“Oh, god. I’m so sorry for your loss Gabriel.” Samantha laid a sympathetic hand on his leg.
“Thank you.” He raised his head so he could look her in the eyes. “I guess I owe you an explanation of why the fire didn’t and can’t hurt me, huh?”
“Only if you want to.” She assured him.
“I’ll show you, but I can tell you that it isn’t going to be easy. You’ll not want to accept it at first and maybe you’ll drive away, but remember this. I will not hurt you.”
“Okay.” She raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “You’re starting to freak me out.”
He opened his door and climbed out. “You have no idea.” He whispered to himself as he moved around in front of the car. Once he was in full view he took a deep breath and shifted. Inside the car he could see Samantha’s eyes widen as leathery wings unfolded from his back and his skin turned into black scales. Seconds later he was the dragon. He stretched his wings out and did a turn for her.
“This is why the flames cannot hurt me. You had no idea how right you were about my eyes in the restaurant.”
Once more he shifted. His body morphed back to its original form and he walked over to the passenger side of the car. Samantha never took her eyes off him as he moved. He leaned down and rested his forearms on the door.
“Do you have any questions?” He could see that she did, but she wasn’t speaking.
She nodded her head. “A thousand.”
“Then ask them. I owe you that much.”
Samantha opened her door and climbed out of the car. The sun had begun to set, but the headlights of her car illuminated the alley enough that she could see. She leaned over the roof of her car and stared at Gabriel. He couldn’t help, but smile.
“Ask your questions Samantha.”
“My grandmother used to say there were those in this world who could shift into other beings. I thought she was just trying to scare me when I was little, but when I got older I thought that maybe she was crazy or had dementia or something. She said that when she was a young woman she was a dragon mother. That was another of her stories I thought was crazy.”
“Wait.” He held out his hand. “Your grandmother was a dragon mother?”
“That’s what she said. Said she knew two brothers that were the loveliest and kindest men she ever had known. She said that they were killed and years later she fell in love with my grandfather and had my mother.”
“Was your mother?”
“No. Grandmother said that mom didn’t have it. Whatever ‘it’ was. She told me when I was young that I did. She said that one day I would be called on for my gift and I would be blessed with a gift of my own. Love. I never believed her, but she always told me that when the time came and I saw the shift for the first time I would either be aroused or terrified and then I would know for sure if I was a dragon mother or not.”
“What she said was true.” Gabriel nodded. “So which is it?”
Samantha opened her door and climbed back into the car. She leaned across and opened Gabriel’s door. He climbed in and she laid a hand on his thigh near the crotch of his jeans. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she leant in to whisper in his ear.
“Aroused.”
Without another word he pulled her on top of him and their lips met. The taste of her exploded in his mouth and for the first time in a long time he felt passion and pleasure. Their hands roved over each other as their tongues explored one another. She bit him on the lip and he let out a small groan of pleasure. She moved her hips and he felt himself grow hard against his jeans. He could tell by the gasp she let out that she felt him as well. His hands found their way to the back of her blouse and he pulled it off over her head. She didn’t have on a bra and her ample breasts swung freely in front of his face as she gyrated her hips. He took one of her nipples in his mouth and ran his tongue around it in circles. She moaned and threw back her head.
In a fervor she tugged at his shirt until she had it over his head and cast aside. Her hands touched him and slid all over his toned chest and stomach. He had forgotten how good it was to be with a woman. For years he had ignored his lusts and passions, but now the all flooded back.
“My pants.” She gasped as she pulled her lips away from his mouth for a moment.
He lifted her up and she tore at her jeans to get them off. She got them to her knees before she gave up and did the same with her panties. Gabriel pulled her back in and kissed her neck. She reached down and pulled the lever to let the seat back. It flew back all at once and nearly toppled them into the back of the car. He continued to kiss her neck and began to move the kisses down and around to her breasts as she fumbled with the zipper on his jeans. She finally got it and he sprang forth. She gasped as she saw the length of him. He sucked air through his clenched teeth as she ran her hands up and down the length of him. As she stroked, he nibbled at her ear and caused her to shiver.
“I want you now.” She whispered.
He lifted her without strain and eased her down onto his member. She let out a gasp as he entered her. He began to thrust slowly at first. He could feel her pulse racing under his kisses to the side of her neck and it turned him on even more. As he thrust into her she threw back her head and moaned again and again. He had never made love like this. Not with this much heat and passion. Her teeth nipped at his neck and he groaned.
“Oh, god!” Samantha tossed her head from side to side, her hair flying wildly about.
He could feel her tighten and knew by her raged breaths that she was about to climax, so he redoubled his efforts. Her small scream of passion as she climaxed drove him over the edge and he buried his face into her breasts as he thrust into her once more and climaxed himself. They lay back together and panted for a moment as they tried to catch their breath. He slipped out of her and she rolled onto her seat. She pulled up her pants and put her shirt back on. Gabriel used the lever to lift his seat back up and zipped up his jeans.
“That was . . . ” He started, but he didn’t have words for it.
