The Dragon Shifters and the Heiress
A beautiful woman with long, dark hair entered Rossi and Hotchner Jewelers. "Can I help you miss?" asked an older man who was standing behind the counter.
The man was very handsome and she was guessing at least 10 to 15 years older than she was. If that was the case though, he certainly didn't look it. It was more the air around him, his posture, which was totally relaxed and confident. His expression was certainly pleasant enough. Affable was the word she would use. In her experience a lot of jewelers could be rather stiff and proper. It was as if they were afraid you were going to get fingerprints and dirt on the glass of the cases.
"Uh, yes," said Cassie. "I'm afraid the clasp to my bracelet broke and since it's been in my family for a long time, I thought I'd ask if it's possible to fix it."
Cassie put the bracelet on top of the glass of the jewelry case when the man behind the counter indicated for her to place it there.
"Ah! Yes! This is a very beautiful bracelet," said the man who still hadn't introduced himself. "Exquisite workmanship."
Dave recognized the workmanship, as one of the most famous dragon blacksmith's of centuries ago. Dragons were well known for making exquisite jewelry, his family especially was known for it, which was why he and his partner Aaron Hotchner ran a jewelry store. Do the work you knew and were good at and you were more likely to enjoy your work.
"Yes, I believe that I can repair the clasp to where it's as good as new," Dave said finally.
The bracelet was truly a gorgeous piece of art and worth a great deal of money, but he doubted that this woman cared very much about how much it was worth if it had been in her family for generations.
"So how long will it take to fix it?" Cassie asked.
"At least a week depending on how much time I have to work on it," Dave said. "I'll need your name and telephone number and I'll call you as soon as it's ready."
"I'm Cassandra Silverthorne and my phone number is," Cassie said, reeling off her telephone number from memory.
Dave wrote down the number, but as he was doing that he was thinking that Silverthorne was a dracon surname. Of course she might not be a dracon she could be just human as there were a lot of surnames in the world that meant you could be related to a dracon but that didn't necessarily mean you were. He for instance had changed his last name centuries ago to something that was very common and didn't sound like it was dracon because there was an order that just loved to kill his kind and changing his name had seen prudent. "Now you know my name but I don't know yours," Cassie said.
"Oh, sorry, I guess I forgot to introduce myself and that's not like me at all," Dave acknowledged seeming just a little embarrassed. "I'm David Rossi one of the owners of this fine establishment. My family has been in the jewelry business for generations."
"It is nice to meet you Mr. Rossi," Cassie said, shaking the man's hand and Dave immediately noticed how sparks flew, as soon as they touched.
"And it's nice to meet you Miss Silverthorne. I'm assuming it's miss and not missus," Dave said.
"No, I'm not married," Cassie said blushing at Dave's heated regard.
"I'll be waiting for your call," Cassie said before she rushed out of the store, as if demons were on her heels.
"Well, you certainly scared her," came an amused voice.
"I don't think she was scared at all," Dave told the man standing behind him without turning. "I just think that she doesn't understand the feelings she suddenly has for someone she's just met. When we shook hands I knew she was our last mate."
"Ah!" The voice said in acknowledgment. "I know that she was from a line of dragons, just because of her last name, but I don't think she's able to shapeshift herself."
Hotchner wasn't a dracon name either, even if it was more rare and then Rossi.
"I believe you're right, because she would've known what those sparks meant if she knew what her ancestors were. It's quite possible she's from a line that bred with humans often enough that only a little bit of dracon blood remains. I wouldn't be surprised to discover if she knows nothing about her own history other than of her immediate family. On the other hand, to be our last mate she has to be able to transform or she won't live as long as we do otherwise."
"Well, dragons are mostly just fantasy now."
"Yeah, I know, Aaron," Dave said finally turning. Aaron was taller than Dave by several inches and also slenderer, although his shoulders were broad. Both men were handsome specimens, with black hair done in different styles and dark brown eyes, though Dave was the only one with a beard. Other than general features that anybody could have they looked nothing alike.
"You know Monica is going to want to meet her. We've all been waiting to meet our last mate you know," Aaron said.
"Yeah, we have and for a very long time," Dave acknowledged. "We're going to have to be careful considering that neither one of us believe she knows anything about her heritage."
"I'm sure Monica can give us some advice on how to handle this situation," Aaron suggested.
"We'll ask her," Dave agreed.
"I suppose we had better close up," Aaron said looking at the elegant clock on the wall.
"It is about that time," Dave agreed.
The two men were silent, as they went through their usual routine to make sure everything was secure before setting the alarm and leaving the building.
