Matched with the Dragon: A Shifter Dating Agency Romance Read online

  Matched with the Dragon

  A Shifter Dating Agency Romance

  Ruby Forrest

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  WARNING: This book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language. It may be considered offensive to some readers. This book is for sale to adults ONLY.

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   Copyright 2018 by Ruby Forrest - All rights reserved.

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  Table of Contents

  Matched with the Dragon

  BONUS CONTENT

  Bang & Bounce

  Proposition

  Grunt & Grind - Sneak Peak

  Matched with the Dragon

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Darian, they want you specifically to watch the girl.”

  Darian Hardy was frustrated, to say the least, after hearing his brother Brett’s words. He couldn’t help but feel like his younger brothers, Brett and Stetson, had completely failed to take the task at hand seriously. After spending nearly his entire adult life creating a successful IT security company with his other brother, Stetson, he found it increasingly difficult to not feel like sometimes his brothers took risks unnecessarily. Darian, while running his company, was able to contract high-end clients for his brother to perform security detail on. It was an arrangement which allowed Stetson and himself to have the most balance in a life that could easily be toppled into disarray. But even with the effort he had taken to provide his brother safe and regular work, somehow Brett or Stetson still managed to drag him into their irresponsible tendencies, which lately had included two women into their group of secrets. Although, it was hard to be angry with them when they’d both found the loves of their lives in doing so.

  These brothers maintained a family secret deeper than any immature family drama or mild skeletons in the closet—their secret was more enigmatic than that. Both he and his two brothers held hidden shadows in their soul. They each hid a burning power that simmered deep in their handsome human forms. They were shifters, each with a different animal form. Darian had the ability to burst into a powerfully exotic dragon form, an animal not of this world. Because of that, he carried the greatest risk of the three of them. While a bear and a wolf were unusual, a dragon was a creature not of this world. Just one glimpse at him, and his life – and his brothers’ lives – would be over as they knew it.

  Darian was the most powerful of the three in his animal form, his strength and intelligence the dominating features of his creature-form. In his grey eyes sat a deep intensity, burning with a heat and brilliance which offered the most overt indication of the monster lurking beneath. He was tall and lean, and his movements were stealthy, lending him to often times a brazenly elegant persona.

  Over the years, Darius had prided himself on his ability to balance the nature of his soul with the presentation of his person. He had managed to draw the best of the characteristics from his animalistic side out into the light of his human character. The demanding nature of the dragon within allowed him to build a technology empire, leading with as much fire and vigor as the flames that escaped his throat when shifting. His eyes, grey and shining, cut into the hearts of those around him, stealing breath from men and women alike.

  Broad shoulders accented his thin frame, rippling with sinewy muscle, as though his wings never actually fell back into his skin. One of Darian’s finest features, though, was his thick and gleaming silver blond hair. It had been that platinum color his whole life, like the scales of the dragon form he assumed. It sat in rolling waves around his high cheekbones and over his intense eyes, accenting his firm jawline and masculine cheekbones. The most prominent of Darian’s features was his tattoo. It was a mark that had been given to him not by choice, but rather as an indication of his strength and power as a dragon. It was a tattoo of a black dragon that’s tail swirled up his neck and ended just under his left ear. Without a shirt, the dragon appeared to be flying down his body, and when in the middle of transforming into his large dragon self, it glowed a bright copper orange on his skin. It both labored Darian to cope with such an assuming appearance, and he secretly had always feared his beauty would be the thread that was pulled to unravel all his secrets.

  Because of this, it was with hesitancy that he chose to assist his brothers with the latest security detail he had arranged for them. He tried to remain an enigmatic figure in his own life. Even with the determination he led his company with, he still tried to lead from afar, away from nearly all employees and handing instruction down through the ranks of his closest aids.

  It was the fact that he was so much more powerful than his brothers that ironically made him stray from the spotlight. His power inherently brought about the possibility for great destruction and ruin, and therefore he constantly feared discovery and manipulation. Unfortunately, he realized as of late that his weary nature and secretive lifestyle only drew more intrigue. It was that exact reason that he chose to focus his life on work and his brothers over anything else.

  His IT Company had managed the information and technology security for a major high-profile client matchmaking service. He had encrypted each profile personally, ensuring the anonymity of the individuals using the service. However, recently the owner of the service had told him that there was a previous client that had been angered by a rejection from one of the matches that had been set. His disgruntlement had led him to making grave threats against the company and the woman that had scorned him.