“Incredible. The best sex you’ve ever had. Hot as hell.”
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her once more. She nipped at his lower lip with her teeth and he pulled back.
“Don’t start again.” He waved a finger at her. “Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to do that again, but I’d like to have a little more room next time.”
“I have an apartment.” A grin split her lips.
“That sounds great. How soon can we be there?”
“Five minutes. Three if I ignore the stop signs.”
“Ignore ‘em.” He said and placed a hand on her thigh.
They laughed together as she backed out of the alley and drove to her apartment. They pulled up outside and she put the car in park. Gabriel jumped out before Samantha, ran to her side of the car and opened her door for her. When she smiled up at him, his heart skipped a couple of beats and he felt a dull throb in his groin. He scooped her up into his arms and kicked the door of her car shut with his foot. As he carried her up the stairs to her apartment on the second floor, she gave him directions in between kissing him on the neck.
By the time she got the door unlocked and opened he was ready for a second go. She pointed to the bedroom, but he could see a couch and decided that it was plenty good enough. He sat her down and she stripped off her clothing as he did the same. He started to bend down, but she held out her hands and pushed him back. He opened his mouth to ask her what she was doing, but she let him know. She slid to her knees in front of him and took him in her hands. She rubbed up and down his length. As he grew hard under her touch, she took his member into her mouth. The feel of her lips and tongue as it worked in circles drove him crazy. He sucked air through his clenched teeth and let out a moan of pure ecstasy. When he felt that he was near climax he reached down and took her by the arms. He wrapped his muscular arms around her, placed her up against the wall, and lifted her onto his shoulders. He grew even more aroused at her surprised cry at how
easily he lifted her onto his shoulders. She moaned loudly and barely suppressed a cry of pleasure as he used his tongue on her. He felt her shudder as an orgasm rocked her body. She bucked against him wildly, but he held her easily and used his tongue as another orgasm made her quake.
Gabriel lowered her from his shoulders and let her slide down the wall. She let out a small moan as slid into her and then they were one together. He did most of the work at first, but she soon found the rhythm and began to move with him. His muscles bulged as he held her against the wall and thrust into her. He sped up his rhythm as he neared climax. They came together as he lifted her from the wall and finished as he held her up in the center of the room. As the orgasm took her, she dug her nails into his back and screamed with pleasure. He tilted his head back and moaned loudly.
He moved over to the couch and gently sat her down. They both panted like they had just run a marathon. Gabriel slumped onto the couch beside her and let out a contented sigh. She ran a playful hand through his long hair.
“You are something else. I’ve never had sex like that before.”
“Neither have I.” He admitted and smiled. “But I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
“Right now?” She asked with a hungry look in her eyes.
“God no.” He shook his head. “I’m so thirsty that I could drink a gallon of water.”
“How about a beer?” She stood up and started for the small kitchen in the back of the apartment.
“Make it two.” He called after her and she let out a laugh. I think I’m in love with this girl, he thought. He knew that once dragons found their mate they fell helplessly and hopelessly in love. That’s what happened tonight, he told himself. You’ve fell for her and you don’t even know if she likes you. Sure she had sex with you, but maybe she was just looking for a one night stand.
Samantha came back with three beers and sat two of them down on the coffee table in front of him. He grabbed up the first one and twisted the lid off. The liquid felt divine as it passed his lips and made its way down his throat. He drank the first beer in one long swallow and sat it back on the table. He did the same with the second beer, but he only drank about half before he stopped.
“I sure wouldn’t want to pay for your drinking.” She laughed and took a drink from her own beer.
“What can I say? I was thirsty.” He grinned sheepishly. “Listen, there is something I need to ask you. Something important.”
“Oh. What is that?”
“I...well, I don’t really know how to say this, but when a dragon falls for a woman he falls hard. There is only one woman compatible with each set of dragons. Since my brother is gone, it would only be me, but I have to ask . . . ”
“Hold it right there.” She held up her hand and Gabriel felt his heart sink, but she smiled. “I know what you are about to ask me. My grandmother told me all about dragon mothers and their mates. She also told me that they are the most loyal and fiercest lovers in the world.”
“That is true. Once we chose a mate we will never have another.”
“Good.” She took another drink of her beer. “Yes.”
“Yes?” He looked at her questioningly.
“Yes I will be a dragon mother and a mate to you.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Samantha. You’ve made me a happy man.”
“A happy dragon.” She said with a smile.
“How about round three?” He asked as he drained the last of his beer.
“Right now?”
“Right now.”
She nodded and stood to her feet. He took the hand she offered and she led him down a small hallway. “This time we’ll use the bed and I’ll do the work. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like something I could get used to.” He smiled.
“Well don’t.”
They shared a laugh as she opened the door and flung him on the bed. They made fiery love and as he lay with her in his arms he stared up at the ceiling. For the first time in a long time Gabriel cared whether or not he would wake up in the morning.
