The Dragon's Charge (Tahoe Dragon Mates Book 4) Read online

  His beast hummed. Yes, yes. Call everyone right now. Then we can claim her within the next few hours.

  Brad stroked Tasha’s cheek, loving how soft her skin was. “You’re getting pretty good at reading my dragon.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’ve been a sort of observer for years back in Reno. It’s helping me tons to figure out the two sides of you.”

  His dragon grunted. Why haven’t you called David or Jon yet? Stop wasting time.

  Give me a second.

  I’ve given you days, so stop dicking around.

  Brad sighed out loud and said to Tasha, “I’d better call Jon and David before my dragon tries to take control. He will at some point, as you know, but I want the first time to be mine.”

  Tasha picked up her cell phone from the counter. Her voice was husky as she said, “Then call them. I’m almost as impatient as your dragon.”

  As she wiggled a little against him, Brad sucked in his breath as blood rushed to his cock. “Keep doing that and I won’t be able to get anything done.”

  She laughed. “Okay, okay. Just keep that in your mind as motivation.” She stepped back and he nearly pulled her against his body once more. “No more touching until everything’s set up. Deal?”

  He took his own phone out of his pocket, knowing David and Jon would pick up his number no matter what right now. “Deal. Now, give me a little space to clear my head so I can concentrate.”

  “I’ll do you one better. I’ll wait upstairs in your room. I need to make a few quick calls of my own—I already called most of my staff earlier so the bar side of things is taken care of—and get ready for you.”

  As Tasha walked away, he nearly growled at the sway of her hips.

  Soon, real soon, she’d finally be his.

  And so Brad went to work, getting everything set up for the duration of the frenzy.

  Only once that was done did he go searching for his mate, intent on claiming her as his in all ways.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tasha did her best not to pace the room as she waited for Brad.

  She didn’t regret her decision, but it was still a little nerve-racking. After all, being told what it was like to go through a dragon-shifter frenzy would never compare to the real thing.

  Still, she had things to help distract her a little as she waited. Even now, when she was mostly naked in only a robe and waiting for a sexy dragonman to claim her, her mind buzzed with ideas about her new business. It would be more than a bar—she wanted a designated eating area, too. And maybe she could hold family events on certain days, outside next to the landing area.

  One of her current staff in Reno had even mentioned she wanted to keep working for Tasha. And although she planned to hire some dragons, too, it was a start.

  She was so lost in thought about layouts and events that she jumped slightly when the door finally opened. Brad stood in the doorway in only his jeans, staring at her with his flashing dragon eyes, and she forgot about architecture and menus. Her mate was about to claim her.

  She cleared her throat and asked, “Did you finish everything?”

  He grunted. “Yes. My shifts are covered, food will arrive, and everyone is aware of what’s about to happen.”

  Even though his sexy gaze made her shiver in a good way, Tasha couldn’t help but tease him. “I sure hope that doesn’t mean play-by-play summaries going out.”

  “No. You’re mine and only mine, Tasha. I won’t share you.”

  She swallowed at his words, her knees going weak. “And so now what?”

  He took a step closer, and then another, her heart thundering with every inch he drew nearer.

  By the time Brad stood in front of her, her bathrobe suddenly felt too tight, too confining, too damned in the way.

  And then he lightly traced her cheek, down her neck, and then to the neckline of her robe. “Before anything else, I need to make sure you know how this works.”

  She nodded. “Ashley told me everything, with lots of details. I know your dragon half will come out sometimes and will be focused solely on getting me pregnant.”

  Brad ran his thumb up to her cheek and then to her lower lip. As he gently brushed it back and forth, Tasha let out a breath. Brad’s husky voice said, “Good. Then unless there’s any reason for you to object, I’m going to kiss you now.”

  As her lips throbbed in anticipation, she murmured, “You’d better hurry the hell up then.”

  The corner of his mouth ticked up a second before he moved his head closer to hers. His hot breath danced against her lips as he said, “As my mate wishes.”

