Mid-Week Photo Opening Line

 Hi, 

Half the week is gone. Hope today finds you in a good spirts and ready to see another opening line. Hope you like the photo and line I came up with. Remember, I'm always interested in hearing what you would come up with.

Photo credit to: Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/fantasticpicture-1560299/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3075152">Michael Seibt</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3075152">Pixabay</a>

Opening Line: Red had taken to the air two miles before I spotted him the golden dragon from the boat, but he was no match from him. It would take us both to take him down before he eliminated the castle.

Have a great rest of your week. I'm going back to my NaNo story.

Let your imagination soar

Julia

Story Opening Line

 Hi,

Today I've taken the below photo from https://pixabay.com/photos/fantasy-amazone-light-being-veil-3281710/  and written an opening line of a story based off of it. 

Hope you enjoy what I come up with and encourage you to take the time and come up with your own opening line or any line based off the photo below. Would love to see how your imagination soars. 

Swirls of bluish lights mingled in among Hera's dull dark, greenish-graying swash of cloth as she balanced herself on the semi-dragon shaped ether she conjured. 

Three is my opening line idea. Unsure how well it might fit with what anyone else might see from this photo, but it's what came to my mind. Let me know what you see in the photo. Or your own opening line.

Have a great couple of days. 

Julia

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 28 (Ending)

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 28

Cree

We walked over to the statue. Godfather took the lead, stopping to the left of Agent Carter. He placed us so we could easily dive behind the statue. Never knew when a stray bullet would come your way. Hop pretty much blocked me from the sight of them, which was why I had to shove myself by him to greet Raquel. I would have given him a look that put him in his place, but . . . couldn’t be that type of person any longer. Had to live the way a dragon would. The way I would have been taught if Agent Carter had not stolen my dragon from me.

“Ka - - sorry. Cree, how are you.”

“Fine. You?”

“Would be better if you would . . .” I listened as she tried to plead her case about me getting to know her. I’d done told her how I felt about her, even though at that point I felt sorry for her. Facts about her had been kept from her by her Uncle. The one in the same who used magic to steal my dragon. Had to admit, it was going to give me some pleasure to bring to life just what Agent Carter had hidden.

“Raquel,” Godfather moved so he was standing halfway in front of me. “We did not ask you guys here to discuss what Cree has already answered. We have new facts that need to be brought to life.”

“What would that be?” Agent Carter scoffed. “Your kind are stupid and know nothing.”

I expected Godfather or Hop to defend themselves, but that didn’t happen.

“Have you guys heard of Seers?”

Raquel nodded.

“Do you know how to tell you are around one?”

Agent Carter rolled his eyes. Wanted to shoot him myself. He was a huge asshole.

“What is all this about?” Raquel crossed her arms, staring into Godfather’s arms.

“Tell me what you see when you look at Cree.”

I was up. Wasn’t sure if it was going to work. Hop’s father had told me how to let my Seer abilities to shine. I’d done it once or twice in Godfather’s office. Hoped I could do it then.

I shut my eyes and thought of the vision that had plagued me for the last couple of days. First one that Hop was shot in, then the newest version of the scene unfolding in front of me. A zinging feeling rushed from my fingertips to my face, circling it until it came to settle in my eyes. I slowly opened them and stared right at Raquel. I knew I done it soon as she gasped and took a step back.

“This is . . . There is . . . . Seers are . . . They come from . . .” Raquel spun to face Agent Carter. “Did you know?”

Agent Carter did not move. If I had not saw his chest rise and fall I would have thought someone propped a dead guy against the statue.

“You . . .”

Next few seconds were a blur of what I’d already seen. Raquel took a small step back and pulled a gun from behind her back. She aimed it at Agent Carter. Her finger pulled the trigger back and let it go without sparing a thought. The back-firing sound forced my hands over my ears as Hop lifted me off my feet and dived behind the statue. Godfather followed right along, landing over top of Hop. Sure we made a funny sight.

Once there was no other backfiring sounds, Godfather let us up. We stepped out from our cover to find a horded of people running our way. Sirens blared, drowning out all the questions from the onlookers.

Raquel stood there staring down at Agent Carter. “He should have told me.”

There would be no explaining his actions. All Agent Carter had to do was answer to his maker. The executioner style shot to the head brought his life to a unexpected end. Unexpected to him.

“You three do not . . . You knew.”

Before I could answer her a loud voice broke the small cocoon of seclusion that had seemed to surround us.

“What happened here?”

“I shot him.” Raquel squared her shoulder and held out the gun to the blue uniformed officer.

Looked like our plan had worked. We might have even gone a bit overboard on ensuring that no one thought the leader of the group that Agent Carter had been gunning for had nothing to do with it. Raquel was taking full blame for her actions. Tears spilled down her face as she explained that her and Agent Carter were involved in a family dispute. She went into no further detail and something about her openiness told me she would not.

“You three witness this?”

“We did.” Godfather nodded at the uniformed officer.

