Ethereal King

by Ariana Hawkes

  “It tells the story of our history and the battles we’ve fought and won,” Xephyr explained in her ear.

  Notus lifted his hands, inviting the others to join him. Deep, strong voices rose on what sounded like the chorus.

  Eurus pressed a tankard into her hands. “Firesource,” he said, nodding to the mug. “Or what passes for it here. Careful, it’s quite potent.”

  “Thank you.” She sipped from the mug. A trail of liquid fire slid down her gullet. She choked. “Oh, my God! It tastes like an Atomic Fireball.” The fiery cinnamon candy had been her favorite as a child. The spirit settled in her belly like a pool of flame. Sweat broke out, seeping down her temples and back. She fanned herself, setting the potent drink aside.

  “It takes some getting used to. As do dragon ways.” Eurus winked at her, clinging his glass against hers.

  A few hours later, as they stood in Xephyr’s cave, he laid his hands gently on her shoulders. “Josie, will you be my mate?” His gaze searched her face, his expression vulnerable, as though looking for agreement. Or permission.

  “Oh, Xephyr. Yes, of course. I would love to be your mate, more than anything.” Her words came out breathy, her heart racing.

  He gripped her hands, pulled them to his chest, and pressed them flat over his heart. The heat was intense. “I need you, Josie. More than I need to fly or breathe. You’re my life…my home.”

  Momentarily dizzy, she nodded, happy tears filling her eyes. She knew it wasn’t exactly a marriage proposal, but the idea of spending her life with Xephyr enthralled her. “I need you, too. And I’ll always be here for you.”

  Xephyr crushed his mouth to hers, his kiss hungry. Arms wrapped tight around her back, he snugged her close, breasts to chest, hips to thighs. His embrace was tender at first, but it quickly became passionate as his cock pressed against her belly. His tongue probed deep into her mouth as he lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  Now the hard, solid ridge hidden by his jeans pressed right at her core. He rocked against her, nudging her center. The friction against her clit sent sparks of pleasure through her.

  Josie locked her ankles around his back and tangled her fingers in his hair. His mouth moved on hers, sucking, nipping, tasting, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Something close to euphoria danced through her veins, her heart swelling, racing.

  “My mate,” he growled as he strode to the bed. He lowered her to the striped sheets covering the thick foam pad she’d laid down on, then reached for the button on her jeans. She kicked off her sandals, then Xephyr stripped off her jeans and lacy boy shorts, exposing her to the coolness of the lair.

  She shivered when he dipped his head and licked her from her aching entrance to her clit. He kept his mouth there, his lips warm and tongue flickering back and forth as he eased a finger inside her. She clenched around him in little spasms and rolled her head back on the pillow. “Xephyr, claim me. Make me yours.”

  “With pleasure, my sweet.”

  He slipped a second finger into her, and she arched her hips off the bed, eager for him to go deeper.

  “More,” she begged, rolling her hips in time with his fingers.

  He gave a purr of approval, kissing his way up her belly.

  He nuzzled the bottom of her shirt out of the way and withdrew his fingers from her.

  “Nooo,” she moaned, immediately missing the contact.

  “Yes, sweet. I want to taste your nipples. And we need to get rid of all these clothes.” He rose on his knees, a sexy smile playing on his lips. He peeled off his shirt and tossed it aside.

  She sat up and trailed her fingers along the ridges of his abs before pressing her mouth to his hot flesh and explored each indentation with her tongue. She slid her hands down to the sexy grooves by his hips until she reached his waistband. She pulled the button free and slipped her fingers past the waistband of his underwear then grasped his cock.

  He sucked in a breath and jutted his hips forward. Pressing his hands against her head, he held her in place as she tongued his nipple.

  When he writhed and trembled, she smiled to herself, delighted at having this huge man-dragon at her mercy.

