Loved by the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 6) Read online

  Contents

  Title

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  The Dragon's Dilemma Excerpt

  Books by Jessie Donovan

  Author's Note

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Loved by the Dragon

  (Stonefire Dragons #6)

  Jessie Donovan

  To Craig Bartz

  A great man who was well-loved and will live on in many memories.

  Chapter One

  Evie Marshall changed her position in the bed for the hundredth time in the last hour. While she’d had eight-and-a-half months to come to terms with her swollen body and overabundance of hormones, she usually had Bram’s warm, comforting presence at her back.

  But not tonight.

  Over the past few weeks, Bram had been spending a lot of time with Kai Sutherland, Stonefire’s head Protector, and Finn Stewart, the clan leader of the Scottish dragon-shifters. The trio was working on plans to track down the dragon hunters with the help of a human soldier named Rafe Hartley. The rational side of Evie’s brain knew protecting the clan was a top priority and that Bram wanted nothing more than to be curled up at her back. Yet her pregnancy made her rational side sit in the time-out corner three-quarters of the time so it could make a fuss.

  All she knew was every fiber her of being ached for Bram’s touch.

  Tears prickled her eyes and Evie brushed them away as she cursed her bloody pregnancy hormones. Whoever said they loved being pregnant had to be lying. Throwing up, gaining weight, and losing control of her true self was the worst experience of her life. And considering she’d been kidnapped and held prisoner for several days by a group of dragon hunters, that was saying something.

  Then her baby kicked and Evie placed a hand on her stomach. Sorry, little one. Mummy loves you, truly. But if you could make your exit sooner rather than later, it would be much appreciated.

  Her baby kicked again. Given their child’s stubborn father, the little one was probably not saying yes. It was more likely he or she wanted to hang out in the little swimming pool inside her body for as long as possible.

  With a sigh, Evie rolled over and glanced at the glowing white numbers of the bedside clock. Three minutes had passed since the last time she’d checked it. Maybe if she counted dragons flying overhead, she could settle long enough to fall asleep.

  Just as she reached three-hundred-and-forty-two, she heard the front door to hers and Bram’s cottage slowly creak open. Taking hold of the cricket bat next to the bed, Evie scooted off the mattress and moved to stand to the side of the bedroom door. It could be Bram, but given all of the attacks and danger during her months on Clan Stonefire, Evie wasn’t taking any chances.

  Someone ascended the stairs and stopped in the hallway. Since Evie was only human and didn’t possess keen dragon-shifter eyesight, she could only make out a large, tall shape in the darkness. Tightening her grip on the cricket bat, she waited to see if the intruder would speak.

  A familiar teasing voice filled the air. “Since you have the bat at the ready, should I protect my cock, love? I don’t recall doing anything to upset you, but I could be wrong and want to be prepared.”

  Evie sighed and flipped on the light. After blinking a few times, she made out Bram’s dark hair, blue eyes, and tall, muscled form in the hallway. “Maybe I should give you a taste of what I’m going to endure in a few weeks’ time, if your ‘wee Evie,’ ever decides to come out at all.”

  Concern flashed in Bram’s eyes and he crossed the space between them. After plucking the bat from her hands and tossing it aside, he engulfed her body in his strong arms. “Are you hurting? Do I need to call Dr. Sid?”

  Evie pushed back until she could meet Bram’s eyes. She frowned. “For the millionth time, if I need a doctor, I’ll let you know.” She tilted her head and studied his eyes. “The bigger question right now is why are you back so early? I expected you to be out all night again.”

  “Finn was irritating the hell out of me, so I hung up on his video conference call.”

  Evie tried not to smile. “One day you will admit he’s like the brother you never had.”

  Bram growled. “If he’d truly been my brother, I would’ve killed him as a teenager. Be glad that he isn’t, because then I would be serving a life sentence in prison and wouldn’t be able to do this.”

  Bram nuzzled her and lightly nipped where her neck met her shoulder. As he licked the light sting, Evie leaned into his touch. “At some point, that is going to stop working on me.”

  His breath was hot against her skin when he murmured, “If that ever happens, love, then drive a stake through my heart because my life wouldn’t be worth living.”

  Her heart thumped harder and tears prickled her eyes again. “Bram.”

  He leaned back and his pupils flashed to slits and back. “You know my dragon doesn’t like you crying, love.”