  And within the next second, his firm, warm lips brushed hers once, twice, and then finally stayed. He nibbled her bottom lip, and she instantly opened her mouth, his tongue sliding inside. Tasha groaned and clung to him as he slowly explored her mouth, licking, tasting, letting her know he wanted her.

  One of his hands slid under her robe and cupped her ass. She pressed her hips against his, the hard outline of his cock making her ache for more than a mere kiss.

  His hand moved to between her thighs, and she spread them wider, gasping as his finger toyed with her entrance. Brad murmured, “Nice and wet for me. Good. Because my dragon isn’t going to hold back much longer.”

  Because of Brad’s wicked fingers, it took everything she had to string together her words. “Then why make me wait? I know dragon halves only focus on the sex part, and I’m fine with that for now.”

  He slowly slipped a finger inside her, and she gasped. Brad said, “I get the first time, and I’ll make damn sure my female is ready.”

  As he moved in and out of her, Tasha took his lips again, needing to taste him as he made her hotter.

  He growled and stroked her tongue as he increased his pace. Even though Tasha’s legs threatened to buckle, she leaned against her mate for support, loving his hardness against her.

  Brad finally broke the kiss and removed his finger. She growled in frustration. “Don’t you dare stop.”

  He undid the robe tie at her waist. “Calm down, love. I want us both naked so I can feel your orgasm gripping my dick.”

  Impatient, Tasha tore off her robe and moved to the bed. “Hurry up, Brad.”

  His eyes flashed constantly as he shed his jeans and walked toward her, his hard cock jutting from his body.

  Tasha may not get the chance during the frenzy, but she licked her lips at the thought of taking him into her mouth and driving him as crazy as he’d done with her the day before.

  Brad’s voice sounded a little strained as he said, “Fuck, Tasha, I’m not going to last if you keep staring at my dick and licking your sweet lips like that.”

  She met his gaze and smiled slowly. “Seeing as how if you come inside me I’ll orgasm, I’m not all that disappointed.” She opened her legs wide and laid her arms above her head. “Claim me, dragonman. I’m ready.”

  Brad still couldn’t believe his beautiful mate lay naked in his bed, waiting for him.

  His dragon growled. Believe it and claim her. She’s ours. I want her. If you won’t act, then I’ll take control.

  Since his inner beast could very well overpower him in the throes of a mate-claim frenzy, Brad slowly crawled onto the bed until he was on all fours above Tasha. Everything about her was perfect to him—from her expressive eyes to her small breasts to her flaring hips.

  And now, he was going to tell her with actions how much he wanted her.

  Brad lowered himself onto her body and resisted a hiss as his cock pressed against her warm skin.

  Tasha’s husky voice reached his ears. “Your mini-dragon isn’t close enough yet.”

  He blinked. “Mini-dragon?”

  She grinned. “Your cock.”

  “Oh no, no. We’re not giving nicknames.”

  She ran a hand down his back and up again, lightly digging her nails into his skin in the process. “The longer you wait, the more I’ll try. How about Mr. FireBreather?”

  His dragon growled. Definite
ly not. Sounds like we have some sort of disease. Don’t let her keep going. Fuck her already.

  Ignoring his dragon, Brad ran a hand down Tasha’s side and lifted his hips so he could tease her pussy. “I think it’s time to make you forget how to talk.”

  Before she could reply, he took her lips in a quick, rough kiss at the same time he slid a finger inside her.

  His mate was so wet and tight, and his cock grew even harder.

  It was time to stop taking things slow.

  He leaned up, balancing on one arm, and positioned his cock at Tasha’s entrance. He met her smoldering gaze, his voice rough to his own ears as he said, “Last chance to turn back.”

  She arched her hips so that her heat brushed his cock. “No way.”

  His dragon said, Hurry, hurry. You’re so close. I want her. She needs to carry our young. Fuck her. And then I will, over and over again.