  At last he tore himself away from her and grasped the neck of her shirt. With a mighty roar, he ripped it down the middle, the tearing sound accompanied by her delighted laughter. He chucked it to the floor and tugged the lacy cups of her bra down, exposing her nipples. Taking one in his mouth, he tweaked the other between his thumb and forefinger, sending sparks flying through her body. With his other hand, he unfastened the clasp at the back, dragged the lacy scrap down her arms, and flung it away.

  “Spread yourself for me,” he growled as he stepped backward off the bed, and he slid his zipper low and wiggled out of his pants and boxer-briefs, watching her all the time with fire burning in his saffron eyes.

  Slowly, hesitantly, she complied, easing her thighs apart until she was exposed to him. As the cool air caressed her sensitive flesh and she caught the approval in his gaze, she felt wanton and desirable.

  Xephyr fell back onto the bed and crawled between her thighs until he was arching over her. His biceps bulged as he propped himself on his elbows, and his mouth sought out hers at the same moment that his cock pressed at her entrance. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, trying to pull him closer, desperate to feel him inside her. At last, he slid home with a powerful thrust. She gasped as he filled her. Too much. So good. He withdrew and pumped into her again. Each thrust was heavenly, setting her on fire. His pelvis rocked her clit, amplifying her need, while his hot slippery skin clung to hers.

  Burying his face in her neck, he rocked faster and faster as tension built in her body, striving for release.

  Her hips jerked and her nails bit into his broad, muscular back. He’s mine, she told herself over and over, and she cried out as she peaked, spasming hard around his shaft. Lights spun behind her eyes, oranges and red, a flame-like blaze. She arched her back as waves of ecstasy rolled through her.

  Xephyr pumped faster and faster into her, driving deep, muscles tense. Then he dipped his head and sealed his mouth on her chest. A moment later, his climax hit, juddering through him until he was spent.

  At last he lifted his head and collapsed on top of her, his breath rushing in her ear. “My mate,” he said in a low, growly voice.

  She’d never tire of him calling her “mate,” she thought, floating on a cloud of euphoria. She traced circles down his strong back. He flexed against her, still buried deep inside. The spot on her chest where his mouth had been tingled deliciously in response.

  She brushed a hand over the spot. The skin didn’t feel any different, but she knew what he’d done, with a certainty that came from a place deep inside her. “I love being marked by you. I love being your mate,” she whispered in his ear.

  Xephyr pulled himself up and balanced on one elbow. He rested his hand on top of hers. Immediately, desire surged within her. Her pussy clamped down on his cock. Oh, God, she could go again. It was as if he’d just installed another erogenous zone on her body.

  “I love you being mine,” he murmured, and the connection they shared shone bright in the glowing saffron of his eyes. She trailed her fingers along the fine stubble on his jaw, placing a lingering kiss on his lips.

  “I’ve never thought I could be so happy,” she said.

  Epilogue

  Josie opened her eyes, the morning light warm on her face. She snuggled under the heavy down comforter, burrowing into Xephyr’s heated chest. “Good morning,” Xephyr’s beloved voice whispered into her ear. His breath stirred the hair on the crown of her head as he pulled her closer.

  Home. That’s what his embrace felt like. She’d been living with him on Fire Island for two months, the happiest months of her life.

  “Good morning,” she purred against his throat.

  His erection pressed into her belly, igniting a flame of desire in her. A minute or so of kissing him was all it took. She was ready for him.
Still half asleep, she lifted her upper thigh and hooked it around his hips. He cupped her ass and entered her, gliding on her wetness, until he was all the way inside her. He moved slowly, lazily, but it wasn’t long before an orgasm began to build up, and she clung to him, whimpering into his ear as he tipped her over the edge, whispering in her ear, calling her his mate.

  He turned her around and spooned her, and as usual he didn’t last long now that he was pressed up against her full ass.

  “I can never get enough of you, Josie.” He nuzzled at the side of her neck.

  “Same here,” she replied with a slow smile. She liked their energetic night-time sex, but there was something very special about sleepy morning mating.

