The Old Dragon of the Mountain's Christmas Read online

  “So, what do we do first?” Christoff asked, dropping his arms to his side.

  Edna’s eyes jerked up to his face. A light laugh escaped her at the excitement on it. She suddenly felt young and wild and free. Reaching down, she grabbed the bottom of her nightgown. She was going to have to invest in something a little sexier than her flannel shorty. Pulling it over her head, she tossed it to the side before stepping up to run her hand up Christoff’s broad chest.

  “Now, we kiss,” she murmured, pressing him back until he sat down on the edge of the bed. “And just take it one touch at a time.”

  Chapter Nine

  Christoff wound his arms around Edna, pulling her down on top of him as he lay back against the pillows. His mouth opened and he hungrily devoured her kisses like a dying man taking his last breath. He didn’t know how he had come to be in this strange magical world. If he was dreaming, he hoped he never woke up. This was his next life. His body might not be whole and undamaged, but it didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was that he had finally been given a true mate, his partner in life, after so many centuries.

  His hands moved down to her hips and a soft moan escaped him as he pressed himself upward. He could feel the waves of dragon fire building inside him, desperate to get out. Breaking their kiss, he ran his lips down along her jaw.

  “Oh!” Edna whispered when he nipped her.

  “I want to touch you,” he murmured against her skin. “All of you.”

  Edna leaned back far enough to look down at him. A tender smile curved her lips. He looked like a little boy at Christmas who didn’t know which present to open first.

  “I think that is a wonderful idea,” she said with a slightly unsteady smile. “I wouldn’t mind exploring all of you, too.”

  Christoff rolled so that they were lying side by side. He gazed into her eyes, trying to note what brought her the most pleasure as he ran his hands over her. His fingers trailed over her hip and across her stomach. He paused when he encountered a small patch of soft curls. Curious, he gently pushed her over onto her back and sat up.

  “You are soft,” he observed, trailing his fingers through the fine hair. “I like that.”

  Edna gave a choked laugh and shook her head. “I’m glad. I’ve kept a bit of my figure with the help of yoga, but it’s not what it was when I was younger,” she retorted in a teasing tone. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?” she added with a shudder when he ran his finger along her sensitive nub.

  “You like this. I can see your face flush and your heart is racing,” he replied with a grin.

  “Let’s see how you handle me exploring you, my curious alien,” she retorted with a sly smile of her own, deciding she could do a little playing, too.

  Christoff’s eyes widened and he sucked in a deep breath when Edna suddenly sat up and wrapped her hand around his throbbing cock. The next moment, he was panting. She was running her hand up and down his cock, from the base of it to the head and back again in long, slow, agonizing strokes.

  “Edna,” he groaned.

  “Lay down, Christoff,” she whispered, turning as he did so. “I think this first time should be about you.”

  He shook his head. “It should be about us, Edna,” he said hoarsely. “You are my true mate. You will always come first.”

  Edna chuckled. “Not this time, my alien virgin. This time, it is all about you,” she teased, lowering her head to kiss him.

  Christoff leaned upward into her. Her lips teased his skin just as her hand stroked his cock. He released her hips to grip the covers when she began moving down his body. A light sweat broke out on his brow and he stared up at the ceiling, wondering when she was going to stop and hoping that she never did.

  “Edna!” he choked out when he felt her warm, moist mouth cover the end of his cock. “Great Goddess above!”

  His gaze remained frozen at the sight of Edna’s lips wrapped lovingly around his cock. He could feel the heat building inside him. His dragon was purring so loudly he was surprised that Edna couldn’t hear him!

  His hips began to instinctively rock to the same rhythm of her head. The feel of her long braid against his inner thigh was like someone stroking the fire until it ignited with such a force he was left gasping for air. His body stiffened and he swore the mountain was trembling again as he came.

  It took several minutes for him to realize that he was still alive. Forcing his stiff fingers to release the covers, he reached with shaking hands to caress Edna’s hair. A shudder ran through his length when she slid her lips from around his cock with a soft moan of pleasure.

