Burn: Dragon Shifter Romance

by Ava Frost

  “Delia…”

  “Don’t… mom!” she called out, furious that Marshall was in her living room, but even then she felt her heart miss a beat.

  “Delia, I want you to just listen to me. I swear to you that I never knew about Samantha’s scheming. The last thing I wanted was to hurt you.”

  “The only reason you’re grovelling is because you got caught,” she bit harshly.

  “No, I swear to you. When I saw the pictures, and realized that Samantha was behind all of it, I went to confront her, but then you were there and everything just… what I’m trying to say is, I’m in love with you,” he said and then his lips twisted into this lopsided smile.

  Delia’s heart was drumming so loud in her chest that she found it hard to breathe. Those three words were the last words she expected to hear from Marshall Davidson, the most renowned playboy on campus. But even though her heart was screaming yes, her logical side continued constructing a wall around her heart; how was she ever going to trust him after all that happened?

  “Look, I get it, you like me, I mean what’s not to like, but we are too different. Right now you’re just confused. Tomorrow or the next day all of this will be something of the past. You’ll move on and I’ll move on.”

  Marshall placed the roses on the coffee table and approached her. She didn’t move an inch, but when he was only a few feet from her, he got down on one knee and reached into his blazer pocket.

  “Oh god no, get up!” she gasped covering her hand over her mouth. He couldn’t possibly propose to her, could he? She panicked and reached to pull him by his blazer, “Don’t you dare…”

  “Delia, I swear to you, that day at the party my entire existence was altered. No matter what I did, I just couldn’t get you out of my mind…” he started.

  “No-no-no, Marshall, get up, I’m not getting married to you!” she said loudly, hoping that her family would come to their senses and come to her rescue, but Marshall stayed on his knee. And as he pulled a long white letter out of his pocket her heart stopped.

  What on earth was he doing, she wondered as panic slowly subsided, maybe he was just going to read her some Shakespearian poem to win her over. But instead he opened the letter up and then gave it to her. It was an acceptance letter to Virginia West, and it had his name on it.

  “Wha-what the hell?” she asked wide eyed.

  Marshall got up off his knee and reached for her hand while he cupped her cheek in his other hand, “You didn’t think you would get rid of me that easily. I’m going where you go. I’m in love with you and I think I’ve been in love with you forever, but your brother wasn’t exactly cool with the idea,” he said.

  “For good reason!” she heard Aiden shout from outside the window.

  Marshall laughed and shrugged his shoulders then pressed his forehead against hers, “I can’t promise you tomorrow, or the next day, but I can sure as hell try to promise you today. And what I do know is that I’m completely head over heels in love with you.”

  Delia fought back the tears that threatened to spill as she buried her face in his shirt, “What am I going to do with you?” she whispered before tilting her head up and pressing her lips against his. She didn’t care that all of her family was peeping through the window, right now all she cared about was the fact that Marshall wasn’t a complete jackass, and that in all his jackass-ness, he cared for her, even loved her. Her heart beat a million miles a second as they kissed and the world with all its troubles faded around them.

  “There are minors here!” Aiden called out as he walked into the living room, breaking up the perfect kiss.

  “I swear I’ll fucking cut your balls off if you hurt her,” he warned with a smile tugging at his lips.

  “Then I’ll be sure not to hurt her,” Marshall said and chuckled.

  *******

  West Virginia University was the complete opposite of Ohio, and soon enough Delia and Marshall became one of the favorite couples, everyone wanted to copy. Young love being full of energy and those feel-good moments that could so easily last a life time was all they had for the moment, and whatever the future holds, no one could be certain of, but in the great words of Albert Einstein, “Life is a preparation for the future; and the best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none.”

  THE END

  The Outlaw’s Baby

  Chapter 1

  He ran his strong large hands down her sides and slid them around her bottom, roughly tugging her against him. She could feel his evident arousal poke against her stomach and it caused a ripple effect of tension to ride up and down her spine like a bullet train. The Dark Lord bent his head down and dragged his tongue along her slender neck as if to taste…

  “Ahem, excuse me miss,” a small disembodied voice said just as Danielle got to the saucy part of her romance novel, and without as much as blinking she slammed her book shut.

  “Yes, uh… may I help you?” she asked and by the way the old man on the other side of the counter was smiling, he knew what she was reading, and she wanted to just die.

  “Do you have any books on Woodwork?” he asked, still smiling.

  She quickly composed herself and plastered on a smile, “We have quite a few of those, they are in the non-fiction section, Michael can show you where they are,” she said and nodded at her assistant, who quickly came to take the old man off her hands.

  Danielle Reid came to Hill City just over six months ago in an attempt to start over after a failed engagement to her high school sweetheart. Joel was a good man who was able to support her financially, and if ordinary was on the top ten things to consider, he would be a perfect match, but Danielle was convinced that there had to be more to life than ordinary things and ordinary people.

