by Amelia Jade
That sickened her. His son was probably going to die any day now, and all he cared about was the family reputation. Jack needed to be in a hospital getting treatment, but Richard had trotted him out here, likely hoping to trade on the way his son looked as a case for why he was innocent.
Andria’s eyes hardened, and she closed her mouth, looking back up at the tribunal composed of the dean, president of the school, and several other board trustees. They would decide the outcome of this trial, and then in a few months’ time there would be another.
She doubted that Jack would make it that long, however, so if she wanted to see justice done to ensure that the university and the town knew that he was an evil person, the time was now. She would have to stay strong and inform everyone of just what he had done. Of how it had made her feel. Raw. Exposed.
Vulnerable.
Looking back into the crowd, she spotted Cowl’s familiar shock of white hair, surrounded by his brothers. Caine sat to his right, and on the left was Ivore, and beside him Violet. The last two seemed to be in deep discussion over something. Cowl saw her looking his way. His blue eyes glittered, boring deep into her, and she swore she heard his message.
Stay strong. This is a tactic on Malkin’s part to garner pity from the others. Don’t let him.
Andria smiled. She wasn’t.
A gavel rang out behind her as the session was brought to order. Taking a deep breath, she rid herself of any excess worries and prepared to tell her side of the story. Andria was strong.
The past few days and one sexy dragon shifter had taught her that.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cowl
“I’m proud of you.”
Andria closed the door after her. Despite the situation with Jake being over—he was now locked up at a military prison under some jurisdictional authority she’d never heard of—Cowl continued to act like her bodyguard. It seemed to make him happy, so she let him, but something told her that the danger had passed, that they were in the clear for now.
“What are you proud of me for?” She kicked off her shoes and headed straight for the couch, eager to sit and relax after a long day at school.
“For today. For getting up there, telling everyone what happened and not shying away from the details. For believing in yourself, and not letting what others thought of you get in the way. Jack got exactly what he deserved today, despite their pathetic attempts at using his condition to gather empathy from the board members.”
She flopped down onto the couch. “You did that.”
“Me?” He joined her, sinking into the opposite corner.
Andria’s mouth twisted unhappily at the distance between them. She shuffled herself upright and then across the couch, lounging out across his broad chest, feeling his strong heart beat beneath his skin, pressing her head up against him. Cowl lifted a hand and stroked through her hair, sending tiny shivers of pleasantness across her scalp.
“Yes, you. You didn’t give up on me; you convinced me that I was stronger than I thought. You made me feel sexy and gave me some of my confidence back. So, thank you.”
Cowl’s other hand pulled her tight into a hug. “You had it in you all along. I just pulled it out.”
She giggled.
“What?”
“You didn’t pull it out of me last time we—”
The rest of her reply was cut off as Cowl’s hand clamped over her mouth. She descended into a fit of giggles.
“Listen, you pervert. I’m trying to be sweet here as a leadup.”
She calmed. Slightly. “A leadup to what? You offering to pull—oomph!”
A pillow bounced gently off her face.
“No,” he growled, reaching under the couch with one extra-long arm. “To this.”
He pulled out an envelope.
Andria calmed. “What’s this?”
“Open it and find out.”
She swatted at him ineffectually, but took the envelope. It wasn’t sealed. Inside was a folded piece of paper. Frowning, she sat upright as she recognized the Barton City University logo at the top. Great, what now? Was she officially kicked out for not paying tuition?
They were working hard to rebuild the bar, but it was going to take a long time, and during repairs she wasn’t going to earn any money. Being told she was no longer enrolled seemed likely.
Dear Miss Chalmers,
This is to confirm that the amount of your second semester tuition has been paid in full.
There was some more words about class enrollments and such, but she couldn’t read it due to the shaking in her hand.
“What the hell is this?” she hissed. “Is this some kind of sick joke?
Cowl sat up, concern in his eyes. “Not a joke. I told you that you were going to school and I was going to pay for it. I meant it. You’re going to finish, Andria. You’ve worked too hard not to.”
“But Cowl…I can’t afford to repay you.”
He grinned. “I’m not asking you to. This isn’t a loan. Remember, dragon? Treasure, lots of riches, much wealth. All that fun stuff?”
