeing an opening. “I love to cook and since I’m doing it anyway might as well cook for three. Anything you want outside of the regular three meals you can get yourself, as well as whatever you like to drink. For now, it is late so why don’t you get your things and then tomorrow we’ll show you where everything is in town?”

  “That would be great. I can’t thank you enough.”

  As they walked to the bus station, David kept glancing at Ron who looked like he was barely holding himself upright. He wanted to order the man back to the house and into bed but knew he couldn’t do that, so instead he remained silent.

  Ron in the meantime was wondering how he had gotten so lucky. David and Julie seemed genuinely nice and it was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Nothing ever went this easy in his life and he had no doubt something would go wrong soon, but for now he counted his blessings.

  “How old are you?” David asked.

  “Twenty five. You?”

  “Thirty. Julie is twenty eight. What do you do for a living?”

  “Anything to pay the bills honestly. Right now I need to look for a job.”

  “Do you have savings?”

  “I’ll pay rent, don’t worry,” Ron replied quickly, thinking David thought he would be a bum and not pay.

  “That was not why I asked. It would do you well not to jump to conclusions around us. If you didn’t have savings, I would offer to hold rent until you got a job, at which point you could pay what you owed. I don’t know what kind of people you’ve encountered in your life, but I’d like to get the benefit of the doubt. Now, which locker is yours?”

  Ron almost cringed at the mild scolding, not wanting to anger his new landlord so quickly, and walked towards the locker with his belongings. When he pulled out the duffel bag, David looked at him in concern. “That’s it? Your entire life is in that bag?”

  “It is. Where do we go to get keys made?” Ron asked to get the attention off him and his bag.

  “Right over here. It looks like you need someone to get you to stay in one place long enough to accumulate more. Let me carry that bag,” David said, taking the bag while completely ignoring Ron’s complaints. He simply slung it over his shoulder and walked into the store to get a copy of the key made while Ron walked after him, shocked at David’s easy going ways.

  It didn’t take them long to get back home, a new key now in Ron’s pocket, and the smells of food came their way from the kitchen. “Ron, I made you some dinner. If you came on the bus I’m sure you’d like some.
”

  “You didn’t have to do that Julie.”

  “It was my pleasure. Do you need the laundry room? I can show you where it is?”

  “I’ll deal with that tomorrow, thank you. I think I just want sleep.”

  “Eat first, then sleep. If you leave your clothes downstairs I’ll at least throw the first load in for you, save you some time,” Julie said easily as she put a plate on the table. Seeing David eying it she put a second, smaller, plate on the table as well and pointed. “Eat you hungry beast.”

  Once Ron had gone to bed, leaving his clothes behind despite his many protests, Julie quickly took it to the laundry room with David right behind her. “That boy needs someone to look after him. Look at these clothes, they won’t last him all that much longer. What does he do for a living?”

  “Nothing right now, he’s looking for a job. He said he does whatever work he can get. Something isn’t right but he gets very defensive very easily so we need to take it easy and not ask too many questions,” David said calmly. “I’ll make some inquires for a halfway decent job for him. He looks like a hard worker, at least once he’s had some sleep. I wonder where he came from but I think we’ll find out over time.”

  “You’re going to hate me for saying it, but he’s kind of cute,” Julie said as she closed the washer and turned around.

  “I thought the same and I don’t usually fall for guys. When I opened the door he clearly looked me over before realizing that he was checking out a guy. I could see all his thoughts right there on his face. It could be exactly what we’ve been missing.”

  “A threesome?”

  “Or at least someone else to flirt with, even if nothing happens.”

  “I’m fairly certain if I flirted with someone else you’d drag me to our bedroom to show me who I belong to,” Julie said with a chuckle as they made their way back to the living room.