Black Read online

  Copyright © June 2020 Tessa Anders

  Title: Black

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to events or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  A rags-to-riches standalone book.

  One dragon not looking for a mate. One feisty female not looking for a husband. One adorable four-year-old you’re sure to fall in love with.

  Alexann

  Women outnumbered men in what is now known as the United World. I live in a small city outside of what was once known as Atlanta, Georgia.

  I refused to compete with the perfect barbies, opting for ice cream and my mom-bod instead.

  The sexy shifters, Kirzuns, arrived six months ago looking for brides, or so they said. Trust didn’t come easily and I certainly wasn’t interested in being a mail order bride.

  Jessie, my best friend, dragged me to the applications building because she was interested.

  I went for moral support only.

  Go Jessie! Yay! I thought, giving her a mental thumbs up.

  And then by accident, I met Black. His brooding eyes sent me running. Literally.

  After he kidnapped me, he explained that I was his mate—yeah, I wasn’t buying any of that.

  He offered to set me up in a nice place of my own. Somewhere close to him. Once I got over being stunned, it immediately morphed into hell no! I didn’t care how rich he was.

  I would not be the star in his Pretty Woman episode.

  He also didn’t know that I had a secret. Wonder how he felt about a kid?

  Blaktu’n (Black)

  After Tyran made the trip through the portal, he returned with a mate from the Human Realm. I wanted to broker a deal between the humans and Drata Inc., but others from the shifter realm wanted to search for their bondmate.

  Not me—but my dragon had a different idea.

  I was perfectly happy running my business, leading the Kirzuns, and I had plenty of females to sate my needs.

  And then she showed up.

  I didn’t want a mate.

  She didn’t want a husband.

  And yet we were both helpless to fight the instant bond that neither of us wanted.

  Can Black and Alex find a way to tolerate the situation they were forced into?

  This book contains sexual situations, sensitive situations, a little voyeurism. If this offends you then go ahead a pass on this one. Not intended for 18 and under.

  Kirzun- Our race of shapeshifters – blue dragons.

  Deracons- a race of shapeshifters that looks like red dragons

  Shifter – The name of the alternate realm

  Cu’anta – good luck.

  U’tuk -the leader of the Kirzun’s

  Drata – dragon or sleeping dragon.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  ___________________

  Blaktu’n

  The Shifter Realm

  Standing in front of the low humming portal that glowed with a white light, I faced Tryan, my second brother and sighed with worry. “Are you sure you want to attempt this dangerous endeavor?”

  Solemnly, he answered, “Yes. This is what we’ve worked so hard for. Our research and advancements are coming to fruition.” We shared a grin laced with excitement even though the mission was dangerous. For years we have worked on this project together. We started with an idea and turned it into reality.

  “Take Jaksun and Guani with you. There is safety in numbers.”

  I knew he would not allow anyone to accompany him. He wanted to discover an alternate species—a new realm—by himself. The glory of discovery. Even though I employed the smartest people who worked tirelessly developing a portal to other realms, I knew as head of security, Tyan was the right person for the job.

  “I think it is best that I go alone. One person walking into another realm is dangerous enough. Three could be conceived as a threat. You know this Blaktu’n.” With determined eyes and square shoulders, his mind was settled and nothing would sway him in his decision. I could see that in his glowing blue eyes, so much like my own, like our father’s.

  Excitement made my heart pound. For years, we had worked on expanding our outreach, until finally, we developed a portal to link us with other realms.

  As the owner and CEO of Drata Enterprises, I was always looking for ways to expand my business. Power was my drug of choice and I could never get enough.

  “What will you tell mother?” He asked, not from worry, only for information. It was important to keep our story straight and stay on the same page.

  “Nothing.” There was no reason for her to worry. After our father died, we watched her grieve and almost lose the battle with death. I would never place a heavy burden on her shoulders if it could be prevented.

  The last realm Tryan had visited almost ended with his death. When he flew through the portal, skidding across the floor on his shoulder, his clothes were torn, his face bloody. The people there feared he was a sorcerer and hunted him relentlessly. They did not understand that he was a drata, or dragon shifter from what others now dubbed the Shifter realm. Everyone here could turn into some form of animal. As a drata, we were considered the most powerful.

  Mother didn’t need to know. It didn’t matter that Tyran owned and operated his own security company. That he personally trained his males himself. In her eyes, he was still her little boy, incapable of handling anything risky or dangerous.

  Facing him, and hopefully not for the last time, I cupped his shoulder. “Dragon speed.”

  “Thank you.” He bowed. “I will see you soon.”

  Tyran spun around, then disappeared into the blinding blue light, which faded to white before pulsing a low hum. My comrades stood like sentinels, guarding the portal from attack in case anyone but Tyran tried to pass through.

  Spinning around, I stalked out of the room heading for my office. I needed to finish some overdue paperwork, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the endless business possibilities.