“Then wait for us to take your statement.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What do we do next?” I whispered.as I watched the m handcuff Raquel and stick her inside a police squad car.

“We,” Hop put his arm around my waist, squeezing. “Have your belated birthday party and introduce you to the Den. Then we begin our life as a bonded pair.”

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 26

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 26

Cree

Not sure how long Hop held me while I let the unshed tears flow. I’d lost my dad and mom. Discovered so man lies that it made my stomach twist in knots. Wasn’t sure what all the tears was for. My lost loved ones. The lies. Or the deaths that still laid ahead. Didn’t matter. I cried and cried until there were no tears left. Then when Godfather sent Hop a text that we were needed in this office I was relieved that I had something else to think about.

“Where do we have this meeting?” I sat down on the leather sofa across from Godfather’s desk. My head did a double take when I saw a fresh bruise forming on Godfather’s left eye. I was up and in front of him before I thought. “Who hit you?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He gave my hand a squeeze and nodded back to the sofa.

“No. I want to know.”

“Baby,” Hop came over to me and tugged me back to the sofa. “Remember what we talked about.”

“yes, but he . . . Godfather.”

“He is, but I’m sure he is fine.”

“I am, my sweet boy.”

“You don’t lie to me. What happened?”

“Fine.” Godfather sighed. “I got in the way of an irate dragon.”

“The leader?” I couldn’t believe it. “This was on dad, wasn’t it?”

“This is the end of this conversation.” Godfather tossed Hop a stack of papers. “Here are some locations your father said he could have the Seneator at by tomorrow.”

I cursed the unanswered questions, but Hop had spoken and so had Godfather. I would get no more from either of them. Didn’t set well with me, but I knew what it meant, as much as I hated it.

“These are all on state property.”

“Correct. He says that it needs to be somewhere where the local police will have to call in the state police.”

“The FBI will be called soon as they find out who has been shot.”

“Common practice, but they will have to work with the state police and since the Senator is going to be there . . .”

“It would basically be an open and shut case. They would not dispute such a witness.

“Sounds like the perfect plan.”

“Does, Cree, but if your vision change you need to tell us. Immediately.”

“How will I know if it changes?” All this Seer business was new to me. Put me on uneven ground. More than the deaths of my mom and dad had. More than the lies had.

“You will know.” Hop said as he tugged me onto his lap. “You are a smart man.”

“What do we do about the dragon they stole from me?”

Godfather snorted out a huge stream of ice just as one left Hop.

“Does that mean neither of you know?”

“Means . . . there is nothing we can do. What he done is irreversible.:

Sucked, but just what I expected. It would have been nice to have my dragon, but at least I’m special in another way. I am not just a simple human whose the other half to a dragon. All I could do was bring the truth to life for Raquel. If she had not been going to kill Agent Carter then I might have wanted to get to know her, then again . . . nope. I would not have. She would have aborted me if she knew what my dad was. She’d said that.

“Until then, rest. Hop's father is going to meet the Senator and spend the evening dining with him.”

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 22

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 22

Hop

Not sure how long we’d been asleep when Cree bolted up, scanning the room as he went to his knees. I followed him up. I saw nothing but a yellow ring around his cornea. It wasn’t something I’d seen much in my life. Maybe twice. Dad had spoken of Seers three times in his life. All three times had taken place during his dad’s rein, not his. Seers were rare. Rarer was the fact that they were only born to a child born to a daughter of a dragon who bore no dragon. That meant . . .

Did Raquel know? Was it something her mother kept from her? If that was the case then she would have been the child that destroyed the Magic in her family. It would not have been a child mine and Cree. It didn’t matter. What did was that Cree was no longer able to have children and what he had been given was more special than anything in the world. He would be the first male Seer in history. No, he wasn’t born a man, but he was one.

“Hop, honey.”

Cree’s sleepy voice had me squeezing him closer to me. “Rest, baby.”

“I can feel your . . . confusion. Talk to me, please.”

How could I refuse such a polite request. Not that I could every tell Cree no. Never been able to. It’s how come he got a nice sports care for his sixteenth birthday. Grace and Rex had been pissed. Charlie had okayed it, so I got it for him. I loved the way his smile lit his entire face. It gave me so much happiness that I did not care what he asked for. I’d make sure he had it just to see him so happy.

“I think . . . No, I know we need to have another chat with Raquel. Maybe even Agent Carter.”

“Why?”

The way her lips curled told me more than the tone in his voice. He did not want anything else to do with them. I did not feel fear radiating from him, but there was some hesitation there. I wasn’t sure from what, which I would have to figure out before I brought them back. Never go into a situation without all the facts. Whatever my other half felt was worth knowing. It might come down to the truth being discovered, or life and death. His, mine, Charlie, or theirs. I hoped that wasn’t the case, but . . . if Agent Carter knew about the Seer bloodline then . . . There’s no telling what he might do to keep it a secret. Then again . . . if Raquel knew . . . Whatever the case, I had to tell Charlie and Cree before they arrived. I would not throw blindside them with such information. It would not be right.

