Dragon's Heat (City Dragons Book 1)

by Lisa Oliver

  “I’ve dreamed of this,” Dirk said as he pulled his mouth off Jon’s finger with a pop. “You and me, surrounded by my hoard. You will always be my greatest treasure.”

  “I love you too,” Jon cried, wiggling as he tried to get comfortable. “Please move.”

  His thick body covering Jon completely, Dirk started an assault on Jon’s neck and ears as his ass bobbed up and down. With nothing stable to brace himself against, Jon clung to Dirk’s shoulders, his neck arched to give his mate’s mouth more room. Every chink of metal against metal seemed to send Dirk’s passion higher and despite his discomfort, Jon got caught up in it, his balls tightening as Dirk moaned and groaned above him.

  “Not. Going. To. Last.” Jon panted, the side of his face mashed against the gold.

  “Neither am I.” Dirk roared as he slammed down on Jon’s cock one last time, setting off Jon’s orgasm. He was dimly aware of Dirk’s hands moving through the gold as his stomach was coated in a warm sticky mess. Dirk’s body was slumped over him and he was rumbling softly.

  “So good, you’re so good to me,” Dirk whispered in his ear.

  “I love you too, big guy,” Jon mumbled. “But can you please let me up? I think I have a ruby or something cutting into my ass.”

  Dirk sat up, a huge grin splitting his face. “I’ll remember to bring a blanket next time,” he said. “You look lovely covered in my jewels,” he added softly. “Just how I always dreamed.”

  Jon wasn’t sure if it was Dirk or his dragon talking, but he had to admit, as he wrestled himself out of the gold pile, that with the love beaming from Dirk’s face and the evidence of their shared pleasure covering his t-shirt, that a bit of discomfort really wasn’t a bad thing if it made his dragon happy.

  Chapter Twenty- Eight

  Dirk winced as he stretched his back. Three months after his father’s death and he and Jon had worked tirelessly putting the company finances to rights. It’d meant long hours and at times Dirk seriously thought about chucking it all in, especially as his mother still started every phone call with demands for more money, citing Dirk’s duty as a son among other things. She refused to meet with Jon during their visit to Europe, conspicuous by her absence when Dirk introduced Jon to the European clan. Fortunately, most of the rest of the family were more receptive and even curious about the idea of true mates.

  But overall, the long hours hunched over his desk were worth it. Hollingsworth EU wasn’t as affluent as it had been, but the shareholders were happy and things were finally improving there. On his side of the Atlantic, now the thefts were stopped, Dirk was making more money than ever with all seven hoards under his care increasing in value. Replacing Merv as IT Supervisor was the first of many recommendations Jon made in improving the running of his company.

  Checking his phone, Dirk saw he had no new messages. What is keeping them? Usually glued to his side, today, Jon was on a different mission; a more personal one for them both. Word had come through overnight that Celine had given birth to a healthy baby boy. After a long and frank discussion with Hector Ahlberg, Dirk agreed to continue to “hide” Celine until after the baby was born. He would have done it anyway and had already set Celine up in an apartment at the time of the call. He’d been infuriated when Hector offered Dirk a quarter of his fortune to marry Celine in name only; but at least after speaking to Hector he understood Celine’s attitude a little better. That was a family whose ideas would never change.

  Subsequent visits to Celine’s as she moaned and grumbled her way through her pregnancy resulted in a surprising friendship between her and Jon. Just one month before she’d agreed to sign away her rights to the child to them both. Jon tried to convince her to wait until after the baby was born, worried she would change her mind when the little one finally arrived. But Celine was adamant.

  The story was already being circulated that Celine had been enjoying a three-month holiday in an undisclosed location to get over her grief at Dirk’s refusal to marry her. His private jet was on standby at the airport to return her to her family home. Dirk had no doubt he’d be receiving news of her marriage to someone suitable within the month.

  The adoption paperwork was signed and Dirk was just passing time in his office, waiting for Jon and the baby to arrive. In deference to Celine’s dragon, who didn’t approve of him, he agreed to let Jon go alone. As soon as Jon was back, they were heading to their Upstate New York home for the next month, on Jon’s advice, to allow the child time to bond with them and get used to his new home. It seemed his designer apartment wasn’t suitable for a young shifter.