  He tapped her behind playfully. “Let’s get ready now. I have a surprise for you today.”

  “Yay! I love your surprises!” she said.

  His surprises were the best. They’d been back to the pool in the high valley where they’d first opened up to each other. He’d made love to her under the stars and then frolicked in the shallows with her afterward, braving the waters for a second time to tease and please her. The crystalline pool was her second favorite spot on the island. Her first favorite was anywhere Xephyr was.

  “Where are we going?” Josie quizzed him an hour later as they made their way down a craggy path, wrinkling her nose at the unfamiliar route.

  “You’ll see soon enough, my sweet. No more questions.” He shifted the pack he carried to the other shoulder.

  “What’s my surprise?”

  “Did I not just say no more questions?” He paused, turned her to face him, and leaned down within a hairsbreadth of her lips. His eyes glittered as he whispered to her, “For that, after I’ve given you this surprise, we will return to our lair and I will take you slowly, bring you to the cusp again and again, until you beg for release. Then maybe I’ll take pity on you. Or maybe not.”

  Shivers of delight and anticipation charged through her, ending in a throb of longing between her thighs. Her knees turned to jelly when he kissed her with a flicker of his tongue, a promise of something amazing to come.

  She grinned like a fool at him. “Maybe we can forgo the surprise and get to the good stuff now.”

  His laugh filled her soul, wrapped around her heart, and tugged at it.

  “Oh, Xephyr, I do love you.” She leaped into his arms, squeezing him tight.

  He held onto her, despite her protestations, and carried her down the mountain.

  She recognized the area they came to. “This is where the meteoroid hit. It’s what brought us together.” The big lump of rock had changed her life.

  Setting her on her feet, he twined his fingers with hers and drew her toward the still cordoned-off, but now empty pit. They’d removed the precious stone weeks ago in the dead of night, and took care to make it appear as if it had been stolen. Doing so had taken away the tourists’ reasons to come to Fire Island, so ferries no longer arrived in the harbor.

  “Hello, Josie.”

  “Tamika! What are you doing here?” Josie called, spinning around at the same time to see where the voice was coming from.

  When Tamika stepped out from behind a nearby monolith, Josie ran up to her and caught her up in a hug. They turned in a circle, laughing together. After stepping back from Tamika, Josie found herself enveloped in a massive bear hug from Kyle.

  After she pulled from Kyle’s embrace, Xephyr took Josie’s hand. “Josie, I invited Tamika and Kyle here because I have something to share with you all.”

  Josie looked at him, eyes wide open, unable to contain her curiosity any longer. Standing behind Tamika, Kyle rubbed his hands along his mate’s arms, all three of them waiting with bated breath to hear Xephyr’s news.

  “As you all know, the meteoroid which breached the ether between the two worlds and caused twelve of us to fall to earth is a precious stone here, and Tamika has been helping me convert it to cash.” Xephyr smiled at Tamika, who nodded and smiled back at him.

  “Before we fell here, the Oracle told me that one of my missions on Earth would be to help humans. I have been wondering how I can do that, and I have now decided to use some of the money from the diamond to open an agency.”

  Josie gasped. “What kind of agency?”

  “Something like a security agency. We will help people who are in trouble, who need protection.”

  “Oh, Xephyr, that’s a marvelous idea.” Josie threw her arms around his neck in her excitement. “You are perfectly suited to it.”

  “We’ll call the agency Dragn Protection. I’m taking the “o” out in honor of Tamika and her Shiftr app—as a little thank you for all of your help.” Xephyr gave them a wide grin.

  Tamika laughed, laying her hand on Xephyr’s shoulder. “I am honored, indeed. And I also think that your idea is brilliant. You’ll do a lot of good with it, I’m sure.”

  “Dragn Protection,” Josie repeated. “I love the name!”

  Xephyr heaved a satisfied breath. “Thank you. Now, let’s have a little celebration back at our cavern.”

