Playing With Fire
If you play with fire you’re going to get burned. But if you write dragon shifter books the burn is pure pleasure.
I often look to the sky for inspiration. Winged creatures have the freedom to soar high above the earth and ride the wind. I live on the Central California coast and enjoy watching gulls, terns, pelicans and the occasional hawk. If I couldn’t have wings and experience flight, I decided to give the gift of flight to my characters, creating shape-shifting winged heroes and heroines.
My dragons soar and dive. Their wings flap, flutter and snap. Although their wings are important, dragons are far more complex. They have horns, scales, talons and beautiful long tails. They breathe fire and blow smoke and that’s why I love dragon shifters. All that fire stirs my imagination.
My first adventure in the world of dragons was Heartfire. The book is part of a sci-fi vampire series I wrote for Changeling Press. My hero is a vampire and I wanted to give him a real challenge, a heroine with the ability to shift into the form of a dragon.
I loved my heroine so much I wrote Kiss of Fire and Nightflyer.
Dragon shifter characters are so unique and exciting I decided to do a series titled Dragonfire. My dragons must find their one true mate for only then will they experience dragonfire.
Book one is Captured. My heroine, Zira, has been captured and placed in an aviary as a pet for the tyrant, Targus. Her keeper, Laros, is a handsome, human thrall and his job is to take care of the fierce dragon and see that it flies for his master’s pleasure. Laros doesn’t know that Zira is a shifter and that she’s plotting her escape.
Book two of the Dragonfire series is Chosen about a female shifter whose fate was preordained because of a deal struck between her ancestor and a powerful sorcerer a thousand years ago. Changeling Press released Chosen this month, the perfect way to kick off the Year of the Dragon.
A thousand years ago, two dragon clans went to war over a cache of gold. To end the war, a sorcerer hid the gold and foretold of the birth of a female bearing the mark of the dragon.
Born with a dragon on her hip, Karis Nordrath is the chosen, and because of the mark she's been guarded all of her life. According to legend, the location of the gold will be revealed when the chosen is bonded with her dragon mate, but the only dragon that stirs Karis' fire is bodyguard, Rett Aurumon.
Rett left the Fire Mountains to follow a wanderlust he couldn't explain until he laid eyes on Karis. Hired as her bodyguard, Rett doesn't know if his true role is protector or mate. He doesn't know Karis is the chosen, but he knows she's the one.
CHOSEN is the second book in my Dragonfire series and is available now from Changeling Press.
Rett Aurumon stood in the front foyer of Gaden Hazac’s apartment waiting for his client. He walked to the end of the foyer, careful not to step into the spacious living room of glass, chrome and leather. The room had all the warmth of the man who lived within its pale gray walls.
Barefoot and wearing a pair of black sweats, Hazac entered the living room. “She’ll be ready shortly. Her hair was mussed.”
The tone of the lawyer’s voice and his lack of clothing got the point across. Hazac wanted Rett to know he and Miss Nordrath had had sex. Rett had often wondered why the man felt it necessary to make this point to a bodyguard.
Rett liked his job and his growing feelings for the woman he was hired to protect were disturbing, but he was certain of one thing. He disliked Gaden Hazac. “Thank you, Mr. Hazac.”
The lawyer walked over to a wet bar and poured himself a drink. Then Hazac turned his back on Rett and stared out the window at the city skyline.
Rett hadn’t expected his client’s boyfriend to engage him in conversation, and he’d never been invited into the living area of the apartment. Rett didn’t mind remaining in the foyer without benefit of restroom or a drink of water. The job required hours of tedious waiting. At least Rett didn’t have to listen to Hazac and his client making love.
The driver called to tell Rett the armored vehicle was in front of the building. Rett disconnected and his client entered the living room. Her dark gold hair was loose, flowing over her shoulders. She wore a bright blue blouse that complemented her eyes and a gray skirt that accentuated her trim figure.
Rett longed to let his gaze drift slowly down her shapely legs to the high heels she wore, but he kept his focus.
Hazac hustled to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Hey, baby.”
When Hazac leaned down to kiss her, Miss Nordrath turned so that his lips brushed her cheek. She looked at Rett. “Is the car ready?”
“Waiting out front, Miss Nordrath.”
His client stepped back, extricating herself from Hazac. “Goodnight, Gaden.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Hazac said.
Rett opened the front door and checked the hallway. As he escorted his client out of the apartment, Rett glanced at Hazac. “Goodnight, Mr. Hazac.”
The lawyer glared at him, then downed his drink.
When they reached the elevator, Rett pushed the call button. “Did you have a nice evening, Miss Nordrath?”
She sighed. “Not one of my best.”
They stepped into the empty elevator. “Are you headed home, Miss?”
“Yes, thank you.”
As the car descended, Rett took advantage of the private moment to admire his client. She was twenty-seven, stunningly beautiful, with a generous smile and a musical laugh. Her features were delicate, her pale golden skin was flawless, her neck graceful, her breasts nicely rounded, her waist trim, her ass perfect and her legs long.
And the dreams she wrought were making his nights pure agony.
She glanced at him and smiled. Rett was sure she’d caught him looking, but was saved by the loud ding of the elevator bell, announcing they’d descended to the lobby floor. The doors opened. Rett stepped out first and checked the building’s foyer before his client exited the car.
He repeated the security check as they exited the building.
“Rett, why don’t you call me Karis?”
Because I need the reminder that I’m just an employee.
“I’m following instructions, Miss.”
“My father’s instructions? You have my permission to call me Karis.”
“Thank you, Miss.”
He opened the back door of the Nordrath vehicle. Karis’ car was heavily armored with a trained driver at the wheel. Rett rarely left her side.
She climbed into the vehicle, then looked up at Rett and grinned. “You’re not going to do it, are you?”
He grinned back. “No, Miss.”
Rett shut the heavy door. He’d never say it out loud, but that wouldn’t stop him from thinking of her as Karis.
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