  “Are they not here yet?” Byron stuck his head around the door. “I’m looking forward to being an uncle.”

  “Come in. I haven’t heard anything yet.” Dirk sighed as he checked his phone again. “My dragon’s quiet, so I know nothing’s happened to Jon, but shit, traffic can’t be that bad, surely?”

  “Is there any chance Celine’s changed her mind?” Samuel followed Byron through the door and they both sat down.

  “If she does, she does. We’re not going to force her to give up the baby. It has to be her choice.” Dirk didn’t want to think about how Jon would feel if Celine did keep the baby. He’d taken the papers with him, determined to tear them up if Celine had indeed changed her mind. Dirk was doing his best to stay positive for them both, but as he and Jon set up the new nursery and slowly filled it with the myriad of things a small person needed, he knew it would be heart wrenching if Jon came back empty handed.

  “It’ll be fine. Maybe things would’ve been different if we’d been able to find the scum-bucket who knocked her up and left her,” Byron said, “but he’s disappeared off the face of the earth. None of our European contacts can find any trace of him.”

  “What about our contacts on this side of the world?” Dirk asked. “Any luck in finding the man you’re looking for?”

  Byron shook his head. “It’s not as though I had a lot of details to give to our investigators. Blond and pretty and last seen in the Washington area ten years ago. He could’ve been passing through. I don’t even know if he’s a paranormal.”

  “You’ll find him,” Samuel said, rubbing Byron’s arm. “Fate has a way of making things work out and one day, when you least expect it, he’ll be right there under your nose.”

  Dirk had to smile at his youngest brother. Since being informed of their father’s death, Samuel seemed to break out of his shell. He spent a lot of time with Foster, reading up on old legends and dragon history and had informed Dirk very firmly that he would not be a part of any attempts to force him into marriage. He was soundly convinced he would find his true mate and no one else would do. One of Dirk’s first duties as clan leader was to do away with that archaic law and already he’d heard of two of his European cousins marrying their fated mates – both of them non-dragons; something that wouldn’t have been possible if Dirk’s father had still been alive.

  They’re here. Excitement poured through Dirk’s dragon’s voice. Dirk never did know what his dragon said to Celine’s animal half, but he’d be forever grateful if Jon had the baby with him.

  Both of them? He has the baby?

  Yes. Listen.

  Straining his ears, Dirk heard the quiet clip of his mate’s boots on the tiled floor. He sat up, waving at Byron to open the door.

  “Here we are,” Jon said to the tiny bundle in his arms. “I told you were going to meet your new Papa before getting you settled in your new home. Look.” Jon’s was beaming and Dirk found himself returning the smile automatically. Behind him, Carter, his driver, was bogged down by bags of all sizes and descriptions.

  “The boss wasn’t sure how long we were going to be here,” he said apologetically as he set the parcels on the floor before backing out the door.

  “Celine wanted us to have a few keepsakes for the baby,” Jon said, coming over to where Dirk was sitting. “We gave her a lift to the airport. She was a bit emotional.”

  “Will she be all right?” Dir
k never forgave Celine for trying to trap him into marriage while she was in love with someone else, but he’d developed a fondness for her once she realized he and Jon were a solid couple.

  “Oh yeah, her and her father were busy chatting on the phone when I arrived. She seems determined to put all this ‘mess’ as she calls it behind her and move on. I told her she was welcome to visit any time, but I think it will be a while before she does. Now, enough about Celine, I think it’s time for you to say hello to our new son.”

  “Our son.” Dirk looked down at the tightly wrapped baby Jon placed in his arms. Despite being less than a day old, clear bright blue eyes stared back at him knowingly and Dirk knew he was in the presence of an old soul. Carefully unwrapping the blankets, Dirk took in the chubby limbs that flailed as soon as they were free. He was strong and Dirk’s heart expanded to accommodate the innocent soul who was now his responsibility.

  “Do you know if…?” He asked, looking up to see Jon watching them closely with a warm smile on his face.

  “I was hoping your dragon would know. My animal half seems to think this little one will shift into both dragon or wolf but we won’t know for sure for a while.”