  “Marvelous idea,” Tamika trilled, and she and Kyle turned to walk up the path.

  “We’ll catch up. I need to tell Xephyr something,” Josie called after them, catching Xephyr’s arm.

  She waited until they’d vanished up the path, her fingers distractedly grazing her mating mark. The small patch of skin had darkened slightly and now resembled a dragon with horns in the shape of a crown. In emotional moments, her fingers were automatically drawn to it.

  “I also have a surprise for you, my love.”

  Xephyr spread his feet wide and balanced his hands on her waist, her warmth seeping through her thin T-shirt.

  “A surprise for me? You don’t need to give me anything. Your love is a gift every day.”

  His words eased her fluttering nerves and she took his hand and pressed his palm flat against her tummy. “In a few months, we’ll be welcoming a little dragonlet.”

  Xephyr’s mouth dropped open, and he stared in wonder at her face, at her belly, his eyes wide with happiness. And then he roared at the sky. He threw his arms around her, lifted her, and spun her around. “That’s magnificent! I’m so happy!” He put her down, cupped her cheek tenderly, and hugged her close. “Josie, you’ve made me the happiest man in two worlds!”

  “Oh, Xephyr! You have made me the happiest woman on Earth! Your love touches me in so many ways. You broke through the loneliness of my life, making me happy every day. I love the way you protect me and keep me safe. It makes me feel cherished beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.”

  She stopped herself, the emotion swelling in her chest, threatening to take over her voice. She’d never be able to explain to him how much he’d done for her. How special he was to her. He’d banished her insecurities. From the day he’d flown into her life, he’d helped her grow.

  Heart swelling, eyes wet with happiness, she rested her palms on his chest, his heartbeat as steady as her love for him.

  “I love you, Xephyr. You’re my knight in shining armor.”

  “I love you, Josie. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  END

  A Thank You from Ariana Hawkes

  Hi, thank you so much for reading Ethereal King, the first book in my new dragon shifter series! I really hope you enjoyed it and if so please consider leaving a review; even if it’s only a line or two, it’ll make all the difference, and it will be greatly appreciated.

  If you’re looking for a new series, you can join the world of my best-selling series and Dina, Kristin, and Tamika in Hope Valley, where Shiftr, the secret dating app, helps curvy girls and sexy shifters find their happy ever after! There are thirteen books waiting for you in the series!

  I’ve included a free Christmas story for you here - Bear My Perfect Gift.

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  Thanks again for reading – and for all your
support!

  Yours,

  Ariana

  Ariana loves hearing from readers! You can reach her here:

  www.arianahawkes.com

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  Shiftr: Swipe Left For Love (Frankie)

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  Bonus story: Bear My Perfect Gift

  1

  All was quiet on Stonybear Peak. Caleb Ridgeman gazed over the frozen world of his clan’s territory, all the way to the distant horizon, the line of pale yellow light glowing above the snow, and wondered again why he hadn’t slept right through the day. It was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the sun barely rose from its bed before sinking back and plunging the land into blackness once more. Caleb’s clan semi-hibernated during the bitter winter months, sleeping up to 23 hours a day, and sleeping right through the solstice was a tradition for them. In fact, it was more than a tradition – it was a superstition. There was a story, which has been passed on for generations, that dark spirits awoke on the shortest day, and if you went outside, they could whisper in your ear and lure you into all kinds of mischief.

  All the cabins of his clan members were in darkness, not a single light showing in any of the windows. Caleb sighed. He was outside because something had jolted him from his sleep like a thunderbolt hitting his cabin, and he’d leapt out of bed and stood in the middle of the room staring into the darkness in bewilderment. He’d decided to go outside and get some fresh air to see if he could figure out what it was.

  As the sun sunk further beneath the horizon, draining the last yellowish tinge from the clouds and returning them to slate gray, he rubbed his head, thinking hard. What was it? It was like a half-formed idea, or one of those dreams that you remember for a second when you awake, but then they’re gone, like ghosts.