~~~Dave, Monica, Aaron, Cassie~~~
"So will it really take you a week to repair that bracelet," Aaron asked, as the two of them walked towards their vehicle.
"No, but I wanted to give myself time to do a background check on her," Dave explained. "Right now, we don't even know the minimum. We know her name and that she definitely has dracon blood if only because of the bracelet, last name and the sparks. Everything else is speculation. We believe she doesn't know about her ancestors and that she can't shapeshift, as the way she reacted when we touched, is not the way she should've reacted if she had any idea what was going on."
Aaron acknowledged the point because it was true.
"She's not going want to believe it," Aaron said.
"No, she's not," Dave acknowledged soberly. "You have to admit it's rather fantastical. This isn't the dark ages anymore."
"No, it's not. I remember what it was like when we saw all the technological advances humans made over the centuries. Now we're in a period of great advances in nearly every field are made everyday. Science, medicine, astronomy... I mean we're on the verge of starting to explore outside our solar system and if we heard anything about that when we were born we would've called them insane," Aaron said.
"Yeah, we would have," Dave chuckled. "I agree with you a hundred percent. Some of the technology is still rather fantastical sometimes, but on the other hand, a society has to advance or they grow stagnant and eventually disappear be cause they die out."
Aaron said nothing, but acknowledged the point silently.
The two men got into their car, Dave behind the wheel and started to drive towards home.
~~~Dave, Monica, Aaron, Cassie~~~
Once they got home they knew Monica would be in the kitchen and that it would be a good time to talk while she was fixing dinner.
"Welcome home boys," Monica said, as they entered.
Monica was a gorgeous woman, but totally different from Cassie in looks. While Cassie had long dark hair, a kind of deer hide brown and gray eyes. Monica had red hair and green eyes. Cassie was also much taller then Monica was, shorter then either of her men and much slenderer. It wasn't hard to figure out why though, if you really thought about it. Back when Monica as well as him and Aaron had been born people didn't know anything about nutrition so there was no doubt that all of them likely would've been a few inches taller if not for that. Dave was actually surprised that he and Aaron were as tall as they were considering. On the other hand, as dragon shifters all of them had different biology to humans, so maybe it wasn't so surprising.
"Thank you sweetie," Aaron said kissing her cheek.
"So what's the problem boys?" Monica asked once Dave had also greeted her.
Dave and Aaron looked at each other and saw the same expression on both their faces. Identical expressions that said they should've known that Monica would know something was wrong. They were linked as bond mates and had been for a very long time. Since Monica didn't seem to worried she must think the problem was pretty minor, especially since she hadn't called them on their cell phones to make sure they were okay.
"It's not a problem really," Dave said leaning against the counter.
"Or at least not the kind of problem that's going to put our lives in danger," Aaron added.
"So?" Monica asked patiently.
Dave and Aaron then took turns explaining what had happened just before they closed the shop.
"Yes, I see where that can be a problem," Monica admitted calmly once her two men were done explaining. "You know basically nothing about this Cassandra Silverthorne."
"No, but we're trying to figure out a way to ask her out on a date," Aaron said.
"We have no idea what she knows about her ancestors, if anything," Dave added. "The way she reacted when we shook hands and those sparks appeared, well, let's just say she didn't have a normal reaction that you would expect."
"She practically ran out of the store, almost leaving a vapor trail behind her," Aaron added with a chuckle.
Monica gave him a disapproving look and Aaron didn't look at all bothered probably because he'd been the recipient of a lot of those looks over the years.
"I have to agree, as I was the one minding the counter, while Aaron was in the back doing a stocktake," Dave said.
"Well, I suggest that when she comes back in again to pick up her bracelet that you ask her out on a date Dave. Be gentle, but persistent. You're the one that's met her after all, even if it was only briefly. I don't think it's a good idea for both of you to date her at least not at present. Also, I would say from her reaction that she's very interested in you and was probably rather surprised at her immediate response to a stranger. That fizz of sexual attraction, except it would've been at least three times as strong as sometimes happens between two human strangers that meet by accident."
"Well, I knew she was attracted to me, as that's the way such a bond works. Cassandra would've felt it, even if she didn't know what she was feeling and when we touched that would've intensified the bond, at least for a brief time," Dave said.
Even as he spoke Monica kept fixing dinner stirring things and kneading some homemade bread.
"And where am I in all this?" Aaron asked finally.
"Well, you can become her friend for right now, though I wouldn't display any signs of interest in her until she's dated Dave for awhile. We all know that anymore than couples are not approved by the general population, which is why we keep our relationships so low key and adding this Cassandra will only make it worse if anybody were to discover how we live our lives," Monica pointed out cheerfully.
