Dragon Games

Though he has no intention of shackling himself to a female, Tielo has devised a poker invitational to bring potential human mates to Drake’s Lair for his fellow dragons. Club co-owner Pierce has also set a plan in motion—to see his partner mated. When their two schemes collide in the shape of Lyra, smoke and flame result, literally.

For Lyra, the invitation to an evening of high-stakes poker is the answer to a prayer and her chance to help a family in need. But her confidence wavers upon entering Drake’s Lair, where the male members role-play as dragons and brazenly display their sensuality.

None are as dangerously distracting as Tielo. The gold-and-silver “dragon” could be her downfall, and not just at the poker table. Because despite his attempts at denial, overwhelming need and lust blast Tielo the instant he meets Lyra. He’ll have her beneath him before the night is done, his essence inside her, his claim undeniable.

For dragons, mating is no game…and Tielo is playing for keeps.

Please note: A previous edition of this story was published by Ellora’s Cave.

Connected Books: Supernatural Bonds

Witches, Weres, faeries, elves, dragons, Drui and demons, there’s something for everyone as each heroine meets her perfect hero—or heroes in a world where the supernatural entities calling it home hide their existence from anyone who isn’t a mate. The stories in the Supernatural Bonds series don’t need to be read in order, though DYLAN'S WITCH, book 10, is better enjoyed after having met some of the heroines and heroes of the previous stories.


Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Book 4

Book 5

Book 6

Book 7

Book 9

Book 10

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Read an Excerpt

Five.

Four.

Three.

Pierce mentally counted down the seconds to victory, and the addition of treasure to his own hoard.

Two.

Tielo emerged from his office just in the nick of time and Pierce smiled at winning the bet with Henri, though that victory paled in comparison to the larger one.

Heat blazed across the room as Tielo’s gaze landed on Lyra. So visceral and intense, he might as well have opened his mouth and sent fire to surround her.

That heat was answered by a quick inhalation of breath and a sharp tremor. She leaned forward as though she’d become sinuous flame, drawn to join the more powerful amalgamation of it that was dragon. Tielo. Albeit, true to form, his partner was fighting the inevitable, keeping his distance rather than hurrying over to meet his future.

“Wow,” Lyra whispered, a blush crawling up her neck and into her face, though thankfully hidden by the color of her skin. Her mouth was dry but her labia was instantly slick.

The picture hadn’t done him justice. In person he was…

Devastating.

Dark brown hair stopped at his shoulders, making him appear a maverick among the other dragons with their longer tresses. But she could easily imagine spearing her fingers through it as she lost herself in deep dark eyes.

Hope joined to the curl of heat in her chest, stripping away denial. A part of her did want to meet a man. Mr. Right, her mother would say, having experienced Mr. Wrong.

A nudge from Pierce broke Tielo’s mesmerizing pull and altered their course so he was behind them. She became aware of her surroundings again, the sound of gambling now amplified.

Her stomach knotted. What if Tielo was an out-of-control gambler, like her biological father had been?

That fear was countered by the hope. What if he was a member here because he enjoyed the role-playing and the company of other dragons?

A smile unwound the knot. And then the man they approached made her blush again at his obvious appreciation of her appearance and the eagerness at which he stepped forward when Pierce said, “Lyra, this is Roque.”

Rogue might have been a better name, with his fierce looks. Long black hair stopped mid-back while a red earring glittered in one lobe and a soul-patch accented a bottom lip that begged a woman to capture and suck it.

“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” he said, taking her hand and carrying it to his mouth, his gaze a demand. Choose me.

Despite the burn of Tielo’s gaze on her back—or maybe because of it—her labia heated, growing more flushed, her nipples beading with longing. Wow. Dragon pheromones were potent.

The ease with which she’d slipped into their role-playing made her laugh softly, and that sound served as an invitation for Roque to crowd into her personal space, a wicked tongue stealing a taste as it darted out to touch the back of her hand.

By the Great Shared Ancestor! Tielo silently snarled at seeing Roque’s lips on the first of the prospective mates. He wanted to cross the club and snatch her hand back, to growl at her for allowing the male to touch her then apply his own teeth to the tender skin where neck met shoulder. He’d bite and mark her, punishment and warning and announcement delivered with others present to witness. By the—

He broke rant and fantasy with a snort, consciously ignoring the flames that erupted from his nostrils. He forced himself to turn from the sight of the human female with Roque.

