Sugar, Spice, and Shifters: A Touch of Holiday Magic

by Élianne Adams

  A deep shudder rushed through him. Was he okay? “I’m sorry.Things were moving a little too fast.” She brought her hands up his shoulders, then pulled back to cup his cheek. The skin beneath her palms was rough. Hard even. Startled, she tried to take a step back, but she was up against the tub. Had his arms not been around her still, she would have tumbled for the second time that night.

  “You’re safe, Maddie. Even if the dragon comes forward, it would never hurt you, just as I wouldn’t,” he assured her.

  She nodded, and swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.

  “I should go.”

  He let his arms drop and took a step back. Part of her wanted to step forward and pull him close again, but she couldn’t. She had to think—to breathe. “Is it safe to fly? With the storm, I mean?”

  “Not likely, but I wasn’t planning on going back tonight anyway.”

  Gasping, Maddie crossed her arms over her chest. He’d been presumptuous thinking she’d welcome him into her bed so soon, hadn’t he?

  “I meant that I was planning on heading over to the Old Time Inn and getting a room until the storm blows over.” Luke’s deep, rich laughter flooded the room. “Not to say I don’t like where your mind was heading, but maybe we can get to know one another better first.”

  Heat rushed up her chest and neck to settle into her cheeks, but by the time he stopped laughing, she was giggling too. “That’s probably a good idea.”

  He stroked her cheek with his knuckles, and she leaned into the caress. “I really should go and let you get some sleep.”

  She followed him into the living room, an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. She stood next to the couch as his footsteps took Luke closer to the door. “Wait. What if the Inn is full? It’s usually booked solid when the weather gets bad.”

  “I’ll be fine. Worst case scenario, I’ll ask Marybeth, and Gloria if I can crash at their house.”

  The Woolridge’s didn’t have a spare bed with all those children they were fostering. They barely had enough room for the people living under their roof as it was. “Call the Inn and see if they have a vacancy before you head out into the cold. I’d feel better knowing you weren’t stuck in the snow.”

  She heard some rustling, then silence for a while, before finally hearing the telltale beeps of a cell phone being dialed. She listened to the short conversation, her heart racing a little. “That’s that. You have to stay here,” she blurted out before she could lose her nerve.

  “Maddie…”

  “No, I mean it. I want you to stay. I don’t have a spare bedroom, but I can sleep on the couch since I’m shorter than you are. You can have the bed.” The idea of snuggling between her sheets and having his scent all over them for the next few days sent little butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

  SIX

  Luke watched as Maddie nibbled on her lower lip. She had a habit of doing that, and each time she did, need, pure and hot, rushed through him. What he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless again, but that was a bad idea. He was the one who had lost his head when he’d kissed her in the bathroom, and his dragon had surged forward. There had been no real danger of him shifting, or the dragon gaining control, but Maddie hadn’t known that, and feeling the dragon so close to the surface, had frightened her.

  The fact that she had invited him to stay with her gave him hope that he hadn’t quite blown it, so he sure as hell wasn’t going to do anything to make her pull away again.

  “If I stay, it’ll be on the couch, or on the floor if I need to stretch.” Heaven only knew he’d slept on worse. Caves and rocky cliffs didn’t offer much in the way of comfort, but they were generally a safe place for a dragon to sleep. “If you’ll tell me where to grab a blanket, I’ll get settled so you can get to bed. It’s getting late.”

  Her hand went to her wrist, and with the push of a button, a mechanical female voice rose from her watch. “Eleven forty-eight, PM.”

  “I hadn’t realized the time. Umm… if you go back into the hallway, there’s a closet with some blankets and pillows. I really don’t mind the couch, though—”

  “I appreciate the offer, but no.” Before she could protest again, he went and grabbed what he needed. Considering the heat his body naturally produced, chances were slim that he’d use a blanket, but he took one in case.

  “I guess I’ll turn in then. Is there anything else you need before I go to bed?” she asked when he entered the room again.