“Come on, Baby, we need to go speak to Charlie.”

I sat up, taking him with me, giving his new claiming mark a light kiss before I got up and tossed him his clothes. With much interest I watched as he slid one leg into his boxer and then the other. My cock was thickening as his bobbed from the small movement. As he slid his leg into his jeans it was all I could do, but fall to my knees and suck him. He must have picked up on my mood, because he glanced up at me and took hold of his cock, stroking it and waving it at me.

“Come take it.”

It was all Cree had to say. I was on my knees in front of him and had him all the way in my throat before he could suck in a breath. He knew what I liked so much that he immediately began thrusting deep into my throat. My cheeks hallowed out as he pulled out and back in. It didn’t take long before my mouth was full of him. I’m not sure who made the most noise when he erupted inside my mouth. Mine was more of a loud muffle as my junk spewed over the side of my bed. I made sure he was clean and then sat back, taking his other leg and putting it into the leg hole. He flopped back and was sucking in air. After I tugged his jeans up and helped him stand, I slid into my clothes. As we walked out Charlie was about to knock.

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 21

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 21

Hop

My dragon roared at Cree’s offer. Not because he’d told him to dominate him, but he’d given him permission to take him as his. I wasn’t sure if he knew what those words meant exactly, which is why I quickly enlightened my dragon side that we had done started the process, but . . . taking it further wasn’t an option he turned twenty. My dragon didn’t waste time in letting me know that dominating him would be amazing and enough to hold him over until we could completely claim Cree.

“Come on, baby. I’m cooling off and . . .”

“No you’re not.” Hop slipped his hand around to Cree’s back and down to his ass, cupping him and pushing him closer. With the second squeeze I slammed my lips over his, shoving my tongue through his lips, exploring every edge of his hot moist mouth. “Grip the headboard.” I pushed his knees up. “Keep them there.”

I climbed off the bed and grabbed my fur covered handcuffs, which I’d bought two months after meeting Cree. I’d saw them in the local fetish store, where I’d been picking up a package for Mr. Davis, who favored the slave aspect, more than the bondage, but his submissive had a liking for leather chaps. A blue pair of the cuffs had been displayed in the window, but I’d gotten a lavender colored pair.

“These,’ I let them drop on Cree’s stomach as I scooted right up to his ass. “Are the first gift I bought you.” His eye went wide. “You were too young for me to give them to you.”

“Ooooohhhhh. See I was right. You do need this aspect of loving.”

“I do, but I can live without it.” I ran my hand up Cree’s sire and over his stomach, loving the smooth abs as my hand let the cuffs drag across his chest and up his shoulder until I was able to headboard. “if it gets too much you tell me. I’ll stop.”

“Okay.”

My cock twitched the moment the cuff clicked into place. My skin rippled with excitement from my dragon’s lung forward. I slipped my finger between each cuff, ensuring they woulnd’t rub my man. Then I licked and nipped my way back down to his elbow, where I laved the inner part that I knew drove him wild.

Cree’s moan and slight wiggle drove my desire so high my temper rose a couple of notches. I didn’t linger long, if I had, Cree would have begged me before I wanted him to. I had him bound to the bed for the first time. No way was he going to rush my fun.

“Going to make you feel more than you ever have.”

I was so close to his ear that I knew he felt each puff of air from each word I said. It would be just enough to drive him up the wall. My man loved the dirty talk to start out slow and simple.

“Going to ravish every inch of this . . .”

I pinched the hard nipple between my thumb and forefinger. Cree panted and thrust up, but I removed my hand, making him whimper.

“your skin’s been free of my marks for way too long.”

I leaned down and latched my mouth over the skin right above the areola, sucking hard enough that a mark appeared in two seconds flat. I used my other hand to fondle the other nipple.

“Hop . . . Please . . . Need . . .

“Hush. I know what my baby need at all times.”

I slipped the other hand over his side and under his back, letting the palm of my and come to rest over  the tight firm cheek.

“Love the way your ass flinches when I touch you. It knows who it belongs to, don’t it?”

“Yes.” Cree arched up.

“Don’t move. Feel my love.”

I let my hand slip closer to his crack, then dipped a finger between his cheeks. As much as I wanted to breech that ass, then wasn’t the time. I wanted his desire to the brink that he had to scream and beg me to take him hard and fast and dry. Not a method he’d yet to let me have him. One day I would. It was the ultimate dream of mine. One day Cree would give me all I needed and the way I needed it. That I knew for sure. If not . . . he would not have let me cuff him. Right then . . . I had other ideas and it included letting my dragon have a bit of fun.

I let my finger slip into a small talon and feathered it back and forth across his premium. With ease I let the tip of the talon slip in and then back out. It worked just like I hoped it would. Cree arched up and let a loud moan free. I retracted the talon and then slipped my finger in knuckle deep.

