Garret's hand stroked over Holden's clan mark and he felt his mate writhe with l.u.s.t, his back bowing, his hips thrusting backward. Pressing forward, his c.o.c.k felt the stiff resistance of Holden's virgin hole.

Breathe, baby. Just breathe and give it up to me. He pushed relentlessly at Holden's a.n.u.s, feeling his lover quiver beneath the onslaught. Don't hold your breath! It will hurt worse. Just breathe...

With a firm thrust, his thick c.o.c.k head burst through the tight sphincter muscles. Beneath him, Holden cried out, and then froze. Garret stroked the clan mark with a shaking hand.

"Holden? Tell me you're okay," he commanded, his voice wobbling slightly.

"It burns," Holden panted. "But it's going away. Oh, G.o.ds, Garret. You're inside me..."

The awed tone in his lover's voice catered directly to Garret's possessiveness. He stroked the clan mark with a deliberately sensuous touch as he pressed his c.o.c.k a little further into Holden's heated channel. Taking his time, stopping after each press inward, he finally felt his b.a.l.l.s slap up against his mate's. After giving Holden a few moments to get used to the thick length of c.o.c.k inside him, Garret began to move. He knew that his first stroke had to burn with pain. He squirted more lube on his c.o.c.k and Holden's a.s.s and pressed in again. Holden moaned.

Breathe, baby. Push against the stroke and the burn will ease. Plus, it feels better when you do that. You'll feel my c.o.c.k hit your prostate and you'll think lightning struck your d.i.c.k.

I'm trying, Garret. It feels amazing.

Garret dropped a kiss on Holden's clan mark. You're mine. I'm so deep inside you and you are all mine, Holden.

Another shudder went through Holden and feeling that the pain had eased in his lover's tight channel, Garret began to f.u.c.k him with short, easy strokes. He'd never f.u.c.ked anyone so tight or so hot before. Holden' body pressed back against his eagerly. As his strokes began to come harder, Holden began to tremble and moan loudly. Garret knew he'd begun to hit Holden's prostate with the harder, longer strokes. The pleasure that rocketed through his lover's body went through his as well.

Reaching around Holden's hip, he stroked his mate's stiff c.o.c.k. Fondling Holden's b.a.l.l.s, he felt them tightening, pulling closer to his body, and knew his mate was close to o.r.g.a.s.m. Garret resumed stroking Holden's c.o.c.k. He f.u.c.ked his mate harder, his hips slapping against Holden's a.s.s. Incoherent moans filled the room and Garret couldn't tell if they were his or Holden's.

Garret! Oh, G.o.ds, f.u.c.k me harder. I'm going to come!

The wonder that Holden felt at being possessed by his mate leaked straight into Garret's head. He knew everything Holden felt from the pain to the intense pleasure to the love that swelled within him at the feel of Garret's c.o.c.k moving inside him.

Garret pulled Holden up off his arms, bending his body back until his mate was cradled in his arms. Holden turned his head and their lips met. Tongues twisting around each other, Garret's hand tightly stroking Holden's c.o.c.k, his own c.o.c.k buried deep in Holden's hot a.s.s, their minds completely open to each other's thoughts and feelings with not a single thing held back. The fierceness of their o.r.g.a.s.ms came over them in that moment of pure connection. It exploded with a heat and intensity that surpa.s.sed their mating.

Garret!

Holden!

As far as Garret was concerned, there really weren't words to describe how it felt when his c.o.c.k unleashed it's c.u.m inside Holden for the first time. Holden's c.o.c.k pumped out a steady stream of c.u.m all over his hand and the wet warmth told Garret how much pleasure his mate had derived from being f.u.c.ked. They collapsed on the mattress, rolling to their sides away from the splatter of c.u.m on the sheets. Garret's c.o.c.k slipped from Holden's heated, spasming channel. He buried his face in the curve of Holden's shoulder, trailing kisses along his lover's skin.

They lay quietly for a long time, occasionally kissing softly and caressing each other. Finally, Garret sighed. "We should clean up," he murmured in a regretful tone.

"Why?" Holden replied with a low chuckle. "Who cares if we're lying here in a puddle of c.u.m?"

"Ugh." Garret grimaced. "I don't want to move. I love just lying here with you in my arms, but the puddle of c.u.m is just not conducive to romantic thoughts."

Holden twisted around until they were face to face. "Do you feel romantic about me? I mean, we're men. Do men feel like that about each other?" he asked curiously.