  She smiled up at him with her rosy lips. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her. Lying back, he raised his hand to cup her chin. He kept their eyes locked on each other as he leaned up to kiss her. He could taste his essence on her lips. The memory of what she had just done reignited the fire in his gut.

  “Now, it is my turn,” he growled, rolling over until she was trapped under him. “I will do the same to you.”

  “Christoff!” Edna gasped, stunned when he began moving down her body with an ease that belied his experience. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?” she moaned, grasping his shoulders when he began sucking on her nipples. “Oh, yes! Oh, yes!”

  Christoff decided right then and there he would always start by kissing her, one inch at a time. He turned his attention to her other nipple. It had grown hard and full as well. It made it easier for him to pinch them between his fingers.

  He soon discovered that the more he played with them, the louder she cried out and wiggled. His cock was throbbing again and he wanted, needed to drive it into her. The thought shocked him.

  Focusing on his first intention, he worked his way down over Edna’s stomach to the soft curls between her legs. She immediately arched upward and parted her legs further for him. The sweet scent of her arousal made his mouth water. He wondered if she tasted as good as she smelled.

  “Sweet orange spice,” Edna cried out. “Oh, Christoff!”

  Christoff had no idea what sweet orange spice was, but he did know that when he parted the soft skin protecting the nub he had found earlier that she definitely liked it. He parted the protective skin and ran his tongue over the nub, enjoying how it swelled at his touch.

  Yes, you lick, I bite, we do good, his dragon crowed in delight. My mate! I get my mate.

  Christoff tried to push his dragon back, but the damn thing was determined to have his way this time. He could feel the dragon fire building inside him until he thought he would explode as the pressure built to unbearable levels. Instinctively, he knew what it was and what he needed to do. He just wasn’t sure what would happen once he did it.

  I bite, now, I bite, his dragon growled.

  Christoff felt the scales of his dragon rippling up his neck and over his shoulders. He fought for control, but his dragon wouldn’t have any part of it. They were both too far gone in their need for their mate. He felt his teeth extending and knew that tonight, he would have his mate.

  Or we die, his dragon moaned.

  Die?! What do you mean we die? Christoff choked out even as he felt his head turn and he sank his teeth into Edna’s thigh.

  Her startled cry tore at him, even as he breathed the dragon fire into her bloodstream. He could feel it pumping into her. She started to fight against him before a loud moan escaped her and she began to writhe in his arms. Sliding his hands up under her thighs, he kept her open to him as he continued to breathe the fire of his dragon into her. Only when he felt the last of the fire pour into her did he run his tongue over the mark he had left. If the Goddess thought them worthy, a new dragon would be born tonight. One that would heal his fractured soul.

  Christoff turned his tortured eyes to Edna. “You are mine, Edna. I claim you as my true mate. No others may have you. I will live to protect you. You are mine to love, to protect, forever,” he murmured, knowing he would say the words to her over and over before the night turned to dawn
.

  Bending forward, he clamped down on the swollen nub and sucked hard, at the same time inserting two fingers up into her slick vaginal channel. He could feel her pulsing around him. Her need was growing as the heat of the dragon’s fire swept through her.

  He felt it when the first wave hit, sending a shattering orgasm through her that left her shaking and gasping for air. Rising up, he slid back up her body, touching and kissing each part as he went. His own body was hard and throbbing with need. Tonight, he would fill her with the essence of his dragon.

  “I need you, Edna,” he groaned, holding his body over her.

  Edna’s legs parted and she reached between them, guiding him into her. She stared up at him with wide, light green eyes filled with need. Her lips parted, but he could sense the next wave rising up. Bending, he captured her cry at the same time as he drove himself into her. The combination proved to be the catalyst needed to bring the wave to a crest and it burst around them, soaking them in a fire that would last the rest of the night.

  Edna jerked awake, disoriented for a moment. Her body felt like it was on fire. This was nothing like the hot flashes she had gone through. They were a piece of cake. No, this was a full-fledged inferno.

