Embrace the Romance Read online

  We will be whole at last, he assured both his symbiot and his dragon.

  I bite? His dragon eagerly asked.

  Asim groaned when he felt Pearl pulling his shirt loose from his trousers. He didn’t need to answer his dragon. The Dragon’s Fire was already driving him to press his lips against her exposed neck.

  “I want to share my Dragon’s Fire with you, Pearl,” he murmured against her throat.

  “Dragon’s Fire,” Pearl gasped as a shiver of need ran through her at his hot breath against her skin. “What… What is Dragon’s Fire?”

  “Everything I am – everything we can be together,” he said.

  Asim gazed down into Pearl’s eyes. He would give her the choice. He had waited too long for this moment and something told him that Pearl was the type of woman who wouldn’t be happy if he didn’t. His gut tightened when her eyes narrowed.

  “Does this have anything to do with changing me like Riley and Tina?” Pearl suspiciously asked.

  Asim scowled and shook his head. “No! You would be a dragon! Not a… not a cat,” he firmly stated.

  Pearl pulled back in his arms, her hand sliding from his crotch to his chest. She stared back at him with wide eyes, an expression of uncertainty and skepticism in her eyes. Asim could feel his dragon’s panic start to rise up, threatening to choke him.

  I bite! She say no. I need bite! His dragon groaned.

  No, this has to be her decision, Asim grimly replied.

  “A dragon… like Abby and the other women?” Pearl repeated in shock.

  “Yes.”

  “Will it hurt?” Pearl asked, her lips curving up as she fingered the buttons on the front of his shirt.

  “It… I’ve heard it can be very intense… sexually. There… there is a chance… a chance that neither of us will survive,” Asim choked.

  Pearl raised an eyebrow. “Not survive having too much sex? I can think of worse ways to die,” she reflected.

  That mean yes! His dragon crowed.

  No, it does not! Asim growled in exasperation.

  “What happens afterwards? So, if we, by chance, survive driving each other to the edge of sexual immolation and all, what does that mean?” Pearl asked.

  “More….” Asim cleared his throat. “We… will be true mates. Together…. Pearl, you are driving me crazy. I’m… My dragon isn’t helping, either. He wants his mate as much as I want you,” he bit out.

  The way her fingers kept slipping between the openings of the buttons and teasing his heated flesh was quickly dissolving what little control he was fighting to maintain. His hands had slipped to her waist, unable to completely release her when she pulled back to gaze up at him. His fingers gently kneaded her flesh as he resisted the urge to just pick her up and take her.

  “I’m old,” she warned.

  “I’m older and you are perfect to me,” he replied.

  “I’m not as quick as I used to be,” she stated.

  “You knocked me in the water before I knew what happened,” he reminded her.

  “I may be a little rusty,” she admitted.

  “We will go as slow as you like. I would prefer to savor you like a glass of fine wine – slowly, so I can enjoy each touch and taste,” he countered.

  You sip, I gulp. You taking too long! His dragon groaned in frustration.

  “You have scales running up your neck,” Pearl pointed out.

  “My dragon wants to gulp the wine instead of sipping it like a gentleman,” Asim admitted in a tight voice.

  Asim’s eyes widened and his lips parted when Pearl gripped the sides of his shirt and pulled with a lot more force than he expected. The buttons holding his shirt closed popped free, scattering across the polished wood of the deck.

  “I love a dragon who knows how to handle his liquor,” she said before she captured his lips.

  This mean yes! His dragon crowed.

  Yes, this means yes, Asim groaned, his hands frantically pulling Pearl’s blouse free from her trousers. Bite, you can bite.

  His dragon didn’t need to be told twice. Asim was already moving his lips along Pearl’s cheek and down to her neck. He felt his teeth elongate, the Dragon’s Fire burning through him like a super-heated torch. Opening his mouth, he sank his teeth into her neck and breathed the fire that would change all their lives.

  “Holy Goddess of Love!” Pearl hissed, her hands tightening around his waist before her legs gave out under her.

