Tornado_A Paranormal Romance Read online

  “Yes!” she sobbed, the joy in her voice pure. She reached back and grabbed a handful of his hair, holding onto his head. “I’m yours, I’m all yours!”

  Something inside Seph began to sing. Closing his eyes, he pressed into her one last time and held on as his cock throbbed and pulsed. He could feel each seed ball as it traveled the length of his shaft. He felt Asha tighten around him, every contraction of her own release milking him for his full load and taking it into her body.

  The seeding seemed to go on forever; finally, completely spent, Seph pulled out. He dropped onto the sofa, propped up in the corner with arms and legs splayed. His now-limp cock hung between his legs. He felt dazed, but in the best way possible. He looked over at Asha, a deliriously happy grin stretched across his sweaty face. “That…was incredible.”

  “That,” Asha said, still catching her breath, “is what happens between a compatible Dragon-Human couple, according to all reports.” She dragged herself up and crawled over to flop against his side, snuggling in under his arm. “You seeded me, too. Do you know what that means?”

  He nodded. “I just impregnated you.” His smile faltered in confusion when she shook her head. “But…I thought you said we were compatible?”

  “We are.” She rested her chin against his chest and peered up at him, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I was referring to the fact that this was another success on the Wings of Love books.”

  Seph let out a laugh. “Yeah,” he admitted, “but not by your usual standards. None of the prospects your computers chose for me panned out. Still…” He tucked a hand behind his head and shrugged. “I came here to look for a mate, and I found one.” He wrapped his other arm around Asha’s shoulders and hugged her close. “I’m glad it was you.”

  “So am I,” Asha murmured. “When I started this business, I never thought I would find my match.” She reached up to stroke his cheek with her fingertips. “I was so busy trying to help other people hook up, I didn’t think I could ever meet someone. Does that sound crazy?”

  “You’re asking someone who helps couples stay together,” Seph reminded her. He let out a deep sigh. “We’ve spent years putting other people’s happiness before our own.” He caught her hand and pulled it around, depositing a kiss in her palm. “I guess that makes us both crazy.”

  A smile stretched across her beautiful face. “Then that makes us even more perfectly suited for each other.”

  “I guess so.” Drawing her in for another kiss, Seph stretched out the full length of the sofa; he maneuvered Asha to lie on top, covering him with her soft, warm, voluptuous body. I have my mate, he thought, amazed. My perfect match, in every way.

  Epilogue

  The compound spanned over rolling, green hills, perfectly landscaped with trees and flowers. Stone paths wound through the gardens past tranquil fountains. Some referred to this place as “Paradise.” It had an official title: Tarasque Center, named for the legend of a dragon tamed by the love and patience of Saint Martha.

  Seph and Asha walked side by side through the grounds. She carried a smart tablet, swiping her forefinger over the screen. The white jewels imbedded in the pink polish on her long, beautifully manicured nails twinkled in the sunlight. “Now,” she said, “this is today’s itinerary. At nine, one, and three, we have the What to Expect from Your First Clutch classes. At noon, we have the lunch with Dr. Meredith giving a talk about nutrition and the importance of maintaining the proper diet during and after pregnancy. Then at five, we have Laying an Egg: Giving Birth to Dragons.”

  Seph cringed at the last one. “I still think we shouldn’t have scheduled that last one for just before supper,” he said. “The video is pretty graphic. It’s just…” He made a disgusted noise and shuddered. “I don’t know. It might be too much.”

  Asha laughed. “For you, maybe,” she said, and smiled up at him. “You are one of the most squeamish people I have ever met – and you’ve hunted in Dragon form! How can you take down a deer in the forest with your bare teeth and be grossed out over the sight of something as beautiful as a woman passing an object the size of your head through her vagina – oh, wait.” She held up a hand. “That’s it. I forget that men, no matter what their species, don’t mind seeing things go into a va-jay-jay, but they have problems seeing something coming out of one. Mm-hm. I got you, now. I got you.”

  “Yes, well,” Seph sighed, “I suppose there’s something to that.” He caught the sleeve of her blouse, the off-white lace a lovely contrast to her brown skin, and stopped her. Pulling her around to face him, he smiled down at her. “I know I say this to you every day; if I didn’t, you would think there was something wrong with me.” He gazed into her dark eyes. “I love you.” He spread a hand over the swell of her belly. “And I will be there every time, whenever you give birth to our children.” He shook his head again. “I can’t believe how blessed I am to have found you.”

  Asha smiled and reached up to touch his cheek. “I was always right here,” she said. “Right under your nose, the whole time. I still can’t believe that I was your perfect mate.” She dropped her hand down to cover his where it rested on her stomach. “Honestly – if you had told me three years ago that I would be carrying a second Dragon clutch in my womb, combining my matchmaking business with a retreat that counsels couples and teaches them the ins and outs of raising a family? I would have laughed in your handsome face.”