  Her body arched as another wave hit her. She could feel hot moisture pool between her legs. A soft moan escaped her and she rolled, coming up against a hot, solid body. Christoff! She didn’t know what he had done to her, but she felt like she would die if he didn’t take the edge off the heat. Sitting up, she slid her leg over him so she could straddle him. She lifted up, just high enough so that his hard cock could seat itself in her slick channel.

  “Edna,” Christoff whispered, coming awake immediately. “The fire…”

  “It burns, Christoff,” Edna moaned, bowing her head as she splayed her hands across his chest. “I need you to put it out.”

  Christoff gripped her hips to hold her steady as he pressed upward at the same time as he drew her down on top of him. She could feel every exquisite inch of him as he impaled her. Never in her life had she wanted, needed someone the way she needed him. There was nothing human in their mating. It was all primitive need as she began riding him with an energy she hadn’t felt in years.

  “Yes, my beautiful mate,” Christoff whispered, staring up at her in wonder. “Come for me. Tonight a new dragon will be born.”

  Edna was vaguely aware of the pale green marks running up her arms. She thought they were a product of her imagination. After all, she didn’t have scales. Christoff had scales – beautiful ruby and silver scales that danced over his skin when they made love.

  Her body shook and her heart stuttered for a moment as the fire increased. She could sense Christoff pulling her closer, but everything was blurred. Her heart was pounding too fast, too hard. In the back of her mind, she was afraid she might be having a heart attack. She was having trouble catching her breath.

  “Christoff?” Edna whimpered as he tilted her head to the side.

  “Accept me, Edna,” he whispered. “Accept our dragons.”

  “Yes,” she moaned, crying out when he sank his teeth into her again, this time along her neck and started to breathe the flames to life again.

  Fire seared her veins, and the transformation that had started hours ago burst outward, finishing the change to her blood, her organs, her very essence. Deep down, another spark suddenly burst into life. It flickered for a moment, almost going out, but the low, mournful cry of a male dragon pulled at it, fanning it until it flickered back to life.

  My true mate, his dragon breathed, watching as his mate was born.

  Chapter Ten

  Edna glanced up from where she was preparing a late breakfast the next morning when she heard Bo bark in excitement. For a moment panic hit her. She had forgotten that Shelly, Jack, and Crystal were bringing her a Christmas tree today. Her eyes flew to the back bedroom where Christoff was still sleeping. She had gotten up to let Bo outside so he could take care of his morning business and to feed Gloria.

  “Bo, hush,” she ordered, biting her lip. “Behave. Spark, you too! Go to Christoff.”

  The symbiot had risen off of the rug in front of the fire and had shifted into a large beast that Edna swore was a cross between a lion and a sabretooth tiger. It was staring at the door, emitting a low growl. She could just imagine Jack and Shelly’s faces if they came in and saw it.

  Wiping her hands, she walked over to Spark and touched him. The symbiot immediately calmed under her hand. Warmth filled her as it responded to her gentle stroking.

  “It’s my family, Spark. I need you to go to Christoff, stay with him until I call you. I need to explain you and Christoff before they see you,” she explained. “Please.”

  Spark snorted and shook his head before reluctantly turning toward the bedroom. Edna breathed a sigh of relief. Wiping her hands along her jeans, she listened to the sound of car doors shutting. She glanced back at the bedroom one last time before she opened the door.

  “Hey, Mom,” Shelly called out.

  “Hi, Edna,” Jack said as he began loosening the ropes holding the Christmas tree onto the roof of the SUV.

  Edna’s expression softened as she watched her thirteen year old granddaughter struggle for a moment in the thick snow. She rubbed her hands together at the biting cold and watched as Bo raced over to see what Jack and Shelly were doing.

  “Come on in, Crystal,” Edna said with a smile. “Are you enjoying the snow?”

  Crystal made a face as she walked by. Edna released a sigh. Crystal was going through a difficult time. The few times she had gone down to the house, Shelly had complained that Crystal’s moodiness was getting unbearable.