“Going to make this mine.” I slid down in the bed and shoved his legs further to his face, letting my tongue trace the crack a time or two before I dipped the tip of my tongue through his folds and into the awaiting hole. With two more tongue thrust I sat back up. “I’m the only one who can taste this.” Cree nodded. “Play with your . . . “ . . . my finger dipped in all the way to the hilt, drawing a deep gasp from Cree. “This hole. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Hop. Damn . . . honey.” Cree arched up, but stopped when I shook my head at him.

“I own that ass.”

I scooted closer to Cree and did the one thing that I had not started out to do to him. Took him dry and hard. Basically. There was a little salvia from my licks, but not enough to count as lube. Definitely not enough to cover for the brutal thrust I gave him. Not when I bottomed out inside him in less than a second. His shout richocheeted off the walls, but drove my dragon closer and closer, which had me pulling back and shoving back in just as fast and as hard. Cree’s entire body scooted up the bed, but him hitting his head on the headboard did not stop me from pulling all the way out and shoving back in him. I was going to make him feel me for days. Going to leave him knowing who owned him. Who loved him. Who would take care of him. Not that Cree needed any reminding of that, but I was going to give it to him. That was for sure.

“Hop . . . fuck . . . I . . . Can’t . . . “

Not sure how many thrust I made until I felt Cree’s ass clinch my cock. It didn’t take but a second or two of his tight hold to draw my orgasm from me. It was the powerfulest release I’d ever felt. One I would never feel again, because a dragon only felt that claiming connection once. Amazing. Wonderful. Neither described it. I was out of my body, looking down on me and my man as my dragon seized control and claimed Cree for his. My tongue darted out, shifting into the split lizard like tongue. With one long lick across the softest spot on the neck, my teeth sharpened and struck, locking themselves deep into the flesh of Cree. Cree shouted as his blood seeped into my mouth and down my throat. I knew it was not hurting him. Many dragons told me about their claiming and swore that the swipe of the tongue did the job it was supposed and numbed the skin. What the shout came from was the ultimate connection being formed. Other words, Cree’s mind was drawing a mental line to mine. I could feel all his fears, worries, and love. Not only for me, but for Charlie and all the Logan Den.

I knew what I was doing was wrong, but it was the right time as well. If it had not been . . . the claiming would not have taken and it had routed Cree inside me so deep that Cree was about all I could feel. Not that I was complaining. I’d take knowing Cree in such a deep manner any day of the week.

Soon as the connection completed I found myself back in my body. I slowly swiped my tongue over the small teeth marks. In a couple of hours they would not be visible to anyone other than a dragon, or a claimed other half.

“Oh man . . .” Cree’s legs fell around me as he smiled up at me. “That was . . . What was that?”

“A claiming.”

“Thought you said . . .”

“Did, but appears my mind and dragon were on different, yet same wave length.”

“SO you are not sorry?”

“Hell no, baby. Nothing in the world will compare to this. Can’t you feel how much I loved claiming you?”

“I can.” Cree rubbed his temple. “It’s nice to feel, but . . . will it always be so close to the front of my mind?? Cree winced. “not that I mind, but . . . it’s strong and a bit . .  it makes my head . . . Full.”

“That will lessen in a few hours. You will learn ways to push my emotions to the background as our link matures.” I leaned down and kissed him as I slipped free from his body. “I love you, baby.”

“Love you to.” Cree yawned as I enclosed myself around him. “Sleep, baby. Sleep.”

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 18 Part 3

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

 “Baby, I can’t do so.” He claimed my lips, exploring my mouth with the ferocity of a last kiss. “You are my other half. It is my job to take care of you.”

“I don’t’ want you harmed. You can’t endanger yourself or our family.”

“I can. I will.”

“Not if you are to live up to your job.”

“It doesn’t work that way, baby.”

“It does. It’s your law. Right?”

“it is, but . . . bigger part of me being your other half is putting you above myself and all others.”

“NO! I won’t allow it.” I wiggled from his lap. “I won’t.” I’d leave . . . Fuck. I couldn’t leave him. It would cause destruction. Bring the Fire-Breathing Dragon down onto the world.

“Baby, being my other half means way more than you know right now.”

“Then tell me.”

Hop patted his lap. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

Wasn’t. Best if I knew it all. “Yes.” 

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 18 Part 2

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

 “Baby, what happened?” Hop picked me up and sat me on his lap.

“Nightmare.” Was all I could say. There was no way I would put words to the dream. Speaking it would make it happen. Agent Carter kept me a secret from Raque for five years. Why? Dad kept me hidden. He wouldn’t have done so simply because I was part of the Dray family line.

There had to be more to it than that. If not . . . dad would not have lied to his best friend and break the custody agreement for something elementary. Wasn’t sure what his reason was, but had a good idea. If someone knew, or believed one person could bring destruction to an entire race they’d stop them. One way or another. Best way to prevent me from doing so was to eliminate me before the legend had a chance to bloom.

“Agent Carter wants me dead.” Fear thickened my voice, revealing the realness of the situation.

“If so . . . he won’t succeed. You are mine. Charlie and I will protect you with our lives.”