  “No, I have everything I need. Thanks for letting me stay, Maddie.” There wasn’t anywhere else on earth he would rather be. If he had to sleep in the hallway guarding her front door, he would have done so willingly, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.

  — — —

  Unable to find anything else to stall with, Maddie took the few steps separating them. The soft stubble tickled at her lips as she stood on tiptoes to kiss Luke’s cheek. “Thanks again for coming to check on me tonight. I’m glad you did,” she admitted, then stepped around him and down the hallway to her room.

  As tired as she was, she didn’t bother listening to a chapter of her book before settling into bed.

  His hot, spicy scent lingered on her skin. She brought her fingers to her lips, remembering the feel and taste of him. Boy, the man could kiss. She didn’t have a ton of experience with men, but what she did have paled in comparison. She settled more deeply beneath her covers, forcing her thoughts away from the man in her living room. Of course, it was impossible. As soon as one thought left her mind, Luke filled it again.

  His mate. Never in a million years had she considered that she might be a dragon shifter’s mate. She’d always dreamed of finding a good man to love and grow old with, but a dragon? Not that she cared that he was a shifter, but it did complicate things. Most people were very accepting of the species, and even welcomed them into their communities, but that wasn’t true of everyone. Dragon hunts still happened. In fact, she’d heard that one had happened not far from Glen Farley last summer.

  Maddie gasped, and sat bolt upright. Had Luke been in danger? If she remembered correctly, one dragon had been hurt. With her heart racing, she settled back into bed. She’d have to remember to ask him about it in the morning. Not that it would change the past, but she needed to know how safe it was for him to live in the area and how much danger he faced on a regular basis.

  She tossed and turned, finally drifting off into a fitful sleep. When dreams of innocent dragons being hunted by ogres tore her from her sleep, she pressed the button on her watch. “Four Twenty-One, AM.” Her apartment was cold… and quiet—too quiet. She couldn’t hear the soft whir of the fan she used year round in her room. The power had to have cut out. She shivered and shook, her teeth chattering. The tip of her nose was like ice. If she was that cold under her thick comforter, Luke had to be freezing in the living room.

  As much as she hated to get out from under the covers, she tossed them to the side and slid her feet into her fuzzy slippers. Not having lights was not an issue for her, but if Luke had to get up to use the restroom, he might have issues. She stopped at the closet on her way to the living room, grabbing an extra blanket and a flashlight. She’d come close to throwing the flashlight out more than once while cleaning, but she was glad she hadn’t. Now she had to hope that the batteries still had enough power to make it work.

  The sounds of Luke’s long, deep breaths met her when she entered the living room. She’d put the extra blanket on him and leave the flashlight on the table next to him. Hopefully, he’d find it if he woke before it was light out. Unfolding the blanket, she reached and covered him from his feet up to his chest, but before she could pull away, his warm hand wrapped around her wrist.

  “What a beautiful sight to wake up to,” he said, his voice low and raspy from sleep.

  “Oh,” she tried to pull her hand away, but he held her there, not tightly, but enough to keep her where she was. “I didn’t mean to wake you. The power went out, and it’s gettin
g cold in here. I wanted to give you an extra blanket.”

  He pulled her a little closer, then placed her hand on his naked chest. “Dragons tend to be warmer than humans. I’m not cold, but your hand is like ice. How’s the rest of you?”

  For once, she was glad for the darkness. He wouldn’t see her blush. Having her hand on his chest was making her hotter than any blanket could. She hadn’t moved her hand from where he’d placed it to explore more, but what she did feel was hard and muscular. She could only imagine how the rest of it would feel under her fingers. And he was right, his skin was warm.

  “I’m a little chilled, but I’m sure I’ll be okay until morning. I have more blankets I can pile onto my bed.” She pulled her lip between her teeth and flexed her fingers a little, and Luke moaned. The soft, rumbling sound sent heat rushing through her body. She gave her hand a little tug, and this time, he let her go. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You’re more than welcome to touch any part of me at any time, Maddison.”