  When Darian was informed of this, he offered his brothers’ services to protect the owner as well as the client or clients which could potentially be in danger. It wasn’t until later that he would regret this offer, as his brother Brett had come back to him with some troubling information.

  “I don’t understand why they would request my services,” Darian said exasperated.

  “The company owner said that she trusts you and knows you, and the client in the most danger also happens to be her most valuable customer.”

  “You and I both know I am capable of watching the girl, but the owner is not aware of this, just as she is not aware of our shifter forms,” Darian burst out. “Therefore, I would like you to go back and explain to her that yourself and Stetson are the more exper
ienced of us three and would be the better choice.”

  “I’m telling you, brother, we have both tried to change her mind, but the fact of the matter is, if we want this job, which we do, you will have to participate this time around,” Brett responded coldly.

  “I will call her myself, then. Why is it that I always feel like I have to clean up messes that you and Stetson somehow make?”

  Without further discussion, Darian turned on his heels to walk out of his office lounge where he had stood talking to Brett. With a firm thud, the large oak door of his private office shut in the face of Brett. Darian sat for a second working to gain his composure. In his frustration, the dragon inside became agitated, and bright patch of silver scales streaked across his arms and face. He closed his eyes, placing his face into his shapely hands. With each deep breath, the scales began to diminish, until once again his skin was in an even human finish. He unclenched his fists and dialed the matchmaker begrudgingly.

  “How are you, Lila?” Darian spoke with his suave business voice.

  Lila had managed to build a behemoth of a matchmaking service, offering the potential of love to celebrities, international professionals, and many more high-profile individuals. She had occasionally come on to Darian, but he had always thwarted her with his strict professionalism.

  “Darian, I always do love when I see your name on my phone,” Lila responded in a smooth tone.

  “I always enjoy hearing from you as well, but unfortunately the reason for my call is all business today,” Darian said with enough humor to avoid insult.

  “Oh, are you ready to have me make your match?” Lila replied, still not ready to give up on a potential flirtation. “I think I might have someone in mind that would be perfect for you…”

  “Actually, I just spoke with Brett, and he said you had requested I be the one to perform security detail for the client you felt may be in danger?”

  “This is true, Darian, I did make that request.”

  “I was surprised to hear that, seeing as I deal with technologically focused security and my brothers are the physical security providers,” he answered, trying not to let frustration creep into his voice.

  “For this particular job, I would be far more comfortable with you watching my main girl,” Lila said, suddenly with a far more professional demeanor.

  “Why is that, Lila?” Darian found himself becoming more irritation and could feel the warm places on his skin where patches of scales must have been escaping.

  “Do you know who Briana Nelson is?” she asked coyly. Lila cleary had expected this to light Darian’s willingness to provide the security detail, as essentially every man knew and loved Briana.

  “No,” Darian responded flatly.

  “What!”

  “I am not familiar with the young lady,” Darian said again, biting back a sharper retort. What was her point? “Is this who you would like me to provide security for?”

  “Wow, Darian, you need to get out from behind your desk occasionally!” Her shrill voice grated on his sensitive ears.

  “Please elaborate on what makes this woman important enough for you to demand security from myself,” he said, once again impatient.

  “Briana Nelson is a world-class super model. She revolutionized the industry before retiring a few years back suddenly. I had thought every man was familiar with her! She is considered the most beautiful woman of our generation, according to vogue!”

  “I’m sorry Lila, but unfortunately the IT industry doesn’t usually offer the opportunity to familiarize oneself with the various Kate Moss’s of the world.”

  “Oh Darian, Kate Moss pales in comparison to Briana,” she said with a giggle. Darian fought not to roll his eyes.

  “You know that was not my point.”

  “You need humor in your life Darian, we shoul—“ she started, clearly intent on giving him a lecture about his lifestyle.

  “Lila, put Stetson as detail on her and leave me to my computers,” Darian cut her off. “There is nothing Stetson loves more than a beautiful woman. Even if he is distracted right now.”

  “Darian, you know as well as I do that Stetson and Poppy are head over heels in love with each other. He’s not just ‘distracted’. She’s captured his heart. Besides, that is the problem. Briana is reclusive in her own way. She retired because she was tired of being the obsession of society. She was Hollywood’s brightest star, but she couldn’t stand the spotlight. Someone like you, someone just as beautiful and just as reserved, your demeanor matches her needs. Your younger brothers do not.”