That’s what scared me. I didn’t want either of them harmed. They were my only family. If they failed to protect me the other Logan Family members would come to my aid. That would equal more deaths on my hand.

“Promise me you won’t endanger yourself or the rest of the family.” I tightened my hold on around his neck.

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 17 Part 3

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Crap. There had to be . . . “There’s others weaker than him, right?” Had to be. There was no way I could stash father among a shaking, cowering, sweat soaked Mr. Davis. Father wouldn’t physically eat Mr. Davis, but he might force his human side into a comatose state. Fact had accidently causes a new member of his own den down that path after the two were introduced. Needless to say that dragon had been relocated to a lesser den, allowing him to live among dragons like himself.

“Whose above him?”

Charlie keyed his password into the computer and opened the Logan Den’s register. “Cupcake. Think he might be okay among Cupcake?”

Cupcake was more like a woman than a male dragon. Wasn’t sure how him, or Mr. Davis managed to stay in such a dominat den. They did, which states lots about how Charlie ran the Logan Den. Good things. All the way around. Another reason that made it hard for me to understand how Charlie overlooked the shit with Rex.

“That’ll be perfect. Make the call while I go check on Cree.”

“You going to start the second phase before he arrives?”

“Can’t. Have to make the announcement first.”

“Guess I’m a bit more scattered than I though.” Charlie tapped the folder he’d been fiddling with. “New facts opened my eyes to what I missed. The Highness is going to chew me up and spit me out for my stupidity.”

“Nah.” Father wouldn’t. Charlie was a main guard, meaning any punishment Charlie desergved would come from me. Far as I could tell the man was beating himself up enough. Everyone, even dragons, over look things among their friends and family.

“Let it go. Deal with calling Cupcake and inform him of his houseguest.” I shook my head. ‘Why does he go by Cupcake instead of his real name?”

Charlie shook his head and said, “I can’t say.”

“Whatever. Just make sure he has a room ready for father and let me know the moment he announces his arrival.”

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 17 Part 2

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

I listened until Charlie’s body gave way and he flopped into his black leather desk chair. His head banged against the mahogany wood desk for a couple of minutes then he sat up. No sign of the earlier outburst. His expressionless face was back in place. Only another leader would know that the anger was pushed to the back of his mind. Not forgotten, just back enough that Charlie would stew over his anguish while plunging forward with the task at hand. Preparing for my father, the leader of all dragons.

If he was ready to get started then I was to. “Did father give you any idea how he was going to handle being around me?”

Charlie huffed. “Do you think he did?”

Course not. The man was famous for letting the lower ranked people make all the arrangements for him.

“I was thinking it would be best to put him in the hotel in the next town.”

Yeah right. Father would have a shit fit. There was no way he’d stay so far from the den. “Won’t work.”

“Why? It’ll keep him away from you and Cree.”

“Yes, but can you imagine the ice he would snort when you told him it was twenty minutes from your den.”

“So.” Charlie opened the folder and picked up a sheet of paper.

“If he was needed in a hurry, he’d have to fly here.”

“Shit.” Charlie shifted through a few more sheets of paper. “I can’t believe this.”

Was sure that Charlie wasn’t referring to a lack of wisdom when it came to father’s future location. Something in those papers had put fire in Charlie’s normally dark eyes. Whatever he’d found had brought him back to background problem. From the little snorts of ice shooting from Charlie’s nose it was time I step in and took some stress off of him.

“You deal with whatever has your dragon snorting and puffing before father gets here. I’ll figure out where to stash father.”

I pulled my phone out and hunted the phone number for the hotel five minutes from the den. Course there was no vacancies, which meant resorting to the least acceptable choice, placing father int eh home of the weakest dragon among the Logan Den. I had no idea who it was, or how close he lived. I quickly made my way over to Charlie’s desk and cut the computer on.

“What are you doing?” Charlie knocked my hand away.

“Locating your weakest dragon’s address.”

“Why?”

“For father.”

“Hell no.” Charlie snatched the laptop from in front of me. “Your father would eat Mr. Davis alive.”

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 17 Part 1

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 17

Hop

How could someone who worked years in the FBI overlook such? Charlie’s blazing red eyes told me he was thinking the same way as Cree. Agent Carter, and maybe Mrs. Stone, had an ulterior motive. What though?

“Uh . . . Hop?”

“What, baby?” I didn’t want Cree worrying over anything else. She’d been landed with a shit load over the last couple of days. When my father arrived, there would be more.

Cree leaned his head back, rubbing his temple. “Can I have more Aspin?”

“Sure. Charlie?”

“On it.” Charlie rushed out of the room.

“Baby,” I kissed his fingers as they massaged his forehead. “I think it might help if you got some rest.”

“More . . . ugh!”

“Afraid so.”

“Here you go.” Charlie laid two tablets in his hand and pointed towards the door. “Rest is what you need. Go to your and Hop’s room. Get some sleep.”

Cree’s lack of argument bothered me. I’d expected the events to catch up with him, but still figured he’d rebel against being tucked away. Charlie disliked it to, if his tight creased forehead was any indication.