  Brad pressed into Tasha slowly, gritting his teeth with every slow inch. “You’re so tight.”

  “I can take you, Brad. Trust me, the fuller, the better.”

  No filter for his mate and he loved that about her.

  Hell, he loved so many things about her.

  And maybe it was too soon, or he should be more cautious given his relationship history, but fuck it. He loved Tasha.

  Once the frenzy was over, he’d prove it some more to her before he said it out loud.

  His dragon roared. Stop thinking and start pumping.

  Brad finally filled Tasha to the hilt, took one of her nipples into his mouth, and teased her with his tongue as he moved his hips slowly.

  Her nails dug into his scalp, and she moved her own hips faster and faster.

  His dragon hummed. Yes, yes. Give her more. Embrace the dragon side and fuck her quickly.

  Releasing her nipple, Brad met Tasha’s gaze and never looked away as he pumped harder, taking care to rub her clit as he went, wanting—no needing—her to come even before he did.

  His dragon spoke up. Don’t wait. Don’t. She’ll come anyway with us. I want my turn. Hurry up.

  Brad ignored his beast, moving his hips fast enough for the sound of flesh hitting flesh to fill the air. He never stopped playing with Tasha’s clit as she gripped his shoulders. Even when she dug her nails in harder, he merely growled and increase his pace.

  “Fuck, yes, right there, Brad. So close.”

  He pressed her hard bud, and Tasha screamed as her pussy milked his cock. The pressure sent Brad over the edge, and with each jet of his semen, Tasha screamed louder.

  When they both finally came down, he collapsed on top of Tasha, all while being careful to use his arms to keep from crushing her.

  Merely having her warm body next to his while he was still inside her was fucking perfect. There was nowhere else he’d rather be than right here with his mate, the female he loved and wanted to convince to love him back.

  His dragon roared. No more time for thinking, or planning, or human shit. It’s my turn. I want our mate.

  Brad managed to get out, “My dragon’s coming out,” before his beast pushed to the front of his mind and put Brad behind a mental barrier. If he truly needed to break free, he could. But Brad knew his beast needed to claim Tasha as much as the human half did.

  So his beast pulled out of Tasha, flipped her onto her stomach, and raised her hips into the air. The slightly deeper voice of his dragon said, “You’re mine. I’m going to claim you, over and over, until you know you’re mine.”

  Tasha looked over her shoulder and merely smiled. “No arguments here.”

  With a roar, his beast plunged into her pussy and thrust hard. No gentle touches or build up with his dragon. It was just raw desire, lust, and a driving need to fill her until she carried their child.

  By the time his dragon came, making Tasha cry out with another orgasm, Brad found his opening and took charge again.

  And so it went, day after day, with only minimal breaks, as both man and beast sated their most basic desire to truly claim their mate.

  Chapter Twelve

  In the weeks after Brad had told Tasha she was finally pregnant—something that was still sinking in—she did her best to learn as much as she could about dragon-shifters so she could fit in on StoneRiver.

  Megan and one of the teachers she’d been working with—Brianna—were the people she was closest with on StoneRiver. Ashley came to visit when she could, and Tasha had even met the two non-ADDA-related humans from PineRock who were mated to dragon-shifters, Ryan and Tori.

  All in all, she was adjusting. However, today was a special day, and she couldn’t help but pace the living room as she waited for Brad to come downstairs.

  He finally descended dressed in a suit but no tie, and her mouth fell open.

  Yes, he was delicious naked. But something about the fit of the dark suit made him even sexier, if that were possible.

  He chuckled. “Don’t drool on yourself, love. We don’t have time for you to change if we’re to be on time for the groundbreaking ceremony.”

  Right, the ceremony signaling a true beginning to her new life. Well, at least another one added to the dragon-shifter husband and a half-dragon baby on the way.

  She closed her mouth and cleared her throat. “Would you rather I pretend I didn’t find you irresistible in that outfit?” She gave him one of her heated gazes. “Because it could be nice if you kept it on later and let me peel it away slowly.”

