ROMANCE: SHAPESHIFTER ROMANCE: Dragon Baller's Bride (Dragon Shifter Alpha Male Romance) (Paranormal Romantic Suspense) (74 page)

I
t was
Monday morning and Ariella had just arrived at the casino for her first day working with Lucian. She had spent all of the past two days thinking about him and what he had said, and she was still mind-blown about the possibilities. Not to mention that she couldn’t get a certain pair of light blue eyes out of her head. Light blue didn’t seem to do them any justice, maybe more like the color of ice would describe those beauties better.

She took the elevator to the top floor and made her way to Lucian’s assistant.

“Hello, my name is Jenny. How may I help you this morning?” The middle aged woman asked.

“Good morning. I have an appointment,” she told the woman.

The woman smiled as she picked up the phone. “May I ask your name?”

“Ariella Fontago.”

“Just one second, Miss. Fontago.” Jenny hit a button and announced her arrival to Lucian. “You are welcome to go on in. He’s been waiting for you,” she said as she hung up the phone.

Ariella walked over to the double doors and pulled one open and entered. The space was over-sized, but still seemed to feel comfortable. There was a couch down one wall, and a huge desk that took up most of the other half of the space. Lucian was staring at his computer screen, but looked up when she walked in.

“Good morning, Miss. Fontago,” he said as he got up from behind the desk.

“Please, call me Ariella. Miss. Fontago is too formal for coworkers.”

“Ariella it is then. Please feel free to call me Lucian as well.” He made a gesture for the seat in front of his desk and she moved to sit down there. He took his seat again behind his desk. “I’m so glad you decided to come this morning, I was a little worried that I might have scared you away last time we talked.”

“I won’t lie, the idea crossed my mind a few million times,” she laughed, “but I am in your debt and a debt must be paid. I’m actually excited to see what you have in store with this project.”

“Well that’s good to hear. I guess now is as good a time as any to get started.” He opened a desk drawer and got out a thick three ring binder. “I am currently looking at getting into overseas trading operations. Specifically dealing with certain historical artifacts. The company I have been talking to sent this offer and although everything looks to be legit, it doesn’t feel like it. I need you to go through this binder, from top to bottom. Look over everything at least twice, and see if you can find any issues. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”

He slid the binder across the desk to her. “I think I can handle that. Is there anything specific to this project that I need to know before I get started?” Ariella asked.

“Yes, the artifacts are of a supernatural origin. They cannot be shipped like normal. The security and safety of the artifacts are top priority.”

There was that reminder or the unknown. Ariella was lost in thought for a moment before Lucian spoke again.

“Is that a problem, Ariella?” He asked as if he sensed her thoughts.

“What… no. No, that isn’t a problem,” she answered. “I just lost my train of thought there for a second. Nothing to worry about.” She gave him a small smile.

If she only knew how much those lips begged to him, she might rethink that smile. Reeling in his thoughts, he got back to the topic at hand. “There is a conference room at the end of the hall that you are welcome to work in. No one will be using it so feel free to spread out if you need to.”

“Thanks. I think I will take this,” she said as she grabbed the binder, “and make my way there.”

Lucian stood up as she rose. “Like I said, let me know if you need anything.” He couldn’t help himself as his eyes found her ass as she walked away. He could almost feel it in his hands.

Ariella sat the binder down on the conference room table and let out a long sigh. How was she supposed to work with such a beautiful man? She didn’t know what was her favorite thing, his strong cheek bones, or his jet black locks that seemed to always be styled to perfection. Hair like his made her want to run her fingers through it and thoroughly mess it up.

The rest of his body wasn’t bad either. Long lean muscles filled out his frame and not an ounce of fat to be found. In the short time she had been around him, she noticed that he didn’t smile often. So when he did, it was like receiving this beautiful gift that was so rare.

Ariella let out another sigh and decided to set all thoughts of her sexy boss aside and get to work. She opened up the binder and got to it. It wasn’t long before the table was half full of paper stacks and notes. Ariella was so caught up in her work that she almost didn’t hear the knock at the door.

“Knock knock,” Lucian said as he stood in the doorway. “I would ask you how it’s going but you seem to have everything under control.”

“Sorry, I tend to get a little intense when I’m concentrating on a project.”