“You were serious about all that?”
His eyes went flat. Cold. “Deadly.”
Andria made a note not to steal any of his treasure, even as a prank.
“Well, that’s awesome. Thank you so much.” She flung her arms around him, the paper crinkling as she held him tight. “You’re amazing.”
“Oh shush now. Pshh. Nah. Me? Noooo.”
She rolled her eyes and kissed him. “Shut up. You are, and I love it.”
Cowl pulled away from her, just enough that she opened her eyes only to find him already regarding her steadily, his bright blue eyes filled with a certain gravity she’d not seen before.
“What?”
He remained silent for a long while before leaning in and kissing her. Andria thought about trying to figure out what had just happened, but when his hands slid across her ribcage and down to her waist she lost track of what she’d been about to ask him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked between kisses as one of his hands pushed under her waistband, sliding all the way over her ass until he could grip it solidly.
“Touching you.”
“Oh, I see.” She straddled him, resting both hands on his chest, dragging her hips across the hard outline of his cock. Cowl bit his lip, breathing heavily as she repeated the action.
She’d thought about this moment. About the next time they found themselves alone and getting intimate. What would she do? How would she react? Andria knew Cowl had been patient with her, had restrained himself despite her making it hard. She wanted to give back, to show him the renewed confidence that he’d given her. The only question was how.
His eyes roamed across her body, up and down, but as she watched he continually focused on her chest. No real surprise there she thought; she was more than used to her large chest garnering a lot of attraction.
Crossing her arms, she reached down for the hemline of her light sweater. Cowl stopped her with one giant hand. “You don’t need—”
Andria shrugged him off and pulled the sweater over her head.
“Shut up and look at my body,” she told him, shrugging out of her bra.
Cowl was more than happy to oblige as she stripped herself naked, exposing herself to him for the first time. She had to get up to remove her pants and underwear, and so she stood there under his watchful gaze. No hips, big stomach, large breasts and all.
“This is me,” she said, spreading her arms open wide.
He licked his lips, eyes taking in every bump, roll, and stretch mark. “I am the luckiest man on the planet,” he growled, getting to his feet. His clothes simply disintegrated as he quite literally ripped them off, the fabric tearing apart in a show of muscle that set her blood on fire.
“Cowl.” She rested a hand on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin begin to immediately seep into her.
“Yes?”
“There’s one more thing I hav
e to tell you.”
He paused, giving her his full attention. “Anything.”
She swallowed. This was even harder than taking off her clothes. It was a phrase she’d never expected to say ever again. But she thought she knew now why Cowl had looked at her strangely earlier.
He was waiting, hoping that she would tell him something, something that he knew he couldn’t tell her first. Not without risking scaring her off.
“I love you, Cowl. You are the most wonderful man I’ve ever met. You’re true, genuine, compassionate, protective, and hella sexy. There is not a single thing I’d change about you, and I cannot believe that you are interested in me.”
The huge shifter twisted his head left and right. “I’m not interested in you.”
“Wait? What?”
He grinned. “I’m in love with you, Andria Chalmers. Since the day I met you. I told you that you are my mate, and I meant it. I will forever be yours, and only yours. Never will you have to worry about me seeking another. My eyes are for you, and only you.”
They kissed again, a loving, tender moment despite the nudity and extreme arousal of them both. She could tell Cowl was, because he kept poking her in the stomach.
“So, does that mean I’m your mate?” she asked curiously.
He nodded. “If you accept me.”
She didn’t have to think about it. “I accept. With all my heart, my soul, and my body, I accept.”
“Good. Then there’s only one thing left to do.”
Andria looked down between them. “Please tell me it involves that.”
Cowl’s grin turned wicked.
“It involves that.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cowl
“Will you wear something for me?”
Andria looked up from where she was stirring the pasta they were having for dinner. “Like an outfit?”
“No. Not an outfit. Something smaller.”
She eyed him questioningly. “Like lingerie? I can do that.”
He laughed. “Deal, but no, I was thinking of something even smaller. It’s sort of attached to your body.” He raised his beer to cover his nervousness at the answer to his question.