  “It’s okay. It’s kind of hard to walk in,” Crystal mumbled as she walked past Edna.

  Edna nodded and turned to follow Crystal into the house. Closing the door, she helped Crystal with her coat. Crystal bent awkwardly to remove her boot.

  “You have a new prosthetic,” Edna noted, seeing the space-age-looking lower limb on Crystal’s left leg.

  “Yeah, I got it last week. It’s going to take some getting used to,” Crystal replied with a shrug.

  Edna nodded. Crystal had lost her left leg in a car accident that had killed her best friend and her friend’s mother two years ago. Since then, she had transformed from a sweet, outgoing young girl into a solemn one. She seldom left the house anymore. Edna had been hesitant when Shelly mentioned that she would be homeschooling Crystal, afraid that it would encourage Crystal to withdraw even further into her shell. The only thing that seemed to help was her granddaughter’s love of music.

  Edna turned when the door opened and Shelly and Jack came in carrying the tree. A shiver escaped her as a gust of icy air swept in behind them. Bo followed, shaking snow off of his coat and sending icy droplets everywhere. She closed the door and hurried to the kitchen. Grabbing a dishtowel, she quickly mopped up the melting snow off the floor so it wouldn’t be slippery.

  Her gaze swept to the now closed door of the bedroom. She hoped that Christoff stayed in the room long enough for her to explain him to her family. Returning to the living room, she nervously smiled at her daughter as they straightened the tree.

  “That is a beautiful tree. How was the drive up the mountain? It can be a bit harrowing sometimes,” Edna commented, wiping up the water.

  “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It looks like one of the snowplows had come up it earlier,” Jack replied, bending to tighten the screws on the stand. “We made it to the Christmas tree store first thing. Crystal helped us pick it out.”

  “Hopefully, she’ll help us decorate it, too,” Shelly added, glancing at where Crystal was sitting on the couch playing on her cell phone.

  “Yes, well, that would be wonderful. How long are you planning on staying?” Edna asked, glancing toward the bedroom again. Had she heard a noise? “I forgot to get the decorations out of the workshop.”

  “I’ll go get them,” Jack said.

  “Th
at would be wonderful,” Edna said with a relieved smile.

  “Come on, Bo. You can help me,” Jack said as he adjusted his hat.

  Edna watched as Jack disappeared back outside. Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned to look at the tree. Instead, her attention was caught by her daughter’s stern expression.

  “What’s going on? I haven’t seen you this frazzled since you and the red hat ladies got drunk at the Golf Resort last Christmas and had to call me to pick you up,” Shelly said, folding her arms across her chest.

  “Why would you think anything is going on?” Edna asked, lifting her hand to smooth her hair back from her face.

  Shelly looked critically at her for several long seconds. Edna grimaced and looked away. She had forgotten what it felt like to be a teenager.

  “You have your shirt on inside out,” Crystal commented without looking up. “And you have a hickey on your neck.”

  “I have a....” Edna’s eyes widened and she could feel her cheeks heating.

  “A hickey! Where?” Shelly demanded, stepping closer to her mom.

  Edna covered the mark on her neck and glared at Crystal who ignored her. She winced when Shelly reached up and pulled her hand away. Stepping back, she straightened her blouse, noting that Crystal was right, it was inside out.

  “I… There’s something I need to tell you,” Edna began.

  Things would have gone much better if both the front door and the bedroom door hadn’t opened at the same time. Edna didn’t know which way to look first. She heard the box Jack was carrying hit the floor at the same time as Bo barked, Shelly gasped, Crystal released an exclamation that sounded suspiciously like “Whoa, hunk alert!”, and Christoff emerged from the bedroom.

  “Mom?” Shelly squeaked, stepping backwards and running into Jack.

  “What the hell?” Jack muttered, staring in disbelief.

  “Whoa, grandma! Nice boyfriend material,” Crystal breathed, looking at Christoff in awe.