Isabelle
Isabelle plopped down at the bar next to, Beth and set her purse down on the counter. “I need another drink.”
“Already?” Her sister placed a hand on Isabelle’s forehead. “You've had more alcohol than I've ever seen.”
She pushed her sister's hand away. “I'm fine.” I’m just hung up on a guy who’s a criminal and I don’t even know him.”
“I would have thought you'd be puking in the bathroom by now.” Her sister passed the shot glass in front of Isabelle.
“Bottom’s up.” She chugged the drink.
“How about we split some nachos?” her older sister said. “They'll help with the hangover you're gonna have tomorrow.”
“Both of you think I can't handle my liquor.” Isabelle fumed, her insides boiling. She snatched up another drink as soon as the bartender filled her glass. She downed it in one gulp.
The music shifted to an upbeat song and Beth batted her eyes when a cute guy asked her to dance. “Just enjoy yourself, okay?” Beth smiled before taking off to dance.
“That's the plan.” She should’ve been dancing and getting closer to a foreigner. Damn, why couldn't she stop thinking about him? His accent that made the simplest words sound exotic. Those lips and mouth on hers still sent shivers through her. And his presence...it was commanding and nearly overpowering with his six-foot-seven frame. She twirled her finger across the bar, tracing the watermarks from the shot glasses.
“Finally, food.” Kate settled onto the bar stool beside Isabelle and dragged the heaping plate between them. “I haven't eaten since breakfast. Work has been so hectic with more lawsuits than our firm can handle.”
Isabelle popped a cheesy chip into her mouth. Her younger sister was still on the dance floor, now with another guy. Envy pulsed through Isabelle. It wasn't like she hadn't dated, she had, but her relationships were years apart. Her last boyfriend, James, had told her lies and half-truths the entire time they were together. He had dozens of girls on the side...coworkers, and clients that he’d met for lunches and hotel romps never breathing a word to Isabelle. After they’d gotten engaged, she'd seen a text message from one of the women pop up on his phone while he was in the shower. She felt sick, but threw him out along with all his stuff.
So why had she fallen in lust so fast with Mr. Handsome? She should've known better with her track record. No, tonight was about having fun and getting wasted, right? She gobbled up the nachos along with Kate and afterward asked the bartender to put her purse behind the bar, tipping him to do so.
“I won't be responsible if any of your valuables get lost or stolen.” He slid the purse below.
Whatever, it was feeling too heavy for her to dance with anyway. She inhaled another shot and swirled around on the barstool before making a beeline for the dance floor. So, what if she didn't score a number or date or dance with anyone yet? It was still a few hours until the bar closed.
The lights flashed over the wooden floor as Isabelle moved to the music. A beat that pounded into her feet and hips and she swayed side to side. Closing her eyes, she imagined a man dancing before her. Mr. Handsome snuck into her vision and he smiled down at her in that crooked way he had done before in Billy’s apartment when she asked what the thumps she heard were. Guess now she knew it wasn’t Kohl stomping on a roach.
Her stomach knotted. What if he’d hurt Billy or worse, killed him? Then she’d have the guilt of telling the guy where he was.
Stop it.
She was here to enjoy herself, not beat herself up over what might have happened. Besides, Billy nor his bouncers or Kohl had returned so she guessed they were either talking or waiting for the cops to arrive.
“A gorgeous woman like you should never have to dance alone,” Kohl’s exotic voice tingled through her with the promise of more than just dancing.
“What?” She opened her eyes and spun. “What happened? Billy said—”
Kohl covered her lips with a finger. “He was mistaken. We’ve worked everything out and came to an understanding.”
“But he called you a thief and said you took something.” She pushed against his chest as he encircled her. His hips moving to the rhythm of the music and mesmerizing her.
“No, everything is fine now.”
When she crossed her arms and glared at him, he sighed.
“Look for yourself. Billy and his two guys aren’t here. If they were so upset and I did do something wrong, they would’ve detained me and called the authorities, right?”
She hesitated. Something felt off, yet she craved his touch even right here on the dance floor surrounded by people. Damn, she was a floozy. “I guess.”
“Then, don’t worry. Now, I promised you a dance, so may I?” He held out his hands.