  “And yet, here we are,” Seph said. He pulled her fingers up to his lips and kissed them. “Motherhood suits you, too. You’ve given me two amazing daughters with our first clutch; soon, we’ll have a son.” He still remembered his joy when he saw the results of the last ultrasound and discovered that one of the eggs contained a male. He loved their little girls from the first clutch – Mara and Tansi were the priceless jewels in their daddy’s hoard – but he could not help the feeling of pride and anticipation for the arrival of their first male child. He looked forward to the day when the egg left his wife’s body, when he would hold it in his hands and help peel away the pliable, leathery, protective shell and free the infant inside. “Our little Kur.”

  “I still don’t know how I feel about that name,” Asha said. “I know it’s in honor of the First Dragon, but it still sounds like another word for ‘dog’ – ‘cur.’” Her full lips twisted slightly. “I just don’t want to set our child up to be teased by other kids. Because while I know you grew up with private tutors and all, I know how cruel children in public schools can be. And I am adamant about sending our kids to regular schools. They need to learn how to socialize with other people, and realize that they are no better than anyone else.” She smiled. “But we don’t have time to rehash that discussion. We’ve got a class to teach, and a lot of nervous couples to calm down.”

  “Because seeing how happy and successful we are sets a good example,” Seph said, repeating the claim Asha had made when they first conceived of Tarasque Center.

  She grinned. “And they told me Dragons can’t be trained.” They began to walk again. “I’ve still got to work on getting you properly housebroken, but we’re getting there.” Asha peered up at him, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. “Even if it takes the rest of my life.”

  “Till death do us part,” Seph agreed. He knew from personal experience with his parents how short life could be. One could hope for a long life with one’s chosen mate only to have those dreams shattered by sickness, or some other sudden, unexpected event. He had made a promise, both to Asha and himself, that he would not dwell on those things or over-analyze them, and instead be thankful for what they had and to savor every moment. We’re going to watch our children grow up and have children of their own, he thought. Father may have tried to push him into finding a wife and settling down, but Seph had taken control of his own life and made his own choices. And I am happier for every one of them.

  He thought back to the day when their first clutch had come into the world, recalling the tears that had filled his father’s eyes when they had told
him one of the girls had been named ‘Mara,’ after Seph’s mother and Cyril’s late and much-beloved wife. Seph still had to marvel every time he saw his father with his granddaughters, how animated the patriarch of the Vovin Clan would become in their presence. It’s amazing how two little girls managed to melt the cold heart of one cranky old Dragon, Seph mused.

  Cyril had come to embrace Asha, as well, welcoming her as a member of the family. Like Seph, he admired her strength and no-nonsense manner. Asha had made it clear early on that she would not allow her father-in-law to disrespect her; that fire had been one of the reasons Cyril had taken a shine to her, and had given his blessings to their union. Seph looked at his wife and the mother of his children, and smiled. Even if Father had wound up disowning me, for whatever reason, I still have a family – the one I’ve made with Asha, my perfect match in every way.

  Looping an arm around Asha’s shoulders, Seph hugged her to his side, determined to keep her there for many years to come.

  *****

  THE END

  Auctioned to the Dragon Warrior

  Description

  Brighid is a virgin at the College of Atlantica, destined to marry a priest she is repulsed by. One the day that she is meant to marry him, though, she is abducted by an alien species of man who can turn into dragons–the Viles. Have her fortunes gotten even worse?

  She soon finds out when she is purchased at auction by a dragon by the name of Eirrick. A warrior with more muscle than anybody she had seen before, he's more terrifying than she could possibly imagine… so why is it that she dreams of his touch?

  Eirrick has his choice of women. But he wants a wife, and that wife is Brighid. He'll convince her that he's the one for her, no matter what it takes. He wakens a fire of desire in her that she has never known. And he has sworn not to touch her until she wants him to… but how can she admit that she does when she has been taught all her life that desire is a man's prerogative, and shameful for a woman to have?

  And the priest that had laid claim to her at the College will not give her up so easily. When he declares war on the dragons, will Eirrick decide that one fragile human is worth fighting for? And can Brighid trust a man who can turn into a beast?

  Chapter One

  Brighid

  The bright sun was stifling, made all the worse by the thick, heavy dress that clung to Brighid’s neck. As a virgin in the College of the sea goddess Atlantica, she rarely stepped out into the sun, much less with her face uncovered.

  Though the heat made her want to vomit, her chest was cold, as if her heart had turned into a block of ice. Brigid sneaked a peek at the other girls standing in a line beside her. They all wore the same uniform as she did, thick black gowns that swept the ground and went to their chins and just past the wrist. Their hair was down freely, indicating they were ready to be taken as wives. All their eyes were ringed with kohl. It looked almost fearsome on the girls. In the morning many of them would have kohl streaking their faces.

  She would be one of them. All the girls were being picked by Atlantica’s priests to wife today, and she already knew who would pick her. Jyah. He was one of the high priests and never had a wife before, so he would be among the first to pick. There was a slim chance one of the others would pick her first but unlikely. Everybody knew Jyah wanted her and given his rising prowess on the battlefield, nobody would want to anger him by claiming what he already thought of his.

  Brighid's hands clenched. Perhaps it would have been better if she had thrown herself in the well where disgraced virgins were sent to be tried and drowned by Atlantica herself. It would be better than this fate. Perhaps in the morning she'd dive into it, or step from the high towers of the temple. Or perhaps Jyah would not be as terrible as she feared.