  Asim held her close, his hands splayed across the smooth skin of her back while her breasts were pressed against his chest.

  The fire licked through both of them, scorching them with its fiery touch. His body was humming with tension. Goddess, he wanted to make love to this woman.

  The caress of Asim’s lips across her cheek down to her neck made Pearl feel young and beautiful again. The fact that, until a few hours ago, she had never met this man before was a minor technicality to her. She had known men for years without really knowing them. She hadn’t felt this surge of instant attraction since Joe – even the faint memories of her infatuation for him paled to the physical and chemical reaction she was having to this old Valdier warrior.

  Deep down, she knew that she was playing with a different type of fire – but, hell, life was about grabbing it by the balls and holding on, no matter how hot it got sometimes. She had nothing left to worry about now but her own heart. Riley and Tina were safe and happy. Now it was her time to shine and she was going up like the grand finale at a New Year’s Eve fireworks show.

  “Asim… You better not burn my heart,” Pearl warned.

  He reluctantly released her neck. It throbbed where he bit her. Instead of being painful, it pulsed along with the feelings of need burning between her legs. It had been years since she was this aroused.

  “Never, Pearl. If you burn, we burn together,” he swore. “Let the Dragon’s Fire begin.”

  Pearl’s eyes widened and a soft moan escaped her as the first wave hit her. Her arms trembled and she was thankful for his strength to hold her upright. Well, until he scooped her into his arms. She turned her head and buried her face against his neck.

  “Damn, that is some powerful shit,” she said in a strained voice.

  Asim chuckled. “It will be a glorious transformation,” he promised.

  His burning desire for Pearl was nothing compared to his determination that she survive the changes of the Dragon’s Fire. He’d seen her strength when she stood up to his symbiot with nothing more than a custard-covered spoon and when she had knocked him into the lake. This was a woman with the heart of a warrior – and a true match for one as well.

  He held her close, sensing the fire burning through her veins. He entered the house, striding through the sitting room and past the kitchen that he designed to take advantage of the view. He rounded the corner and climbed the stairs.

  The sound of Pearl’s soft moan and the shiver of her slender body in his arms told him that another wave of the Dragon’s Fire was breaking through her. He drew in a swift breath when he felt her teeth against his neck. The sharp nip excited him.

  She has a lot of fire in her, he thought.

  Yes. She perfect mate, his dragon stated, very pleased with himself.

  “Damn, but whatever you did has me feeling hotter than a marshmallow on fire. I’m burning up and melting at the same time,” she breathed.

  “It is the Dragon’s Fire. Do not fight it. Let it flow through you and embrace the change,” Asim encouraged.

  “Lordy, but I’m going to be jumping your bones,” Pearl moaned, pressing her lips against his neck.

  Pearl had never felt fire like this before. Menopause been quick and painless, a few hot flashes and she was done. This was like an inferno raging inside her. The only difference was instead of wanting a cold shower and a fan; she wanted a hot man and his cock.

  Her clothes were driving her crazy. The touch of them against her skin was like sandpaper against silk. She wanted hot flesh and a hairy chest she could
tangle her fingers in.

  Turning her head, she ran her lips over Asim’s neck, nipping, sucking, and leaving a line of tiny hickeys that were bound to multiply over the course of the night. Her fingers searched and found his chest where she had ripped his shirt open. She tangled her fingers in his chest hair, enjoying the coarse feel against her sensitive fingertips.

  When Asim set her on her feet again, she pulled back and was surprised to discover they were in a large bedroom. She briefly glanced around, mostly searching for the bed. She turned her head when Asim placed his hand under her chin and gazed mischievously down into her eyes.

  “Are you sure the answer is still ‘yes’?” he teased. “I have started the fire, but I will not fan it if you ask me not to.”

  “Honey, unless you want me to bury a dead body, you better do something about this inferno that you started. The answer isn’t yes – it is ‘hell yes’. You can add as many exclamation points at the end of that as you want. I plan on working my way down your delicious body while you do that,” Pearl retorted, reaching up to unbutton her shirt.