Andria frowned, the bubbling pot of water forgotten. She crossed her arms and looked him up and down. “Listen, Cowl. Tying my hands up is one thing, but I don’t think I’m in to nipple clamps.”
He spat beer out across the table. “Andria!”
She was howling with laughter. “You’re too easy, Cowl. Stop being offended when I bring up some of the raunchier things about sex.”
He glared. “You know how I feel about that. And no, it’s not nipple clamps, you nymphomaniac.”
“Look who’s learning new words.”
He rolled his eyes, wiping beer from his chin. “No, I was wondering if you would wear these.” He extended a hand filled with frosty air and blew on it, dissipating the fog.
Andria came over, eyes widening. “Cowl, they’re beautiful. But…how?”
“They’re a part of me,” he said. “They have added benefits too.”
“Like what?” she asked, admiring the stud earrings made entirely from ice, the whitish-blue coloring reflecting the overhead light and making them sparkle.
“Oh, you know. Immunity from diseases, elongated lifespan, that sort of stuff.”
She was staring at him now. “I’m sorry. Pardon?”
He grinned. “Yeah. All the normal perks of dating a badass dragon. We’re connected by fate, but by you wearing a piece of me, it creates a bond between us. You’ll still be fully human, of course. Can’t just poof, and create a new shifter.”
She nodded, staring at the earrings. “What…what about children?” Andria looked up, worried. “Can we even have kids? I want kids, Cowl…”
“No worries there. We’re perfectly compatible, and dragons are rather…potent. If you stop taking the pill, it shouldn’t take very long at all.”
Andria smiled. “Wow. Dating a dragon is just becoming better and better every day.” She took the earrings and without any further hesitation slipped them into the cartilage piercings on her ears.
“Gorgeous.” His voice was a whisper. “Just gorgeous.”
She smiled, planted a big kiss on his lips and then held up a finger. “Wait right there.” Then she took off for the front door, snatching her purse and skidding to a halt in front of him. “I have something for you, too.”
Cowl frowned. For him? What could she get him? She’d already given herself to him, which was all Cowl could ever want. What more was there?
She handed him a piece of paper. He took it, reading it over.
Dear Miss Chalmers,
We are pleased to formally offer you the position of Assistant to the Physiotherapist at our Barton City Location, effective immediately, with a transition to full-time after your graduation in April. We look forward to hearing back from you.
“Did you do this for me?” he asked, trying to decide if he was over-the-moon ecstatic because she was staying in Barton City, or upset with himself because she’d given up on her dreams of moving to the coast for him.
“No.” She returned to stirring the pasta. “Not for you.”
“Why then?”
Andria looked over her shoulder at him.
“I did it for us.”
Epilogue
Cowl
Two weeks later
“Cowl, we have a problem.” It was Caine.
He sighed. “What?”
“You know those wolf-shifters we brought in for detention to find out where they were getting the Outsider drugs?”
“Yeah.” Of course he remembered. How could he not? His head still had phantom pains. Turns out cracking your skull takes a long time to heal, even for a shifter. “They’re going to trial soon, right?”
“No.”
“What? Why not?” He sat upright.
“They’re all dead. The infection killed every one of them.
Fuck.
“And now the father is coming after us for the death of both his sons.”
Jack had died three days after the trial.
“Of course he is. What else can you tell me?”
“That the problem doesn’t stop there. Do you remember General Knefferson?”
“Yes.”
The military structure was a little confusing to Cowl, but he knew who the general was. One of the bigwigs, and also the direct commander of Colonel Mara and everyone involved with the Outsider project. Also, from what he’d heard, a huge asshole.
“Well, I did some digging into this Richard Malkin character.”
“And? What does that have to do with General Knefferson?”
“Guess who was in the same fraternity together at Barton City University several decades ago?”
Cowl swore.
********
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This concludes Dragon Eruption, Ice Dragons Book 1.
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-Amelia Jade
Big Bad Wolf Dad
The Shifter’s Ball
By Amelia Jade
Big Bad Wolf Dad
Copyright @ 2017 by Amelia Jade
First Electronic Publication: July 2017
Amelia Jade
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NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