THE END
Bonus Story 16 of 20
Duty of a SEAL Lion
It was freezing cold out that night on the base. The official start of winter was less than three weeks away and already I couldn’t wait for spring. As I stood outside of the clinic I wondered if the Pride Team had made it in yet for their pre-deployment rigors. SEAL Team Thirteen had an operation to carry out near D.C. and that’s the most I knew about their mission. As one of the on base medics I was just to stand by for any injuries that would come through.
With these highly trained guys it was a rarity that I had actually to operate on one. Especially Team Thirteen. They were almost superhuman and I was fairly certain that really was the case. Nearly a year ago I had seen a couple members of ‘Pride Team’ go out for a really late run. The late run wasn’t that unusual; but before they left their campus grounds I saw them morph into lions. Just like that. As lions, they took off towards the base’s outskirts and the coast.
I kept what I knew a secret of course. I was freaked out and scared by what I’d seen so I never confronted any of the team about it. This time around I was more morbidly curious and looking forward to having them on the base again. I planned on pulling one of them aside and asking about what I saw. I was stone cold sober and a doctor for Christ’s sake, so I knew what I saw was real.
A man’s voice called out. “Hey, what you doing out here apart from freezing your ass off?” It was my partner in crime, Wendell. He joined me outside and pulled out a cigarette from his windbreaker.
“Just breathing in the cold, meanwhile you’re breathing in the death,” I commented. Wendell laughed and then choked on the cigarette smoke he had inhaled.
“You know I only smoke every once in a while. Ever since you said you like my ‘tinge’ of cigarette scent.” I laughed at Dell’s lame attempt to flirt. He was the other trauma surgeon on site and had been trying to get me to date him ever since we started working together years ago.
“I also said, that could be replaced if you took up being a barista part-time.” Dell snorted and took another long drag on his cigarette.
“This is easier.” He grinned at me playfully and I rolled my eyes. “So what are you doing out here really? I know you hate the cold. Trying to get a glimpse of the hunky SEAL officers?” Dell’s tone was sarcastic which made me grin.
“No, I…just have nothing better to do,” was my excuse. Dell was right though; I was trying to get a glimpse of them as they arrived on campus. Maybe they’d decide to go for a run and shift again. Seeing that a second time would only strengthen my resolve to get to the bottom of Team Thirteen’s secret.
“Got that right. Though once their pre-deployment training starts up we might get a pulled hamstring or two,” Dell said, master of the sarcasm tonight. It wasn’t like the SEAL teams were the only people on campus. There were other navy officers and plenty of recruits going through the rigors of training. It’s just that all the men and women here were highly qualified and often didn’t make mistakes that would put them in the clinic.
“Well don’t be so bitter about it Dell, that’s a good thing,” I reminded him. Dell grunted before finishing the rest of his cigarette. He flicked it to the pavement and ground out the light.
“In any event, I can’t wait until we go off duty. Then I can finally ask you on an actual date.” Dell smirked at me, his eyebrows lifted confidently. I rolled my eyes at Dell and turned to head inside. “Oh c’mon Lina, it’s been long enough of your rejecting me, even you have to admit,” Dell was almost pleading and that was a definite turn off for me.
“Exactly Dell, I think it’s time you moved on. There are tons of nurses and a couple other doctors who would kill for you to ask them out,” I told him as we walked into the clinic. Dell sighed, longsuffering, and I hid my smile. I knew that somewhere deep down he really did like me, but I didn’t have any strong feelings for him.
Dell and I were better as friends and I wished he would just leave it at that.
“Yeah, but that’s why you drive me crazy girl. You couldn’t give two fucks about my feelings. You’re a damn challenge woman,” Dell grumbled. I sighed and turned around to grip his shoulders firmly.
“We’re friends Dell. Just friends.” I kept eye contact with Dell until I saw that he finally got it. “Now we have to go and…pretend to do work,” I added to lighten the mood. Dell laughed appropriately and I let his shoulders go, a small sigh of relief leaving my lips.
“Yes we do. Hey, don’t forget to show up at the cafeteria later. We’re going to celebrate doc Reese’s birthday tonight,” Dell reminded me as we headed to the trauma wing. Dell and I usually hung out at the nurse’s station when nothing was going on. We’d all share stories and goof around mostly, everyone in the trauma wing were like family. On our own individual tours we had seen atrocities that people suffered and died from, as well as suffered and survived from.
That day, instead of joining in on the various conversations around me, I mostly thought of the time. Team Pride was due to arrive in thirty minutes; of course they had work to do right away to prepare for the situation near DC. But I was looking forward to running into at least one of them near the SEAL campus.
*****
It was almost one in the morning and I was freezing with the Virginia sea breeze coming directly off the coast. Call me crazy, but I decided to take a late jog that was decidedly far away from my house. In fact it was close to the place I saw the two Pride Team members shift into lions. I’d jogged a few miles of the ten-mile path when I realized I needed to start running more often. I was nearly wheezing at that point and only had my legs to carry me back home.
Romance: Menage Romance: The French Quarter Hostages (Paranormal Action Shapeshifter MFM Bear Shifter Romance) (Fantasy BBW Taboo Interracial Love Triangle Werebear Mates Short Stories) Page 52