Garret brushed back the wayward lock of black hair that fell over Holden's brow. "I feel that way about you. You're my mate. I think I'm supposed to feel that way about you," he said with quiet honesty. "I know that I love you with every cell and atom of my body. I know that my soul feels whole and complete now. My life feels richer and worth living now."

Holden's amber eyes widened a little. "You're really very eloquent for a bean counter, did you know that?" he murmured, his mouth turning up at the corner in a wry smile.

"I'm not a bean counter."

At Garret's words, Holden kissed him, giving him a quick tongue rub. Then he smiled. "No.

You're not a bean counter. You're my mate. My love. You are the reason for each breath that I draw, each beat of my heart..."

Holden's words were spoken with a soft intensity that had Garret's heart pounding. When Holden took his hand and pressed it to his chest so that Garret could his feel his heart pounding too, the most amazing sense of security and freedom came over Garret. "... each throb of my c.o.c.k..."

Garret blinked in surprise and Holden laughed. "If I'm honest I'd say each throb of my a.s.s too," he admitted. "You're big."

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Garret frowned.

"Nah. I'm okay. It was the most amazing s.e.xual experience of my life though." Holden sighed, his face falling into relaxed lines. "I've learned so much from you, Garret. I know more about being a dragon now than I ever did before. I understand that what is between us is not about gender or s.e.xuality. It's about love and mating and being happy. I've never had a best friend before and now I not only have one, but he knows everything there is to know about me and his very presence fills me with joy."

Garret smiled. "What did you say about men being romantic with men?" His brows rose. "I'd say you just did a d.a.m.ned fine job of it, Holden Antaeus."

"That's because I have it on good authority that I have a way with words, Garret Renquist."

Holden pushed Garret onto his back and got up, heading into the bathroom. He returned with washcloths and they cleaned each other, making jokes about fireb.a.l.l.s. Afterward, Holden pushed Garret onto his back again and stretched out on top of him. Garret could feel both their c.o.c.ks stirring as he stroked his hands down Holden's clan mark. Inside, his dragon practically purred with pleasure. It was funny how love tamed the beasts inside them, he thought.

Not funny at all, bean counter. This is the way life is meant to be.

Really? How about you show me what your tongue has learned since I met you, Mr. Tennis Trophies.

It will forever be my very great pleasure to show you just how much I love you.

Garret cupped his hands around Holden's handsome face. I didn't think there was this much happiness in the world, let alone for me. Thank you, Holden.

One of Holden's dark brows quirked up. You're thanking me now? Before I've put my mouth on your c.o.c.k?

One can never be too thankful or too grateful. I love you, Holden. Garret pressed a quick kiss to Holden's mouth. Now, where was it that you said you were going to put your mouth?

Holden laughed out loud, the sound filled with happiness. Now, that fire season is over and there's no longer any distance between us... I'm going to put my mouth to good use setting fire to your l.u.s.t.

That's one wildfire I'll never want to die out.

Garret grinned as Holden shifted over him, facing his c.o.c.k.

Good. Now, can we get on with lesson number two in soixante neuf?

I don't understand how you pa.s.sed the bar when you can't learn a lesson the first time around.

Holden's hands stroked down Garret's thighs before closing around his c.o.c.k. I was teacher's pet.

Garret sucked in a breath as Holden's mouth began to lick his growing erection. I can see why. Garret. Get busy.

The arrogant thought made Garret smile. You and that thing with words again.

Holden chuckled out loud. Suck me.

Obediently, Garret sucked Holden's c.o.c.k into his mouth as l.u.s.t spread through them like a wildfire and happiness filled their hearts.

Epilogue.

Alfred Stone stared into the fire and sipped his brandy. His head ached from all the conversations he'd had to listen to that afternoon. Usually, he could control himself much better and not let too many people in at a time. However, he'd been distracted lately and his concentration was a casualty of it.

Warm hands curved around his neck, ma.s.saging the tense muscles. "You need to relax, Al.

You work too hard." The soft voice held a sardonic note and Alfred knew the speaker meant that touch of sarcasm. Ash didn't have the most optimistic outlook on life. A past like hers usually left a person scarred for life.

Alfred sighed as she ma.s.saged all the kinks out of his neck and shoulder muscles. He knew Ash was scarred, but she was in much better shape than anyone else he knew who had been through what she had. Still, he regretted that she'd had such a painful past. He blamed himself although there was nothing he could have done to change things.