  Evie sniffed. “Tell your dragon it’s his fault then for impregnating me. I hope little Murray and the new baby are enough to complete our family because I don’t think I can do this again. I can’t help the clan or try to locate my missing friend, Alice, when the merest action turns me into a blubbery mess. As it is, it takes all of the energy I have not to break down in public.”

  ~~~

  Bram Moore-Llewellyn caressed his mate’s cheek. “I’m not sure if two babies are enough.”

  Evie blinked. “What?”

  His dragon growled. Don’t provoke her. It’s not good for the baby.

  Evie crying and feeling sad isn’t good for the babe. I have a plan.

  His beast merely shook his head and waited to see what Bram would do.

  Bram answered, “Two isn’t enough. We should have three, maybe four.”

  Evie narrowed her eyes. “You find a way to carry a child for nine months and birth them, and then we’ll talk about it. Until you do, it’s not going to happen.”

  The corner of his mouth ticked up at her growly voice. “I’m sure I have ways of convincing you.”

  Evie looked around. “Where’s that bat?”

  “After all, there are a lot of half-dragon-shifter babies in the world who are looking for parents.”

  His mate met his eyes again. “Are you talking about adoption?” He nodded and she lightly slapped her chest. “Then why the bloody hell didn’t you say that from the beginning?”

  Grinning, he pulled Evie close. “Because I love how your cheeks turn pink when you’re angry and determined to change my mind about something.”

  “Bram Moore-Llewellyn, I am eight-and-a-half-months pregnant and chock-full of hormones. Under normal circumstances, I would be able to restrain myself from killing you. But right now, it’s starting to look like the better option.”

  Bram winked. “You know you love me.” She growled in response, and he leaned down to her ear to whisper, “Besides, you’re no longer about to cry. You really should be thanking me, love. I know how you hate to cry.”

  As he kissed her cheek, Evie let out a sigh. “Sometimes, I wish you weren’t so bloody exhausting.”

  “Then you’d be bored.” Brushing her cheek with his own, he murmured, “I’m sorry I’ve been away so much lately.”

  Evie snuggled into his chest. “I will always support you, Bram. You know that.”

  “I sense a ‘but.’”

  “But I can’t seem to get comfortable and fall asleep without you by my side.”
>
  He leaned back and cupped her cheek. As he stroked her soft skin with his thumb, he never broke his gaze. “With enough planning and luck, you’ll soon be begging me to leave you alone because I’ll be around all the time.”

  Evie raised a red eyebrow. “You’d better be around because I’m not about to raise a newborn by myself. We’ve been lucky with Murray. He’s a very mellow child. Our unborn son or daughter, however, will probably be a stubborn half-dragon hellion.”

  He grinned. “Maybe that should be her middle name—Hellion.”

  Evie smacked his side. “One, we don’t know it’s a girl. And two, that is the worst middle name of all time.”

  “Hmm, what about Ninjamaster? I like the sound of that.”

  Evie rolled her eyes. “Why I ever agreed to let you pick the middle name is beyond me.”

  “You won the right to choose the first name, and I needed something.”

  His mate leaned against his chest again. “We’ll see if I veto your choice or not, Bram. We’ll see.”

  As Evie melted further against him, Bram’s dragon spoke up. I don’t like the circles under her eyes. Stop teasing her and take her to bed. Soon we won’t be able to fuck her for months. I want her tonight. It will help her relax and fall asleep.

  Sex is the last thing on her mind, dragon. Stop asking.

  It might help induce labor. Suggest that and Evie will be riding us before you can blink twice.

  Bram sighed and Evie asked, “I saw your pupils flashing. What does your dragon want now?” He debated how much to tell her, but Evie continued, “Over the last few weeks, the only time you hesitate is when your beast brings up sex. He really is akin to a randy teenager, isn’t he?”

  Bram chuckled. “Aye, I won’t deny it. Although he made a fair point about sex maybe inducing labor.”

  Evie pulled back, her eyes bright. Bloody hell. That meant she had a plan.

  His mate poked his chest. “Brilliant, Bram. None of the teas have worked on their own, nor have the long walks I’ve been taking, but a little rough dragon sex might just do the trick.”

  He blinked. “Pardon?”

  Evie pulled away, gripped his hand, and tugged. “You’re going to try to induce labor.” She tugged again. “Come on.”

  He slowly followed her. “You do know how to romance a dragonman, lass. I’ll give you that.”

  Evie looked over her shoulder and her brows drew together. “Don’t sound over enthused about it. I know I’m the size of a large ship at this point, but my boobs are bigger. That has to be a plus.”

  His dragon growled. She doubts her beauty. I don’t like it.

  Me neither.

  Stopping in his tracks, Bram drew Evie toward him and looped an arm around her waist. With his free hand, he threaded his fingers through her long, red hair. “You are still the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen, Evie Marie.” He moved his hand down to her swollen belly. “The fact you’re large with our child makes you even sexier.”

  Evie looked unconvinced. Bram’s dragon snarled. Try harder or I will take control and show her just how much we want her.

  Ignoring his dragon, Bram leaned down until he was an inch from Evie’s lips. “If you’re not convinced with my words of how beautiful you are, then I’ll just have to show you.”

  Before Evie could reply, he lifted her and gently laid her on the bed. In the next instant, he was at her side and leaning over her upper body. “You’re mine, love, and you always will be.”

  And he kissed her.

  ~~~

  A part of Evie hoped sex with Bram would induce labor. Then she could do what she did best and plan. A baby would create a schedule and routine. Pregnancy did nothing but disrupt it.

  Yet as Bram’s tongue stroked against hers, Evie forgot all about her goal of inducing labor and simply enjoyed the spicy, male taste of her dragonman. He’d kissed her a million times before, but Bram made each time feel as if it were the first all over again by devouring her mouth with his tongue, nipping her lips, and suckling them after.