“That’s nothing to be sorry for,” Lucian said. “It’s a little after five and I was heading out for the day. I just wanted to stop by and check on you.”

“Oh gosh, is it that late already? I completely lost track of time,” she laughed.

“Happens to me all the time. Ah, listen, do you have any plans for dinner? I was thinking we might take a moment to get to know one another a little better.” Lucian hoped that by masking it as a business dinner that she would be more likely to go. For some reason he couldn’t bring himself to leave her just yet.

“No I don’t have any plans, and yes I could do dinner. I’m starving actually.”

“Ok then. I will just wait for you downstairs in the lobby. Say ten minutes?” He said.

“I can do that,” she answered. Lucian nodded and left her to make his way to the elevator.

Could she really do dinner with this man? Knowing her she would get something stuck in her teeth or spill her wine. It was then that she had a sudden thought, vampires weren’t supposed to eat food! How was this going to work? Would she be eating alone while he just sat there with a glass of wine? That was if he could even drink wine. God, what was she getting herself into?

Feeling nervous for a whole new set of reasons, Ariella gathered her purse and went to find Lucian. She found him sitting in the lobby, looking at his phone. He hadn’t noticed her yet and she took the opportunity to observe him. His hair was still immaculate, his face was somewhat tense as he looked at the screen, he had one foot balanced on his knee, and his overall presence just seemed to overwhelm her. He looked normal to her and she made a mental note to ask him more logistics about being a vamp.

As if he had sensed her appraisal, he looked up and smiled at her. He stood up and walked over to her.

“All set?” He asked.

“Yep,” she smiled back at him.

He turned and they walked out the doors to a car that was waiting for them. It was a sleek black sedan with tinted windows and a beefy looking man for a driver. The driver opened the door and Lucian held his hand out to help Ariella in. Once they were seated, Lucian leaned up and spoke something quietly into the driver's ear. The car began to move and Lucian leaned back into his seat.

“Do you like Italian?” He asked.

“Of course. I don’t think I’ve met a pasta that I haven’t liked yet,” she joked.

“Well that is a good thing then. This restaurant is a longtime favorite of mine, and I thought you would enjoy it as well.”

“With a recommendation like that, how could I say no?” Ariella turned her head to look at him more fully and found him staring at her. When he didn’t say anything, she finally spoke up. “What?” She asked quietly.

“Nothing. It’s just that you look lovely,” he admitted.

Ariella blushed and was sure her cheeks and ears were turning red. “Thank you. You don’t look half bad yourself.” She smiled on that last part and Lucian was again captured by those lips.

She turned her head away and looked out the window. She needed some time to cool down her face and to regroup her thoughts. The rest of the ride was silent, but a comfortable one. When they arrived at the restaurant, Lucian helped her out of the car and his hand never left her lower back until they were seated in a huge semi-circle booth.

She slid into the middle and Lucian followed suit, sitting so close that she could feel the heat from his body. Which was another cause for question, because weren’t vamps supposed to be cold to the touch? She added the question to her growing list.

The waiter handed them menus, but Lucian didn’t bother opening his. Ariella was scanning her own menu when she looked up and noticed that he wasn’t. She had a slight internal freak out that she would indeed be eating alone.

The waiter returned and Lucian ordered a bottle of red wine. The waiter looked to her to take her order. Ariella told the waiter her order and then handed him the menu. She looked to Lucian and she froze. He was telling the waiter his own order! Ariella sat dumbfounded while the waiter collected Lucian’s menu and returned with the wine. He was pouring a glass for her when Lucian spoke up.

“I hope red is okay?” He asked.

Reeling her thoughts back in, she gave him a small smile. “Red is fine,” she answered as she took a sip of the delicious blend.

Lucian was eyeing her warily. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes. No. God, I’m not really sure. I’m so confused right now.”

Lucian laughed at her panic. “Okay… what is there to be confused about?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Everything about you is a contradiction and I don’t know what to do with it.”

Lucian smirked. “Well I can see how that might be an issue. What exactly is contradicting?”

“You’re supposed to be cold, yet I can feel the heat from you right now. You’re not supposed to eat food, yet you order a meal. And let’s not forget that you are out in daylight hours, which is supposed to be a big no-no for your kind.” She exhaled the breath that she didn’t realize she had been holding.