  “You realize, again, security personnel is not in my job title,” Darian responded after a long pause.

  “Darian, you are the most capable and intelligent man I know. You are quick on your toes, despite your efforts to hide it. You see trouble before it arrives, and you express very little fear in any of your professional pursuits, and I do not imagine your protection habits being any different. I am going to get brave and say I am one of the few people you may consider even remotely close to a friend, and therefore I will say this: please, do this for me as a friend.”

  Darian shook his head to himself as she spoke. He knew where she had been headed with that before she had even finished speaking. And despite how much it pained him to admit it, Lila had become the closest thing to a friend he had ever known. Her company had been one of the first of his clients, and their lifestyles were similar in nature. Although he had done his best to keep her at an arms distance by refraining from socialization not handled over the phone, her banter had worn on him. He even made calls to her personally, not having his assistant handle any of their correspondence. Despite his various boundaries and seemingly impenetrable demeanor, Darian realized that his “friendship” with Lila was valuable to him—something he hadn’t even been aware of until he heard her begging over the phone.

  “Fine. Fine, Lila,” he agreed in a growl.

  “I really appreciate it Darian, and per usual, it was lovely doing business with you,” Lila said flirtatiously. “Call again soon!” she said huskily before hanging up.

  Darian leaned back in his office chair, looking up at the ceiling. He was not enthused in the slightest that he had to watch over someone that was in the spotlight. He worried that being seen with her regularly would suddenly draw the level of interest on him higher. He considered for a second researching her online but decided against it. Petty intrigue was never really something he participated in, so why should this situation be any different?

  Darian decided in that moment that protecting this model would not require him being glued to her hip. In fact, he could simply track her from afar. With his reptilian precision and high intelligence, nearness wouldn’t be a factor in effective security detail. He also realized that an average obsessed stalker was really no threat or challenge to himself at all, it would be easy.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Briana had considered running away from her life. She had thought about buying obscure country homes in foreign countries, or islands off little-known tourist destinations. She had thought about faking her own death or faking a scandal about her beauty being ruined in some terrible accident.

  She had been a world-class model, changing the way agencies cast girls and even influencing the modern perception of ideal beauty. She had graced the cover of numerous magazines and walked in famous lingerie runway shows. She had been an influencer in the fashion industry for nearly half her life. But a time had finally come in her life where she hated her position in popular culture and the weight of her influence.

  People obsessed over her, and she had experienced and dealt with various stalkers throughout her life. She had been scrutinized and both revered and insulted. She began to become an unpleasant person towards the end of her modeling career. She didn’t trust anyone. She was never sure whether someone loved her for her money, or her appearance, or for the public acclaim that came with her name. She became impatient with fans and media, and
she even began to despise the narcissistic tendencies of other people in the spotlight. She never managed to relate to the joy her peers found in their fame.

  Ultimately, she had decided to retire young. She hoped that in her retirement, the scrutiny of the public would diminish over time, without extreme lengths being taken to remove herself from society completely. The only reason she opted to stay somewhat public after her retirement was for one reason: love.

  Despite her admirers and extended amount of time amongst the beautiful, rich, and famous, she had never managed to develop a meaningful relationship with a man. She wasn’t sure if it was her inability to trust the intentions of anyone around her, or if it was because she had her own ego problems she failed to recognize, or if she had overlooked chances for love that had presented itself for her throughout her life. All she knew now was that with her retirement, she also truly wanted love.

  She wanted a person in her life finally that she felt she knew, that she felt she was equal with, and that she felt the most herself around. In recent days it often felt like she didn’t even know who her true self was. Her solution had been to hire a high-profile matchmaker. She decided that having a professional sort through the pool of potential suitors was her best bet. It would be a nice screening of untrustworthy men, or men that were not serious. She felt it also would offer her the opportunity to meet men that she would not otherwise.

  Unfortunately, it hadn’t really worked out as she had previously planned. She had been really disappointed when something she had been so hopeful for had managed to spiral into full-blown chaos. She had met Lila, the owner, through a fellow retired model, and loved the fact that the matchmaking service was ran by an independent woman. She had a fabulous track record, and really thought this could be the answer to attaining the relationship and man she always desired.