The amusement he’d caught in Pierce’s expression was all he needed to understand this game the tricky fey had set into play. The introduction to Roque served merely as unnecessary confirmation.

Tielo made his way to the maître d’ station, suppressing a snarl when he saw Henri’s quickly suppressed smile. “Name the silver-and-gold dragons present.” He could see some of them already.

“Cael, Soren, Jubal, Takeo, Zephyr, Odion and Roque.”

Smoke escaped Tielo’s nostrils. Four of the seven came only infrequently to the club, and one, Odion, left the dragon realm once every century if that!

“The half— Aislinn,” he corrected himself, Pierce’s earlier warning heeded. He had no desire to ever offend his cousin’s mate Sophie and bring Severn’s wrath down upon himself. “Somehow Aislinn knows who might be a potential match.” It was easy enough to believe given the existence of heartstones.

“I don’t know,” Henri said, lifting the invitation, the movement enough to create the faintest breeze and carry the potential mate’s scent to Tielo.

His cock spasmed in reaction, leaking arousal onto the tip. Desire alone was nearly enough to drive his shaft through the front of his pants like a steel spear.

Only tremendous self-control kept need from his voice, though the hint of a growl escaped. “Her name?”

“Lyra.”

Lyra. It sang through him, dragon nature grasping, clutching it to his heart like rare, priceless treasure.

A beat. A second. It became impossible to keep his back to her.

He turned to find Soren standing far too close to her, the other male’s heat brushing against the front of her body, surrounding her as Roque’s had. And like Roque, he too carried her hand to his lips in stolen touch and scent and taste.

Tielo took an involuntary step forward. His hand closed into a fist against the imagined feel of first delivering a spank to Lyra’s naked buttocks for allowing Roque and Soren to have any part of her, and then smoothing over dark, creamy flesh in a gesture of adoration.

Dragon hearing allowed him to catch the soft sound of her voice as she asked Soren if he wanted to join her at the poker table. Tielo’s lips pulled back in a snarl, hearing a purr in her voice though he couldn’t be sure whether it was real or imagined.

“I hope to join you in many more ways,” Soren said, brushing his lips across her hand for a second time.

Tielo saw red. No! Everything inside him screamed. Mine! Mine! Mine!

He shook his head, clearing away the fiery color that painted the room with potential violence. No! He repeated. Only this time the denial held different meaning. This time it was a reminder that he didn’t want a mate. That he wouldn’t fall prey to his own scheme. He enjoyed his unmated status.

Locks and trust and alliance were sufficient to keep the valuables he hoarded in both the dragon and human realms safe. Even Drake’s Lair could easily exist without his attention for months on end.

At the first rumor of treasure he could leave. He could disappear into jungle or isolating terrain, could troll the bottom of the sea looking for artifacts or gold or gems.

A mate changed everything. A mate couldn’t be trusted to the care of another. A mate was a constant worry. True, there were compensating pleasures, but freedom was far more valuable.

He forced amusement to take the place of fierce possessiveness. He turned mine into visions of treasure, the winnings that would accrue to him because of the bet initiated by Pierce.

Tielo found a true smile at Pierce’s cleverness, his trickery at having so diabolically set this particular trap in the hopes of not only gaining wealth, but witnessing his partner’s fall. He chuckled. Not happening.

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Read the Reviews

“Lyra and Tielo were drawn to each other and the heat between them was scorching, which made for sex scenes that had you wishing you had a dragon in your tank…I would absolutely recommend this book, it is a great way to indulge your shape shifter fantasies and get in a good read.”

— Long and Short Reviews

“The story is so hot that reading about the poker game was just as good as any scene of foreplay I’ve read, so you can imagine how scorching the actual sex scenes are.”

— The Romance Studio

“Ms. Strong gave us a story full of heat. The connection between Tielo and Lyra was apparent almost from word one.”

— Two Lips Reviews

“I thought this story was fabulous.”

— Romancing the Book

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