"Stop blaming yourself," Ash whispered in his ear.

"You always know what I'm thinking," he said on a chuckle.

Her hands dropped from his neck and she took the wingback chair beside him. "Because you and I are alike, Al. Austin is the changeling in the family."

Alfred's eyes met the icy grey stare of his sister. "I'm glad you're here, Ash," he said quietly.

She nodded solemnly, her auburn hair spilling over her shoulders like bloodstained cornsilk.

"I am too. The Afterlife didn't agree with me." Her mobile lips curled in a smile that Alfred knew mocked her mortality. "I can't really call storms there. They have no weather, you know."

Ash's natural ability to control the elements had made her a prize among the Magia. That status had been both a bane and a boon. It had caused Alfred to have to bargain for her soul, something he would never tell her. Protecting Ash now was his overriding concern. He had to keep her safe until the Fire Storm occurred. Once the elemental phenomena of the Five Realms began, all he needed to do was send her to Antaeus International. After that, the forces of nature would take over.

He watched as his sister leaned over to grab the brandy decanter. The black halter top did nothing to hide the swirling lines stamped upon her skin. The tribal lines twisted along her spine from the small of her back up to the s.p.a.ce between her shoulder blades, forming a stylized black dragon...with an emerald in its mouth.

To be continued...

Fire Storm, Tales of the Darkworld Book 7 We Want To Hear From You!

Pink Petal Books wants to hear from its readers. Now that you've finished this book, please take a few moments and visit http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?/General/book-survey.html to answer three questions and give us your thoughts. The survey is anonymous and will help Pink Petal Books improve its products and service. Thank you!

About the Author.

Lex has been writing stories and poems ever since she could hold a pencil. A few years ago, she got caught up writing in an online paranormal serial story. The story was very intense and a challenge to her writing skills. As she began to write more and more, fans of the story and her blog readers began to encourage her to submit her writing. Lex lives in Orange County, California with her long haired musician husband and her teen aged daughter. Lex loves loud music, reading hot stories, reading her friends' blogs and hanging out with them, enjoys building her own computers, and has a propensity for having very weird vivid dreams about Nikki Sixx.

Author Website http://www.lexvalentine.com Series Website: http://www.talesofthedarkworld.com Author Newsletter - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/talesofthedarkworld Author Blog http://www.sunlightsucks.com

PPB.

Pink Petal Books, an imprint of Jupiter Gardens Press, would like to invite you to explore the entire Jupiter Gardens, LLC family.

Don't forget to sign up for our reader's loop where we have monthly giveaways, chats, and more! Information can be found on the Pink Petal Books' website.

Jupiter Gardens, LLC http://www.jupitergardens.com/ Pink Petal Books http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/ Jupiter Gardens Press http://www.jupitergardenspress.com/

Thank you for buying and reading our books! Our authors appreciate your patronage. If you enjoyed Fire Season, you might want to read the first two books in this series. The first chapters are provided here for your convenience.

Tales of the Dark World Book 1: Shifting Winds by Lex Valentine Available now from Pink Petal Books http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?/Lex- Valentine/Shifting-Winds-by-Lex-Valentine.html

Chapter One.

The huge vase of tulips hid the face of Granville Cemetery's receptionist as she carried the flowers into the elegant office of the Chief Financial Officer. At least they weren't red roses, Elysia thought as Marnie set the vase on the corner of the rosewood executive desk, pushing it closer to Elysia's morning cup of coffee.

"You'd think they'd be roses," the receptionist sniffed, unknowingly echoing her boss's thoughts. "You're the CFO here, Miss E. You deserve the best."

A choked chuckle emerged from one of two leather wingback chairs across the desk from Elysia. Marnie stepped closer to the occupied chair and swatted the tall blonde man on the back of the head.

"That's what you deserve, Mr. Colin. You're always in here bothering her. Don't you ever work?" she hissed at him sarcastically before walking out. The door shut softly behind her.

Instead of smirking at the way their receptionist goaded her younger brother, Elysia turned an evil look on Colin. "Don't say a word," she ground out, shifting her glare from her sibling to the card peeking from between a couple of purple tulip buds.

"Obviously, you know who they're from without opening the card," Colin observed.

"Yeah, I know who sent them." Elysia s.n.a.t.c.hed up the card before Colin leaned over the desk and grabbed it. She stared at the expensive vellum, afraid to open the small envelope and have the sender confirmed.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?" Leather creaked as Colin sat forward in his chair.