Dragon Star (A Shifter Football League Novel) (14 page)

N
ico said nothing
. Words were unnecessary. His arms shielded her, even though all was well. Cass closed her eyes and let the warmth, the comfort of his touch sink in. It was better than remembering the death before her.

She felt the small muscle twitches at first, followed by his arms wrapping around her, clutching her to his chest. His shifting had begun. That part of him warped, and she was uncertain where she was for a second, but she knew where she would be: Up, high up in the sky.

He created a cradle with his claws, a small vessel that would carry her like a chair lift to wherever he decided to bring her. The wind barely touched her from inside, but she peeked through the small slits, noticing the lights of the city shone like a field of stars below.

A deep regret dropped her back. The Championship game would be happening right now, or it might even be over with.

Nico had sacrificed that for her.

Soon, she felt the rising in her gut which told her that they were descending. Then he unfurled his claws and she spilled out like a slide onto a tiled floor. The sky was all around Cass. Brushing herself off, she looked around to see the complete picture.

It was the top of a fancy restaurant, the tables all pushed to the side, except for one iron table, which was smashed underneath the weight of the dragon.

Nico regarded her with his charming eyes, full of steady warmth instead of the usual twisting inferno.

He shifted back.

It all looked so painless and, somehow, natural. There he stood in front of her, his muscled yet still plump ass on show as he turned around to search for something.

“Ah, here it is,” he said. He pulled out a pair of pants from behind a table.

“Where have you taken me?”

And why did he have a pair of pants tucked someplace secret in a restaurant?

These were the types of questions that were commonly asked now, dating a shifter.

“I was going to take you here after the game.”

“So it’s over with,” she said, her head falling, too heavy to hold up.

But her feet brought her over to the edge of the concrete wall that lined the rooftop. It looked out upon all of LA.

If she wasn’t so angry at Jae, she might’ve cried for ruining Nico’s chances at the ring.

She knew how much it meant to him.

“I’m so, so sorry.” Her back was to Nico still.

“I almost have my shirt on. One moment.”

That drew a smile from her.

“You don’t have to get all dressed up. I’ve seen you naked before.”

He winked back. The tears were not coming anytime soon now.

“If I’m naked, then you’re going to be naked too.”

She turned back to hide her smile. This was not the time.

His arms were around her and then he turned her, pulled her against his firm chest.

“Look at me.”

Cass didn’t hide her eyes.

“Don’t hide those beautiful eyes from me,” he told her, with a kiss that had her grasping for more.

Emotion spilled from her then.

“I’m sorry, Nico. I know how much it means to you. I know what you’ve done for me, and I can’t ever repay you. You shouldn’t have come. I would’ve been fine…”

“Don’t say that. You know I had to come.”

His eyes sparked with fire. It used to scare her, but not any longer.

Cass gripped his shirt, a nice looking white shirt and a tie. The man could shift into a good looking outfit as quickly as he could turn into a dragon. This
was
one special man.

“He tried to turn me against you. He said that you stole my gold, that you were working with him. But I didn’t believe a word he said. I always trusted you.”

“What?” She spun away from him. “He stole your gold?” She felt dizzy all of a sudden. “Did they take your parents’ stuff too?”

“Yes,” he said, arms outstretched, “but that’s okay. I have what’s important right now, and he’ll pay.”

“I could cry, but I’m tired of being so weak.” She tilted her eyes up to him. “Do you understand?”

“Oh, don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I didn’t bring you all this way and set this up for you to cry.”

Set this up? Set what up?

It was a romantic scene. The tables were all set with white tablecloth, violet and red roses were displayed all over the rooftop, and there were candles already lit as if awaiting their arrival.

After he won the Championship, this was where Nico was going to celebrate with her.

She felt even worse.

“But your gold…your Championship…”

Nico shook her a little to get her to listen.

Why was he smiling? What was there to smile about?

“Why are you so happy?”

“He didn’t get every piece of gold.”

Nico dropped onto one knee.

She clasped her mouth, her body trembling, but still she didn’t want to jump to conclusions, until he brought out the case from his pocket.

He held it up to her and unclasped it.

“The love of my life, my fated mate, will you marry me?”

Cass’ hand seemed frozen to her beating chest. Her heart seemed to want to run away from her too, but somehow, in a blur, she screamed and then threw herself upon him.

Nico slipped the much-too-big ring on her finger. He hugged her as she rained down tears of joy.

“I can’t believe it. Yes, yes, yes I’ll marry you! Oh, Nico.”

He brushed the strands of falling hair from her eyes. “I’m sorry I made a mess of the presentation.”

She braced herself against his chest, hugging him tightly. “I’m glad you decided to do it now. I wouldn’t want to wait to be engaged.”

“You make me so happy.”

Nico beamed at her as she took his hand and led him over to the table.

“Were we going to have a meal here?”

“Yes. Not until after the game, which must be wrapping up now.”

“You would’ve won, you know that?”

“It doesn’t matter now.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I won something more important. I can’t win everything.”

“That doesn’t sound like you.” She pursed her lips. And he took the bait, kissing her.

“What are we going to do?”

Nico peered down at the twisting piece of metal that was going to be their table for two. “Let’s not worry now,” his attitude seemed to say.

They shouldn’t let others ruin a moment like this.

“We need to celebrate. Since it seems our dinner date has been canceled, maybe you could take me somewhere else? Somewhere, romantic, where we could be alone?”

Her finger played at his chest, stroking it, and Nico bit back a wicked smile.

“Yes, I believe I can find something.” He held out his hand.