Lucian was quiet as he processed all that she had said. “Let me tell you a story,” he finally said after many minutes.

A
riella sat enraptured
by Lucian’s story. His past was filled with life, loss, pain, and love. He spoke of when he was turned at the age of nineteen and how he was bitter at first, until he came to accept who he was. His life was a tale straight out of a novel, and it was one that she wanted to read.

“My kind start off only drinking blood but over time we are able to digest food too. The sun doesn’t bother us, that one is just a myth. And you feel the heat from my body because I’m undead.” He made sure to cover all of her questions. Lucian found himself wanting to share all of his secrets with her.

The pair enjoyed the rest of their dinner, laughing and talking the whole time. Between the good wine, great conversation and delicious food, Ariella was feeling happier than ever. The night was too perfect for words.

So when the car pulled up to her apartment complex, she hated to think that the night would be ending. “Would you like to come up for coffee?” She asked as he helped her out of the car.

Feeling the same, Lucian nodded. He ducked his head down and said something to the driver. Once the door was shut the car began to pull away. Holding hands, they made it to her apartment.

The moment the door shut, Lucian had her pinned up against it. Her arms were held captive by one hand while the other skimmed down her side. His lips fell to hers and were hot and demanding. Ariella was in heaven. The feel of Lucian’s hard body pressed up against hers set her on fire.

Her nipples hardened as his thumb gently ran over them. Suddenly feeling like there were too many barriers between her skin and his, she tore off her shirt and then went for his. He reached around and unhooked her bra, yanking it to the floor.

Lucian trailed kissed from her ear to her hips. Lowering to his knees, he took her pants off and put her legs over his shoulders, his head resting in between. He left her panties on and licked her core in one long, fat stroke that left Ariella speechless. All she could do was moan as his tongue picked up its pace. Over and over again until she thought that she would explode. The pleasure was all consuming and she couldn’t get enough. One of Lucian’s hands found her nipple and roughly tweaked it. It was enough to send her over the edge.

All of Ariella’s muscles froze in ecstasy. Lucian gave her one long, last lick before setting her legs down. He picked her up again and carried her to the bedroom. He didn’t waste any time, entering her tight channel in one long thrust.

He set a hard pace, getting deeper with each movement. Ariella was already primed from her first orgasm and she could quickly feel a second beginning. He was relentless in this pursuit and she loved it. The sound of their skin coming together and the feel of him inside had her senses on overdrive.

They rolled over so that she was on top. Lucian seemed to be even deeper in this position. Ariella swiveled her hips and gave it all she had. He grabbed her hips and met her thrust for thrust. They rocked together until it was too much and they both went reeling. Bodies went limp and hearts were pounding.

Both too exhausted to move, they fell asleep.

A
riella awoke
to find the bed empty. Lucian’s scent still lingered but his body was gone. She inhaled his scent for another second before getting up and heading for the shower. Maybe the hot water would run all her indecisive feelings away. Last night had been great, no, mind blowing, it had been mind blowing. But she was having trouble shaking her uncertainties.

She had a few errands to run today concerning her project for Lucian, so she wasn’t in a big hurry to try to rush to the office. After she got dressed, she headed into the kitchen to make some breakfast. It was there on the kitchen counter that she saw a note.

His words seemed to soothe her soul, and she felt like progress was being made. Since she had known him, he had done nothing to warrant her uncertainty and she vowed to try to do the same for him. Feeling better, she left to get to work.

A
riella used
her shirt to wipe the sweat from her face. For the past two hours she had been crammed in this tiny library with no air moving. The local office for Domestic and International Shipping Trades and Standards, or D.I.S.T.S., was small, with an out-dated interior and an air conditioner that had seen better days.

She had finally found the information that she had been looking for and she couldn’t wait to get outside and back into the fresh air. She copied the last of the files and put everything in her briefcase.

Ariella was soaking up the sunshine the second she stepped out the front doors of the office building. Her eyes were closed and she was simply breathing in the air, glad to be out of that over-crowded office. She startled when she heard a voice behind her.

“Why Miss. Fontago, what a pleasant surprise,” the voice said.