  A loud rumble that sounded like rolling thunder drew her out of her reverie and she quickly left her desk to go investigate. But as she stepped out of the library she stopped in her tracks. A group of bikers had just entered Hill City and pulled up in front of the Silver Dollar Saloon. Over the revving of their engines a few of the bikers wolf-whistled at a couple of unsuspecting women who quickly ducked into the nearest store to evade their ogling stares.

  She studied them, trying to make out if they were the good kind or the bad kind. From where she stood, they all looked the part of outlaw bikers, with leather jackets, greased cuts, never before washed vests, tattooed bodies, messy hair and many of them sporting beards that were probably riddled with fleas and left over food from their last meal.

  An uneasy shiver ran down her spine causing the hair on her neck to stand on end. This lot spelled trouble, she thought as she quickly headed back into the library, sending up a silent prayer of thanks that she’s not the one serving the drinks in the saloon. With a bit of luck they were simply passing through, so by the time she headed home, they might be well on their way to their next hangout.

  Chapter 2

  Maddox entered the saloon, his ominous presence sending a warning to the locals and those who were still in the saloon made no attempt to stay. Exactly as he anticipated, this was his turf now. The girl at the bar looked at him with panic darting in her eyes, and he smiled wickedly at her. The poor thing was scared out of her wits and he could see by the way her fingers trembled that she was going to break down and cry any minute. Although he preferred the stronger willed women and those who would be more than willing to entertain his lecherous intentions, he figured there would be no harm in teasing the pathetic little grey mouse behind the counter.

  He walked over to the bar and leaned against it, “Show me your titties,” he demanded smirking mischievously.

  The girl’s eyes grew as wide as saucers and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Are you deaf or just stupid?” he asked, this time with a hint of warning in his tone.

  “I…uh… I’m not sure what you mean sir,” she said stuttering anxiously.

  “Tits, those two appendages hanging in front of you, I want to see them,”
he demanded again reaching out and tugging on her strap to causing her to stiffen like a cadaver in a science lab. “You don’t come to a bar wearing this expecting no one to cop a feel.”

  Just then Bill, the owner, came walking out from the back office and told the girl to take the rest of the day off.

  Planting both hands on the counter, he asked boldly, “What’ll it be Maddox?”

  Maddox sneered and sat down on the barstool.

  “The usual,” he said blankly, he had to give it to Bill he had balls. Not everyone will have the guts to stand up to him or any of the members from the Reckless Devil’s gang.

  They were well known in most of the small towns, and in some places, even law enforcement officers walked a wide circle around them. It took the Reckless Devils years to become who they are today, and he was proud of the legacy.

  Maddox had been with the Reckless Devil’s gang for several years. Born into a rich family and raised by an abusive goal focused father who didn’t care a flying fuck for his kids and an alcoholic mother who had a string of affairs that would make a Sheik with a harem look like a party in a park, pushed him into the only world he knows today. It was the exhilarated feeling of freedom, being on the road and doing whatever the hell he wanted, when he wanted, that lured him to join them.

  “So who’s the prude?” he asked downing the amber liquid, and then shoved his glass back for more.

  “She’s my niece, and she’s off limits.” Bill said irritably.

  He respected the old man, but he always gets what he wants, even if it was Bill’s niece, but luckily for Bill, he had no interest in the grey petrified mouse who was too scared to show a bit of skin.

  Maddox turned away from Bill and watched his friends as they all settled in for drinks, the smell of grease and leather filled his senses and he inhaled deeply. There was nothing more to life than this moment.

  “What have we here?” one of his friends called out as the doors to the saloon opened up and a tall dark haired beauty purposefully sauntered in and in unison all the others whistled and banged their beer mugs on the tables.

  From where Maddox stood he could see the woman was confident, scantily dressed and clearly here for a good time. He shoved his mate Hunter, towards her. “That must be Candy, the call girl,” he said and casually leaned with his back up against the bar counter.

  “You know that we don’t allow that here,” Bill said as he filled Maddox’ glass up. “I suggest you boys move on before I call the police.”

  Maddox rolled his neck and turned around grabbing Bill by the scuff, “Let’s get one thing straight my friend, while we are here, we own this place and what we want we get, you feel me?”

  Bill paled and held up his hands, “Sure, whatever you say Maddox, I just don’t want any trouble.”

  “Good boy, now either serve up some more drinks or get someone more capable, we have a long night ahead.”

  With that Maddox let him go and settled back on the bar stool.

  Chapter 3

  Danielle kept looking out the window hoping for the bikers to leave, but as the sun started setting she realized with regret, that they had no intention of leaving just yet. Sooner or later she was going to have to set foot outside of the library.

  She looked at the time and chewed her bottom lip. She had two choices, face the wolves outside, or sleep here in the office tonight. Everyone else had already left, and the library was like a ghost town, not that it was ever packed with eager readers. Since the increase of books available in electronic format, it was only the odd person who would still bother to read proper books and it was only a matter of time before libraries, just like video stores and video game arcades die down and lose their magic.

  Danielle signed and grabbed her bag, she couldn’t stay here, she only wished she had brought her coat, because going out dressed the way she was left her far too exposed.

