Free Dragon Me to the Flame (Dragons of Emberside Book 2) by Thalia Frost

 
    Dragon Me to the Flame
     
    (Dragons of Emberside, 2)
     
    by
     
    Thalia Frost
     
    Copyright 2016 by Thalia Frost. All rights reserved.
     
    Cover Art: Melody Simmons
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 1: Shifting Reality
     
    Skye wrenched herself out of Niall's embraced. Every nerve ending on her body burned. She had been on the edge of something she couldn't define. “No! This is insane. You're insane. It's just a birthmark—not a sign that I'm a dragon shifter! This is reality, not some fairytale. I'm just a regular woman. Okay, I'm a bestselling author.”
    He chuckled.
    Skye stamped her foot and growled at him. “Oh my god! What is wrong with you?”
    She walked over to the window, her eyes filling with tears. She had never felt so strange—so conflicted and not herself.
    “I swear I'm not crazy. I know how crazy it sounds, but there's a whole other reality you have to open yourself to, Skye.” Niall's voice was soft, a caress as he came up behind her.
    Skye closed her eyes. “I don't have time for crazy right now. I have a book to finish.”
    “I know you do, and you can. There's plenty of time for everything.” Niall put his arms around her, and shivers rippled through her.
    “How? In 80 days, I have to leave.”
    Why am I telling him that? Why would he care?
    Her head was a muddle of thoughts. None of them made sense. She couldn't think past the desire that had flamed up inside of her for this man.
    “Maybe you don't have to leave. Can't you write from anywhere?”
    Skye sighed. He had a point there. “Well, that's not the plan!” She sputtered.
    “Plans change, just like mine did. I was supposed to marry Morighan, but I'm not going to. I don't care how many dragon warriors I have to kill. You are my destined mate.” Niall's voice trembled.
    Skye closed her eyes, desire running through her again. “How do I know that's true? Prove it. A birthmark isn't enough.” She forced her logical side back to the fore. Thinking clearly was the way to handle this craziness.
    “Well, I have one that's nearly identical to yours, as do all dragon shifters of Emberside. It's our clan marking. Each clan has a slightly different one. When you showed up here, I could tell by your personality you were a dragon shifter, and the odds were, you were from the Clan of Emberside—my clan.” His breath was hotter on her neck now.
    Skye whirled around. “Okay, bad boy. Let's see it. Whip it out.”
    Niall grinned and whistled. “Yes, ma'am.”
    Clearing her throat, Skye walked back over to the couch and sat down, trying to regain control of the situation. Telling the man to strip seemed like a good start. She grinned.
    “You're enjoying you, aren't you?” Niall unbuckled his belt and let his jeans fall to the floor.
    Skye tried not to look, didn't want to give him that satisfaction. But she couldn't help herself.
    His dark skin and well muscled thighs were a sight to behold.
    He shifted, showing her his left inner thigh. “Right here. Come take a look.”
    Skye thought she was close enough. There was no double the marks were identical. How was that possible?
    “I can see it well enough from here.” She cleared her throat.
    Niall licked his lips as if reading her thoughts. “I want you to make damned sure you don't have any doubts, Skye. Come look closely.”
    She rose from the couch slowly, every hair on her body standing up at the sight of Niall Gregor in black boxer briefs only down below. “Okay. I will.”
    “I won't bite. I swear.” He stood still, watching her.
    Rose knelt down in front of him, quiet aware of the erotic charge in the air. She studied the light birthmark on his inner thigh—reddish in hue and shaped like a full dragon. Hers was nearly identical. “Okay.” She stood up, her head swimming.
    “Whoa, Skye.” Niall caught her hand. “I've got you. You don't look so great.” He helped her back to the couch.
    “I don't feel so great.” She swallowed hard and dropped her head into her hands.