"People like that can just mind their own business," Dave snorted his voice full of disdain. "We're not doing anything illegal."
"While I agree with that you know that a lot of people are busybodies, moral or otherwise," Aaron said. "It's why we're so careful. We don't need their opinions shoved in our faces. About how what we're doing is wrong and that we'll go to hell."
"Like we care what those people think, but we'd rather not have to put up with them saying such things to us," Dave acknowledged. "All that does is create bad feelings and makes me at least want to teach them a lesson about minding their own business."
"Me too," Aaron agreed wholeheartedly.
"Okay to change the subject, what if she says no? She might have a boyfriend for example," Dave said. "She's not married, I did discover that much, so that's one hurdle out-of-the-way."
"Well, the attraction between you is bound to be fairly strong and while I don't want to break up a relationship if this Cassandra is happy, this is important," Monica said seriously.
"It's possible she's not in a relationship right now, but I know we can't count on that," said Aaron.
"We're not usually that lucky," Monica admitted with a grimace, even as she continued to fix dinner.
"Well, when I see her in a few days I'll pour on all my charm," Dave said. "She's going to be soaking wet in her underwear from her bodily reaction, I guarantee you. If she's able to resist me pouring on all the charm then she's either not flesh and blood or she's dead."
Aaron snorted at that and Monica was trying to hide a laugh.
Dave was only stating fact, but the way he said it was hilarious. Dave had supreme confidence in himself and had every right to. If this Cassandra didn't react like all of them expected her to then either Dave was losing his touch or there was another reason.
"Or she might be into her own sex, though the way she reacted to you I doubt that very much," Aaron said.
"She would never be your guys mates if she was into females," Monica told Aaron frowning at him. Aaron nodded meekly looking contrite his brown eyes twinkling with laughter.
"It was just an example, sweetheart," Aaron said. "I didn't mean it literally."
"So you had better get to working on that bracelet and while you do that Aaron can handle the front counter, as we all know that making or repairing jewelry is not one of his talents," Monica said her expression bland, while trying to smother her giggles.
"That's an understatement," Dave coughed, also trying to hide a laugh.
Aaron past attempts at making fine jewelry were a dismal failure. They were actually as close to a national disaster as they could get.
"We all have our things we are good at," Aaron shrugged unoffended. "I have other talents."
"True," Monica acknowledged. "Doing something like making jewelry takes an instinct and also a talent. Aaron just didn't get that kind of creativity, as making jewelry is kind of an art form. A talent very, very few possess."
"You can mass produce something like jewelry at a factory, but if you do it's not going to be worth anything and will be nothing more than costume jewelry. I won't say that cheap jewelry doesn't have its place just that it's common and hardly original."
The three of them talked until dinner was ready and then, they sat down to eat deciding to put their problem aside for a few hours.
~~~Dave, Monica, Aaron, Cassie~~~
Four days later Dave contacted Cassandra. He'd only waited so long as he had to fix the clasp of the bracelet first, though that hadn't taken him very long at all, as he was an expert at repairing jewelry. He'd been doing it for years untold after all.
Cassandra entered the shop soon after his call. "Well, that was fast. I expected to be at least another two or three days.
"We haven't been as busy as I expected," Dave said. "My business partner Aaron watched the counter while I fixed your bracelet."
"You did it yourself?" Cassie asked with a raised eyebrow. "I would think you would have to send it off to get it fixed."
"I just happen to have the talent," Dave shrugged. "A lot of my family has. Anyway, here you go. Good as new."
Dave handed over a red oblong box and when Cassie opened it she found her bracelet. She inspected it, especially the clasp and as promised it looked as good as new. The bracelet and the gems were all shined up as if they had been polished.
"I can't tell where it was ever broken. It's as if the clasp was never damaged," Cassie said as she put the bracelet back in the box. "This is excellent. How much do I owe you for such a professional job."
Dave named a price and Cassie nodded. The price was actually lower than she had expected. Cassie handed over credit card and Dave ran it through the register, which deducted the amount from it.
"Thank you for your business Ms. Silverthorne. Now that that's out of the way what about a date tonight?" Dave inquired with his most charming smile. His brown eyes also began to twinkle and his smile turned mischievous.
Cassie blushed at Dave's rather heated regard and his rather mischievous smile did something to Cassie's insides. It suddenly felt as if she had multiple butterflies in her stomach all of whom were fluttering about anxiously.