Unable to resist his animal magnetism that drew her in, she slipped into his embrace. He smelled of smoke and sand and a spicy yet sweet scent that she couldn’t identify. A mix of cinnamon and apples and allspice or cloves. Their hips undulated into a rhythm together matching stroke for stroke. His hands roved her body just shy of her sex. He cupped her waist, his fingers just below her bra, but then he trailed his palms down to her hips and around to her ass, but never grabbed it like most men had done when dancing with her.
They danced to three more songs. Isabelle felt light-headed and so horny she contemplated begging him to stay with her the whole night. First though, she would need another drink to get up the nerve.
“This may sound odd.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “But may I stay the night with you? I’ll have to leave in the morning, but I can’t seem to walk away from you even though I know I should.”
She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him deeply. Her tongue skirting across his before he plunged his own inside her mouth. She moaned and reluctantly pulled back when someone grasped her shoulder.
“Isabelle, are you all right?” Kate asked.
Good old sister concerned that Isabelle was too drunk to realize what she was doing and would regret this come tomorrow. And she probably would, but for now, she was going to live out her fantasy and actually have a guy sleep with her even though she just met him.
Isabelle patted her sister’s arm. “I’m fine. Kohl here is gonna see me home.” She wobbled on her feet before straightening. “You and Beth take care and send me texts once you both get home safely.”
“Will do.” Kate frowned up at Kohl. “Hurt her and I’ll rip your balls out.”
Instead of paling, he grinned and Kate took a step backward. “If she has any complaints about tonight, I’ll send you my insides in a jar. But I guarantee I will satisfy her like no other.”
His confidence and words sent Isabelle scrambling for her purse. She strolled out of the bar hand in hand with Kohl to a waiting cab. From his boast with Kate, he must have been with a lot of women. “Do you have…protection?”
He cocked his head as he held the door open for her and she climbed in. “Always.”
The cab ride took forever. Not that she minded too much. Kohl kept his hand on her knee, but her sex heated as if he teased her all the way up her leg. His kisses went from soft and sweet to probing and hungry. She wanted more of him.
Thankfully, the taxi pulled in front of her home and she gave the driver his fare not even minding that Kohl looked at her sheepishly when he said he had no money on him.
Her house was dark, and she tripped over her rug as she entered.
Kohl caught her. “Careful.”
“Thanks.” Her breath stuck in her throat. Would he carry her to the bedroom and make love to her all night? She shivered at the thought.
“Are you cold?” he asked and set her down on her feet.
Without waiting for her to turn on the light, he strode inside avoiding the furniture. She’d lived here for years and still banged her knee on the coffee table if she stumbled into the kitchen for a snack at night.
“I’m fine.” She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. I have the sexiest man I’ve ever met standing in my living room! She set her purse down on the floor not trusting her legs to even support her to move another step. Her body trembled with need. If this guy didn’t want to sleep with her, then she needed new batteries on her dildo because she’d never be able to sleep this worked up.
“Do you want anything to eat or drink?” she asked. The least she could do was be a good hostess before she pounced on him, right?
He turned toward her, and she couldn’t make out his facial expression, but had the feeling he could see her clearly as if it was the middle of the day and the sunlight was pouring in from her side windows on either side of the door rather than a sliver of moonlight.
“I have a hunger for you…if you’re okay with that?” he sounded hesitant, unsure.
Was it a ploy he used on women? At this point, she didn’t care. He was leaving tomorrow anyway, he’d told her that. Tonight, was all they had and he said he had protection.
Unable to speak, she licked her lips and as if that was his invitation, he was suddenly standing in front of her. His heat warming her body as he pressed her against the door. He kissed her breathless, his hands now roving over her breasts. When she removed her shirt, he stared at her bra a long time before tracing over it lightly with his fingertips. Her nipples pebbled under his attention.
“This comes off, right?” he asked.
What a strange question, but she unhooked it and let it fall to the floor. His eyes darkened with desire, and she melted. He brushed a hand across her left breast, and she groaned.
“I want more.” He dipped his head and took her nipple into his mouth.
The heat and wetness made her grasp his shoulders as a surge of desire shot to her core. She pressed her thighs on both sides of his leg and gyrated back and forth against him. When he pulled away, she whimpered slightly.
“Sorry, I’m still not satisfied.” Taking her other breast into his mouth, he palmed the already wet taunt one.
She sagged against him. “Please.” As much as she loved foreplay, he was making her a wanton floozy and he still had all his clothes on. “Take off your clothes and take me.”
“Of course.” He took off his shirt and raised his eyebrows at her. “Remove the rest of your clothes first. I want to explore you.”