  Others dreamed of finding love or having a family. Not me. I lived for my work and only made time for my mother and brothers. After losing my father eleven years ago, as the eldest, I had to step up and take control of not only the company, but the sector. I had to step into my father’s shoes, and they were big shoes to fill.

  After a year had passed, mother offered to help, but my father, Kaston Dayan, had always took care of her. He shielded her from almost everything, and to be honest, mother never cared much about the family business so I never involved her with any decisions.

  I learned that people respected power and authority, and I had an unbending will. Orders were followed without question and my word was law.

  Five feet from my office, Hurbra caught up with me.

  “Blaktu’n, how did the transfer go?” I knew he was referring to Tyran entering a new realm.

  I turned; Hurbra almost ran into me, only stopping mere inches away. Crossing my arms, I made sure he could see the annoyance on my face when my voice whipped across the hallway. “Why are you not working?”

  “Ah, I’
m sorry Blaktu’n.” He backed away with palms forward before turning and sprinting down the hallway.

  “Damn mouse. No spine at all.”

  Before I made it to my office, Cataline, a feline shifter saddled up next to me, purring as she latched onto my arm like a cat in heat. “If you need to expend some energy, I’m available.”

  With her long black hair, high cheekbones, and agile body, she knew how to get me keyed up.

  In two seconds flat, I had her against the wall with my cock pressed against her stomach, my nose skimming from jaw to collarbone. “You couldn’t handle me right now.”

  “Oohh, I’d like to try.”

  “Right here? For all to see?” It was a warning as my hand slipped into the front of her pants.

  “Blaktu’n…” she gripped my shoulders as my finger slipped between her folds and plunged inside.

  “Mmmm, you ready to purr for me?”

  “Yessss,” she hissed.

  Picking her up, I carried her into my office and dropped her in front of the desk. “Drop your pants, then turn around and bend over,” I commanded while unlacing my own pants.

  She followed my order without question. With my hand splayed on her mid-back, I pressed her down on the desk, spread her legs with my foot while rolling down a condom. Grabbing the back of her long black hair, I shoved inside her. I showed her no mercy as I fucked her hard, scooting the desk an inch or two with the force of my thrust.

  She grunted and moaned with practiced sounds but I tuned it out. I thought of my business possibilities that awaited to be discovered. I felt the buildup, the tingling in the base of my spine and thrust harder and then I grunted, filling up the condom with my seed.

  I pulled out, and headed into my private bathroom, snapping off the condom and flushing it down the toilet. I washed my hands before heading back to the office and stepping into my pants.

  “I didn’t finish,” Cate whined while pulling up her pants.

  “Next time then.” I ushered her out and locked the door. Was I an asshole? I really didn’t give a shit. She offered; I took. I hadn’t promised her anything.

  I wish I could say that she had satiated my needs and took the edge off. She hadn’t. I still felt exhilarated, needing to expend energy.

  I headed for the stairwell. Pushing the door open, I headed up 24 flights of stairs, straight for the rooftop. Stripping out of my silky dress clothes, I folded, then placed them on the shelf.

  With hands on my hips, the city below bustled with people heading to and from work. This was my city! My domain!

  I stretched my arms wide, letting the magic swirl within before I leapt from the roof with my wings splayed wide and dived low. People stopped to stare, some pointing before I soared straight up for the sky. I reveled in excitement of a new realm, a new business venture.

  Flying over the Crystal City, named for the way the sun sparkled on glass structures, I headed for the stone mountains where the trees grew thick and luscious. The waterfall crashed over one hundred feet into a pool of clear water.

  I dove downward before changing directions and heading straight up. This was the outlet I needed. The wind on my face as I let my drata soar.

  1

  ___________________

  Alex

  “Did you hear?” Jessie asked, wide-eyed after finishing her last bite of ice cream.

  Tongue out, licking the chocolate ice cream from the spoon, I froze mid-lick. “Hear what?” I knew something was up when she invited me to my favorite ice cream parlor. Sitting across from her, the small round table was only big enough for two chairs.

  “They have everything set up and the…um…men are now accepting applications!” Jessie squealed.

  “According to Dara, they have been for a few weeks.” Dara, the owner of a local dress shop, and my current boss told me all about how women were lining up for the opportunity,” she said, making air quotes with her fingers, to meet some alien and eventually marry him. I agreed with Dara—no thank you. Okay, they weren’t called aliens, but they might as well be. They were not human and apparently could shift into an animal. I didn’t believe that. In theory, it should not be possible.

  “I’m going to fill one out! I can’t believe it!” Jessie shook her head, “the chance to marry a hunk and live on another planet…err…realm!” Her eyes locked with mine, looking dreamy. “You’ve got to do it too!”

  Unaffected, I ignored Jessie’s outburst and continued licking my ice cream before pausing for the deadpan, “No.”

  “Come on,” Jessie whined. “You have got to do this with me.”