  He is the first, Dirk’s dragon’s voice sounded loud and clear in his head. Byron and Samuel’s heads snapped up as though they could hear him too. The first of a new breed of dragon. One that can shift among multiple forms; he shares his spirit with dragon, canine, and so much. We welcome Tiernan to the Hollingsworth clan. The same chorus of roars filled Dirk’s head, reminiscent of the night he claimed his mate.

  “Oh my god,” Samuel said, holding his head as he collapsed into his chair again. “That’s so intense.”

  Byron didn’t look much better. “Do they have to be so loud?”

  “He’s here!” Leonard, Foster and Rastin came running in without even bothering to knock. “Let me see.”

  “No, me first.”

  “I’m the oldest, let me.”

  “Boys,” Dirk growled although there was no heat behind it. “Hush. You’ll all get a turn. I’d like you to meet Tiernan, Jon’s and my son.”

  “Tiernan?” Jon asked. Dirk knew that hadn’t been on their suggested list of names.

  “My dragon welcomed him as such – the first dragon hybrid in the Hollingsworth clan.”

  “Tiernan. It means regal,” Jon smiled and reached out to stroke the baby’s fingers. “I like it. He’s beautiful.”

  “And he’ll be well protected,” Byron added. “My dragon doesn’t want me to be more than ten feet away from him.”

  “It feels good to have your dragon back, I take it?” Dirk couldn’t stop smiling.

  “More than you will know,” Byron agreed, “although now my poor dragon is conflicted. He wants to search for our mate and yet he wants to stay here and play babysitter/bodyguard.”

  “There will be time enough for both,” Jon said. “Why don’t you all come to dinner tonight? Tiernan needs to get to know his new clan and become familiar with you all. You can all stay the weekend and then when you guys come back to the city, me and Dirk can have our alone time with our new son. I think this calls for a celebration, don’t you?”

  “Don’t you need one of us here to keep an eye on things?” Foster asked but Dirk could see the hope in his eyes.

  “I’m sure this place will run just fine over one long weekend without us. I can’t remember the last chance we had to go flying together, and as this is a special occasion, I think it will be the perfect time.” Dirk glanced up at Jon who nodded his approval.

  “Well, I’m off to pack,” Samuel jumped up.

  “Me too,” the others followed suit. Within minutes the office was empty and Dirk took the time to study his son, appreciating Jon’s comforting presence.

  “Do you think he looks a bit like me?” He asked, brushing his finger over Tiernan’s tiny button nose.

  “Sweetheart, he’s a baby. His looks are going to change rapidly.”

  “But he’s got my hair, right?” Tiernan did have a beautiful full head of dark curls.

  “I’m not even going to mention there’s a good chance that hair will fall out,” Jon was laughing now. “But he is a shifter of some sort, so yep, there’s a chance his hair won’t fall out from rubbing his head on his pillow.”

  “That happens?” Dirk cupped the curls protectively. He’d swear Tiernan was grinning at him, although all the books he’d read said that wasn’t possible.

  “It won’t matter,” Jon said. “We’ll love him anyway. Even if he is bald for a while.”

  “Yeah, we will.” Making sure Tiernan was snug against his chest, Dirk tugged on Jon’s tie and pulled him closer, grabbing his bottom lip with his mouth. “Hmm, you taste delicious,” he moaned, licking across Jon’s lips.

  Tiernan wiggled and then let out a wail that pierced Dirk’s ears. “And, so it begins,” Jon laughed, pulling away. “You quieten him down, I’ll get the bottle ready.”

  Quieten him how? Dirk stared at his son who’d gone from placid and beautiful to a screaming banshee in seconds, complete with red face and clenched fists. Trying to remember what all the books he’d read recommended, Dirk stood up, gently rocking Tiernan in his arms as he wandered around the office. It didn’t help. If anything, Tiernan got louder than ever. There was definitely nothing wrong with his lungs.

  “Here, use this.” Jon dangled his diamond pendant from his fingers. “You can tell he’s a dragon, watch. Hey, Tiernan, look what daddy’s got for you.”