Charlie didn’t show emotions, except when it came to Cree, even then it was rare. When he did it was so pronounced that everyone stayed away. Charlie’s normal reaction when Cree was upset was to loud ranting and snapping orders. When you added in the deceptions from Rex . . . a more extreme reaction was more than possible.

“Will you be joining me?” Cree stood and stretched his arms towards the ceiling, revealing a bit of tan skin. Skin I’d love to tickle with my tongue as I licked every inch of his strong body. “Hop?”

Cree’s little chuckle was sexy as hell. Man knew what he did to me and when he had me hooked. Not that Cree had been aiming to give me a boner. Don’t think at least. He might have. Who knew. He did though and he could take care of it soon.

“In a few minutes.” I patted his ass, nodding towards the door. “Go rest.” I waited until Cree was down the hallway before I addressed Charlie. “You going to be okay?”

“With what?”

“Don’t play coy with me.”

“I’m not.” Charlie went to the file cabinet and pulled open the bottom drawer, extracted a bottle of Jack Daniels and took a huge swig.

“Best rant before father shows up.” I knew Charlie’s plate would be more than full with two dominant dragons in one location. Not to mention, Cree and my bonding process still be in the first stage, which would make my dragon more agitated than being around father would. Father wasn’t a threat to Cree, but my dragon would only see another available male in the vicinity of its woman, who still had the option to deny it. At least until the second phase took place.

“How did I miss what Rex was up to?” Charlie dropped the file a light brown folder on his desk. “I grew up with the man. I always knew when he was getting into trouble. We confided in each other about every little thing. Hell, I mean I even left Hexton for him. Didn’t get pissed when he ran off to China. Worse of all, he let his lie fall onto my child. He might not be my blood, but he’s mine.” I winched when Charlie slammed his open palm into his chest, sending a loud clap around the room. “There wasn’t an event in Cree’s life I wasn’t there for from the moment he returned to den. I forgave him for depriving me of the first two years of Cree’s life. He had no right to bring a shit storm to my Godson. He should’ve told me. I would have been prepared to help.”

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 16 Part 2

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

“He did. Wasn’t done lightly. He kept an eye on the family for two months. When they never spoke of what happened he decided to let them live their lives.”

“Over the years,” Godfather took up the story when Hop took a sip of water. “The family moved around settling in different areas. The story was passed down to each generations.” He crossed his ankles. “Eventually, the family took residence in several areas across China.”

“That’s where the fable began, isn’t it?”

Hop nodded at me. “During their travel to China, one of the Dray family married a Magic Wielding human. When the woman heard the fable her husband told their daughter she cast a spell warding off dragons. Each generation the spell had to be recast. That’s where the problem arose.”

How would that be a problem? It wasn’t a story a family would fail to pass down. Nope. Each generation would ensure that the spell was cast properly. Wouldn’t they?

“Over the years,” Godfather rolled his eyes, an action he did when he couldn’t believe someone overlooked an important part.” The Magic Wielding bloodline faded.”

Ah. “Fuck.” I winched when Godfather scowled at me “Sorry, Godfather.” Cussing wasn’t forbidden, but he had two no-no words for her.

“Here’s the part that Mrs. Stone views different than the dragons.”

Hop’s statement had me leaning forward and propping my elbows on my knees. I didn’t  know when or why, but I’d become engrossed in the story. It was my family history, on both sides, but what had her attention the most was discovering why dad took me to China when I officially began dating Hop. Clearly, he didn’t want me to know my heritage, or he would have told me about his dargon. Plus, when he took me to the museum in China he didn’t harp on me about diverting my attention to other areas that interested me more. And my dad was like a pesky fly when he wanted you to remember something. He spent a month ensuring I knew how to contact Godfather if the law raided our house, which came in handy.

“The Fire-Breathing Fable the Dray family line believes in states that if the spell was not recast and a Dray family member bore a son by a dragon then he would bring the end to all Magic Wielders. If a daughter was born, she would draw the attention of a powerful dragon increasing the Dragon and Magic Wielding bloodline. Other words, a child between a Dray family member and a dragon would bring total destruction to all humans.”

Not sure what I looked like, or did, but Godfather slipped his arms around me. “Cree, you okay?”

How to answer that? Hop just told me that Raquel and Agent Carter believed I would . . . wow! They thought I’d bring the apocalypse to life. Not that it was possible. Any longer. I put an end to that theory the day I went through my transformation. Still, it goaded at me that my biological mother truly believed that I would . . . Shit. What . . .

“Wh - - What do you believe we would have brought to life?”

Hop grasped my chin and lifted it until we were eye-to-eye. “If you had not changed to a man, a child of ours would have been like any other child from a dragon and a human. He or she would have either had a dragon, or been human. He, or she, would have been loved by all. He, or she, would have gained leadership of all dragons, just like I will.”