  Threading her fingers through his hair, she dug her nails into his scalp. She could barely remember being tired. She wanted Bram.

  She lifted her torso until her nipples grazed his chest. Bram growled and broke their kiss. “I was going to be noble, wrap you in my arms, and let you fall asleep.”

  “And now?”

  He nipped her bottom lip. “Now, I’m not going to be gentle and make love. I’m going to fuck and claim you all over again.”

  A thrill rushed through her body and ended between her legs. While she enjoyed slow and gentle at times, she wanted what could be her last time having sex for months to be more. Much more.

  Evie moved her chest against Bram’s. The friction of her nightshirt felt good against her nipples. Evie opened her legs. “Then feel how ready I am for you, Bram.”

  Bram ran a hand between them to tug her sensitive nipple and Evie moaned. It was only a matter of time before lying on her back would hurt, but she couldn’t resist murmuring, “Again.”

  Rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, Bram leaned down to kiss the spot behind her ear. The light caress combined with his pinching of her nipple sent a rush of wetness between her thighs. “Bram.”

  He growled. “That’s better. I never want to hear sadness in your voice when you say my name.”

  She opened her mouth to make a retort, but then her dragonman ripped open her nightshirt and took both of her breasts in his palms. As he ran his rough skin back and forth over her tight buds, Evie planted her feet on the bed and opened her legs. “Stop teasing me. I want to feel your hands between my thighs.”

  Bram’s nostrils flared as his pupils flashed to slits. “The second I do, you’ll be on your hands and knees with my cock inside of you. My dragon is nearly as impatient as he was right before the mate-claim frenzy finally broke loose.”

  Rather than ruin the sexy mood by mentioning her back was starting to hurt, because Bram would turn into the overprotective mate she knew all too well, Evie widened her legs further in invitation. “I can take whatever you dish out, dragonman. If you haven’t learned that by now, you never will.”

  With a snarl, Bram took her lips in a rough kiss as his fingers played with her pussy. He teased her opening and Evie cried out. Pulling away, Bram searched her eyes. “Are you all right?”

  With a growl, Evie answered, “Ask me that one more time and I swear I’ll find someone else to help induce labor.”

  Knowing her taunt would stoke his dragon, Bram didn’t waste time. He lifted and turned her over until she was on her hands and knees. He tore off the remainder of her nightshirt. “You’re mine, Evie Marie.” He slapped her arse and then plunged his cock into her. “Only mine.”

  Looking over her shoulder, she raised her brows. “Then show me, dragonman. Claim me as you promised, no holds barred.”

  Indecision flashed on his face for a second before it was replaced with a set jaw and steely eyes. Good. Bram’s stubbornness had won out.

  Then her mate gripped her hips and pulled out before slamming back in, hard. He repeated the action and Evie gripped the nearest pillow and rested her head on it. Bram paused and rather than yell at him, she wiggled her hips. That was the only invitation Bram needed before he moved again. Each thrust increased in pace until his balls were slapping against her flesh and Evie closed her eyes to savor each delicious intrusion of his long, hard cock.

  ~~~

  Bram barely had his dragon under control. His bloody mate’s taunts and challenges had stirred his beast. It seemed as if his dragon would never learn.

  His dragon spoke up. I know what she does. But it gives us the chance to take advantage and fuck her hard.

  His beast sent a torrent of lust through Bram’s body. To appease both man and beast, Bram increased his pace and slapped Evie’s arse again.

  The action soothed his dragon and Bram could focus back on pleasing his mate. She needed to know that no matter what she lo
oked like, she would always be the most beautiful female in the world to him.

  Rubbing Evie’s slightly pink bum, he continued moving in and out of her pussy as he roamed down the side of her body and to her breast. He cupped her, loving the heavy weight in his hands.

  All too soon he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his mate’s curves in his hand as he fucked her.

  His beast snarled. Then make it count.

  When his dragon wasn’t near the edge as he was in the moment, Bram knew his beast would agree the upcoming months would be some of the happiest of their lives, even without sex. Bloody dragon. I’m trying.

  Bram gave Evie’s breast one gentle squeeze before he roamed down her belly and to her clit. Rubbing in hard, slow circles, Evie finally raised her head again with a cry. “Yes, harder.”

  Pressing against her swollen bud, he increased his pace with his thumb and his hips. As Evie moaned, he smiled. His mate always did prefer double stimulation. “Are you ready to come for me, love? I want to feel you grip my dick.”

  In the first few months of their mating, it had taken a lot more torture with his fingers and tongue to get her to come for him. It still always surprised him when she whispered, “You know what I like. Do it, and I’ll come.”

  With a growl, Bram stopped circling her clit and rubbed back and forth, increasing the pressure with each pass. Evie cried out, “Bram,” as her pussy clutched his cock as she came. Both man and beast reveled in the hot embrace.

  Taking her hips with both hands, Bram let loose his dragon and together they pounded into their mate harder, as if it were the first time. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room and it increased the pressure at his spine. With a roar, he stilled inside Evie and came hard. Each jet of semen was a new claim on his mate, spinning her into orgasm after orgasm. He would never tire of her cries of pleasure.