  A large transport ship, shaped like a bow with stylized propulsion systems like wings coming from the back, descended from the sky. Brighid shuddered. So they had arrived.

  The eunuchs and old maids of Atlantica, who guarded the girls’ virginity and punished those who broke their oaths, activated the energy barriers that would separate the virgins from the priests. They had all spent a decade of their lives out in space protecting the Lantian Realm from intruders, especially the great Beasts of Viles. Now that they were looking at the beautiful faces of human women once more they could hardly be expected to control themselves. It was a good thing they were being married, else they might become just as terrible as the Viles.

  The priests left their ship in a long line of swirling robes and armored bodies. They stood on transit disks and as they floated to the surface they formed a battalion rank.

  Brighid watched only long enough to see Jyah among the others. Even though priests spent their decade fighting, he was an exception. Four months ago he had been grievously wounded in battle and brought to the College for the virgins to tend to. That was when Brighid met him, while tending to his wounds.

  That was when he decided he wanted her.

  Her stomach churned as the High Priestess greeted the priests and thanked them for their service. She closes her eyes as the first warriors were called forward to choose their brides.

  Please, she begged the Ocean Mother, don't let me end in his bed.

  As if in answer to her prayer, a screech split the air. Brighid’s head snapped up. Jyah stood right in front of her. His face turned to the sky and his hand gripped the hilt of his long sword. Brighid followed his gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as plumes of fire burst in the sky.

  “Dragon!” someone shouted.

  The girls screamed. The priests drew their weapons. Brighid stared, fascinated, as the graceful shapes ducked and wove through the air. She knew in the back of her mind that she should be running. She should be utterly terrified.

  Half a dozen of the great beasts veered around and dove for the girls. They scattered. Brighid was frozen. From fear? It didn’t feel that way. Fascination? Not that, either. Just frozen.

  The dragon didn’t seem real until its claws were wrapped around her. Even then, there was no fear. The sharp edges of its scales cut into her dress and the talons were none too gentle but as it drew her against its hot belly and beat its wings at the priests that charged it, she didn’t feel how she ought to have. Full of terror. Pleading to be released.

  Through the crowd, she saw Jyah rushing towards them.

  With a final beat of its wings, the dragon took off again. More of its fellows were rising above the scurrying crowd, dodging this way and that as the priests threw spears at them. Girls writhed and screamed in their claws and Brighid wanted to laugh at them.

  Don’t you see that the priests would do the same as the beasts?

  She gazed at the ground as it got further and further away and wondered, if she prayed hard enough, Atlantica would make the dragon drop her so she would be dashed on the dirt. Her morbid thoughts shocked her from the daze that had taken hold of her. She struggled in the dragon’s grip. A rumbling vibrated its chest. A growl or laughter?

  The dragons wheeled about like a flock of birds. A cavernous mouth gaped open before them and Brighid screamed. But when they passed through the mouth it didn’t close. Instead, it turned into a giant, glittering cave. The dragons set down and pushed their catch into the center of their circle. Brighid clung to the other girls, her stomach churning.

  But that numbness that had taken her when she first saw the dragons crept back into her and she couldn’t make herself weep like the others.

  All around them, the dragons’ wings got smaller. Their bodies twisted and condensed until what looked like men surrounded them. All had hair that was coarse and blond, braided into chunks down their backs. Many had tattoos and all had scars. Viles, a species of alien that could transform from a humanoid appearance to the dragons that had taken them.

  “We’ve got a good bounty for the auction. And all Atlantica’s virgins.” One of them laughed. “Abelard was right, the risks were worth the rewards.”

  All around her, the other girls started
wailing. And no wonder. The auction was well-known. The Viles gathered up stolen women and children and sold them as slaves. Brighid knew what sort of slave that they, as virgins, would become but she still couldn't work up the tears that had her fellow sisters gnashing their teeth. If anything, their dramatics were getting annoying.

  Her lack of tears caught the attention of one of the men. “You’re not wailing about like your sisters. Why not?”

  Brighid wondered for a moment if he was hoping that his cruel tone would make her tears come but shrugged. It was better than the leering that she got from Jyah. The way she would leave the baths and find him by the doors with a swelling in his pants and wonder if he had been watching her. How much worse could the auction be?

  “I suppose I don’t see any change in my fortunes.”

  The Viles’ hairy brows rose. He stepped closer to her and she was surprised that he didn’t smell of brimstone and rotting flesh, as she was so often told. His skin glistened and he smelled of animal fat, presumably rubbed over his body, but that was it.

  “No change in fortunes is it?” He grasped her wrist. “Why’s that?”

  She didn’t like him touching her but tried not to let her revulsion show. “I was sold to the college when I was a young girl. My mother was a harlot and she had no use for me. All my life I knew I was going to be claimed by a man whom I did not choose. A man I would not care for and a man I probably wouldn’t even like. I knew who was going to choose me today and I would rather be blinded by fire and live my life as a beggar than be forced into his bed.”

  The Viles laughed. “And so you will be sold to another man without complaint?”

  “He will probably be as dreadful but if I’m lucky, perhaps not.”