Dragon Bound (Elder Races, #1)

by Thea Harrison

“Urien looks good for a dead man.” “Too good,” Dragos growled.

I’ve got to stop tearing the furniture up. There’s too goddamn much to do. No time for another repair and remodel.

He strode through the rooms. They echoed with emptiness. He didn’t like it.

His frown turned into a scowl. But what else had he expected? Did he think Pia would be here waiting for him whenever he decided to look this way—like an employee or a servant? Fuck.

Waiter took in a tray of chocolate desserts and a bottle of cognac about forty-five minutes ago. Last time the door opened, they were singing ‘I Will Survive.’ ”

He had one of the most startling and unwelcome thoughts of the last century. Am I a boyfriend?

Pia counted through the burp. “. . . two ten thousand, three ten thousand, four—oop, you win.” She stared at the little faerie in awe. “Where did you put all that air?” “It’s a gift,” Tricks said.

Pia did. She sat back on her heels as surprise and delight lit up her face. “Hi.” Surprise and delight, a gift-wrapped present all for him. He smiled at her. “You’re drunk on your ass.”

In inebriated slow motion, Tricks noticed him and the two gryphons at his back. She shrieked and spread her arms over the tablecloth. “Nobody can see this!”

He squatted in front of Pia and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a gentle hand.

“You are the handsomest man I’ve ever seen. I would tell you that if I were sober too.” Then she gave him a sloppy grin as she shook her head. Her ponytail slid farther. “No, I wouldn’t. I’d be too self-conscious.”

His fury and frustration from earlier slid into the past as if it had never existed, an alchemical transmutation brought on by this tipsy enchantress.

“What else are you drunk enough to tell me?” She leaned forward and staggered, as she confided in a whisper, “You’re the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen too. You know, your long, scaly, re...

“That’s okay, lover. I’m here to catch you.

She remembered falling asleep, wrapped around him, his hands fisted in the waterfall of her hair.

“Oh no,” she said. “You got the tablecloth away from Tricks.” Rune grinned. “Not before the little shit bit me.”

if you’re saying ‘huh,’ it probably means you’re getting your head shot off.”

“Oh shit, cupcake, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Did I hurt you?”

“Them’s fightin’ words, cupcake,” said Graydon with glee.

he had discovered another strange new experience, a feeling of absolute contentment and peace in the quiet, a certain knowledge that all was right with his world.

Drip fucking drip.

As a norm, he enjoyed working with all the international ventures pursued by Cuelebre Enterprises. It was like playing several games of chess at once.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Pia.

All of the entities clamoring for attention were like a pack of yapping Chihuahuas nipping at his heels.

The thought of finding another secret location and moving all his treasure was a serious pain in his ass.

And why couldn’t someone just FedEx him...

What the fuck did she have so much to think about?

He could make himself crazy at just the thought of how tight she felt when he was inside her, how gorgeous she was when she climaxed.

He hardened as he remembered the sounds she made when they made love.

He was astonished at how easy she was to talk to, how much he wanted to talk to her, and fighting with her ...

She was his. Why couldn’t she admit it?

He would have her. So help him, if it took the rest of his considerable life, he would have all of her. Anything else was unacceptable.

“We’re playing pin the herbivore.

The gryphon swore as he shifted with her, into a position that was reminiscent of the very one Dragos had used yesterday morning when he had taken her from behind.

The dragon detonated.

“You okay, cupcake?”

His Power was an inferno. She tried something she’d never done before and brushed her own cooler, gentler energy against his.

So you’re going to get a really big grocery bill soon. Sorry about that except, well, I guess I’m not.”

Let go of your friend. You like him. You’re going to remember that soon and then you’ll be upset if you’ve damaged him.

The dragon’s eyes narrowed. His Power shifted to wrap an invisible cloak of warmth around her.

“I’m still not right in the head,” she whispered to him. Sexuality flared in those gold raptor’s eyes.

She slipped the tip of her finger between his lips and rubbed the inside of one thigh along his leg. “Come on,...

He slid his mouth along the curve of her cheek, down to her collarbone, and he buried his face into her neck.

He shook his head. Then he mouthed, “What the fuck?” She rounded her eyes, mouthing back, “I dunno.” She shooed him again.

Dragos lifted his head. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer as he turned away from the gryphons, putting his body between her and them.

Realization dawned. He wasn’t being protective. He had almost killed his First because he was jealous.

It’s clear I am not in control. I am well aware that I am not acting or thinking normally or even rationally.”

“I’ve always been bad-tempered.” “Well, yeah, you can be one crabby son of a bitch,

“You think I’m mating.”

He had . . . missed her.