Never before had she gotten fully naked so fast. Even a button flew off her pants. When she removed her underwear, Kohl sank on his knees before her. He stared at her sex with such wonder and longing that she started to feel self-conscious and moved her hands to cover herself.
“No, please don’t.” He pushed her hands away before tracing her folds with his fingertips.
She trembled, but he held her up with his hands under her ass. When he slowly licked a path from her abs to her sex, her breath froze. His tongue dipping inside her, wet and thrusting. She gasped as her orgasm raced forward and she couldn’t stop screaming his name as he lapped her up.
And when she thought he was done or surely his tongue was sore, it seemed to go deeper and widen inside her, stretching her. She bucked against his mouth as he lifted her legs around his neck and cradled her ass in his palms.
Without breaking his stride, another climax ripped out of her, he carried her to her bedroom and laid her on the mattress. His sucking and plunging drove her mad with endless need. He cupped both her breasts kneading them until her whole body buzzed and screamed as every fiber, every cell of her being exploded through her.
He pulled back and a satisfied crooked smile sent her heart pounding. “Let’s see if I can get you to do that while I’m inside you.” In a flash, he removed his pants.
Commando huh?
Glancing down at his nakedness, she wanted to shout in wonder and run in horror. His cock tented his jeans and even with his clothes on looked freaking enormous. Could she die from too much sex?
Kohl Kohl had never tasted such sweet nectar. And the sounds she made when he kissed her down there made him forget everything but pleasuring her more. His cock was painfully aware that he'd never mated before and even more so that this human female turned him on in ways no one ever had before. The mechanics of mating were the same for his kind as humans from what he gathered. Yet, at least in his human form, he didn’t need to worry about being too big for her. The scent of her arousal was a mix of melon and an aphrodisiac that intoxicated him. He kissed her belly, trailing a path up to her nipples. So taut and pink, they made his groin tighten h
Isabelle Isabelle stretched and groaned in a sore, satisfied way. Last night with Kohl had been amazing. His emerald eyes hypnotizing like a spell. She'd never had sex with a stranger before. And she wanted more of him. Rolling over, she felt his side of the bed and her hand brushed cold sheets. She sat up with a start. “Kohl?” But even before the emptiness of the house echoed back in answer, her instinct told her that he was gone. That she'd had a one-night stand and would never see him again. A pain hit her chest.God, she had amazing sex with a guy and was hooked. Yowls echoed from the front door. Right, it
Kohl Kohl swung low, spreading his wings wide as he sailed through the air over his homeland. Darkness covered the lands in her blanket and the thousands of stars flickered above him. He squeezed the crystal, ensuring that he still had it. Once his father saw the rock, he'd organize an expedition immediately. With their weapons and comms working again, they'd turn the tide of this war and overthrow the invaders. The Tryn would leave and hopefully never return. Eagerness and joy swept through him. Kohl would finally get the recognition for his actions and not merely because he was the king’s half-blood son. Wind flowed over him and brought the
Isabelle Isabelle turned on the radio, then wiped off her kitchen counter. Both stray cats laid on the floor and purred with their bellies full. Eight days had passed since her amazing night with Kohl and there had been no text or phone calls. Did he not feel what she had that night? Even if she could call him, she had no way of getting ahold of him. Besides, obviously he wasn't interested. He knew where she lived and could reach out to her if he wanted. Time to move on with her life and not pine after some guy she met in a bar. Her cell rang and she jumped. “Hello?” she answered the unregistered call. Was it him? “Hey, Isabelle, I’m up
Kohl Kohl jerked at the cuffs holding his dragon arms and legs to the cave wall. The metal biting into his flesh. His wings tucked against his back and his dad had even chained his tail. Sweat rolled down his back at his exertion, but he continued to pry and pull at his confinements in order to find a weakness. What had his father been thinking? Without this chance at Earth for the crystals or some other planet, his people were doomed. Why couldn’t his father realize that? He needed to escape and get back to Earth. Kohl was certain there would be more meteorites with other humans or in what they called a museum. He and his brothers could swoop
Isabelle Isabelle rolled over and groaned. Her stomach heaved and she scrambled to the bathroom before vomiting. No way could she miss today...her class was doing a field trip to the zoo and all of her students were looking forward to it. Maybe it was the buffet she had last night with her friend and fellow teacher, Julia. Oh was she sick too? Once Isabelle’s stomach settled, she wanted to crawl back into bed, but kids were depending on her. She brushed her teeth and threw up again. Taking gulping breaths, she then splashed water on her face. She had to hurry or Cooper would write her up again and she'd lose her job. And what about her students? They'd be devastate
Kohl How many days have I been here? Unable to fight or leave this cave?Kohl slumped as much as he could with the chains digging into his scales and now the flesh beneath. His father had left him like this for nine days. His sisters and brothers brought him food and water and cleaned his cave. Then Kohl was allowed to be unchained during the day, but guarded at all times until he was locked up. No matter how much Kohl tried to convince his father that they needed to go to Earth because of the quasicrystals, his father refused, saying that it was too dangerous to send dragons to Earth with their superstitions and prejudices.