"Oh, no," Cassie tried to protest, blushing an even deeper red, as Dave put his hand on top of hers. The gesture, for some reason was very intimate and made her feel just a little wet down in her woman parts. The butterflies also seemed to multiply by about a million times, making her feel nervous and nearly nauseous. She wasn't used to some guy being so attracted to her or vice versa. She had never felt like this about a guy. Cassie tried her best to come up with a reason not to say yes, as she sensed that this guy could be dangerous.
"Please, say yes," Dave said coming out from behind the counter and moving even closer to Cassie.
There was now barely an inch of space between them, which made Cassie back away a little, as suddenly David Rossi was too close, much to close. Unfortunately she couldn't go any farther as her back was against one of the glass cases that held beautiful and exquisite jewelry, worth a fortune. The closer he got the more the butterflies in her stomach fluttered. Cassie was suddenly sweating like a prizefighter after a match as the jeweler turned up the charm a notch.
"Of course, if you're dating someone I'll understand," Dave said letting just a hint of disappointment enter his voice.
"No, it's not that," Cassie stuttered, as Dave moved into her personal space. She felt Dave's disappointment like it was her own.
"Then if you don't have a current boyfriend, what's the problem?" Dave inquired with another sexy smile, causing Cassie to feel as if was suddenly overheated. Dave's smile with the dimple on Dave's chin made Cassie want to kiss that mouth. She'd always been a sucker for a guy with a dimple, as they just caused a rather hormonal reaction in her body. She could barely resist a guy with one dimple much less two, as there was one at the right corner of his mouth as well.
"I just think you're too old for me," Cassie tried.
"And how old do you think I am Miss Silverthorne?" Dave asked letting her name roll off his tongue.
Cassie wasn't wrong that he was way older than her. On the other hand, he knew that she assumed that he was only 10 or 15 years older not several centuries. Dave assumed she was basing that assumption on how confident he was in himself which showed up in his demeanour and the fact that he owned his own business and had for a long time. A lot of humans in their 30s weren't that confidence in themselves and didn't own a very successful business.
Cassie shivered in reaction to the way that Dave was saying her name. It was practically a purr and the way he stretched out the vowels was somehow sexy.
"I don't know, but you've got at least be in your 50s," Cassie said, even as Dave took her hand in his own and rubbed his thumb gently over the back of it.
"You might think that, but I am not," Dave said not looking at all insulted at Cassie for assuming that he was that old. "How old I am I will tell you at another time, but even if I was in my 50s like you believe younger women date older men all the time."
Cassie got even more wet down in her privates at the way Dave was talking in such a sexy voice.
"Surely, you have a family," Cassie tried, even as her will was weakening. "A wife, children..."
"I don't actually," Dave said.
This was absolutely true, because he and Monica had never actually married, as that was not the dracon way. He and Aaron were bonded to her and she to them, but they had never actually made it legal as that wasn't necessary, so technically, he wasn't lying. Also, they had no children at present anyway.
Cassie stared at Dave for second then caved as she was already so wet down in her vagina that she really needed to go take a shower. She'd never reacted to any man like her body currently was to Dave. It had to mean something, though what she didn't know.
"Alright," Cassie finally conceded, even as she wiped her forehead as she had sweat running down it. Dave's body heat was higher than your average Joes by several degrees at least and his hand was nice and warm. It was almost like he had a fever, but as far as Cassie could tell Dave was glowing with health.
"Excellent!" Dave exclaimed with a broad grin. "How about Château Pierre?"
"When?" Cassie asked starting to get excited.
"How about tonight?" Dave asked.
"I'm not sure I have the appropriate clothes for such a fancy place," Cassie said, thinking about the clothes she had a her closet. "I'm more of a blouse and jeans kind of girl."
"You have to have some fancy outfits as that bracelet I fixed would never go with casual clothes like that. It would look wrong."
"Well, there is this one outfit that I wore to a fancy party over a year ago," Cassie said.
"Which will be fine, Miss Cassandra," Dave said.
"I prefer Cassie actually. Cassandra is much too formal and definitely too long to spell on something like one of those forms that you have to spell it out at a lot of places. It's bad enough my last name is 12 letters and my first name is only three letter shorter. It's certainly a mouthful."
"Cassie it is my dear," Dave said gallantly while kissing the back of her hand.
Cassie blushed a brilliant red again and got even wetter than she already was. Her panties were extremely soaked.
"I'll see you at 7 o'clock Miss Cassie," Dave said, kissing her cheek, even as he escorted her to the door after he got her address, which was an apartment house in a upscale section of the city.
~~~Dave, Monica, Aaron, Cassie~~~