Okay. That eased the little ants crawling over my arms and legs. Least the dragons would not have believed a child of mine would have destroyed the world. Raquel on the other hand . . . she would have gone as far as to abort me if she’d know what dad was. What would have she and Agent Carter done to a child of mine. Kill it? Then again . . . Which story was right? Hop had his version. Raquel had her own. Like most thing where two endings existed one had to be right and the other wrong. Who was to say Hop was right? Did he . . .

“You got proof?”

“Don’t need any.” Hop shrugged. “Magic Wielders can’t affect a dragon. Not even to ward us off from a specific person.”

That meant . . .Did she . . . What Hop said . . . She didn’t doubt him, but what Raquel said kept rushing through my mind. Not to mention the death glare Agent Carter gave me. People didn’t give such looks unless . . . A man like Agent Carter did not give those looks because he had to deliver a legend to his great-niece. Nope. There was something else there. He had other plans for me. What though? Not like I could bare a child anymore. The myth ended the moment I completed the sex change.

“Do you . . . Agent Carter spent five years trying to take the Logan House down without knowing who I was?”

Hop glanced at Godfather and both of them sighed. Not a good response.

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 16 Part 1

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 16

Zoe

Doubtful I wanted to hear what Hop had to say. I’d been through an earthquake off the Richter Scale, twice in the last two days. What I wanted was to go back in time. Restart my life. Not possible. Knew it too. Meant I had to do what I did best, sit up tall, let the imaginary poker cards unfold and pray for a strait. Little to no chance in hell I’d ever get one, dreaming seemed like a worthwhile shot.

Hop took my hand and Godfather sat beside me. Under Godfather’s eyes there was tinge of red and his cheeks drooped from the frown marring his typical bright and vibrate skin. A look I never saw on him before and one I hoped to never witness again. Knowing dad caused the distress made the basketball size gut churning knot split into and press against my abdomen. Time Hop got down to business so I could alleviate my stress and help Godfather in some manner.

“Lay it on me.” I forced a smile, which Hop wouldn’t’ buy for a split second.

He leaned back, but kept hold of my hand, making so I had to relax backwards. “Baby, you’ve got to let me explain it all before you react.”

Not something I was the best at. Normally. I could do it. Had done it many times. One more time wouldn’t hurt me. Yet . . . I made no promise. If an important question formed it’d be up and out of my mouth before I knew it. Hop knew it as well as Godfather did. Which might have been why Godfather gave a half huff, half chuckle. He even mumbled something about how unlikely it was for me to remain quiet. Okay, maybe I failed at every attempt I made of letting someone explain before reacting. Didn’t most people.

“Mrs. Stone and Agent Carter wanted to tell you their side of the Fire-Breathing Fable. It’s an old one, including some truth and your mother - -“

“She’s not my mother.”

Godfather’s faint snort had me smiling over at him as I mentally chided myself for failing at keeping my mouth shut. Or . . . had I. Hop hadn’t started explaining had he? Sort of. Okay, he had. I sucked at being quiet when I was in the dark.

“Right.” Hop rolled his eyes, then winked at me. “Mrs. Stone and Agent Carter’s version of the fable is somewhat different than the dragons. I’m afraid I know more of the truth than your material family would.”

“Why’s that?” There I went again.

Hop shook his head and sighed. “I knew my request wouldn’t work.”

“Should’ve of.” Godfather hugged me. “Cree is a strong headed man, who will do whatever it takes to gain a clear picture before she gives her final reaction.”

Hop did know it, yet . . . he always hoped I’d be more like the women of the Logan House. Do just what their husbands said. Not something I could ever see myself doing. Then again . . . people did lots of things they never believed they’d do for love.

“The Fire-Breathing Fable was passed down by word of mouth for many generations by Mrs. Stone’s family. By the time it was written down, some of the truth had become distorted. If they ever knew it to begin with.”

“Isn’t that the case with the dragons then?”

“No. the fable was passed down to my father by his father, who lived through it all.”

Wow! Did that mean dragons lived longer than humans? Had to. The family tree I’d saw showed at least ten generations. Did that mean Hop was older than he told me?

“How old are you?” I titled my head to the left, searching for any sign of old age.

Godfather chuckled. “He didn’t lie about his age.”

My gaze shifted to Godfather.

“I on the other hand am older than I said and I won’t tell either of you my age.”

Man. Godfather sure didn’t look old. He had a young appearance about him. I’d always believed he used some kind of cream or something to look so good. Then again . . . My dad always had . . .

“Was my dad older than I knew?”

Godfather nodded. “Right now listen to Hop. Stop interrupting.”

Right. Zip the lips, or . . . have my questions dismissed until he was ready to answer them. In the past, he’d made her wait days for answers.

“This is a basic beauty and the beast story. The beast being a dragon and the princess being the only living daughter of the Dray family. A human, who happened to be fated to the other half of the most powerful dragon alive. When he explained what he was the human reacted like most would have.”

Other words, there’d been running and screaming. Physically, or mentally, if not both. What was for sure, was the woman had made sure the entire village knew to avoid the crazy talking man. Ten generations ago many would have treated the man like a parasite or locked him in an asylum. If not stake him.