Isabelle “This is stupid.” Isabelle tugged on Julia's arm. “I'm not pregnant.” She would have a feeling or inkling, right? Something besides nausea and days of little energy. “No, it's best to know then worry. Besides, if you are, then you need to start prenatal vitamins and—” She sighed, not liking this discussion one bit. “Yes, doctor.” Isabelle followed her friend down the aisle of baby and feminine products. A woman with an infant walked past them while a toddler wailed about his broken cookie. “Ah, here we are.” Julia rattled a glass case in the isle full of pregnancy, fertility tests, and condoms. The locking bar slid open a bit.
Isabelle“Why do we have to go to your planet for the birth?” Isabelle panted as another contraction hit her. “What about the Tryns?”Kohl pulled up the couch cushions to find her wedding ring. Over the last month it had gotten too tight on her finger and he fastened a chain around her neck to wear it, but the lock broke last night in their lovemaking and she didn’t realize it was missing until this morning. “I can’t find it. We’ll have to hunt for it later.”“No way!” she huffed. “I’m not leaving without it.” They still didn’t know if she’d survive the birth, but she wanted everyone to know she was Mrs. D'Kohralx. Even though Kohl’s people didn’t wear rings, but kept each other’s scent on them, she liked her wedding ring of white gold and diamonds and sapphires in twinging hearts. Both symbolize her and Kohl and their twins.“Damn it, Isabelle. We can find it later.” He raked a hand through his hair.She tap
Isabelle Isabelle woke with a start. Oh crap, crap, crap—the alarm didn’t go off! She untangled herself from Kohl’s arms and scrambled to the bathroom. Late for class again!Where was her cell phone? While she jumped into the cold shower, she scrubbed her body and teeth, nearly slipping twice, but caught herself.What was she going to do when she was the size of a barn? Eventually, she’d have to tell Principal Cooper about her condition.She threw on a plain white, flowered dress with an Imperial waistband. Kohl leaned against the door frame, watching her.“You okay? Why the hurry?”“Some of us have to work for a living.” She gave him a wink and a smile. “Not all of us can be dragon prince.”He raised an eyebrow. “Well, this dragon prince would pay any amount of money to have you take off that dress and walk around naked all day. How much for you to come back to bed?”“More than you can afford.” She laughed.
KohlIsabelle! Kohl’s heart squeezed like a giant fist...every fiber…howled her name. He glanced around, hoping for a glimpse of her or one of her smiles that seemed to light the darkness inside him. Hell, he'd shout in joy if she rose from some safe place in her yard and tell him not to shout and wake the neighbors. Luckily, it seemed one set wasn’t home as cars were gone and the lights were out. But the flames didn’t stop chewing away at anything in their path. The earth foliage blackened and ash floated in their wake.The smell of charred pine needles filled his nostrils and left an acrid taste on his tongue. He’d lost her. The devastation made him feel as if he was buried alive under the weight of despair pressing down on him.It was all his fault that she got trapped between his enemies and him. He should've never gotten involved with her. Should've walked away when he first met her instead of spend
Kohl Kohl barreled outside into the night. His dragon vision allowed him to make out shapes and a few colors despite the overcast sky. He scanned his surroundings, searching for the enemy.Through the darkness, he spotted a figure in the middle and he advanced cautiously, ready to fight.The Tryn had a human man by the throat, dragging the body behind him.Inhaling, Kohl detected his brother's scent of cedarwood and smoke. His heart hammered against his ribcage as he shook his head to process what he was seeing. His brother was a dragon, not a human. Dragons couldn't shift. This man couldn't be Taurian. It wasn't possible.A blunt force hit him in the back and the air left his lungs in a rush and pain burst across his shoulder blade, then another finger of agony twisted into his back, missing his heart by inches. Kohl groaned and twisted around, spotting another Tryn who held a piece of wood fence in