Ariella turned around and was greeted by her former boss, Robert Lewis. Momentarily shocked, Ariella tried to hide her grimace. This was definitely not someone she wanted to spend time around.

Robert ignored her silence and continued on like they were the best of friends. “How have you been?” He asked with way too much false sincerity.

“Fine. I’ve been fine,” Ariella muttered.

“What brings you out on such a fine day as this one? Looking for a job perhaps?”

Ariella glared at Robert. “I bet you would like to know, wouldn’t you? I hate to disappoint you
Mr. Lewis,
but I have already found a place of employment,” she said smugly. “I guess you couldn’t blacklist me from everyone now could you?”

Before she knew what was happening, Robert had her in a tight choke hold, her feet lifted slightly off the ground. She tried to pry his fingers loose, but it was no use.

“Let me remind you
Miss. Fontago
, who is in a position of power and who is not. I let you off easy when you started to blab your mouth about the Ponzi scheme. Maybe if I had treated the problem then, we wouldn’t be having this little issue right now,” he sneered.

Ariella was starting to feel lightheaded and spots started to blur her vision. As if he sensed her condition, Robert let her go and she fell to the ground, a slump at his feet.

“Next time I see you, you won’t be so fortunate. Good day, Miss. Fontago,” he said as he walked away.

Ariella was struggling to catch her breath, still slumped on the pavement. She rubbed her neck and knew that she would have deep bruises from Robert’s hateful touch. She gathered her strength and slowly got up.

She was getting ready to call a cab when her phone rang. She looked at the screen and Lucian’s name appeared. Not sure that she wanted to talk just yet, she hesitated before she answered.

“Hello,” she said softly.

“Ariella? Are you okay? You sound a little froggy.”

So much for avoidance
, Ariella thought. “Ah, there was just this thing and now it’s okay. Nothing to worry about.”

“Well, it sure doesn’t sound like it. Maybe I should come get you. Where are you?” He asked.

“Really, you don’t have to. Like I said, it’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“You are clearly not fine. Tell me where you are.” Lucian was relentless.

“Alright then. I’m outside the D.I.S.T.S. office.”

“Don’t move, I will be there shortly.”

Ariella held the phone to her ear after he hung up, not sure what she was supposed to say when he arrived. Clearly there would be no getting around the issue, and judging by the burning of her neck, she wouldn’t be able to hide it.

What on earth was she ever thinking to work for such low-lifes as Robert Lewis? She should have seen through his false persona the minute she met him. It would have saved her lots of time and hassle. But then again she would have never met Lucian and the thought saddened her, maybe a little too much.

She sat down on a bench and waited for Lucian to arrive. He pulled up in a black sedan with dark windows. Apparently he had ditched his driver for the day. He got out and instantly stilled when he saw her. His face was set in stone and Ariella could feel the anger seething out of him as he walked to her.

“Nothing you said? It sure as hell doesn’t look like nothing!” He said angrily.

Ariella jumped at his outburst and cast her eyes to the ground. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

Lucian’s body seemed to lose its steam and he shook his head slightly. “No, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I know that whatever happened wasn’t your fault and I’m sorry. But I can’t not be mad, I mean look at you, Ariella. Your neck is raw looking and I just want to physically hurt whoever it was that did this. This is not acceptable.”

He sat down next to her and held her in his arms, trying to calm and console her.

“But it was my fault,” Ariella stated. “I ran into my former boss, Robert Lewis, and I goaded him about having a job after he blacklisted me.”

“Robert Lewis, the guy from the ponzi scheme that you told me about before?” Lucian asked.

“Yes, that’s him. I should have known better than to antagonize him, but he was so smug and arrogant that I just couldn’t let it go.”

Lucian’s grip on Ariella’s arm tightened and she looked up at him to see what was wrong. His eyes seemed almost white, his fangs were peeking out, and she swore that he was going to bite her.

“Don’t ever blame yourself for someone else’s depravity. Robert Lewis is obviously a vile creature and you cannot be held accountable for his actions. He needs to be dealt with. And soon,” Lucian vowed.

Ariella didn’t say anything, just curled back into his arms and chest. By the time the two left, Lucian’s appearance was back to normal and it was as if it never happened. But Ariella knew, and she could feel her insecurities rising again.