  She heard him shifting on the couch. He wrapped an arm around her back in an odd kind of hug.

  “I won’t let you fall,” he said, then in the next instant, he stooped down and lifted her into his arms.

  She couldn’t keep the small squeal from slipping past her lips. She hadn’t been carried since she had been a child, but he held her against him, secure in his arms. “What are you doing?” she asked, the breathlessness in her voice caused more by his nearness than the sudden movement.

  “I’m taking you back to your bed.” Luke laughed, then nuzzled her neck. “You smell so damned good, Maddie.”

  “I… uh, thank you.” What was she supposed to say to that?

  “Your slippers are adorable, by the way.” He started walking, and she stiffened.

  “Wait, there’s a flashlight on the table. I don’t want you to run into anything and give me a concussion.”

  Luke laughed again. “Seeing in the dark isn’t a problem. I can see almost as well as in broad daylight, so you don’t need to worry about me slamming you into a wall, or a chair, or anything else for that matter.”

  “Oh.”

  He started walking again, not stopping until he was in her room. He placed her gently on the bed, before pulling the blankets up to her chin. “I’d like to sleep in this bed with you if you’d let me,” he said. “I promise I won’t try anything. I won’t even touch you if you don’t want me to, but my body heat will keep you warm for the rest of the night.”

  Maddie’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t know Luke, but the idea of freezing for the next few hours didn’t appeal to her at all. Not to mention the fact that part of her really wanted him to stay. “Okay, but only to sleep,” she said before she could chicken out.

  His padded footsteps went around the bed to the other side. His weight made the mattress dip, then with a couple of pulls on the blankets, he was lying next to her. He scooted close enough for his warmth to tease her skin. “You can get closer if you want. I won’t touch you unless you want me to, so if you want to get warmer, you can snuggle in. I’d love to hold you while you slept, but I’ll keep to my side if that makes you more comfortable.”

  Another shiver raced over her skin. She couldn’t tell if it was due to his proximity or the temperature in the room. She nibbled at her lip before scooting closer. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side. After a moment, she took a deep breath, and settled into his heat, resting her head against his shoulder.

  “Wow, you really are cold.” Luke laughed, but then he took her hand and placed it on his belly, covering it with his much warmer one. “There. You’ll be toasty in no time.”

  Long after Maddie drifted off to sleep, Luke stayed there, wide awake. Never would he have imagined the peaceful feeling of lying there with his mate in his arms. Sure, he was too warm, but he wouldn’t trade being there with her for anything. He hadn’t fully understood Brycen’s goofy looking smiles, or his annoying habit of dropping everything to go check on Stella, or to go see her in the middle of the day until then. Maddie could ask him for anything, and if it were within his power to give it to her, he would, no doubt about it.

  She wiggled against him in her sleep, then draped her flannel covered leg over his, pressing up against his already aching groin in the process. Stifling his moan, he let her settle again and pressed his lips to her soft, silky hair. What the hell was he going to do, when she expected him to go back home, and she stay at her apartment? Living apart until she was ready to be his mate in every sense of the word would kill him, he just knew it. His arm tightened around her, and he had to forcibly relax it when she stirred.

  He kept his breathing deep and steady, so when she nuzzled his chest with her cheek, then smiled against his skin, she didn’t pull away. Her hand, which had been resting on his stomach came up to his chest, caressing him with a feather-light touch that made him want to moan, but he kept it inside. Her innocent exploration had blood rushing hot in his veins to pool in his groin. If her thigh were another inch higher, she’d be sure to feel it, hard and ready for her. But he’d promised to keep his hands to himself, and he wasn’t going to break it. He’d be enjoying her gorgeous body soon enough.