Isabelle Isabelle took the time to read the last student's paper, then leaned back in her desk chair. She wrote the grade at the top with a smiley face and laid it on top of the pile of finished ones on her desk.Even though it was early release day and nearly dinner time, she was still at the school. Julia had called in sick and Isabelle told the substitute teacher she'd grade both classes’ papers.Everyone thought she was being nice and considerate, which she was, and normally she would have offered to help in any way she could. But this week she had an ulterior motive...to keep as busy as possible so she wouldn't dwell on Kohl and what a jerk he’d been when she was on his planet nearly a week ago.Vivid memories of him forcing her to leave plagued her mind. His harsh words. The way he'd looked like he couldn't stand her. Why was she so upset at his actions? Wasn't like they had even dated. And he lived in
KohlKohl's heart hurt as if it had been raked with burning tongs until nothing remained. As protest, his body refused to shift into his dragon-form and he remained human. Probably because his wing had been torn and was healing. He hurled aside the larva delicacy with blood-wine sauce. The metal bowl hit the wall, then rattled against the cave floor. Inside his chamber, he paced. Was Isabelle all right? Had she had the abortion yet? His human mother had died while giving birth to him and he wouldn't sentence Isabelle to that fate. As a human, she wouldn’t survive the ordeal. He couldn’t live with himself if that happened. Guilty paraded in his mind. This was all his fault. He had been stupid by having unprotected sex with her. And he’d not have his child grow up without a mother. He would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen. His chest tightened at the memory of Isabelle’s hurt and angry gaze wh
Isabelle“W-what?” Kohl's voice boomed through the chamber and made Isabelle cringe. His anger rolled off him in waves.She hadn't expected to blurt out that she was expecting a baby, but her nerves had been clawing on thin ice since she arrived on this planet.“That's not possible.” He turned a split-pea shade of green.Damn, she'd known he'd be shocked and surprised, but didn't think he'd have this reaction. “Actually it only takes one time.” Especially in our case.He met her stare and pain filled his gaze. “We have to get you back to Earth. Now.”“Why?” Was he ashamed that she was pregnant? Maybe it was taboo or something. “I'm sure your family and mine will accept our child. He or she won't be an outcast or unloved.” Not if I have anything to say about it.Without a word, he snatched her hand and led her out of the chamber down the corridor of caves.“Too tight, you're hurting me.” Why was he reacting this way? This was the worst scenario she’d thought of…he wanted
KholKohl felt something heavy on his arm. He blinked, raising his head to see Isabelle laying across his arm and chest. They'd made it to his family's hideout, but how? One of his siblings must have found them. The last thing he remembered was getting attacked, and his mind fell blank after that. “Don't wake her yet,” his sister, Desmonda said from the doorway. “She's been tending you nonstop for over a day.” Kohl nodded. “You're not surprised I'm in human form?” She brushed aside a tear. “I pick up on a lot of things, brother, just don't tell anyone unless I think they should know. Doesn't matter to me if you are half-human or half-Valiruc, you are still my brother.” “Thanks. Why are you crying?” He rubbed a shaky hand over his face. “Where is everyone? It's too quiet.” Even though they were in hiding, he would sense his family near or even hear the snores of his father or one of his brothers. Due to the Tryns, his family took turns sleeping and keeping watch. “Desmonda, the Tr
Isabelle“Kohl?” Isabelle waded in a circle in the river. No response. Even the travois was gone. Her breath hitched as fear crashed against her insides. Had a river monster taken him? Unconscious, he wouldn't be able to fight back. Along the riverbank, bushes sprouted bright violet flowers. A flock of birds with long necks and a brownish color flew overhead. A goat-like beast with three horns dipped its head to drink, but bounded off when it spotted her. She swam downstream in hopes of finding him. A shadow darkened the sky for a moment. What was that?Ahead of her, a massive emerald dragon swooped low. Its wings spanning as wide as the river's edge. Her heart hammered, and she couldn’t breathe. The creature looked twice the size of Kohl in his dragon form. And its tail was different with spikes on the end and longer. Did that mean it wasn’t part of his species…family?Wings that spanned the edge of either side of the river stirred up the water and gusts of air had her falling backwa