Cass took it.

“The fastest way to go is up. Come with me,” he said after stripping down, handing his clothes to Cass since he’d need them later.

And then she was bracing herself for the exhilarating yet magical thrill of being lifted off the ground, taken by a dragon.

* * *

T
hey were back
in a hotel suite. Top floor, the best room, because everyone knew Nico.

He told her that they might have to leave by the time the night was through. Someone might leak that he’d arrived, then the press would be swarming the hotel.

But for now, they were alone, and it was peaceful, like a pre-honeymoon.

Cass had her tray of truffles again.

This was the good life.

Was she being spoiled? Hell yeah she was. Did she deserve it? Hell yeah she did. She wouldn’t apologize.

“I don’t mind this.”

“I had a nice dinner planned for us. I mind it.”

“But you’ve got to admit this is good too. Here I can eat and sleep in bed.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I hope you’re not a bed eater?”

“I know you are,” she said, and laughed. “Your tongue goes places that I’ve never had a tongue before.”

After that, she thought
she
would be the one turning red, instead it was Nico. That got her even more excited.

“It’s like I wasn’t even kidnapped again today. Can we stay at a five-star hotel every time I’m kidnapped?”

Nico stiffened at the edge of the bed. He wore only his pants. His muscles were like a carefully sculpted work of art. Cass loved to watch the segments tighten and relax.

“You’ll not be kidnapped again. We’ll talk about that later.”

“You’re not worried about your gold?” she asked.

“It’s strange. I would normally be freaking out. But I’m ready to move on, I think. I’m okay with starting something new with you. It’s about time.”

She pushed the food tray away.

Cass crawled over to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him on the back of his head.

This was comfort. This was paradise.

“Why are you not afraid? Not worried?”

There was a worry gnawing deep inside her, even with the engagement. It was like the world was still collapsing around them, despite them being happy in their little space.

Jae would be back. He wouldn’t stop.

Nico’s eyes shut slightly, like he was a happy monk in a meditative stance. “I guess once you live as long as me, you understand when real love comes along. When you don’t have to force it. Life moves like a flowing stream, it will find its way if you give it a path, if you don’t try to stop it. And my love for you is like that. I opened myself up, and it came rushing into my life. Now I’m swimming in my love for you, and I couldn’t be happier.”

That convinced her not to worry. With that little worry in her gut gone, in came the need to be even closer to Nico, her fiancé, her
fated mate.

“There’ something…”

But he never got a chance to finish.

She turned him around with a strength she didn’t even know she had. Beware a woman who is horny! Her power is unbelievable!

“Fuck me,” she said.

The next second, she had her lips on him, her hands groping his muscled chest.

Nico didn’t need much convincing. He was ready.

She was wet and willing and begging by the time he threw his belt off. Cass spread her legs and let him inside. He was hard, thrusting to her deepest, filling her core with his awesome cock.

Nico seemed more ravishing than she expected. After all, Cass was the one who had initiated. But maybe the dragon was willing and waiting this whole time…

It certainly seemed like it as he pummeled into her and exposed her breasts, ripping them free from her bra. Watching her pleasure mount, he twisted her nipples into taut peaks.

She was so sensitive. This wasn’t going to last very long. Cass already wanted to submit.

“You’re mine. I…I…want to…”

“What?” she screamed out, as he continued sliding that thick cock in and out.

So deep. So filling. He was bringing her higher. She was nearing her peak when she completely forgot that he wanted something.

Then she heard it, but she was so in tune with him, that she didn’t even realize what she was agreeing to.

Or maybe she did, maybe she just trusted Nico enough.

“I’m Turning you,” he said.

“Yes,” she screamed.

“Hold me tightly, don’t let go, it might hurt a little.”

Nico dug in. He squeezed her against him, all while pounding her with long stroke after stroke. Rubbing against her, calling out her orgasm, he set her off and it was like an explosion of light.

That’s when he bit her. On her upper shoulder, near her neck. His teeth were sharper somehow. It only sent Cass soaring into an even bigger orgasm.

“Fuck,” she screamed, then she stopped kicking.

It was like Nico was feeding her. There was an energy pumping into her, firing off every nerve in her body. Cass was ready to run an ultramarathon. As soon as he unlatched his teeth from her, she felt drained, and she wasn’t ready to step off the bed.

Usually after coming she was ready for anything.

Now, however, she was feeling tired. Her eyelids fluttered.

“Come in me,” she said.

His lips were smeared with a little blood as he looked at her, shocked.

“Yes, do it,” she screamed.

They were fated mates, after all.

Nico powered into her like he’d been waiting for this all along. When she asked for him to come, her pussy milked him, and he didn’t last another minute before he exploded inside of her.

His warmth shot into Cass as he was buried, Cass taking all of him. They were wrapped together, his cock pumping his dragon seed into her womb as she spread her shaking thighs wider, wanting all he had to offer.

And oh, she was filled. When he finally pulled out, she usually was overwhelmed with how empty she felt. Not this time. He’d really been pent up.

Cass slid back to the cushions. She draped a hand over her chest with one over her forehead.

Her sights were plastered on the ceiling.

“You’re changing. We’re bonded now, even deeper. Sleep. In the morning, you’ll be well.”

But what about tonight?

At least he had some sense to him. That didn’t happen much after coming. But he was getting better at it.

Nico lay beside her, cradling her in his arms. As soon as he pressed himself against her, getting closer, she knew she was already in too deep.

Exhaustion came much too quickly, yet perhaps that was for the best. Her body was doing something that she didn’t quite understand.