  She glanced out the small window of the door and eyed the commotion in the street; brawny bikers were everywhere outside the saloon and among them where a few cheap women hanging around like jerky for the taking. She took a deep breath, pulled the door open and without looking left or right she focused on locking up.

  Don’t dare look Danielle, just pretend they are not there; she told herself as she fidgeted to lock up. Her nerves were shot and it felt as if every man out there was ogling her in such a lewd manner that they were stripping her with their eyes. Just as she was about to leave she remembered that she left her phone in the office, she glanced back over her shoulder and quickly unlocked the door and soundlessly slipped back inside.

  For a moment she stood with her back up against the door and took a few controlling breaths, before she quickly walked through the dim lit library to the back office, working herself up to get ready to go out there again; she was at a point where she was seriously considering staying in the library.

  Maddox never missed a thing. He was standing outside the saloon enjoying the cool air as the sun started to set when he saw the curvy brunette exit the library and his cock instantly stood at attention as if had a mind of its own. She didn’t once look over to where they were all gathered and seemed almost indifferent as to what was going on at the saloon. If noticing the scandalous behavior of his mates fucking women in public didn’t make her nervous then she was one hell of a woman.

  He waited patiently for her to turn around so that he could see her face, and although it was already dusk outside, the light from the library porch was bright enough to show him exactly what he wanted to see, but instead of turning around she headed back inside. Maybe she was scared after all; he thought to himself and smirked.

  For the first time in months, he felt a challenge brewing and he would be damned if he was going to let the opportunity pass him by. He tossed his beer bottle unto the side walk and crossed the street towards the library. When he reached for the door handle he was surprised to find it unlocked, she was either careless or she genuinely was not intimidated by them at all. The mere thought of coming up against a woman with some fire in her soul was enough to make his blood rush to his head, both heads for that matter.

  He quietly entered the library just in time to see her disappear into the office behind the counter. Soundlessly he slipped into one of the isles and waited for the unsuspecting woman to come passing by.

  Chapter 4

  Danielle shoved her phone in her bag and once again headed for the exit, but as she passed the second-to-last shelve she was stopped by one of the brutes that arrived in town and she felt the color drain from her face.

  “What’s a pretty girl like you doing out all by yourself at night?” the man said in husky teasing tone.

  Danielle faltered somewhat and the scream that threatened to escape her was struck silent as she looked up at the tall broad shouldered man standing before her. Even in the dimly lit library she could see the color of his eyes, gunmetal grey with dark flecks and long onyx lashes that framed them, his hair was messy and it looked as if he just got out of bed, with a stubble covered jaw that was set square and hard. His shoulders were broad and she could see the dust of hair on his chest. Despite the fact that she found him utterly attractive, like a typical rogue antagonist you want to love but have to hate, simply because he’s the bad guy. She tilted her chin and looked at him sternly over the rim of her glasses, “I’m not out alone, I’m in the library and you are trespassing.”

  Hoping he didn’t notice the slight tremble in her voice, she stared at him pointedly and folded her arms.

  “Feisty, I like it,” the man said standing with his feet apart and arms crossed.

  He wasn’t about to just let her walk out, she realized, and this did not sit well with her. Danielle tried to remember what she learned in self-defense classes’ years ago, but nothing came to mind. So instead of provoking him she simply tried to keep her wits about her.

  “You’re trespassing,” she said again and side stepped him in an attempt to pass him, but his ulterior motives soon came to l
ight as he stretched an arm out blocking her way.

  With her nose inches from his far too sexy forearm that hosted a collection of rather interesting tattoos she bit her bottom lip, biting back her words.

  “Now that lip biting thing you do sweetheart, will drive just about any man insane,” he said, and his breath brushed against her ear. The smell of beer mixed with pure male capsized her sanity and she almost leaned into him. But just in time she snapped her head around and glared at him.

  “If you’re looking for a book to read, by all means, find one, but I can assure you I am not your type,” she said boldly and swatted his arm out of her way.

  Maddox caught her wrist and tugged her roughly against him then plundered her lips with deliberate intention. Her body remained rigid but even that did not deter him from running his hand down her back and squeezing her ass firmly. The moment he saw her from across the road looking the part of a ready-to-be-fucked porn star librarian, with her sexy white blouse, tight grey pencil skirt that accentuated her curves his brain started an epic battle of wills. She tasted like cherry and coffee, and smelled like lilac or lavender, he could never tell the difference, but whatever it was, it was intoxicating.

  Danielle froze as the brute pulled her up against him and mashed his lips against hers, his tongue, like a crowbar, trying to pry her lips open. For a moment she was tempted to surrender, but this was not her, she was not some cheap whore. She believed in love, and the happily ever after that every little girl dreams about. With deliberate intention she pressed her hands against his chest, gripped his jacket and raised her knee shoving it into his groin, sending him stumbling backwards.

  Half expecting him to retaliate, she braced herself, but instead he slowly looked up at her with that death defying smile that lit up his eyes.