  Her lips twitched when more buttons went flying, reminiscent of her actions earlier. Their desire for each other was well and truly a wildfire. Asim growled and finally snapped the front of her bra to free her breasts. Pearl unfastened Asim’s pants and buried her hands inside, wrapping them around his cock while her mouth hungrily explored his chest.

  She fell backwards, her knees giving way against the bed. Asim took advantage of it and swiftly removed her boots, socks, and pants. Each article of clothing flew in a different direction in their haste.

  Asim impatiently kicked his trousers off and wrapped his large hands around her calves. He pulled her to the edge of the bed and stood looking down at her, his cock poised at her moist entrance.

  “Are you ready for me?” he asked in a strained voice.

  Pearl reached down and felt the moisture between her legs. Hell, she hadn’t been this wet without a little help since she could remember. Feeling for his cock, she aligned it with her channel and lifted her hips.

  The first touch of his cock entering her coincided with another wave of Dragon’s Fire. Asim must have felt the flames overcoming her and the sudden rush of moisture between her legs because he surged forward, impaling her at the same time as the fire peaked. Pearl wrapped her legs around Asim’s waist, thanked the goddess of yoga for insisting that she participate, and held on for the ride.

  Her sensitive breasts brushed against the coarse hair of his chest, causing her nipples to become taut pebbles. Pearl held onto Asim’s shoulders when he bent over her. Her head fell back, exposing her long slender neck. With a smothered oath, he braced his arms on each side of her, sank his teeth into her neck – and breathed.

  Silver scales framed by white rippled over Pearl’s body and along her arms. Her body felt like it was burning to ash and being reborn. The feel of Asim’s stiff cock stroking her channel, his coarse hair teasing her nipples, and the feel and smell of their combined lovemaking tipped the scales and Pearl came harder than she had ever come in her life. Her orgasm rolled on and on, building, peaking and breaking, only to build again.

  Asim didn’t stop his driving force. Once she came, he pulled out of her, turned her over until she was kneeling on the bed, and climbed up behind her so he could do it again.

  The feel of his cock felt hard and delicious as he stroked her. Her fingers curled in the covers and she bowed her head. Her eyes closed as she felt him grow thicker. She could feel the tension building in his body and knew he was going to come.

  His fingers tightened on her hips, holding her as his hips rocked back and forth. He continued to slide in and out of her, faster and harder with each movement. Her head came up with she felt him stiffen and groan as he came. His breath hissed and echoed loudly through the room. He held her still, a shudder shaking his large frame as he pulsed.

  Pearl was sure they were through and disappointment hit her hard. Bowing her head, she closed her eyes. A soft gasp escaped her when she felt the fire building inside her again. His cock reacted to the muscles along her vagina squeezing him in response. Opening her eyes, she was stunned to feel him begin to move again – his cock thick and full as if he hadn’t just emptied himself deep inside her.

  “What…? How the hell?” Pearl asked.

  Asim pulled out of her and gently rolled her over. Caging her body with his, he pulled her legs up around his waist and sank as far as he could into her once again. His arms wrapped around her and he held her tight as the Dragon’s fire flowed through both of their bodies.

  “It has been a long, long time,” Asim murmured, holding her close as he rocked his hips.

  Pearl’s eyes widened and the smile on her lips grew. Gripping him with her legs and pushing him, she let him know that she wanted him to roll over. Asim rolled to the side, pulling her with him until she was on top of him.

  “Hot damn! I’ve got my own renewable battery pack,” Pearl chuckled. She tilted her head and gazed down at him. “Have you ever been ridden, cowboy?”

  Asim’s eyes widened when Pearl rose before she sank all the way down on him. The smile on his lips grew when Pearl began to ride him. Pearl didn’t miss the way her skin changed, fine silver scales dancing across it – or the new voice in her head, encouraging her to ride as far and as long as she wanted. She decided age must have its advantage, because her dragon wasn’t taking its sweet time emerging like Abby and the other women had described.