  “No. Sorry. Not for me.” I had no desire to marry anyone, and why on God’s green Earth would I want to move to another realm?” There would be no friends, no family—not that I really had a family. An uninvolved mother and my sweet baby girl, Maddie, my pride and joy. Why would I risk bringing an alien into our lives? And what if he is a complete asshole? What if he turned into a lizard with a forked tongue or maybe a kangaroo? There were so many hideous possibilities. No thank you. I was fine right here. Even if I did make mediocre pay working ten-hour shifts at Dara’s Dress shop. It paid the bills. Mostly.

  “Fine,” Jessie huffed, crossing her arms. “Will you at least go with me?”

  Wiping my mouth and putting down the napkin, I leaned back in the chair and studied my picture-perfect friend. Five-feet-five, a buck twenty-five soaking wet, perfectly styled long blonde hair with flawless skin that made me jealous at times. Jessie could have anyone she wanted so her crazy notion to marry an alien didn’t make any sense.

  Sucking some water through the straw to moisten my lips, I finally asked, “What does your mom and dad think about this?” Even though Jessie was twenty-two, as an only child she still cared about her parent’s opinion.

  “Oh, they’re all for it.” Her head bobbed up and down as she spoke. “They think they will get to move there with me so…yeah, they’re okay with it.”

  “Wow!” Which really meant unbelievable, “Okay then.” The entire family had lost their ever-loving mind.

  Everything I heard at the dress shop proved that nobody really knew what the hell was going on. There were rumors, then more rumors. I just couldn’t understand the hoopla about wanting some unknown man that could possibly treat you like shit. Not only that, what if he turned out to be abusive? There were so many possibilities, I just wasn’t willing to take that chance. I had a daughter to think of.

  And what if these aliens turned into something that ate children? It could happen. I’d seen the outrageous accusations on the cover of mostly fake magazines. But still…

  “So, you’ll go?”

  “I don’t know.” I really wanted to support Jessie, just like she’s supported me year after year. Even when I made outrageous and life-altering mistakes. Like going to a party with so-called friends that ended with—I gulped—not going there. Not now. Let’s just say that when the rose-colored glasses were torn off, I learned a valuable lesson that shaped my life. But this was Jessie, my best friend. What would it hurt if I accompanied her? It wasn’t like I was going to fill out an application.

  After polishing off my drink, I nonchalantly asked, “When?”

  “Right now! Come on!” Jessie hopped out of her metal ice cream parlor chair, its legs scraping the tiled floor. She grabbed my wrist, yanking me toward the door.

  “Are they even open past five?” Some businesses closed at five o’clock, some stayed open till nine, and a few grocery stores stayed open twenty-four hours.

  “Yes! The applications building is open seven days a week until seven. Now come on.”

  “Fine.” I protested, dragging my feet. “But I can’t be gone too long. I have to get back and get Maddie from the sitter.”

  “It won’t take long,” Jessie assured while tugging me toward her car.

  The Kirtuz had made contact with Earth around six months ago. Unsure of the agreement, eligible women of breeding ages between eighteen and thirty-eight were enco
uraged to apply. Imagine that. Since Earth’s women outnumbered men ten-to-one, and according to rumors the Kirtuz were yummy to look at, Dara’s words not mine. I didn’t have a television and hadn’t seen the commercials. But Dara said that women lined up in droves hoping to land a hot alien. Not all would be accepted, though. The Kirtuz made sure that was understood when the agreement was struck.

  Not that I trusted anything about them. After that one life-altering event, I didn’t really trust anything or anyone except my inner circle.

  Being chosen as a beauty queen held no appeal to me and frankly, I didn’t understand the draw of being married to an alien. Shaking my head, I needed to stop calling them aliens. They were shifters.

  Okay, not understanding the draw wasn’t exactly true. The year after I gave birth to Maddie, the United World changed the rules. They wanted to even out the male/female ratio. In order for this to happen, the government passed a law stating that every pregnant lady had to be tested and those who carried girls had to be aborted by taking some ‘magic pill’. I couldn’t even imagine having to give up a baby because of her sex. And if I wanted more kids, then maybe marrying someone and moving away would be enticing.

  Sliding into the passenger seat of Jessie’s faded red beater Volkswagen, the engine sputtered a couple of times before it roared to life. I clicked the seatbelt into place. As Jessie zipped by the other cars, weaving in and out of traffic like a race car driver hell-bent on winning, she continued the conversation from the ice cream parlor.

  “I heard that they don’t have any women on their planet. If one of them chooses you, then you are treated like a queen.”

  “Uh-huh.” I said disbelievingly, staring out the window and tuning out most of the conversation.

  “And…all they want is to have children.” Her eyes briefly slid toward me, assessing. “You like being a mom, right?”

  I choked on the spit in my mouth, coughed, then beat my chest. Jessie made it sound so simple and there was nothing easy about raising a baby by myself. Three to four hours of sleep at a time, changing diapers, naps—and let’s not forget about getting pooped and peed on, thrown up on—yeah, she made it sound so peachy. Thankfully, the smiles and giggles countered the bad stuff. That’s what I lived for.