“The human refused the dragon leader. The loss of our other half will drive our human side to lose control of our dragon. A dragon in full control results in one of two reactions. Most common being the dragon withdrawing into a cave and living there until his life ends. Those dragons driven to control by a rejected mate has a harsher reaction. It . . .”

Hop’s heavy sigh and downcast eyes had me scooting closer to him. I wrapped my arms around him and tugged him into me. He tucked his head against me and inhaled deeply before sitting up.

“Dragons who work in tandem with their human side breath ice, but when the dragon is in full control because of a rejection they breath fire.”

A huge gray scaled dragon with reddish orange flames shooting from a pointed mouth came to life in my mind. Deadly combination for the entire world. no wonder Hop feared my reaction. The picture sent an imaginary set of acupuncture pins across my mind.

“The dragon ended up setting half of the west coast on fire. Killed everyone in that area, or so we thought. The dragon’s mate and her family took refuge inside a deep cave right before the fire. A day or two after my grandfather killed his dragon leader, and claimed leadership of our kind, the family was spotted making their way through the brunt rubble. My grandfather had someone follow them until they settled down in the mid-west.”

“He let them live.” Wow! Not sure I would have. I mean . . . letting them live endangered all the dragons.

Lies Don't Matter Chapter 13

Lies Don’t Matter

By

Julia Matthews

Adult M/M Content

If under 18 leave sight

Unedited Story

Chapter 13

Cree

Enough was enough. I might have agreed with Hop and Charlie about giving them time to explain but Raquel Stone had no right to keep shit from me. I was out the door before a second breath could be have taken.

Hop’s frown told me all I needed to know. He wasn’t happy about me entering the hallway, but he wouldn’t stop me unless I got distressed. The man was good at blaancing his protective nature and letting me be myself. Not an easy feat for someone who liked to control everything around him. Yet, Charlie was the same, but he’d learned long before Hop came into the picture that I was more than capable of handling myself. In most cases. Wasn’t so sure if I could this time. Part of me feared finding out what caused my dad to keep me hidden and spin major lies for my entire life.

“What is it you want?” I came right up to Raquel and stared into the matching brown eyes. “I’m sure Mr. Davis showed you how much I know about you. So, why are you still here hounding my family?”

I emphasized the family part. There was no way Raquel’s sudden appearance made her family. Nope. From what little I pieced together Agent Carter was somehow related to Raquel, which meant, or most likely, Raquel had known about me for five years. So why had she waited to show up and destroy my life?

“To get to know my daughter.”

“I am no one’s daughter.” Another aspect the woman had to get through her head. Her daughter quit existing when I turned thirteen. She would have known that if she was family.

“You are.”

“Then why fake my DNA results?”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.” I threw my hands into the air, making sure not even a stray hair touched Raquel. “Did you not have Agent Carter and some doctor give me proof of that asshat being my biological father?”

Raquel winced, but she had nowhere to go. Her back was against the wall. “Yes, but I needed you - -“

“Raquel.” Agent Carter’s commanding tone had me whipping my head towards him.

“Shut the fuck up. You are in some major hot water with your boss already. Want to add to it?” Wasn’t sure if I could make it happen, but I’d try if he kept blocking me from hearing what Raquel knew.

“Baby?”

Hop touched my lower back, but there was no hint of warning to back off, or not go down the trail I was headed. Nope. None of that.

“What?” I stepped to the side, so I could keep an eye on Raquel, Agent Carter, and Denny.

“That was all I needed.”

Course it was. I’d blocked him from seeing my face. He’d done lost his temper once, no sense in pushing him back down that path. Wouldn’t be good for anyone.

“Needed me to know what?” I kept my attention on Agent Carter, but pointed at Raquel, so she could not deny I aimed my question at her.

Raquel sighed. “Me of course.”

“Lie.”

“Is not, Kay.”

“Not my name. tell me truth or get your ass out of here.”

Charlie grunted, reminding me whose house I stood in. I gave a small shrug, knowing he’d back my words up, but I admitted my little slip up.

“Cree,” Mr. Davis stepped to my side, “this might not be the best time to get into all of this.”

“Why not?”

“Tempers are flaring on both sides.”

“True, but I deserve to hear why she wishes to deceive me more than she already has.”

Mr. Davis stepped from my line of sight, letting me know it was fine to continue.

“Raquel, you’ve got ten minutes to give me your side.”

“Raquel, you can’t.” Agent Carter made a step towards me and Godfather and Hop blocked his path. “You can’t keep me from my niece.”

“The fuck they can’t. You are in Mr. Logan’s house and under false pretense. So keep your ass away from me.” I crossed my arms and faced Raquel. “Nine minutes left. I promise if you don’t’ tell me your side now . . . you’ll never get another chance.”

“Fine.” Raquel shook her head. “At least let me tell you in private.”

“No. Her or never.”

Raquel glanced at each man, before stopping on Agent Carter. “Sorry, Uncle Randy.”