  We ready for mate now! I ride my mate next, the voice whispered. Dragon style.

  Eight

  Asim grudgingly rolled out of bed early the next morning. The insistent someone pounding on his door refused to leave when he hadn’t answered it. He glanced at Pearl and saw she was watching him with an amused smile.

  “I have to answer that,” he said, bending over to brush a kiss across her lips.

  Pearl chuckled and nodded. “I think I know who it is,” she replied, throwing the covers back and sliding out of the bed.

  “Dragon’s fire, but I would be willing to ignore them to keep you in my bed,” Asim said.

  “Your eyes are flashing with fire again. You’d better answer the door. I have a feeling they aren’t going to go away until you do,” Pearl chuckled as she grabbed the sheet from the end of the bed, folded and wrapped it around herself like a sarong.

  “Surely they will get the message? I swear if it is Mandra, he can shovel the damn Pactor poop by himself today,” Asim snapped in frustration.

  He reached over and grabbed his trousers from the floor. He looked around for his shirt, but gave up when the pounding increased. With a muttered curse, he turned in time to see Pearl step out of their bedroom.

  Hurrying after her, he caught up with her half way down the stairs. His gaze ran appreciatively over her sheet-wrapped body and bare shoulders. At least it wouldn’t take long to undress her once he told their unexpected company to get lost or he would bite their heads off. He was a dragon on a mission and that was to mate with Pearl in every way he could. He had a lot of years to make up for and so did his dragon.

  They reached the bottom of the stairs and turned toward the front door. Striding across, he stepped in front of Pearl and opened the door. An irritated Vox stood on the other side, his hand raised to bang on the door again. Vox barely caught himself before he rapped his knuckles between Asim’s eyes.

  “Where is she?” Vox asked in exasperation.

  “None of your business,” Asim snapped.

  “What the… Grandma?” Riley exclaimed.

  Asim glanced over Vox’s shoulder and saw Vox’s mate staring at Pearl behind him. Riley’s eyes were opened wide and her mouth was hanging open. He stepped to the side when he felt Pearl run her hand over his right buttock. He might have been alright if she hadn’t pinched it. Of course, his body – still burning with the remains of the Dragon’s Fire – ignited.

  “Hello, Riley. What brings you here this early? I would have thought
you’d still be asleep,” Pearl commented.

  Asim wrapped his arm protectively around Pearl’s waist and drew her close to his side when she stepped up beside him. She shot him a questioning glance and shook her head in amusement before turning her attention back to her stunned granddaughter.

  “You look like you’ve been…,” Riley started to say.

  The scowl on Asim’s face darkened when Riley waved her hand at him before turning back to Pearl. The frown quickly turned to a smothered oath. Pearl’s left hand was sliding down the back of his pants and she was kneading his taut butt cheek. If he didn’t get rid of Vox and Riley soon, Riley was going to have no doubt as to why her grandmother looked the way she did.

  “I have. What have you and Vox been doing? Working on more great-grandbabies for me, I hope. I absolutely adore Roam,” Pearl said with an innocent smile.

  “I told you she was fine, Riley. Let’s go,” Vox said, partially turning away.

  “Oh, hell no, we are not going! This… this maniac kidnapped my grandmother and you want to just leave her here? She didn’t even meet him until yesterday!” Riley stuttered.

  “Riley… I really think we should go… now,” Vox murmured.

  “Would you like some refreshments?” Pearl asked.

  “NO!” both men replied at the same time.

  “Yes,” Riley stubbornly said.

  “I really don’t think she meant for you to accept her offer, Riley,” Vox warned, glancing at Asim’s flushed face and the scales rippling up his body.

  “Why not?” Riley demanded.

  Asim watched Vox bend to whisper in Riley’s ear. The younger woman’s mouth dropped open again and she blushed. Her gaze darted to him before turning to her grandmother’s serene face, then to the front of Asim. Her face turned a bright red.

  “Oh!” Riley whispered. “But… She’s my grandma!”