  SEVEN

  Maddie stretched as much as she could with Luke wrapped around her. At some point while they slept, she’d turned onto her side, and he had followed, surrounding her in warmth. True to his word, he hadn’t made any advances, further proving that he was trustworthy. Heat rushed into her cheeks as she remembered waking and feeling his chest while he slept. Had it not been so risky, she might have gotten bolder. She had wanted to touch every part of him, a reaction that took her by surprise, but she held herself in check. Imagine him waking up to find her groping him in the middle of the night. He would have wanted more. Would that have been such a bad thing?

  If her internal clock was working, and it always did, it was close to time for breakfast. Too bad it was so cold in the apartment. She didn’t want to leave the bed. Luke had kept her comfortable for the few remaining hours of sleep they had gotten, but slipping out from beneath the covers would be brutal. It wasn’t like she could cook him breakfast anyway. Maybe he’d like some cereal? She dismissed the thought. She doubted she had any cereal in the cupboard. She tended to eat more protein, fruit, and veggies, so she didn’t keep a lot of that stuff around.

  Luke took a deep breath and pulled her closer to his chest. “Good morning, gorgeous,” he said, his voice drowsy, and sexy.

  “Good morning.” She snuggled closer, then gasped at the solid feel of his cock pressing against her bottom.

  “It’s okay, I won’t do anything with it. It’s just as happy to see you this morning as the rest of me is.” He rubbed his beard against her neck.

  Her nipples pebbled beneath her shirt, and a pulse throbbed between her thighs. She may not have known Luke for long, but what she did know of him, she liked. “Maybe I want you to do something with it.” She twisted in his arms so that she faced him.

  He held her for a few moments in silence. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to, Maddie. I'm perfectly happy holding you, and spending time with you—getting to know you.”

  Being so close to him, she didn’t want to discuss things anymore. Leaning in, she pressed her lips to his. He didn’t respond for a beat, then he moaned. He brought his hands up her back to her neck, holding her in place as he kissed her. His tongue slid between her lips, and it was her turn to moan. His taste, his scent, everything about him appealed to her. She pressed her body into his, and caressed his chest as she’d done during the night, loving the tremor that coursed through him at her slight touch.

  His cock, hard and insistent against her thigh jerked when she brought her hand lower to trace the waistband of the jeans that covered him from the waist down. He broke the kiss then, “Maddie,” he said, his voice strangled.

  “I’m certain, Luke. I want this. Don’t you?” she ask
ed, knowing without a doubt that he did.

  “More than anything. But I don’t want you to have regrets.”

  “I won’t,” she assured him, then kissed is collarbone. She grazed her teeth there, then moved lower to circle his nipple with her tongue.

  His breath hissed out from between his teeth. When she finally flicked her tongue over the hardened peak, she gasped at the cool ring she found there. “Luke?”

  “It’s a nipple ring, it makes me super sensitive there.”

  “How come I didn’t feel it last night?” Heat rushed up her cheeks, and she tried to hide her face in his chest as the realization of what she’d admitted dawned on her.

  “Because last night you were trying not to wake me. You didn’t get close enough to my nipples to find them.”

  “Them? There’s two?” Another wave of desire pulsed through her. She’d never been with anyone with nipple rings before. She pushed away from him a little. “And you were awake?” she accused.

  “I was, and I told you before, you can touch every part of me anytime you want. I won’t stop you.”

  She fingered the little ring on his nipple, smiling when he moaned again. “Every part?”

  “Yes,” he moaned the word out when she flicked it again.

  “Even here?” She slid her hand down his belly, not stopping until she had his cock cupped in her palm.

  “Especially there,” he said as he thrust deeper into her hand.

  “Then maybe you should take your jeans off.”

  “Maybe I should. And maybe I can take your pajamas off while I’m at it,” he suggested.

  “I think that’s a great idea.” She nibbled on her bottom lip, bringing her hands to the buttons of her top, slipping them off one by one. He had yet to move, so she knew he was watching. Her heart raced a little faster. She loved her body. It wasn’t perfect, but she had generous curves, that she hoped he would appreciate. Baring herself to him fueled her fire, dampening her folds.