  His eyes flashed rapidly, and the corner of her mouth ticked up. It was getting easier and easier to provoke his dragon, in a good way of course. Maybe some found the two personalities weird, but she liked how it kept her on her toes.

  Tasha walked up to Brad, placed a hand on his chest, and whispered into his ear, “Do you need a moment to tame the beast before we go out?”

  He sighed. “Stop calling my dick the beast.”

  She laughed. “It’s too much fun.” Leaning back to meet his gaze, she noticed his lips twitching and added, “Besides, you like me teasing you. The quicker you embrace it and stop trying to deny it, the sooner you can up your game for comebacks.”

  He smiled as he stroked her cheek. “I’m working on it.”

  “My offer still stands—I can give you a few classes on the subject.”

  “I’m merely biding my time, Tasha. So when I come out swinging, you’ll know.”

  She grinned at the promise in his words. And as they stared at one another, joy, happiness, and something she’d been trying to hold back rushed through her body.

  She’d realized a few days ago that she loved Brad, but she hadn’t said the words yet. Partly because she didn’t want to ruin the groundbreaking for her new business by having tension between them if he didn’t feel the same. But also because she knew he’d been hurt deeply before and she didn’t want to appear to rush him.

  Brad was the first to move, placing his hand over her lower abdomen, a reminder that a part of him and a part of her was there, growing by the day. He murmured, “And remember, my top priority is protecting you and the baby. Witty remarks won’t scare off an enemy. Once things calm down, I can relax a little more.”

  Tasha sobered a fraction, placing her hand over his and squeezing slightly in reassurance. “You can do both, Brad. Besides, the lawyers have backed off, and it appears the League has as well. I’m tainted goods now, after all. So they’ll leave us alone.”

  She’d learned that once a human woman was pregnant with a dragon-shifter child, the League transferred their efforts to those humans who could still be “saved” and shown the light.

  Which was fine with her.

  Brad growled. “You’re not tainted. You’re fucking perfect.”

  She smiled and placed her free hand on his cheek. “You’re so much sweeter than you let on most of the time.” He merely grunted, and she couldn’t help but give him a quick kiss. “It’s okay, you can be sweet with me. I won’t tell anyone about the yellow ruffled apron. You can be the big badass to the world.”

 
; Brad pulled her against his body and cupped her cheek with one hand. “Your opinion matters the most. I never want to hide from you, Tasha Jenkins. I love you and will fight every day to show you how much I do.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. Had he really just said that? “You love me?”

  He held her even tighter against him. “Yes, I do. And if I need to prove it to you over and over again, until it’s undeniable, then I will. You’re my mate and my future, Tasha. I love you.”

  Brad’s words were exactly what she needed to hear. “I love you, too, Brad. I know it’s been rushed, and even two months ago you barely said two words to me, but so much has changed. We balance each other, I think. And I have never trusted anyone as much as I trust you. The thought of being by your side, raising our child, and watching as we encourage human-dragon relations at our bar and restaurant is simply perfect. I love you.”

  With a growl, he took her lips in a rough kiss, his tongue sliding between her lips and slowly devouring her mouth. Tasha held onto him tightly, doing her best to kiss him back, the pair of them fighting to show who loved the other more.

  Which was perfect and just how their life would be. And Tasha wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Epilogue

  About One Year Later

  Brad checked on his napping daughter against his shoulder and was amazed that she was still asleep despite the grand opening.

  It was almost as if she knew how important today was for her mom and wasn’t going to ruin it.

  His dragon snorted. She is barely three months old. I doubt she worries about more than eating, sleeping, and pooping at this point.

  Just because she can’t talk doesn’t mean she can’t sense things. Any daughter of Tasha’s is going to be extraordinary.

  He lightly brushed Mia’s cheek and smiled. At one point, he never thought he’d be a father, let alone have a mate. And now? He couldn’t imagine life without both his females.