  Tiernan hiccupped and glared and then his eyes widened as he tried to grab the swinging diamond. “Here,” Dirk nudged it into his little fingers. The diamond was bigger than Tiernan’s hand, but with it clutched in his stubby grasp, Tiernan’s eyes didn’t waver from it.

  “You can tell he’s got dragon in him,” Dirk could laugh now the pressure was lifted from his chest. Who knew hearing a baby cry could feel so…so…stressful?

  “Yeah, I found that out in the car coming over here,” Jon came back waving a bottle. “Do you want to feed him?”

  “Wait until I am back in my chair. I don’t want to drop him.”

  Once settled, Dirk tried to get Tiernan interested in his bottle. Unfortunately, the diamond held a greater appeal. “Why won’t he take it?”

  “He’s remarkably focused for one so young,” Jon laughed. “Here, let’s try this.” Gently easing Tiernan’s fingers from the diamond, Jon let it dangle from its chain over Tiernan’s head. Tiernan opened his mouth to cry and Dirk quickly shoved the bottle teat in it. Within seconds Tiernan was sucking hard, his eyelids slowly getting heavy as he struggled to not to let the diamond out of his sight.

  “There,” Jon slipped the diamond back over his neck once Tiernan’s eyes were fully closed and the bottle was nearly empty. “Now you just need to burp and change him.”

  “But he’s asleep.” Dirk whispered.

  “And if you don’t burp him he’ll be awake in an hour with a sore tummy. Just be gentle. I’ll call Carter and get these things put back in the car.”

  Easing Tiernan gently onto his shoulder, Dirk leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he patted between Tiernan’s shoulders. Gods, how my life has changed.

  For the better, his dragon rumbled.

  Definitely.

  A loud burp sounded in his ear and Dirk caught the smell of milk. “Oh gods, what is that?” He asked as he eyed the soggy mess on his gray Armani suit.

  Spillage. The dragon’s laugh was loud in his head and Dirk prayed he wouldn’t share this little incident with the others. He’d never live it down.

  Epilogue

  Jon looked over the back garden of their Upstate New York house. All he could see were wall to wall dragons. Well, there was only six of them, but they were all so big they took up a lot of space and it wasn’t only dragons in the clearing. He waved at Raoul who’d turned up on his request, with only two body guards this time. Essie was ogling the dragons, a sexy wolf shifter she shyly introduced as her ma
te scowling beside her. Bryce was flirting with one of Raoul’s bodyguards and Carter, who had become a lot more approachable and indispensable since Tiernan’s arrival was also among the crowd.

  Tiernan was six weeks old and in accordance with dragon tradition he would be formally laid in front of the dragons and receive the first part of his hoard. Jon was amazed at how quickly the little one had grown. Shifter genetics aside, Tiernan was already trying to sit up and Jon was sure he wasn’t old enough to do something like that. Dirk would just laugh when he did it but then he started crowing every time Tiernan so much as blew a bubble, so he wasn’t much help. Fraught with nerves, Jon jiggled Tiernan in his arms as he waited for the ceremony to begin.

  Standing two foot taller than his brothers and cousins, Dirk was resplendent in his red scales. That was another surprise for Jon. He thought, with Byron and Samuel coming from the same parents, that they would be red dragons too, but Byron was almost black and Samuel’s scales were a midnight blue. Foster, Rastin, and Leonard’s scales were also various shades between black and blue, something Dirk had told him was a family trait. Dirk’s red scales indicated his leadership status in the clan.

  And it was the red dragon who was commanding attention now; blowing a stream of fire twelve feet into the air before speaking. “We begin. Jon, holder of our heart scale, please bring Tiernan forward.”

  As tradition dictated, Tiernan was naked. Dirk said that oftentimes the presence of so many dragons would stimulate the child’s first shift; something that both worried and excited Jon. While Dirk was totally accepting of his son and doted on him to the point of having a small playroom set up in the corner of their office, Jon still worried that the ingrained prejudice dragons had to other shifters would emerge if Tiernan turned out furry.

  His heart scale glowing, sending heat through his body, Jon stepped forward and carefully placed Tiernan on the small rug arranged for the occasion. All around him, fire pits burned, helping take the chill off the night air.