Claiming Julia (8 page)

* * * *

Julia roared, realizing she had indeed shifted into a full-blown dragon. She blinked several times, looking at her mate. He belonged to her. She’d never let him forget it.

“Mine!”
Angus snarled as he clamped his claws on Julia.

She shot flames as they both fell to the cavern floor with a heavy
thud
, turning over the contraptions in their midst. It occurred to her that he was trying to claim her in dragon form, but she wasn’t having it. He needed to prove himself, she decided as she clawed at the cerulean creature. He released a mighty roar that shook his lair.

Sprouting her silvery wings, she flew upward, urging Angus to chase her. Heart beating erratically, she burst out of the cave and flew high into the moonlit sky. The silver full globe beamed brightly as she flew past several other large dragons waiting to claim her.

“Oh, hell no!”
She stopped in midair and turned, unleashing a fiery inferno on their asses. The dragons scattered, but she’d managed to hit one who howled in fury. She released another fiery blast. Submitting herself to the intense power, she threw her head back and howled into the night sky.

Angus erupted from the cave with a roar, sending the remaining dragons away in fear for their lives. Once they disappeared, his hungry gaze zeroed in on Julia.
“Come
here!”

“Not on your life
,
buddy!”

Julia was having entirely too much fun to listen to his ass now. All she wanted to do was fly. And fly she did. It made it much more fun to have Angus on her tail, but her hesitation slowed her down. His large wings enveloped around her and then navigated them to land.

As they touched the ground, they shifted simultaneously into their human forms. He covered her body, and his mouth claimed hers in a long, seductive, deep kiss.

“My Fire Mate!” He growled against her throat. “You’re mine. All mine!”

“No, you bastard
.
”
S
he laughed breathlessly. “You’re mine, Angus McNamara! I’m claiming your ass whether you like it or not!”

He held his head back and howled with laughter. “I thought you didn’t like the idea of claiming.”

“Oh, nothing is sweeter,” Julia finally confessed freely. “You’ve opened my eyes, making me realize there’s nothing wrong with being submissive. Within moderation, that is.” She laughed heavily when he playfully nipped at her. “I’ve never felt so much freedom.” She looked at him and smiled. “I so loved it when you were chasing me through the air.”

“Now you know why I come here as often as I do. I’m a dragon, and I can’t stand being pinned up inside my human body.” He ran his fingers through his tousled hair and looked around. “This is my home, and I hope that you will join me here.” He looked down at her in question.

Julia bit her lip as she listened to the sound of waves crashing along the shore of the island. The grass beneath her was soft and mossy, unlike that of regular grass in her world. The urge to sleep where they lie was natural, and she wanted to give into it.

Overhead, dragons flew about swiftly, but she was relaxed because she and Angus established their relationship in this realm. No other would try to claim her now. They both made certain of that.

“First, there are some loose ends I need to tie up.” She nestled against his chest. “I know there’s really nothing left for me back home. I have no other family, and you know I love my job.”

Angus rested his chin on top of her head and hugged her in reassurance. “So we’ll make our own family. We can remain in my lair or build another home and exist in human form. We can shift at will anytime, anywhere we’d like, without attracting unnecessary attention to ourselves.”

“Are there businesses here?”

“There is bartering and trade, and even portals to other realms.” He looked down at her. “There’s so much to do here, you’ll forget about your human world.”

“Don’t be so sure about that.”

“A man can hope, can’t he?”

Julia laughed out loud. “Perhaps we can compromise?”

Angus rolled over onto his back and snorted. “Dammit. Why do I allow you to push me to the limits, woman?”

“Because I’m your Fire Mate; that’s why.”

“There’s no denying it.”

“Good, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Angus pulled Julia on top of him and kissed her hard. “We’ll compromise. Maybe I’ll hold onto the business a little while longer.”

“You’d better,” Julia crooned.

Angus frowned. “Are you giving me an order, Julia Jones?”

“Damned right. You owe me a promotion.”

“I’ll give you a promotion you’ll never forget,” he teased in a husky voice. They looked at one another and laughed before
Angus’s
lips met with hers.

The End